Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1918-02-15

Fox says great deeds are afOOt this
night. Good! Talk flows from his
tongue like the freshets Of the spring,
but he is chary of deeds. This night
shall l do battle with the Wolf. I
shall slay him. and Zarinska shall sit
by my fire. The Bear has spoken"
Though pandemonium ragged about
him, Scruff Mackenzie held his ground.
brothers! The White Man. whom
We have chosen to call the Wolf. came
among you with fair words. He was
not like the Innuit: he spoke not lies.
He came as friend. as one who would
be brother. But your men have had
is past. First, will tell you that the
Shaman has an evil tongue and is
false prophet. that the messages he
Spake are not those of the FireBring-
err His ears are locked to the voice of
the raven, and out of his own head he
weaves cunning fancies, and he has
made fools of you. He has no power.
When the dogs were killed and eaten.
and your stOmachs were heavy with
untanned hide and strips of mOccasins;
when the old men died, and the old
women died, and the babes at the dry
dugs of the mothers died; when the
land was dark, and We persisted as do
the salmon in the fall ay. when the
famine was upon you, did the Shaman
bring reward to your hunters? Did
the Shaman put meat in your bellies7
Again I say, the Shaman is without
power. Thus! spit upon his facet"
Though taken aback by the sacri-
Iege, there was no. uprOar. Some Of
the women were even frightened but
among the men there was an uplifting,
as though i'm preparation or anticipa-
ton of the miracle. All eyes were
turned upon the two central figures.
The priest realized the crucial mo-
ment, felt his power tOttering, opened
his mouth in denunciatiOn. but fled
backward before the truculent advance,
appraised fist, and flashing eyes Of
Mackenzie. He sneered and resumed.
"Was l stricken dead? Did the light.
ming burn me? Did the stars fall from
the sky and crush me? Pish! have
done with the dog. Now will l tell you
of my people, who are the mightieSt Of
all the peoples. who rule in all the
lands. At first we hunt as hunt, alone.
After that we hunt i'm packs; and ut
last, like the caribOO-run. We sweep
across all the land. Those whom we
take into our lodges live; those who
will not come die. Zarinska is come
" maiden. full and strong, fit to be-
come the mother of wolves. Though
die, such shall she become; for my
brothers are many, and they will fol-
low the scent of my dogs. Listen to
the Law of the Wolf: Whose taketh
the life of one Wolf. the forfeit shall
ten of his people pay. In many lands
has the price been paid in many lands
shall it yet be paid.
"Now will l deal with the Fox and
the Bear. 1t seems they have cast eyes
upon the maiden. So? Behold, I have
bought her! Thling-Tinneh leans up
on the rife; the goods of purchase
are by his fire. Yet will be fair to the
is dry with my words. will l give Of
tobacco five long plugs. Thus will his
mouth be wetted that he may make
much noise in the council. But to the
Bear, of whom l am well proud, will
give of blankets two; of flour, twenty
cups; of tobacco. double that Of the
Fox and If he fare with me over the
Mountains of the East, then will give
him rifle, mate to Thling-Tinneh's.
If not? Good! The Wolf is weary Of
speech. Yet once again will he say
the law: Whose taketh the life Of one
Wolf, the forfeit shall ten of his people
pay
Mackenzie smiled as he stepped back
to his old position, but at heart he was
full Of trouble. The night was yet dark.
The girl came to his side, and he lis
tened closely as she told Of the Bears
battle-tricks with the knife.
The decision was for war. In q
trice, scores of mOccasins were widen
ing the space Of beaten snow by the
fire. There was much chatter about
the seeming defeat Of the Shaman
some averred he had but withheld his
power, while others conned past events
and agreed with the Wolf. The Bear
came to the center of the battle
ground, a long naked hunting-knife
of Russian make in his hand. The
Fox called attention to Mackenzie's
revOlvers: so he stripped his belt.
buckling it about Zarinska, into whose
hands he also intrusted his rifle. She
shook her head that she could not
shOOt-small chance had woman to
handle such precious things.
"Then. If danger come by my back,
cry aloud, My husband! No; thus,
My husbandv"
He laughed as she repeated 1t,
pinched her cheek and re-entered the
circle. Not only in reach and stature
had the Bear the advantage of him,
but his blade was longer by a good
two inches. Scruff Mackenzie had
looked into the eyes Of men before.
and he knew 1t was a man who stood
against him; yet he Quickened to the
CLINT of light on the steel. to the DOM
inant pulse of his race.
Twice he pricked the Bear, getting
| away unscathed; but the third time
caught, and to save himself, free
hands closed on fighting hands, and
they came together. Then did he rea-
lie the tremendous strength Of his Op-
| pOnent. His muscles were knOtted In