The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-09-01
CHAPTER XVII

Dayhreak In the Valley Of the Lost
Souls and the Long House IN the
village Of the Tribe Of the Lost Souls
Fully so feet in length was the Long
House. with half as much In width.
built Of adobe bricks. and rising 40
feet to a gable roof matched with
straw.
Out 81 the house feebiy walked the
Priest OF the Sun--an old man. tot.
terry on his legs, sandal footed. clad
In n long robe OF rude homespun
cloth. In whose withcred indian face
were haunting "reminiscences OF the
racial iineamentS OF the ancient con.
auistadorcs. on his head was a curl.
Gus cap Of gold. arched over by a
seni.cIrcie Of polished golden spikes
Tho effect was obvious. namely. tho
rising sun and the rays of the rising
sun.
He tottorcd across the open space
to where great hollow log swung
suspended between two posts carved
with totcmic and heraldic devices.
He glanced at the eastern horizon.
already red with the dawnlng. to re-
assure himself that he was on time.
lifted n stick. the end of which was
fiber woven into ball. and struck
the hollow log. Feeble as he was.
and light as was tho blow, the hollow
log doomed and revcrbcratcd like dis
tant thunder.
Almost Immediately. while he con.
tinued slowly to beat. from the grass.
matched dwellings that formed the
square about the Long House
emerged the Lost Souls. Men and
women, old and young. and children
and babes In arms, they all came on,
and convcrEed upon the Sun Priest
No more archaic spectacle could be
witnessed in the goth century world
Indians Individually they were. yet in
many OF their faces were the racial
"reminiscences of the Spaniard.
Some faces. to all appearance
were all Spanish. Others. by the
same token. were all Indian. But
botwixt and between. the majority
OF them betrayed tho inbred blood OF
both races. But more bizarre were
their mcs-unremarkable in tho
women. who were CARRIED in long. dis
Greet robes of homespun cloth. bu,
most remarkable In the men. whose
homespun was grotesquely fashioned
after the style OF Spanish dress that
obtained in Spain at the time OF Co
lumbus' first voyage.
Homely and sad looking were the
men and women-as OF n breed toe
closely interbred to retain JOY OF
life. This was true OF the youths
and maidens of the children and OF
the very babes against brcasts--truc
with the exception OF two. one a
child girl OF 10. In whose face were
FIRE and spirit and intelligence
Among the sodden faces Of the sod
den and stupid Lost Souls. her face
stood out like flaming flower. Only
like hers was the face OF the old Sun
Priest. cunning. crafty. intelligent.
While the priest continued to beat
the resounding log. the entire tribe
formed about him in a semi circle
facing the priest. As the sun showed
the edge OF its upper rim the priest
greeted II and hailed II with quaint
and medieval Spanish. himself max
ing low obeisance thrice repeated
while the tribe Frustrated itself. And
when the full orb shone clear OF
the horizon all the tribe. under the
direction OF the priest, arose and ut
tered a joyful chant.
Just as he had dismissed his people
n thin pillar OF smoke, rising In the
quiet air across the valley, caught
the priests eye. lie pointed 1t out