The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-03-14

moved around to the other side Of the
table, where he stood facing Alan.
"You're a Chippewa, aren't you.
Judah" Alan asked.
EYES," =, = ". 49,,
"Your people live at the other end
of the lake, don't they?"
"Yes, Alan"
Have you ever heard Of the Indian
Drum they talk about up there, that
they say sounds when ship goes
down on the lake?"
The Indians eyes sparkled excited.
". "Yes," he said.
"Do you believe in itT'' t,.... !.
"Not just believe; know. Every
body knows that it. sounds for these
who die on the lake. / have heard it.
It sounded for my father" i
"How was that?"
Like this. Ny father sold some
bullocks to a man on Beaver island.
The man kept store on Beaver island,
Alan. No Indian liked him. He would
not hand anything to an Indian or
wrap anything in paper for an Indian.
Say it was like this: An Indian comes
In to buy salt pork. First the man
would get the money. Then. Alan, he
would take his hook and pull the pork
up ont of the barrel and throw 1T on
the dirty floor for the Indian to pick
up. He said Indians must take their
food off Of the fioOr-like dogs.
MY father had to take the bullocks
to the man, across to Beaver island.
At first the Indians DID not know who
the bullocks were for. so they helped
him. When they found out the bull
locks were for the man on Beaver
island, the Indians would not help him
any longer. He had to take them
across alone. Besides, it was bad
weather, the beginning Of IL storm.
"He went away, and my mother
went to pick berries-Iw was small then.
Pretty soon l saw my mother coming
back. She had no berries, and her
hair was hanging down, and she was
wailing. She took me in her arms and
said my father was dead. Other In
dams came around and asked her how
she knew, and she said she heard the
Drum. The Indians found my fathers
body"
"Did you ever hear Of a ship called
the Miwaka, Judah?
"rhat was long ago." the Indian an
swered.
"rhey say that the Drum beat
wrong when the Miwaka went down.
that it was one beat short of the right
number"
"That was long ago." Wassaquam
merely repeated.
Did Mr.. Corvet ever speak to you
about the Miwaka!"
mo; he asked me once If had ever
heard the Drum. I,told him."
Wassaquam removed the dinner ana
brought Alan a dessert. He returned
to, stand in the place across the table
that Alan had assigned to him, ana
stood looking down Mt Alan, steadily
and thoughtfulIy.
"Do look like any one you ever saw
before. Judah?" Alan inquired OF him.
mo"
ais that what you are thinking?
"That is what I was thinking. VIII
coffee be served in the library, Aian!'
Alan crossed to the library and seat
ed himself In the chair where his Ia
Their had been accustomed to sit. was
saauam brought him the single small
cup Of coffee, lit the spirit lamp on
the smoking stand and moved that
over: then he went away. When ne
had finished his coffee, Alan went into
the smaller connecting room and re-
commenced his examination OF the
drawers under the bookshelves. Al
ten o'clock, Alan stopped his search
and went back to the chair In the H.
brary. He dozed; for he awoke with
a start and a feeling that some one
had been bending over him, and gazeo
I'D into Wassaquam's face. The In
dian had been scruthizing him with
intent, anxious inquiry. He moved
away, but Alan called him back. =.