The Winslow mail., 1923-04-13
Indian
Lodge Tales
By
Ford G. Frick
Observation-Disclosures
THE LEGEND OF
CAMERON'S CONE

r IKE those of us of little faith who
followed through the years, the
Chosen Race was brave when smiled
with happy hearts. But when he hid
his face among the mists, and sent no
word unto his people, they waxed
afraid nor dared to chase the deer nor
plant the maize until the clouds were
parted and his face smiled forth again.
For they were small of faith and knew
not how to do their work unless they
could see before them on the Peak the
face of ManitOu.
So they sent an embassy unto him
to pray th6t ever they might have his
face in view, aahid by mists or clouds
by day resp!eadent in the golden
light of the cre8tfvs sun, at night
bathed in the radiance Of the silyery
moon.
Four ancient chieftains, bold of
heart and purified by fasts and holy
rites they chose to take the message
up the mount that rose to heavens
gate. But Manitou was wroth when
he beheld this ancient four who dared
to tread upon the image of his face.
And anger seized him when he saw
how small the faith they held in his
good works and in his heart a mighty
anger rose, and clouds turned black,
and storms came down the Peak, and
in his anger he seized upon the thun-
derbolts and hurled them toward the
earth.
In deepest darkness all the land was
wrapped save where the flames ran
down the mountainside. Terrific
winds were loosed to do their harm,
and scourged the trembling plains
with binding dusts. The rain fell
through the darkness and a grievous
hail fell on man and beast And with
gigantic sounds the hills were rent in
twain, while the Chosen People hid
themselves in the valleys and the
canyons to escape the rage of Manitou.
For four days the mount was hid
from human eyes. At last the storm
was spent. The Manitou seized and
bound the winds, and all the thunder
bolts were laid away, the sun came
out once more and through the clouds
the distant summit of the sacred
mountain was bathed in light and sun
shine once again. But those who
looked were stricken dumb with fear.
The summit of the mighty peak was
gone!
The ManitOu, so the fathers say, had
in his wrath snatched up the mighty
peak, and breaking off its summit,
cast it down the slope upon the heads
of the ancient chieftains there, bury.
ing them in rock and earth where they
stood. half way 'twixt summit and
the plains below. And as it fell it
formed another mountain not nearly
so high as the sacred mount, but black
with fire and rain. Twisted and torn
it lay there where it fell, hurled from
the hand of Manitou himself as pun
ishment to those of little faith who
sought to climb from earth to heaven
that they might make their wishes
known to him who was their father.
AS for the peak which once had led
to heaven-no longer tall and stately
did it show, but torn and twisted,
blackened by fire, its rugged sides i'm
possible to climb. No longer could
the Chosen People look up and see
the face of Manitou, but only a noun
tain, vast in its greatness, stretching
its head to heaven, but falling short
of that great goal. And since that
time the Manitou, still in the heavens
sees no more of earthly things. No
longer can his people, in their faith,
climb the peak to talk with him, but
each must wait his turn to pass be-
yond the plains into the happy hunt.
ing ground above.
The peak is there, pointing the way
to heaven, but shutting off all hope
of climbing to the hunting ground
above.