Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1925-01-15
Indian
Lodge Tales
BY
Ford G. Prick
THE LOST CANYON

r ONG years ago, before our fathers
- and our fathers fathers were
born. but long after the Manitou had
created the boiling springs and the
beautiful hills and the valleys for his
children, the chosen people were rich
and prosperous. Gold and silver they
had In plenty-and the brave ones Of
the tribes wore glorious ornaments and
rings and bracelets made from pure
gold they took from the hills where the
Manltou had laid II.
And all the chosen people were hap
by, and there was plenty Of food and
plenty Of meat and the entire tribe
waxed rich from the fruit Of the plains
and the gold and silver Of the hills.
But one day there came from the
southlands strange white men, swarthy
Of countenance, bearing strange rods
which spit forth fire and sparks and
which killed at long distance. Their
clothes were strange to look upon and
on their faces they grew long hair, and
their language was a strange one to
the chosen people. who made them
welcome and who shared their tepees
with the strangers.
When the strangers saw the gold and
silver ornaments they became much
excited. and by gesture and strange
speech they demanded to know where
the precious metal could be found.
And there was no one among the
chosen people to tell them how to 90
or where to find the gold-and those
who knew only shook their heads and
ran away. for they were sore afraid.
When the chosen people would not
tell. the strangers became angry and
turned upon them with their magic
rods--and from the rods came thunder
and flames, and many Of the chosen
race were killed and sorrow was on the
land. And the chosen people ran and
hid In the canyons and In the hills while
the strangers roamed the land. Final
ly one day they found one Of the
chosen ones, the son Of the aged chief,
and took him and bound him fast and
threatened him with death unless he
would lead them to the spot whence
came the gold.
Now II so happened that all the gold
was taken from hidden canyon-and
no one knew Its entrance except the
chief and his sons and his family. And
when the son was captured then the
old chief came forth from the noun
tain where he was hid and promised
to take the strangers to the gold II
they would spare the life Of his son.
This they promised TO do.
So the aged chief led them In sor.
row to the hidden canyon and the
strangers laughed and shouted and
beat him on the back and spit In his
face. And when they saw the gold
they shouted aloud and each and
every one threw down his rod and be-
gan to pick and dig at the shining
rock where the gold was hidden. And
the chief then asked the leader for his
son that he might lead him back safe
and unframed.
But the leader only laughed. and
turning his rod toward the young lad
he killed him there. and then he slew
the chief while all the while the others
laughed and joked.
But when the Manitou saw the cru
city and greed Of the strangers he was
very wroth. And as they killed the
chief ne sent the darkness And In
his anger he picked a thunderbolt and
hurled II earthward to the walls OF
the canyon. The walls split and slid
In, and all the strangers were buried
up In the mass, and the mouth OF the
canyon was closed by the slide and the
strangers could not get out and there
they died-and there was none to help
them In their plight.
When the chosen people saw what
the Manitou had done. they fell ON
their faces and thanked him for his
grace. which saved them from the cruel
and grasping strangers And there
they vowed that never more would
they enter the canyon walls for fear Of
death.
SO was the canyon lost and to this
day no one has been able TO find its
mouth or enter to gather there the
gold. Yet II Is there between the two
great peaks--a giant canyon closed at
both Its ends.
II you doubt. so forth and find II
there. And II you enter into Its hid
den depths there will you nnd the
magic rods Of those who went before.
And there are riches too. for him who
finds and enters In the canyon which Is
lost.