Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1927-02-24

An angry murmur came from the
Indians In the audience. A murmur
that as Levine laid hold Of old VOLTS
arm, grew to strange calls. There
was a surging movement toward the
platform Billy jumped on a box that
he had found for seat for Lydia.
"Charlie!" he roared, Charlie! Re
member there are women and children
In this crowd"
"What do care for your women
and children?' shouted Charlie.
Then his glance fell on Lydia's
golden head. She waved her hand to
him beseechingly. Charlie hesitated
for moment, then spoke loudly In
Indian to the crowd, and led old Wolf
from the platform. The movement
forward of the Indians ceased. The
whites moved out of the crowd and
for a moment there was complete
segregation of Indians and whites.
Billy got down from his box with
a sigh of relief. ''That might have
been an ugly moment" he said, "if
Charlie hadn't seen YOU"
The noise of hawkers began again,
but something had gone out of the
celebration. The Indians stood about
In groups, talking, Charlie and Chief
Wolf the center always of the largest
group.
Amos and John joined Billy and
Lydia at the machine "The war
dancing begins at sundown,' said Lee
vine. II told the Indian agent twas
a risk to let them go on, after this
episode. But he laughs at me.
don't like the look of things, though.
don't know but what I'd better get
you folks home"
II don't think Charlie Jackson
would stand for any violence" said
Billy.
81 don't know about that" Levine
spoke thoughtfully. "He's left Doc
Fulton and is living on the reservation
again. They always revert"
Listen! Listen!" cried Lydia.
There was a red glow behind the
clouds low in the west. From the foot
of the fagpole came peculiar beat
Of drum. A white can beat drum to
carry one through a Gettysburg. An
Indian can beat drum to carry ones
soul back to the sacrifice Of blood
upon a stony altar. This drum beat
''magicked'' Lydia and Billy. 1t was
more than a tocsin, more than dance
rhythm, more than the spring call.
They hurried to the roped-off circle
round the flagpole, followed by John
and Amos.
Into the ring, in all the multi
colored glory of beads and paint,
swung dozen moceasined braves.
They moved in a step impossible to
describe-a step grave, rhythmic,
lifting, now slow, three beats to a
step, now swift, three steps to beat.
Old chiefs, half blind with trachoma,
SCARED with scrofula and decrepit
with starvation; young bucks, fresh
and still strong, danced side by side,
turned by the alchemy of the drum
into like things, young and vivid as
dawn.
Lydia shivered with excitement.
Billy pulled her arm through his.
81 don't like this" he muttered.
II don't believe they mean any
HARM" said Lydia. Lots Of the
whites started home before sunset,
anyhow"
81 wish you had" replied Billy.
Gee, here it comes"
The chant suddenly changed to q
yell. The drum beat quickened, and
the great circle of dancing Indians
broke and charged the crowd of
whites. A number of them drew re-
volvers and began firing them into
the air. Others drew taut the great
bows they carried. The whites plunged
backward precipitately.
"Kill 'em whites!" shrieked the
squaws.
Run 'em whites off our reserva-
toni" shouted half dozen young
bucks.
Lydia was trembling but cool.
Good for them! Oh, Billy, good for
them ]" she exclaimed.
Thus far the whites had taken the
proceedings as joke. Then a white
woman screamed
run! It's a massacre r.
Massacre" is horrifying word to
use to whites in an Indian country.
Men and women both took I'D the
cry
It's massacrel RUM
And the great crowd bolted.
Like pursuing wolves, the Indians
followed, beating the laggards with
their bows, shouting exultantly. Billy
caught Lydia round the waist and,
held her in front of him as well as
he could.
Then Lydia heard Billy's voice in
her ear. IF this isn't stopped, 1t will
be massacre. We've got to find
Charlie Jackson. He caught scream
Ing squaw by the arm.
Susie, where's Charlie Jacksonf"
She jerked her thumb back toward
the fiagpole and twisted away.
"All right Now well make for
the pole, Lydia, get behind me and
put your arms round my waist. Hang