Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1931-03-26

homes were broken as we'll as prison
| ers shackles.
Chenufsio was the Rome Of wide
when .Ieems and Tonette came with
| Tiaoga and his warriors. In II were
three hundred people and nj fnl
strength II numbered sixty f.hiing
/ men. 1t nestled nj The ed.sp OF II large
/ meadow which the river embraced in
a horseshoe curve and lis center was
a st0ckadfd stronghold with long.
houses. storage buildings, cabins. and
/ tenees sufficient for the entire popula
tion in times of stress
The Senecas had vineyards and fine
orchards Of apples. cherries. and
| plums. and they also grew tobacco
! and potatoes on considerable scale.
In the cornieds md growing from thu
same hills were pumpkins and heans
| and everywhere were sunfowers Of A
| dwarfish kind grown for The oil which
was extracted from their seeds.
/ When the season WAS good. Chenufsio
lived In comfort during the long win
ter months The granarips were fnll
large quantities Of dried fruits were
In the storphonses. and underground
cellars were stocked with apptes
pumpkins. potatoes. and sauashps.
When the season WAS bad. Chennfsin
drew belt tightly about its stomach
for five months Of the year. For three
Of these months II starved.
This was had season. Spring
frosts had killed the curly vegetation
and had hlaekened The buds Of annles
and nlnms. The corn WINS 50 nonr
that. after roasiing time. only enough
was left for the next years planting.
md beans and potatoes Ind suffered
until there was less ihan third of
A crop. Rut the people nf clennfsin
wore no appearance Of gloom IN file
day when Tiaoga md his triumphant
warriors We're to nrrive from The east
Tinoga's messenger had brought the
news fat not man had heen Inst in
their invasion Of the territory of their
'ftt'fi'fFf fiN WIS iHtii~uHt. anu III nut
fresh courage into tile hearts OF those
who had seen the year 20 against
them. Tiaaua's homecoming with the
spells Of war; was nm nu.nrv which
more tIan discounted empty cellars
and eranalies
As part Of these spills. they knew
Tiaosa was bringing daughter ia
take the place Of Silver Heels.
This convinced them Tint fortune
was bound to smile on them again.
They had loved Sol Van AIakwun.
With her death had come had times.
Now the spirits would give them an
easy winter. and next year would see
the earth Towering with good things.
Chenufsio made ready for the feast.
There were still plenty Of earthly
things and supply Of late green corn
packed away IN husks and kent for
this occasion.
The last day was long for Toinette.
II had begun at dawn, and though .
Tiaoga halted his men AT intervals to
LEI her rest. II had not ended with
dusk. I1arknpss came before they
reached plain on the far side OF
which was HILL Beyond this hill
was Chennfsio. They could see tile
glow Of great fire lighting the sky.
Toineite forgot her exhaustion ut
this sign Of the end OF their journey.
She observed that some one took from
Jeems the scalp Of the man he Ind
killed, which he had tried to conceal
from her eyes under nal If buckskin.
Then she saw all OF the sealps taken
by the Senecas fastened like dangling
fish to slender pole which was car
ried on the shoulders Of two men, the
hair OF one OF these scalps reaching
almost 10 the ground. With the scalp
carriers In the lead they came to the
hill at the edge of the plain and looked |
down on the valley OF Chenufsio.
At Tiaoga's command the men bear
ing the scalp-laden pole had gone
ahead. and now Tiaoga followed with
his men In single file Toinette and |
Jeems were midway in the line. Wide |
slave collars of huckskin had been /
placed about their necks, and .Deems
was stripped of his weapons. The /
warriors did not hurry. Their step /
was slow and steady. and not d man
broke the silence with whisper or Il
word. A sen of torches advanced. 1t /
rolled in and ont of holows like q
Hood then came 10 q level place and
formed two streaming lines 0f fire.
The scalp bearers reached these n
hundred yards ahead Of Tiaoga and
MS men. Toinette could see them Ell
Ter The light Of the torches. and IN
ihese moments the voices Of the saw.
ages rose TO the heavens. 'riaoga
'aused, and not until the scalp bearers
had naraded their grsly burden the
'ntire length Of the gauntlet Of flame
lid he proceed again.
Toinette felt stealing over her a
strange faintness of body and limb.
Stories which she had forgotten.
stories she had heard OF the Indians
rom childhood. stories that had sent
hivers through the hearts of a thou
and homes along the frontiers all
rowded upon her at once Wild tnles
n 0ppnItfnp fartprn and x-Sroo,nou