6
MODERATE AMBITION.
I'm Jos a-keepln' even; which is doln'
purty good.
Haven't made the fortune that 1 used to
hope I would.
Haven't caused the trump ot fame o'er
distant hills to sound,
But kin alius face the music when the |
landlord comes around.
I've had my share of sunshine an' I seen
the flowers smile;
Have the rheumatiz, but only fur a little
while.
An' when I come to quit this scene of
hope an' likewise doubt,
I'll hardly leave enough fur lawyer folks
to light about.
I have had my disappointments an' I've
had my silent fears.
But I reckon that the laughs will easy
balance all the tears;
It ain't a brilliant record, but I want It
understood
That I'm still a-keepin' even, which i*
doin' purty good.
—Washington Star.
MA ROSE OFM
NORMANDY
A WILLIAM R. A. WILSON L
CHAPTER XXI.
WHEREIN A BATTLE IS FOUGHT
AND AKIESKO COMES OFF VICTO
RIOUS.
The prisoners slept little that night.
Both Renee and Tonti ha<l undergone
a nervous excitement during the day
sufficient to keep every fiber tingling,
he at the discovery of her love for
him, she upon learning the truth from
the lips of Madame Bizard. Now that
the heat of his encounter with Miron
had subsided, Tonti fell into a slough
of despair. Escape seemed impossible.
Renee's fate became more hideous
now that he knew her secret. Even
the satisfaction of dying together was
denied them. Renee was happy, re
joicing in the restoration to his proper
place of the lover she had vainly
sought to forget; unmindful of the ter
rible ordeals the future might have
for her; believing vaguely that the dis
covery of her lover's faithfulness was
not for naught; that a means of es
cape would be accorded to them.
Akiesko alone of the three prisoners
had neither hope nor fear. He faced
the dawn of the day of suffering with
the stoicism of his race. He knew
that he would be sacrificed first, in or
der to whet the appetite of the people
for blood so that the torture of Tonti
would be a lesson of greater enjoy
ment to this captors. Help, unless it
came within a very few hours, could
not rescue him, even if it were to ar
rive before Tonti's turn came. A feel
ing akin to sorrow invaded his savage
heart at the thought of the disappoint
ment and injury that would come to Salle
Salle from the loss of Tonti. A
feeling of pity for the white girl, whose
days thenceforward would be a death
in life, then followed. Last of all, the
hatred of his tribe against his enemies
surged across his mind, obliterating all
other feelings, and his thoughts were
filled with plans how to endure his
pains bravely and give defiance to them
until the very last.
Thua passed the weary hours of
darkness to the three captives. The
camp was astir at dawn, and the sound
of voices and din of preparation for
the day's festivities smote ominously
upon their ears. Food was served to
each at breakfast time. After noon
they were summoned to the begin
ning of the santurnalia of bestial
cruelty.
In an open place in the center of the
town were gathered the Indians, who
ranged themselves in an elongated cir
cle, down the center of which were
piled at intervals seven brush heaps
ready for lighting. Equidistant from
each end a small scaffold some six
feet front the ground had been built.
On one of them Miron had reserved
a seat, one on each side of himself for
Renee and Tonti, so situated that they
would be witnesses of the ensuing
scene. He greeted them with a sar
donic smile, and wished them all man
ner of pleasure during the coming
hours. Tonti's hands were securely
bound, but his feet were free.
They were scarcely settled when an
opening in the throng on the opposite
side was made and through it Akiesko
was led, with every mark of respect
and attention from those attending
him. His escort consisted of some .10
or 10 of the young men of the tribe,
who advanced singing and dancing.
The prisoner strode along haughtily in
their midst, clad in a magnificent
beaver robe, with a string of polished
multicolored shells about his neck and
a smaller one placed like a wreath or
crown about his head. He was greet
ed by a friendly shout from the wait
ing crowd. The procession marched
about the edges of the throng, so that
all could catch a glimpse of the con
damned. Finally they conducted him
to a log placed In the center of the
open space and In- was seated, pood
was set before him, migamlte,
squashes. venison and fruit. As his
wrists were bound, one of the chief
men was deputed to feed hint.
"Here, my nephew," he said gravely
and in the kindest tones, "eat of this
food your friends have prepared for
you It will give >ou strength. Eat
tuid have no far, for no one Is doine
you any harm llehold thyself now
among thy kindred and thy friends "
When thU portion of the repast was
finished, a do« which had been placed
in a kettle neur by and boiled, wa,
produced, and beluit cut into pieces
couvwuleut »u», lu procuud tc
the prisoner to taste. Upon bin hav
ing done so tlie remains of liis feast
v*cre removed. His hands were loosed
and he was invited to sing. A hush
fell upon the multitude as he arose to
give utterance to his death-song.
Straight and firm h« stood with out
stretched arms, from which the folds
of beaver skin fell in graceful lines.
His head was proudly raised, his eyes
looking above the crowd eastward to
ward the land of his birth. His voice,
now quavering in a strange, weird
minor cadence, rising and falling, lin
gering on the words with a pathetic
tenderness, now full and strong in
sonorous monotone, rapidly delivered,
penetrated to the farthest ranks of his
foes.
"I see afar the wigwams of my peo
ple. The smoke rises from a thousand
camp-fires and the woods are filled
with the countless moccasin prints of
the hunters. They creep here and
there through the forests. The deer
and bear fall in multitudes before
them. -Where are the waters dark
with fish but yesterday? The streams
are there, but the fish have gone, for
the Mohegans have passed by and
taken them all. There are no hunters
like them anywhere. All other na
tions are but as children whom they
have taught to U3e the bow and spear.
Were they to leave their own coun
try, all the rest of the world would
starve, for there would be no game
left. The sun here is dim, but there it
is always bright, for my people do no
evil and the sunlight never fails them.
The wind blows fresh and bends the
tops of the waving maize fields, for
there the harvests are ever full. The
Iroquois plants his seed and but one
appears. The Mohegan drops his into
the ground and lo! a thousand sprout
from one. I see the council fires
ablaze, and around them sit the wisest
of all men. To their feet come the
chiefs of other nations and crouch,
waiting to hear the wisdom that falls
from their lips. There is the source of
all knowledge and cunning; that of all
other people is but foolishness. Above
their heads hang the scalp-locks of
their enemies, thick as the leaves of
the forest in summer, for there are
none so brave as they, the sound of
whose name makes their enemies to
tremble and be afraid."
Thus sang the helpless prisoner,
boasting in the presence of his foes
of the prowess of his tribe. As his
song progressed, his body swayed to
the rhythm of his voice. Soon he
moved in stately measure to and fro,
as he described the delights of his own
country, the pleasures of his own peo
ple. Then the theme was changed,
the steps were quickened, and the
words flowed faster as the deeds of
the mighty warriors were rehearsed
and his own achievements were boast
fully proclaimed.
"But among them one place is
empty. It is that of Akiesko, the
greatest sachem of them all. 'Where
is Akiesko, our brother?' they ask of
one another. 'There is none so brave
or wise as lie.' 'He is gone,' says one,
'to the wilderness where live the igno
rant Iroquois. He has taken pity on
their blindness and will teach them
many things. They cannot hunt; they
cannot fish; they are but squaws fit
only to sit and pound the maize be
tween two stones. He will show them
how to live. They have no courage.
At the barking of a wolf they run; the
sound of an owl at night causes them
to tremble.' "
The movements of the singer became
more rapid and he passed gradually
around the open space. One by one
the fires were lighted, and each of the
surrounding crowd armed himself with
a piece of bark; lighting one end of
this, they waited. The motion of his
jlance gradually loosened the robe
around the prisoner, which he allowed
to slip off and he continued his steps
naked. As he passed along, the wait
ing blazing, bits of bark in the hands
of his tormentors were applied to hi 3
back, his arms, and his legs, inflicting
painful burns. The victim did not
wince, but went on faster and faster,
never stopping his song for an instant.
"Akiesko will show the poor Iroquois
how to live. He will also show them
how to die. They will drink of his
blood; and their own, which is only
water, will become thick and red.
They will eat his heart and it will
make them men; they will be squaws
and children no longer, but will be
come warriors. My brothers, Akiesko
is going to die. Amuse yourselves
boldly around him; he fears neither
tortures nor death."
The dance became faster and more
furious. A growing excitement moved
the throng, a shout of delight went up
as one buck ran behind the prisoner,
and pressed against his back the red
hot head of an ax; the sight of the
smoke arising from the burning flesh
and the odor that was wafted to their
nostrils served further to stimulate
the luinds of the onlookers. Renee
shuddered and closed her eyes. Miron
noticed it, and, turning to Tonti, said
loud enough for her to hear, "Is your
seat comfortable, M. Tonti? If not,
I have provided another for your use
to-morrow. It is a pointed stake. I
fear it would be tiresome standing out
there on your feet the whole time, as
your Mohegan friend is doing." Tonti
disdained to reply, but strove to con
vey by a look to Akiesko his feelings
of sympathy for his sufferings and
commendation for his bravery.
Gradually the lust for cruelty In the
savage breasts broke beyond restraint,
i Now one rushes towards the darning
figure and, seizing his hand, tears loose
a finger-nail; another coining from
liehlnd cuts his flesh; Mill another
thrusts a pine splinter Into his shoul
der and lights it. Cries of exultation
:tre heard on all aides Above It all.
' lear, but with waning strength, com- ■
the taunting voice:
"The Iroquois are squaw* who shud
der at the sigh* of blood They are
but children at the torture They can
not cause a Mohegan pain."
Wilder and wil4*r <*«h*s the danaw,
CAME 1 Y PRESS, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1905.
yet more loud rise the
hoarse triumphing cries of the fiendish
persecutors. At length the prisoner's
vigor shows si?ns of exhaustion. He
stumbles and falls, but is up again
With a louder tone to his voice and a
more agile movement ihnn before.
His face is now no longer recognizable.
Long thorns have been thrust through
his cheeks and forehead, and masses
of clotted blood hang from his eye
brows. The flesh of his body drops in
torn shreds. The surface is covered
with an oozing stream of blood. At
length he staggers and falls fainting.
His tormentors seize him and lay him
upon the hot ashes of one of the fires;
the pain revives him and he jumps up
and passes on. Again he falls. This
time they pour fresh water over his
burns and wounds and give it to him
to drink. The refreshing coolness re
calls him once more to life and mis
ery. He is dragged up the steps of
the scaffold and made to stand erect,
his arms stretched over and fastened
to a cross-piece, thus suspending him
so as to throw his weight upon his
wrists.
Pandemonium is let loose. The
crowd of yelping, screeching demons
surrounds the scaffolding. He gazes at
them and a smile breaks on his lips,
as with eyes glaring with hatred he
reviles and mocks them.
"Dogs of Iroquois, why do yott not
make me cry out with pain, like one
of you would do if a bee stung him?
It is because I am a Mohegan chief,
brave and without fear."
Heated stones are now placed be
neath the soles of his feet; one stands
above and slowly pours boiling water
over his head; another now ap
proaches and empties a gourd full of
the scalding stuff down his throat. A
red-hot Iron is passed into each eye,
burning the socket empty. A young
buck climbs upon the cross-beam and
deftly scalps him, holding up the gory
trophy to the shrieking throng below.
Suddenly a silence. The end is near.
Every human voice is stopped, and
only the repressed breathing of the in
furiated mob is heard. Sightless, quiv
ering in awful agony, the prisoner's
undaunted will summons his remain
ing strength for one last defiance.
"Cowards! Dogs!" he gasps, and in
the tone issuing from scorched and
lacerated lips, one perceives the in
tensity of scorn and hatred felt. His
head droops; a shiver runs through
his frame. At this signal a chief leaps
forward with flashing knife and with
quick stroke lays bare the still feebly
palpitating heart, removes it, and
tosses it to the waiting braves, who
quickly cut it into tiny pieces and de
vour it raw, believing that thereby
they each may acquire some of the
bravery of the dead prisoner. Another
cuts down the body and half a dozen
quickly sever arms and feet and legs,
throwing these members into the wait
ing boiling kettles, to be devoured
later by the whole tribe. The head is
cut off and brought, a shapeless, blood
stained mass, and laid at the feet of
Miron.
Tonti, sickened at the fearful sight,
turned his head away and looked to
wards Renee. Her woman's nature
had mercifully asserted itself. She had
fainted.
CHAPTER XXII.
SHOWING HOW MIRON HELD A
GOOD HAND, BUT POMPON
PLAYED THE ACE OF TRUMPS.
The captives were led back to their
respective prisons after this sickening
scene of barbarity, and soon a silence
fell upon the camp as though the in
habitants were fatigued by the exeile
ment of the day and had sought re
pose. Renee had nerved herself to wit
ness the horrible spectacle and had
borne herself bravely throughout un
til the last, but when she found herself
once more alone and conscious, a re
action set in and she became but a
weak and trembling woman after all.
Tonti, used as he was to the scenes
of carnage of civilized warfare, could
not repress a shudder as he recalled
the recent ordeal. His chief anxiety
was now for Renee; for himself he
had faced danger and death too many
times to experience any fear at their
proximity; he would sell his own life
as dearly as possible, and promised
himself that more than one recruit for
the happy hunting-grounds would be
started on the long journey thither
before they would have him lashed to
the stake. He realized that neither of
them could hope anything from the
mercy of the conite. Their only chance
would be through the opportune ar
rival in the camp of some party sent
out from Fort Niagara in search of
them. This was, however, hardly pos
sible, as any such expedition would
naturally follow along the shore of
the lake even as far as Fort Fronte
nac, before they would turn back or
think of visiting any of the Indian
tribes. To be sure. Pompon had sig
nalled to him before they arrived at
the camp that he would effect a res
cue, but he would not have had the
time to procure assistance and there
was but little reliance to be placed
on his ability to achieve anything
ahine. The cointe would not allow his
people to be deprived by any tricks
that he would play, as had ltappeued
at the time of their Huron captivity,
and, aside from si-me such measure,
Tonti feared that for once the little
fellow's wit would be lacking.
It was while absorbed In these dis
consolate thoughts that his quick ear
caught the sound of some small object
striking against the bark covering of
his lodge, lie listened. Again It came
and yet again; then It ceased, but soon
recommenced Three times three did
he fount, and then he under rood It
was a signal from his trusty friend,
probably produced by lightly tapping
with some hard substance ag.tln.it th<-
exterior. He repaired to the back wall
from whence the sound came, and
placing hi* Hps ebsie to It he gave a
slight cough, lie then beard a low
wblspar:
"It U 1, Poutpuu. Uo to your tioot .
and s«v If the guard la awake, and
make no noise."
Tontl did as he was bid, and pee>)-
ins out saw the sentinel seated be
fore his prison asleep, but in such a
position that it "Would be impossible
for any one to either enter or leave
the place without arousing him. Tonti
reported the fact to Pompon, who re
plied:
"It is well. I will cut a hole in the
saplings wide enough to pass you a
knife. You can then work from the
inside to enlarge the opening while I
am employed out here. Madame IMz
ard is assisting mademoiselle at this
moaient. Make haste."
;aoon Tonti heard a strip of bark
cautiously give way, and ere long an
opening large enough to admit a hand
was made. Through this Pompon
passed a knife. "Work diligently, but
noiselessly, mon capitaine," he urged,
"and we will soon have you freed."
Tonti turned to with a will, and be
tween them they soon had, by dint of
cutting and pulling at the interlacing
branches, an aperture formed, through
Tonti squeezed liimselt. He
seized Pompon's hand in silent pres
sure, and the two stood with straining
ears, fearful lest the noisa they had
been compelled to make had been
heard. There was no evidence of this,
and they both tiptoed to the back of
the lodge in which Renee was con
fined and assisted Madame Bizard in
her similar endeavors. Pompon in
some unaccountable way had placed
himself in communication with this
poor creature, who, true to her re
solve to aid, had entered heartily in
to his plan. She had seen to it that
the guard at Renee's door received a
sleeping potion that Pompon had pre
pared out of the contents of his in
dispensable pouch, and was thus able
to enter without detection, stepping
lightly over the sentinel's recumbent
figure. Their work was finally accom
plished, and Rewee was assisted
through the opening and was followed
by Madame Bizard.
As has been said, the village was
bulit upon a plateau overlooking th-j
lake. The houses in which the pris
oners had been confined were erected
within a few feet of the edge of this
plateau, which ended in a sheer preci
pice some 50 feet above the surface of
the water. As assistance and escape
were deemed impossible from this di
rection, no attempt had been made to
guard the rear of the lodges. As the
little party stood together, Tonti was
puzzled as to their nex» step. Before
he could say anything. Pompon ex
plained the situation to them.
[To Be Continued.]
SuK'Kffttvd a Hymn.
The Sunday school ofiV-'ers in a large
uptown church were conducting a spe
cial song service one Sunday afternoon.
So interested had they become that the
regular time of dismissal slipped past
and a number of the more youthful
scholars began to grow restive. "Now,"
said the superintendent, "we will sing
another hymn—let some little boy or
girl give the number of one he or she
wishes to sing." There was a pause
for several moments and then a little
boy, who had been shuffling his feet
in tired impatience for the last half
hour, spoke up quite cheerfully:
"Please, sir, I would like to sing No.
51." The superintendent smiled and
turned to the hymn, then gave a gasp
and almost strangled to keep from
laughing. The title read: "In a little
while we are going home."—Philadel
phia Press.
The Smaller the Greater.
Pntil the Spanish-American war
came surgeons in this country knew
but little of the effect of gunshot
wounds made by a small calibre bul
let fired at a high velocity. The al
most pinlike puncture made by a Maus
er or a Krag-Jorgensen bullet was some
what baffling to them. During the
Cuban campaign a surgeon was tak
ing Gen. Leonard Wood on a tour
of inspection through his hospital
ward.
"You see," he said, when they came
to a soldier whom a Mauser bullet had
caught, "this man's wound is serious
because it is so small."
"Then," replied the general, "I sup
pose that if he had no wound at all he
would be in a very dangerous condi
tion and would probably die."—N. Y.
Herald.
Faith nnd Work*.
A pretty anecdotte is related of a
child who was greatly perturbed by the
discovery that her brothers had set
traps to catch birds. Questioned as to
what she had done in the matter, she
replied: "I prayed that the traps
might not catch the birds." "Anything
else?" "Yes," she said, "I then
prayed that God would prevent, the
birds getting into the traps, and," as
if to illustrate the doctrine of faith
and works, "I went and kicked the
traps to pieces."—Household Words.
All At* fill i>rur,
"Mrs. Readum was not as popular
as usual at the reception given for tliu
great author last night."
"Why. she usually sshlnes at such
events."
"But lest night she did not. She
had made a mistake and studied up
■in the books (if another author of
the same name, but different initials."
—Terre Haute Star.
lii i«*r fer «*n«*ea.
ness—l really think May is In love
money?
Te»» NO, her husband is rich, but
that Isn't what caught her.
"What wus It?"
"lie hasn't a relative In the world."
He'rolt Frio I'rt
tier KM II It.
"My wife," itrowli d Chnmpley, "1*
the most forgetful wain an."
"Indeed?" politely queried his friend.
"Yes She can Bever remember !u
th«* murnltM where I lift my pipi. the
ulj|hl before."- Philadelphia Prt#4.
112 Balcom & Lloyd.
| I
| WE have the best stocked
general store in the county 3
and if you are looking for re- 0|
j| liable goods at reasonable
fi prices, we are ready to serve
you with the best to be found. =|
p Our reputation for trust- j|
j!| worthy goods and fair dealing jl
B is too well known to sell any I?!
a but high grade goods. |i
g Our stock of Queensware and jf
!j Chinaware is selected with p|
{| great care and we have some g, 1
p of the most handsome dishes 8
f| ever shown in this section, jj
|j both in imported and domestic p
hj makes. We invite vou to visit
|| us and look our goods over. ij
i m
I I
I 1
l! Balcom Lloyd. |
LOOK ELSEWHERE BUT DON'T FORGET
M THESE PRICES AND FACTS AT
I | LaBAR'S || 1
H II
»< We carry in stock i - ■—— _ ■» Kg
gg the largest line of Car- * . t "lium ' C*
If pets, Linoleums and S/
£2 Mattings of all kinds 112 W - M
|j ever brought to this * 1 £
s, nP ,r ab ' ghnc * rf »<
A very large lir.e oi FOR THE E3p »S
Lace Curtains that can- ...5
h XreV'Se pHco 3 '" COMFORTABLE LODGING
ki jf
Art Squares and of fine books in a choice library
?? Rugs of all sizes and select the Ideal pattern of Globe- P*
M kind, from the cheap- Wernicke "Elastic" Bookcase.
est to the best. I Furnished with bevel French M
plate or leaded glass doors. | jg
jig Dining Chairs, »»« =*•-=
14 Rockers and GEO. J. LaBAR, £*
High Chairs. Bole Ageut for Caiuerou County. ||g|
A large and elegant I—————————J
line of Tufted and
Drop-head Couches. Beauties rml at bargain prices. £4
5$ ft |
Ms3o Bedroom Suits, CIC S4O Sideboard, quar- CQfl a*
solid oak at 4)zo tered >ak * *
?jj 9-8 Bedroom Suits, COl $."2 Sidebcard, quar- CIC
PI solid oak at tend tak jZD **
w * $25 Bed room Suits, COfl $22 Sideboai d, quar- CiC H
14 solid oak ut 4)ZU I tered 0ak,... M
*4 A large line of Dressers from I Oh floniers of ull kinds and M
|| up. ail price*.
K4. | |
|| The finest line of Sewing Machines on the market, §«
ij the "DOMESTIC" and "ELI Kll CK.* All diop-
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A Hue line of Dishes, common grade and China, in J*
J* sets and by the piece. M
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If make up a good Furniture store, it is useless to enum-
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J(j P'e.ise call and see for yourself that lam telling |g
k vot* the truth, and if you don't buy, there ir. no harm
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|| GEO. J .LaBAR. 5
T33NTT>3^IX r l'^LT^llVCri-.