Part 13 (2/2)

”Warriors, Multnomah has shown his heart What say you? Shall the peace-pipe be lighted and the talk begin?”

He resumed his seat All eyes turned to where the peace-pipe and the tomahawk lay side by side before the council Multno for them to choose between the two

Then Snoqualmie, the bravest and most loyal of the tributaries, spoke

”Let the peace-pipe be lighted; we cory malcontents in the council only frowned and drew their blankets closer around them Tohomish the seer, as the oldest chief and hted the pipe,--a long, thin piece of carving in black stone, the workmanshi+p of the Nootkas or Hydahs, who made the more elaborate pipes used by the Indians of the Colu some mystical incantation, he waved it to the east and the west, to the north and the south; and when the charave it to Multnomah, who smoked it and passed it to Snoqualmie From chief to chief it circled around the whole council, but around and would not so much as touch or look at it As the pipe passed round there was a subduedclamor, as yet held in check by awe of Multnomah and dread of the Willamette warriors But the war-chief seemed unconscious that any had refused the pipe He now arose and said,--

”The pipe is smoked Are not our hearts as one? Is there not perfect trust between us? Now let us talk First of all, Multnomah desires ords froainst Multnoer be elder brother and war-chief of the tribes But the rebels were beaten and all of them slain save the chief, as reserved to be tried before you

You in your wisdom shall decide what shall be done with the warrior who has rebelled against his chief and stained his hands with the blood of his brethren”

Two Willa with them one whose hands were tied behind hier and disease, but whose carriage was erect and haughty Behind ca him into the very presence of Multnomah, as if resolved to share his fortunes to the last It was his wife She was instantly thrust back and driven with brutal blows froered on the outskirts of the croatching and waiting with mute, sullen fidelity the outcome of the trial No one looked at her, no one cared for her; even her husband's sy forreat brave

He looked a great brave, standing there before Multnonity in his mien that no reverse could crush, no torture could destroy Haggard, starved, bound, his eyes gleamed deathless and unconquerable hate on council and war-chief alike

There were dark andthe malcontents; in the captive they saw personified their own loss of freedom and the hated domination of the Willamettes

”Speak! You that were a chief, you whose people sleep in the dust,--what have you to say in your defence? The tribes are e”

The rebel sache eyes on Multnoht not to be tried but to be condemned and slain, that the tribes may see it and be afraid

No one knows this better than Multnomah Yet I will speak while I still live, and stand here in the sun; for I go out into the darkness, and the earth will covermen

”Why should the Willamettes rule the other tribes? Are they better than we? The Great Spirit gave us freedom, and who may make himself master and take it away?

”I was chief of a tribe; elt in the land the Great Spirit gave our fathers; their bones were in it; it was ours But the Willamettes said to us, 'We are your elder brethren, you ht the Shoshones' Our youngand we could not refuse thely The Willa the _cah for us; and inter came, our children cried for food

Then the runners of the Willa, 'Coht the Bannocks'

”But our hearts burned within us and we replied, 'Our hunting-grounds and our food you have taken; will you have our lives also? Go back and tell your chief that if we ht him and not the Bannocks' Then the Willaht them, for their tyranny was so heavy that we could not breathe under it and death had becoer, and when did the heart of a Willamette feel pity? To-day I only am left, to say these words for my race

”Who ave us freedoht? Yes; free ive me back ht again! I go to my death, but the words I have spoken will live The hearts of those listening here will treasure thee-fires and repeated in the war-dance The words I speak will go out ao out words, but they will coeance when the tribes shall rise against the oppressor

”I have spoken, my words are done”

He stood erect and motionless The wrath and disdain passed from his features, and stoicism settled over theard had not faltered a moment under the chief's invective No denunciation could shake that iron self-control