Part 22 (1/2)
As the lower ani stores felt, by some kindred intuition, that a mysterious convulsion of Nature was at hand They talked in low tones, they were subdued insuddenly upon them would have been impressed by the air of uneasiness and apprehension that everywhere prevailed But the chiefs were stoical, and Multnomah impassive as ever
Could it have been that the story to the orators that day? They were unusually anih a white man would have found they of the speaker's tribe, and an exaggerated account of the wonderful exploits of its warriors
This was rather dangerous ground; for all the tribes had been at enone by, and some of their most renowned victories had been won over each other Every one took it in good part, however, except Mishlah When We- the exploits of his race, told how in ancient tilared at him as if tempted to leap upon him and strike his, and the wrath of the Mollalie chief gradually cooled
Then ca He could speak of his own people, of their ancient savagery and present splendor, and sho the gospel of love and justice had been the cause of their elevation
Then would come the appeal to the Indians to accept this faith as their own and share in its uplifting power It was a nificent opportunity, the opportunity of a life-tih had rent his er the intense concentration which had been the source of its strength Tenderness, benevolence, n Other passions divided his heart; a hopeless and burning love consuone froination His eloquence was not what it had been; his heart was no longer in his work, and his oration was a failure
Even the Indians noticed that soer moved them as it had done Cecil realized it, and strove to speak with y, but in vain; he could not arouse himself; and it ith a consciousness of failure that he brought his speech to a close and resumed his seat
To a man of his morbid conscientiousness only one conclusion was possible
”God sent me to proclaiht, ”and I have turned aside to fill my heart with a woman's love His wrath is onrejected and accursed, and this people will go down to death because I have failed in my mission”
While he sat absorbed in these bitter, self-accusing thoughts, the speaking went on Wau-ca-cus the Klickitat”talk,”
picturesque in Indian y But the chief that followed surpassed hihts not unworthy a civilized audience were struck out by the intensity of the ehts which they had never reached before, which they were destined never to reach again In listening to and adof apprehension that had oppressed the spirit in every word It went immeasurably beyond the others; it was the climax of all the darkly splendid eloquence of the day
No, not of all Froure; the blanket that had muffled his face was thrown aside, and the tribes looked on the raded features of Tohomish the Pine Voice He stood silent at first, his eyes bent on the ground, like a ot the wonderful eloquence of the ainst Wau-ca-cus the Klickitat and Snoqual in their ears, whose majestic presence still filled their minds!
”The Willamettes are beaten at last,--the Willamette speakers can no ht of the allies, and the Willamettes trembled for the fame of their orators Back in the shadow of the cottonwoods, an old Willa and bent his bow unseen on Tohomish
”He cannot beat them, and it shall never be said that Toho over hi his ”talk;” and the warrior's hand fell, the bent boas relaxed, the arrow dropped froering voice the tribes were thrilled as with the beginning of music
The orator's head was still bent down, his lories of the Willaed to the past, as if it had perished froreat dead race His tones were th he lifted his face, his eyes shone with a ht, and his brutal features were illuh the vast and motley assembly No boastful rant was this, but a one forever It was the death-song of the Willareatest orator of the race
At length he spoke of Multnomah and of the power of the confederacy in his tih the lapse of years Then, when as it seeo on and tell how this power came to fall, he hesitated; the words faltered on his lips; he suddenly broke off, took his seat, and drew his robe again over his face
[Illustration: ”_It was the Death-song of the Willamettes_”]
The effect was indescribable The portentous nature of the whole speech needed only that last touch of h every heart a wild and aweso destiny
The multitude were silent; the spell of the prophet's lofty and ered over them Multnoreatest orator But the proud old war-chief knew that all felt that Tohomish had far surpassed his competitors, and he was resolved that not his lips but the voice of the tribes should proclaim their choice
”Multnomah was to decide who has spoken best, but he leaves the decision with you You have heard thereatest, and your word shall be Multnomah's word”
There was an instant's silence; then in a murmur like the rush of the sea came back the voice of the reatest!”
”He is greatest,” said Multno there dejectedly, seemed neither to see nor hear
”To-morrow,” said the war-chief, ”while the sun is new, the chiefs will reat talk shall be ended And after it ends, Multnoiven to Snoqual of gifts] on the people And then all will be done”