Palmer High School - Terror Trail Yearbook (Colorado Springs, CO)

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1 ,gg Q ' ' ' Qmgn . lamngiggr ..f W f I stairway. Spirit Blossomcaught his arm. lt is some trick of the VVl1ite gods, she insisted. VVill you bring dishonor on the tribe of the Navajo and the Hopi, my tribe? Will you follow in the steps of your father, when you may be the leader of men Pi' Ah-ko averted his face and broke his bow across his knee in terror. I cannot, he gaspedg the fire sticks of the lfVhite gods-their medicine is stronger than the medicine of Tahn-Te, the ruler. I am afraid, and his voice sank to a whisper. Spirit Blossom grasped his shoulders and spoke commandingly: Must I then pay your debt? Must I preserve the honor of the Navajos? Then be it so. You have chosen. There was the whir of an arrow, a grunt- the death grunt-and All-ko fell. - She left him lying there on the Ancient Stairway and leaping from rock to rock, soon stood in the camp of Ponce de Leon. af :cf Pk as as :if vs as :ze af wr Pk V As the earth mist lifted, Spirit Blossom stood before Tahn-Te, the ruler and laid the talking leaves of the Vtfhite gods before him. It is done. Behold the proof! she cried. 3 17'

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Q?-5 ...,, 30 ' na' 'mgzgg 3 u sa- Ti' tt llllill .Q 'NW' places of the Sun. The chief of the Wfhite gods seeks the Fountain of Youth in the land of the Navajos. He knows not that the Fountain of Youth lies in the Happy Hunting Grounds. Tahn-Te raised his hand as he invoked the aid of the spirits of the elements. I, Ruler of Things as they were in the Beginning, send Ah-ko, the war chief of the tribe to Ponce de Leon, chief of the VVhite gods, that he may lead hin. into the land of the Apaches, our enemies, to seek this fountain. I, Ruler of All Things, command him to bring back from the camp of the white mana proof of his going, the talking leaves. May he not walk in the stepsof his father. Is it well? - And the council replied, It is well. Ah-ko walked with lagging steps to his Wigwam. His mother, Spirit Blossom, came to meet him. How, he said, and breathed on her hand. And as they walked she spoke gently to him. My son. you tarried long in the Khiva of the Council. VVhat words of Wfisdom spoke Tahn-Te concerning the VVhite gods P ' O, woman! you have lived long, he replied, as he drew her within the Wigwam 3 the eyes of you. are open to the things not seen. He crouched in the darkness of the Wigwam and repeated to his mother all the words of Tahn-Te, the ruler. Mother, tonight at the time of the earth mists, I go to the place of the Vlfhite gods. . Thanks to the Sun Father, murmured Spirit Blossom softly, that he has given to me a son who shall wipe out the memory of his father, in the day that he ran from the battle, for which deed the medicine men gave him to do the work of a woman. Then she glanced at the bent head of her son and saw his quick fearful glance across the mesa toward the VVhite gods, and a fear crept into her heart. She placed his bow and arrow in his hand and pointed across the mesa. Sullenly he took the bow and arrow and began to climb the ancient stair to the sacred place of the Most Mysterious. He shall fight, she muttered fiercely with clenched hands, he is of my tribe, and the Hopi's have always fought-and won. The blood of the Hopi shall overcome the coward blood of his father. She snatched up her bow and arrow and followed his trail up the sacred stairway, slinking from shadow to shadow. At times she saw him outlined against the black rocks, then the Spirit of the Moon hidhis face. Overhead wheeled the sacred bird of the Sun God, the eagle. Suddenly there came a flash and even Spirit Blossom, daughter of count- less medicine men, hid her face, and the eagle fell. The thunder and lightning sticks of the XVhite gods, she exclaimed. Truly the medicine of the W'hite gods is strong. Ah-ko also saw the Hash, and turning stumbled blindly down the 16

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ffl? x ' - ,, 5 ' ' 'Eur ff I .. - H- -gf, 42- Q I-ll 9 I mzmiggi .g 'NWI i Night The light of day doth fadeaway And as it slowly dies A massive curtain thick and dark ls drawn across the skies. Then Angels light the starry lamps That twinkling seem so bright. And peace descends o'er all the world VVl1en fallen is the night. 1S