Siskiyou Union High School - White and Gold Yearbook (Weed, CA)

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a chance for her to get away. They made her a new pair of moccasins to make the trip. One afternoon the squaw sang the Indian song of prayer, Now Be Still All Of You. After awhile Jennie looked up through eyes drenched with tears into the face of the squaw. Then as if drawn by an irresistible impulse, she turned her head and looked toward her home. That evening when Jennie, the squaw and Sunbeam Went on the hill to make medicine the squaw told Jennie to sing that song, Now Be Still All Of You as loud as she could. Her sweet child's voice touched the heart of every one. VVhen they went back every one was in his tepee. She saw her chance to Hee her bondsg the squavv and Sun- beam encouraged her. Stealthily she made her way to the creek, dodging between trees and stumps, and always careful not to make any unnecessary noise. Throughout the night she followed the creek in this manner. At day break she heard the beat of horses' hoofs. She knew she was being followed, so she slumped under a pile of drift wood, hiding herself-her feet were in the water. She crept so far back that she could see only a small speck of light. In this cramped posi- tion she stayed all day. 'Vlfhile here she heard the Modocs' walk over her. Her heart thumped against her side and she held her breath until her lungs seemed to break. At nightfall Jennie again started on her perilous trip homeward. In her dripping clothes she ventured forth, walking with a quick but ever-cautious step. Often she would look toward the horizon and see only a sprinkle of stars, a chilly wind was blowing. Despite her weariness she kept on her eager pil- grimage. Jennie was determined to get home. Nothing would turn her back. Climbing a high mountain she decided to go no further, for the sky was already taking on a pink hue and stars were fading. She knew it would soon be dawn. Luckily, she stayed. When she did peer down to the valley toward Montague, she saw three mounted ponies, two Indians walking and two more riding toward her country. They were so far away that the horses looked like jack rabbits. During the early morning hours she slyly passed from Butcher Hill Mountain, through Hawkinsville, on to the mountain back of Yreka. The maiden was so exhausted that she lay down on a dry log in the sun, falling to sleep instantly. She woke up at evening feeling much refreshed in the cool air. She was happy that no one had chanced her way. Although she had never been over this ground before, she seemed by in- stinct to find her way toward her friends. She came down to the mouth of Creek Canyon and as quick as a Hash, with her hair and dress Howing behind her, she dashed across this opening. -Now she was near the trodden trail but did not follow it. . She went up to the Big Rock between Pereria's and McCadam's Creek. She stayed there all day. When crossing the low gap back of Mathew's she was overtaken by a mounted Indian. She could see the figure coming upright among the bushes and moving up the slope. making no sound but the pony's hoofs on the well beaten trail. The tall warrior crossed a patch of moonlight so Jennie could see the bright feathers of his head-dress and the curve of his brow. She could tell he was a Modoc because she saw his garments were cut differently from those of the Scott Valley tribe. Through her mind flashed many thoughts. Should she try to escape, should she fall on her hands and knees and crawl? If only there was something to hide behind. She turned- there was one lone pine. Like a dart she leaped across the trail and squeezed up closely to the tree. Silently, with that horrible fear gripping her heart she GENERAL LITERARY SECTION l2l I

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'XVhile the warriors were showing off and boasting of how they had killed some of the Scott Valley tribe, Jennie sat down under a tree to rest, but was closely guarded. Tamdoka was showing Longfellow how he had shot the other girl in the knee. In doing so he let the arrow Hy, killing the chief, Long- fellow. He made it appear accidental, but down in his heart he knew when Longfellow was dead he would become chief. Jennie was very tired, but she could not sleep. She would hear the coy- otes howl near by, in the distance the hoot of an owl resounded and beneath her white-footed mice scurried among the dried leaves. VVhen morning came an Indian runner was sent on ahead to their home camp in Shovel Creek to have men come to help carry Longfellow's body in. His body was carried on poles fastened together by hazel brush, and two men started carrying him homeward. Jennie was so weak and weary she could hardly push her way ahead. The trail seemed to be so steep. Often she would look up at the sun. She thought it should be setting soon, but no, it still rode high overhead. Her. clothes and face were caked with dust while her head was whirling. No matter which way she looked, sheilsaw no friendliness, but the cruel faces of her captors. At sun down the tribe found its way into Shovel Creek. Here they told the anxious squaws and tribesmen of L0ngfellow's accidental death and also handed Jennie over to the care of the squaws. Jennie was taken into one of the tepees. One of the squaws took her down to a stream to bathe her tired limbs and face. She went back to the tepee and fell asleep immediately. The next morning when she awoke she heard a terrible rumpus. One of the Indian girls told her that during the night a grizzly bear had sprung upon the chief, Tamdoka, and broken his neck. She put her weary head on her knees and listened to the strange tumult and watched the tribesmen, who showed no sign of friendliness, no curiosity, but came and went with an aloof attitude. I The new chief made her a slave and she had to carry wood to each tepee in the village every day. She did this, but her eyes showed that she was in great distress. The Modoc's village was located in a canyon. Through it Howed a little stream abounding with fish. The lodge was set in a wide circle and a great herd of horses grazed upon the nearby meadow. The lodge poles were covered tightly with stretched hides and on these were painted pictures of deer, beaver, hunting scenes and war parties. Some of the colors were scarlet, orange and yellow. In front of the doors hung the Indians' gaily colored feather head- dress which swung in the breeze. Month after month Jennie went through her work under close guard. She became friends with an Indian squaw and a maiden. The squaw was old and wrinkled and as dry as a dead leaf. She smiled a wide toothless smile every time Jennie came to her tepee. The squaw and the maiden would talk with Jennie. They knew that she was longing to go back to her people. Jennie would sit with her chin in her hands and her elbows on her knees staring through the canyon and she would be so absorbed in the thought of finding a way to escape that she seemed to regard nothing else going on about her. Even when the panthers and bears came into the village killing the papooses and maidens, Jennie did not give up the thought of escaping some dav. She was at the Modoc village for one year. She was not the only one plan- ning her escape. The squaw and the maiden also watched for many days for I 20 I GENERAL LITERARY SECTION

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moved around it. The rider came so near she could have touched him with her hand. She held her breath, thinking surely the horse would shy, thus telling the Indian that some human being was near. He passed and she wilted to the ground, her limbs shaking. In a few moments she tried to stand but her knees were too weak. For a while she thought her last few days' effort to escape were in vain. She rushed down through the unsettled valley, where the grass was higher than her head. She reached Scott River and swam across. The ducks quacked and flopped, making so much noise she was afraid that they would attract the attention of her pursuer. She crossed the lower end of Oro Fino Valley, following the hill around to Quartz Valley at Beaver Dam, near the old Haward place. Here two old squaws lived, Whom she knew were her friends. They were glad to see her, and promised to save her from the Modocs even if it meant their lives. Jennie had been without food these four days. After they had made her broth from their choice meat, they hid her under deer hides and other furs. That night she left them and waded down Mill Creek homewardly, so as not to leave any tracks. She thought she heard horses walking up the creek, so she hid in the willows. She listened and waited patiently, but still she heard what she thought was horses' hoofs coming. They seemed to come no closer, so she straightened up and saw that it was not horses walking, but dog salmon going over the riffles in shallow water. Jennie crossed the flat over to the foothills and followed the curve down to the river. She swam the river and arrived home at the break of day. Jackson, the medicine man, had communicated with the spirits and knew that was the day for Jennie to come home. As she got to the door of her mother's tepee, Jackson opened it and came out to greet her. He said to his people, Keep stillg don't come out. I f'How long you been on road ? asked Jackson. Jennie answered, Four days and five nightsf' True to an old Indian custom, Jennie was obliged to stay in Jackson's tepee five days, the length of time that it took her to make the return journey. This was the way the Indians showed their respect to the Lord. It was a form of worship. He was afraid that if she did not show this respect the Modocs might come and take her again. After this obligation was fulfilled, Jennie was permitted to see her people. Her return was celebrated by a great festival and medicine dance. FRANCES NIAE BURTON ,ZS-Fort Jones High School. I 22 1 GENERTXL LITERARY SECTION