Strong High School - Mussul Unsquit Yearbook (Strong, ME)

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THE MUSSUL UNSQUIT 13 He waited a moment for his words to take effect, and then Fleetfoot was pushed for- ward. until he stood face to face with the chief. liahoma gazed into the dark eyes of the youth. and he as steadily looked back. Fleetfoot was strong and lithe like A' The Snake. though not so old, but his face was not so crafty and his black and somber eyes were yet deep and steady. Wie must have money, the chief con- tinued, for Fleetfoot. You know the law. All members of the tribe slowly rose and going to their wigwams, returned with va- rious articles: blouses of deerskin em- broidered with shells and fringe, decorated pouches, head dresses of eagle feathers, ornate bows, and an assortment of arrows, fringed moccasins and woven baskets. liach lndian cheerfully gave his share with the exception of The Snake, who threw down a pair of inoccasins with a growl. The pile grew steadily larger, until at last the chief raised his hand and said. linoughf' These articles would later be sold to tourists for a high price, and would tlms supply lfleetfoot with money. The next day Fleetfoot. accompanied by several braves, strode out of the village amid the shouts of the people, hound for the railway station twenty miles away, where lfleetfoot would take the train for the liast and school. Fleetfoot went directly to lllilo, lowa. which is the seat of Linden College. Thanks to his early training in the schools able to enter the high mastered his on the reservation, he was upon the third year work in school. lly hard work he studies. and also took part in athletics. He was the star track and football player in the school, and his fame penetrated even to Linden College, where he registered after graduation. Fleetfoot was larger now, and one meet- ing him on the street would hardly notice his dark skin, in admiring his matchless carriage and the swift play of his rippling nmscles. Each year he brought encouragement to his people. An able lawyer was investi- gating the case, looking over old treaties and grants, but with only mediocre success. In his third year in college he became captain of the football team, and during the first of the season he led his team to victory in all its games. The Linden machine , as it was called by the papers, was one of the most successful teams in many years. The biggest and most important game, however. was to be played the last of the season, when Linden would meet her old rival, lllethen College. The morning of the great day dawned bright and cold, a typical late fall day. liarly in the morning, the trains started for lllethen, loaded with cheering students, loyal alumni, and eager fans. Everyone prophesied a great football game. .Xt two o'clock the lllethen team trotted out onto the field to be received with cheers from the Blethen section and curiosity from the Linden fans, who were sizing up the Iilethen team. A moment later the Linden players ran onto the held, took their places and went through some snappy signals. At last the referee's whistle blew, the teams lined up, and the game was on. Linden received the kick-off and ran it back thirty-five yards before the runner was downed by Murphy, the big lllethen right tackle. Linden had the ball at the middle of the field. ti 4 8 Us 46 'DT' Sl, .. ..i, . Q barked the quarterback, and the ball was snapped to Fleetfoot, who started to skirt right end, but before he reached the line, the burly lXlurphy rushed through and downed him. Again the teams lined up, again the ball was snapped. and once more the player was dropped almost in his tracks. Third down and eight to go. Once more the quarter- back barked his signals, received the ball and threw a forward pass to Strong, the Linden right end. lt seemed as though the

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12 THE MUSSUL UNSQUIT Y I Will!! lrrglma IIIIIIIWIIIIHIIHllulm IIsl'I'I' :Wi:I,,i4 1IIlII'III'I M: ll'ilf,.IaII1IlIm If IOIIIIIIQ I' 'III IIIII III', 11lII'I'IIIiIIIfIII III' I I 'IIIMI IIIIIIP-' JI' 'WIIIIIIIIIII III I: II II IIIIWII 'L Ai' -'-'I:II'II'1m :II IIIwIlI!'1'VI ,II I' qw ,:nIIfIWw'IIIfI'II In IM I Y 'II.I,' II IIN ff .WIfII!,,IlII1,,1 III: , . I II , ,IJ III IH ,fjll IIIr'f'III,1nI -,,,- I I aIII'I . IIII IIIIIIIMII!IlIIl,:,IIiI I I I I q I IIII IIIIIIWIII IIIIIIIIIIIII I H ul' Hifi .1 'I . , , , I . II ,In fwf I'fI,I.'11,gf,IIf4fI,:'WI 'I If II'i7f'f 42IiIIII,InggI,In,I,WI'11,3 ,IIIIW wmflfrurgg aff IIWMIIVIIIIIIIIIIIII'IIII , I I I wl num fvluvu umm Ei .. :'i'5 uHIuuun.uimlmux I , II . I I ' ' I I yi fi - I II EI Qli 5 I' III i' Ii I I FLEETFOOT HE setting sun was slowly hiding be- hind the mountains. Its beams still striking now and then on the snow-capped summits of the Rockies, seeming to give them a sort of majesty and calm. A soft east wind soughed through the tops of the vast pines standing in quiet serenity on the fertile slopes, - the wind of the East bring- ing dreams of the cities to the Indians sit- ting in council on the low bluff overlooking the river, and seeming to the young men gathered there a kind of promise of under- standing, for the tribe was assembled for the purpose of transacting business, of such moment that the calm deliberation of all the chiefs was needed. The pipe slowly went around consuming time which would seem interminable to a white man. At last the head of the tribe, Chief Ka- homa, arose and surveying his people, said: My children, the time has now come which we have long been awaiting. We are to be driven from our lands, from our homes in which we have lived for years. Our fathers kindled their campfires in the shelter of these mountains. The white man gave us this country when he came, prom- ising that it should always be ours. Once we were powerful and could resist our ene- mies, but now -. His head drooped upon his breast and he was silent. Instantly one of the young men sprang to his feet and stood before the council. He was tall, lithe and strong, but there was something in his face, in his manner that had given him the name of The Snake. Oh my brethren, he began, our father says that we are weak, but we are strong. Our braves are armed with the best of the white men's weapons. Up! Let us go and regain our lost homes. We will drive back the white invaders like autumn leaves before the west wind. Our numbers are -. Few, sadly broke in the old Chieftain. No. It cannot be. We cannot fight. Listen, my children, to the plan of your chief. One of the bravest and keenest of our young men must go to the white men's school, and learn their ways. Perhaps then we can regain our lost lands. Is it well? The Indians gazed at their chief in won- der and admiration, and then turned and looked at the young men. Who would go? This was the question in every breast, al- though each stoically hid his feelings. Ev- ery man wished to go, but only one would be chosen. The appointment was to be made by the chiefs of the tribe, who even now were assembling. The Indians squat- ted patiently on the ground and waited. Finally Chief Kahoma strode into the firelight. Listen, Oh my people, he said. We have decided. Fleetfoot is to go.

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14 THE MUSSUL UNSQUIT pass was to be completed, but Callahan, the Blethen halfback, rushed up, grabbed the ball and started headlong down the field with most of the players in pursuit. Suddenly a player leaped out of the body of pursuers, it was Fleetfootg with feet like wings he fiew down the field and tackled Callahan twelve yards from the line. First down and but twelve to go!! On the second down Callahan carried the ball for a gain of seven yards, third down and three to go. But here the Linden team held with the strength of desperation, held them until they lost the ball on downs. The game continued, neither team seem- ing to gain an advantage until the last of the second quarter, when the Blethen quar- terback by some miracle of skill, kicked a goal from the thirty-five yard line. The whistle blew and the score was posted: Linden 0, Blethen 3. The Linden team had been outplayed by a lighter and less experienced team. What was the matter? The coaches frenziedly questioned the players, alternately praising and bawling them out. A change of signals was made to see if that would make a dif- ference, and three substitutes trotted onto the field at the beginning of the third quar- ter. The team was determined to get a touchdown. The Blethen contingent was jubilant. If their team could hold the lead and prevent the visitors from scoring, it would mean victory. Using the new signals the Linden team seemed to do better. It gained more ground, and its defense was tighter. Fleet- foot seemed to be everywhere, if a Blethen player started with the ball, it was usually he who made the tackle. In reality he was the backbone of the team. Back and forth the two teams surged, neither one seemed to gain an advantage, and the score at the end of the quarter was still 3 to 0. Touchdown, Touchdown, the crowds chanted monotonously, and each team tried to comply. Now Linden had the ball on Blethen's twenty-five yard line, and the fans added to their comments and advice. On their sec- ond down they gained seven yards, but a man had fouled and they were penalized fifteen yards by the lynx-eyed referee. 'K 27 - 42 - 63 - 9 - '72, the quarter barked, and as the ball came back he threw another pass to Strong. On, on the ball soared until it struck fairly in his eager arms. As it settled he started for the goal, but he had scarcely gone five steps before the big Blethen halfback met himg there was a crash, and when the players came up Strong was lying where he had fallen, but still clasping the ball. He was carried off the field for medical aid, and another player took his place, but Strong's run net- ted eight yards. Fourth down and over forty yards to that fatal white line, but only two yards to make their downs. Once more the quarterback ripped out his signals, 32 - 48 - 64 - 97 - 12 - 19 - 4, and the ball was passed directly to Fleetfoot, who started through the broken field at full speed. Swaying, bending, straight arming this man, dodging that, he sped down the field like an express train. He eluded Murphy, but there still was Callahan between him and that beckoning white line. On-On- Oh, for a guard to ward off Callahan, coming in at him like a huge battering ram! On-l On! Then the shock, the impact of leather against bone and muscle, and Fleetfoot went down with the line only two feet away. Fleetfoot lay for a moment dazed by the shock, then snapped to his feet, his leg was hurt, but he ignored the protests of his fellow players, and went to his position. The cheers of the crowd died down, they waited the touchdown which now seemed certain. First down and only two feet away was that magic white line. But they had not reckoned with the in- domitable will of the Blethen team. Three