Washington High School - Little Prexie Yearbook (Washington, PA)

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SESAME 7 No, said Onatoga, I alone will lure the bird. I am old. I want to die to save my tribe. I love my braves too much to see them killed. As the words of the chief was law they obeyed and all slept with orders to be in their places at dawn. Long before sunrise the next morning the braves could be seen stealing to their places of concealment on the cliff. Each had his bow and arrows. Each was so strong of arm that he could draw the bow string to the lobe of his ear, the bow string that could send an arrow through the heart of a buffalo. Long before the sun was up Onatoga had taken his place upon the cliff. He turned his face towards the west and stood ready to die for his people. No one saw an Indian dressed as a warrior slip softly out of camp. No one saw the same warrior creep slowly along the cliff toward the chief until he was as close as he dared go. He stopped and waited. Not a muscle quivered. He had no fear. He knew what he was going to do. The dawn was slowly breaking. In front stood Laughing Moon's father. At last the screams of the monster were heard up the Mississippi River. It was flying down stream looking for its breakfast. Onatoga heard, but stood unmoved. He would show his people how an Illini Indian could die. The bird came closer and closer and was just dropping its great talons to grasp the old chief when Lone Wolf ffor that was the creep- ing warriorj sprang from the tall grass waving his arms and shouting. His bright red blanket caught the monster's eye. With screams and roars the great bird centered his attack on Lone Wolf, forgetting the sombre figure of the old chief. It settled its great wings, made ready, and swooped at the young ndian. A hundred poisoned arrows sped on their way, most of them piercing the scaly monster. With thunderous screams and roars, terrible to hear, the bird fell on the side of the cliff and rolled down into the water of the Mississippi. Several poisoned arrows found their way into the body of the brave young Indian. He, too, plunged down the cliff where his heart's blood mingled with that of the great bird, and stained the water of the stream a vivid hue. The other braves rushed from their place of concealment. Who was he, they cried. Who wore the bright blanket and saved Onatoga's life?

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6 SESAME The cry of this beast, in the night, would send the frail boy shivering to his mother. The other boys pointed at him with fingers of scorn and derision. You can't go to the forest with us, Lone Wolf. they would say. The panther might be there. Poor Lone Wolf tried in vain to overcome his fear. The bear, the buffalo, in fact any other wild beast held no terror -for him. 1 Lone Wolf grew up in this atmosphere of hatred and scorn. Even the Indian maidens laughed at him. Did they not want their braves to be fearless? When Onatoga, the chief, returned from his talk with the Great Spirit, he called all the tribe together and said, My children, the terrible bird can be destroyed. The arrows of our braves will pierce the monster's breast. The Great Spirit has told me this. I will stand on the top of the cliif on a clear morning and the braves will hide near. When the Evil Spirit brings this monster screaming down the river and it swoops to fasten its talons on me a hundred poisoned arrows from your bows will pierce his scaley coat, and so end the menace to the Illini people. ' One brave after another stepped up and begged to take the place of hisrchief. Black Hawk told how he had fought the bear alone. Red Wing told how he had slain the buffalo, and had alone tracked and killed the panther with a knife. On the outer edge of the group stood Lone Wolf. He dared not ask to take the place of his chief. How they all would laugh at him if he so much as spoke one word. Was he not afraid of even the cry of the panther? Nearby stood Laughing Moon, 0natoga's only daughter. She was a beautiful Indian maiden of eighteen summers. She had long black flowing hair. Laughing Moon was the favorite of the tribe, not only because she was the daughter of the chief, but because of her kindness of heart. She alone in all the tribe had shown kindness to Lone Wolf, and during the boast- ing talk of the braves she noticed the despair on his face. Step up and tell them Lone Wolf, she urged, tell them that you,'too, are brave. Lone Wolf started -forward. When the others saw that he intended to speak and offer himself as a decoy to the Piasa bird, they laughed and shouted in great glee. Lone Wolf shrank back in shame.

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8 SESAME It was the one you have all called a coward, answered the chief sorrowfully, it was Lone Wolf. He was the bravest of you all. Years later high up on the cliff above the river, medicine men painted the image of the Piasa 'bird where it stands to-day as a monument to the fearless Indian boy, but a still greater monument was erected in the hearts of the Illini Indians who in after years would gather around their camp Hre, to tell their children of the brave Lone Wolf who conquered his fear, and saved his people from destruction. FOUR MINUTES T0 PLAY ' LAURA Bunnoucns WJ UST one thing more, said Coach Williams, as the boys prepared to leave. I want every one of you in bed by ten o'clock. Understand! The boys nodded their assent and filed out of the dressing room. Well, boys, said Bob Collyer, the captain and star full- back of the team, get a good night's rest as we are going into that game to-morrow with the determination to win. We've never beaten Colgate yet, but we are to-morrow. So long. Bob slowly made his way to the fraternity house. Dinner was just being served. He sat down and ate in silence. After he had concluded his meal he went to his room. He shared it with Alec Bowden, a freshman. Alec idolized Bob. It must have been because Bob was such a wonderful football player and the most popular fellow in college. But Alec had one bad fault. He was continually playing pranks. He had been called down more than once by the Profs. Hello, Al, said Bob. How's the boy? Not so bad, replied Alec, just got thrown out of one class to-day. And that was for putting a tack on Prof. Killjoys' seat. Ha, Ha, laughed Bob. Better luck next time. Bob went out into the hall to use the telephone. Please give me 668 operator. Hello, answered a female voice at the other end of the wire. Is Miss Winton in? asked Bob. Just a minute, please, answered the voice at the other end. ,