The Flamingo Feather | Page 6

to acquire the promised trick of
wrestling. After securing his promise never to impart the trick to
another, Réné led him into a room where they would not be observed,
and taught it to him. It was a very simple trick, being merely a feint of
giving way, followed quickly by a peculiar inside twist of the leg; but it
was irresistible, and the opponent who knew it not was certain to be
overcome by it. Has-se quickly acquired it, and though he found few
words to express his feelings, there was a look in his face when he left
Réné that showed plainly his gratitude.
When next the silver sickle of the new moon shone in the western sky,
active preparations were begun among the Indians for their great Dance
of Ripe Corn. The race-course was laid out, and carefully cleared; clay
was mixed with its sand, and it was trampled hard and smooth by many
moccasined feet. A large booth, or shelter from the hot sun, under
which the chiefs and distinguished visitors might sit and witness the
games, was constructed of boughs and palm leaves. Bows were
carefully tested and fitted with new strings of twisted deer-sinew.
Those who had been fortunate enough to obtain from the white men
bits of steel and iron, ground them to sharp points, and with them
replaced their arrow-heads of flint. Has-se, with great pride, displayed
to Réné his javelin or light spear, the tough bamboo shaft of which was
tipped with a keen-edged splinter of milk-white quartz, obtained from
some far northern tribe. Guests began to arrive, coming from Seloy and
other coast villages from the north, and from the broad savannas of the
fertile Alachua land, until many hundred of them were encamped
within a few miles of Fort Caroline.

At length the day of feasting broke bright and beautiful, and soon after
breakfast Laudonniere, accompanied by Réné de Veaux and half the
garrison of Fort Caroline, marched out to the scene of the games. Here
they were warmly welcomed by Micco and his people, and invited to
occupy seats of honor in the great booth. Upon their arrival the signal
was given for the games to begin.
First of all came the races for wives, for at this feast only of all the year
could the young men of the tribe get married. Even now they were
obliged to run after their sweethearts, who were allowed so great a start
in the race that if they chose they could reach the goal first and thus
escape all further attentions from their pursuers. They generally
allowed themselves to be caught, however, and thus became blushing
brides. Thus, on this occasion, and in this manner, Yah-chi-la-ne (the
Eagle), a young Alachua chief, gained the hand of Has-se's beautiful
sister Nethla, which means the Day-star.
The contests among the boys to decide who of them should be
Bow-bearer to their chief for the ensuing year followed, and as the
great drum, Kas-a-lal-ki, rolled forth its hollow, booming notes, twenty
slender youths stepped forward, of whom the handsomest was Has-se
the Sunbeam, and the tallest was dark-faced Chitta the Snake. All were
stripped to the skin, and wore only girdles about their loins and
moccasins on their feet; but Has-se, as the son of the chief, had the
scarlet feather of a flamingo braided into his dark hair.
From the very first Has-se and Chitta easily excelled all their
competitors in the contests; but they two were most evenly matched.
Has-se scored the most points in hurling the javelin, and Chitta won in
the foot-race. In shooting with the bow both were so perfect that the
judges could not decide between them, and the final result of the trial
became dependent upon their skill at wrestling. When they stood up
together for this contest, Has-se's slight form seemed no match for that
of the taller and heavier Chitta; and when in the first bout the former
was thrown heavily to the ground, a murmur of disapprobation arose
from the white spectators, though the Indians made no sign to express
their feelings.

In the second bout, after a sharp struggle, Has-se seemed suddenly to
give way, and almost immediately afterwards Chitta was hurled to
earth, but how, no one could tell, except Réné, who with the keenest
interest watched the effect of his lesson. As Chitta rose to his feet he
seemed dazed, and regarded his opponent with a bewildered air, as
though there were something about him he could not understand.
Again they clinched and strained and tugged, until the perspiration
rolled in great beads from their shining bodies, and their breath came in
short gasps. It seemed as though Réné's friend must give in, when,
presto! down went Chitta again; while Has-se stood