Page:Amazing Stories Volume 10 Number 13.djvu/122

120 of frost-bound desolation. The few white natives who lived on the main-land through the long northern winter, told strange tales of ghostly figures flitting by night about the island. They told unbelievable stories of an unearthly golden glow which illuminated the tree tops when even the stars grew cold and froze in the heavens. And in winter none among them were brave enough to visit the island either by night or by day.

Sometimes during the warm summer days, when the sun shone brightly, banishing all fear, Chief Eagle Eye, the oracle of the Chippewas and the oldest living member of his tribe, would tell the ancient legend to a group of listeners. Surrounded by a colorful party of summer visitors, and standing proudly erect in the calm dignity befitting an Indian leader, he would tell the story in the language of his race. Though there were few who understood his words, his serious pose and dramatic gestures never failed to send shivers of apprehension through his listeners.

"Many, many moons ago," he told them, "so long ago that my people have lost all count of time, a small band of my ancestors came here to live. They found much game and many fish. The signs told them others had been here before, but had even then been gone for many moons.

"No island stood in the lake, and enemies threatened my people. One night, when Takwan, the Great Warrior, stood guard, a Giant came down out of the clouds, and spoke to him-with-the-truthful-tongue: 'I am King of the world, and come as a friend of your people. That you shall not doubt my words, O, leader of the Chippewas, I shall make for you a refuge from your enemies, even from the wild beasts of the forests!'

"Before the eyes of Takwan, a piece of land broke away from the eastern shore and moved slowly out in the lake. 'It shall be an accursed spot to many, but to your people it shall be there to protect you from your enemies. It shall be doomed to float in the waters of the lake until the end of time.'

"Then the Giant spoke again in a voice of thunder, but the others did not awaken: 'Your people shall grow great and strong, and for many moons shall rule the land. Palefaces shall come and the Chippewas shall grow few, even until the end. And one day a paleface shall live on the Island of Crawling Stone, which will mark the beginning of the end. For this white one shall live in a place of madness, and shall seem as one demented. Even then the end shall be in sight, and the Sun, and the Moon, and the Stars, shall grow dim, and time will be no more!

A long night shall come, lasting for many moons. And many, even almost to the last one, shall close his eyes in the last long sleep. The spirits of a few shall depart to the land of the deer and the rabbit, the happy hunting ground from which there will be no return. Then, but not until then, shall the Crawling Stone be cleansed of sin, to return again to its place as a part of the land where men may tread without fear.'

"A Great Light of Gold appeared in the heavens, and the giant was lifted up and away. Takwan—him-with-the-truthful-tongue—awakened his people to tell them of his vision. And they saw the Island of the Crawling Stone, where they stayed hidden many, many times from their enemies:" the old Chief turned and stalked majestically away, perhaps to brood in silence over the fate of worlds.