summoned to the royal presence and required to name her lover. This,
of course, she persisted in refusing, but spies having been set upon her
movements, herself and lover were surrounded and entrapped in the fatal
cave.
In vain did she plead for the life of the young prince, regardless of
her own. His doom was sealed. An embassador was sent to Rhu-tog-au-di,
announcing the treachery of his son, and inviting that chief to be
present at the immolation of both victims. He willingly consented to
assist in the ceremonies. A grand council of the two nations was
immediately called, in order to determine in what manner the death
penalty should be inflicted. After many and grave debates, it was
resolved that the lovers should be incarcerated in the dark and gloomy
cave where they had spent so many happy hours, and there starve to
death.
It was a grand gala-day with the O-kak-oni-tas and the Gra-sop-o-itas.
The mighty chiefs had been reconciled, and the wealth, power and beauty
of the two realms turned out in all the splendor of fresh paint and
brilliant feathers, to do honor to the occasion. The young princes were
to be put to death. The lake in the vicinity of the rock was alive with
canoes. The hills in the neighborhood were crowded with spectators. The
two old kings sat in the same splendid barge, and followed close after
the bark canoe in which the lovers were being conveyed to their living
tomb. Silently they gazed into each other's faces and smiled. For each
other had they lived; with one another were they now to die. Without
food, without water, without light, they were hurried into their bridal
chamber, and huge stones rolled against the only entrance.
Evening after evening the chiefs sat upon the grave portals of their
children. At first they were greeted with loud cries, extorted by the
gnawing of hunger and the agony of thirst. Gradually the cries gave way
to low moans, and finally, after ten days had elapsed, the tomb became
as silent as the lips of the lovers. Then the huge stones were, by the
command of the two kings, rolled away, and a select body of warriors
ordered to enter and bring forth their lifeless forms. But the west wind
had sprung up, and just as the stones were taken from the entrance, a
low, deep, sorrowful sigh issued from the mouth of the cave. Startled
and terrified beyond control, the warriors retreated hastily from the
spot; and the weird utterances continuing, no warriors could be found
br
|