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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:34:06 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:34:06 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/10222-0.txt b/10222-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..debdd24 --- /dev/null +++ b/10222-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11702 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10222 *** + +THE +PILGRIMS +OF +NEW ENGLAND: + +A TALE OF +THE EARLY AMERICAN SETTLERS. + +BY + +MRS. J. B. WEBB, +AUTHOR OF “NAOMI,” “JULAMERK,” ETC. + + + +PREFACE + +In the following story, an attempt has been made to illustrate the +manners and habits of the earliest Puritan settlers in New England, and +the trials and difficulties to which they were subjected during the +first years of their residence in their adopted country. All the +principal incidents that are woven into the narrative are strictly +historical, and are derived from authentic sources, which give an +impartial picture both of the virtues and the failings of these +remarkable emigrants. Unhappily, some of these incidents prove but too +clearly, how soon many of these exiles 'for conscience sake' forgot to +practice those principles of religious liberty and toleration, for the +preservation and enjoyment of which they had themselves abandoned home +and kindred, and the church of their forefathers; and they tend to +lessen the feelings of respect and admiration with which their piety, +and their disinterested spirit, must necessarily inspire us. We cannot +but regret to find how early, in many of the Puritan communities, that +piety became tinged with fanaticism, and that free spirit degenerated +into bigotry and intolerance in their treatment of others, who had an +equal claim with themselves to a freedom of private judgement, and to +the adoption or rejection of any peculiar forms or mode of discipline. + +It is hoped, that a story founded on the history of these admirable, +but sometimes misguided, men, may prove interesting to many who have +hitherto been but slightly acquainted with the fate of their self- +exiled countrymen; and may tend to remove the prejudice with which, in +many minds, they are regarded: for, while we remember their errors and +infirmities, we should also remember that their faults were essentially +those of the age in which they lived, and the education they had +received; while their virtues were derived from the pure faith that +they possessed, and which was dearer to them than aught on earth +beside. + +KING’S PYON HOUSE, +HEREFORD + + + +THE +PILGRIMS OF NEW ENGLAND. + + + +CHAPTER I. + +‘The breaking waves dashed high +On a stern and rock-hound coast: +And the woods against a stormy sky, +Their giant branches tost. +And the heavy night hung dark +The hills and waters o'er, +When a hand of exiles moored their bark +On the wild New England shore.’ HEMANS. + +It was, indeed, a ‘stern and rock-bound coast’ beneath which the +gallant little Mayflower furled her tattered sails, and dropped her +anchor, on the evening of the eleventh of November, in the year 1620. +The shores of New England had been, for several days, dimly descried by +her passengers, through the gloomy mists that hung over the dreary and +uncultivated tract of land towards which their prow was turned; but the +heavy sea that dashed against the rocks, the ignorance of the captain +and his crew with regard to the nature of the coast, and the crazy +state of the deeply-laden vessel, had hitherto prevented their making +the land. At length the ship was safely moored in a small inlet, +beyond the reach of the foaming breakers; and the Pilgrim Fathers +hastened to leave the vessel in which they had so long been imprisoned, +and, with their families, to set foot on the land that was henceforth +to be their home. Cold, indeed, was the welcome which they received +from their adopted country; and cheerless was the view that met their +gaze, as they landed on a massy rock of granite, at the foot of a +precipitous cliff, and looked along the barren, inhospitable shore, and +over the dark waters which they had so lately crossed. + +But hope was strong in the hearts of these exiles; and the faith that +had led them to seek these untrodden shores, had not deserted them +during their long and tempestuous voyage; and they looked upward +through the gloom and dreariness that surrounded them, and fixed their +trusting eyes on Him who had guided them in safety over the great deep, +and brought them at length to a resting-place. Their first act was to +kneel down on the cold rock, and offer up their prayers and praises to +that God for whose sake they had given up country, and friends, and +home, and to whose service they now dedicated themselves and their +children: and strikingly grand must have been that act of worship. The +manly voices of the sturdy Pilgrims rose in deep and solemn unison, +followed by those of the women and children, and resounded along the +silent coast, while the heavy urges of the receding tide kept up a +hoarse and monotonous accompaniment. Then arose a hymn of +thanksgiving--and the rocks and the neighboring hills re-echoed the +exulting strain, that seemed to drown the voices of the wind and the +waves, and to rise unmixed to heaven. It was the triumph of faith--the +holy and heartfelt expression of undying trust and confidence in God! +Surely, at that time, the Pilgrims were meet objects for the admiring +gaze of men and angels! But they were not always so. + +It was on the shore of Cape Cod Bay that the new settlers had landed, +in the inlet now called New Plymouth Harbor: but this was not the place +of their original destination. They had intended to steer for the +mouth of Hudson's River, and to have fixed their habitation in that +less exposed and inhospitable district. But the Dutch had already +conceived the project, which they afterwards accomplished, of settling +in that part of the new continent; and it is supposed that the captain +of the Mayflower was bribed by them to convey the English emigrants +further to the north; so that the first American land which they beheld +was Cape Cod. They found that the place where they had landed was +beyond the precincts of the territory which had been granted to them; +and even beyond that of the Company from which they derived their right +of colonization; and after exploring hastily the neighboring coast, and +finding it dreary and unpromising, they again embarked, and insisted on +the captain's conveying them to the district which they had first +desired to reach. They sailed to the south, and many days were lost in +endeavoring to find a more convenient spot for their settlement: but it +was in vain. The shoals and the breakers with which the coast was +lined, presented obstacles that were insurmountable at that advanced, +and unusually inclement, season; and, weary and disheartened, they +returned to the place of their first landing. There they fixed their +abode, and there they founded the infant city of New Plymouth. It was a +desolate situation, and one that subjected the new settlers to many +trials and privations; for the nearest English settlements then +established were upwards of five hundred miles distant. Winter having +set in with more than common severity, they felt that no more time +could be wasted in seeking for a better spot, on which to build their +first American habitations. Sickness also had begun to show itself +among the little band of men, women, and children who were all +unaccustomed to the hardships and confinement of a long voyage; and it +was necessary to disembark with all possible speed, and erect huts to +shelter them from the daily increasing inclemency of the weather. For +this purpose, the forests of oak, pine, juniper, and sassafras, that +had grown undisturbed for centuries along the coast, furnished them +with abundant materials; and the woods soon echoed to the unaccustomed +sound of the hatchet and the saw, at which all the men, of every rank +and condition, labored unremittingly, while the women and children +gathered up the great muscles, and other shell-fish, which abounded on +the shore, and collected dry wood for firing. + +But before we follow the settlers in the detail of their sufferings and +trials, and of their ultimate success and prosperity, it will be +needful to go back a few years, and consider the motives that led these +brave men to expose themselves and their families to such severe +hardships, and to abandon their home and their kindred. A brief glance +at their previous history will suffice for this purpose. + +It is well known that the Puritans were greatly dissatisfied with the +state of the Church in England at the time when James the First +ascended the throne of this country. From him they hoped for protection +and encouragement; but in this expectation they were grievously +disappointed. The conference at Hampton Court proved how little +sympathy he entertained for their party; and the convocation which was +held soon after utterly all their hopes. Already a considerable number +of these dissenters had joined themselves into what they called a +_'Church Estate,_ pledged to walk in God's ways,' and to renounce the +evil passions of the world. They had protested against the episcopal +form of church government, and declared their approval of the +discipline and the forms adopted by the Church of Geneva, and also of +that established in the Netherlands. In order to enjoy the liberty in +ecclesiastical matters which they so greatly desired, they made up +their minds to retire to Amsterdam, under their excellent and respected +pastor, John Robinson; and this project was effected by the greater +number of their party; though some were discovered before they could +embark, and were detained and imprisoned, and treated with much +severity. Ultimately, however, they all escaped, and remained +unmolested at Amsterdam and the Hague, until the year 16O8, when they +removed to Leyden with their pastor, where they resided for eleven +years, and were joined by many others who fled from England during the +early part of the reign of James. + +These men now felt that their only hope of enjoying perfect religious +liberty, and of establishing a church according to their own dearly- +loved principles, lay in a voluntary exile. Their English prejudices +made them shrink from continuing to dwell among the Dutch, who had +hitherto given them a hospitable asylum; for they feared that, by +frequent intermarriages, they should eventually lose their nationality; +and they resolved to seek a new home, where they might found an English +colony, and, while they followed that mode of worship which was alone +consistent with their views and principles; might still be subjects of +the English crown, and keep up an intercourse with the friends they +dearly loved, and the land where their forefathers had lived and died. + +The recent discovery of the vast continent of America, in several parts +of which the British had already begun to form colonies, opened to them +a field of enterprise, as well as a quiet refuge from persecution and +controversy; and thither the Puritans turned their eyes. Nor were they +the first who had taken advantage of the unoccupied wastes of the New +World, and sought in them an asylum from intolerant oppression. Already +a numerous band of French Huguenots had retired thither, under the +conduct of their celebrated Calvinistic leader, De Monts, who was +invested with the government of the district lying between Montreal and +Philadelphia, by a patent from his sovereign, Henry the Fourth. No +traces of this colony now remain, while those planted by the English +Puritans have taken root in the American soil, and flourished so +greatly, that a few years ago their descendants were found to amount to +4,000,000: so remarkably has the blessing of God, at least in temporal +matters, been bestowed on an enterprise which was, doubtless, +undertaken in dependence on His protection; and was carried out with +that fortitude and resolution which are the results of sincere piety +struggling with deep adversity.[*] + +[Footnote: For this account of the cause which led to the emigration of +the Puritans, and the manner in which they effected it, the authoress +is chiefly indebted to Marden’s ‘History of the Puritans,’ and Talvi’s +‘History of the Colonization of America.’] + +The idea of retiring to the shores of America was first suggested to +his followers by their pastor, John Robinson, whose influence over his +flock was almost unexampled. This influence was derived from the purity +of his life, and the holy consistency of his conduct. He was possessed +of a gentle temper; and the strictness of his religious principles was +united with a spirit of toleration towards others, which was too little +felt or practiced in those days, and which was not, as is too often the +case, changed into bitterness by the sufferings that he had himself +experienced. Well had it been for those who professed to be guided by +his example and advice, and who left the shores of Europe with the +sanction of his counsel and his blessing, if they had carried with them +the truly Christian spirit of their respected minister, and had +suffered that spirit to guide them in the formation, and during the +growth, of their infant church in America! But, as we shall presently +see, this was not the case: the mercy and toleration which the Puritan +exiles had vainly asked at the hands of their brethren at home, they +denied to others who differed from them; and, consequently, while they +have so greatly prospered in the things of this world, in religion they +have evidently declined. + +Emigration being resolved on, the first step that was taken by the +Puritans, was an application to King James for an assurance of +protection and toleration in the new home which they desired to seek; +but this was more than the wary king would guarantee to them. All that +they could obtain was a vague promise, that so long as they conducted +themselves peaceably, they should not be molested; and, relying on this +promise, they immediately commenced a negotiation with the Virginian +Company, for the possession of a tract of land within the limits of the +patent which had been granted to them for colonizing that part of +America. This was easily obtained; for the Society had hitherto only +been able to occupy a few isolated spots of their extensive territory, +and, therefore, were willing to encourage fresh settlers. + +The congregation over which Robinson presided, amounted, at the time of +their intended emigration, to upwards of three hundred in number; but +their resources were inadequate to the expense of moving all together, +and it was therefore arranged that only a part of the flock should sail +at first, under the guidance of William Brewster; while the rest should +remain at Leyden, under the care of their pastor, and wait for the +report of their friends before they followed them to their chosen place +of exile. + +The names of the vessels which were engaged to convey the Pilgrims from +the shores of Europe, were the Mayflower and the Speedwell--names still +cherished by heir descendants. When they were ready for sea, the whole +congregation assembled themselves together, and observed a solemn fast, +which concluded with prayer; and Robinson preached to them from Ezra +viii, 21: 'Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that +we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way +for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.' He +afterwards addressed them in a deeply impressive speech, in which he +earnestly deprecated all party spirit and bigotry, and exhorted them to +be guided only by the pure doctrines of God's Word. + +'I charge you,' said this truly Christian and evangelical minister, +'that you follow me no further than you have seen me follow the Lord +Jesus Christ. The Lord has more truth yet to break forth out of his +Holy Word. I cannot sufficiently bewail the condition of the reformed +churches, which are come to a period in religion, and will go, at +present, no further than the instruments of their reformation. Luther +and Calvin were great and shining lights in their times, yet they +penetrated not into the whole counsel of God. The Lutherans cannot be +drawn to go beyond what Luther saw; and the Calvinists, you see, stick +fast where they were left by that great man of God.[*] I beseech you, +remember it--'tis an article of your church covenant--that you shall be +ready to receive whatever truth shall be made known to you from the +Word of God.’ + +[Footnote: See ‘Remarks on the Dangers of the Church,' by Rev. Edward +Bickersteth.] + +The congregation then repaired to the house of their pastor, and +partook of a farewell repast together; after which they proceeded to +Delft Harbor, and there the Pilgrims embarked. Again their minister +offered up fervent prayer in behalf of this portion of his flock who +were about to encounter the dangers of a long voyage, and to seek a +home in an almost unknown land--and then in deep silence they parted. +'No cheers or noisy acclamations resounded along the shore, for such +demonstrations were little in accordance with the usual serious habits +of the Puritans, and still less so with the feelings of sadness which +now oppressed their hearts. But a volley of small shot, and three +pieces of ordnance,' writes Winslow, one of the emigrants, 'announced +to those on shore the hearty courage and affectionate adieus of those +on board; and so, lifting up our hands to one another, and our hearts +to the Lord, we departed.' + +Thus the Pilgrims set sail, with mingled feelings of hope for the +future, and regret for what they left behind; and greatly would their +sorrow have been increased, had they known that they would never again +behold on earth the countenance of their much-loved pastor. They fully +anticipated his following them, with the rest of their brethren, as +soon as they should have found a suitable place of settlement for the +whole congregation. But poverty and other obstacles detained him in +Europe, and he terminated his useful and exemplary life at Leyden. + +The emigrants had not proceeded far on their voyage, when it was +discovered that the Mayflower, commanded by Captain Jones, was in need +of some repairs; and the two vessels put into Dartmouth--not to sail +together again. The captain of the Speedwell declared that he was +afraid to encounter the voyage; and from this, or some other motive, he +positively refused to proceed any further. Several of the passengers +also, had already begun to feel disheartened, and they returned with +him to London, and abandoned the enterprise altogether. Doubtless, the +Pilgrims bad no cause to lament the departure of these faint-hearted +comrades; but it occasioned them much present inconvenience, for, not +being able to procure another vessel to convey the remainder of the +passengers who had embarked in the Speedwell, they were all obliged to +be crowded into the Mayflower, which sailed again on the sixth of +September, 1620, with considerably upwards of a hundred men, women, and +children on her narrow decks, in addition to her own crew of seamen. + +After a very tedious and tempestuous voyage, they came in sight of the +American shores on the eighth of November; and, as we have already +seen, they landed three days afterwards in Cape Cod Bay, and eventually +founded the city of New Plymouth at the place of their disembarkation. +A portion of the granite rock on which the Pilgrim Fathers first set +foot has since been removed from the coast, and placed in front of' +‘The Pilgrim's Hall,' enclosed in an iron railing; and the anniversary +of their landing, afterwards called Forefather's-day, has ever since +been observed by their descendants as a day of solemn festivity, in +remembrance of the mercy of Providence, which led them safely through +so many difficulties and dangers; and permitted them to find a new +home, and a new country, and to bring their enterprise to such a +prosperous issue. + +It is with the first period of their establishment on the uncultivated +shores of North America that our story commences; and it is connected +with the sufferings and privations which were so patiently endured, and +the difficulties which were so resolutely overcome, by these devoted +men, before they had taken root in their new settlement, or gathered +around themselves and their families the comforts which they had +abandoned in their own land for conscience sake. Many trials awaited +them ere prosperity became their portion, and ere they could feel +either rest or security in the wild regions where they had sought a +refuge: and these trials will be brought more distinctly to our minds, +if we view them in connection with some of the individuals of the +expedition, and follow the fortunes of one family more particularly. +This family we will call by the name of Maitland, and endeavor in their +somewhat imaginary history, to describe the mode of life, and some of +the joys and sorrows--the difficulties and successes--of the Pilgrim +Fathers. + +Owing to the many delays which the emigrants had experienced, a severe +winter had set in before they landed, and had fixed a spot for their +permanent abode; and they found themselves exposed to the inclemency of +a North climate, with no other shelter than a few tents, besides that +which the vessel continued to afford. In haste they felled the trees of +the neighboring forests; and in haste they constructed the village of +log huts which was to be their present abode, and which, ultimately, +grew into the flourishing and wealthy city of New Plymouth. In the +erection of this hamlet, no head was so fertile in plans and +expedients, and no arms were so strong to execute them, as those of +Rodolph Maitland, the head of the family in whom we are specially +interested. He was a younger member of a very respectable family in +the North of England, and had passed his youth and early manhood in the +service of his country as a soldier. This profession, however, became +distasteful to him when the religious dissensions which troubled the +land called on him, at times, to obey his commander in carrying out +schemes of oppression which were contrary both to his feelings and his +principles. His marriage with Helen Seatown, the daughter of a +nonconforming minister, increased his repugnance to bearing arms, which +might be turned against the party to which he was now so closely +connected; and he threw up his commission, and soon afterwards +accompanied his father-in-law to Holland, and joined the congregation +of the respected Robinson at Leyden. + +Here he continued to reside until the resolution to emigrate was formed +by the Puritan refugees, when he was among the first to embrace the +proposition of the pastor, and to lend all the aid which his +comparative wealth, and the influence of his connections in England, +enabled him to offer in furtherance of the enterprise. His father-in- +law had died soon after his arrival at Leyden; but his amiable and +devoted wife was most willing to follow him in his voluntary exile, and +to take her children to the New World, where she hoped to bring them up +in the same principles of pure evangelical religion which she had +learnt from her own parents, and which were dearer to her than home or +friends or aught on earth besides. + +At the time when the Pilgrims reached America, the Maitland’s family +consisted of two sons, Henrich and Ludovico; the elder of whom was +sixteen years of age, and the younger about seven; and one little girl +between ten and eleven, named Edith. In the thoughtful seriousness of +his eldest boy, which was united with great intelligence and spirit, +and a manly resolution beyond his years, Rodolph saw his own character +again depicted; and Helen proudly hoped that her Henrich would one day +manifest all those qualities of mind and person by which his father had +first won her admiration and love, and by which he had since gained the +esteem and affection of all who were in any way connected with him. +Henrich was now old enough to understand, and almost to appreciate, the +motives which had induced his parents and their companions to become +exiles from home: and his young heart exulted in the resolution that +freed him from the cold formality of Dutch manners, and opened to his +adventurous spirit a prospect of liberty and enterprise, far better +suited to his inclination and character. Religious freedom he desired, +because he had been taught that it was his rightful privilege, and that +the want of it had occasioned those troubles which first drove his +parents and friends from their native land. But personal freedom he +yearned for with his whole soul; and the wild shores of New England, +and the depths of the unexplored forests that now met his eager gaze, +filled his ardent mind with anticipations of adventurous joys hitherto +unknown to him. These anticipations were destined to be fulfilled, ere +long, in a manner which he neither foresaw nor desired. + +His brother Ludovico was a playful child, too young to share all the +feelings of the earnest Henrich, who always acted as his guide and +protector during their sports and rambles; but in the gentle little +Edith he found a kindred spirit, and a heart that could sympathize in +all his joys and sorrows. Young as she was, Edith felt the influence of +her brother's character; and she looked up to him with feelings of +devoted love and admiring pride. She was his constant companion, and +his ever-ready assistant in all his difficulties. This had been very +much the case during their residence in Holland; but on their arrival +in New England, Edith was left still more to her brother's guidance. +Their parents were necessarily too much occupied with the cares end +anxieties which their new situation brought upon them, to devote much +time to their children; and when the light labors in which Henrich and +Edith were able to render any assistance were over, they and Ludovico +amused themselves by wandering along the shore in search of shells and +seaweed; or else they followed the wood-cutters into the forest, to +seek for such flowering plants as still were to be found in the more +sheltered spots, and to transplant them to the garden that was to +surround and embellish their rude dwelling. + +As soon as a tolerable shelter had been obtained, by the erection of a +sufficient number of log-huts, to contain the families of the settlers, +it was resolved that a party of men should go on an exploring +expedition, and endeavor to ascertain the nature and resources of the +coast on which they had landed; and, also, whether it was inhabited by +any tribes of native Indians. Hitherto they had seen no human beings, +and they had remained undisturbed possessors of the soil. But they +could hardly expect that this state of things would long continue; and +they were anxious, if possible, to discover the native inhabitants and +natural possessors of the country, and to establish friendly relations +with them. + +Sixteen of the Pilgrims volunteered for this expedition, headed by +Rodolph Maitland, whose military experience, and superior intelligence, +well fitted him to be the leader of the party. The rest of the men +remained to protect their families, and to complete the village; which +already presented a very respectable appearance, and promised to afford +a tolerably comfortable residence to the new settlers, until they +should have leisure and means to erect dwellings more in accordance +with their previous habits of life. + +The government of the little colony was unanimously confided to John +Carver, who was elected President for one year; but he did not live +long to exercise his authority, or to enjoy the confidence reposed in +him by his fellow-settlers. During the short period, however, that he +was spared to them, he exerted himself successfully to promote the +welfare of the community, and to preserve peace and unanimity among the +members of which it was composed; and before the departure of the +exploring party, he called on all the Pilgrim Fathers to sign a +covenant, which had been drawn up during the voyage, and which +contained a statement of the peculiar religious principles of the +congregation, and also of the mode of civil government that they proposed +to establish in the colony. This government was not to be independent +of the mother country, for the Pilgrims regarded themselves as still +being the subjects of King James; and the patent which they had +procured to enable them to settle in New England was granted by the +Company to whom the king had assigned the right of colonizing that part +of North America. They, therefore, intended to be governed mainly by +English laws, and to keep up a constant and intimate connection with +their English brethren. It may be well here to mention that their plan +of civil government consisted in the election of a governor or +president by general vote, and of seven counselors to assist him; the +only privilege granted to the president being that his vote counted +double. This state of things continued for eighteen years, after which +time the growth of the colony rendered a change expedient, and each new +town that was founded sent delegates to a general court. It would, +however, be useless here to follow the political changes of these early +settlers, as it is only with their first form of government that our +story is concerned. + +According to the habitual custom of the Pilgrims, the Sabbath which +preceded the sending forth this band of spies to search the land, was +observed with the utmost solemnity; for no press of occupations--no +necessity for haste--ever induced them to neglect this duty. For the +liberty of practicing their own mode of worship, they had sought these +shores; and, having been permitted safely to reach them, they used that +liberty, and were never unmindful of their religious privileges. Every +Sabbath was a day of sacred rest; and every undertaking was sanctified +by prayer; sometimes even, as we shall have occasion to observe, when +the undertaking was such as could hardly be supposed to deserve the +blessing of God. Still, there is every reason to believe that their +piety, as a body, was sincere; and while we condemn the sternness and +severity into which they were too frequently betrayed, we must yield +our heartfelt approbation to the self-denying resolution and +unflinching faith that were their governing principle and their ever- +actuating motive. Well have these principles and motives been +described by a late well-known poet, and well may we conclude this +introductory chapter with the last verse of that exquisite song, with +the first of which we commenced it: + +'What sought they thus afar? + Bright jewels of the mine? +The wealth of seas, the spoils of war? + They sought a faith's pure shrine. +Aye--call it holy ground + The soil where first they trod! +They have left unstain'd what there they found— + Freedom to worship God!' + + + + +CHIAPTER II. + +'In much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, In distresses… As +having nothing, and yet possessing all things.'--2 COR. vi, 4, 10. + +'Is it not much that I may worship Him, +With naught my spirit's breathings to control, +And feel His presence in the vast, and dim, +And whispering woods, where dying thunders roll + From the far cat'racts?' HEMANS. + +With some anxiety the settlers saw the exploring party set out on their +hazardous enterprise. The season was far advanced, and drifting +snowstorms gave warning of the inclement winter that was rapidly +setting in. Still it was deemed necessary to make some investigation +into the nature of the country, and to endeavor to obtain, if possible, +a supply of provisions before the increasing severity of the weather +should render it impracticable to do so. But, above all, it was +desirable to ascertain what native tribes dwelt in the vicinity of the +settlement, and to use every means to establish friendly relations with +them; not only because such a course would be most in accordance with +the principles of the Gospel which the emigrants professed to hold and +to practice, but also because, in the present state of the infant +colony, they were altogether unprepared to resist any attack that might +be made on them by a large body of Indians. + +Maitland led his party inland at first, and for two days they saw no +traces or human inhabitants; but on the afternoon of the third day, as +they were looking about for a convenient spot on which to encamp for +the night, some large and apparently artificial mounds of earth were +observed, scattered over an open glade in the forest. At the first +glance, they appeared like dwelling places; and, knowing something of +the habits of the Indians, Rodolph and two of his companions approached +them warily, fearing to surprise and irritate the inhabitants. But +after making a circuit, and ascertaining that these supposed huts had +no doorways, they went up to them, and found them to be solid mounds, +at the foot of which neatly plaited baskets, filled with ears of maize, +were placed. These were eagerly seized upon; and a further search being +made, several warlike and agricultural implements were discovered +buried beneath the surface of the earth. It was evident that these +mounds were native graves, and that they had recently been visited by +the tribe to which they belonged, who most probably resided in the +neighborhood. Therefore, to avoid exciting their displeasure and +jealousy, Rodolph caused all the weapons and other tools to be restored +to their places; and, in exchange for the corn, which was too much +needed to be left behind, he put into the baskets several strings of +beads, and other trifles, with which he was provided for the purpose of +barter, or as presents to the natives. + +It did not appear either safe or desirable to remain near a spot so +sacred to the Indians; the party therefore moved further into the depth +of the forest, where they erected their tents, which consisted merely +of blankets supported on poles; and, lighting large fires, they slept +by turns, while half their number kept a vigilant watch. Their rest +was, however, undisturbed, either by lurking Indians or by prowling +beasts of prey; and at day-break they resumed their march, in the hope +of discovering the native camp. But their search was in vain; and +Rodolph determined to leave the forest, and return to the settlement +along the shore, hoping there to find some traces of the natives. +Before he and his comrades left the shelter of the wood, they fired +their muskets at the small game which abounded in every direction, +partly with a view to supply themselves with food, and partly to +attract the notice of any straggling Indians who might be wandering +near, and who would conduct them to their wigwams. But the echoes were +the only sounds that answered their reports, and it was clear that no +native camp was within hearing. + +The place where Maitland and his little band reached the coast was +nearly twenty leagues from the settlement, towards the north, and has +since been known by the name of Angoum. Here they found two empty +huts, containing all the curiously-worked utensils used by the Indians +of that district—bowls, trays, and dishes, formed of calabashes and +carved wood or bark; and beautiful baskets constructed of crabshells, +ingeniously wrought together, with well-woven mats of grass and +bulrushes, dyed of various brilliant colors. The inhabitants had +probably gone on a fishing expedition, and would return in a few days, +as they had left behind them a considerable quantity of dried acorns, +which, at that period, formed a common article of food with these +children of the forest. + +Rodolph suffered nothing to be taken from the huts, but proceeded along +the coast in a southerly direction and, at length, he perceived two +canoes at a considerable distance from the shore, containing several +Indians, who took no notice of the signals they made, but rowed rapidly +away on an opposite course. Finding it useless to linger any longer in +this part of the bay, Maitland led his party back to the settlement at +New Plymouth, taking accurate observations of the line of coast, and +communicated to President Carver all the information that he had been +able to collect. This was not very satisfactory; and the governor +resolved to send out a second party, well armed, who should proceed in +the shallop to the southern part of Cape Cod Bay. This expedition was +placed under the command of Captain Standish, who was regarded as the +military chief of the settlers; and Maitland again formed one of the +number. On this occasion he obtained permission to take Henrich with +him, as he wished the boy to become early inured to the hardships and +privations which it would probably be his lot to bear for many years, +and also to acquire habits of courage and vigilance that might be of +service to him hereafter. Henrich was delighted with this arrangement, +which gratified his desire for adventure, and also proved that his +father now placed some confidence in him, and no longer regarded him as +a mere child. His astonishment was great when first he beheld the +whales, those huge and fearful-looking monsters of the ocean, lifting +their gigantic heads above the waves, and lashing the surface to foam +with their powerful tails; or ejecting vast spouts of water like +fountains, from their upraised heads. These, and many other strange +objects, attracted his attention as the boat moved down the bay; but +all were forgotten in the absorbing interest with which he regarded, +for the first time, the wild red men that met his view as the boat +neared the shore, at a spot about eight leagues from New Plymouth, +called by the Pilgrims _Thievish Harbor._ Several of these savages, in +their strange attire of skins, and feathers, and woven grasses, showed +themselves among the rocks that stood above the landing-place; but, +regardless of the peaceful signs that were made to them by Captain +Standish and his crew, they hastily retreated and when the party +disembarked, not an Indian was to be seen. With much circumspection, +the captain advanced at the head of his resolute band, who all held +their muskets ready for action, if self-defense should compel them to +use them; but with a positive order from their commander to refrain +from any act of hostility so long as it was possible to do so. + +This command could not, however, be long obeyed; for as the party +proceeded through the rocks and stunted trees that lined the coast, +they came in sight of a burial ground, similar to that which had been +discovered in the first expedition, except that, in this case, the +mounds of earth were enclosed by a strong palisade of upright poles, +bound together firmly at the top. Through the interstices of these +poles, Standish and his men saw the glittering eyes of the savages +watching their approach; and before they could decide whether to +advance or retreat, a shower of arrows was discharged, several of which +took effect, though not mortally. This wanton aggression roused the +spirit of the sturdy Englishmen, and regardless of the efforts which +Captain Standish made to restrain them, a volley of musket balls +instantly replied to the challenge of the red men; and the wild cries +that arose from the cemetery plainly told that they had not sped in +vain. Even Rodolph Maitland was surprised out of his usual calm +resolution and presence of mind; for he saw his son fall bleeding to +the ground, pierced through the leg by an arrow, and almost +involuntarily he fired off his musket at an Indian whose body was more +exposed than the rest, and whose greater profusion of ornament showed +him to be one of their chief warriors. Rodolph saw him fall from the +palisades on which he had climbed to take a better aim at the white +men; and instantly a gate was opened in the enclosure, and, with a +hideous yell, the savages rushed forth, brandishing their spears and +battle-axes, and shouting their war-cry, 'Woach! woach! ha, ha, hach, +woach!' Their number appeared to be about thirty men; and Standish knew +that his party, several of whom were already slightly wounded, could +not resist the fury of their attack. He therefore gave the word for an +instant retreat to the boat, as the only means of safety. His gallant +band would gladly have pressed on, and met the savages in close combat; +but they had promised to obey their leader, and reluctantly they +followed him to the shore. + +The path by which they had emerged on the burial-place was narrow and +winding, and they were soon hidden from the sight of the Indians; but +they heard their wild whoop among the rocks and bushes, and knew that +they were in eager pursuit. Maitland had caught up his wounded boy in +his arms, and now bore him rapidly forward; but the weight of his +burden, and the roughness of the way, retarded his steps and, powerful +as he was, he could not keep up with his comrades, who were unconscious +that he had fallen behind them. He thought of his wife--of Henrich's +mother--and he pat forth his utmost strength. Still the war cry came +nearer and nearer; and Henrich, who had hitherto uttered no sound of +pain, or word of complaint exclaimed wildly-- + +‘Father! I see them! There--there--they have entered the thicket, and +one has climbed the rock, and will soon overtake us. O, father, fly! +for his battle-axe is lifted up, and his eyes glare terribly' + +Maitland's heart beat furiously. He could not pause, or turn, to look +at the coming foe; but his quick and ready mind was active in devising +some means of saving the life of his child. + +'Load my gun, Henrich!' he exclaimed. 'I cannot long continue this +speed. Be steady, and be quick: our lives depend upon it!' + +The gallant boy instantly obeyed the difficult command; and the instant +it was done, Rodolph dropped on one knee, supported his bleeding son on +the other, and taking a deliberate aim at the Indian, who was preparing +to leap from the rock into the path behind them, he fired. The upraised +arms of the savage fell powerless--the heavy axe dropped from his +hand--and, falling forward over the rock, he lay expiring in the narrow +pathway. The feathery coronets of several of his comrades were seen +above the bushes at some distance: and again the father raised his son, +who now hung fainting in his arms, and hurried, with renewed speed, +towards the shore. As he neared it, he met two of his companions who, +having reached the boat, had missed him and Henrich, and hastened back +to secure their retreat. It was a seasonable reinforcement, for +Rodolph's strength was failing him. He gave his boy into the arms of +one of his friends, and loading his gun, he stood with the other, to +defend the passage to the shore. The savages came on; and the white men +fired, and retreated, loading as they fell back, and again firing; +until their pursuers, either wounded or disheartened, came to a stand +still, and contented themselves with yelling their discordant war-cry, +and shooting arrows, which happily missed their aim. + +The whole party embarked safely, and were soon beyond the reach of the +missiles which the Indians continued to discharge; and Maitland had the +joy of seeing young Henrich speedily recover his senses, and his spirit +too. It was evident that the arrows used by the red men on this +occasion were not poisoned, and no great or permanent evil was likely +to arise from any of the wounds received; but a spirit of hostility had +been established between the settlers and the Nausett tribe, to which +their assailants belonged, and Rodolph was a marked man, and an object +of determined revenge, to all who had shared in the conflict. The spot +where it took place was named _the First Encounter,_ in memory of the +event, and long retained that name: and the consequences of this first +combat proved to be equally calamitous to the savages, and to their +more civilized foes, for many subsequent years. + +The exploring party returned to their settlement as speedily as +possible, being anxious to obtain medical relief for the wounded. +Helen Maitland and her children were wandering on the shore when the +boat first came in sight; and for several evenings the desolate coast +had been her constant haunt, after the necessary labors of the day were +completed. It had been with much reluctance that she had consented to +her husband's wish of taking Henrich on the hazardous expedition; and +his being of the party had greatly increased the anxiety and uneasiness +which Rodolph's absence always caused her. As the days passed on, this +anxiety became greater; and visions of fatal encounters with the +savages beset her naturally timid mind. Daily therefore she left her +hut, and wrapped in the mantle of fur with which her husband had +provided her before he brought her to brave a North American winter, +she paced backwards and forwards on the beach, looking out over the +dark waters, and lifting her heart in prayer for the safe and speedy +return of the wanderers. Edith and Ludovico accompanied her but they +could not share her anxiety. They looked, indeed, with eagerness for +the expected boat which was to bring back their much-loved father and +brother; but they soon forgot the object of their search, and amused +themselves by climbing the rocks, and gathering the shells which the +wintry waves now cast up in abundance. + +They were thus engaged when Edith happened to glance to the south and +saw the long desired coming round a little promontory that concealed it +from her mother as she walked below. In an instant the treasure of +shells and seaweed was forgotten, and little Edith was bounding down to +the beach, followed by Ludovico. + +'The boat mother, the boat!' she eagerly exclaimed, as she pointed in +the direction in which it was approaching; and in another moment she +and her little brother were at Helen's side, and all hastening to the +landing-place--that very granite rock on which they had first +disembarked on the American shore. The boat came rear; and as soon as +the crew perceived Helen and the children on the rock, they raised a +hearty cheer to tell her that all was well. She saw her husband +standing on the prow, and her heart bounded with joy; but she looked +for Henrich, and she did not see him, and fear mingled with her joy. A +few more strokes of the oars, and the boat glided up to the rock, and +Rodolph leaped on shore, and embraced his wife and children. + +'Heaven be praised! you are safe, my Rodolph,' exclaimed Helen. 'But +where is Henrich?--where is my boy?’ + +'He also is safe, Helen. His life is preserved; but he is wounded, and +unable to come from the boat to meet you. Bear up,' he added, seeing +that she trembled violently, while the tears flowed down her blanched +cheeks 'you need not fear: the brave boy is maimed, indeed, but I +trust not seriously injured. He is weak from loss of blood, and must +not be agitated; therefore meet him cheerfully, and then hasten to make +the arrangements for his comfort that your scanty means will permit.' + +Helen dried her tears, and forced, a smile to greet her wounded child, +who was now being lifted from the bottom of the boat, and gently +carried on shore by two of the men. His pallid countenance, and blood- +stained garments, struck a chill to her heart; but she concealed her +grief, and silenced the sobs and exclamations of the warm-hearted +little Edith and her terrified brother; and then, having affectionately +welcomed the almost fainting boy, she hurried away with the children to +prepare for his reception in the comfortless log-hut. + +Assisted by Janet--the faithful servant who had nursed her children, +and followed her from England to Holland, and from Holland to America-- +she soon arranged a bed for their patient; and Henrich smiled +cheerfully, though languidly, when he found himself again beneath the +humble roof that was now his home, and surrounded by all whom he loved. +His wound proved to be a severe one--more so than his father had +imagined; and the loss of blood had been so considerable that he was +reduced to extreme weakness. Now it was that Helen felt the absence of +all the comforts, and even luxuries, to which she had been accustomed +from childhood, but of whose loss she had hitherto never complained. +Henrich's illness proved a very long and painful one; and +notwithstanding the kindness of all her friends, and the attentions +paid by the rest of the settlers to the young patient--who was a +general favorite--it was difficult to procure for him either the food +or the medical attendance that his case required: and frequently his +parents feared that a foreign grave would soon be all that would remain +to them of their dearly-loved child. + +To add to their anxiety and distress, an epidemic disease, of which +some signs had appeared in the settlement before the exploring party +set out, now increased to a fearful degree. The stores which had been +brought out in the crowded Mayflower were nearly expended, except such +a stock as Captain Jones considered necessary for the voyage back to +England: and a great scarcity of bread began to be felt. The animals, +which they procured by the gun and the chase, were not sufficient to +supply the wants of the settlers, and famine--actual famine--stared +them in the face, and increased the violence of the pestilence. Many +sank beneath the accumulated evils of hardship, privation, and +sickness, and the number of the little settlement was sadly reduced +during the inclement months of January and February. + +The constant care which was bestowed on Henrich at length proved +effectual in healing his wound, and partially restoring his strength; +and his parents had, eventually, the happiness of seeing that the a +anger was past, and their son was restored to them. They also had cause +to acknowledge, with gratitude, that the affliction had been blessed to +him as well as to themselves. The elders of the community, who acted as +the pastors of the infant colony, were unwearied in their attentions to +their weaker and more distressed brethren. They were, indeed, the +physicians both of their bodies and souls; and Henrich was not +neglected by them. The excellent and venerable William Brewster was the +intimate and valued friend of Rodolph Maitland and his wife. He had +been both their friend and adviser for many years of comparative peace +and prosperity; and now that he shared their troubles and adversities, +his ready sympathy, and active kindness, rendered him dearer to them +than ever. + +Brewster was a man whose character and position in life naturally gave +him great influence with the Pilgrim Fathers. He had received a liberal +education, and possessed a far greater knowledge of the world than the +generality of his companions in exile, having been brought up as a +diplomatist under Davison, when he was Secretary of State to Queen +Elisabeth. He was devoted to the cause of religious liberty; and it was +he who had assisted his friend, John Robinson, in withdrawing his +congregation from the persecution that threatened them in England, to a +peaceful asylum in Holland. At the time of the emigration to America, +he was already in the decline of life; but his energies were in no +degree weakened, and his zeal for the glory of God, and the good of his +fellow Christians, was unabated. + +He desired to spend all his remaining years in promoting the welfare of +the colony, and in proclaiming the Gospel to the heathen; and while he +was ever mindful of the wants, both spiritual and temporal, of the +flock ever whom he was appointed to preside, until their pastor +Robinson could join them, he never forgot the grand object of his +voluntary exile, or ceased to pray that the Lord would be pleased to +open 'a great door and effectual,' before him, and enable him to bring +many of the savage and ignorant natives into the fold of Christ. In +all these plans he was warmly seconded by Edward Winslow, but hitherto +no such opening had appeared and the sickness and distress which +prevailed in the settlement gave full occupation to them and to their +brother elders. During all the period of Henrich's tedious illness, not +a day passed in which Brewster did not visit the suffering boy to +cheer him, to soothe him, and, above all, to prepare him for that +better world to which he then believed he was surely hastening. To +these visits Henrich looked forward with delight; and often, when +domestic business called away his mother and Janet, the minister would +remain with him for hours, seated on a low stool by of his bed, and +read to him, or talk to him, in a strain so holy and yet so cheerful, +that Edith would leave her work and softly seat herself on Henrich's +couch, that she might catch his every word, while little Ludovico would +cease from his noisy sports, and creep up on the good man's knee, and +fix his large soft eyes on his sweet and noble countenance. + +These hours were not unimproved by Henrich. His character was formed, +and his principles were fixed, and his mind and spirit grew strong and +ripe beyond his years. Never were these hours of peaceful happiness +forgotten; and often amid the strange and stirring scenes which it was +his lot in after-life to witness and to share, did he bless the over- +ruling providence of God, which had laid him on a bed of pain and +weakness, that he might learn lessons of piety and of usefulness, which +otherwise he would never have acquired. + +It was while they were thus happily engaged one afternoon, when Henrich +was slowly recovering his strength, that the elder and his young +audience were startled by wild and discordant sounds, mingled with +cries of fear, which proceeded from the outskirts of the straggling +village, and seemed to be approaching. Henrich raised himself on his +bed, and a look of terror overspread his countenance, as he exclaimed: +'It is the war cry of the savages! O! I know it well! Go, Mr. +Brewster, fly! save my mother. I will follow you.' + +And the brave boy tried to leap from the couch, and reach his father's +sword, which hung against the wooden walls of his chamber. But it was +in vain; the wounded leg refused to bear his weight, and he was forced +to relinquish his design. Brewster, however, snatched the sword, and +drawing it, rushed from the hut, leaving Edith and Ludovico clinging +with trembling hands around their brother. + +Henrich's fears proved but too true. No sooner had the elder traversed +the enclosure that surrounded Maitland's dwelling, than he beheld +Helen, and several of the other women who had gone out to assist their +husbands in the lighter parts of their agricultural labors, flying in +terror and confusion to their huts, while the men were engaged in close +combat with a party of native Indians. The same war-cry which had rung +on their ears in the first encounter told Rodolph and his comrades that +these savages were of the same tribe, and probably the same individuals +from whom they had escaped with such difficulty on that occasion. They +were right; for it was indeed a band of the Nausetts, who, headed by +their Chief, had come to seek revenge for the loss they had sustained +at their former meeting. The warrior whom Rodolph's musket had laid +low was Tekoa, the only son of the Nausett chief; and he was resolved +that the white man's blood should flow, to expiate the deed. He knew +that the son of the stranger who had slain his young warrior had been +wounded, and, as he hoped, mortally; but that did not suffice for his +revenge, and he had either suddenly attacked the settlement, in the +hope of securing either Rudolph himself or some of his comrades, that +he might shed the white man's blood on the grave of his son, and tear +off their scalps as trophies of victory. + +The settlers who now contended with the savages were but few in number, +for many of the men lay sick, and many had died; and they were mostly +unarmed, except with their agricultural implements. Rudolph and a few +others had short swords, or dirks, attached to their girdles, and with +these they dealt blows that told with deadly effect on the half-naked +bodies of their foes; and the good broad-sword that Brewster quickly +placed in Maitland's hand, was not long in discomfiting several of the +Indians, who had singled him out, at the command of their Chief, as the +special object of their attack. Meanwhile, many of the women, and such +of the invalids as had power to rise, had again left the huts, and +borne to their husbands and friends the arms which had been left in +their dwellings; and in spite of the arrows and darts of the Indians, +by which several of them were wounded, they continued to load the guns +for the combatants while the conflict lasted. Happily this was not +long. The _fire-breathing_ muskets struck terror into the ignorant +savages; and when two or three of their number had fallen, they turned +to fly; first, however, catching up the bodies of their comrades, which +they carried off to ensure their honorable burial, and to save them +from the indignities which they supposed the pale-faces would heap on +the dead. + +In vain their Chief endeavored to rally them, and compel them to +return to the conflict. In vain he waved his battle-axe on high, and +shouted his war-whoop, Woach! woach! ha, ha, hach, woach!' A panic had +seized his followers, and they fled precipitately into the forest from +they had issued, so suddenly and so fiercely, to the attack. One +warrior stood alone by the Chief. He was young and handsome, but his +countenance was dark and sinister and an expression of cunning was +strongly marked in his glittering deep-set eyes and overhanging brows. +He saw that it was hopeless to contend any longer with the powerful +strangers, and, by words and actions, he was evidently persuading the +Chief to retire. The settlers had ceased to fire the moment that their +enemies fled; and there was a deep silence, while every eye was fixed +on the striking figure of the enraged Chief, whose every feature was +distorted by excited passions. He stood with his tomahawk uplifted, +and his tall and muscular figure in an attitude of command and +defiance; while, in a loud and distinct voice, he uttered a vow of +vengeance, the words of which were unintelligible to the settlers, +though the meaning could easily be guessed from his looks and gestures. +Then he hung his battle-axe to his gaudy belt, and pointing his hand at +Rodolph, he retired slowly and majestically like a lion discomfited but +not subdued, to seek his people and to upbraid them with their +cowardice. + +This attack of the Indians effectually destroyed all feelings of +security in the minds of the settlers. Henceforth they were obliged, +like the Jews of old, to go to their labor every man with his sword +girded to his side, and continually to hold themselves in readiness for +a sudden assault. The pestilence continued to rage, and the scarcity of +food increased to such a degree, that for several weeks no bread was to +be been in the settlement. The governor, Mr. Carver, exerted himself +with zeal and benevolence to lesser the misery of his people; but with +so little effect, that when the spring at length set in, and the +captain of the Mayflower prepared to return to England, the little band +of settlers was found to be reduced to one half the original number; +and these were weakened by illness, and by want of proper nourishment. + +But great as were their difficulties and sufferings, their faith and +resolution never failed; and when the Mayflower again set sail for +England, not one of the fifty emigrants who remained expressed a desire +to return. + + + +CHAPTER III. + +‘What men were they? Of dark-brown color, +With sunny redness; wild of eye; their tinged brows +So smooth, as never yet anxiety +Nor busy thought had made a furrow there. +. . . . . . . Soon the courteous guise +Of men, not purporting nor fearing ill, +Won confidence: their wild distrustful looks +Assumed a milder meaning. MADOC. + +We have said that the band of the exiles was reduced to half the number +that had, six months before, left the shores of Europe, so full of hope +and of holy resolution; and still, in spite of all their outward trials +and difficulties, the hope and the resolution of the survivors were as +high and as firm as ever. They trusted in the God whom they had served +so faithfully; and they knew that, in his own good time, he would give +them deliverance. But their days of darkness were not yet over. The +inclemency of the winter had indeed passed away, and the face of nature +began to smile upon them; yet sickness still prevailed, and the many +graves that rose on the spot which they had chosen for a burial ground, +daily reminded them of the losses that almost every family had already +sustained. The grief that had thus been brought upon them by death was +also greatly aggravated by the harassing attacks of the Indians, who +Were evidently still lurking in the neighboring woods; and who now +frequently came in small parties, and committed depredations of every +kind that lay in their power. Their real but concealed object was to +capture Rodolph, either alive or dead; for nothing short of his +destruction, or at least that of some member of his family, could +satisfy the bereaved Chief for the loss of his son. He, therefore, +left a party of his bravest and most subtle warriors in an encampment +about a day's journey from the Christian village, with orders to make +frequent visits to the settlement, and leave no means untried which +either force or cunning could suggest, that might lead to the full +gratification of his revenge. + +The old Chief himself returned to his wigwams, which lay some distance +from New Plymouth, near the burial ground where the ‘first encounter +'had taken place. The detachment was left under the command end +guidance of Coubitant, the young warrior who had stood by him to the +last in the conflict at the village; and who was, since the death of +Tisquantum's son, regarded as the most distinguished of the young +braves of that part of the tribe over which the Sachem ruled. His +cunning, and his ferocious courage, well fitted him for the task +assigned to him; and as the young warrior who fell at 'the first +encounter' had been his chosen friend and companion in arms, his own +desire for vengeance was only second to that of the Chief; and the +malignant gaze which he had fixed on Rodolph when he led Tisquantum +from the field, well expressed the feelings and the determination of +his heart. + +That glance had been seen by Janet; who, on that occasion, had +displayed a courage and resolution hardly to be expected at her +advanced age. She had easily induced her trembling mistress to remain +in the house, whither they had both fled at the first attack of the +Indians; but she had herself returned to the place of conflict, bearing +Rodolph's musket and ammunition, and she bad remained by the side of +Brewster, to whose ready hand she transferred it, until all danger was +over. Then she had fixed her attention on the Chief and his companion; +and the fine form and handsome features of the young Indian warrior +appeared like a statue of bronze, while he stood motionless by +Tisquantum. But when he turned to follow his Chief, the expression +with which he looked at Rodolph transformed his countenance into that +of a demoniac. Janet never forgot that look. + +The state of continual watchfulness and suspense in which the emigrants +were kept by their wary and active foes, was extremely harassing to +their weakened force; so much so, that the President resolved to make +another attempt to establish a friendly intercourse with some other +native tribe, who might, possibly, assist them in driving of' the +Nausetts; and whose friendship would also be useful to them in various +ways. An opportunity for this attempt soon presented itself; for a +party of the settlers, in following the windings of a brook that flowed +through their new town into the sea, in pursuit of wild fowl, came upon +two large and beautiful lakes, about three miles inland. The shores of +these lakes were adorned with clumps of lofty and majestic trees, and +the grass was spangled with wild flowers, and studded with graceful +shrubs and underwood. Among the bushes they descried several fallow +deer, and the surface of the water was animated by flocks of water +fowl, among which the brilliant and graceful wood duck was conspicuous. + +But the objects that chiefly attracted the notice of the sportsmen, +were several wigwams that stood on the further side of the lake, +beneath the shade of some overhanging trees. In front of these huts the +hall-naked children were playing, while the women were pursuing their +domestic occupations. Some were weaving baskets and mats, and others +washing their fishing nets in the lake. But no men were to be seen; and +Rodolph, who, as usual, led the hunting party, determined to approach +the wigwams. In order to show his peaceful intentions, be gave his +musket to one of his companions; and inviting his friend Winslow to do +the same, and to accompany him, he proceeded round the lake. As soon as +the women perceived them, they uttered wild cries of fear; and, +snatching up their children, attempted to escape into the thicket +behind their huts. Rodolph and Winslow then started in pursuit, and +succeeded in capturing one little copper-colored fellow, who was +endeavoring to keep pace with his mother. She could not carry him, for +she had already an infant in her arms, and she knew not that he was in +the power of their dreaded pursuers until she reached the thicket, and +looked back for her boy. He was struggling violently in Maitland's +hands, but not a cry escaped his lips; and when he found all his +efforts to free himself were vain, he gave up the attempt, and stood +motionless, with a look of proud endurance that was highly +characteristic of his race. His mother had less fortitude. She uttered +a shriek that pierced the heart of Rodolph; and laying her infant on +the grass, she almost forgot her own fears, and, in an imploring +attitude, crept forward towards her imaginary foes while her eloquent +eyes pleaded for her child's release more than any words could have +done. Maitland could not resist that appeal. He only detained the boy +until he had hung round his neck several strings of gaily-colored +beads, with which the hunters were always provided, and then he set him +at liberty. + +In an instant the child was in his mother's arms; and when her +passionate caresses had expressed her joy, she waved with a graceful +salutation to the Englishman, and bent to the ground in token of +gratitude. Then she looked at the beads, and her white teeth glittered +as she smiled a sunny smile of delight and admiration at what seemed to +her such priceless treasures. Rodolph drew from the pouch which hung at +his leathern belt a string of beads more brilliant still, and held them +towards the woman. She gazed at them, and then at the frank and open +countenance of the stranger; and fear gave way to the desire of +possessing the offered gift. She slowly approached, holding her child +by the hand, and suffered Rodolph to suspend the gaudy necklace round +her graceful and slender throat. Then she motioned to him to remain, +and ran swiftly to the thicket to bring back her companions, who had +paused in their flight, and were now watching with eager eyes the +actions of the white man. + +Her persuasions, and the sight of her newly-acquired ornament, soon +overcame the remaining fears of her auditors, and all returned in a +body, smiling, and extending their hands, in the hope of receiving +similar gifts. Maitland and Winslow, who had now joined him, divided +all their store of trinkets among the eager applicants; and then, in +return, made signs requesting to be permitted to enter the wigwams. +This request was acceded to; and Apannow--for that was the name of the +female who had first approached the strangers--led the way to the hut +in the center of the village, which was larger and better appointed +than any one of the rest. It was evidently the dwelling of the chief of +the tribe; and the beautifully carved implements which hung to the +walls, and the skulls and scalps that adorned the roof, showed that its +possessor was a distinguished warrior. + +Apannow brought forth the best refreshment that her hut afforded, and +placed it with a native grace before her guests, inviting them to +partake of it, and first tasting of each article herself, to show that +it was harmless. Her gentle and intelligent manners greatly interested +Rudolph and his companion; and by degrees they succeeded in obtaining +from her, and the other women who crowded the wigwam, such information +as they chiefly desired. By expressive signs and gestures, they were +made to understand that all the red men were gone on a fishing +expedition to the head of the further lake, and would not return until +the morrow. They afterwards learnt, also, that the village had only been +occupied for a few days, as it was merely the summer residence of a part +of the tribe of the Wampanoge Indians, who, with their chief, annually +repaired to that beautiful station for the purpose of fishing in the +extensive lakes. The rest of the tribe were located in various places to +the west, occupying the district since known as the state of Rhode +Island. + +Maitland and Winslow took leave of their new friends, intimating that +they would return and seek an interview with the Chief in two days, and +bearing with them a supply of fish and dried maize, which they received +from Apannow as a pledge of amity, and which they knew would be most +welcome to the invalids who were still suffering from disease at the +settlement. They quickly rejoined the rest of their comrades, who had +remained at a distance, for fear of alarming the timid Indian females; +and all returned to New Plymouth. The intelligence they brought, and +the seasonable refreshment they bore to the sick, were joyfully +welcomed by the whole community; and the spirits of the settlers rose +at the prospect of securing Indian friends and allies, who might, under +their present distressing circumstances, afford them such essential +help and security. The necessity for such aid had lately become more +urgent than ever, for a party of their untiring enemies, the Nausetts, +had very recently invaded the enclosure within which lay the loved +remains of all who bad perished since their arrival in America. The +graves were sadly numerous; and the sorrowing survivors had reverently +decked the mounds that covered them with shrubs, and green boughs from +the evergreens that abounded in the neighboring woods, as emblems of +their abiding grief, and also of their immortal hopes. These marks of +affectionate regard the savages had rudely torn away; and not content +with this, they had even, in some instances, removed the fresh-laid +turf, and dug up the earth, so as to expose the coffins that lay +beneath. No other injury or outrage could have so deeply wounded the +feelings, or aroused the indignation, of the emigrants, as this +desecration of the homes of the dead and they earnestly desired to form +some alliance with another tribe, which might enable them to punish and +to prevent such gross and wanton indignities. In the meantime, in the +hope of avoiding a recurrence of so distressing a calamity, the +colonists ploughed over the whole surface of their cemetery, and sowed +it with corn; thus concealing what was to them so sacred from the eyes +of their wild and ruthless foes. + +The day after Maitland's visit to the wigwams, the emigrants were +astonished at the appearance of a fine athletic Indian, armed with a +bow and arrows, who walked up to the common hall, near the center of +the village, and saluted the Governor and those who were with him, in +the words 'Welcome Englishmen!' In reply to their eager inquiries, he +informed them that his name was Samoset, and that he was 'a Sagamore of +a northern tribe of Indians dwelling near the coast of Maine, where he +had acquired a slight knowledge of the English language from the +fishermen who frequented the island of Monhiggon near that shore. He +had been for several months residing among the Wampanoges; and on the +return of the Chief and his followers to the wigwams, he had heard from +the Squaw-Sachem, that two strangers, who, from her account, he +concluded to be Englishmen, had visited the encampment, and proposed to +do so again in two days. He had, therefore, by desire of the Chief, +Mooanam, come over to the British settlement, to assure the emigrants +of a friendly reception, and to conduct the embassy to the presence of +the Sagamore. His kind offices were gratefully and joyfully accepted by +the Governor; and Samoset remained that day as his guest. Although the +Indian's knowledge of English was very limited, the Pilgrim Fathers +learnt from him the name, and something of the history, of their +inveterate foes, the Nausetts; and also, that the commencement of their +enmity to the settlers arose not merely from their being intruders on +their domains, but from the remembrance of an injury which they had +received, some years previously, from an English captain of the name of +Hunt, who, when cruising on these shores, had allured a number of +natives on board his ship, and had then treacherously carried them off, +and sold the greater part of them at Malaga, as slaves. Two he took +with him to England, and they at length got back to Cape Cod Bay, in a +vessel belonging to the Plymouth Company. This scandalous action had +filled the Nausetts and Pokanokits,[*] who were the injured tribes, +with bitter hatred against the white men; and five years afterwards, +they would have sacrificed the life of Captain Dermer, when he was +skirting these shores, had he not been saved by Squanto, one of the +kidnapped Pokanokits, whom he had brought back in his vessel, and who +had become attached to the English. + +[Footnote: The Pokanokit, dwelt on the peninsula which forms the Bay of +Cape Cod, and on a small pert or Rhode Island; the rest being occupied +by the Wampanoge; of whom Masasoyt was Grand Sagamore.] + +The feeling of animosity thus engendered had been aggravated by the +slaughter of Tisquantum's only son; and little hope could be +entertained of establishing a friendly intercourse with a tribe who +felt that they had so much to revenge against the white race. + +In two days, according to the intimation of Rodolph to the Indian +women, a deputation of the settlers, headed by Captain Standish, and +accompanied by Maitland, repaired to the Indian village under the +guidance of Samoset. They were expected by the inhabitants; and, as +soon as they were perceived approaching round the margin of the lake, +two young men came forth to meet them, and accompany them to the tent +of the Chief. Mooanam was prepared for their reception, and attired in +his gala costume of furs and feathers, with his most elaborately worked +battle-axe hung to his side, and a long and slender spear, tipped with +bone, in his hand. He rose from his seat on the ground at the entrance +of the strangers, and greeted them courteously; while his wife, the +Squaw-Sachem Apannow, and his lively little son Nepea, stood by his +side, and smiled a welcome to Rodolph, pointing at the same time +significantly to the beads which adorned their necks and arms. + +Standish had now an interpreter, though a very imperfect one; and by +his means a sort of friendly compact was formed, and gifts were +exchanged as the pledges of its sincerity. An invitation was then given +to the young Chief and to his brother Quadequina--who was one of those +who had conducted the white men to their presence--to return the visit +of the settlers, by coming the following day to their town. The +invitation was accepted, and the deputation returned to their homes, +escorted a great part of the by many of their Indian allies. + +Great preparations were made at New Plymouth for the reception of the +red Chief and his attendants, in such a manner as to impress them with +the wealth and power of emigrants. The large wooden building which was +intended as a sort of council chamber and public hall, was hung inside +with cloth and linen of various colors, and ornamented with swords, and +muskets, and pistols that the colony could produce. An elevated seat +was placed for the Governor at the upper end of the apartment, and +tables composed of long planks were laid down on each side, on which +were arranged such viands as the settlers could produce. The repast was +humble; but Helen and her female friends arranged it with taste, and +the children gathered the bright wild flowers that so early enliven the +groves and meadows when an American winter has passed away, to deck the +tables, and form garlands along the walls. A strange contrast did these +buds and blossoms of spring form to the implements of war and death +with which they were mingled: but the effect of the whole was gay, and +appeared very imposing to the simple children of the wilderness, as +they entered the wide portal, and passed up the hall to meet the +Puritan Governor. + +John Carver and his attendants were clad in the dark-colored and sober +garments which were usually adopted by their sect; and their long +beards and grave countenances struck a feeling of awe and reverence +into their savage guests. But the red men betrayed no embarrassment or +timidity. They advanced with a step at once bold and graceful, and +even controlled their natural feeling of curiosity so far as to cast no +wandering glances at the novelties that surrounded them. They kept +their eyes steadily fixed on the Governor, and returned his salutation +with a courteous dignity that did credit to their native breeding; and +then the Chief and Quadequina seated themselves on the high-backed +chairs that were placed for them on each side of the seat of the +President. Such a mode of sitting was certainly altogether new to these +sons of the forest, and they found it both awkward and disagreeable; +yet they showed no discomposure or restraint, and not a smile betrayed +their surprise, either at this or any other of the strange customs of +their hosts. + +After a few rather amusing efforts to carry on a communication with his +guests, through the intervention of Samoset, Carver invited them to +table, and again had occasion to admire the readiness and the natural +grace with which they accommodated themselves to customs so new and so +wonderful as those of the white men. When the repast was concluded, the +President led Mooanam and his party round the village, and showed them +everything that was worthy of attention; and so intelligent did he find +them, that he had no difficulty in making them comprehend the use of +many European implements, and many of the inventions and contrivances +of civilized life. With much satisfaction the good pastor, Brewster, +marked the sparkling eyes and speaking countenances of these gentle +savages; for he there hoped he saw encouragement to his ardent hope of +ere long bringing them to a knowledge of the simple and saving truths +of the gospel. With the Governor's permission, he led them to the plain +and unadorned edifice which was the emigrants' place of worship, and +easily made them understand that it was dedicated to the service of the +one Great Spirit who reigns over all; and from thence they were +conducted to the cemetery, and shown, by expressive signs, the insult +that had been offered to the dead by men of their own race. Some war- +like implements that had been picked up after one of the recent +skirmishes were shown to Mooanam and his brother, when they instantly +exclaimed, ‘Nausett!' and knitting their brows, and putting themselves +into an attitude of defiance, they plainly intimated that the tribe was +one with which they were at enmity. + +They pointed in the direction where the Nausetts dwelt, and seemed to +invite the settlers to join them in assaulting their encampment; but +ignorance of their language, and of their habits prevented the +President from assenting to what appeared to be their earnest wish. + +As the sickness that had so long raged in the colony had now nearly +disappeared, and the advance of the season promised soon to open +sources of plentiful provision in the and the fields and streams, +Brewster felt that he could be spared for a time from the settlement; +and he proposed to Mr. Carver that he should return with Mooanam to his +village, and endeavor to acquire such a knowledge of the native +language, as should enable hint to act as an interpreter, and also give +him the means of imparting to the red men the spiritual knowledge that +he so ardently desired to bestow. The Governor willingly consented to +this proposal; and when it was explained to the Indian Chief, he gave +the most cordial and ready assent. The mild yet dignified countenance +of the elder had won his respect and confidence; and he hoped to gain +as great advantages from a more intimate connection with the white men, +as they expected from his alliance and support. + +Henrich was now able to leave his couch, and again to join Edith and +his young companions out of doors; but he still looked delicate, and +his former strength and activity had not fully returned. He was, +however, able to walk with the assistance of a crutch that his father +had made for him; and he formed one of the group that followed the +Indians in their procession through the village, and also escorted them +as far as the confines of the wood in whose depths their village lay. +The Chief remarked the boy, and showed sympathy for his lameness, which +he was given to understand was owing to an aggression of the Nausetts; +and his eyes flashed, and his nostrils dilated, and his whole +countenance was changed from its habitual expression of gentle dignity, +to one of fierce hostility. It was evident that, in these Wampanoges, +the settlers had secured allies who would be zealous and persevering in +protecting them from the attacks of their harassing enemies, the +Nausetts; and who would, when the proper time should arrive, assist +them in fleeing the district of such troublesome inhabitants. + +The Indians returned to their wigwams, and the elder accompanied them, +and became an inmate of Mooanam's lodge. He soon began to acquire some +knowledge of the language of his host, and also to instruct him and his +wife in many English words and phrases, in which their aptitude to +learn astonished him. A constant communication was kept up between the +Indian village and that of the settlers, and a real regard and esteem +sprang up between them. As the spring advanced, Henrich was able to +throw aside his crutch, and to accompany his father and mother in their +frequent visits to the wigwams, and much of his leisure time was passed +in the company of the young Indians of his own age, whose activity and +address in all their sports and games he admired and emulated. The +presence of his friend Brewster in the Wampanoge village, also gave it +increased attractions in the eyes of Henrich. The good man was still +his friend and preceptor; and with his assistance, he made considerable +progress in the acquirement of the native language, as well as in every +other kind of knowledge that Brewster was able to impart. But all the +elder's instructions were made subservient to that best of all +knowledge--the knowledge of God, and of his revealed Word; and in this +his pupil advanced and grew in a manner that both surprised and +delighted him. The boy's naturally thoughtful character had become +matured during his long and painful illness; and he had learnt to feel +the value of heavenly things, and the comparative littleness of all +'those things which are seen, and are temporal.' He entered warmly +into all the elder's benevolent desires and intentions for the +conversion of the dark heathen among whom their lot was cast; and he +already looked forward to being his assistant in the holy work. +Brewster regarded him as destined to become both a pastor and a zealous +and successful missionary, when he should arrive at a proper age; and +he frequently spoke of him as his own appointed successor in the +spiritual direction of the congregation. + +This sacred office Henrich anticipated with pride and satisfaction; for +where could he find a more fitting exercise for his adventurous and +enterprising spirit, and also for his love of the truth, than in +seeking the wild men amid their forests and wildernesses, and winning +them to peace, and happiness, and civilization, by the knowledge of the +all-powerful doctrines of the gospel? + +With the Indians he soon became a great favorite; and the readiness +with which he acquired the use of the bow, and learnt to cast the dart, +and wield the light tomahawks that were used by the Indian boys to +practice their young hands, excited their warmest admiration, and made +them prophesy that he would one day become a distinguished Brave. His +skill in hunting and fishing also became considerable; and he learnt +from his copper-colored friends many of their songs and dances, with +which he delighted Edith and Ludovico at home. His new companions did +not draw away his affections from his sister. She was still the object +of his warmest love; and to give her pleasure was the strongest desire +of his heart. In his long rambles with his Indian play-fellows he never +forgot his Edith; and many a stream was crossed, and many a rock was +climbed, to procure flowering plants to deck her garden, and creepers +to clothe the bower which he had formed for her beneath a venerable +walnut-tree that stood within their father's little domain, and at no +great distance from their dwelling. + +An attempt had been made, at first, by the colonists to follow the +example of the primitive church at Jerusalem; and to hold the land of +which they had taken possession in common, to be worked by the whole +community, and the produce to be equally divided amongst their families +in due proportion. But this plan was soon abandoned, as quite unsuited +to the habits and manners of these men of Britain; and every family had +a small portion, consisting of an acre each, assigned to it for the +special use and maintenance of its members. The fields in every +allotment had been sown chiefly with grain procured from the friendly +Wampanoges; and for some time past the Nausetts had left them +unmolested. + +The knowledge which Brewster soon acquired of the soft and musical +language of the natives enabled him, with the assistance of Samoset, +who still resided among them, to transact all business between them and +his countrymen; and also to become acquainted with the history and +circumstances of these useful allies. He learnt that Mooanam was not +the great Sachem or Sagamore of the whole tribe, but that he was the +eldest son of Masasoyt, the king or chief of the Wampanoges, who +resided at Packanokick, their principal village, which was situated in +the state of Rhode Island, near a mountain called Montaup, at a +considerable distance from Patupet, the native name for New Plymouth. + +The means of a still more extended intercourse was about this time +opened to the settlers, by the arrival at New Plymouth of another +Indian, who was already acquainted with the English, and who was also a +much greater proficient in their language than their friend Samoset. +This was no other than Squanto, the man who had been taken prisoner by +Captain Hunt some years previous, and conveyed to England. During his +residence there, he had learnt to make himself understood in the white +man's tongue, and he had also learnt to admire and respect the white +man's character. When, therefore, he had found his way hack to his +native land in a fishing vessel, and was informed by the Wampanoge +Sagamore--whom he visited in his journey to rejoin his own tribe--that +an English settlement had been formed on the shores of Cape Cod Bay, he +determined to visit it. Masasoyt encouraged him in this intention, and +sent him to his son Mooanam, to be introduced to the strangers, and to +assist in forming a permanent alliance with them. + +These overtures were joyfully received by the Governor, Mr. Carver, and +he determined to take immediate advantage of this opportunity of adding +to the strength and security of the infant colony. The intended +departure of Samoset also made it very desirable to secure the +friendship and the services of the newcomer Squanto; as, +notwithstanding the progress which Winslow and some others were making +in the Wampanoge language, a native interpreter must long be required, +in order to carry on a mutual intercourse. + +An embassy to the great Sagamore was therefore resolved on, with a view +to confirm and strengthen the alliance that had been formed with his +sons: and again Rodolph was selected to accompany Captain Standish as +his aide-de-camp, while Samoset and Squanto were to act as interpreters. +The journey was long, and Maitland was obliged reluctantly to +refuse Henrich's request to attend him. He feared the fatigue of so +many days' travelling on foot would be too much for his son's strength, +and Helen strongly opposed his going. He therefore gave up the much +desired expedition, and endeavored to chase away his feeling of +disappointment by renewed exertions in ornamenting the garden, and +putting the grounds into a state of perfect order, to please his father +on his return. + +The expedition was accompanied by the Sagamore's younger son, +Quadequina, who was anxious to introduce the new allies of his tribe to +his father, and to ensure their friendly reception. They reached +Packanokick after a pleasant journey of about forty miles, and were +kindly welcomed by Masasoyt, to whom a messenger had been sent +beforehand to prepare him for their arrival. + +The Sagamore was a noble-looking old man, and was treated by his son, +and by all his subjects, with the most profound respect; nor did his +strange costume in any way destroy his kingly appearance. His limbs +were naked, and were curiously painted and oiled, and his neck and arms +were decorated with strings of large white beads composed of polished +bone; while a richly embroidered bag or pouch, containing tobacco, was +suspended at the back of his neck. His coronet of feathers was lofty, +and of the most brilliant colors, and the rest of his dress consisted +of a tunic and moccasins of dressed deer skin, exquisitely worked with +colored grass and porcupine's quills. He willingly and fully ratified +the treaty which had been made by his sons with the white strangers, +whose appearance and manners seemed to prepossess him much in their +favor; and after detaining them for some days in his lodge, and +entertaining him with the greatest hospitality and kindness, he +dismissed them with presents of native manufacture, in return for the +European arms and ornaments which they had offered to his acceptance. +Samoset here left the settlers, and Squanto became henceforth their +faithful friend and useful interpreter. + + + +CHAPTER IV + +‘In your patience possess ye your souls.’ LUKE, xxi 19. + +One evening, about the time that Helen began to expect the return of +the embassy from Packanokick, Henrich was unusually busy in the garden, +arranging the flower-beds, and beautifying Edith's bower, in which he +and his sister had planned a little fête to welcome their father home. +Their mother had learnt to feel, that while they were thus employed, +and within the precincts of their own domain, they were safe from every +danger. The Nausetts had not attempted any depredations for an unusual +length of time; and a feeling of security and peace had taken the place +of that constant watchfulness and anxiety, which had long proved so +harassing to the settlers. They began to flatter themselves that their +foes had retired from the neighborhood, and would no more return to +molest them, now that they knew the emigrants to be on such friendly +terms with their powerful rivals, the Wampanoges. But false was this +appearance of security; and vain was every hope that the Nausetts would +forego their designs of vengeance, or cease to devise schemes of +mischief against those by whom they thought themselves injured! They +did not, indeed, continue to attack the settlement openly, for they had +been taught to dread the British fire-arms and the British courage; but +they still continued to lurk in the neighboring forest, and to keep a +vigilant watch over all that took place at the settlement. Often were +the keen eyes of Coubitant and his most trusty followers fixed, with a +malignant gaze, on the dwelling of Rodolph and often were his +movements, and those of his family, carefully noted by these sagacious +savages, when no suspicion of their presence existed in the minds of +the settlers. They would climb by night to the summit of some lofty +tree that overlooked the village, and there remain all day unseen, to +obtain a knowledge of the habits and proceedings of their hated +enemies, and to devise plans for turning this knowledge to account. + +The departure of the embassy to Packanokick was, consequently, well +known to Coubitant, and he resolved to take advantage of the absence of +so considerable a part of the British force, to execute, if possible, +his schemes of vengeance. What they were, and how he attempted their +accomplishment, will be presently seen. + +Edith's bower looked gay with its spring blossoms and luxuriant +creepers, but Henrich was not quite satisfied with its appearance, and +he wished to place at its entrance a graceful climbing plant which he +had observed during his last walk to the Wampanoge village, and had +neglected to secure it on his return. It had been the desire of his +parents that he should not go into the forest which bordered their +grounds, except in the company of his father or some of his friends; +but the apparent departure of the Nausetts had caused this injunction +to be neglected of late, and he, and even his younger brother and +sister, had frequently strayed, unmolested, a short distance into the +wood, in search of flowers and fruits; and even Helen had ceased to +feel alarm. + +'Edith,' said Henrich, on the evening of which we are speaking; 'I +think my father will return tonight, or tomorrow at the farthest; and I +must complete my task before he arrives. Your bower still requires a +few plants to adorn the entrance, and the seats of moss are scarcely +finished. Let us go into the wood, and procure what we want before the +sun sets, and our mother comes out to see what progress we have made.' + +‘No, Henrich,' replied his sister; 'do not go this evening. I know not +why, but the wood looks dark and gloomy; there is no sunlight on the +path, and the shadows are so deep, that I could fancy every low bush +was a crouching Indian. I cannot go into the wood tonight.' + +'You are timid, dear Edith. You never feared to go with me before; and +why should you fear this evening? See, the sun is still high in the +horizon, and the darkness is all in your own fancy. Come and see that +lovely creeper I told you of; and when you have admired it hanging from +the decayed trunk of the old tree that supports it, you shall help me +to remove it to your bower, where it will be the fairest flower that +grows, except the little fairy queen herself.' + +Henrich caught his sister's hand, and kissing her playfully, attempted +to draw her from the bower. But she looked sad and anxious, and +replied-- + +'O, Henrich! do not ask me; my bower is fair enough, and I would not go +as far as that old tree tonight, for all the flowers that grow in the +forest. Stay with me, Henrich, dear. Our mother will join us soon, and +she will be alarmed if you are not here.' + +The boy looked at his sister's pensive face with an affectionate smile: +but he was not to be diverted from his scheme. + +‘Stay here, then, Edith,' he replied; 'and tell my mother that I shall +return in little more than ten minutes. Come, Ludovico,' he added, +calling his little brother, who was always ready to follow where +Henrich led. 'Come, Ludovico, you are not afraid of the shadows. Bring +your basket, and you shall gather moss while I dig up my creeper. When +Edith sees its drooping white flowers, she will forgive me for laughing +at her unusual fears.' + +Edith said no more. She was sure that Henrich knew best; and she +silently watched him leave the garden, and enter the shade of the thick +forest, accompanied by her joyous little brother. Were her fears, +indeed, the mere creation of her own young fancy I or were they +occasioned by one of those strange and unaccountable presentiments +which have been felt so frequently as to justify the old proverb, + +'Coming events cast their shadow, before them.’ + +Edith sat on the mossy seat that Henrich had formed in her bower. It +looked towards the wood, and the commanding situation which it +occupied, on a rising ground towards the center of the garden, enabled +her to overlook the green fence that enclosed the grounds, and to watch +the receding forms of her brothers, until they were hidden from her +sight by the winding of the path through the underwood. Still she +gazed, and her heart grew sad; and tears, which she could not check, +rolled down her cheeks. Did she again fancy? and did her tearful eyes +now convert the bushes into the figures of two dark Indians, in the +costume of the dreaded Nausetts? Surely those were human forms that +moved so swiftly and so silently from the dark stem of a gigantic oak, +and crossing the forest path, were instantly again concealed. Edith +wiped her glistening eyes. She held her breath, and feared to move; +but the beating of her young heart was audible. No sound met her +listening ear--no movement again was detected by her straining eye--and +she began to think that her own fears had conjured up those terrible +forms. + +But what was that distant cry that sounded from the wood in the +direction in which her brothers had gone? And why does she now behold +Ludovico running wildly, and alone, down the path, with terror depicted +in his countenance? + +Edith flew to meet him; but ere she reached him, the dreadful truth was +made known to her by his agonized cry. + +'O, my brother! my brother! they have taken him, Edith; they are +dragging him away! They will kill him!' he shrieked aloud, as he threw +himself into Edith's arms, almost choked with the violence of his +feelings, and the speed with which he had fled. + +What could Edith do? She dared not leave him, to be carried off, +perhaps, by some other prowling savage, who might still be lingering +near; and she could not carry him home. Slowly she drew him on, while +every moment seemed an hour, that delayed her from giving the alarm, +and sending friends to the rescue of her darling brother. + +‘O! why did he leave me?' she murmured. 'Why did he go, when I knew +that danger was near?' + +As soon as she had brought the panting and terrified Ludovico within +the precincts of the garden, she left him, and ran towards the house, +calling loudly on her mother, who rushed out on hearing her voice of +terror, and was instantly made acquainted with the appalling fact that +had occurred. Who shall tell the agony of her feelings, or describe the +sufferings of that mother's heart, when she knew that her child was in +the power of the savage and relentless enemies of the white men? She +was, indeed, ignorant of the peculiar vengeance that they desired to +wreak on her husband and all his race; but the malevolent character of +the Nausetts had been sufficiently manifested in their repeated and +destructive attacks on the settlement, and their willful desecration of +the graves of the exiles, to awaken the most poignant fears in her +breast. Rodolph, too, was absent, and Brewster was still at the +Wampanoge village; and where should she seek for succor or for counsel! + +Hastily calling Janet, who was the only domestic at home, she committed +Ludovico to her care; and taking Edith by the hand, she hurried from +the garden, scarcely knowing whither she bent her steps, but in the +vague hope of meeting some of the settlers returning from their labors +in the fields, and inducing them to go to the rescue of her boy. + +Onward she fled along the skirts of the forest, towards the fields of +her husband's friend Winslow, who, she well knew, would aid her with +all his power: but she found him not, and no human being appeared in +sight to listen to her appeal for succor. The sun was setting, and all +had returned to the village. What then could Helen do? To retrace her +steps, and seek her friends and neighbors in their homes, would be to +lose precious moments, on which the life and liberty of her Henrich +might depend. To strike into the depths of the forest, and cross the +belt of wood that divided the settlement from Mooanam's encampment +would be the quickest plan, and probably the most effectual, as her +Wampanoge friends would know far better than the settlers how to follow +in the train of the fugitives, and how either to persuade or to compel +them to release their prisoners. Helen had never dared to enter the +wood, except under the protection of her husband, even in the broad +light of day; and now the gloom of evening was gathering around her, +and the path that led into the wood was obscured by the shadows of the +thick foliage above. Bat where were all her fears and apprehensions? +She was unconscious of such feelings now. The timid woman's heart was +nerved to the occasion, and no danger could now make her shrink. + +She turned rapidly into the narrow path, and pursued her way with a +firmness and decision, of which, at any other time, when she was +trusting to the arm and guidance of Rodolph, she would have believed +herself incapable. She knew the direction in which the Indian village +lay, and the slanting rays of the declining sun occasionally penetrated +the thick wood, and cast bright streaks of light on the mossy ground, +and the boles of the giant trees around; but soon they faded away, and +a deep gloom overspread her path. + +'Mother,' said the trembling little Edith, as she clung to Helen’s +hand, and exerted her utmost strength to keep up with her rapid steps; +'Mother, do you not fear to pass through this forest now? Shall we not +meet more of those dreadful savages who have taken away my brother? Oh, +Henrich! Henrich!' she cried--while tears burst afresh from her eyes at +the recollection of her brother's fate--'why did you venture into this +wood to seek plants for my bower?' and the child sobbed convulsively, +from mingled grief and fear. + +‘Cease, Edith, cease!' replied the deeply distressed, but now firm and +courageous Helen: 'I fear nothing while I am seeking aid for Henrich. +God will protect us, my child!’ she added: and she raised her glistening +eyes to heaven, and gazed, hopefully and trustingly, on one bright star +that shone upon her between the summits of the lofty trees. Her heart +was strengthened by her pious confidence in her heavenly Father. She +remembered also that Edith looked to her for protection; and all +personal fears were absorbed by that generous and elevating feeling of +self-devotion, which is shared even by the lower and weaker animals +when their offspring are in danger. So Helen forgot herself, and felt +strong to guard her child, and strong to seek and obtain aid for him +whose peril was more real and urgent. + +Onward she pressed in silence but her soul was pleading eloquently with +God. Soon Edith checked her suddenly, and exclaimed, as she stumbled +over something in the pathway, 'Oh mother, here are Henrich's tools; +and there I see Ludovico's basket full of moss! This is the spot to +which my brothers were coming; and yonder is the old tree, with the +white flowers hanging on it, that Henrich wished to plant by my bower. +It must have been here that the Indians seized him while he was at +work.' + +That part of the wood was more light and open than the rest of their +way had been; and Helen hastily surveyed it, that she might be able to +guide the Wampanoges thither, and point out to them where to commence +the pursuit. Again she resumed her way; and, regardless of fatigue, she +never paused again until she reached the border of the quiet and lonely +lake, on which the rising moon was now shining in all her silvery +splendor. The huts of the friendly natives stood out, clear and dark, +on the level shore of the lake, and Helen and her weary child soon +reached them, and hastened to Mooanam’s lodge. There they found the +Chief, and his interesting young wife and children, sitting on the +matted floor, listening with deep attention to the words of life and +salvation which Brewster was reading and interpreting to them from the +Holy Scriptures. The hurried entrance of Helen startled and alarmed +them; for her countenance plainly told them, that some calamity had +occasioned her unlooked-for appearance at such an unwonted time. + +With breathless haste she told her sad errand, and Brewster quickly +explained her words to the Chief, Mooanam seized his arms, and rushed +from the lodge, calling, in a loud and commanding voice, on his people +to arm themselves and accompany him in the pursuit of the cruel and +vindictive Nausetts. All was hurry and excitement throughout the +village, and every swarthy warrior pressed forward, and desired to +share in the expedition to save their young English favorite. It was +necessary, however, to leave a strong party at the village, to guard it +from any act of treachery or violence on the part of their malicious +rivals, who, it was now evident, were still lurking in the +neighborhood; and, while Mooanam was selecting his party, and arranging +his plans, a clear shrill voice was heard from the margin of the lake, +crying, 'The canoes! the canoes! Quadequina is returning.' + +'The canoes, the canoes!' resounded through the crowd; and Helen's +heart hounded with joy and gratitude. Rodolph was near; and all would +yet be well. + +Little Nepea had led Edith to the shore while the warriors were +discussing their plans; and in a strange mixture of English and Indian +words, the children were conversing on the recent sad event. The quick +ear of the young savage had detected the splash of oars at the farther +side of the lake, and he instantly discovered the three canoes that +were leaving the opposite coast, and emerging from the deep shadow of +the overhanging trees. He had raised that joyful cry; and now all the +inhabitants of the village rushed down to the shore to welcome their +brethren, and to tell the startling news. + +Nearest to the brink stood Helen and her little girl, closely attended +by Mooanam and the Squaw-Sachem Apannow, who shared her impatient +anxiety for the return of the embassy, that they might have the benefit +of Maitland's counsel, and also obtain an addition to their forces. The +elder, Brewster, was deeply moved at the misfortune that had befallen +his young friend, Henrich. But he knew that not a moment was to be +lost! and, while all others were crowding down to the lake side, he +busied him self in arranging the volunteers for the pursuit, and seeing +that his own musket was in a proper state for active service. + +The canoes sped swiftly across the moonlit waters; and as they neared +the shore, Rodolph perceived the forms of his wife and daughter, +surrounded by the dark Indians, and ready to receive him. But he felt +only pleasure at this unexpected and welcome meeting. No feeling of +alarm crossed his breast, until he drew near enough to distinguish +Helen's countenance; and then he knew that she had come with evil +tidings. He sprang from the canoe, eager to hear the truth: but all +the firmness and courage which had so wonderfully sustained his wife +while she was obliged to act for herself, forsook her the moment she +felt herself supported by her Rodolph's arm; and faintly exclaiming, 'O +my son, my son!' she fainted; while little Edith burst into tears, and +sobbed out her brother's name. + +'Tell me, in the name of heaven, what all this means!' exclaimed +Maitland, turning a look of eager inquiry on Mooanam, who stood with +characteristic silence and apparent composure, waiting the proper +moment to speak. 'Tell me,' cried the distracted father again, 'what +dire calamity has befallen my boy?' + +'My heart is dark for you,' replied the Sachem, in a voice of perfect +calmness, though a tear glistened in his coal black eye, and his brow +was clouded by anxiety. 'My heart is very dark for you, and for your +young warrior--for, boy as he was, he was a brave at heart.' + +Mooanam spoke in his native tongue, intermixed with English words and +phrases, which he had learned from Brewster and the other settlers; but +the father's heart comprehended all he said, and needed no interpreter. + +'Is my son dead, then?' he exclaimed. 'Has accident or violence +quenched his young spirit?' + +'Worse than dead,' slowly replied the Sachem; and he looked pityingly +at Helen, who now began to recover her senses. 'Leave your wife to the +care of the squaws,' he added, 'and come with me to the wise man +yonder, and he will tell you all.' + +He led Rodolph to where Brewster was occupied in making preparations, +and soon the afflicted father was made acquainted with the fate of his +son. He felt indeed that death--a calm and peaceful death beneath his +own accustomed roof, and with those he dearly loved around him--would +have been a far happier lot for Henrich than that to which he now +feared he might be doomed--than that which, possibly, his darling boy +was at that moment enduring at the hands of his cruel and malignant +enemies. + +The thought was maddening. But there was still a hope of saving him by +speed and resolution; and he urged the Sachem to depart instantly. One +moment he gave to visit and endeavor to cheer his wife, who now lay +powerless and weeping in Apannow's lodge; and then he joined the Chief, +who, with Brewster and a band of picked men, were ready to accompany +him. The pastor had already learnt from Edith all that she could tell +relative to the spot where her brother had been captured; and to that +spot the pursuing party hurried, and soon discovered the basket and the +tools that told where the boys had been so rudely interrupted in their +work. Quickly the trodden grass, and the broken branches of the thick +underwood, showed in what direction the boy had been dragged by his +captors; and on the track the Wampanoge warriors followed, like hounds +in the chase. But, alas! the Nausetts had had a fearful start of them; +and little hope existed in the breast of Mooanam that they could +overtake them, in time to avert the dreadful fate that he had feared +for Henrich. + +The Sachem was himself an Indian, and he well knew the Indian desire +for retaliation and vengeance. He was, indeed, a man of a mild and +generous nature, and he belonged to a tribe less distinguished by +cruelty than the Nausetts. But still he felt that, according to the +savage code of the natives, blood must atone for blood, and he believed +that already the life of Henrich had probably been sacrificed in +expiation of his father's having slain the son of the Nausett Chief. +Still he led his warriors on, and neither paused nor spoke until the +party emerged from the thick wood, upon a little opening that was +lighted up brilliantly by the moon-beams. Here, where it was evident a +small temporary encampment had existed, and had only been very recently +and hastily removed, he stopped, and looked earnestly around. The poles +still stood erect which lied supported the tents of the Nausetts; the +fires were still burning; and many articles of domestic use lay +scattered about, which the hasty departure of the inhabitants had +probably prevented their removing. + +Rudolph hurried through the camp in search of some sign of his son; and +his eager eye fell on the well-known tunic that Henrich was accustomed +to wear. He snatched it up hastily; and then, with a deep groan, let it +fall again upon the ground. The breast of the tunic was pierced through +in several places, and the whole dress was stained with blood--blood +that was newly shed. + +Maitland pointed to this evidence of his son's death! and when the +Sachem had examined it, he set his teeth together, and drew in his +breath with an oppressed, hissing sound, as of severe pain. + +'It is over, my friend,' he said, in a low deep voice to Rodolph--'it +is over; and we are too late. Naught now remains but to take revenge-- +full, ample revenge. Let us follow the miscreants.' + +Rudolph turned, and looked at him. He fixed on him such a searching +gaze--a gaze so full of gentle reproof and of deep settled grief-that +the warm-hearted Chief stood silent, and almost abashed before his +Christian friend. + +'Is it thus you have learned of Brewster?' said the sorrowing father. +'Is it thus that you are taught in that book which the Great Spirit has +dictated? The Father of us all has declared, "vengeance is mine; I will +repay "; and since we are too late to save my son, we will not commit +deeds of blood which his now happy and ransomed spirit would abhor.' + +Mooanam was silenced, but not convinced. Inwardly he vowed vengeance +against those who had dealt so cruelly with the unoffending boy; +though, under similar circumstances, he would probably have acted with +the same spirit. But the Chief bad allied himself with the white men. +He loved and reverenced them; and he was resolved to avenge the wrongs +of Maitland, as if they had been his own. + +Sadly and silently the party returned to the Indian village, where they +arrived at the break of day. We will not attempt to describe the +mother's anguish when she was made acquainted with the dreaded fate of +her son; but Helen was a Christian, and while her heart was bowed down +with crushing grief, her spirit strove to hush its rebellious +questionings, and to submit itself to the will of God. + +'It is the Lord,' she meekly exclaimed: ‘let Him do what seemeth Him +good!' + +That morning she returned with her husband and Edith to the settlement; +and they were accompanied by Brewster, whose pious exhortations and +sympathizing kindness were invaluable to the bereaved and afflicted +parents. The grief of Edith was less capable of being suppressed; and +it broke out afresh when little Ludovico came to meet them, and +inquired for his brother. From the child they learnt, that while he and +Henrich were busily engaged in their several occupations in the wood, +two Indians had suddenly rushed from the thick brushwood, and seized on +his brother before he had time to fly. Ludovico was gathering moss at +some distance, but he saw what passed, and uttered a cry that attracted +the attention of the savages; and one of them east a spear at him with +such violence, that, missing its intended mark, it stuck firmly in a +tree close behind him. Seeing this, his noble and courageous brother +called out to him to hide among the bushes, and make his way home as +quickly as possible; and the Indians, eager to secure the prize they +had so long been watching for, hurried away through the forest, +dragging Henrich with them. + +The murderous attempt made by these savages against the life of +Ludovico proved but too clearly that the destruction of Rodolph's +children was their object, and banished every hope that lingered in +Helen's breast; and this conviction of their cruel intentions was still +further confirmed by Janet's account of the look and gesture of the +warrior who attended his Chief when the Nausetts first assailed the +settlement. Rodolph had seen, and understood the action; and as he had +also learnt through his Wampanoge friends that Tekoa, the son of the +Nausett Chief, had fallen in the first encounter, he knew enough of +Indian customs to be aware that he, as the slayer, was a marked object +of their vengeance. He had, however, always concealed his suspicions +from Helen; and the only effect they had produced on him was causing +him, at that time, to prohibit his children from venturing unguarded +into the wood, more strictly than he would otherwise have done. + + + +CHAPTER V. + +'Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath +shalt thou restrain.' PSA. lxxvi,10. + +We will now, for a time, leave the settlement--where the sad news of +the capture and supposed death of Henrich had spread a general gloom +and consternation--and follow the subject of their pitying grief, from +the time that he was seized and made a prisoner in the hands of the +savages. They did not slay him; for the Lord had work and service in +store for the young missionary, and he suffered not a hair of his head +to be hurt. + +Coubitant--for he was one of those whose patient vigilance had, at +length, been crowned by success--and his companion had hurried him at +their greatest speed through the wood, to the spot where their +temporary camp was pitched, and where several others of their tribe +awaited their return. A few minutes sufficed to remove the matting +that formed their tents, and to collect their arms and utensils; but +Coubitant well knew that the child who had escaped his cruelty would +soon alarm the settlers, and that an instant pursuit would follow. He +therefore, devised plan to deceive, and, perhaps altogether to check +the white men, at least for a time, by making them believe that the +death of the captive had already taken place. He would have instantly +gratified the feelings of his cruel and revengeful heart, and have shed +the innocent blood of Rodolph's son to atone for the death of his +friend, but that he feared to disappoint his Chief, who so earnestly +desired to imbrue his own hands in the blood of the slayer. He, +therefore, resolved on the stratagem we have described. He stripped off +the captive's tunic, and, after piercing it several times with his +dagger, he opened a vein in his own arm with the same weapon, and let +the hot blood flow freely over the torn vesture. + +This done, he smiled a demon's smile, as he cast the tunic on the +ground, and thought with malignant pleasure of the anguish that its +discovery would occasion to his hated foe. + +Henrich gazed in trembling wonder at this act; and when Coubitant again +approached him to bind his hands, he believed that he was about to +plunge that blood-stained knife into his beating heart. He was young, +and life was new and precious to him; and for a moment he shrank back, +while the blood curdled in his veins. But, young as he was, he was also +a child of God; and he knew that all events are governed by His +Almighty power, and over-ruled by His wisdom and love. So he was +enabled to lift up his eyes and his trusting heart to heaven, and to +await his expected fate with calmness. Coubitant saw his firmness, and +he wondered and admired. He placed the dagger in his belt and hastily +tying the captive's hands behind his back, he motioned to his +companions to follow, and struck into a narrow and almost +undistinguishable path. + +Forcing Henrich to go before him, while he held the rope of twisted +grass that bound his hands he followed close behind, and placed his +foot in each print that the prisoner made, so as to destroy the +impression of the boy's European shoe. The other Indians did the same; +as exactly did they tread in one another's steps, that, when all had +passed, it seemed as if only one solitary traveler had left his track +on the soft ground. + + Thus, 'in Indian file,' they traversed a belt of wood, till they came +out on a dry and sun-burnt plain, where their steps left no impression. +Coubitant then advanced to the side of his prisoner, and, taking his +arm in his powerful grasp, he compelled him to advance, at an almost +breathless speed, across the plain. In the wood, on the other side, he +allowed a short pause, and gave Henrich some water from a bottle made +of a dried gourd, which hung about his neck; and thus they traveled on, +with slight refreshment and little rest, until the sun arose in all his +splendor, and displayed to Henrich's admiring gaze the wild and +magnificent woodland scenery through which he was travelling. Under +other circumstances, he would keenly have enjoyed the novelty and the +beauty of the objects that met his eyes, so different from the +luxuriant, but flat and monotonous fields, and gardens, and canals, +that he so well remembered in Holland. Here all was wild and varied; +and all was on a scale of grandeur that inspired him with a feeling of +awe and solemnity, heightened, no doubt, by the fearful uncertainty of +his fate, and the thought that, perhaps, this was the last time that he +should look upon these glorious hills, and ancient forests, and wide +rushing rivers--the handiworks, and the visible teachers of God's +power. Something of American scenery he had become acquainted with in +his rambles round the Indian village, but only enough to make him long +to see more; and had he now been travelling by the side of his father, +or his friend Brewster, the elastic morning air, and the splendid and +ever-varying views, would have made his young heart bound with joy and +health. + + As it was, the silent beauty of nature was not without its influence on +the captive boy. He seemed to feel more strongly the presence and the +goodness of his heavenly Father; and his young spirit was cheered to +endure his present desolate situation, and strengthened to meet +whatever future trials might await him. He had learnt from Brewster to +make himself understood in the Wampanoge language, and he resolved to +try whether his Nausett guide would reply to his questions in that +tongue. He therefore besought him to tell him whither he was leading +him, and for what purpose. But Coubitant deigned him no reply. He +understood him--for the Nausett language was but another dialect of the +Wampanoge--but he did not choose to inform the boy of his destination +at present, and he preserved a profound silence, and an expression of +sullen gravity. + +It was not until the evening of the fourth day that the party reached +the Nausett village, which, as we have already observed, was situate +near the site of the 'first encounter'; and to which Tisquantum, and +the greater part of his warriors had returned, when Coubitant and a few +picked associates were left to carry out his schemes of vengeance. +Henrich was instantly conducted to the lodge of the old Chief; and +brightly did Tisquantum's dark eyes glitter when he beheld the son of +his enemy in his power. He praised the skill and the perseverance by +which Coubitant had thus procured him the means of revenge; and, taking +off his own brilliant coronet of feathers, he placed it on the head of +the proud and successful warrior, as a distinguished mark of his +approbation. + +Coubitant was highly gratified; but his desire for vengeance was +stronger than his vanity, and forgetting the honor that had been +conferred upon him, he entreated the Chief to allow him instantly to +drive his spear into the boy's heart, or else with his own weapon to +take the life of the slayer's child. + +'Not yet!' replied Tisquantum--and Henrich comprehended the full +purport of his words--'not today, Coubitant. I would pour out the +blood of the white youth with pomp and ceremony, as an offering to the +spirit of my murdered son. Let the boy be fed and refreshed: tomorrow, +at break of day, he shall die. Go. I have said it.' + +'And will the Sachem give him into my charge until the morning dawns?' +inquired Coubitant. + +Tisquantum fixed his piercing eye on the savage, and read his +malevolent feelings; and he calmly answered, 'No: the victim shall +bleed because his father's blood flows in his veins. But he shall not +be tortured; for his was not the hand that deprived me of my son. The +boy shall remain in my own lodge, and sleep securely for this night +beneath the same roof that shelters my last remaining child--my lovely +Oriana.' + +Had the Chief observed Henrich's changing countenance, he would have +perceived that all he said was understood by the intended sufferer. But +he marked him not, and the boy commanded himself, and kept silence, +determined to await Coubitant's departure before he made one effort to +move the Chief to pity. He had, however, no opportunity of trying the +effect of his earnest appeal; for Tisquantum ordered one of his +attendants to remove him at once to the inner division of the lodge, +and to secure him there for the night: and then, motioning Coubitant to +retire, and resuming his pipe, he proceeded to 'drink smoke,' as +composedly as if his evening repose had not been interrupted. + +But, notwithstanding his outward composure, the Nausett chief was not +unmoved by the event that had just occurred. The sight of the son of +him whose hand had slain his young Tekoa brought back the image of his +brave young warrior, as he stood beside him at the fatal burial-ground, +full of youthful ardor, to combat the invaders of his land, and the +supposed enemies of his race. He recalled his daring look as he mounted +the palisade, and placed in his unerring bow the arrow that wounded the +English boy. And then he seemed to hear again the sharp report of the +white man's musket, and to behold once more the sudden fall of his son, +bleeding and expiring, to the ground. + +Tisquantum thought on that hour of anguish, when his duties as a chief +and a warrior had forbidden all expression of his grief; and he thought +of his return to his lodge, where only Oriana remained to welcome him-- +for the mother of his children, whom he had loved with unusual +affection, was dead--and tears gathered in the Sachem's eyes. Oriana +had deeply mourned her brother's death; for since she had lost her +mother, she had been permitted to enjoy much more of his society than +had previously been allowed her; and her father, also, had seemed to +transfer to her much of the love that be had borne towards his wife. +Now his daughter was his only domestic tie; and his chief object in +life was to give her in marriage to a warrior as brave as her young +brother, and who would supply to him the place of his departed son. + +At present, this prospect was not immediate, for Oriana was only in her +fourteenth year; but the Sachem was resolved that she should be worthy +of the hand of the greatest warriors of her tribe, and he took pains to +have her instructed in every art that was considered valuable or +ornamental to an Indian female. Already she could perform the most +elaborate patterns in native embroidery on her father's pouches and +moccasins; and her own garments were also delicately and fancifully +adorned in the same manner, with feathers, and shells, and colored +grasses. Besides this accomplishment, her skill in Indian cookery was +very great; and she could also use a bow and arrows, or cast a light +javelin, or swim across a rapid river, with a grace and activity that +delighted her proud father. + +Oriana, too, was gentle--as gentle as her mother, and her influence +over Tisquantum bade fair to equal that which his much-cherished and +deeply regretted wife had exercised over him. That influence had ever +been employed in the cause of mercy! and many an enemy, and many a +subject, had lived to bless the name of the Squaw-Sachem Oriana, when +she had quelled the wrath of the offended Chief, and turned aside his +intended vengeance. + +It was to the inner apartment of his spacious lodge, where his daughter +and her attendants were busily engaged in their domestic occupations, +that Henrich bad been led. His arms were still tied behind his back, +and the end of the rope that bound them was secured to a post in the +wall. The Indian who, at his chief's command, conducted him thither, +briefly informed Oriana that he was a prisoner, and desired her women +to look to his security: and then he left the captive to his strange +and inquisitive jailers. + +When Tisquantum had emptied his long pipe, he bethought himself of the +young captive's position, and proceeded to his daughter's apartment to +give orders for his hospitable entertainment that evening, and his safe +lodgment for the night--that night which he was resolved should be his +last. As he approached the thick curtain of deer-skins that hung over +the aperture between the two apartments, he thought he heard a strange +sweet voice speaking the Indian language with a foreign accent; and +hastily drawing aside the heavy drapery, he was astonished to see his +prisoner, and intended victim, liberated from the cord that had bound +him, and reclining on the furs and cushions that formed Oriana's usual +resting-place; while his gentle Indian child knelt beside him, and +offered him the food of which he was so much in need. Henrich was +gratefully thanking her; and as the Sachem entered, he heard him +exclaim in mournful accents-- + +‘But why do you thus so kindly treat me? It were better to let me die +of hunger and fatigue; for I know that to-morrow my blood is to be +shed: the cold knife is to pierce my heart.' + +'It shall not be,' replied Oriana, fervently. 'I have said that I will +save you.' And then she raised her sparkling eyes as she heard her +father's entrance; and springing on her feet, she darted forward, and +caught his arm. + +'Father!' she cried--and now she spoke so rapidly and energetically, +that Henrich could only guess the purport of her words, and read it in +her sweet expressive countenance--'Father! do not slay the white boy. +He says that he is doomed to die because his father caused my brother's +death. But surely Tekoa's generous spirit does not ask the blood of a +child. My brother is now happy in the great hunting grounds where our +fathers dwell. He feels no wrath against his slayer's son: he never +would have sought revenge against an innocent boy. Give me the captive, +O my father! and let him grow up in our lodge, and be to me a +playfellow and a brother.' + +Tisquantum gazed at his child in wonder, and his countenance softened. +She saw that he was moved and hastily turning from him, she approached +Henrich, who had risen from the couch, and now stood an earnest +spectator of the scene, on the issue of which his life or death, +humanly speaking, depended. She took his band, and led him to her +father, and again pleaded earnestly and passionately for his life; +while the touching expression of his own deep blue eyes, and the beauty +of his fair young face, added greatly to the power of her appeal. + +I have a little sister at home,' said Henrich--and the soft Indian +language sounded sweetly from his foreign lips--'and she will weep for +me as Oriana has wept for her brother. Let me return to Patupet, and +she and my parents will bless you.' + +At the mention of his parents, Tisquantum's brow grew dark again. He +thought of Rodolph as the destroyer of his son; and he turned away from +the two youthful suppliants, whose silent eloquence he felt he could +not long resist. + +'Your father killed my young Tekoa,' he replied. 'His fire weapon +quenched the light of my lodge, and took from me the support of my old +age. Should I have pity on his son?' + +'But let him dwell in our lodge, and fill my brother's vacant place!' +exclaimed Oriana. 'Do not send him back to the white men; and his +father, and his mother, and his little sister will still weep for him, +and believe him dead.' + +The same idea had crossed Tisquantum's breast. He looked again at the +boy, and thought how much Oriana's life would be cheered by such a +companion. His desire of revenge on Rodolph would also be gratified by +detaining his child, and bringing him up as an Indian, so long as his +parents believed that he had met with a bloody death; and, possibly, he +felt a time might come when the possession of an English captive might +prove advantageous to himself and his tribe. All fear of the boy's +escaping to his friends was removed from his mind; for he was about to +retire from that part of the country to a wild district far to the +west, and to join his allies, the Pequodees, in a hunting expedition to +some distant prairies. The portion of his tribe over which he was +Sachem, or chief, was willing to accompany him; and he had no intention +of returning again to the neighborhood of the English intruders, who, +he clearly foresaw, would ere long make themselves masters of the soil; +and who had already secured to themselves such powerful allies in the +Wampanoges--the enemies and rivals of the Nausetts. + +Tisquantum weighed all these considerations in his mind; and he +resolved to spare the life of his young captive. But he would not at +once announce that he had relented from his bloody purpose, and yielded +to his child's solicitations. He therefore maintained the severe +gravity that usually marked his countenance, and replied-- + +'But what can the white boy do, that he should fill the place of an +Indian chieftain's son? Can he cast the spear, or draw the bow, or +wrestle with our brave youths?’ + +Reviving hope had filled the heart of Henrich with courage, and he +looked boldly up into the Sachem's face, and merely answered, 'Try me.' + +The brevity and the calmness of the reply pleased the red Chief, and he +determined to take him at his word. + +'I will,' he said. 'To-morrow you shall show what skill you possess, +and your fate shall depend on your success. But how have you learned +anything of Indian sports, or of the Indian tongue?' + +'I have been much in Mooanam's lodge, and have played with the youths +of his village,' replied Henrich; 'and the Sachem was well pleased to +see me use a bow and arrow in his woods. And from him, and my young +companions, I learnt to speak their tongue.' + +'It is good,' said the old Chief, thoughtfully. Then, fixing his +penetrating eyes on Henrich again, he hastily inquired: 'And can you +use the fire-breathing weapons of your countrymen? and can you teach me +to make them? + +'I can use them,' answered the boy; 'but I cannot make them. They come +from my father's land, beyond the great sea. But,' he added--while a +stronger hope of life and liberty beamed in his bright blue eye and +flushing face--'send me back to my countrymen, and they will give you +muskets for my ransom.' + +'No, no!' said the Sachem: and the dark cloud again passed over his +countenance. 'Never will I restore you to your father, till he can give +me back my son. You shall live, if you can use our Indian weapons; but +you shall live and die as an Indian.' + +He turned and left the apartment; and the heart of Henrich sank within +him. Was he then taken for ever from his parents, and his brother, and +sister? Should he behold his friends, and his teacher, no more? And +must he dwell with savages, and lead a savage life? Death, he thought, +would be preferable to such a lot; and he half resolved to conceal his +skill and dexterity in Indian exercises, that Tisquantum might cast him +off and slay him, as unfit to dwell among his tribe. But hope soon +revived; and his trust in the providential mercy of God restored his +spirits, and enabled him even to look upon a lengthened captivity among +the red men with composure. Plans for escaping out of their hands, and +making his way back to the settlement, filled his mind; and a short +residence among the wild men even appeared to offer some attraction to +his enterprising spirit. So he turned to Oriana, who stood gazing on +his changing and expressive countenance with the deepest interest, and +again resumed the conversation which had been interrupted by the +entrance of the Chief. + +Many questions did those young strangers ask each other relative to +their respective homes, and native customs; and Henrich learnt, with +much dismay, that the Nausetts under Tisquantum's rule were so soon to +change their place of residence. His hopes of escape became less +strong, but they were not destroyed: and when he was summoned to pass +the night in the Sachem's apartment, he was able to lift up his heart +to God in prayer, and to lie down to sleep on the rude couch prepared +for him, with a calm trust in His Almighty power and goodness, and a +hope that He would see fit to shorten his trials, and restore him to +his friends. + +The Chief watched him as he knelt in prayer; and when he rose, and +prepared to lie down to sleep, he abruptly asked him why he had thus +remained on his knees so long? + +'I was praying to my God to protect me,' answered Henrich; and a tear +rose to his eye, as he remembered how he had knelt every evening with +his own beloved family; and thought how his absence, and their probable +belief in his death, would sadden the act of worship that would that +night be performed in his father's house. + +'Do you pray to the Great Spirit?' asked Tisquantum. + +'I do!' replied the young Christian. 'I pray to the Great Spirit, who +is the God and Father of all men; and I pray to his Son Jesus Christ, +who is the friend and Savior of all who love him.' + +'It is good!' said the Chief. 'We know the Great Spirit; but we know +nothing of the other gods of the white men. Sleep now; for your +strength and activity will be tried to-morrow.' And Henrich lay down, +and slept long and peacefully. + +He was awakened the next morning by the gentle voice of Oriana, who +stood beside him, and said, 'You must rise now, and eat with me, before +you go out to try your strength and skill. Come to my apartment.' + +Henrich opened his eyes, and gazed around him in wonder. But quickly +the whole sad reality of his situation came over him, and he felt that +he must nerve himself for the coming trial. Soon he followed Oriana to +her inner room, where a slight Indian repast of maize and fruits had +been prepared by the young Squaw-Sachem and her attendants. Tisquantum +had left the lodge, and was now occupied in preparing a spot for the +exercise of the white boy's skill. At his side stood Coubitant, silent +and gloomy. His indignation at the Chief's merciful intentions towards +the intended victim was great; and strongly had he urged him to the +immediate slaughter of the captive. But Tisquantum was not to be +lightly moved, either to good or evil. He had said that the boy should +live, if he proved himself worthy to bear Indian arms, and all the +cruel suggestions and arguments that Coubitant could bring forward only +made him more resolved to keep his word. + +The young savage then forbore to speak, for he saw that it was useless, +and he feared to displease his Chief, whose favor was the highest +object of his ambition. Since the untimely death of his son, Coubitant +had been constantly his companion and attendant, until he had been left +near the English settlement to carry out his schemes of revenge. His +success in this enterprise a raised him still higher in Tisquantum's +estimation; and visions of becoming the son-in-law of the Chief, and +eventually succeeding him in his office, already floated in the brain +of Coubitant. In a few years, Oriana's hand would be given to some +fortunate warrior; and who could have so strong a claim to it as the +man who had risked his own life to procure vengeance for her brother's +death? Therefore Coubitant held his peace, and checked the expression +of his deadly and malignant feelings towards the young prisoner. + +Soon Henrich was summoned to the ground where his fate was to be +decided, and he was directed to try his powers with several Indian boys +of his own age. In shooting with the bow and arrow, he could not, by +any means, rival their skill and accuracy of aim; but in casting the +spear, and wielding the tomahawk, he showed himself their equal; and +when he was made to wrestle with his swarthy and half-naked +competitors, the superior height and muscular powers of the British lad +enabled him to gain the victory in almost every instance. + +Tisquantum was satisfied. He pronounced him worthy to live; and, +notwithstanding the opposition of Coubitant, which was once more +cautiously manifested, he presented Henrich with the arms that he knew +so well how to use, and informed him that he should henceforth dwell in +his lodge among his braves, and should no more inhabit the apartments +of the women. To a young and generous mind success and approbation are +always grateful; and Henrich's eye kindled, and his cheek burned, as he +listened to the praises of the Chief, and felt that he owed his life, +under Providence, to his own efforts. And when his little friend Oriana +came bounding up to him, with joy and exultation in her intelligent +countenance, and playfully flung a wreath of flowers across his +shoulders in token of victory, he felt that even among these children +of the wilderness--these dreaded Nausett Indians--he could find +something to love. + +In Coubitant, he instinctively felt that he had also something to +dread; but the savage tried to conceal his feeling and even to please +the Chief and Oriana, by pretending an interest in their young +favorite, which for a long time deceived them as to his real +sentiments. The bustle of preparation for the intended removal of the +encampment began that day--for Tisquantum was now more eager than ever +to get beyond the reach of the settlers--and before sunset all was +ready. The next morning the march commenced at daybreak, and continued +for many days uninterruptedly, until the Chief and his followers +reached the residence of his Pequodee allies, when he considered +himself safe from pursuit, even if the settlers should attempt it. He +therefore halted his party, and took up his abode among his friends, to +wait until they were prepared to set out on their hunting expedition to +the western prairies. A period of repose was also very needful for the +women and children, for the march had been a most fatiguing one. Not +only had the Sachem dreaded the pursuit of the injured settlers, and +therefore hurried his party to their utmost speed; but the country +through which they had traveled was inhabited by the Narragansett +tribe, the ancient and hereditary foes of the Pequodees. It was, +consequently, desirable for the Nausetts, as allies of the latter, to +spend as little time as possible in the territories of their enemies; +and little rest ad been permitted to the travelers until they had +passed the boundary of the friendly Pequodees. + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +‘The woods—oh! solemn are the boundless woods; + Of the great western world, when day declines, +And louder sounds the roll of distant floods, + More deep the rustling of the ancient pines; +When dimness gathers on the stilly air, + And mystery seems o'er every leaf to brood, +Awful is it for human heart to bear + The might and burden of the solitude!' HEMANS. + +Many weeks elapsed after the Nausett party had joined the friendly +Pequodees, ere any preparations were made for journeying to the west; +and these days were chiefly employed by Henrich in improving his +knowledge of the Indian language, and especially of the Nausett +dialect, by conversing with Oriana and her young companions, both male +and female. He also endeavored to learn as much as possible of the +habit and the ideas of the simple people among whom his lot was now +cast; for he hoped, at some future time, when he had succeeded in +returning to his own countrymen, that such a knowledge might prove +useful both to himself and them. + +He was treated with much kindness by Tisquantum; and his favor with the +Chief ensured the respect and attention of all his dependants and +followers. From the day that the white boy had been spared from a cruel +and violent death, and established as a regular inmate of Tisquantum's +dwelling, it seemed as if he had regarded him as a son, and had adopted +him to fill the place of him whose death he so deeply deplored; and +Oriana already looked on him as a brother, and took the greatest +delight in his society. No apprehensions were now felt of his escaping +to the settlement; for the distance which they had traveled through +woods, and over hills and plains, to reach the Pequodee encampment, was +so great, that it was utterly impossible for any one but an Indian, +well accustomed to the country, to traverse it alone. Henrich was, +therefore, allowed to enjoy perfect liberty, and to ramble unmolested +around the camp; and it was his greatest pleasure to climb to the +summit of a neighboring hill, which was crowned by a few ancient and +majestic pines, and there to look in wonder and admiration at the +scenery around him. To the west, a vast and trackless forest spread as +far as the eye could reach, unbroken save by some distant lakes, that +shone like clear mirrors in their dark green setting. Trees of gigantic +growth rose high above their brethren of the wood, but wild luxuriant +creepers, many of them bearing clusters of bright blossoms, had climbed +ambitiously to their summits, seeking the light of day, and the warmth +of the sunbeams, which could not penetrate the thick underwood that was +their birth-place. It was a sea of varied and undulating foliage, +beautiful and striking, but almost oppressive to the spirit; and +Henrich gazed sadly over the interminable forest, and thought of the +weeks, and months--and, possibly, the years that this wilderness was to +be his home. Escape, under present circumstances, he felt to be +impossible; and he endeavored to reconcile himself to his fate, and to +look forward with hope to a dim and uncertain future. Could his parents +and Edith but have been assured of his safety, he thought he could have +borne his captivity more cheerfully; but to feel that they were mourning +him as dead, and that, perhaps, they would never know that his blood had +not been cruelly shed by his captors, was hard for the affectionate boy +to endure. + +To Oriana, alone, could he tell his feelings, and pour out his griefs +and anxieties; and Edith herself could not have listened to him with +more attention and sympathy than was shown by the young Indian girl. +When her domestic duties were accomplished, she would accompany her new +friend to his favorite retreat on the hill-top; and there, seated by +his side beneath the tall pines, she would hold his hand, and gaze into +his sorrowful countenance, and listen to his fond regrets for his +distant home, and all its dearly-loved inmates, till tears would gather +in her soft black eyes, and she almost wished that she could restore +him to his countrymen. But this she was powerless to do, even if she +could have made up her mind to the sacrifice of her 'white brother,' as +she called him. She had, indeed, wrought upon her father so far as to +save his life, and have him adopted into their tribe and family; but she +well knew that nothing would ever induce him to give up his possession +of Rodolph's son, or suffer his parents to know that he lived. + +All this she told to Henrich; and his spirit, sanguine as it was, +sickened at the prospect of a lengthened captivity among uncivilized +and heathen beings. He gazed mournfully to the east; he looked over the +wide expanse of country that he had lately traversed, and his eye +seemed to pierce the rising hills, and lofty forests, that lay between +him and his cherished home; and in the words of the Psalmist he cried, +'Oh that I had wings as a dove, for then would I flee away and be at +rest!' + +Would you leave me, my brother?' said Oriana, in reply to this +unconscious utterance of his feelings; 'would you leave me again alone, +to mourn the brother I have lost?' The Sachem loves you, and I love +you, too; and you may be happy in our lodge, and become a brave like +our young men.' + +‘Yes, Oriana, you and your father are kind to me; and I had never known +any other mode of life, I might be happy in your lodge. But I cannot +forget my parents, and me dear Edith who loved me so fondly, and my +little brother also. And then I had a friend--a kind friend, and full +of wisdom and goodness--who used to teach me all kinds of knowledge; +and, above all, the knowledge of the way to heaven. How can I think +that I may, perhaps, never see all these again, and not be sad?' And +Henrich buried his face in his hands and wept without restraint. + +Oriana gazed at him affectionately, and tears of sympathy filled her +large eyes also. But she drew away Henrich’s hand, and kissed it, and +tried to cheer him in the best way that her simple mind could suggest. + +'My brother must not weep,' she said; 'for he is not a child, and our +Indian youths are ashamed of tears. Henrich will be a brave some day, +and he will delight in hunting, and in war, as our red warriors do; and +he will, I know, excel them all in strength and courage. What can he +desire more than to be a Nausett warrior?' + +'Oh, Oriana,' replied the boy--as he wiped away his tears, and almost +smiled at her attempts to console him by such a future prospect--' I +desire to return to my home, and my friends, and the worship of my God. +Among your people none know anything of the true God, and none believe +in His Son. I have no one to speak to me as my parents, and my +venerable teacher, used to do; and no one to kneel with me in prayer to +the Almighty.' + +'Do not you worship the Great Mahneto--the Mighty Spirit from whom +every good gift comes?' asked Oriana, with surprise. 'He is the one +true God, and all the red men know and worship him.' + +'Yes, Oriana, I do worship the one Great Spirit; the God and Father of +all men of every color and of every clime. But the Christian's God is +far more wise, and good, and merciful than the Indian's Mahneto: and He +has told his servants what He is, and how they ought to serve Him.' + +'Does your Mahneto speak to you?' asked the Indian girl. 'Could I hear +him speak?' + +'He has spoken to our fathers long ages ago,’ replied Henrich; 'and we +have His words written in a book. Oh, that I had that blessed book with +me! How it would comfort me to read it now!' + +'And you would read it to me, my brother? But tell me some of your +Mahneto's words; and tell me why you say He is greater and better than +the Good Spirit who protects the red men.' + +'I will gladly tell you all I know of the God whom I have been taught +to love and worship ever since I was a little child. I wish I could +make you love Him too, Oriana, and teach you to pray to Him, and to +believe in His Son as your friend and Savior.' + +'I will believe all you tell me, dear Henrich,' answered the ingenuous +girl; 'for I am sure you would never say the thing that is not.[*] But +what do you mean by a Savior? Is it some one who will save you from the +power of the evil spirit Hobbamock--the enemy of the red men?' + +[Footnote: The Indian expression for speaking a falsehood.] + +Then Henrich told her of Jesus the Merciful--Him who came to save a +world that was lost and ruined through sin; and to die for those who +deserve nothing but wrath and condemnation. Long the youthful teacher +and his attentive pupil conversed; and many and strange were the +questions that Oriana asked, and that Henrich was enabled, by the help +of the Spirit, to answer. The dark searching eyes of the intelligent +young Indian were fixed on his, and her glossy black hair was thrown +back over her shoulders, while she listened in wonder and admiration to +every word that fell from the lips of her' white brother.' + +That evening, a new and awakening source of interest was opened to the +young captive, and the dreariness of his life seemed almost to have +passed away. The affection of Oriana had hitherto been his only solace +and comfort, and now the hope of repaying that affection by becoming +the humble means of leading her out of the darkness of heathenism, and +pointing out to her the way of eternal salvation, raised his spirits, +and almost reconciled him to his present banishment from home, and all +its cherished joys and comforts. + +More deeply than ever did he now regret that he was deprived of all +access to the Word of Life, from which he might have read and +translated the story of mercy to his young disciple, and have taught +her the gracious promises of God. But Henrich had been well taught at +home; his truly pious parents had early stored his mind with numerous +passages of Scripture; and the effort he now made to recall to his +memory all the most interesting stories, and most striking texts, that +he had learnt from the Word of God, was the means of fixing them +indelibly on his own heart. He never in after life forgot what he now +taught to Oriana. The instruction was, as is generally the case, quite +as much blessed to the teacher as to the learner; and Henrich was +himself surprised to find how readily he could call to mind the very +passage he wanted; and how easily he could convey its import to Oriana +in her own melodious language. + +Frequently were these interesting conversations renewed, and never +without Henrich's perceiving, with thankfulness, that Oriana was making +progress in spiritual knowledge, and also in quickness of understanding +and general intelligence; for it may truly be said, that no kind of +learning awakens the dormant powers of the intellect, or quickens the +growth of the mind so effectually, as the knowledge of the one true +God, who created the spirit, and of his Son who died to redeem it from +the ignominious and degrading bondage, of sin and Satan. Henrich had, +at first, imagined that it would be utterly impossible for him to find +an intelligent companion among the savage race into whose hands he bad +fallen and he had deeply felt that sense of loneliness which a +cultivated mind, however young, must experience in the society of those +whose ideas and feelings are altogether beneath its own, and who can in +no way sympathize with any of its hopes, and fears, and aspirations. +But now the well-informed English boy began to perceive that the +superiority of the white men over the dark aborigines of America might, +possibly, arise much more from difference of education, than from +difference of race and color. He remembered, also, how ardently he had +desired to share with the pious Brewster and Winslow, in their +projected plans for the conversion of the natives; and he hoped that, +young and comparatively ignorant as he knew himself to be, it might, +perhaps, please God to make him the instrument of bestowing spiritual +blessings on some, at least, of the heathen among whom he dwelt. He, +therefore, resolved to employ all 'his powers of argument and +persuasion to convince the mind, and touch the heart of the young +Squaw-Sachem; not only for the sake of her own immortal soul, but also +in the hope that her influence, if she became a sincere Christian, +might greatly tend to the conversion of her father and his tribe. + +Since the night when Tisquantum had seen his young captive kneel in +prayer, and had questioned him as to the object of his worship, he had +never spoken to him on the subject of his religion; and, Henrich had +feared to address the stern old Chief, or to introduce a theme which, +though constantly present to his own mind, and the source of all his +consolation, would, probably, he rejected with scorn and contempt by +the Sachem. + +The more the Christian boy became acquainted with the character of +Tisquantum, the stronger became this fear, and the more he despaired of +any influence proving sufficiently strong to break the chains of error +and superstition that bound him to heathenism. The Chief was a +distinguished Powow, or conjuror; and was regarded by his own people, +and even by many other tribes, as possessing great super natural +powers. His pretensions were great, and fully accredited by his +subjects, who believed that he could control the power of the +subordinate evil spirits, and even exercise a certain influence on +Hobbamock himself. He was called a Mahneto, or priest; as being the +servant or deputy of the Great Mahneto, and permitted by him to cure +diseases by a word or a charm, to bring down rain on the thirsty land, +and to foretell the issue of events, such as the results of wars or +negotiations. The influence which these acknowledged powers gave him +over other tribes besides his own was very gratifying to his pride and +ambition; and could Henrich hope that he, a young and inexperienced +boy, could have wisdom or eloquence sufficient to 'bring down the high +thoughts' that exalted him, and to persuade him to 'become a disciple +of the meek and lowly Jesus? No; he knew that such a hope was, humanly +speaking, vain: but he knew, also, that 'with God all things are +possible'; and he ceased not to pray that the Spirit of light and truth +might enter the soul of the heathen Chief, and banish the spirit of +evil that now reigned so triumphantly there. + +Henrich's desire to see the Sachem become a Christian was increased in +the same measure that his hope of its accomplishment became less; for +the more intimately he became acquainted with him, the more he found in +his natural character that was interesting, and even estimable. +Tisquantum was brave; and he was also generous and sincere, far beyond +the generality of his race. We have said that the influence of his +wife, whom he had, loved to an unusual degree for an Indian, had tended +to soften his temper and disposition; and his regret for her loss, and +his anxiety that his only daughter should resemble her, had made him +more domestic in his habits than most of his brother chiefs. He was +kind, also, when not roused to harshness and cruelty by either revenge +or superstition; and he was capable of strong attachments where he had +once taken a prepossession in favor of any individual. + +Such a prepossession he had formed for his English captive on the +evening when his child had pleaded for his life, and when his own +ingenuous and beautiful countenance had joined so eloquently in her +supplications. No insidious efforts of the wily Coubitant had availed +to change the Sachem's sentiments; and he continued to treat Henrich as +an adopted son, and to allow him all the privileges and indulgences +that had once been bestowed on his beloved Tekoa. The white boy was +permitted to enjoy full and unrestricted liberty, now that he was +beyond all possible reach of his countrymen. He was encouraged to hunt, +and sport, and practice all athletic games and exercises with the +Nausett and Pequodee youths; and he was presented with such of the arms +and ornaments of the lost Tekoa as were deemed suitable to his use, and +his unusually tall and muscular figure. + +Often when adorned with these strange and curious specimens of Indian +art and ingenuity, did Haunch smile to think how Edith and Ludovico +would wonder and admire if they could see him thus attired: and then he +would sigh as he remembered that months and years must probably +elapse--and possibly even his life might come to an end--ere he could +hope to see their loved countenances, or to excite their surprise and +interest by a relation of all his perils and adventures. To Oriana, +alone, could he unburden his mind on such subjects; and from her he +always met with deep attention and heartfelt sympathy; but every day +she felt his presence to be more necessary to her happiness, and her +dread of his escaping to his own people to become greater. Not only did +she shrink from the idea of parting with her 'white brother '--her +newly-found and delightful friend and companion--but daily, as she grew +in the knowledge of Henrich's religion, and learnt to know and love the +Christian's God and Savior more sincerely, did she fear the possibility +of losing her zealous young teacher, and being deprived of all +intercourse with the only civilized and enlightened being whom she had +ever known. + +She therefore rejoiced when the time arrived for leaving the Pequodee +village, and pursuing the intended route to the west; for in spite of +the distance and the many difficulties and obstacles that divided +Henrich from the British settlement, she had lived in continual fear +and expectation of either seeing a band of the mighty strangers come to +demand his restitution, or revenge his supposed death; or else of his +escaping from the camp, and braving every danger, in the attempt to +return to his happy Christian home. Henrich often assured her with +sincerity that he had no idea of venturing on so hopeless an attempt; +but whenever the Indian girl saw his eyes fixed sadly on the eastern +horizon, and dimmed, as they often were, by tears of sad remembrance, +she felt her fears again arise, and longed more earnestly to leave the +spot, and plunge into the trackless forest that lay between the +Pequodee encampment and she proposed hunting grounds. + +The summer had passed away and autumn was beginning to tinge the varied +foliage of the forest with all its gaudy hues of yellow, and scarlet, +and purple, when the Nausetts, and such of their Pequodee friends as +desired to share in their hunting expedition, set forth from the +village. Many women and girls accompanied the caravan, the greater part +on foot, and bearing on their shoulders either the younger children, or +a large pack of baggage; while their husbands, and fathers, and +brothers, marched before them, encumbered only with their arms and +hunting accoutrements. Such was, and still is, the custom among the +uncivilized tribes of America, where women have ever been regarded as +being very little more exulted than the beasts that perish, and have +been accustomed to meet with scarcely more attention and respect. But +there are exceptions to this, as to every other rule; and where women +have possessed unusual strength of mind, or powers of influence, their +condition has been proportionately better. Such had been the ease with +Tisquantum's wife: and he had ever treated her with gentleness and +respect, and had never imposed on her any of those servile duties that +commonly fall to the lot of Indian squaws, even though they may be the +wives and daughters of the most exalted chiefs. To his daughter the +Sachem was equally considerate, and none but the lightest toils of +domestic Indian life were ever required from her; nor was any burden +more weighty than her own bow and quiver ever laid upon her slender and +graceful shoulders, when she followed her father in his frequent +wanderings. + +On the present occasion, as the journey promised to be unusually long +and uninterrupted, Tisquantum obtained for her a small and active horse +of the wild breed, that abounds in the western woods and plains; and of +which valuable animals the Pequodees possessed a moderate number, which +they had procured by barter from the neighboring Cree Indians. The +purchase of this steed gave Henrich the first opportunity of remarking +the Indian mode of buying and selling, and the article that formed +their medium of commerce, and was employed as money. This consisted of +square and highly-polished pieces of a peculiar kind of a peculiar +muscle-shell, called quahock, in each of which a hole was bored, to +enable it to be strung on a slender cord. The general name for this +native money was wampum, or white, from the color of those shells most +esteemed; but a dark-colored species was called luki, or black; and +both were used, of various forms and sizes, as ornaments by the +warriors, and their copper-colored wives and children. + +Several strings of wampum, both white and purple, were silently offered +by the Sachem for the horse which he selected as most suitable for his +daughter's use, and, after a pause, were as silently rejected by the +possessor. Another pause ensued; and Tisquantum added a fresh string of +the precious shell to the small heap that lay before him; and the same +scene was repeated, until the owner of the horse was satisfied, when he +placed the halter in the hands of the purchaser, gathered up his +treasure, and, with a look of mournful affection at the faithful +creature whom he was resigning to the power of another master, hurried +away to his wigwam. + +The next day the march began; and proud and happy was Oriana as she +closely followed her father's steps, mounted on her new palfrey, and +led by her adopted brother; while by her side bounded a favorite young +dog, of the celebrated breed now called Newfoundland, which had been +given to her brother as a puppy just before his melancholy death, and +had been her only playfellow and loved companion, until Henrich had +arrived to rival the faithful creature in her affections. At his +request, the dog received the name of Rodolph, in memory of his father; +and Henrich was never tired of caressing him, and teaching him to fetch +and carry, and to plunge into his favorite element, and bring from the +foamy torrent, or the placid lake, any object which he directed him to +seize. He was a noble fellow, and returned the care and kindness of +his new friend with all the ardor and faithfulness of his nature. It +was his duty to accompany Henrich in all his expeditions in pursuit of +game, and to bring to his feet every bird, or small animal, that his +increasing skill in archery enabled him to pierce with his light and +bone-pointed arrows. + +During his residence in the Pequodee village, he had generally gone on +such expeditions in company with several other men and boys; and Oriana +had, consequently, enjoyed little opportunity of perceiving how much he +had improved in dexterity since he had made his first trial before his +captors. But now, as they traversed the woods together, he frequently +aimed, at her desire, at some brilliant bird, or bounding squirrel; and +the young maiden exulted at his success, and at the sagacity and +obedience of Rodolph in bringing her the game. + +The constant occupation, and the change of scene that Henrich enjoyed +during this journey, tended greatly to raise his spirits, and even to +reconcile him to his new mode of life. He did not forget his friends +and his home--he did not even cease to think of them with the same +regret and affection; but it was with softened feelings, and with a +settled hope of eventually returning to them after a certain period of +wandering and adventure. The kind of life which he had often longed to +try was now his lot, and he enjoyed it under, peculiarly favorable +circumstances; for he partook of its wildness and excitement, without +enduring any of its hardships. No wonder, then, that a high-spirited +and active-minded youth of Henrich's age, should often forget that his +wanderings were compulsory; and should feel cheerful, and even +exhilarated, as he roamed through the boundless primeval forests, or +crossed the summits of the ranges of lofty hills that occasionally +lifted their barren crags above the otherwise unbroken sea of foliage. + +Pitching the camp for the night was always a season of excitement and +pleasure to the young traveler, and his lively companion, Oriana. The +selection of an open glade, and the procuring wood and water, and +erecting temporary huts, were all delightful from their novelty. And, +then, when all was done, and fires were kindled, and the frugal evening +meal was finished, it was pleasant to sit with Oriana beneath the lofty +trees, whose smooth straight trunks rose like stately columns, and to +watch the glancing beams of the setting sun as they shone on the varied +foliage now tinted with all the hues of autumn, and listen to the +sighing of the evening breeze, that made solemn music while it swept +through the forest. These were happy and tranquil hours; for then +Henrich would resume the interesting topics to which his dusky pupil +was never weary of listening. He would tell her--but no longer with +tears--of his home, and all its occupations and joys; he would repeat +the holy instructions that he had himself received; and, when far +removed from the observation of other eyes and ears, he would teach her +to kneel by his side, as Edith used to do, and to join him in +supplications to 'the High and Lofty One that inhabiteth eternity'; but +who yet listens to the humblest prayers that are addressed to Him in +sincerity, and hears every petition that is offered up in the name of +His beloved Son. + +The heart of Oriana was touched; and with a beautiful child-like +simplicity, she received all the blessed truths that her 'white +brother' taught her. Her affections were strongly drawn towards the +character of Jesus the Merciful, as she always called the Savior; and +she became sensitively alive to the guilt of every sin, as showing +ingratitude to the Benefactor who had laid down His life for His +creatures. Oriana was, in fact, a Christian--a young and a weak one, it +is true: but she possessed that faith which alone can constitute any one +'a branch in the true vine’; and Henrich now felt that lie had found a +sister indeed. + +As the young Indian grew in grace, she grew also in sweetness of manner +and refinement of taste and behavior. She was no longer a savage, +either in mind or in conduct; and Henrich often looked at her in wonder +and admiration, when she had made her simple toilette by the side of a +clear stream, and had decked her glossy raven hair with one of the +magnificent water lilies that be had gathered for her on its brink: and +he wished that his mother and his fair young sister could behold his +little Indian beauty, for he knew that they would love her, and would +forget that she had a dusky skin, and was born of a savage and heathen +race. + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +'We saw thee, O stranger, and wept! +We looked for the youth of the sunny glance, +Whose step was the fleetest in chase or dance! +The light of his eye was a joy to see; +The path of his arrows a storm to flee! +But there came a voice from a distant shore; +He was call'd—he his found 'midst his tribe no more! +He is not in his place when the night fire, burn; +But we look for him still--he will yet return! +His brother sat with a drooping brow, +In the gloom of the shadowing cypress bough. +We roused him--we bade him no longer pine; +For we heard a step--but that step was thine.' HEMANS. + +'What was that cry of joy, Oriana?' exclaimed Henrich, as one evening +during their journey, he and his companion had strayed a little from +their party, who were seeking a resting-place for the night. 'What was +that cry of joy: and who is this Indian youth who has sprung from the +ground so eagerly, and is now hurrying towards us from that group of +overhanging trees? Is he a friend of yours?' + +‘I know him not!’ replied Oriana. 'I never passed through this forest +before: but I have heard that it is inhabited by the Crees. They are +friendly to our allies, the Pequodees, so we need not fear to meet +them.' + +As she spoke, the young stranger rapidly approached them, with an +expression of hope and expectation on his animated countenance; but +this changed as quickly to a look of deep despondence and grief, when +he had advanced within a few paces, and fixed his searching eyes en +Henrich's face. + +'No!' he murmured, in a low and mournful voice, and clasping his hands +in bitterness of disappointment.'No; it is not Uncas. It is not my +brother of the fleet foot, and the steady hand. Why does he yet tarry +so long? Four moons have come, and have waned away again, since he +began his journey to the land of spirits; and I have sat by his grave, +and supplied him with food and water, and watched and wept for his +return; and yet he does not come. O, Uncas, my brother! when shall I +hear thy step, and see thy bright glancing eye? I will go back, and +wait, and hope again.' + +And the young Indian turned away, too much absorbed in his own feelings +to take any further notice of Henrich and Oriana, who, both surprised +and affected at his words and manner, followed him silently. Several +other Indians of the Cree tribe now made their appearance among the +trees, and hastened towards the travelers. But a look of disappointment +was visible on every countenance: and the young travelers wondered +greatly.[1 and 2] + +[Footnote 1: 'J'ai passé moi-même chez une peuplade Indienne, qui se +prenaît a pleurer à la vue d'un voyageur, parce qu'il lui rappelait des +amis partis pour la contrée des Ames, et depuis long-temps en voyage.’ +--CHATEAUBRIAND.] + +[Footnote 2: 'They fancy their deceased friends and relatives to be +only gone on a journey; and, being in constant expectation of their +return, look for them vainly amongst foreign travelers.’--PICART.] + +But, though evidently grieved at not meeting the being they looked for +so earnestly, the elder Crees did not forget the duties of hospitality. +With simple courtesy they invited Henrich and his companion to +accompany them to their wigwams, which were situated in a beautiful +glade close by, and were only concealed by the luxuriant growth of +underwood, that formed a sort of verdant and flowering screen around +them. The invitation was gratefully accepted; for the countenances of +the Crees inspired confidence, and Oriana knew that her father intended +to visit a settlement of these friendly people, in the district they +were now traversing. She also felt her curiosity strongly excited by +what had just occurred, and she longed for an explanation of the +conduct of the interesting young savage who had first accosted them. + +She therefore requested one of their new acquaintances to go in search +of the main body of their party, and to inform the Sachem that she and +Henrich had preceded them to the wigwams; and then--with a dignity and +composure that were astonishing in one so young and accustomed to so +wild a life--she guided her palfrey into the narrow path that wound +through the undergrowth of evergreens, while Henrich walked by her +side, and Rodolph bounded before her. + +They came to the spot where the young Indian sat by a grave; and tears +were falling from his eyes as he gazed at the grass-covered mound, +around which wore arranged several highly-carved and ornamented +weapons, and articles of attire; and also a small quantity of firewood, +and food, and tobacco, intended for the use of the departed on his long +journey to the land of spirits. This is a well-known custom of most of +the North American tribes; but the Crees have several superstitions +peculiar to themselves, especially that melancholy one to which we have +just alluded, and which subjects them to such lengthened sorrow and +disappointment; for they watch and look for the return of their lost +and lamented friends, who can never come again to gladden their eyes on +earth. O that they were taught to place their hopes of a blessed +reunion with those they love on the only sure foundation for such +hopes--even on Him who is 'the Resurrection and the Life!’ Then they +need never be disappointed. + +It was this strange expectation of the reappearance, in human form, of +the lately dead, that occasioned the incident we have just related. An +epidemic disease had been prevalent in the Cree village; and, among +those who had fallen victims to it, Uncas, the eldest orphan son of the +principal man of the village, was the most deeply regretted, and his +return was the most anxiously desired. + +Especially was this vain hope cherished by his younger brother +Jyanough, to whom he had been an object of the fondest love and most +unbounded admiration; and who daily, as the evening closed, took fresh +food and water to the grave, and sat there till night closed in, +calling on Uncas, and listening for his coming footsteps. Then he +retired sadly to his wigwam, to lament his brother's continued absence, +and to hope for better success the following evening. During each night +the dogs of the village, or the wild animals of the forest, devoured +the food designed for Uncas; but Jyanough believed it had been used by +his brother's spirit, and continued still to renew the store, and to +hope that, at length, the departed would show himself, and would return +to dwell in his wigwam. + +When Haunch approached the grave, leading Oriana's pony, the mourner +looked up, and gazed in his face again with that sad and inquiring +look. But now it did not change to disappointment, for he knew that the +stranger was not Uncas. There was even pleasure in his countenance as +the clear glance of the English boy's deep blue eye met his own; and he +rose from his seat at the head of the grave, and, going up to Henrich, +gently took his hand, and said-- + +'Will the white stranger be Jyanough's brother? His step is free, and +his eyes are bright, and his glance goes deep into Jyanough's heart. +Will the pale-face be the friend of him who has now no friend; for four +moons are guile and Uncas does not answer to my call?' + +Henrich and Jyanough were strangers: they were altogether different in +race, in education, and in their mode of thinking and feeling. Yet +there was one ground of sympathy between them, of which the young +Indian seemed instinctively conscious. Both had recently known deep +sorrow; and both had felt that sickening sense of loneliness that falls +on the young heart when suddenly divided from all it most dearly loves, +by death or other circumstances. Jyanough and his elder brother Uncas +had been deprived of both their parents, not many months before the +fatal disease broke out which had carried off so many victims amongst +the Crees. The orphan youths had then become all-in-all to each other, +and their mutual attachment had excited the respect and admiration of +the whole village, of which, at his father's death, Uncas became the +leading man. Had he lived his brother would have assisted him in the +government and direction of that portion of the tribe but when he fell +before the desolating pestilence, Jyanough was too young and +inexperienced to be made Sachem, and the title was conferred on a +warrior who was deemed more capable of supporting the dignity of the +community. Thenceforth the youth was alone in his wigwam. He had no +sister to under take its domestic duties, and no friend with whom it +pleased him to dwell. He saw something in Henrich's countenance that +promised sympathy, and he frankly demanded his friendship; and the +open-hearted English boy did not refuse to bestow it on the young +Indian. + +He spoke to him in his own tongue; and Jyanough's black eyes sparkled +with joy as he heard words of kindness from the lips of the pale-faced +stranger. Henrich's height and manly figure made him appear much older +than he really was; and as he and his new friend walked together +towards the village, he seemed to be Jyanough's equal in age and +strength, although the young savage was several years his senior. As +they entered the glade that was surrounded by lofty trees, and studded +with wigwams, Tisquantum and the rest of the party approached by a path +on the other side, and they all met in the center of the open space, +and were welcomed by the friendly Crees. Wigwams were appointed to the +Sachem and his daughter, and the most distinguished of the Nausetts and +their Pequodee allies; while the inferior Indians of both tribes were +directed to form huts for themselves beneath the neigh boring trees and +all were invited to partake freely of the hospitality of their hosts, +and to rest at the Cree settlement for several days, before they +resumed their journey. + +Jyanough conducted his English friend to his own wigwam, which was +neatly furnished, and adorned with native tools and weapons. He bade +him repose his tired limbs on Uncas' deserted couch; and while Henrich +lay on the bed of soft grass covered with deer skins, that occupied one +corner of the hut, the Indian youth busied himself in preparing an +evening repast for his guest. The chief article of this simple supper +consisted of _nokake,_ a kind of meal made of parched maize or Indian +corn, which Jyanough mixed with water in a calabash bowl, and, having +well kneaded it, made it into small cakes, and baked them on the embers +of his wood-fire. The nokake, in its raw state, constitutes the only +food of many Indian tribes when on a journey. They carry it in a bag, +or a hollow leathern girdle; and when they reach a brook or pond, they +take a spoonful of the dry meal, and then one of water, to prevent its +choking them. Three or four spoonfuls are sufficient for a meal for +these hardy and abstemious people; and, with a few dried shellfish, or +a morsel of deer's flesh, they will subsist on it for months. + +Such viands, with the addition of some wild fruits from the forest, +were all that Jyanough had to offer to his guest; but Henrich had known +privation at home, and he had become accustomed to Indian fare. The +kindness, also, and the courtesy of the untutored savage, as he warmly +expressed his pleasure at receiving him into has wigwam, were so +engaging, that the young traveler would cheerfully have put up with +worse accommodation. + +From Jyanough he now heard the story of his sorrows, which deeply +interested him; and, in return, he told his host all that he could +remember of his own past life, from his residence in Holland, and his +removal to America, even till the moment when he and Oriana had +approached the Cree village that evening The red man listened with +profound attention, and constantly interrupted the narrator with +intelligent questions on every subject that was interesting to him. But +especially was his curiosity awakened when Henrich, in speaking of his +grief at being torn from all his friends and relations, and his horror +when he had anticipated a sudden and violent death, alluded to his +trust in God as the only thing that had then supported him under his +trials and sufferings, and still enabled him to hope for the future. +The young Christian was not slow in answering all his inquiries as to +the nature of the white man's Mahneto, and explaining to him why the +true believer can endure, even with cheerfulness, afflictions and +bereavements that are most trying to flesh and blood, in the confident +hope that God will over-rule every event to his people's good, and will +eventually restore all that they have lost. + +'Then if I worship your _Keechee-Mahneto_[*] eagerly asked Jyanough, +will he give back to me my brother Uncas? I have called on my Mahneto +for four long moons in vain. I have offered him the best of my weapons, +and the chief of my prey in hunting; and I have promised to pour on +Uncas' grave the blood of the first prisoner I capture in war, or the +first of our enemies that I can take by subtlety. Still Mahneto does +not hear me. Tell me, then, pale-face, would your God hear me?’ + +[Footnote: _Keechee-Mahneto_ or Great Master of Life, is the name given +by the Crees to their notion of the Supreme Being. Maatche-Mahneto is +the Great Spirit of Evil.] + +Henrich was much moved at the impassioned eagerness of the Indian, +whose naturally mild and pensive expression was now changed for one of +bitter disappointment, and even of ferocity, and then again animated +with a look of anxious hope and inquiry. + +'Yes, Jyanough,' he replied, with earnest solemnity; 'my God will hear +you; but he will not give you back your brother in this world. If you +learn to believe in Him; and to serve Him, and to pray to Him in +sincerity, He will guide you to that blessed land where, after death, +all His people meet together, and where there is neither sorrow nor +separation.' + +'But is Uncas there?' cried the young savage. 'Is my brother there? For +I will serve no Mahneto who will not restore me to him!' + +Our young theologian was disconcerted, for a moment, at this puzzling +question, which has excited doubts and difficulties in wiser heads than +his, end to which Scripture gives no direct reply. He paused awhile; +and then he remembered that passage in the second chapter of the +Epistle to the Romans, where the Apostle is speaking of the +requirements of the law, and goes on to say, 'When the Gentiles which +have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, +having not the law, are a law unto themselves: which show the work of +the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, +and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one +another.' 'If St. Paul could say this of the severe and uncompromising +law, surely,' thought Henrich 'the Gospel of love and mercy must hold +out equal hope for those heathen who perish in involuntary ignorance, +but who have acted up to that law of conscience which was their only +guide.' He also recollected that Jesus himself, when on earth, +declared, that 'He that _knew not,_ and did commit things worthy of +stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes': and, therefore, he felt +justified in permitting the young Indian to hope that, hereafter, he +might again behold that brother whose virtues and whose affection were +the object of his pride and his regret. + +'I believe,' he replied, 'that your brother--who you say was always +kind, and just, and upright while he lived on earth--is now, through +the mercy of God, in a state of happiness: and I believe that, if you +also act up to what you know to be right, you will join him there, and +dwell with him for ever. But I can tell you how to attain a more +perfect happiness, and to share the highest joys of heaven in the +kingdom that God has prepared for His own son. I can tell you what He +has declared to be His will with regard to all His human creatures; +even that they should love that Son, and look to Him as their Savior +and their King. O, Jyanough, ask Oriana if she is not happier since she +learnt to love and worship the God of the Christians!--the only God who +can be just, and yet most merciful!' + +In the vehemence of his feelings, Henrich bad rather outstripped his +companion's powers of following and comprehending him. He saw this in +Jyanough's wandering and incredulous eyes; and he carefully and +patiently proceeded to explain to him the first rudiments of religion, +as he had done to Oriana: and to reply to all his doubts and questions +according to the ability that God gave him. A willing learner is +generally a quick one; and Henrich was well pleased with his second +pupil. If he was not ready to relinquish his old ideas and +superstitions, he was, at least, well inclined to listen to the +doctrines of his new friend, and even to receive them in connection +with many of his heathen opinions. Time, and the grace of God, Henrich +knew, could only cause these to give place to a purer belief, and +entirely banish the _‘unclean birds’_ that dwelt in the ‘cage' of the +young Indian's mind. But the fallow ground had already been, in a +manner, broken up, and some good seed scattered on the surface: and +Henrich lay down to rest with a fervent prayer that the dew of the +Spirit might fall upon it, and cause it to grow, and to bring forth +fruit. + +From the time of Henrich's captivity, he bad endeavored to keep up in +his own mind a remembrance of the Sabbath, or the Lord's Day (as it was +always called by the Puritans); and, as far as it was in his power to +do so, he observed it as a day of rest from common occupations and +amusements. On that day, he invariably declined joining any hunting or +fishing parties; and he also selected it as the time for his longest +spiritual conversations with Oriana; as he desired that she, also, +should learn to attach a peculiar feeling of reverence to a day that +must be sacred to every Christian, but which was always observed with +remarkable strictness by the sect to which Henrich belonged. + +In this, as in all other customs that the young pale-face wished to +follow, he was unopposed by Tisquantum; who seemed entirely indifferent +as to the religious feelings or social habits of his adopted son, so +long as he acquired a skill in the arts of war and hunting: and, in +these respects, Henrich's progress fully answered his expectations. He + was, like most youths of his age, extremely fond of every kind of +sport; and his strength and activity--which had greatly increased since +he had adopted the wild life of the Indians--rendered every active +exercise easy and delightful to him. He consequently grew rapidly in +the Sachem's favor, and in that of all his companions, who learnt to +love his kind and courteous manners, as much as they admired his +courage and address. One only of the red men envied him the esteem that +he gained, and hated him for it. This was Coubitant--the aspirant for +the chief place in Tisquantum's favor, and for the honor of one day +becoming his son-in-law. From the moment that the captor's life had +been spared by the Sachem, and he had been disappointed of his expected +vengeance for the death of his friend Tekoa, the savage had harbored in +his breast a feeling of hatred towards the son of the slayer, and had +burned with a malicious desire for Henrich s destruction. This feeling +he was compelled, as we have observed, to conceal from Tisquantum; but +it only gained strength by the restraint imposed on its outward +expression, and many were the schemes that he devised for its +gratification. At present, however, he found it impossible to execute +any of them; and the object of his hate and jealousy was happily +unconscious that he had so deadly an enemy continually near him. An +instinctive feeling had, indeed, caused Henrich to shun the fierce young +Indian, and to be less at ease in his company than in that of the other +red warriors; but his own generous and forgiving nature forbade his +suspecting the real sentiments entertained towards him by Coubitant, or +even supposing that his expressions of approval and encouragement were +all feigned to suit his own evil purposes. + +Oriana had never liked him; and time only strengthened the prejudice +she felt against him. She knew that he hoped eventually to make her his +wife--or rather his slave--for Coubitant was not a man to relax from +any of the domestic tyranny of his race; and the more she saw of her +'white brother,' and the more she heard from him of the habits and +manners of his countrymen, and of their treatment of their women, the +more she felt the usual life of an Indian squaw to be intolerable. Even +the companionship of the young females of her own race became +distasteful to her; for their ignorance, and utter want of +civilization, struck painfully on her now partially cultivated and +awakened mind, and made her feel ashamed of the coarseness of taste and +manners occasionally displayed by her former friends and associates. In +the Christian captive alone had she found, since her mother's death, a +companion who could sympathize in her tastes and feelings, which had +ever been above the standard of any others with whom she was +acquainted. And Henrich could do more than sympathize in her +aspirations--he could instruct her how they might be fully realized in +the attainment of divine knowledge, and the experience of Christian +love. No wonder, then, that Henrich held already the first place in her +heart and imagination, and was endowed by her lively fancy with every +quality and every perfection, both of mind and body, that she could +conceive to herself. + +The simple-minded girl made no concealment of her preference for the +young stranger, whom she regarded as a brother--but a brother in every +way immeasurably her superior--and her father never checked her growing +attachment. The youth of both parties, the position that Henrich +occupied in his family as his adopted son, and the difference of race +and color, prevented him from even anticipating that a warmer sentiment +than fraternal affection could arise between them; and he fully +regarded his daughter as the future inmate and mistress of an Indian +warrior's lodge--whether that of Coubitant or of some other brave, +would, he considered, entirely depend on the comparative prowess in war +and hunting, and the value of the presents that would be the offering +of those who claimed her hand. That she should exercise any choice in +the matter never occurred to him; and, probably, had he foreseen that +such would be the case, and that the choice would fill on the son of a +stranger--on the pale-faced captive whose father had slain her only +brother--he would have removed her from such dangerous influence. But +he thought not of such consequences resulting from the intimacy of +Henrich and Oriana: he only saw that his child was happy, and that she +daily improved in grace and intelligence, and in the skilful and +punctual performance of all her domestic duties; and he was well +satisfied that he had not shed the blood of the Christian youth on the +grave of his lost Tekoa. His own esteem and affection for his adopted +son also continued to increase; and, young as Henrich was, the +influence of his superior cultivation of mind, and rectitude of +principle, was felt even by the aged Chief, and caused him to treat +him, at times, with a degree of respect that added bitterness to +Coubitant's malicious feelings. + +He saw how fondly Oriana regarded her adopted brother, and personal +jealousy made him more clear-sighted as to the possibility of her +affection ripening into love than her father had as yet become; and +gladly would the rival of the unsuspecting Henrich have blackened him +in the eyes of the Chieftain, and caused him to be banished from the +lodge, had he been able to find any accusation against him. But in this +he invariably failed; for the pale-face was brave, honest, and +truthful, to a degree that baffled the ingenuity of his wily foe: and +Coubitant found that, instead of lowering Henrich in the regard of the +Sachem, he only excited him to take his part still more, and also ran a +great risk of losing all the favor which he had himself attained in +Tisquantum's eyes. + +The sudden friendship that the young Jyanough had conceived for the +white stranger, and the consequent favor with which he was looked upon +by Oriana, tended still more to irritate the malignant savage; and +when, a few days after the arrival of Tisquantum's party at the Cree +village, he saw the three young friends seated amicably together +beneath a shadowing tree, and evidently engaged in earnest +conversation, he could not resist stealing silently behind them, and +lurking in the underwood that formed a thick background to their +position, in order to listen to the subject of their discourse. How +astonished and how indignant was he to find that Henrich was reasoning +eloquently against the cruel and ridiculous superstitions of the Indian +tribes, and pointing out to his attentive hearers the infinite +superiority of the Christian's belief and the Christian's practice! +The acquiescence that Oriana expressed to the simple but forcible +arguments of the pale-face added to his exasperation; and he was also +angry, as well as astonished, to perceive that the young Cree, although +he was yet unconvinced, was still a willing listener, and an anxious +inquirer as to the creed of his white friend. + +Maddened with rage, and excited also by the hope of at length arousing +the anger of the Sachem against the Christian youth, he forgot his +former caution, and hurried away, with quick and noiseless step, to the +wigwam occupied by Tisquantum, and broke unceremoniously upon his +repose as he sat, in a half-dreaming state, on the soft mat that +covered the floor, and 'drank smoke' from his long, clay pipe. + +With vehement gestures, Coubitant explained to the Sachem the cause of +his sudden interruption, and implored him to listen to the counsel of +his most faithful friend and subject, and to lose no time in banishing +from his favor and presence one who showed himself unworthy of all the +benefits he had heaped upon him, and who employed the life that had +been so unduly spared in perverting the mind of his benefactor's only +child. In vain his eloquence--in vain his wrath. Tisquantum regarded +him calmly until he had exhausted his torrent of passionate +expostulations, and then, quietly removing the pipe from his lips, he +replied, with his and decision-- + +'My brother is angry. His zeal for the honor of Mahneto has made him +forget his respect for the Sachem and the Sachem's adopted son. The +life of the white stranger was spared that he might bring joy to the +mournful eyes of Oriana. He has done so. My daughter smiles again, and +it is well. Coubitant may go.’ + +He then resumed his pipe, and, closing his eyes again, gave himself up +to the drowsy contemplations, which the entrance of Coubitant had +interrupted; and the disappointed warrior retired with a scowl on his +dark brow, and aggravated malice in his still darker heart. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +‘They proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the Lord’ +JER. IX, 3. + +The indifference of Tisquantum on the subject of the religious opinions +that his daughter might imbibe from her Christian companion, may seem +strange. But the Sachem, though a heathen, was, in fact, no fanatic. He +believed--or professed to believe--that he was himself in the +possession of supernatural powers; and so long as these pretensions +were acknowledged, and he continued to enjoy the confidence and +veneration of his ignorant countrymen, he was perfectly satisfied. +Henrich had also, on their first acquaintance, distinctly professed his +faith in the existence and the power of the Great Mahneto, or _Master +of Life;_ and this was all the _religion_--properly so called--of which +Tisquantum had any idea. He did not, therefore, give himself any +concern as to the other objects of his adopted son's belief or worship; +neither did he care to prevent Oriana from listening to the doctrines +of the pale-face, so long as she continued obedient and gentle, and +neglected none of the duties of an Indian squaw. + +The feelings of Coubitant were different. Not only did he burn with an +eager desire to deprive his rival of the Sachem's love and esteem, but +he also entertained a strong abhorrence of the religion of the white +men, as he had seen it practiced, and knew it was disseminated, by the +Spanish settlers in Mexico, whither he had traveled in his early youth. +In his eyes, these Christians were base idolaters; for such was the +impression made on him by the images and crucifixes that he beheld, and +the marks of veneration that were paid to these idols of wood and +stone, by the superstitious and degenerate Spaniards of that district. +When, therefore, he heard Henrich endeavoring to inculcate the worship +of Jesus, as the Son of God, on Oriana and Jyanough, he not unnaturally +regarded him as a believer in all the deities whose images he had seen +associated with that of Jesus, and receiving equal homage. + +Such, unhappily, has too often been the impression made on the minds of +the heathen, in every quarter of the globe, by the vain and +superstitious observances of the Roman Church, when her ministers have +proposed to their acceptance so corrupt a form of Christianity, instead +of the pure and holy doctrines of unadulterated Scripture. To those +nations already given over to idolatry it has appeared that their +civilized teachers were only offering them another kind of image- +worship; but to the Indians of North America--who make use of no images +of their deity, and generally acknowledge but one Great Spirit of +universal power and beneficence, and one Spirit of evil--the carved and +painted figures of the Spanish invaders naturally gave the idea of a +multitude of gods; and, in some of them, excited unbounded indignation +and hatred. This was the case with Coubitant; who, though totally +uninfluenced by any love or fear of the Great Mahneto whom he professed +to worship, was yet--like many other bigots of various countries and +creeds--keenly jealous of any innovations in the religion of his +nation; and ready to oppose, and even to exterminate, all who attempted +to subvert it. + +He now regarded Henrich as such an aggressor on the national faith and +practice; and he consequently hated him with a redoubled hatred, and +ceased not to plot in secret his ultimate destruction. + +Meanwhile, his intended victim was passing his time in considerable +enjoyment, and with a sense of perfect security, among the Crees. This +tribe was at that time remarkable for hospitality, and likewise for +courage and integrity. These good qualities have sadly degenerated +since their intercourse with Europeans has enabled them to gratify the +passion of all savages for intoxicating liquors: but at the period of +which we are speaking, they were a singularly fine race of Indians, and +their renown as warriors enabled them to extend protection to such of +the neighboring tribes as entered into alliance with them. Disease had, +indeed, recently reduced their numbers in many of the villages that +were situated in the dense forest, and were thus deprived of a free +circulation of air; and the wigwams at which Tisquantum's party had +arrived were among those that had suffered most severely. Several of +the lodges had been altogether deserted, in consequence of the death of +the proprietors; in which case the Indians frequently strip off the +thick mats which form the outer covering of the wigwam, and leave the +bare poles a perishing monument of desolation! This is only done when +the head of the family dies. The property of which he has not +otherwise disposed during his life, is then buried with him; and his +friends continue, for a long period, to revisit the grave, and make +offerings of food, arms, and cooking utensils. These articles are +deemed sacred to the spirit of the departed, and no Indian would think +of taking them away unless he replaced them with something of equal +value. This is permitted; and the custom must often afford relief to +the hungry traveler through the forests, who comes unexpectedly upon +the burial grounds of some of his race, and finds the graves amply +supplied with maize and tobacco--more useful to the living than to the +dead. + +Many such graves, besides that of Uncas, were to be seen in the +vicinity of the Cree village: and it seemed likely that their numbers +would be still augmented; for the disease which had already proved so +fatal, had not left the wigwams, although its violence had considerably +abated. Old Terah, the uncle of Jyanough, and the chief of the present +Sachem's council, lay dangerously ill; and all the charms, and all the +barbarous remedies usually resorted to in such cases, had been employed +by the Cree Powows in vain. Terah was one of the Pinces, or Pnieses--a +dignity conferred only on men of approved courage and wisdom--and many +a successful incursion had he led into the great plains of +Saskatchawan, where dwelt the Stone Indians, with whom the Crees had +long been at enmity--and many a prisoner had he brought back to his +village, and slain as an offering to Maatche-Mahneto, while he hung the +scalp that he had torn from the quivering victim on the walls of his +lodge, as its proudest ornament. + +Terah was also as wise in counsel as he was valiant in war; and, +although his age prevented his assuming the office of Sachem, or ruler +of the village,[*] on the death of his brother, yet his wisdom and +experience gave him great influence with Chingook, the present Chief, +and caused his life to be regarded as of peculiar value by the whole +community. + +[Footnote: Almost every considerable village has its Sachem, or Chief, +who is subordinate to the great Sachem or Sagamore, of the whole +tribe.] + +The arrival of so celebrated a Powow as Tisquantum during a time of +sickness-and especially when the death of so important a personage as +Terah was apprehended--was hailed with great joy by the whole village; +and presents of food, clothing, and arms poured into the lodge that +formed his temporary abode, from such of the Crees as desired to secure +his medical and supernatural aid for the relief of their suffering +relatives. All day he was occupied in visiting the wigwams of the sick, +and employing charms or incantations to drive away the evil spirits +from his patients; sometimes also administering violent emetics, and +other drugs from his _obee-bag,_ or medicine-pouch; which contained a +multitude of heterogeneous articles, such as herbs, bones, shells, +serpents' teeth, and pebbles--all necessary to the arts and practices +of a Powow. On the venerable Terah his skill and patience were +principally exercised, and many were the torments that he inflicted on +the dying old savage, and which were borne by the Pince with all the +calm endurance that became his dignity and reputation. Terah, like all +others of his exalted rank, had attained to the honor of being a Pince +by serving a hard apprenticeship to suffering and privation in his +early youth. He had passed through the ordeal triumphantly--and he who +had run barefoot through sharp and tearing thorns--who had endured to +have his shins beaten with a hard and heavy mallet, and his flesh +burned with red hot spears—and had not even betrayed a sense of pain-- +in order to attain the rank of a great counselor, and the privilege of +attending the Sachem as one of his guard of honor--did not shrink when +his barbarous physician burned a blister on his chest with red-hot +ashes, and scarified the horny soles of his feet till the blood flowed +plentifully. Those, and strong emetic herbs, which he forced his +patient to repeat until he fainted away, constituted the medical +treatment of Tisquantum: but much greater benefit was expected--and, +such is the power of imagination in these ignorant savages, that it was +often attained--from the practice of his charms and conjurations. + +As soon as Tisquantum saw his noble patient reduced to a state of +unconsciousness by his physical treatment, he commenced a course of +spiritual incantations. In a fierce and unnatural voice, he called on +Hobbamock, or Satan, who he declared was visible to him in one of his +many forms of an eagle, a deer, a fawn, and sometimes a gigantic human +being. He then adjured the evil spirit, and commanded him to remove the +disease; promising, in return, to offer to him skins, and hatchets, and +even the scalps of his foes. If any signs of returning consciousness +appeared, the Powow speedily banished them by a repetition of his wild +howling, which he continued for hours, at the same time throwing +himself about with wild and unnatural gestures, and striking his hands +violently on his legs, until he became as much exhausted as his unlucky +patient. + +It was during one of these awful exhibitions of heathen cruelty and +superstition, that Henrich one evening drew nigh to the lodge of Terah, +accompanied by Oriana; and paused at the open entrance, in amazement +and horror at the scene he beheld. The dying man lay stretched on the +ground, in the center of the outer room of the hut, where he had been +placed that he might enjoy the full benefit of the great Powow's skill. +His eyes were closed and his gray hairs hung matted end disordered on +the ground, while his emaciated features appeared to be fixed in death. +A frightful wound was on his breast, and blood was trickling from his +lacerated feet; while the involuntary contractions of his limbs alone +denoted that he was yet alive, and sensible to suffering, which he was +now unable to make any effort to conceal. Around the walls of the hut +stood many of his relatives and dependants, whose countenances +expressed anxiety and hope, mingled with fear of the priestly Sachem. + +Among the bystanders, Henrich instantly recognized his friend Jyanough; +and he shuddered to see the ingenious and inquiring youth assisting at +such satanic rites. But the figure that chiefly attracted his +attention, and to which his eyes became riveted, was that of +Tisquantum--the father of his gentle and beloved Oriana! There stood +the Sachem: he whose countenance he had seldom seen disturbed from his +usual expression of gravity and composure, and whose dignity of manner +had hitherto always commanded his respect. There he now stood--a victim +to satanic influence! His tall figure was dilated to its utmost height +by excitement and violent muscular effort, as he stood by the side of +the sick man. His eyes were fixed with a fearful and unmeaning glare on +the darkest corner of the hut, and seemed to be starting from their +sockets; while his hands, stiff and motionless, were extended over the +body of Terah, as if to guard him from the assault of some demons +visible to the conjuror alone. In this statue-like posture he remained +for some moments, while his breast heaved convulsively, and foam +gathered on his parted lips. Then, suddenly, he uttered a yell--so loud +and so unearthly that Henrich started with surprise and terror: and +Oriana caught his hand, and tried to draw him away from a scene that +now filled her soul with shame and sorrow. + +But Henrich did not move: he did not heed the beseeching voice, and the +gentle violence of his companion, whose wishes were generally commands +to her white brother. + +That yell had recalled the patient to partial consciousness, and he +rolled his blood-shot eyes around him, as if endeavoring to collect his +wandering senses; and then his haggard countenance again resumed the +expression of imperturbable composure and firm endurance that an Indian +warrior thinks it a disgrace to lose, even in the extremity of +suffering. Then Tisquantum sank on one knee beside him, and burst forth +into a passionate address to his deities--the powers of good and evil-- +whom he regarded as almost equally mighty to decide the fate of the +patient. + +'O, Mahneto!' he exclaimed, in a hoarse and howling voice; 'O, +Richtan-Mahneto,[1] who created the first man and woman out of a stone, +and placed them in these forests to be the parents of thy red children; +is it thy will that Terah shall leave his brethren to mourn his +departed goodness and wisdom, and go on that long and toilsome journey +that leads to the hunting-grounds of our forefathers? Surely when his +spirit _knocks at the door,_ it will be opened to him, and the warriors +of our tribe will welcome him, while his foes will be driven away with +the awful sentence, _Quachet!_[2] Yes, Terah, the wise in counsel, and +the fearless in war, shall surely dwell in the fields of happiness, and +again strike the prey with the renewed strength and skill of his youth. +But not yet, Mahneto! O, not yet!…I see Hobbamock lurking there in the +gloom! I see his fiery eagle eyes, and I hear the flap of his heavy +wing; and I know that he hovers here to suck the blood of Terah, with +all his murderous Weettakos around him![3] But Tisquantum's charms are +too strong for him: he cannot approach the sick man now. Ha! Maatche- +Mahneto!' he cried--and again he fixed his glaring eyes on the dark +space in the far corner of the hut, from which the spectators had +shrunk trembling away--' Ha! spirit of evil! I behold thee--and I defy +thee! Terah is not thine; and my power has compelled thee to send the +_Ashkook,_[4] with his healing tongue, to lick my brother's wounds; and +_Wobsacuck,_ with eagle beak, to devour the venom that clogs his veins, +and makes his breath come short and thick. I feel them on my shoulders, +as they sit there, and stretch out their necks to do my bidding! Terah +shall live!' + +[Footnote 1: _‘Richtan,’_ supposed to signify old--‘Ancient of Days’-- +the Maker] + +[Footnote 2: _Quachet,_ begone, or _march off;_ supposed to be the +sentence of condemnation uttered against the souls of the wicked, when +they present themselves, and _‘knock at the door'_ that leads to the +Indian Paradise.] + +[Footnote 3: _Weettako,_ a kind of vampire or devil, into which the +Crees and other tribes suppose all who have ever fed on human flesh to +be transformed after death.] + +[Footnote 4: _Ashkooke,_ a demon in the form of a snake, who, with his +brother-fiend, _Wobsacuck,_ are supposed to be sent by Hobbamock to +heal the sick, when forced, by the potent spells of the great Powow, to +work good instead of evil.] + +Tisquantum closed his wild oration with another loud and prolonged +yell, to which all the spectators, who crowded the sides of the hut, +replied by a short and yelping cry: and the Powow sank on the ground by +the side of his patient, faint and exhausted by the violent and +sustained exertions to which both his mind and body had been subjected +for several hours without intermission. The attendants, among whom +Jyanough was foremost, hastened to his assistance, and administered to +him some needful refreshment; and Henrich turned away, grieved and +disgusted, and fall of sympathy for his once heathen companion, who, he +now remembered, was standing by his side, and witnessing the wild and +degrading extravagances of a father whom she both loved and respected. + +He looked into her deep expressive eyes, and saw that they were filled +with tears of humiliation and mental agony. How could it be otherwise? +How could she--who had learned to love a God of mercy, and to believe +in a meek and lowly Savior--bear to see her father thus the slave of +Satan, and the minister of cruel and heathen superstition? Especially, +how could she bear that so degrading a scene should he witnessed by him +from whom she had derived all she knew of the gospel of joy and peace, +and whose esteem was more precious to her than the opinion of all the +world beside? + +Silently she walked by Henrich's side for neither of them were inclined +to speak the thoughts that filled their minds. And silently they would +have proceeded to Oriana's dwelling, where her white brother proposed +to leave her with her attendants, and then to return and seek his +deluded friend Jyanough; but ere they reached Tisquantum's lodge, they +were overtaken by the Indian youth. + +Jyanough had been too much engrossed by the exciting scene that took +place in Terah's dwelling--and too eagerly watching for some favorable +appearances that might encourage him to hope for the life of his only +surviving relative--to observe that Henrich was also a spectator of +these heathen rites, until all was concluded, and the patient and his +physician were alike overpowered by heat and exhaustion. Then he had +glanced towards the door, and had seen the saddened expression that +clouded the open features of the Christian youth, and the look of +anguish that Oriana cast on her degraded father; and then all the +truths that Henrich had endeavored so simply and so patiently to +impress upon his mind--all the arguments that his white friend had +employed to win him from heathen darkness, and guide him into Divine +truth--rushed at once upon his memory. He felt ashamed of the remaining +superstition that had led him to take part in such vain ceremonies, and +to deem that they could conduce to his uncle's recovery, after he had +heard, and even assented to, the holy belief of the Christians in the +universal power of Almighty God, and the victory of His Son Jesus +Christ over the devil and all his angels. And he was grieved, also, +that his kind and anxious young teacher should regard him as an +ungrateful, and, possibly, even as a deceitful hearer. + +He, therefore, hastened after Henrich and Oriana, and overtook them as +they approached the lodge appropriated to the Nausett Sachem. + +'Are you angry with your red brother?' he inquired earnestly, as he +laid his hand on Henrich's shoulder, and looked sadly in his face. 'Do +you think that Jyanough is a deceiver, and that he has listened to the +teaching of the white stranger only to gain his friendship, and then to +forsake him, and betray him, and return to the religion of his own +people? O, no! Jyanough's heart is open and clear before the eyes of +his friend; and he will gladly listen again to all the good things that +Henrich tells him, for his heart says that they are true. But his soul +is still very dark; and when he saw Terah ready to die, and felt that, +when he was gone, there would be none to love him among all his tribe, +the cloud grew thicker and thicker; and Maatche-Mahneto seemed to look +out of the midst of the deep gloom with wrathful eyes of fire, and +beckon him to follow to Terah's lodge, and join in the worship which +the great Powow was about to offer. Will your Mahneto forgive him, +Henrich? + +The heart of the Christian boy was penetrated with joy and thankfulness +at this frank confession of the young Indian. He clearly saw that the +struggle--the universal and enduring struggle--between the powers of +good and evil, had already commenced in the soul of the red man; and he +had full confidence in the blessed declaration, that 'He who hath begun +a good work of grace in the immortal spirit, will surely perfect it +unto the end.' Therefore, he replied without hesitation, 'He will +certainly forgive you, Jyanough; and if you desire His help to make +your soul light, and strong, and joyful, and ask for that help in +sincerity and truth, He will most assuredly give it to you. Let us +enter the lodge, and there unite our prayers to the Great Spirit, who +is the God and Father of all his creatures, that He will graciously +shed His light and His truth into all our hearts; and, especially, that +He will remove all the doubts and fears that still lie sadly and +heavily on our brother's spirit.' + +The three young friends did so: and in the deserted chamber of the +great heathen Powow, Tisquantum, the voice of Christian supplication +ascended to the throne of a prayer-answering God. Could it ascend +unheeded? or fail to bring down, in His own good time, an answer of +peace? + + + +CHAPTER IX + +‘The dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.’ +PSA. lxxiv, 20 + +The night that followed this conversation, Jyanough passed in Terah's +lodge, and he nursed his suffering relative with gentle patience. But +he saw no signs of recovery, although the women and the Cree Powows +assured him that the fatal disease was driven away by Tisquantum's +powerful incantations, and that, when the sun rose, he would see the +spirit of Terah revive. So had the conjuror declared; and so these +misguided heathens believed. But when the first beams of opening day +entered the door of the lodge, which was set open to receive them, and +fell on the dark and pallid features of the aged sufferer, Jyanough +could no longer be deceived into hope. He saw that his revered uncle +was dying, and he hastened to inform Henrich of the fact, and to +entreat him to return with him to Terah's wigwam, and to prey to the +Great Spirit in his behalf. + +Henrich readily complied: and he, too, was convinced, by the first +glance at the dying Indian, that no human aid, however skilful, could +long retain that once powerful spirit in its worn and wasted tenement +of clay. He knelt down by the side of Terah's couch, and Jyanough knelt +with him; and, regardless of the wondering gaze of the ignorant +attendants, he offered up a short and simple prayer to God for the +soul of the departing warrior. + +The Cree Powows who had watched the sick man during the night, had left +the lodge as soon as daylight set in, to collect materials for a great +burnt offering they deigned to make, as a last resource, in front of +the Pince's dwelling. As Henrich and Jyanough rose from their knees, +the heathen priest entered, bearing strings of wampum, articles of +furniture, of clothing, food, tobacco, and everything of any value that +they had been able to obtain from the friends of Terah. All these +various articles were displayed before the dim eyes of the invalid, for +whose benefit they were to be reduced to a heap of useless ashes; and a +faint smile of satisfaction passed over Terah's countenance: but he +spoke not. Jyanough then bent down, and pressed his lips to the cold +brow of his almost unconscious uncle, and hurried with Henrich from the +lodge; for he could not bear again to witness any repetition of the +heathen ceremonies that had caused him so much shame the preceding day: +neither could he endure to see his last relative leave the world, +surrounded by a spiritual darkness which it was not in his power to +dispel. + +The young friends took their way into the forest, that they might be +beyond the sight and the sound of those rites that were about to be +performed for the recovery of one who had already begun to travel +through ‘the valley of the shadow of death.’ They had not, however, +gone far in a westerly direction, before they chanced their intention, +and resolved to return to the village. The cause of this change of +purpose was their meeting with a band of Cree warriors, who had gone +out, some weeks previously, on an expedition against a settlement of +their enemies, the Stone Indians; and were now returning from the +plains of the Saskatchawan, laden with spoils. Many of the Crees bore +scalps suspended from their belts, as bloody trophies of victory; and +all had arms, and skins, and ornaments that they had carried away from +the pillaged wigwams of their foes. + +Henrich could not help gazing with admiration at the party of warriors +as they approached. The greater part of them were mounted on beautiful +and spirited horses of the wild breed of the western prairies, which +they rode with an ease and grace that astonished the young Englishman. +They wore no covering on their heads, and their black hair was cut +short, except one long scalp-lock hanging behind; so that their fine +countenances, which were rather of the Roman cast, were fully exposed +to view. Their dress consisted of a large blanket, wrapped gracefully +round the waist, and confined by a belt, so as to leave the bust and +arms bare; and so perfect and muscular were their figures, that they +had the appearance of noble bronze statues. Their native weapons, +consisting of spears and bows, with highly ornamented quivers suspended +from their shoulders, and battle-axes hung to their belts, added much +to their martial and picturesque effect. Behind the horsemen followed +a band on foot, who carried the stolen treasures of the wasted village; +and Henrich looked with curiosity at the various and beautifully +decorated articles of dress, and hunting equipments, that had formed +the pride and the wealth of the defeated Stone Indians. + +But the part of the spoil that interested and distressed both Henrich +and his companion more than all the rest, was a young Indian warrior, +who, with his wife and her infant, had been brought away as prisoners +to add to the triumph, and, probably, to glut the vengeance, of their +conquerors. There was an unextinguished fire in the eye of the captive, +and an expression of fearless indignation in the proud bearing with +which he strode by the side of his captors, that clearly told how +bravely he would sell his life but for the cords that tightly bound his +wrists behind him, and were held by a powerful Cree on each side. +Behind him walked his wife, with downcast features and faltering steps, +and at her back hung her little infant, suspended in a bag or pouch of +deer skin, half filled with the soft bog-moss, so much used by Indian +squaws to form the bed--and, indeed, the only covering--of their +children during the first year of their existence. The eyes of the +captive young mother were fixed tearfully on the majestic form of her +husband, who was too proud--perhaps, also, too sad--to turn and meet +her gaze, while the eyes of his foes were upon him to detect his +slightest weakness. Even the low wailing cry of her child was unheeded +by this broken hearted wife in that sad hour; for she well knew the +customs of Indian warfare, and she had no hope for the life of her +warrior, even if her own should be spared. + +Henrich gazed on the little group in pity; for be instinctively read +their story, and their coming fate, in their countenances, and in the +cruel glances that fell on them from their guards. He looked at +Jyanough; and in his expressive features he saw a fell confirmation of +his worst fears. + +'They will sacrifice them to Maatche-Mahneto in the vain hope of +lengthening Terah's life,' he softly whispered in Henrich's ear. 'Let +us go back and seek Oriana. Perhaps, for her sake, Tisquantum may ask +the lives of the squaw and her young child; and, as Chingook's honored +guest, they would be granted to him; but there is no hope for the +warrior. His blood will surely be shed to appease Maatche-Mahneto, and +to atone for the death of several of the Cree braves who have fallen +this year by the hands of the Stone tribe.' + +Hastily Henrich turned; and, followed by Jyanough, took a by-path well +known to them, and entered the village before the arrival of the +warriors and their unhappy prisoners. A brief explanation was +sufficient to enlist all the kindly feelings, and all the Christian +spirit, of Oriana in favor of their project; and she lost no time in +seeking her father, who had again repaired to Terah's hut, to +superintend the costly sacrifice that was being offered in his behalf. +She found him exulting in a partial improvement in his patient, whose +senses had again returned with a brief and deceitful brilliance, and +attributing what he called the aged Pince's recovery to the potency of +his own spells. + +This was no time for Oriana to argue with the elated Powow on the +fallacy of his pretensions. She therefore listened patiently to his +boastings; and then, with much feeling and natural eloquence, told him +the cause of her interrupting him at such a moment, and besought him to +exert all his great influence with the Crees, to induce them to spare +the lives of the Stone captives. + +Tisquantum listened with attention to her story and her petition, for +he was always gentle to Oriana; but he gave her little hope of that +fell success which her warm young heart desired, and anticipated. + +'My child,' he said, 'I will do what you ask, so far as to request that +the woman and child may be placed at your disposal. But the warrior's +life I cannot demand, for it would be an insult to the brave Crees to +suppose that they would suffer an enemy to escape, and tell his tribe +that they were woman-hearted. No, he must die; and, if the soul of his +ancestors dwells in him, he will exult in the opportunity of showing +how even a Stone Indian can meet death.' + +Oriana was repulsed, but not defeated, by this reply. +'Nay, my father,' she again began, 'either save all, or let all perish. +Do not take the brave young warrior from his wife and child, and leave +them in poverty and sorrow; but plead for mercy to be shown to him +also--and so may mercy be shown to his conquerors, and to you, his +deliverer, when--' + +'Peace, child,' interrupted the Sachem, with more asperity than he +usually showed to Oriana. 'These are the notions you have learned from +your white brother, and I desire not to hear them. Tisquantum knows his +duty. I will demand the lives of the woman and child of whom you speak; +but the warrior must abide his fate. And think you that he would not +scorn to live when honor is gone I Go'--he added more gently, as he saw +the sorrow that dimmed her eye--'go, and tell Jyanough to meet me at +the Sachem's lodge. Terah may yet be saved--this victim comes at s +happy moment, and surely Mahneto demands his life as at offering for +that of the venerable Pince.' + +Oriana shuddered at what she saw to be her father's meaning. Once she +would have felt as he did and have believed that their god could be +propitiated by blood and agony. But now she knew that all such cruel +sacrifices were worse than vain; and deeply she regretted her own +inability to bring her countrymen, and especially her own beloved +father, to a knowledge of the Gospel of mercy and peace; and thus save +them from imbruing their hands in the blood of their fellow men, and +thinking that they did good service to the Great Spirit. + +She hurried back to her companions, and, weeping, told them of her +partial success. It was all, and more than all, that Jyanough expected; +and he immediately went to meet Tisquantum at the lodge of the Cree +Sachem, Chingook, where he found the war party and their prisoners +assembled. After a few words to Jyanough, Tisquantum commenced a long +speech to his brother Sachem, in which he dilated on the friendship +that subsisted between them, and the joy that he had felt in exercising +his skill for the benefit of the brave and hospitable Crees. He then +spoke of Terah's perilous condition, and his fears that even his powers +had been baffled by the spirit of evil; and that the Pince would yet be +taken from them, unless some offering could be found more precious than +all that were now piled before his dwelling, and only waited for the +auspicious moment to be wrapped inflame, us a sacrifice to the offended +deity who had brought the pestilence. 'And have we not such an offering +here?' he added, pointing to the captive warrior, who stood, with head +erect, awaiting the sentence that he knew would be pronounced. 'Have we +not here a victim, sent by Mahneto himself, at the very moment when +Terah's life seems hanging on a breath? Lead him, then, to the sacred +pile; and as his soul goes forth, the soul of Terah shall revive. + +This speech was received with acclamations by the Crees; and already +the warriors were hurrying away their captive, while his wife followed, +as if mechanically, to share her husband's fate. Bat here Tisquantum +interposed, and, in his daughter's name, requested the life of the +woman and her child. His request was readily granted by Chingook; for +of what value was a squaw in the eyes of these Indian braves? + +The daughter of our friend and benefactor shall be denied nothing that +she asks,' replied the Cree Chief. 'Take the woman to Oriana's lodge, +and let her be her slave.' + +Jyanough approached to lead away the unhappy woman but she turned on +him a look of despairing misery, and, laying her band on her husband's +arm, said quickly, 'I will see my Lincoya die, and then I will follow +you where you will, for Mailah has no home.' + +Jyanough did not oppose her, for his heart was touched by her sorrow +and her fortitude; and the captive warrior turned his head, and bent on +her sad countenance one look of tenderness and approbation, that told +how deeply he was sensible of her devotion. + +He did not speak--perchance he could not trust his voice in that trying +moment--but he followed his guards, and his eye was again steadfast, +and his step was firm. + +Henrich and Oriana waited anxiously for the return of Jyanough: but he +came not; and they almost feared that Tisquantum's request had been too +coldly urged to prove successful. It was a calm autumnal day; and as +the sun rose high in the heavens, his beams were shrouded by heavy +thunder clouds, while a low and distant murmur foretold an approaching +storm, and added to the gloom that weighed heavily on Oriana's spirit. +All the sin and degradation of the faith of her countrymen seemed to +strike upon her mind with a force hitherto unknown, and to bow her down +in shame and sadness. Even to Henrich--to her loved Christian friend +and teacher--she could not now utter her feelings; and when, to divert +her thoughts, and remove her from the village where he knew so cruel a +scene would soon be enacted, he led her towards the forest, she +followed him silently. They seated themselves beneath an overshadowing +tree; and, for some time, no sound broke the oppressive silence save +the soft rustling of the leaves, that seemed to be moved by the spirits +of the air-for no wind was stirring. + +Presently a shriek--one single cry of agony--arose from the village: +and all was still again. + +'It was a woman's voice!' exclaimed Oriana, in a tone of deep +suffering. 'O, Henrich! they murder the helpless and the innocent; and +my father consents to the deed!' + +Henrich did not reply; he had no comfort to offer. But they both gazed +towards the village, as if hoping to discover, through the impervious +wood that surrounded it, some indications of what was going on in those +'habitations of cruelty.’ + +Soon a dense cloud of smoke rose high in the still at; and flames shot +up above the intervening trees. And then burst forth a mingled din of +wild unearthly sounds, that told of sated vengeance, and malignant joy, +and demoniac worship. Fiercely the war cry of the Crees rang in the +air, while above it rose the shrill sound of clashing spears and +tomahawks; and Oriana knew that the savages were dancing round a death- +fire, and calling on Mahneto to accept their bloody offering. + +But now the threatening storm broke suddenly on that dark place of the +earth; and it seemed to Oriana's troubled spirit that the wrath of +heaven was poured upon her benighted race. Peal after peal resounded in +quick succession, and reverberated from the distant kills; while +flashes of forked lightning followed one another rapidly, and +dispelled, for a moment, the unnatural darkness. The young Indian clung +trembling and terrified to her companion, and hid her face on his +shoulder, to shut out the fearful scene, while Henrich spoke to her +words of comfort and encouragement, and at length succeeded in calming +her agitation. The rain poured down in torrents but so dense was the +foliage that hung over Oriana and her companion that it could not +penetrate their place of refuge; and they remained awaiting its +cessation, and watching the curling smoke, that seemed to die away as +the falling torrent extinguished the fire. But as it disappeared, +another cloud arose near the same spot; and wider and fiercer flames +sprang up, that defied the rain, and continued to burn with more and +more strength. Whence could they arise? Surely the wigwams were on +fire! + +Henrich communicated this fear to Oriana, and they arose and hurried +together towards the village, where an appalling scene met their eyes. +In front of Terah's dwelling were the smoldering remains of the +sacrificial fire, on which--still upheld by the stake to which he had +been bound--the burnt and, blackened form of a man was visible; while +close by the ashes lay a woman, so motionless that she seemed as +totally deprived of life as the wretched victim himself, and a child +was reclining on her shoulder, whose faint wailing cry showed that it +yet lived and suffered. + +None heeded the melancholy group; for the warriors, whose wild songs +and frantic dances had been interrupted by the sudden violence of the +storm, were all now engaged in fruitless efforts to extinguish the +flames that were rapidly consuming the lodge of Terah. The lightning +had struck it, and ignited its roof of reeds; and so rapidly had the +whole dwelling become a prey to the dreadful element, that even the +removal of the dying sage had been despaired of. But Jyanough, who had +been a silent spectator of all the previous scene of cruelty, was not +to be daunted by the smoke and flame that burst through the entrance, +and drove from the chamber of death all the attendants of the sufferer. +Boldly he rushed into Terah's dwelling; and, just as Henrich and Oriana +entered the open space in front of it, they beheld him issuing forth, +blackened with smoke and scorched with fire, and bending beneath the +weight of his uncle's corpse. + +Yes; Terah was already a corpse! All the charms and incantations of +the Powows bad failed to banish the disease that was sent to summon him +away. All the treasure that had been destroyed, and the precious life- +blood that had been spilled to propitiate false deities, could not for +one moment arrest the fiat of the true 'Master of life,' or detain the +spirit which was recalled by ‘Him who gave it' That spirit had passed +away amidst the noise of the tempest; and when Henrich sprang forward, +and assisted his friend to lay the body gently on the earth, they saw +that the spark of life had fled! + +All further attempts at extinguishing the fire were now abandoned; and +the Crees gathered round their departed friend to condole with +Jyanough, who was his nearest relative, and to commence that dismal +howling by which they express their grief on such occasions. All the +property of the dead man was already consumed; but the best mats and +skins that Jyanough’s wigwam contained were brought to wrap the corpse +in; and when the site of his former dwelling could be cleared of ashes +and rubbish, a grave was speedily dug in the center of it, and the, +body laid by the simple sepulchre, around which the friends of the +venerated Pince seated themselves, and howled, and wept, and detailed +the virtues and the wisdom of the dead. + +Jyanough was expected to act the part of chief mourner in these +ceremonies; and the real affection he had entertained for his uncle +induced him to comply, and to remain all that day, and all the +following night, at the grate. But he refused to cover his face with +soot--as is customary on such occasions of domestic sorrow--or to join +the Powows in their frantic cries and exorcisms, to drive off the +Weettakos from sucking the dead man's blood. The presence of Henrich +seemed to annoy and irritate these priests of Satan; and he was glad to +retire from a scene so repugnant to his better feelings, and to return +to Oriana, by whose care and direction the unhappy Mailah and her +infant had been promptly removed from the place of death and +desolation, and conveyed to her own apartment in Tisquantum’s lodge. + +Her kind efforts had restored the poor young widow to consciousness; +and she now sat on the floor, with her child on her knee, listening +with a calmness that almost seemed apathy, to the words of comfort that +were uttered by the gentle Squaw-Sachem. + +Mailah was very young. Scarcely sixteen summers had passed over her +head; and yet--such is Indian life--she had already been a wife and a +mother; and now, alas! she was a widow. Her grief had been passionate +at the last, and had burst forth in that one wild cry that had startled +Oriana’s ear in the forest. But that was over now, and she seemed +resigned to her hard fate, and willing to endure it. Perhaps this was +for her infant's sake; and, perhaps, her sensibilities were blunted by +the life she had led, in common with the rest of her race and sex--a +life in which the best feelings and sympathies of our nature are almost +unknown. It was not until Oriana led her to speak of her past life, and +the home of her youth--now desolate and in ruins--that tears of natural +grief flowed from her eyes. Then she seemed roused to a full sense of +all she had lost, end broke out into mournful lamentations for her +murdered Lincoya, whose noble qualities and high lineage she eloquently +extolled; while she sadly contrasted her present lonely and desolate +position with her happiness as the squaw of so distinguished a warrior, +and so successful a hunter. + +Oriana said all she could to console her; and assured her of her +protection and friendship, and of a home in her lodge when they +returned to their own country, where she should live as her sister, and +bring up her little Lincoya to emulate his father's courage and +virtues: and, ere long, the simple young savage again grew calm, said +lifted up her soft black eyes, and smiled gratefully at her new friend +and benefactor. She said she bad no wish to return to her own tribe, +for all her family and friends had been destroyed in the recent +massacre; and the village where she had spent such happy days was +reduced to ashes. She, therefore, was well content to remain with the +youthful Squaw-Sachem, to whose intercession she knew she owed her own +life and that of her child, and in whose service she professed her +willingness to live and die. + +Her manner and appearance greatly interested Henrich, for they were +marked by much greater refinement than he had seen in any of the Indian +females, except Oriana. This was to be accounted for by her noble +birth; for in those days the Indian chieftains prided themselves on the +purity and nobility of their lineage; and no member of a Sachem's +family was allowed to marry one of an inferior race. A certain air of +dignity generally distinguished the privileged class, even among the +females; although their lives were not exempt from much of hardship and +servitude, and they were regarded as altogether the inferiors of their +lords and masters. + +To Oriana the arrival of the young mother and her playful child was a +source of much pleasure and comfort; for she had begun to feel the want +of female society, and the women who accompanied Tisquantum's party, +and assisted her in the domestic duties of the family, were no +companions to her. In Mailah she saw that she could find a friend; and +her kindness and sympathy soon attached the lonely young squaw to her, +and even restored her to cheerfulness and activity. It was only when +she visited the grave in which Henrich and Jyanough had laid the +murdered Lincoya, and decked it with flowers and green boughs, that the +widow seemed to feel the greatness of her affliction. Then she would +weep bitterly, and, with passionate gestures, lament her brave warrior. +But, at other times, she was fully occupied with the care of her little +Lincoya, or in assisting Oriana in the light household duties that +devolved upon her. And her sweet voice was often heard singing to the +child, which generally hung at her back, nestled in its soft bed of +moss. + + + +CHAPTER X. + +‘The noble courser broke away. + And bounded o'er the plain? +The desert echoed to his tread, + As high he toss'd his graceful head, +And shook his flowing name. + +King of the Western deserts! Thou + Art still untam'd and free! +Ne'er shall that crest he forced to bow +Beneath the yoke of drudgery low: +But still in freedom shalt thou roam +The boundless fields that form thy home + Thy native Prairie!' ANON. + +The camp of the Indian hunters looked cheerful and picturesque, as +Oriana and Mailah approached it one evening on their return from a +ramble in the forest, where they had been to seek the wild fruits that +now abounded there, and paused at the skirt of the wood, to admire the +scene before them. The proposed hunting-ground had been reached the +preceding day, and already the temporary huts were completed, and the +tents of the Sachem pitched beneath a grove of lofty oaks and walnuts, +free from underwood, and on the border of a clear and rippling stream. +The Nausett and Pequodee hunters had purchased a considerable number of +horses from their Cree friends; and, therefore, the journey from +Chingook's village to the prairie, in which the encampment now stood, +had been performed with much ease and expedition; and the hardy animals +were so little fatigued by their march through the forest, that several +of the younger Indians had mounted again the morning after their +arrival, and gone off on a reconnoitering expedition, to discover what +prospect there was of finding much game in that neighborhood. + +Henrich--proud and happy in the possession of a spirited horse, with +which Tisquantum had presented him--insisted on being one of the party; +end he was accompanied, also, by Jyanough, who had left his native +village, now rendered sad and gloomy in his eyes, to follow his white +friend, and share his society at least for a time. This arrangement +gave Henrich the greatest satisfaction for the young Cree was the only +Indian of his own sex in whom he had been able to find a companion, or +who had peculiarly attached himself to the stranger: and the more he +saw of Jyanough the more he found in him to win his esteem and +friendship. + +Oriana and Mailah seated themselves on the luxuriant grass to rest; and +the young Indian mother removed her child from the strange cradle in +which she always carried it, and laid it on her knees; and then, after +gazing at it for a few moments, she began to sing a wild, sweet song, +to hush it to sleep. In a soft, monotonous cadence, she sang the sad +story of its little life--its birth--its captivity--and the death of +its murdered father, whom she exhorted it to imitate, and live to equal +in courage and in skill. And thus she sang: + +'Child of the slain Lincoya, sleep In peace! Thy mother wakes to guard +thee. But where is he whose smile once fell on thee as sunshine--thy +father, Lincoya? He is gone to the far distant hunting-grounds and +there, again, he casts the spear; and there he draws the unerring bow; +and there he quaffs the cup of immortality, with the spirits of the +good and brave. O Lincoya! thy voice was to me as a sweet song, or as +the summer breeze among the tall cypress trees--why didst thou leave +me? Thy step was swift and graceful as the roe upon the mountains--why +didst thou leave me? But I will follow thee, my warrior, The death-bird +has called me, and I come to thee! Thy child shall live; for Mahneto +has given him friends and a home. He shall grow up like thee, and +Oriana shill be o mother to him when I am gone: and the blue-eyed +stranger, whom she loves as I loved thee, shall guide his hand in war, +and in the chase. Lincoya! I come to thee!’ + +Oriana listened to the mournful chant of the young widow with much +interest and sympathy; but when she spoke of her love for her white +brother, in terms so new and strange, she almost felt offended. She +did not, however, remark on her friend's allusion to herself, but +turned the discourse to Mailah's sad prophecy of her own early death, +which she knew could only be grounded on one of the wild superstitions +of her race. + +'Why do you talk of dying, Mailah?' she asked. 'You are young and +strong; and you may again be happy. Why do you say you will leave your +child, and go to the land of spirits?' + +'The death-bird[*] called to me last night, as I sat at the open door +of the hut, and looked at the moon, and thought how its soft light was +guiding my Lincoya on long, long, journey, to the everlasting hunting +fields of his fathers. Cheepai-Peethees called me twice from the tree +that hung over the lodge; but when I called to it again, and whistled +clearly, it made no answer. I heard it the day before the Crees +destroyed our village. It called my husband then, and would not answer +him; and in two days he was slain. The death-bird is never mistaken.’ + +[Footnote: A small owl called _Cheepai-Peethees,_ or the _death-bird,_ +which the Indians attach the superstition here alluded to, and believe, +if it does not answer to their whistle, it denotes their speedy death.] + +‘O, Mailah!' replied the young Christian squaw, 'say not so. Surely it +is not thus that the great Mahneto calls His children to come to Him. +Once I believed all these Indian stories; but now I know that they are +false and vain. I know that our lives, and all things that befall us, +are in the hands of the wise and good God--the Mahneto of the +Christians and of the red men too. And now I have no fear of any of +those strange sounds that used to make me sad, and terrify me with +thoughts of coming evil. I most teach you to believe as I do now: or, +rather, my _white brother_ shall teach you; for he knows the words of +Mahneto himself. See, Mailah! There my brother comes--let us go to meet +him.' + +A flush of joy mounted to the clear olive cheek of Oriana as she said +these words, and she sprang to her feet with the lightness of a fawn. +Mailah rose more gently, and replacing her infant in the pouch, slung +it over her shoulder, and followed her friend, softly whispering in her +ear, ‘The white stranger is your Lincoya.' + +The Indian beauty smiled, and blushed more deeply: but she did not +bound across the glade to meet Henrich as she had purposed doing. She +drew her slender figure to its full height, and stood still; and as +Henrich galloped across the green meadow, and alighted, full of +animation, to tell her of his success in his first essay at hunting the +elk, he wondered why she greeted him so coldly. + +The fact was that Oriana was beginning to find that the blue-eyed +stranger possessed even more interest in her eyes than she had ever +felt for her own dark brother, Tekon; and when Mailah had openly +alluded to this sentiment--which she thought unknown to all but +herself--her natural and instinctive delicacy was wounded. But the +feeling quickly wore away; and as Henrich and Jyanough detailed the +exciting sports of the day, she forgot all but the pleasure of +listening to his voice, and gazing at his fine countenance and bright +sweet smile. She was happy; and she though not of the future. + +And Henrich was happy, too. He had now found companions whom he could +love; and the life of the Indian hunters was all that he had ever +pictured to himself of freedom and adventure. The beauty of the +scenery--the clearness of the sky--and the glow of health and +excitement that animated his whole frame when he joined in the chase +with his savage friends, were all so entirely different to the life he +had led in damp and foggy Holland, that it was no wonder he enjoyed it, +and that his youthful spirits enabled him to subdue the oft-recurring +grief that he felt at each remembrance of his family and his home. Hope +was strong in his breast; and he trusted once again to meet all whom he +loved so dearly: and the present was so bright and inspiring that he +could not desire to change it yet. + +For many weeks the camp remained pitched in the same lovely situation; +and the time of the hunters was fully occupied in the discovery and +pursuit of the various wild animals that abounded in the uncultivated, +but richly verdant, prairie. Of these, the elk and the buffalo were the +most common victims to the spears and arrows of the Indians; and every +evening large quantities of meat were brought into the camp, and given +to the care of the squaws to dry and cure for winter consumption. These +larger animals were too heavy to be transported whole to the huts; end +therefore the hunters always skinned them and cut off the flesh where +they fell, and left the carcasses to the wolves and the birds of prey +that were ever ready at hand. But the smaller animals, and the wild +turkeys and other birds, that were killed in great numbers, were +brought in and thrown down by the blazing camp fires, that lighted up +the glade every night, and were speedily prepared and cooked for the +supper of the hungry hunters. + +As the leader of the expedition, Tisquantum was always presented with +the choicest of the game; and it was Oriana's task to superintend the +curing of the elk and buffalo meat, and the cooking that was required +for her father's lodge. In all these household cares she was greatly +assisted by Mailah, who was both active and skilful in all the duties +of an Indian squaw: and eager also to evince her gratitude for the +kindness and protection that were afforded to herself and her child by +the Nausett Chief, by doing all that she could to lighten Oriana's +labors. Time and occupation did not fail to have their usual effect on +one so young, and naturally so light-hearted as Mailah; and animated +cheerfulness took the place of the mournful expression that had +hitherto so frequently sat on her countenance. She did not forget +Lincoya; but she forgot the call of the death-bird: and when she sang +her child to sleep, it was no longer with the same sad cadence as at +first. Sorrow could not strike very deep, or abide very long in the +heart of a being so gay, and with a mind and feelings so utterly +uncultivated as those of the young Stone Indian. Neither could she live +so much in the society of the white stranger, and his two chosen +companions, without imbibing something of their intelligence, and +becoming sensible of their superiority of mind to all others with whom +she had ever associated: and she grew more and more attached to them, +and learnt to regret less the friends and companions among whom her +youth had been spent. + +She was a high-spirited and courageous creature: she would have +followed her husband unhesitatingly to death, had she been called on to +do so; or she would have died to save him, if her life could have +availed to purchase his. But now that he was gone, and she could not +even weep over his grave, and deck it with flowers and gifts, her +lively spirit rose again, and led her to seek amusement and occupation +in everything within her reach. + +The accounts which Henrich and Jyanough continually gave to her and +Oriana of their exciting adventures in the prairie, had aroused in both +of them a strong desire to be spectators of the sport; and they sought +and obtained Tisquantum's permission to accompany the hunters one +morning to the buffalo ground that lay nearest to the camp, and there +to witness the pursuit and capture of some of those magnificent +animals. + +A short ride through the forest brought the party out upon a vast and +glorious prairie, on which the rich autumnal sun was shining in all his +strength. On a rising ground that partially overlooked the plain, +Oriana and her companion took up their position, beneath the shade of a +grove of pines; and they watched the hunters as they examined the foot- +prints on the dewy turf, or followed the tracks of the elks and +buffaloes through the long prairie-grass, in order to make their +arrangements for enclosing the game and driving the animals into an +open and central situation. + +In the course of this examination, the recent tracks of a number of +wild horses were discovered, and fresh excitement was felt by the whole +party, for all were desirous to attempt the capture of these most +valuable animals; and they resolved, on this occasion, to make them the +chief objects of their pursuit. A ring was, therefore, formed by the +numerous company of horsemen, enclosing a very large space of the +beautiful park-like ground, which was studded with trees, either single +or in groups; while underneath them, in the distance, could be seen +many buffaloes lying down or grazing. The scene had the appearance of +a wide extent of finely-cultivated pasture, ornamented with timber of +every kind; end it forcibly recalled to Henrich's memory the fields and +the cattle that had surrounded his European home. But the size of the +trees, the extent of the natural meadow, and, above all, the wild +aspect of the red hunters with their spears, and bows, and tomahawks, +soon destroyed the fancied resemblance; while the eagerness and +excitement of the novel sport banished all the sad recollections to +which it had given rise. A desire also to distinguish himself in the +presence of Oriana, and show her that a pale-face could equal her own +dark race in courage and dexterity, inspired him with peculiar ardor; +and he galloped to the station appointed him by Tisquantum, with a +heart that bounded with pride and pleasure. + +The hunters were each provided with a long coil of grass rope, with a +noose at the end--now called a _lariat_ or _lasso_--used by the Indians +for casting over the horns of the elks and buffaloes, or the necks of +the wild horses, that they desired to capture. These they carried in +such a manner as to be ready to throw them off in an instant to their +whole length, if necessary; but much practice is required to do this +with precision, and Henrich did not yet hope for success in the +difficult art. His only chance of capturing a wild courser lay in his +skill in casting the spear, which might enable him to pierce the animal +through the upper part of the neck, and thus produce a temporary +insensibility, during which time he might be secured without any +permanent injury. This also requires great precision and address; but +Henrich had become an adept in the use of the light lance, and he felt +sanguine of success if the opportunity should he afforded him. + +The string of horsemen slowly and warily drew in towards the open spot +that was intended to be the scene of their operations, and of which +Oriana and Mailah had a good view from their safe and elevated +position; and soon a troop of wild horses were disturbed by one of the +hunters, and burst forth from a thick grove of trees that had +previously concealed them. They rushed madly over the plain, mingling +with the affrighted buffaloes and American deer, that had not hitherto +perceived the stealthy approach of their foes. At every point where +they attempted to escape from the enclosure they were met by a mounted +huntsman, and were driven back, with shouts and cries, towards the +center. All other game was now forgotten; and each hunter singled out, +for his own object of pursuit, the steed that pleased him best, and of +which he thought he could most easily gain possession. But one there +was--the leader of the troop--on which many eyes were fixed with eager +desire. He was a noble creature, of perfect form and proportions; and +as he pranced before his companions, with neck erect, and throwing his +head from side to side, as if to reconnoiter his assailants--while his +mane and tail floated in the breeze, and his glossy coal-black skin +gave back the rays of the morning sun--he looked like the King of the +Prairie, going forth in the pride of perfect freedom. + +The ring grew smaller and smaller; and every hand was steady, and every +eye was fixed for the moment of trial: and soon the headlong pursuit +commenced. At the first scattering of the wild troop, several of the +younger and more feeble horses were secured; and some of the hunters, +who despaired of nobler game, contented themselves with capturing or +slaying either elks or buffaloes. But the finest horses escaped the +first assault, and broke through the circling ring into the boundless +meadow, where they were followed at mad speed by the hunters, poising +their spears, and swinging their nooses round their heads, ready for a +cast. Henrich and Jyanough, and several others of the best mounted +Indians, had joined in the chase of the black leader, and dashed +furiously after him over the plain. The horse that the English boy rode +was strong and fleet, and the light weight of his rider enabled him to +keep with the foremost of the red hunters' steeds, and, at length, to +come almost alongside the noble courser. The spear was poised in +Henrich's hand, and was just about to fly, when suddenly his horse fell +to the ground, and rolled over on the turf, leaving his rider +prostrate, but uninjured, except being stunned for a moment by the +shock. + +When he opened his eyes, and sprang to his feet, he saw the king of the +desert galloping up a rising ground, over which he quickly disappeared, +still hotly pursued by Coubitant and several of the hunters. Jyanough +and the rest of his companions, had dismounted to assist their fallen +friend, and to form conjectures as to the probable cause of the unlucky +accident. For some time none could be perceived; but on carefully +examining his horse, Henrich at length discovered a small wound in the +hind leg, and found that the creature was lame. How, or by whom, the +wound had been given, he could not even surmise; for in the eagerness +of the chase he had not observed that Coubitant rode close behind him: +and that he had passed him at full speed the moment his horse stumbled +and fell. But Jyanough had remarked it; and from what he had already +seen of the wily Indian, he felt convinced that, prompted by malicious +jealousy, he had thus sought to deprive his rival of his hoped-for +success, and, perhaps, even to inflict on him some grievous personal +injury. + +The young Indian had, however, the good sense to conceal his suspicions +from Henrich at present, and to allow him to regard the whole affair as +accidental; but he determined to keep a strict watch over the conduct +of Coubitant for the future, and, if possible, to guard his friend from +all his evil machinations. + +Soon the Nausett and the rest of the hunters returned from their +fruitless chase, and reported the escape of the noble wild coursers and +when Jyanough heard the regrets that Coubitant expressed for the +accident that had befallen Henrich, and the condolences he offered on +his having thus missed the object which otherwise his skill most surely +have attained, he could scarcely contain his indignation at such +hypocrisy, or refrain from opening the eyes of the unsuspicious young +Englishman. + +They all returned together, at a slow pace, to the main body of the +hunters, for Henrich's horse was too lame to be mounted; and, as soon +as the adventure was made known, much sympathy and interest were shown +for the disappointment of the pale-face, in which Oriana's countenance +and manner showed she partook so warmly, that Coubitant turned aside to +conceal his anger and vexation, and heartily wished that his well-aimed +blow had not only deprived Henrich of the glory of that day's hunting, +but had also put a stop for ever to the success for which he both hated +and envied him. + +The sport continued, after this interruption, as actively as before, +but neither Henrich nor his horse could take any further share in it; +and he remained with Oriana and Mailah, enjoying the beauty of the +scenery, and gathering flowers and fruit for his companions, and for +the little. Lincoya, who, freed from the restraint of his moss-lined +bed, now rolled on the turf with Rodolph, and played with the gentle +and intelligent animal. + +How happy was Oriana that day! She was proud of the gallant bearing of +her 'white brother' among the red warriors of her own wild race, and +she had exulted at the praises which she had heard bestowed on his +address as a hunter, and his shill in horsemanship, by Tisquantum and +the elder Indians; and now, though she regretted his accident, and the +disappointment which it had caused him, she did not suspect that it had +been effected by the malice of a deadly enemy, and she rejoiced that it +had given her the pleasure of his society for the rest of the day--a +pleasure which she had but seldom enjoyed since their arrival in the +prairie. + +At the close of the day the game was collected, and, after due +preparation, was carried back to the camp, where the squaws had already +lighted the evening fires, and made every necessary arrangement for +cooking the expected supper. Around these fires the hunters sat in +groups, and discussed the events of the day, among which the accident +that had befallen the pale-face excited much interest and conjecture. +Jyanough listened to the probable and improbable causes that were +assigned by all the speakers, especially by Coubitant, to account for +so strange a circumstance; but he held his peace, for in his inmost +soul he was only more and more convinced that the subtle and dark- +brewed savage was the perpetrator of the malicious deed. + +In this suspicion, he was the more strongly confirmed by an event that +occurred a few days afterwards. It had been discovered that the stream +that ran so gently by the side of the encampment fell, at some distance +to the west, into a river of considerable size and depth, which then +ran on over a descending and rocky bed, forming alternately smooth +broad sheets of water and noisy broken falls, until it precipitated +itself over a sudden precipice of great depth, and fell dashing and +foaming into the basin which its continual fall had worn in the rocks +below. The distant roar of this cataract had frequently been heard in +the camp, when the wind came from that direction, and when the +stillness of the night--broken only by the occasional howl of wild +beasts seeking their prey, or the melancholy cry of the goat-sucker[*]— +succeeded to the sounds of labor or idleness that generally kept the +temporary village alive by day. But, hitherto, no one had had leisure +or inclination to leave the excitement and novelty of hunting to +explore the river, or ascertain its capabilities for fishing. + +[Footnote: This mournful sound is believed by the Indians to be the +moaning of the departed spirits of women who have committed +infanticide; and who are, consequently, excluded by Mahneto from the +happy mountains which are the abode of the blessed.] + +Now, however, Coubitant brought in a report one evening that the great +stream abounded in fish; and proposed in to Henrich that, as he was for +the present unable to join in the more active business of the chase, he +should assist him in forming a light canoe, in which they could go out +and spear the game that lay beneath the clear blue water in the smooth +reaches of the river. + +To this proposal Henrich readily assented; for the sport was one of +which he had beard his Indian friends speak with great pleasure, and he +greatly wished to enjoy it. The canoe was immediately commenced; and as +it merely consisted of the trunk of a straight tulip-tree, hollowed out +by means of fire, and shaped with a hatchet, it was completed in a +couple of days. + +The light spears that were to pierce the fish were prepared, and long +slender lines of twisted grass were fastened to their shafts for the +purpose of drawing in their prey; and the following morning, when the +hunters were ready to set out on their usual expedition, Coubitant +desired Henrich to accompany him to the river side, where their little +bark lay ready to receive them. Why, on hearing this proposal, did +Jyanough still linger when all the rest of the hunters were mounted, +and his own steed was pawing the ground, impatient of his master's +delay? And why, after gazing a few moments at Coubitant's dark +countenance, did he declare his wish to join the fishing party, and +requested the Nausett to allow him to take a place in the canoe? Did he +see treachery in that eye of fire? Jyanough could lend his horse to the +pale-face, if he should happen to wish to hunt. + +His request was, however, negatived decidedly by Coubitant; who assured +him, with assumed courtesy, that he regretted the size of the boat was +too small to admit of its carrying a third sportsman with safety; but +invited him to join him in the same sport the following day, when, he +added--with that smile that Oriana hated--Jyanough could lend his horse +to the pale-face, if he should happen to wish to hunt. + +The young Cree was baffled. He would gladly have pre vented his friend +from accompanying Coubitant on the expedition; but be had no means of +doing so, or even of putting him on his guard against any possible evil +designs on the part of his companion. So he sprang upon his eager +horse, and galloped after the hunters, hoping that his fears and +suspicions were unfounded. + +Oriana and Mailah, attended by their faithful companion Rodolph, walked +down to the edge of the river, to see the fishermen embark in their +frail vessel; and, for some time, they watched the sport with +considerable interest, and admired the skill with which Coubitant +pierced and brought up several large fish. These he attracted towards +the canoe by means of some preparation that he scattered on the surface +of the water; and when the fish appeared within reach of his spear, he +darted it with unerring aim, and drew in his struggling victim with the +line that was attached to it. Henrich was also provided with weapons; +but as the sport was entirely new to him, he found it difficult to take +a steady aim, and his success was slight. + +Coubitant, however, had soon secured a considerable stock of fish, and +he rowed to the shore, and requested Oriana and her companion to convey +them to the Sachem's lodge; adding, in a careless tone, that it would +not be worth their while to return to the river, as he was going to a +reach at some distance down the stream, towards the head of the +cataract, where he expected to show Henrich excellent sport. + +The two young women returned to the camp; and, having committed the +fine fish to the care of the inferior squaws, they agreed to go again +towards the river, and take this opportunity of visiting the falls, +which they much desired to see, and near which they should probably +again meet the fishermen. They rambled through the wood, taking a +direct course towards the cataract, the sound of whose waters soon +became sufficiently audible to guide them in their unknown way. +Sometimes they came in sight of the river; and again they saw the +little canoe, either standing motionless on the smooth surface of the +water where the stream was wide and unbroken, or else passing, under +the skilful guidance of Coubitant, between the rocks that occasionally +disturbed its course, and formed foaming rapids, down which the little +bark darted with fearful velocity. + +The last reach of the broad river was as calm and smooth as a lake. It +seemed as if the collected mass of water, which had gathered there from +many a broken and troubled stream, and had struggled through many +windings and many difficulties, was reposing there, and gaining +strength for its last great leap over the dark precipice. As Oriana and +Mailah approached the verge of the scattered forest, and stood to gaze +on the magnificent scene before them, they perceived the canoe descend +a narrow rapid, and then take up a position below an elevated mass of +rock, where the water was perfectly still, and where the fishermen +could quietly pursue their occupation. They evidently did not perceive +their female friends, and the roar of the cataract was now so loud as +to prevent all possibility of their hearing their voices. For a short +time Oriana and her friend watched their movements, and saw several +fish captured; and then proceeded along the steep and rocky bank, in +order to obtain a still better view of the waterfall. + +It was a beautiful scene on which those two young Indians looked; and +they felt its power and grandeur, and stood silent and motionless. The +cataract was beneath them; and its roar came up like thunder from the +dark deep basin into which its weight of waters fell, and threw up a +cloud of foam and spray; and then it rushed away again, as if in +gladness at its safe descent and free course, until the shining stream +was hidden by the rocks and overhanging trees that marked its winding +course. The natural platform on which Oriana and Mailah stood, +commanded a view not only of the wild cataract and the lower stretch of +the river, but also of the bold steep rocks on the opposite side, and +the dark forest that stretched away to the distant mountains that +bounded the horizon. It likewise enabled them to perceive the small +canoe, lying motionless on the water, in the shadow of the projecting +rock. + +By and by the boat was rowed into the center of the river, and +Coubitant appeared to be seeking for a good fishing spot, as he pointed +in different directions, and once or twice darted his spear into the +water, and drew it out again without any success. Meanwhile, the canoe +floated slowly down the stream, but its motion gradually increased as +it approached the fall; and Oriana gazed at it, expecting every moment +that Coubitant, who had now taken the oar in his powerful grasp, would +turn its course, and either draw towards the shore; or else row back +again up the river, and land below the first rapids. To her surprise, +and somewhat to her anxiety, he still continued, however, to allow the +canoe to proceed; and she saw Henrich take a dart in his hand, and +stand erect as if to strike at something beneath the surface, to which +Coubitant pointed with the paddle. Another instant, and her white +brother was in the water, and struggling to catch the side of the +canoe! Breathlessly she gazed; and she distinctly saw the paddle which +Coubitant held, extended towards the uplifted hand of Henrich. Still he +did not grasp it! O! why was this? And then the boat, which bad already +floated perilously near to the fall, was Suddenly turned, and she +beheld Coubitant making violent efforts to overcome the force of the +current, and row to the opposite and nearest shore. He was alone! + +And where was Henrich? Where was the brave young stranger? Battling +desperately with the rapid stream which was carrying him onward to +destruction. He rose and sank, rose again, and the current bore him on +with resistless force. For a moment, Oriana clasped her hands over her +eyes, to shut out the dreadful sight; and then, as if inspired by a +gleam of supernatural hope, she darted forward, calling Rodolph, and +pointing to the stream. The intelligent creature had seen the form of +Henrich in the water, and only waited his mistress's command to risk +his life in the attempt to save him. But his sagacity taught him that +it was useless to enter the river above the fall; and he bounded down +the steep bank that led to its foot, and stood eager, and panting, on a +point of rock that overhung the basin. Oriana was quickly on the same +spot, followed by Mailah; but ere they reached it, the dog had plunged +into the foaming waters, and now appeared, upholding the inanimate form +of Henrich, and struggling fearfully to drag him from the whirlpool. + +O, it was a sickening sight! and Oriana's heart stood still in the +agony of suspense She could not aid her brother! She could not cope +with that mad whirl of water! But she leaped down the steep rocks, and +stood on the narrow ledge of shore below, to wait the moment for +action. At length--after what appeared almost a hopeless conflict with +the dashing waters--Rodolph appeared through the cloud of foam and +slowly and feebly swam towards the shore, still supporting the lifeless +burden that seemed almost to drag him beneath the surface. + +Now was the time for the Indian girl to prove her skill and courage. +Lightly she sprang into the water, and in a moment she was at Rodolph’s +side; and, with one arm sustaining the drooping head of Henrich, while, +with the other, she dexterously swam back to the spot where Mailah +stood ready to assist her. With much difficulty they lifted the +senseless form of Henrich on the shore, and proceeded to adopt every +means in their power to restore suspended animation; while Rodolph--the +faithful devoted Rodolph--lay down panting and exhausted, but still +keeping a watchful eye on him whom he had so daringly rescued. Long the +two young Indians labored in silence, and almost in despair; for no +color returned to those pallid lips, and no warmth was perceptible in +the chilled and stiffened hands, that fell powerless by his side. +Still they persevered: and no tear, no lamentation, betrayed the +anguish that wrung the heart of Oriana, while she believed that all was +in vain. But her soul was lifted up in prayer to the One True God, in +whom she had been taught to put her trust by her beloved ‘white +brother’: and in His mercy was her only hope. + +Nor was that hope in vain. The warm beams of the mid-day sun fell +powerfully on that sheltered spot where the little group were gathered, +and, combined with the continued friction that Oriana and Mailah +employed, at length brought back the life-blood to Henrich's cheeks and +lips, and his anxious nurses had the joy of perceiving that he +breathed. A few minutes more, and he opened his deep blue eyes, and +looked wildly around him, and spoke some English words that Oriana +heard amid the din of the falling waters, and knew were of his home and +his kindred. And then he uttered her own name, and attempted to rise, +but fell back again into her arms, and smiled sweetly and gratefully +when her eyes met his, and he saw that she was watching over him. +There was joy--deep joy and gratitude--in those young hearts at that +moment; but Henrich's weakness, and the noise of, the roaring cataract, +prevented them from communicating their feelings in words, and Oriana +forbore to ask any questions of Henrich relative to the cause of his +perilous adventure. + +After some time he seemed greatly to recover, and, rising from the +ground, he slowly mounted the bank, supported by Oriana and her friend. +But it was evident that he was quite unable to proceed on foot to the +camp, and it was agreed that Mailah should return as quickly as +possible and bring such assistance as she could procure from thence, +while Henrich and Oriana should advance as far as his enfeebled state +would admit of. + +Mailah's light form soon disappeared in the wood, and it was not long +ere she reached the camp, and hastened to the tent of Tisquantum, who, +on that day, had not joined the hunting party. She told her story, in +which the old Chief showed the deepest interest; and she observed a +dark frown on his brow while she related the unsuccessful attempts of +Coubitant to draw Henrich from the water with his paddle; but he made +no remark. + +The hunters were still absent, and few men remained in the camp. These +were all engaged in felling wood and other laborious employments, and +Tisquantum prepared to lead his own horse out to meet his adopted son. +But, just as he and Mailah were leaving the camp for this purpose, +Coubitant came rapidly up from the river's brink, and, hurrying towards +them, began to relate, with expressions of grief and consternation, the +sad fate which he believed to have befallen the young stranger, and the +exertions that he had made to save his life, but which had, unhappily, +proved unavailing to avert the calamity. The sorrow of the Nausett +Indian seemed excessive; and Tisquantum probably considered it so, for +he listened with perfect calmness to his recital, and then merely +replied, 'Happily, the youth is safe. Mahneto has succored him, and I +go to bring him back to the camp.' + +Coubitant started: and he looked embarrassed for a moment, when he +caught the penetrating eye of Mailah fixed on his countenance. But he +quickly recovered his self-possession, and manifested such joy at the +escape of the white stranger from a watery grave, that Mailah almost +chid herself for her dreadful suspicions. + +Coubitant accompanied her and the Sachem on their way through the +forest, and when they met Henrich and Oriana, he again assumed such an +appearance of pleasure, and so warmly congratulated the former on his +miraculous deliverance, that the generous English youth strove to +banish from his mind the fearful thoughts that had arisen there while +he struggled for life close to the canoe, and wondered at the want of +skill and strength displayed by his companion in his abortive attempts +to save him. Oriana coldly received his greeting. She had long +suspected that he regarded Henrich with hatred and jealousy; and her +worst suspicions had that day received a strong confirmation. Still she +resolved to conceal them--at least at present--from all but Jyanough, +whose friendship for Henrich would, she knew, render him peculiarly +alive to all that concerned his safety. + +She had not long to wait, for the hunters soon returned; and she +observed that, when Jyanough heard the story of the day's adventure, +he cast a glance on Coubitant that made the conscious savage quail. +But when she related to the young Cree all that she and Mailah had +observed, he could restrain his feelings no longer, and plainly told +her that he was convinced that Coubitant was the author of the +calamity, and that it was not the first attempt he had made at +Henrich's life. + +They resolved that he should communicate all his suspicions to the +Sachem the following morning, and urge him to take measures for the +safety of his adopted son: but what was Jyanough's surprise, when he +opened the subject to Tisquantum, at being informed that Coubitant had +already left the camp with the Pequodees! Jyanough knew that it was +their intention that morning, at day-break, to set off on their return +to their own woods and plains, and he found that the wily Nausett had +expressed a desire to accompany them, and join in the war that was +going on between their tribe and some of their neighbors, in order to +distinguish himself as a warrior. It was not the Sachem's intention to +rejoin his tribe for a considerable time. He was fond of wandering, and +proposed to travel towards the north when the hunting season should be +over; and he also felt a reluctance to take his now greatly beloved +captive back to that part of the country where it was possible he might +gain intelligence of his friends, or, perhaps, even make his escape to +them. He had, therefore, consented to Coubitant's request, and +evidently felt an undefined satisfaction in his absence. + +This being the case, and the departure of Coubitant having removed all +present danger to Henrich from his malicious schemes, Jyanough forbore +to express all he felt to the old Sachem; and he returned to Oriana +with the pleasant intelligence that the enemy of her white brother had +departed. + +To the young Squaw-Sachem this news imparted infinite relief; and even +Henrich could not regret it, although he found it difficult to believe +that all the suspicions of his friends were well-founded. Still the +events of the preceding day were quite sufficient to make him doubt +more than ever the sincerity of Coubitant's professed regard; and he +felt that he should be happier now that the dark-browed savage was +gone. To his pleasant life of freedom we will now leave him, and return +to New Plymouth, where many events--deeply interesting to the +settlers--had occurred since his involuntary departure, and supposed +death. + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +'There went a dirge through the forest's gloom. +…An exile was borne to a lonely tomb, +“Brother;”--so the chant was sung +In the slumberer’s native tongue-- +“Friend and brother! not for thee +Shall the sound of weeping be.”’ HEMANS. + +Sadly and slowly the Pilgrim Fathers passed along the scattered village +of log huts which was their home in their voluntary exile, and wound up +the pathway that led towards the summit of the mount, afterwards called +'the Burying Hill,' on which they had constructed a rude fort or +storehouse, and whither they were now bearing to his last earthly home +the chief and the most respected of their community. The Governor +Carver--he who had presided over their councils, and directed all their +movements since the memorable day of their landing, and had been the +friend, the physician, the comforter of his little flock, through all +their trials and all their sufferings--had fallen a victim to disease +and over-exertion, just as spring, with all its brighter hopes for the +future, had set in. + +It was but a few days after Henrich's capture that this heavy +affliction befell the colony, and added greatly to the gloom which the +loss of young Maitland had already cast over the whole village. The +departure, also, of the vessel in which the Pilgrims had come out to +America, occurred at the same time; and, although not one of the exiles +desired to return to the land of their birth, and to abandon the +enterprise on which they had entered so devotedly, yet it was a +melancholy hour when they bade adieu to the captain and his crew, and +saw the Mayflower sail away towards their still much-loved, country. + +The scurvy and other diseases—combined with the hardships and +privations to which they had been exposed during the winter and early +spring--had fearfully reduced the number of the ship's company; and of +those who remained, the greater part were weakened by illness, and +dispirited by the loss of so many of their brave comrades, whose graves +they had dug on the bleak shores of New England. The return of spring, +and the supply of provisions that the settlers were able to obtain from +the friendly Indians, had checked the progress of the fatal complaints +that had so fearfully ravaged the colony during the severity of winter; +and had restored the survivors of the ship's crew to comparative health +and strength. The captain was, therefore, glad to seize the first +opportunity of abandoning a shore which had presented to him so +cheerless and melancholy an aspect, and of leaving the steadfast and +devoted exiles to the fate which they had chosen, and which they were +resolved to abide in faith and hope. + +On the very day that the Mayflower set sail, and while its white sails +could still be distinguished in the eastern horizon, the Governor--who +took an active part in every occupation, and even every labor that +engaged the settlers--was busily employed in sowing corn in the fields +that were considered as the common property of the colony. In directing +and superintending this work, he was greatly assisted by the skill and +experience of Squanto, the native who, as we have already related, had +been so treacherously carried off to England by Hunt, and had, on his +return to America, sought out, and attached himself to, the settlers. +By them he was greatly regarded, and his knowledge of the English +language rendered his services of inestimable value in all their +intercourse with the Indian tribes; while his acquaintance with the +soil on which they had established themselves, and the native modes of +cultivating grain and other vegetable produce, was of the greatest use +to men who were only accustomed to European agriculture. + +The maize and other grain were sown in the fields that had been richly +manured with fish, to ensure an abundant crop;[*] and the laborers +returned in a body to the village, led by their venerable and respected +President; but no sooner had Carver re-entered his dwelling than he +swooned away and never recovered his consciousness. In a few days he +breathed his last, to the unutterable grief of his widow, and the deep +regret of all the settlers, whose love and confidence he had won during +his brief government, by his clear-sighted wisdom and his universal +kindness. + +[Footnote: It was the custom of the Indians to manure their fields with +_shads_ or _allezes,_ a small fish that comes up the rivers in vast +numbers at the spawning season. About a thousand fish were used for +every acre of land; and a single alleze was usually put into every +corn-hill, when they buried their grain for winter consumption; +probably as a charm to keep off the evil demons and hostile wandering +spirits.] + +As his funeral procession wound up the hill, tears might be seen on the +cheek of many a sturdy Pilgrim; and sobs and lamentations broke forth +from the women and children. After his remains were laid in their +resting-place, a fervent prayer was offered up by Brewster (whose age +and character caused him to be regarded as the pastor of the colony, +although he had never been called to the ministry after the custom of +the Puritans); and then a hymn was sung by the united voices of the +whole congregation. + +When this simple ceremony was over, and the grave of the departed +President was closed, and laid level with the surrounding ground--in +order to conceal it from the prowling Indians--the assembly repaired to +the fort, or store-house, that stood on the summit of the hill, and +which also served the purpose of a meeting-house or chapel. Its rude +end unadorned simplicity suited, the peculiar ideas of the Puritans, +who, in their zeal to escape from the elaborate ornaments and pompous +ceremonial employed by the Papists, had rushed into the opposite +extreme, and desired that both their place of worship, and their mode +of performing it, should be divested of every external decoration and +every prescribed form. The more their place of meeting for prayer +resembled an ordinary habitation, the better they considered it suited +to the sacred purpose; and they were, therefore, perfectly satisfied to +possess no other church than the rude fort, built of logs and posts, +and used indifferently as a granary for the public stores, and as a +fortress for the defense of the colony from any incursions of the +hostile tribes. + +In this primitive chapel, Brewster was accustomed to lead the devotions +of the Pilgrims and their families, every 'Lord's Day' morning and +afternoon;[*] and also on any other occasion of their assembling +together. But as they were in continual expectation of the arrival of +the venerated John Robinson, to resume his office of regular pastor of +the flock, they had not taken any measures to gratify their ardent +desire of hearing the _'blessed sermon'_ three times en every Lord's +Day, from some holy man entirely devoted to the service of God. The +addresses occasionally delivered to the congregation by Brewster, or by +any other of the ruling elders who might preside at a meeting, were +called _‘discourses’_ not sermons; and the interpretation of certain +portions of Scripture, which was sometimes undertaken by any member of +the congregation who felt equal to it, was called _'prophesying.'_ +These were the only modes of spiritual instruction employed by the +first settlers, until they procured clergymen from England, or +appointed ministers from among their own elders; and these means were +highly valued by the settlers, who had abandoned home, and kindred, and +the comforts of civilized life, for no other motive than to secure to +themselves the privilege of worshipping God according to their own +ideas of what was good and profitable to their souls. The talents and +the elevated piety of William Brewster rendered him both a very +valuable teacher, and also, in the eyes of the Puritans, an efficient +substitute for their expected pastor. + +[Footnote: The Puritans never used the names _Sunday_ or _Sabbath._ +They objected is the first as savoring of Paganism and to the second as +pertaining to Judaism; and yet they enforced the observance of the +Christian’s day of rest with almost Mosaic strictness.] + +On the present mournful occasion he addressed the congregation, in a +very impressive manner, on the heavy loss they had sustained in the +death of their valued President; and exhorted them to remember and to +imitate his piety, his charity, and his exemplary patience and self- +denial, under the trying circumstances that had marked the period of +his brief government. These circumstances had become less painful, it +is true, since their friendly intercourse with the Wampanoges, and the +genial change in the weather; but still the trials of the Pilgrims were +by no means over, and their need of faith in the good providence of +God, and of persevering resolution in the path which they had chosen +for themselves, remained as great as ever. + +Deeply was the less of their first President felt by the colony, for +every individual mourned him as a private friend, as well as a wise end +benevolent ruler. But the blow fell with more crushing power on her who +had shared his checkered life of joy and sorrow for many years in +Europe, and had accompanied him into exile, with the devoted feeling +that his presence would make the wilderness a home. His sudden removal, +and the cheerless blank that succeeded, were more than the strength of +his afflicted widow could endure; and in six weeks she followed him +the grave. From that time, it appeared as if the severity of the +scourge that had ravaged the infant settlement was exhausted, for +scarcely any more deaths occurred during that year; and many who had +hitherto suffered from the effects of disease, regained their usual +strength, and lived to a remarkably advanced age. + +William Bradford was the individual selected by the community to fill +the arduous and responsible office that had been held so few months by +Carver; and the choice was a most judicious one, for he was a man well +suited to be the leader of a colony exposed to the peculiar +difficulties that surrounded the Puritan exiles. His uncommon sagacity +and penetration of character, and his undaunted resolution in times of +danger, caused him to be regarded as the very prop and support of the +settlement; and his worth was so generally acknowledged, and so highly +appreciated, that he continued to be annually elected Governor for +twelve succeeding years: and never did he disappoint the confidence +thus reposed in him. His treatment of the Indians was one point on +which he showed both the correctness of his judgement, and the right +feelings of his heart. He ever acted towards them with true Christian +benevolence and equity; and, at the same, he preserved that authority +and superiority over them which were necessary to the safety and well- +being of the colony; and he also carefully kept from them those +European weapons, the possession of which might render them dangerous +to the settlers, and aggravate the frequent hostilities among their own +rival tribes. Unhappily, a different course was afterwards pursued by +the leaders of the colony of Massachusetts; and the evil con sequences +of such short-sighted policy were soon but too apparent, and tended to +involve not only the new settlers, but also the original colony of New +Plymouth, in quarrels and disturbances with the natives. This however, +did not occur for some time after the period of which we are now +speaking; and, for the present, Bradford succeeded in maintaining the +best possible relations with the already friendly Wampanoges. + +William Bradford had been originally brought up as a husbandman; and +although he had abandoned this calling to devote himself to the study +of the Scriptures, and the writings of the Fathers--for which purpose +he had acquired the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew languages--he still +retained such a, know ledge of agriculture as proved extremely useful +to him as the leader of a young colony, whose support was to be mainly +derived from the land of which they had taken possession. He also +spoke French and Dutch fluently; and the diary and letters that he has +left to posterity show him to have been both a well informed and a +truly pious man. When the Puritans left Amsterdam under their pastor, +John Robinson, and settled at Leyden, Bradford was scarcely twenty +years of age. He there learnt the art of dyeing silk, in order to +support himself while he pursued his theological studies, and also +performed the part of historian to the community of which he had become +a member; and he remained with the congregation during all the years of +their residence in Holland, and attached himself with the most +affectionate reverence to their generally beloved and respected +minister. + +One of the first acts of his administration, as Governor of New +Plymouth, was to send another embassy to Masasoyt, the Great Sagamore +of the whole Wampanoge tribe, in order to strengthen and confirm his +present amicable feelings towards the white men, by means of presents, +and other marks of friendship. Squanto, as usual, accompanied the +party as interpreter; and nothing could be more satisfactory than the +interview proved to all parties, especially to the Indian Chief, who +was made both proud and happy by the gift of a red military coat, +adorned with silver lace. This he immediately put on, over the paint +and other savage ornaments in which he was decorated for the state +occasion; and he greatly diverted the members of the embassy by the +increased air of dignity that he assumed, and the grandiloquous manner +in which he began to extol his own power and glory. + +'Am I not,' he exclaimed, in a loud voice, 'Masasoyt, the great king? +Am I not lord of all the people of the Lowsons; and of such and such +places? And he enumerated nearly thirty uncouth Indian names of places +over which he claimed sovereignty, his wild subjects uttering a yell of +joy and exultation in answer to each word he uttered. The savage +monarch then proceeded to ratify and augment the agreement into which +he had already catered with Edward Winslow, and promised to guarantee +to the English settlers an exclusive trade with his tribe; at the same +time entreating them to prevent his powerful enemies, the +Narragansetts, from carrying on a commercial intercourse with the +French colonists. + +Notwithstanding the boasted power of this 'Chief of chiefs,' the +scarcity of provisions was so great in his village of Packanokick at +the time of this embassy, that he was only able to offer his white +friends one meal during their visit to him, which lasted a day and two +nights; and this solitary display of regal hospitality consisted of two +large fishes just caught in a neighboring lake, and which were divided +amongst forty hungry persons. In spite of this temporary distress, he +pressed the deputation to remain longer with him; but the object of +their mission having been attained, they were glad to leave the +residence of the Sagamore, which possessed far less of comfort and +civilization than were to be found in the picturesque summer camp of +his son and inferior Sachem, Mooanam. + +This lovely spot continued to be much frequented by the settlers, +between whom and their copper-colored neighbors a strong feeling of +mutual regard became established; and this friendship proved a great +advantage to both parties, in a social as well as a political point of +view. The Wampanoges found the benefit of their alliance with the +mighty English during the autumn of that year, when the dread which +their name and power had inspired proved a safeguard to the friendly +Indian tribe, and preserved them from a combined attack of several +other tribes who had, by some mysterious means, been instigated to +unite for their destruction. + +The intelligence of this conspiracy reached the settlers when a party +of them were on the peninsula of Cape Cod, whither they had gone to +bring back a young English boy, named Francis Billington, who had lost +himself in the forest some time previously, and, after having subsisted +for several days on wild fruits and berries, had reached a camp of the +Nausett Indians, hitherto so adverse to the Pilgrims. This seemed a +good opportunity for endeavoring to establish more friendly relations +with the tribe, and Bradford sent off ten men in the shallop to +negotiate for the boy's restoration, and to offer gifts to the +Nausetts, who, happily, were not so cruel and blood-thirsty a party as +those who had kidnapped Henrich Maitland. The overtures of the settlers +were well received, and they presented the Chief of the village with a +pair of knives, and also returned to the natives a quantity of corn, +more than equal to that which they had taken from the graves and huts +that they had discovered on their first landing, and which belonged to +the Nausetts. This act of justice gained for the settlers the esteem +and confidence of the Indians; and as these original possessors of the +soil did not dispute the title of the newcomers to the portion of the +American soil on which they had established themselves, they considered +henceforth that their claim was valid, and that they could stand before +the natives on terms of equality. + +The lost child was safely restored to Rodolph, who, as usual, shared +the conduct of the expedition with Edward Winslow. The joy and +gratitude of the boy's father, at being permitted to convey him home +uninjured, may be better imagined than described; and while Maitland +sympathized in his feelings, he could not help sadly contrasting the +fate of his own lost Henrich with that of the more fortunate Francis +Billington. But he believed that his son's earthly career had closed +for ever; and both he and Helen had submitted to the bereavement with +Christian piety and resignation, and had taught their wounded hearts to +restrain every impulse to repine, and even to feel thankful that their +beloved boy had been spared any protracted sufferings and trials, and +had been permitted so speedily to enter into his rest. Had they known +his actual late and condition, how much of painful anxiety would have +mingled with the sorrow of separation, from which they were now exempt! + +The restoration of the little wanderer having been effected, and a good +understanding having been established with the Nausetts of Cape Cod, +the negotiating party lost no time in returning to New Plymouth, and +communicating to Governor Bradford the intelligence of the conspiracy +against Masasoyt, to which allusion has already been made, and of which +they had been informed by the Nausett Sachem. The news was startling to +Bradford and to his council, who all felt the imperative necessity of +using immediate efforts for the assistance of the friendly Wampanoges. +They were impelled to this resolution, not only in consideration of the +alliance that had been formed between themselves and the Sagamore +Masasoyt, but also from a conviction that the safety and welfare of the +infant colony depended essentially upon their possessing the friendship +and the protection of some powerful tribe, like the Wampanoges, whose +numbers and warlike character caused them to be both feared and +respected by their weaker neighbors. It could only be by a combination +of several tribes that any important defeat Of the Wampanoges could +possibly be effected: and such a combination the Nausetts declared they +knew to have been already formed; though by what means, and with what +motive, remained at present a mystery. + +The Indian interpreter, Squanto, was therefore sent off to Masasoyt's +residence at Lowams, in order to ascertain the grounds of the quarrel, +and to effect, if possible, a reconciliation, without the necessity of +the Pilgrims having recourse to arms in defense of their allies. The +interpreter was also accompanied by Hobomak, a subject of the Wampanoge +chieftain's, who had lately left his own wigwams and settled among the +English, and who had already attached himself to the white men with an +uncommon degree of devotion. But ere the swarthy ambassadors reached +the village of Packanokick, they were suddenly attacked by a small +party of Narragansett warriors, who lay in ambush near their path +through the forest, and were conveyed away captives to the presence of +a fierce looking Indian, who appeared to be a man of power and +authority, and who was evidently awaiting their arrival in a small +temporary encampment at a little distance. + +No sooner had Hobomak glanced at this dark chieftain, than he +recognized Coubitant, the bitter foe of the settlers, and the captor of +Henrich Maitland. Coubitant had originally been a subject of the +Sachem Masasoyt; but some offence, either real or imaginary, had +converted him from a friend into a bitter foe; and then it was that he +had wandered towards the Spanish settlements, and obtained that +prejudiced notion of Christianity to which we have formerly alluded. +When tired of his wild roaming life, he had united himself to that +portion of the Nausett tribe which was under the guidance of +Tisquantum; and his attachment to the Sachem's son, Tekoa, had induced +him to remain a member of the tribe during his life, and to devote +himself to the object of revenging his death, after that event had +occurred at the first encounter with the white settlers. + +Hitherto that object had been frustrated by what appeared to him +Tisquantum's incomprehensible partiality fur Henrich, which had so +entirely prevented his wreaking his vengeance on the innocent son of +the slayer. But his was not a revenge that could expire unsatiated, or +change to friendship, and expend itself in acts of kindness, as that of +Tisquantum had done. No: the thirst for blood remained as strong in the +breast of Coubitant as it was on that very hour when he beheld his +brother-in-arms fall, bleeding and dying, beneath the mysterious +firearms of the white men; and he hoped still to pour forth the white +man's blood, as an oblation to the spirit of his friend. Therefore it +was that, when he found himself foiled in all his malicious schemes for +Henrich's destruction, and also perceived that he was himself becoming +an object of suspicion to Jyanough and to the Sachem, he had resolved on +quitting the Nausetts, and returning with the Pequodees into the +neighborhood of the English settlement. He hoped to stir up several +smaller tribes to join with the Narragansetts, and to make war against +the Wampanoges--the allies of the Pilgrims--and thus to deprive the +hated whites of their aid and protection, and, possibly, also to engage +the settlers in the quarrel, and then to find an opportunity of taking +one or more of them captive, and slaking the desires of his vindictive +spirit in the agonies that he would inflict on his victims. Truly, 'the +dark places' of his heart were ‘full of the habitations of cruelty.' + +These deep-laid schemes of the wily savage had hitherto met with full +success; and by means of deceit and misrepresentation, he had roused up +and irritated the feelings of several Sachems and their dependants, and +induced them to agree to coalesce for the destruction of the +Wampanoges, and then to turn their arms against the settlers, with the +view of expelling them altogether from the country. His spies had +discovered the intended embassy of Squanto and Hobomak to the village +of the great Sagamore of Lowams; and he had, consequently, taken +effectual means to intercept it, as he feared its having a favorable +aspect. + +On the captives being brought before him, he scornfully reproached them +as the dastardly tools of the white men, and as traitors to their own +nation; and he declared his intention of detaining Squanto as a +prisoner, and as a hostage also, in order to ensure the return of +Hobomak to New Plymouth, with the message that be designed for the +Governor. This message consisted of a threat--which Hobomak well knew +he would execute--that if, on being liberated, he proceeded to +Packanokick, instead of returning to the settlement, he would flay the +unhappy Squanto alive, and send his skin and scalp to the white-hearted +English, to show them that the red men scorned their interference, and +knew how to punish it. + +Hobomak departed, and reluctantly left his companion in the hands of +the cruel Coubitant. But he had no power to liberate him, and his only +hope of obtaining any effectual succor for him, was in hastening to New +Plymouth, and persuading the Governor to send a well-armed force to cut +off the retreat of the Narragansetts and their leader, and attempt the +rescue of their caked interpreter. Hobomak was fleet of foot, and he +rested not until he had arrived in Bradford's presence, and told him of +the fate that had befallen Squanto. Weak as the colonists were, and +sincerely desirous as they also felt to preserve peace with the +natives, they yet deemed it incumbent on them to show the Indians that +they would not tamely submit to any insult or injury. Captain Standish +was, therefore, immediately dispatched with a body of fourteen men, +well armed and disciplined, who were at that time nearly all the men +capable of bearing arms of whom the colony could boast. Led by Hobomak, +they rapidly traversed the forest, and came upon Coubitant's party soon +after they had left their encampment. The Indian leader had +anticipated, and desired, this result of his conduct; and his heart +swelled with malignant joy when he beheld the hated Rodolph among the +foremost of the assailants. Now he deemed the evil spirit whom he +worshipped was about to repay him for all his abortive schemes and +disappointed efforts, by throwing the very object of his vengeful +hatred into his power. + +Forward he sprang, whirling his heavy tomahawk round his head, as if it +had been a child's toy, and preparing to bring it down on the white +man's skull with a force that must have cloven it in two. But Standish +saw the impending blow, and, quick as thought, he drew a pistol from +his belt, and fired it at the savage. The ball passed through his arm, +and the tomahawk fell bloodless to the ground. Had it but drunk the +life-blood of Rodolph, Coubitant would have been content to die. But +his foe still lived unharmed; and quickly he saw that three of his own +followers were also severely wounded, and that his party of naked +warriors were altogether incapable of resisting the fierce and well- +sustained attack of their civilized assailants. His only chance of +safety, and of future vengeance, lay in flight; and to that last +resource of a brave spirit he betook himself. He was quickly followed +by all his band, who were dismayed at the sound and the fatal effects +of the British fire-arms and, leaving Squanto behind them, they were +soon concealed from view by the thick underwood of the forest. The +object of the expedition having been attained, Standish did not pursue +the fugitives, but returned in triumph to the settlement, well +satisfied that he had given the Indians a salutary impression of the +decisive conduct, and the powerful measures, that would ever be adopted +by the white men, when their honor was insulted in the slightest +degree. + +That such an impression had been made on the red men was soon evident, +from the anxiety which was manifested by several of the neighboring +tribes to be admitted into the semblance, at least, of an alliance with +the mighty strangers. Nine Sachems intimated their desire to +acknowledge themselves the subjects of the white men's king, who dwelt +on the other side of 'the great water'; and a paper was accordingly +drawn up by Captain Standish to that effect, and subscribed with the +uncouth autographs of the copper-colored chieftains. Among these-- +strange to say--the mark of Coubitant, who had been raised to the rank +of Sachem by the Narragansetts, was to be seen; but the sincerity of +his friendly professions will be shown hereafter. At present, it suited +him to unite with the other chiefs in their pledge of allegiance to +King James, and of amity towards his British subjects; but he never +openly approached their settlement, or made the slightest advance +towards becoming better acquainted with them. His evil designs slept, +indeed, but they had not expired. They only waited the fitting +opportunity to be as actively pursued as ever. + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +‘Calm on the bosom of thy God, + Young spirit! rest thee now! +E'en while with us thy footsteps trod + His seat was on thy brow. + +Dust to its narrow house beneath! + Soul to its place on high! +They that have seen thy look in death, + No more may fear to die. + +Lone are the paths, and sad the bowers, + Whence thy meek smile is gone +But oh! a brighter borne than ours, + In Heaven, is now thine own.' HEMANS. + +We have observed that very few deaths took place in the colony of New +Plymouth during the second year of their exile, and after the fatal +stroke that deprived them of their President; but among those few, +there was one that carried grief and desolation into the hearts of the +family with whom our story is chiefly connected, and who were already +deeply afflicted by the loss of the first-born. Ludovico Maitland had +always been a delicate child, and on him, consequently, the care and +attention of his mother had been principally bestowed. Helen had +watched and tended him through all the severities of the first winters +in the New World, and many had been the privations that she had +voluntarily endured, unknown even to Rodolph, who would not have +suffered her thus to risk her own health, in order to add to the +comforts of her youngest and most helpless child. When the blessed +springtime came, and all nature began again to smile, she hoped that +Ludovico would also be renovated, and bloom again like the flowers he +loved so well. And her hopes appeared to be realized: for the sweet +playful child resumed his sports, and the bright color again glowed on +his soft cheek; and his parents deemed it the hue of health. + +At the time when Henrich was stolen away, the little fellow had been +remarkably well, and even Helen's fears for him had almost subsided; +but, whether it was the effect of the shock that he sustained when he +saw his brother seized by the fierce savages, and torn away from him, +and when he fled so breathlessly to tell the fearful tidings; or +whether it was merely the result of his own delicate constitution, +which could no longer bear up against the change of climate and food-- +from that time, he visibly declined. It is true he never complained, +and his cheerful spirits were unaltered; but the watchful eye of +affection could trace the insidious steps of disease in the changing +color, and the too frequently brilliant eye. + +Since Edith had lost her constant friend and companion, Henrich, she +naturally devoted herself more to her younger brother, and little +Ludovico became not only her lively play-fellow, but also her +intelligent pupil; and the occupation which she found in the care of +the engaging child served to divert her mind from the first real grief +she had ever known. Her mother's sorrow, though borne with the most +perfect resignation, had greatly affected her health; and as she had +entire confidence in Edith's steadiness, she was glad to leave the care +of Ludovico principally to her, especially when she observed the good +effect which the new responsibility had on her spirits. The two +children were, therefore, left much to themselves; and, with their +mother's sanction they passed a great portion of their time at the camp +of Mooanam, where they were always most kindly received, and where they +made rapid progress in acquiring the language, and also many of the +useful and ingenious arts, of their swarthy friends. + +The departure of Coubitant and his savage band, after their cruel +design against the peace of Rodolph's family had been accomplished, +removed all fears of injury or molestation from the minds of the +settlers; for no hostile Indians now remained in their immediate +neighborhood, and the path from New Plymouth to the village of the +friendly Wampanoges became a beaten and frequented track; so that Edith +and her little charge could go to and fro in safety, under the +protection of Fingal, a magnificent dog belonging to their father, and +their constant companion and playfellow; and frequently they were +accompanied, on their return to the British village, by the Chieftain's +wife, Apannow, and her little boy, Nepea, who was the darling of both +Edith and Ludovico. + +A strong attachment also sprang up between Apannow and Helen; for the +Squaw-Sachem was possessed of much natural gentleness of disposition, +and was most ready to adopt all those habits of civilized life that she +saw practiced among her English friends, and that it was possible for +her to transplant to her Indian home. She was, likewise, willing to +listen to the doctrines and precepts of the Gospel, and to admit their +beauty and their holiness, although it was long--very long--ere she, or +any of the adults of her tribe, were so far converted to the Christian +truth as to be either desirous or fit to be baptized. But there was no +bigotry or opposition in the mind of Apannow; and she became a kind and +sympathizing friend to Helen and to her children. + +Rodolph was necessarily much engaged in agricultural occupations, and +also in the business of the government, as he was one of the council +who were appointed to assist the President, and to share the labors and +responsibilities of his frequently very difficult office. The gradual +change in little Ludovico's health was, therefore, not so soon observed +by his father as by Helen and Edith; and when he returned to his much- +loved home after the toils and cares of the day, his wife forbore to +arouse fresh anxiety in his breast, by telling him of her own fears. +On the contrary, she rejoiced to see the pleasure and animation that +lighted up the sweet child's expressive countenance, as he ran to meet +his father, and the happiness of both as they played under the wide- +spreading trees that shaded their now luxuriant garden. At such times, +while listening to Ludovico's ringing laugh, and watching his light +footsteps as he chased his father and Edith from tree to tree, she +flattered herself that all must be well with the joyous child, and that +her apprehensions were unfounded. But, again, when the following day +found him pale and exhausted, and all the more so for the excitement +and exercise of the previous evening, these foreboding fears would +return, and her heart would sink heavily at the prospect of the coming +woe. + +The short summer of North America attained its height; and, as the heat +increased, so did Ludovico's young life wane away, and his strength +become daily less. Rudolph now saw, as plainly as his afflicted wife, +that their only remaining son was soon to be taken from them; and he +strove to arm both himself and her with the only power that could +support them under such an aggravated calamity. He constantly led her +to look only to Him who 'gave,' and who also 'takes away,' and without +whom 'not a sparrow falleth to the ground'; and to trust Him even in +the depth of sorrow: and he had the satisfaction of seeing her become +more and more resigned, and more and more strong in faith to meet the +coming trial. + +Slowly and gently it came; but it came at last: and though his parents +and his sister had long given up all hope of retaining their loved +Ludovico on earth, and had endeavored to resign him into the hands of +his Heavenly Father, yet, when the blow came, they felt it sudden, and +found how little they were prepared for it. One warm summer evening +the sweet child was carried by Rodolph to Edith's bower, that he might +look once more at the flowers he had helped to plant and to tend; and +his soft eyes seemed to take a last farewell of every cherished object, +and to follow the setting sun with a fixed gaze, that said those eyes +would never see it set again. But there was no sadness--no regret--in +the gentle countenance; and the infantine lips still smiled, as they +whispered the evening prayer that he had so often repeated with Edith. +Young as he was, Ludovico had learnt to love his Redeemer, and to feel +that to 'depart, and be with Christ, was far better than to abide on +earth; and the 'valley of the shadow or death,' which the Lord so +mercifully made easy to his flesh, had no terrors for his young spirit. + +Could his parents, then--could even his broken-hearted sister--bear to +disturb his angelic calmness by any display of their own grief? No: +they restrained it; and even tried to smile again as they replied to +his touching remarks, and spoke of the happy day when they should all +meet again in heaven, and dwell for ever in the presence of that +gracious Savior, who was new taking him, as they believed, to join his +dear brother Henrich. + +As twilight came on, his father bore him back to the house, and laid +him again on his little couch; and ere the glorious sun arose to +lighten the earth once more, his spirit had passed away into that realm +of perfect light where they 'have no need of the sun, neither of the +moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God does lighten it, and the +Lamb is the light thereof.' And many tears were shed for him, when the +sight of the grief of those he loved so dearly could no longer disturb +his peace, or check the willing spirit in its heavenward flight. + +The sorrows of the Maitlands--thus renewed and aggravated--excited the +warmest sympathy throughout the colony; for they were universally +respected and beloved, and their calm and pious resignation drew forth +the admiration of the whole community of Puritans, who deemed any +strong expressions of grief to be altogether unsuitable to Christians. +But Rodolph and Helen did not the less feel their chastisement, because +they forbore to express their feelings to any other than to God, and to +their revered friend and minister, Brewster. On Edith, this second +blow fell even more heavily than the first; for, since Henrich's loss, +she had devoted herself to her younger brother, and felt for him almost +a mother's love: and now her pupil, her playfellow--the sunshine of her +life--was taken away from her! Truly, the Lord was preparing her in the +furnace of affliction for the future lot to which He had appointed her; +and sorrow did net visit her in vain. Her character was strengthened +and matured, and her mind was taught to find resources in itself that +proved hereafter of inestimable value to her, and to those most nearly +connected with her. + +The thoughts and attention of her parents--and indeed of the whole +colony--were at this time diverted greatly from their own private cares +and interests, by an event of much importance to the settlement. This +was the arrival of a vessel, called the Fortune, from the mother- +country, bringing out to the colony a new and more comprehensive +charter, obtained for them by the Society of Plymouth, and also twenty- +five fresh settlers, who were chiefly friends and relatives of those +already established in New England. How welcome these familiar +countenances, that recalled days of happiness long passed but not +forgotten, were to the hearts and memories of their brethren, none but +exiles can tell! The new comers were indeed joyfully received, and +hospitably entertained by the Pilgrim Fathers; who invited them to take +up their quarters in their rude but comfortable dwellings, and to share +their scanty stores. Unfortunately, the new settlers were unable to +contribute any thing to these stores; for all their own provisions were +already consumed on the voyage. This accession to their numbers, +therefore, added greatly to the inconvenience of the colony, and +occasioned such a scarcity of food, that the Governor was obliged to +put the whole community upon a daily allowance; an arrangement to which +they all submitted without a murmur. And not only did the original +settlers thus consent to endure privation for the sake of their newly- +arrived friends and relatives, but they also contributed more liberally +than their narrow means could well afford, to provision the Fortune for +her voyage home. This was the occasion of the first mercantile +adventure of the Pilgrims, who took the opportunity of the return of +the ship to England, to send to the Society with which they were +connected a quantity of furs and timber to the value of five hundred +pounds. But success did not attend their speculation; for the vessel +fell into the hands of the French, and all their hopes of profit were, +for the present, blasted. + +It is needless to dwell on all the continued and various hardships that +these brave men, and their families, had to endure for several ensuing +winters. A few circumstances that more especially exemplify their +manners and mode of life, will be sufficient for the purposes of our +narrative, the course of which must necessarily be somewhat interrupted +by these details. Some knowledge of the habits of the adventurers, and +of the events that befell them at this early period of their history, +is however needful for the illustration of the story; and they shall be +briefly given, before we take up the thread of the narrative a few +years subsequent to the period of which we are now speaking. + +For some time the friendly relations with the Wampanoges, which had +been established by Carver and further cemented by Bradford, remained +undisturbed, and no signs of hostility were shown by any other of the +neighboring Indian tribes. This was probably owing, in a great degree, +to the wholesome example of decided measures that had been given to the +natives on the occasion of the capture of Hobomak and Squanto, and also +to the efficient means of defense that were now adopted by the +settlers. On their first arrival in New England, they had planted their +guns on the hill which commanded the rising city of New Plymouth, and +which afterwards received the name of 'the Burying Hill.' There, as we +have seen, the remains of the venerable Carver were deposited; and +there the infant form of Ludovico Maitland was laid in its last narrow +resting-place, and shaded by shrubs and plants that Edith, and the +faithful servant Janet, delighted to place there, and to tend and water +with untiring care and watchfulness. + +This hill was converted, during the first year of the Pilgrim's +residence in New England, into a kind of irregular fortification. The +storehouse--which was also the chapel and the council hall--stood on +the summit, and this was surrounded by a strong wall of timber, well +furnished with batteries, on which a watch was kept night and day, to +look out for the approach of any hostile parties of Indians. At a +considerable distance from this building ran a strong wooden palisade, +that enclosed the height entirely, and was divided into four portions, +the entrance to which was securely fastened every night; and the able- +bodied men of the colony, under the command of Miles Standish, were +arranged in four squadrons, to the care of each of which one quarter +was entrusted. The occupation which this charge entailed on the +limited number of men who were capable of undertaking it, in addition +to their necessary labors and employments in building their dwellings, +cultivating their fields, and procuring provisions by hunting and +fishing was both heavy and incessant; but disease had nearly left the +colony, and want, though occasionally felt to a painful degree, was not +always their portion; and the Pilgrim Fathers were cheerfully contented +with their lot. + +Still, it was a lot that involved much of hardship and personal +privation, as a drawback to the liberty, both religious and political, +that had been obtained by emigration. The harvests were scanty, and not +nearly sufficient to provide bread for the increasing community, and +also seed for the following year, and the supplies that were +occasionally procured from the Wampanoges, and their allies, were very +uncertain. At one time, every species of grain became so scarce that +the settlers had recourse to pig-nuts as a substitute for bread; and +the last pint of corn that remained to the colony, after the fields +were sown, was counted out among the whole community, when _five +grains_ fell to the share of each person, and these were looked upon as +a rare treat, and eaten as a particular dainty. Cattle were, as yet, +unknown in the colony; and their chief subsistence consisted of game, +wild fowl, and fish, of which the supply was frequently both scanty and +precarious. 'Often,' we are told in the diary of the Governor Bradford, +'we do not know in the evening where we shall get a meal next morning; +but yet we bear our want with joy, and trust in Providence.' And +strong, indeed, must have been the faith and patience of these Pilgrim +Fathers, which sustained their spirits amidst such long-continued +trials, and enabled them to meet and overcome such complicated +difficulties without hesitation and without a murmur! + +At one period their only food was fish, and occasionally merely +shellfish; but never was this miserable fare partaken of by the +emigrants, who assembled to receive their respective portions, without a +blessing being asked, and thanks being offered by the pious Brewster, +who, with a spirit of gratitude too often unknown to those who revel in +abundance, praised God for having permitted them 'to suck out of the +fullness of the sea, and for the treasures sunk in the sand.' While such +an example of holy trust, and patient submission to the will of God, was +set by the leading men of this suffering colony--men who were both loved +and respected--not a complaining word was uttered by the rest. All felt +that they were bound to emulate the faith and piety of their high-souled +Governor, and their venerated elder. + +And, truly, they had need of every motive, and of every aid--both human +and divine--that could keep their souls in peace, when actual famine at +length stared them in the face. The second winter had been endured; +and, in spite of cold and privation, the health of the colony had +improved; and spring again brought brighter hopes, and better prospects +of the summer's harvest. But before the grain was well grown up, a +drought came on, that threatened the utter destruction of the crops. +For six long weeks not one drop of rain fell on the thirsty land. 'The +sky was as brass' to the fainting emigrants, and 'the earth was as +iron' to them. Yet these men of God did not despair. They were +accustomed to regard every dispensation of Providence, whether +prosperous or afflictive, either as a special blessing from the hand of +God, to support and encourage His believing people, or as a Fatherly +chastisement, to punish their iniquities, and excite them to greater +piety and watchfulness. 'It pleased God,' said Edward Winslow, in +speaking of this inflict ion, 'to send a great dearth for our further +punishment.' Under this conviction, the congregation were called on by +the Governor and the elders to set apart a day for special humiliation +and prayer, in order to entreat the Lord to remove from them his +chastening hand, and to 'send a gracious rain upon His inheritance.' + +The call was universally obeyed; and men, women, and children assembled +themselves together, fasting, on 'the Burying Hill,' to listen to the +solemn address delivered by Brewster, and to unite in fervent prayers +and humble confessions to their God and Father. The sky that morning +was clear and bright as ever; and the sun walked in unclouded +brilliance and majesty through the deep blue vault of heaven. For +eight hours, the devotions of the assembly continued almost without +interruption; and it seemed as if 'none regarded, neither was there any +that answered.' But as the sun was sinking towards the western horizon, +a cloud, 'as it were a man’s hand,' was seen to rise as if to meet the +glowing orb; and, ere he sank, his rays were obscured by a heavy bank +of clouds. Joy and gratitude now filled the breasts of the suppliants, +and the dim and anxious eye of many a mother, who had watched the +declining forms of her little ones in silent anguish, was lighted up +with hope, and glistened with a tear of thankfulness. Such, indeed, +had been the sufferings of the younger children, although the greatest +sacrifices had been made by their parents in order to provide them with +the food so necessary to their existence, that Helen had frequently +poured forth her heartfelt thanksgivings to her Heavenly Father, that +He had seen fit to remove her gentle and idolized Ludovico from a scene +of so much distress; and had called him away to a land where want, as +well as sorrow, is unknown, in a manner, and at a time, which allowed +her to ensure his ease and comfort to the last. To have seen her +darling pine for food, which she could not procure for him--to have +watched that fondly-cherished child sinking into his grave from the +actual want of proper nourishment, and to know that in the land they +had abandoned all that was needed to prolong his precious life was +teeming in profusion--would, she weakly thought, have been more than +her faith could have endured. But Helen erred in that doubting thought. +She was a _Christian:_ and had her Lord and Savior seen fit thus to try +her, He would also have given her grace to meet the trial as a +_Christian;_ for His promise to each one of His people is sure: 'As thy +day is, so shall thy strength be.' + +Edith, her only remaining child, was strong and energetic in mind and +body; and she was no burden to her mother. Cheerfully she had borne her +share of privation; and, uncomplainingly, she had assisted Helen and +Janet in seeking for roots and berries hour after hour in the forest, +when no other food was to be obtained. Now, on this day of fasting and +prayer, she stood beside her mother and Rodolph, and lifted up her +young voice in prayer for heavenly succor, and in praise, when the +first signal of coming aid was seen in the crimson west. + +The whole congregation had risen from their posture of supplication, +and were gazing with deep interest and emotion at the gathering clouds, +when they were startled at observing a large party of Indians emerging +from the thicket below, and advancing towards the palisade that formed +their outer fortification. At first they imagined them to be a hostile +body of Narragansetts, or Pequodees, who had discovered the manner in +which that day was being spent among the pale-faces, and had resolved +upon breaking the recently-formed treaty, and attempting their +destruction while they were thus assembled together and unarmed. But +these apprehensions were soon removed by the appearance of their friend +Mooanam, who advanced from the rest of his party, and hurried forward, +holding in his hands a fine fish, and calling on his allies to open +their gates and admit him and his followers into the fortress, for that +he had brought them food. + +Joyfully his summons was answered, and the generous red men entered the +enclosure, and laid before the Governor a quantity of, fish, sufficient +to supply the whole community with several wholesome and acceptable +meals. The kindness of this offering was highly estimated by the +settlers; for they well knew that their Indian friends had long been +suffering privations little less than what they had themselves endured, +and that their prospects for the future were hardly more cheering than +their own. The native and untaught courtesy, also, with which the +seasonable gift was offered, added not a little to its value. + +'Behold!' said Mooanam to the President, when he and his attendants had +placed the fresh spoils of their lake in order before him--'Behold what +the good Mahneto has given to his children in their day of distress! +And the red men could not eat and be in plenty, while they knew that +the faces of their white brethren were pale with want, and their little +children were crying for food. Take this, my brother, and let the +hearts of your people be glad, and bless Mahneto while they eat. I and +my young men will return to the supper that our squaws are preparing.' + +'We do bless Mahneto, who is the God and father both of the red and +white men!' replied Bradford with solemnity; for he was deeply +impressed by the pious feelings of the Sachem, and touched by his +considerate kindness. 'We do bless Mahneto; and we bless you also, our +faithful and generous friends, who have thus so promptly shared with us +the produce of your labors, instead of reserving it for your own future +wants. But here is enough for you and us; and you and your young men +must abide tonight in our village, and partake with us of the abundance +that you have provided. We leave the future in the bountiful hands of +Him who has thus made you His instruments to provide for us a table in +the wilderness.' + +'We will remain,' said Mooanam, 'and to-morrow some of your people +shall go with us to our lakes, and fish in our canoes. The clouds are +rising, and we shall, perhaps, have even better success than we have +met with today. But tell me, my white brother,' he continued--while he +looked inquiringly at Bradford--'tell me why your village is deserted +this evening, and why no sounds of labor met our ears as we passed +through the silent street? This is not the white men's day of rest; and +the white men do not leave their work to sleep or dance, as the red men +too often do. Why, then, are you and your people--even your squaws and +your little ones--assembled here today, and what caused that joyful +song that died away as we came to the foot hill?' + +‘We have spent the day in fasting and prayer,' replied the President. +'We know that our Great Father has sent this long drought upon us, to +chasten us for our sins: and we have met to humble ourselves before +Him, and implore Him to send us the fruitful showers from heaven, +before our crops are altogether withered in the ground. He alone can +command the clouds to drop fatness; and when He sees that His +punishment has done its appointed work, He surely will take it away. +Even now, while we were making our prayers and supplications unto Him, +and confessing our sins, He has sent a token that He has heard our cry, +and will grant our request. Look at those clouds that are rising over +the western hills, and gradually spreading like a curtain across the +sky. For six weary weeks those clouds have been withheld, and we have +been humbled; and, at times, our faith has well nigh failed. But the +faithfulness of our God never fails; and now we are confident that, ere +long, His blessing will descend upon us.' + +Mooanam made no reply; but he gazed intently on the gathering clouds, +and then looked searchingly into Bradford's fine expressive +countenance, as if to be assured that he had heard and understood +aright. Squanto stood beside him; and his aid had been several times +required by both parties, in order to the carrying out the above +discourse: and now the Sachem drew him aside, and conversed earnestly +with him in a low voice. He was making him repeat, in his own tongue, +the words of the white man; and Bradford heard him say to the +interpreter, as he turned away to rejoin him, 'Now we shall see whether +the Great Spirit really hears the prayers of the white men.' + +The President understood this remark, and fervently he lifted up his +own heart to the Lord, and prayed that the hopes of His suffering and +trusting people might now be fulfilled; not only for their own relief, +but also that the minds of the dark heathen might be impressed, and +that they might see and feel the power and the goodness of the +Christians' covenant God. + +While Mooanam and the Governor were engaged in conversation, the +assembly had dispersed to their own homes; each family carrying with +them their respective portion of the food so liberally offered by their +Indian friends, and eager to partake of the first plentiful meal that +they had enjoyed for several weeks; The hope of coming rain also +cheered the hearts of the Pilgrims; and there was joy and gratitude +throughout the village that evening. + +The Sachem and his people were gladly received and entertained in the +dwellings of the Governor and principal inhabitants; and when Mooanam +lay down to rest, he long gazed through the opening in the wooden wall +of the chamber that formed its only window, and watched the heavy +clouds as they sped across the sky, and observed the face of the +glimmering moon, that looked out so calmly and brightly between their +dark moving masses. The soul of the Sachem was deeply impressed; and he +thought of all that Bradford had said to him, and wondered whether the +God of the white men was indeed the God of the Indians also. + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +'It shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while +they are yet speaking, I will hear.' ISA. lxv, 24. + +Mooanam awoke from his sleep soon after the dawn of day appeared. He +looked up at the open window, and a strange feeling of awe came over +his soul, as he beheld the rain falling gently and steadily from the +dull grey sky. He sprang to his feet, and hurried into the next +apartment, where he found the President and his family already +assembled, and gazing at the descending shower in silent admiration. + +The Sachem caught the hands of Bradford in both his own; and while a +tear of deep emotion glistened in his dark eye he exclaimed-- + +'Now I see that your God loves you. When the red men ask for rain, and +use their conjuring arts to induce the Great Spirit to hear their wild +cries, he gives it, it is true; but he gives it with hail and thunder, +which makes the evil still greater. Your rain is of the right kind; it +will restore the drooping corn. Now we see that your God hears you, and +cares for you.' + +The same impression, to a certain degree, was made on all the Indians, +who were taught to regard this seasonable rain as the settlers +themselves regarded it--as a special interposition of Providence for +their relief. And were they wrong in thus looking upon it as an answer +to their prayers, from a prayer-hearing God? And was it vain +superstition that led them to rejoice as much in this proof of the +goodness and benevolence of the God whom they served, and of His +guiding and protecting hand being outstretched for their succor, as in +the prospect of coming plenty that was thus afforded to them? Surely +not. Their faith, and love, and confidence in God were all animated and +strengthened by their conviction that the relief thus seasonably +received came directly from Him who has promised in his faithful Word, +that _‘all things,’_ whether joyous or grievous, 'shall work together +for good to them that love Him; to them that are called according to +His purpose.’ + +So deeply was Hobomak, the Wampanoge interpreter, impressed by this +instance of the pious trust of his white friends in the providence of +their God, and of the protection they enjoyed under His guidance and +government, that he gave himself up to a serious consideration of their +religion and so sincere was his desire for spiritual knowledge, and so +humble and teachable did he show himself, that, after a time, he was +judged fit to be admitted into the pale of the Christian church. He was +baptized as the first fruits of the settlers' efforts to evangelize the +heathen among whom they had cast their lot: and he lived a firm friend +of the white men, and died, after residing many years among them, +'leaving a good-hope that his soul went to rest.’ + +The welcome rain continued to fall for several hours without +intermission, on the morning that succeeded the Pilgrim's day of prayer +and humiliation; and Mooanam sent his young men home to fish in the +lake, while he remained with his white friends, intending to follow +them in the afternoon, with a party of the settlers, to share their +sport. As the day advanced, the clouds broke, and warm sunshine, +interrupted by frequent refreshing showers, succeeded to the settled +rain of the morning. So favorable, altogether, was the change, that +Winslow gratefully remarks: 'It is difficult to say whether our +withered corn, or our depressed spirits, were most refreshed and +quickened. So great was the benevolence and goodness of our God!' + +The Pilgrims had prayed for rain; and when their prayers were granted, +they did not neglect the equally incumbent Christian duty of +thanksgiving. Again the congregation ascended 'the Burying Hill'; and +again their united voices rose to heaven in prayers and songs of +praise. Mooanam formed one of the assembly; and he listened with deep +and reverent attention to the devotions of his friends, frequently +applying to Hobomak, who stood at his side, to explain to him the words +and sentences that he did not comprehend. + +The service concluded, and the women and children were descending the +hill by the path that led to the village, leaving the Governor and his +council to discuss some public business, and the other men to arrange +themselves as usual into companies, for the manning of their +fortification and other necessary employments. Just at that moment a +native, attired in the costume and equipments of a Narragansett, was +seen to approach the foot of the hill, bearing a bundle of strange +appearance in his hands. With a quick and decided step he mounted the +height, and glanced fiercely at the females and their children, whom he +passed in the winding path, and who all involuntarily shrank from the +gaze of his piercing and singularly expressive eye. In the breast of +Janet that glance struck a chill of horror; for she had once before +encountered it, and never could she forget or mistake it again. It +seemed that Fingal recognized it also, and knew the evil that it +foreboded. He was bounding down the hill by Edith's side, and, with +expressive looks and actions, inviting the pensive child to join in his +gambols, when the savage approached. Instantly he paused, and took his +stand close to his young mistress, as if to guard her from some +apprehended danger; and, as the red warrior passed, and bent his eye on +Edith, the sagacious creature uttered a low deep growl, and seemed +ready to spring at his throat, if the hand and voice of his young +companion had not restrained him. Fingal was a noble specimen of the +St. Bernard breed of dogs, whose sagacity is such as frequently to +appear like human reason, and his intelligence was not inferior to that +of the best of his race. In this instance it did not mislead him. + +The dark warrior strode on without one sign of courtesy, and paused not +until he had entered the group of elders and councilors who stood +around the President, prepared to attend him to the public hall. The +white men made way for him to approach the Governor; and, as he did so, +his keen eye met that of Rodolph Maitland, and instantly kindled with a +deeper fire, and gleamed with an expression of almost diabolical +vengeance, which was seen by Rodolph, and understood by him for he, +too, could not fail to recognize in the Narragansett warrior that same +Coubitant who had fought so well at 'the first encounter,' and who had +afterwards attended the Nausett Chief, Tisquantum, when he and his +people were repulsed in their attack on New Plymouth. It was evident +to Maitland that this savage entertained towards him and his race a +peculiar sentiment of hatred; but the cause of this feeling was unknown +to him. + +The idea, however, that Henrich's loss was in some way connected with +this man--or that he could give him some information respecting the +nature of his son's death, and the place where his remains had been +deposited--came forcibly to his mind; and, regardless of the cold +malignant gaze that Coubitant fixed on him, he hastily approached him, +and exclaimed in the Indian tongue--'Surely you are the Nausett warrior +whom I saw with the Sachem of that tribe. If so, you can tell me the +fate of my son--the boy who was carried off, and, I fear, cruelly slain +when Tisquantum and his people retired from these woods. O, tell me how +my boy was murdered, and where his dear remains were laid!’ + +Rodolph's fine countenance was lighted up with eager animation. A tear +of fond regret and affection glistened in his eye, and he could have +grasped the hand of the swarthy savage, and almost have blessed him, if +he would have told him that his darling Henrich had died by a single +blow, and that his body had been laid unmolested to rest. But Coubitant +drew back, and with a smile of fierce mockery and infernal triumph, +replied briefly-- + +'Ha! you found his bloody coat then. May your heart's blood soon flow +forth as his did; and may my eyes see your body equally mangled and +defaced!' + +At the same moment, he placed the bundle that he carried on the ground +before the President, saying, 'This comes from the Chief of the +Narragansetts!' and, turning away, hastily descended the hill, and was +lost to view among the trees of the skirting wood, before the council +had time to resolve on the course they should pursue respecting his +detention, or Rodolph had recovered the shock that his cruel words had +inflicted. + +The curiosity of the Governor and his friends was now directed to the +strange-looking package that lay on the ground. On examination, they +found the envelope to be composed of a dried snakeskin, which was +quickly opened, and disclosed several Indian arrows. Squanto gazed on +these with a significant look; and on being questioned by Bradford as +to the meaning of so singular an offering, he informed him that it was +the native mode of declaring war. + +The well-known enmity of the Narragansetts towards the Wampanoges--the +friends and allies of the settlers--rendered this hostile declaration +no surprise to the Governor and his council. But the fact of its being +conveyed by Coubitant, who had so lately, in the character of a +subordinate Narragansett chieftain, subscribed the written +acknowledgement of King James's supremacy, excited no small +astonishment. It was a source, also, of regret, as it proved how little +dependence could be placed in the professions of the natives. To enter +on a war with the numerous and powerful tribe of the Narragansetts, was +likewise far from being desirable in any point of view; for the +Pilgrims were little prepared either to meet such formidable +antagonist's in the field, or to resist the continual attacks and +aggression's that constitute the greatest share of Indian warfare. + +A consultation was therefore held as to the best method of replying to +the challenge of the Narragansett Sachem; and it was finally determined +that the most prudent and effectual course would be to show a resolute +appearance, and give no cause to the native's to suppose that they +dreaded their enmity. A bold acceptance of the challenge might, it was +urged both by Squanto and Hobomak, strike terror into the savages, and +deter them from prosecuting their present hostile intentions. + +Bradford, therefore, adopted the Indian method of communicating this +reply by expressive signs; and, taking the arrows--which appeared to be +poisoned--from the snakeskin, he placed some gunpowder and balls in the +significant wrapper. He then inquired who among his trusty warrior's +would volunteer to take the packet to the dwelling of Cundincus,[*] the +Chief of the Narragansetts. Several offered their services; and, among +those, none was so eager to be employed as Rodolph Maitland. He felt an +earnest desire to see and speak with Coubitant once more: and no fear +of the personal risk that he might incur in the expedition could deter +him from thus making another attempt to obtain some certain information +respecting his lost son. + +[Footnote: Afterwards called by the settlers, ‘Canonicus.’] + +Had the President known how much reason there was to fear that +treachery might be exercised towards Maitland, he would surely not have +suffered him thus to risk his valuable life. Rut he was ignorant of all +the peculiar circumstances that had occurred to show that he was a +special mark for the vengeance of Coubitant: and the confidence he felt +in his courage and ability led him--on this occasion, as on many +others--to select him as his ambassador. Two companions were assigned +to him, and Squanto was desired to attend the party as interpreter. + +When Helen heard that her husband was appointed to convey a reply to +the war-like message of the dark savage whom she had met on the hill, +and whose aspect had filled her with terror, she felt an involuntary +dread; and gladly would she have dissuaded him from accepting the +office of ambassador--which she knew not he had so earnestly +solicited--had she not been well aware that all such attempts would be +useless. Rodolph was not a man to shrink from any service that was +required of him for the public good; and least of all from any service +that involved danger and difficulty. He, however, concealed from his +anxious wife the fact that he had recognized in the Narragansett +messenger a deadly and determined foe, knowing how greatly--and perhaps +how justly--her fears would be increased, if she suspected that the +Indian champion was one of those who had planned and executed the +capture of her eldest son. + +But Janet had, as we have seen, remembered the swarthy savage, and the +scene with which his countenance was associated in her mind; and when +she had an opportunity of speaking to her master in private, she +implored him to resign the embassy into other hands, and not thus +rashly to encounter a foe, whose public conduct had proved him to be +unworthy of confidence, and whose expression of countenance betokened +both cruelty and treachery. But all her arguments were unavailing. +Maitland had undertaken the charge of the expedition at his own +request; and he would have felt himself dishonored in now declining it +from any personal motives, even had he been, in the least degree, +inclined to do so. On the contrary, his spirit was roused and excited +by the very perils he was conscious he might have to encounter; and his +desire to obtain, and convey to Helen, some intelligence of Henrich-- +even if that intelligence should still for ever the doubts end hopes, +that, in spite of every past circumstance, would sometimes arise in his +own heart, and that of his own wife--was so great that nothing could +have turned him from his purpose. He, therefore, desired the faithful +Janet to preserve the same silence on the subject of Coubitant that she +had already so judiciously adopted towards her mistress; and assured +her that he would neglect no precaution that might preserve him from +the treacherous intentions of the Indian, should any such be actually +entertained by him. + +The next morning Rodolph started at break of day, to convey the reply +of the Governor to the Narragansett Sachem, whose tribe inhabited the +district now called Rhode Island, lying to the south-west of New +Plymouth. He was accompanied by two friends, and likewise by the +interpreter, Squanto. His faithful dog, Fingal, also showed such a +strong desire to follow his master, that, although it was Maitland's +usual custom to leave him at home as a guard, during any of his +occasional absences, when his services in hunting were not required, he +could not, in this instance, resist his eager pleadings. Helen, also, +assured him that she should feel no apprehension at being deprived of +her usual protector, as no danger was likely to menace her dwelling; +and the increase in the population of the village, from the arrival of +the new settlers, had added an inmate to the family, in the person of +Claude Felton, a stout young laboring man, who had become the useful +assistant of Maitland in his agricultural occupations, and proved a +good and faithful servant. + +To his protection and watchful care Rodolph Maitland committed his +little family; and, taking a cheerful farewell of his wife and Edith, +he commenced his journey through the wild and almost trackless woods. +Guided by Squanto, the party reached the village of Cundineus, and were +received into the presence of the Sachem and his nephew Miantonomo, who +shared with him the cares and the dignity of his chieftainship. + +With the assistance of the interpreter, Rodolph informed the Chiefs +that he was the bearer of the reply of the mighty strangers to the bold +challenge that had been sent to them on the part of Cundineus and +Miantonomo; and he invited them to open the packet which he laid before +them, in order that they might fully understand the nature of that +reply, and judge whether the subjects of the powerful king of Great +Britain were terrified at the audacity of the red men. Probably Squanto +made some additions of his own to the harangue of the ambassador; for a +very ludicrous change of expression appeared on the countenances of the +savage Chieftains. The looks of fierce defiance with which they had +received the embassy gave way to anxious and timid glances, which they +hastily cast at the ominous snake-skin, while they involuntarily drew +back, as if they feared it would explode, and punish their rash +temerity. + +Rodolph saw the effect of Squanto's version of his speech, and resolved +to increase it. He understood enough of the native tongue to perceive +that the interpreter had alluded to the potent and deadly properties of +the contents of the snake-skin, and he desired him to inform the Chiefs +that the musket which he carried in his hand contained a very small +portion of the same substance, and he would give them proof of its +power. He then glanced for a moment into the lofty trees that +surrounded the place of audience, and perceiving a monkey that was +clinging to one of the wide-spreading branches, nod chattering angrily +at the intrusive foreigners, he took a deliberate aim, and in another +instant the creature lay lifeless and motionless on the ground. The +Indians were startled at the report, and amazed at the effect of the +invisible messenger of death. They hastened to examine the dead animal +but one drop of blood issuing from its skull was the only indication +that some missile had pierced its brain; and the veneration of the +Narragansetts and their Chiefs for the prowess of the white men +evidently rose in a great degree. + +But there was one among them who did not share the wonder or the awe of +the assembly. He stood silent and motionless, at a little distance from +the group, with his eyes intently fixed on Rodolph's countenance, and a +smile of malignant scorn and triumph on his own dark features. His arms +were folded across his scarred and painted breast, and his right hand +grasped the handle of a long knife that was stuck into his deerskin +belt. The action seemed to be involuntary, and without any present +purpose; for he remained in the same position, unobserved by Rodolph, +until he and his attendants had retired to the hut appointed them by +Cundineus, to rest and refresh themselves, end await the reply of the +Chief. + +Rodolph then desired Squanto to make inquiries for Coubitant, and, if +possible, to bring him to the hut. But the sagacious interpreter had +seen and recognized the white man’s face; and he earnestly entreated +Maitland not to give him any opportunity of executing the vengeance +which was evidently burning at his heart, and ready to break forth in +some deed of fatal violence. Rodolph's English friends also joined so +warmly in these entreaties that he at length consented that Squanto +should seek the savage, and endeavor to draw from him all the +information that he could give respecting Henrich's death. He did so, +and a long conversation took place that evening, the result of which +was that he assured Rodolph that his son had indeed been murdered in +the wood, as he had always supposed, and that his scalp had been torn +off even before life was extinct, whilst his body had been conveyed to +the next encampment, and burned with many heathen rites, to appease the +troubled spirit of Tisquantum's son Tekoa. + +The father shuddered, and turned away to hide the rising tear, as he +listened to this harrowing but false account. He, however, fully +believed it; and felt that, henceforth, it would be vain to cherish any +hope concerning his son, except that blessed hope which is the +privilege of the Christian--the sure and certain hope of meeting +hereafter, in the presence of the God and Savior in whom he had taught +his child to place his trust. He said no more; he did not even question +Squanto as to the cause of his having spent so long a time in +conferring with Coubitant, when all the information he had obtained +amounted merely to the sad assurance that his son had suffered a +dreadful death. Had he done so, the interpreter might have found it +difficult to account for his conduct, as he had professed a strong +dislike to Coubitant, and a distrust of all his motives and actions. +The fact was, that the wily savage had discovered Squanto's love of +importance, and his desire to be supposed to possess the confidence of +the white men, and by flattering his vanity, he had drawn from him all +the information he could give with respect to the strength of the +settlers, and their capability of resisting an attack of the natives. +Squanto took care to exaggerate the numbers and the power of his +employers; but still it appeared to Coubitant, that if he could once +more induce the neighboring tribes to combine and invade their +territory, there was every probability of their being utterly +exterminated and nothing short of this could satisfy the feeling of +hatred that he entertained towards the whole race of the strangers. By +way of exalting the might of the settlers in the minds of the native, +Squanto assured Coubitant that the white men kept the plague, of which +the Indians well knew the desolating effects, imprisoned in a cellar, +where they also stowed, their gunpowder, and that they could let it +loose upon their foes at their pleasure. This strange evidence was +heard also by Miantonomo, whom Coubitant called to join the conference, +as he, knew that he already hated the English; and he desired to +strengthen that feeling to the utmost, for the furtherance of his own +plans. + +From Coubitant, Squanto also received some intelligence, which, in the +minds both of the superstitious interpreter and his heathen informant, +was of vital importance to the settlers, and calculated to inspire them +with dread. This was the awful fact that, a short time previous, +several of the neighboring tribes had met in the adjacent forest, and +that the Powows of the whole district had passed three days and nights +in cursing the strangers, and uttering against them the most horrible +imprecations. The effect of this diabolical proceeding, in causing the +defeat of their foes, Coubitant did not do not; and, in spite of his +veneration for the English, and his conviction that their deities were +more powerful than the Indian demons, Squanto was filled with +apprehensions on their account. He communicated the circumstance to +Rodolph, and was surprised and almost offended at the smile of +indifference and contempt with which the Christian listened to him. But +he found it impossible to make him attach any importance to what seemed +to him so serious a calamity; and, by degrees, his own fears subsided +and his mind was reassured by the arguments and the cool composure of +Maitland. + +Rodolph and his companions lay down to rest for the night in the Indian +hut, across the entrance of which Squanto placed several strong boughs, +and spread a cloak of deer-skin over them. This was done ostensibly for +the purpose of keeping out the cold night wind, but really to serve as +a screen from the prying eyes of Coubitant, whose intentions he much +mistrusted, and also as an obstacle to any attempt he might possibly +make to violate the laws of honor and hospitality, by a secret attack +on the person of the ambassador. Whether the savage actually meditated +any such act of treachery, was not known; but if he approached the hut +with a murderous purpose, he was probably deterred more by the fierce +growlings of Fingal--who lay at the entrance, but scarcely slept that +night--than by the barrier of boughs and deerskin. + +Several times were the party awakened by the trusty watch-dog's angry +bark; and once, when Rodolph hastened to the entrance, and drew aside +the curtain, he thought he could descry more than one retreating figure +in the uncertain darkness. The continued uneasiness of Fingal prevented +his master from again giving way to sleep until after day had dawned, +when his faithful guard became tranquil, and he likewise sought the +repose which he greatly needed before recommencing his fatiguing +journey. + +Ere he set out on his homeward way, Rodolph again repaired, with +Squanto, to the presence of the Chief; to demand his message to the +British Governor; and he was informed by Cundincus, that he had already +dispatched a messenger to restore the dreaded packet, and to deprecate +the wrath of the pale-faced Chieftain. This was all the ambassador +could desire; and, taking a courteous leave of the Sachem, he and his +attendants resumed their journey without further delay. + +For a considerable distance their path lay through the forest; and the +underwood was so close and thick that the road consisted of a narrow +track, scarcely wider than would admit of two persons passing one +another along it, and only calculated for travelling in 'Indian file,' +which is so much practiced by the natives. In this manner our party +proceeded, Rodolph leading the way, and his attendants following +singly; while Fingal, who seemed rejoiced to have left the village, +bounded along at his master's side, ever and anon leaping up to express +his joy by licking his face and hands. + +'Down, Fingal!' said his master, kindly patting his favorite's head, +and stroking his thick shaggy mane. 'Down, my good fellow; your joy is +too boisterous for this narrow, thorny path. You shall expend your +superfluous strength and spirits on the plain yonder; for I think I +detect some game scudding across the green meadow before us.' + +Rodolph paused to adjust his gun; and the sagacious dog ceased his wild +demonstrations, end paused also until the task was completed. Then as +his master rose to proceed, he once more sprang up to his shoulder, end +his intelligent eyes asked leave to dash through the covert, and drive +out the expected game. + +But why did that bound of pleasure change instantaneously into a +convulsion of agony? and why did the noble creature fall by his +master's side and look so earnestly up into his face? Surely, in the +midst of his own death struggle, he sought to tell him, with that mute +eloquence of love, that danger was near. Rodolph knew that it was so; +but no danger could then have compelled him to leave his dying friend-- +the friend whose life was now ebbing away as a sacrifice for his own. +Yes! the shaft that had pierced through the neck of Fingal was designed +for Rodolph's breast; and he who cast it deemed that it had found its +intended mark, when, through the bushes, he saw the white man's form +bend quickly and suddenly to the ground. Then Coubitant fled +exultingly, and his savage heart beat high with joy and triumph. + +But Rodolph thought not of him, or of his malice. He only saw his +faithful dog expiring at his side, and knew that he had no power to aid +him. It was evident that the arrow was poisoned, for the wound, +otherwise, appeared too slight to be mortal; and the foam that gathered +on Fingal's jaws, and the convulsive struggle that shook his form, +showed too plainly that his sufferings would soon be over. The +companions of Rodolph urged him to join them in instant flight; for +they felt the peril of their present situation, where the surrounding +thicket gave such ample opportunity to their lurking foes to take a +deadly aim, while, at the same time, it prevented them from either +discovering or pursuing their assailants. But all their arguments, and +all their entreaties, were unavailing so long as Fingal continued to +lick his master's caressing hand, and to reply to his well-known voice, +by looks of intelligent affection. + +Soon, however, his head sank powerless on Rodolph's knee, and the +bright glance of his eye faded away, and life and motion ceased. Was it +unmanly in his master to brush a tear from his eye, as he rose from the +ground, and turned away one moment from the lifeless form of his +favorite? + +‘I will not leave him here,' he said. 'The savages shall not mangle his +body, as they would gladly have mangled mine. His death has saved my +life; and all that remains of him shall be carried to a place of +safety, and buried beyond the reach of those who slew him.' + +'Yes,' replied Squanto readily--for he desired the removal of the dog +from that spot, for other reasons beside the gratification of +Maitland's feelings--' Yes; we will carry him away, and hide him from +Coubitant’s eyes. Doubtless he will return here, as soon as all is +quiet, to see the success of his murderous attempt; and when he finds +the path thus stained with blood, he will be satisfied, and pursue us +no further than to see whether we bury our dead companion in the +forest, or bear him to his home. We must, therefore, carry Fingal all +the way to New Plymouth, lest he should follow on our trail, and +discover that he has only slain a dog.’ + +Rodolph's English companions concurred in this view, and willingly lent +their aid to convey the body of Fingal from the place of his death. A +couple of poles were cut hastily, and a rude light litter was formed; +for Squanto wished that Coubitant should find traces of such +preparations, as they would help to convince him that they had thus +borne away the wounded or dead form of the ambassador. + +'Now,' said he, when all was ready, 'not another moment must be lost. +Even now the keen eye of the foe may be upon us, and our stratagem may +be in vain. Two of you must bear the litter, and must carefully place +your feet in the same spot, so as to form but one track; and lead our +pursuers to believe that only three men have passed along. And there, +throw that bloody handkerchief on the path, and Coubitant will take it +as a trophy of success. ‘Stay,’ he exclaimed, as Rodolph and one of his +friends were about to raise the lifeless form of Fingal from the ground +'stay one moment, and I will completely deceive that deceiver.' + +He smiled as he spoke, for he felt it a pleasure and a triumph to +outwit the wily Coubitant. Then, while the body of the dog was +supported, he carefully pressed his feet on the soft path, so as to +leave a distinct impression, and convince any who should examine the +trail that it was not the dog who had been wounded. This cunning device +he practiced again and again until they had passed through the wood, +and entered the grassy meadow, where such precautions were no longer +needed. Then the party quickened their steps, and paused not again +until they had struck deeply into the forest that succeeded to the +undulating reach of meadowland. + +The way seemed long to Rodolph. He desired to reach his cherished home; +and yet he dreaded to return and sadden the heart of his little Edith +with the story of Fingal's death, and the sight of the inanimate form +of her last and much-loved playfellow. Had it not been for this +catastrophe, he would have kept from his wife and child the knowledge +of the cruel attempt that had been made on his life as such knowledge +could only distress them, and cause them needless anxiety and alarm in +future. But the death of Fingal must be accounted for; and, let the +consequence be what it might, it must be accounted for truly, and +without prevarication. Therefore it was that Rodolph dreaded meeting +those whose presence was the joy and the sunlight of his life. + +He reached his home, and silently entered his blooming garden; and, +with Squanto's assistance, laid the body of Fingal, now cold and stiff, +beneath the venerable tree that shaded Edith's bower. Then he entered +his dwelling, and found its inmates busily employed at their usual +domestic occupations, and overjoyed at his sudden and unexpected +arrival. But, in spite of his own pleasure, a shade of sadness and +anxiety was on his brow, which he could not hide from the quick eye of +Helen; and she eagerly inquired the cause. + +Sadly Rodolph told his story; and joy and deep gratitude for the +preservation of her beloved husband so filled and engrossed the heart +of Helen, as, for a time, to overpower every feeling of regret for the +loss of the faithful animal, who seemed to have been providentially +directed to accompany his master, and save his life at the sacrifice of +his own. + +But Edith keenly felt the loss she had sustained. She was thankful-- +very thankful--that her father had been restored to their home in +safety; but she did not the less deplore the death of her dear +companion: and, unable to restrain her tears, she hurried from the +house, and ran to hide her grief in her lonely bower. For some time her +parents did not perceive her absence, for they were occupied with their +own feelings of pious gratitude; but presently Rodolph remarked that +she had left the room, and remembered where he had deposited the body +of her favorite. He rose, and went towards the spot, accompanied by +Helen; and tears of sorrowful sympathy arose in the eyes of both, as +they beheld the desolate child lying on the ground by Fingal’s side, +with her arms around his neck, and her long waving hair hanging over +his inanimate face, that had never before met her gaze without an +answering look of intelligence and affection. + +Gently they raised her, and spoke to her words of love and comfort; but +she long refused to be comforted. And though, at length, she became +calm and resigned, and never was heard to utter one murmur at this +fresh stroke of sorrow, yet her pensive sadness became more confirmed, +and plainly showed that she mourned for Fingal, not only as her lost +companion, but also as a connecting link between her own heart and the +memory of her lamented brother. Poor Edith! her early life was one of +trial and disappointment; but ‘it was good for her to be afflicted.' + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +'O Christian warriors! wherefore did you thus +Forget the precepts of your Lord and Chief, +And lend yourselves to deeds of guilt and blood! +Did ye not know--or, knowing, did not heed-- +Those solemn words of His, when death was nigh, +And He bequeathed a _legacy of "peace"_ +To His disciples? “They that take the sword +Shall perish with the sword.” O, well it were +If ye who left your native land, and sought +A desert for the liberty of faith, +Had acted more according to that faith, +And sought to win the souls you rashly sent +To meet their God and yours!' ANON. + +Yes, well, indeed, lied it been if the settlers had been able and +willing to preserve, unbroken, the friendly relations with the Indians, +which, after the first natural distrust felt by the natives towards the +white strangers had subsided, they were, in several instances, able to +establish. But such was not the case. They received many provocations +from the natives, even from those who professed to be most friendly +towards them, and also from the settlers who followed them from the +mother-country; and they did not always meet these provocations in the +truly Christian spirit which, it must be allowed, generally pervaded +their councils, and actuated their public and private proceedings with +the wild tribes by whom they were surrounded. + +Even Masasoyt--their friend and ally--was about this time nearly +estranged from them, and on the point of joining the Narragansetts in a +project for their destruction. This change in his sentiments was the +result of the machinations of Coubitant, assisted by the foolish +pretensions and love of interference which rendered Squanto almost as +dangerous as he was useful to his employers. His boasting tales about +the power of the English settlers to imprison and to let loose the +desolating plague at their will and pleasure, had been told to the +Sagamore of the Wampanoges, as well as to Coubitant and Miantonomo; and +suspicions had arisen in the breast of Masasoyt, which he vainly strove +to infuse into his more enlightened and trustworthy son, Mooanam. +Nothing that his father could say had any effect in weakening the +friendship entertained by the young Sachem, and his brother Quadequina, +towards the emigrants; and it was owing to this steady friendship that +they were made acquainted with the altered feelings of the Sagamore in +time to prevent their ripening into open hostility. + +Mooanam communicated to the President the doubts and suspicions that +had taken possession of his father's mind, and advised him immediately +to send the faithful and devoted Hobomak to Packanokick, to endeavor to +remove the evil impression, and restore his confidence in the Pilgrim +Fathers. He also convinced both Bradford and his council that the +conspiracy which Squanto had represented as already formed, and only +waiting the concurrence of Masasoyt to be carried into deadly effect, +was as yet in its infancy, and might, by judicious management, be +altogether broken up. The Pokanokit interpreter had greatly +exaggerated, in his report to the Governor, all that he had heard from +Coubitant while at the Narragansett village; and had persuaded him, in +spite of the opinion expressed by Rodolph, to believe not only that he +and his people had been cursed by the Powows, but also that the tribes +to which these satanic conjurors belonged were uniting for the common +purpose of attacking and destroying the British settlement. + +All this was done by Squanto, with no serious intention of injuring his +new friends, but from a vain desire to make himself important, and show +the extent of his knowledge and sagacity. His vanity was, however, very +near proving fatal to him: for when the trusty Hobomak had explained to +the Sagamore the real motives and intentions of the settlers towards +the natives, and had convinced him that all the strange and mysterious +stories that Squanto delighted to tell were either pure inventions or +gross exaggerations, a second change was effected in the old Chief's +feelings, and he sent to demand that the faithless interpreter should +be immediately delivered up to him. + +The Governor was extremely reluctant to comply with this demand, as he +well knew how cruel and how summary were the judgements of the native +Chiefs; and he, as well as the whole of the colony, felt a regard for +Squanto, notwithstanding his folly and his errors. Nevertheless, the +Pokanokit was a subject of the Sagamore, who had made an express +stipulation in his treaty with the settlers that any of his people, who +might take up their abode in the colony, should be given up to him +whenever he required it; and therefore Bradford felt himself compelled +to abandon Squanto to his fate. + +The messengers who accompanied Hobomak on his return to New Plymouth +were loaded with a quantity of valuable beaver-skins, which they laid +in a pile at the Governor's feet, as a bribe to induce him to comply +with Masasoyt's demand. These the Governor rejected with indignant +scorn, observing that no man's life could be purchased from the +English; and that if he resigned the interpreter into the power of his +native sovereign, it was only because truth and justice required it, +and not from any base motives either of fear or advantage. + +Then the messengers approached the wretched man, who stood calmly +awaiting the decision of the Governor; and he saw one of them draw from +his belt the knife that Masasoyt had commanded him to plunge into the +culprit's heart. But Squanto did not tremble. All the native +fortitude, so characteristic of his race, was manifested in this awful +moment; and the bystanders felt a respect for the Pokanokit that he had +never before inspired. + +Gladly would each individual have interposed to save him; and +breathlessly they watched the movements of the President, whose signal +was to fix the moment of Squanto's death. Bradford hesitated: the word +trembled on his lips, when suddenly looking towards the sea from the +summit of ‘the Burying Hill,' on which the assembly stood, he espied a +shallop bounding over the waves, and advancing directly towards the +shore beneath. + +He made this a pretext--certainly, not a very well grounded one—for +delaying the execution of Squanto's sentence; and declared that he +would not give the fatal signal until he had ascertained the object and +the contents of the approaching vessel. This faltering on the part of +the Governor excited great wrath in the messengers of Masasoyt; and, +without any farther parley, they took up their beaver skins, and +departed to their home. Squanto's forfeited life was thus +providentially spared; and the conduct of Bradford was, through +Mooanam's good offices, overlooked b the Sagamore. But that life was +not greatly prolonged. Very soon after this event he was seized with +I virulent fever, while on a short journey with the Governor, and, in +spite of all the care and attention that were bestowed on him, he died, +much regretted by the whole colony. + +The boat, whose seasonable approach had been the means of arresting the +fatal stroke, was found to have been sent from some English fishing +vessels, many of which now constantly frequented the shores of New +England. It conveyed to the colony an addition of several able-bodied +men, who were joyfully welcomed by the settlers, as laborers were just +then much wanted, both in the fields and in the increasing town. These +men were sent out by an English merchant named Weston, who had long +endeavored to encourage the colonization of New England; but from very +different motives to those which had actuated the Pilgrim Fathers, and +led them to forsake the comforts of a European home for the toils and +uncertainties of an American wilderness. A desire for profit appears to +have been the ruling principle in Weston's mind. He was, therefore, +very indifferent as to the moral character of the men whom he sent out +to join the emigrants, and was only solicitous to secure a quick return +of the money that he had expended: and, finding that the prospect of +gain from a connection with the New Plymouthers was doubtful and tardy, +he had resolved to found a colony himself. + +For this purpose he had, some time previously, obtained a grant of a +portion of land in Massachusetts, and sent over sixty men to cultivate +it, in two ships, which he placed under the command of his brother-in- +law. The arrival of this fresh band of emigrants had proved a fruitful +source of trouble and annoyance to the first settlers, for they were +chiefly idle and profligate vagabonds, who had no settled occupation at +home, and no characters to sustain. Weston himself described them in a +letter to Bradford, as 'tolerably rude and profane.' And a friend of +the Pilgrims wrote from England to warn them against having any +connection with the new colony: and recommended them to have it +distinctly explained to the Indians, that they were a new and +independent society, for whose conduct and good faith they could in no +way be responsible. + +Notwithstanding all these warnings, and the very unprepossessing +appearance of the new emigrants, the Plymouthers had shown more +kindness and hospitality than they had prudence and caution: and had +received their countrymen into their own settlement on their arrival in +America. They had even permitted on half of their number to reside at +New Plymouth during the whole summer, while the strongest and +healthiest had proceeded to Massachusetts to fix on a spot for their +settlement, and prepare habitations. They had decided on a place called +Wessagussett,[*] a little to the south of Boston; and thither they were +afterwards followed by their companions from New Plymouth. The long +residence of these men among the pious and high-minded Pilgrims had +not, however, made any salutary impression on their minds: and all the +kindness and hospitality they had received were most ungratefully +forgotten. + +[Footnote: New Weymouth] + +In various ways the new colony vexed and annoyed the men of Plymouth; +but in no way more seriously than by their conduct towards the natives, +which was so different to the just and upright dealings of the +Pilgrims, that the Indians began to lose their confidence in the white +men, and to suspect deceit and imposition where hitherto they had only +found truth and justice. Weston's colony was, indeed, scarcely settled +at Wessagussett, before complaints were sent by the Indians to their +friends at Plymouth, of the repeated depredations that were committed +by the new settlers, who were continually carrying off their stores of +corn, and other property: and these accusations were by no means +surprising to Bradford and his council, as they had already detected +them in many acts of theft during their stay at New Plymouth. + +The harvest of this year was poor and scanty; and the great accession +to their numbers, caused by the visit of Weston's settlers, had +entirely consumed the stores of the Plymouthers, and reduced them again +to actual want. Joyfully, therefore, they hailed the arrival of two +ships from the mother country, laden with knives, beads, and various +other articles, that would be acceptable to the Indians in the way of +barter, and enable the settlers to purchase from them the necessary +supply of provisions, for which they had hitherto been compelled to pay +very dear in skins and furs. Meanwhile, the colony of Wessagussett was + in a still worse condition. They had quickly consumed all the food with +which the generous Plymouthers had supplied them, and had then stolen +everything on which they could lay their hands. They had also sold +almost all their clothes and bedding, and even their weapons; and were +brought to such extreme necessity that they did not refuse to do the +meanest services for the Indians who dwelt near their settlement, in +return for such means of subsistence as the red men were able to +furnish them with. For this condescension--so unlike the dignified yet +kind deportment of the Plymouthers--the natives despised them, and +treated them with contempt, and even violence. Thus early was the +British name brought into disrepute with the Indians, when men bearing +that name came among them for mere purposes of speculation and profit, +and ware not governed by the Christian principles of humanity and +justice that distinguished the earliest settlers in New England from +all those who followed them. Nor did the evil consequences of their ill +conduct rest with themselves. They fell also on the peaceably-disposed +colony of Plymouth, and were the means of involving them in hostilities +with the natives, which had hitherto been warded off by the kind and +judicious management of the Governor and his assistants. + +The general state of peace which had, up to this period, been +maintained with the Indians, was greatly to be attributed to the bold +and decisive measures that were always adopted by Miles Standish, the +military chief of the little community, and the leader of every warlike +expedition. He well knew how to impress the natives with a due respect, +for he never tolerated the slightest injury or insult, and yet he never +permitted his men to be guilty of any act of injustice or oppression +towards the red men. + +Since the arrival of Weston's disorderly colony, Captain Standish had +shown himself even more decided in maintaining the rights and the +dignity of the Plymouthers, and had endeavored to show the natives that +they were not to identify the new comers with those whom they had +already learnt to know and to respect. But at length, in spite of all +these judicious measures, the Pilgrims were drawn into the quarrel that +subsisted between their countrymen of Wessagussett and the natives; +and, having drawn the sword, they certainly forgot the principles of +mercy and humanity that had hitherto guided them. Active measures +were, undoubtedly, called for; but cruelty and stratagem were unworthy +of these Christian warriors. + +The continued marauding expeditions of the men of Wessagussett had +exasperated the neighboring tribes to the last degree; and the state of +weakness to which they were reduced by their own thoughtless and +improvident conduct, led the natives to suppose that they would fall an +easy prey to their combined force. They, therefore, again formed a +combination to attack and utterly destroy these oppressive intruders +into their country. Probably the council of Chiefs, who met in the +depths of the forest to arrange their plan of operations, would have +contented themselves with contriving the destruction of the new and +offending colony, which they might easily have effected had they +confined their projected operations to that object alone. But there was +one in the council who could not rest satisfied with such a partial +vengeance on the white strangers; and his fiery eloquence, and false +assertions and insinuations, prevailed over the rest of the Chiefs to +disregard every treaty, and every obligation that ought to have bound +them to the settlers of New Plymouth, and to include them also in their +savage scheme of massacre and plunder. + +The argument by which he finally overcame the scruples of those Chiefs +who had allied themselves with the first emigrants, and had acquired a +regard and respect for them, was one of self-preservation. He boldly +asserted that the men of New Plymouth would never either pardon or +forget the destruction of their countrymen of Wessagussett, but would +immediately lay aside the mask of kindness and forbearance with which +they had hitherto concealed their undoubted project of acquiring the +dominion of the whole country, and gradually destroying the red men; +and would call forth all their supernatural powers, and blast them with +fire and plague, unless they were taken by surprise, and annihilated at +one fell swoop. All the superstitious fears of the ignorant natives +were thus aroused, and if there were any in the assembly who were too +well acquainted with the white men to credit all that Coubitant +asserted, they thought it either unsafe or unwise to express their +opinions any further. + +Happily for the settlers, one such faithful and friendly spirit was +there to watch for their interests, and provide for their preservation. +Masasoyt had resumed all his kindly feelings towards his English +allies, since the misunderstanding occasioned by Squanto's meddling +propensities had been explained away by the trusty Hobomak. He had also +recently been visited by Edward Winslow, when he was afflicted with a +severe illness, and the Christian soldier had ministered to his relief +in a way that had excited both the wonder and the lively gratitude of +the Sagamore. When, therefore, he obeyed the summons of Coubitant to +join the general council of Chiefs, he had no intention of consenting +to any hostile measures being undertaken against his powerful and +beneficent friends. Weston's wild and disorderly crew had excited his +anger in common with that of all the other neighboring Sachems; and he +was quite willing to combine with his red brethren for their +chastisement--perhaps, even for their utter destruction: but he did not +confound the Pilgrim Fathers, who had never failed in truth and +honesty, with the deceitful and marauding vagabonds who wore white +faces, and called themselves Christian subjects of King James, while +they acted like heathen savages. + +At first, Masasoyt met the malignant arguments and false assertions of +Coubitant with an open and generous statement of the upright conduct of +the strangers towards himself and his tribe, during the three years of +their residence in New England; and urged the assembled Chiefs to +beware how they attempted to molest men whose power to resist and +punish any such attempt was only equaled by their willingness and +ability to benefit those who treated them with confidence and +integrity. But he soon perceived that his arguments in favor of mercy +and justice were powerless, when opposed to the fierce and crafty +harangues of Coubitant; and he, therefore, forbore to make any further +reply, and even appeared to acquiesce in the decision of the council, +that the only means of securing the safety and independence of the +Indian tribes was utterly to exterminate the invaders. + +The proposed plan for accomplishing this barbarous project, was first +to surround and fall on the miserable and sickly colony of +Wessagussett; and then, before the news of the massacre could reach New +Plymouth, to hasten thither, and wreak on its unsuspecting and +unprepared inhabitants the same fierce vengeance. + +The day and hour were fixed, and every necessary preliminary was +minutely arranged; and then the council broke up, and the Chiefs +returned to their respective dwellings, to collect and fully arm their +followers, and prepare to meet again at the appointed time and place, +with both hands and hearts read to execute the bloody deed. + +Masasoyt retired like the rest; and, attended by the little band of +warriors who formed his bodyguard, be took the forest path that led to +his dwelling at Packanokick. But he did not long pursue that path. When +he had proceeded such a distance through the forest as to feel sure +that he should not, by turning to the right, cross the route of any of +the other Chiefs, he dismissed all his followers, except two of the +most trusty and confidential. The rest he desired to proceed +immediately to Packanokick, and inform his people that they must +prepare for a warlike expedition, and that he was going to visit his +son, Mooanam, in order to give him directions to join in the enterprise +with that portion of the tribe that was under his authority. + +This was very far from being the truth; but the Indian Sagamore +considered that every falsehood and stratagem was allowable, and even +meritorious, that could further a desired object, especially if that +object was so undoubtedly good in itself as that which now engrossed +his thoughts and wishes. He did not know that it is sin to ‘do evil +that good may come’; and therefore we must judge him by his generous +motives, and not by his heathen practice. + +Having thus freed himself from those on whose discretion and fidelity +he could not fully rely, he changed his course, and traveled straight +towards New Plymouth. There was no beaten track through the tangled +woods in that direction; but the position of the sun, and the +appearance of the trees, were sufficient guides for the sagacious +Indian Chief, and, in spite of his advanced age, he pursued his way +with vigor and activity. Frequently his path was obstructed by the +luxuriant growth of underwood, or by the cable-like creepers that hung +in every direction, crossing each other like the rigging of a ship, and +presenting obstacles that nothing but the tomahawks that hung from the +girdles of the natives enabled them to overcome. With these weapons-- +ever ready, in the hand of an Indian, either to cut his way through the +forest, to fell the timbers for his wigwam or his canoe, to slay the +game that his arrows have brought to the ground, or to cleave the skull +of his enemy--did old Masasoyt and his devoted followers divide the +large tough climbing plants that obstructed their passage. Sometimes, +also, when the sun was totally obscured and the necessary windings in +their course would hive rendered them uncertain whether they were +following the right direction, these useful tomahawks enabled them to +consult the Indian compass. + +The manner in which these children of the wilderness supply to +themselves the want of that invaluable instrument is both curious and +ingenious, and it proved of essential use to the Wampanoge Chief on +this occasion. Whenever he found himself at fault from the absence of +the sun, or any other direct indication of the proper course, he raised +his battle-axe, and struck a heavy blow at some neighboring pine or +birch tree, on each side of which he cut a deep notch, and then, by +examining the grain of the wood, he could tell which was the north, and +which the south side--the former being easily ascertained by the +greater closeness of the concentric rings, and consequent hardness of +the fiber. The sap being more drawn to the south side by the action of +the sun, causes the rings on that side to swell more; and this +operation of nature has been observed by nature's children, and +employed by them as a sure guide in their long wanderings through the +pathless forests where they find a home. + +The journey to New Plymouth was rather a long one; but the Sagamore and +his companions were each provided with a small quantity of their usual +travelling food, _nokake_--or meal made of parched maize--which they +carried, in true Indian fashion, in their hollow leathern girdles. When +they came to a pond, or brook, they paused to eat a few handsful of +this simple provision, which is so dry that it can only be swallowed +when either water or snow is at hand, ready to wash down each mouthful; +and, consequently, in summer the natives have sometimes to travel long +distances before they can avail themselves of the food that is already +in their hands. + +Immediately on his arrival at New Plymouth, the Sagamore repaired to +the dwelling of Bradford; and, requesting a private interview--at which +no one was allowed to be present except the Wampanoge interpreter +Hobomak--he informed him of the conspiracy of the natives, and warned +him to be well prepared for the intended attack. Could he have given +this warning, and ensured the safety of his allies, without betraying +the whole of the conspirators' projects, he would gladly have done so; +for he both despised and hated the men of Wessagussett, and he was +willing that they should he treated as they seemed disposed to treat +such of his race as they could get into their power. He even made an +attempt to persuade Bradford to leave them to the fate they so well +deserved, and to connive at their destruction, which would remove an +increasing evil from the first colony. + +But the President soon convinced him that such a course would be +altogether at variance with the precepts and principles of that +religion in which he gloried, and which it was his chief aim, and that +of all his Christian brethren, to exalt and make honorable in the eyes +of the natives: and that, therefore, no selfish considerations could +induce them to abandon their countrymen to destruction, notwithstanding +their ingratitude towards themselves, and their ill conduct towards the +Indians. + +With this decision Masasoyt was extremely dissatisfied: but he could +not now withdraw the information he had imparted, even if he desired +it; and he also felt it to be most politic to secure the friendship of +the white men, even if it should involve the sacrifice of the lives of +some of his own countrymen, and interfere with their projects of +vengeance on their foes. This was most likely to be the case in the +present instance; for the Governor was excited to great indignation by +the intelligence f this second conspiracy, in which several of the +Chiefs who had signed the treaty with Captain Standish were concerned; +and he immediately summoned the gallant soldier, and the rest of his +council, to deliberate on the best means of defeating it. + +It now only wanted three days of the time appointed for the gathering +of the red warriors, and the attack on Wessagussett. No time was, +therefore, to be lost; and it was soon determined that Standish, with a +band of eight men, should march the following morning at day-break, and +come stealthily upon the savages before they could he fully prepared +for the assault. It was a bold--perhaps a rash--measure, for so small a +party to go forth, and encounter the native forces thus combined. But +Standish, though a man of prudence and discretion, was a stranger to +fear; and he and his followers had already learnt the power of order +and discipline, in compensating for any disadvantage of numbers. It +was, therefore, with cheerful confidence that the military force of the +settlement prepared for their march and they plainly showed on what +that confidence was founded, by requesting the prayers of the +congregation for their success. + +A great part of the night was, accordingly, spent in prayer; and the +blessing of the God of truth and mercy was solemnly asked upon an +enterprise that the leaders well knew was about to be carried out by +fraud and cruelty. + +At sunrise, the soldiers met on 'the Burying Hill,' and the staff of +office was given, with much solemnity, to Captain Standish, by the +pious and venerable Brewster. They had already taken leave of their +wives and families, who did not altogether share the cheerful +exultation displayed by the Puritan warriors; and who were not +permitted to be present at this final ceremony, lest their anxious +fears should disturb the composure of their husbands and fathers. +Notwithstanding this characteristic prohibition, Helen, and her younger +daughter Edith, had ventured to station themselves in the path that led +down 'the Burying Hill,' in the direction in which Standish and his men +were to march, that they might take one more farewell of Rodolph before +he left them on an expedition which, to their minds, seemed fraught +with danger and uncertainty; and where they feared he might again be +exposed to the vengeance of his untiring foe. + +The gallant little band marched down the hill, and came where Edith and +her child stood waiting, beneath a tree, for what might be their last +look on one most dearly loved; and when Rodolph saw them he forgot the +strictness of discipline and order required by his commander, and left +the ranks to indulge the feelings of his heart, by again embracing his +weeping wife and child. + +The stern captain instantly recalled him; and when he saw a tear +glistening in the eye of the husband and father, a slight expression of +wonder and contempt passed over his countenance. He marveled that so +brave a soldier and so strict a Puritan as Rodolph Maitland should +still remain subject to so much worldly weakness. But Standish was not, +at that time, a married man; and he was very deeply imbued with all the +severe and unbending principles of his sect, which even went so far as +to demand the suppression of all natural feelings--making it a fault +for a mother to kiss her children on the Lord's day--and inflicting +actual punishment on the captain of a ship for having embraced his wife +on 5 Sunday, when, after a long separation, she hurried to meet him, as +he landed from the vessel! To such puerile littlenesses will even great +minds descend. + +Rodolph was unmoved by the commander's contemptuous glance. He knew his +own unflinching Puritan principles, and his own undaunted courage; and +he knew his value in the eyes of Standish. The captain knew it also, +for he never liked to go on any enterprise that required bravery and +cool judgement without securing the aid of Maitland; and although the +tenderness of his friend's feelings, and the warmth of his domestic +attachments--so different to the coolness and apathy which was so +prevalent in the community--were a continual subject of surprise and +pity to the iron-hearted leader, yet he highly respected him, and even +loved him, as much as such a gentle feeling as love of any kind could +find admittance to his breast. + +They journeyed on then—that stern captain, who had no tie to life, and +deemed it a privilege to die with 'the sword of the Lord and of Gideon' +in his hand, fighting for the cause of his own peculiar sect, in which +alone he thought salvation could be found; and that warm-hearted +husband and father, who felt that he had left behind him what was far +dearer than life itself--those who alone made life precious to him-and +who yet was willing to sacrifice all, if honor and duty demanded it. +Which was the braver man of the two? + +Both were brave; but Standish was the most unscrupulous. He considered +that any stratagem was lawful which could place his heathen enemies in +his power; and no arguments of the high-minded and truthful Maitland +could convince him that deceit and treachery, even towards their +infidel foes, were unworthy of Christian warriors. Miles Standish was +resolved to use some device to get the chiefs of the conspiracy off +their guard, and, by destroying them, to break up the hostile +confederacy altogether: and as Maitland was bound to obey his orders, +and also knew the utter impossibility either of changing the resolves +of his captain or of deserting the enterprise, he was compelled to join +in proceedings that he could not approve. + +When the little band had arrived at the spot indicated by Masasoyt, and +within a short distance of the Indian place of rendezvous, Standish +commanded his men to halt for rest and refreshment for the last time +before the expected encounter with the army of savages who were +assembling for their destruction. This halting-place was situated on +the summit of a considerable elevation, well covered with trees and +bushes, and overlooking a plain, on the further side of which the +Indian camp was formed. The advantageous position in which the +emigrants were posted enabled them to obtain a full view of their +enemies without being perceived by them; and Captain Standish resolved +to remain there quietly that night, in order to recruit the strength of +his men after their rapid and toilsome journey, and to mature his plans +for subduing the horde of natives before him with so small a band as +now surrounded him, and who waited but his orders to rush on to the +most desperate enterprise. + +The Wampanoge interpreter, Hobomak, accompanied the party at his own +desire, and that, also, of his sovereign, Masasoyt. Standish was glad +of his assistance in his capacity of interpreter: he had already shown +such devoted attachment to the English, that they entertained no fears +of his either betraying or deserting their cause; and, on this +occasion, he fully justified their confidence. + +Early in the morning, the leader announced his intention of going +himself to the Indian camp, to make overtures of peace, and to invite +the Chiefs to a conference; and he desired his men to construct a +strong and spacious wigwam for their reception, and to make a door to +it, which could be closed and fastened securely. He did not then +explain his project more clearly; but Rudolph understood it, and his +soul revolted from the treachery he suspected. 'Now,' said the +captain, having finished his directions to his well-disciplined +followers, 'who will volunteer to go down with me and Hobomak to the +heathen camp, and to carry the flag of truce before me? It may be a +service of danger to enter that hornet's nest; and no one who has left +his soldier's heart at home with his wife or his children, had better +attempt it.' + +Rudolph felt the sarcasm, though it was uttered good humoredly, and he +instantly replied-- + +'I am ready, my chief, to attend you wherever you may go; and if I have +left my heart's affections at New Plymouth, you shall see that I have +brought with me none the less of courage and fidelity to my leaders and +my countrymen. The dearer my home, the more energetic shall be my +efforts to preserve it from desolation. Besides,' he added, In an +undertone, so that only Standish should hear: 'I much prefer going +boldly into the midst of the enemy, even at the risk of my life, to +remaining here to assist in constructing a trap for their destruction.' + +'You are a brave fellow, Maitland,' said the captain, grasping his hand +with warmth and energy, 'but you have brought some peculiar prejudices +over from Europe with you, and do not yet perceive the difference of +warring on equal terms with civilized troops--as you were accustomed to +do in your youth--and contending with a horde of savages, who know +nothing of the laws of honor, and who are even now combined to destroy +us all, without either challenge or preparation. Come along with me, +and leave the rest to do as I have directed. Necessity has no law; and +if we do not meet those cunning natives with equal cunning, we shall +have no chance against them.' + +'Truth and sincerity appear to me the strongest necessity; and the God +of truth will order the results as he pleases,' answered Rodolph. 'But +I have sworn to obey your orders, and you need not fear the constancy +of either my heart or hand. I know my duty as a soldier, and I will do +it.' + +'I know you will, Maitland,' replied his commander; and his respect for +his conscientious friend rose higher than ever, while a slight +misgiving as to the righteousness of his own projected plan passed +through his breast. It did not abide there, however, for he was really +satisfied that he was acting in conformity to the will of God, and that +he was fully justified in asking for His blessing to crown his +murderous schemes with success. + +Maitland took the flag of truce, which consisted of a long spear, with +a white handkerchief attached to the summit, and preceded the captain, +who followed in full uniform, attended by his swarthy interpreter. As +soon as they emerged from the wood that covered the halting-place, and +entered the open plain, they were espied by the keen and watchful eyes +of the natives; and a messenger was dispatched to meet them, and bring +them to the presence of the Indian leader, Wattawamat, who was regarded +as the chief of the conspirators. + +Captain Standish assumed a pacific air, and desired Hobomak to advance +before him, and inform the Chiefs that he came to propose terms of +reconciliation and peace. He then himself approached them; and, with +the aid of the interpreter, made to them a rather lengthy harangue on +the benefits that would accrue to them from preserving peace with +the white men; and his sorrow, and that of his employers, on having +accidentally discovered that the tribes of Massachusetts entertained +feelings of enmity towards the British settlers at Wessagussett. + +Ever and anon, during the translations of the various paragraphs of +this speech, Rodolph observed the keen eyes of the captain, as they +carefully surveyed the surrounding force, and examined the individuals +who appeared to be their leaders. And once, when his own eye followed +the direction of his commander's, his glance encountered one that +instantly riveted it, and excited in his breast some sensations--not of +_fear,_ for Rodolph knew not the feeling--but of inquietude and +distrust. Yes; Coubitant was there, gazing at his supposed victim with +amazement and hatred; and half inclined to believe that some +supernatural power must belong to the man who could have been wounded +with his deadly arrow, and yet survive to confront him once more. There +he stood--with disappointed vengeance in his heart, and fury flashing +from that eye of fire. + +But while he kept a continual watch on every movement of Rodolph's, his +quick ear lost not one word of the speech that Hobomak was rendering +into his native tongue. He heard when, in Standish's name, he invited +the Chiefs to meet him in the wigwam that his men were constructing on +the border of the thicket, and where, he said, he would smoke with them +the pipe of peace, and give to them the presents that the Governor had +sent, as pledges of his friendly intentions. + +The moment this invitation had been delivered, Coubitant approached +Wattawamat, and whispered a few words in his ear, to which the +Chieftain gave a sign of acquiescence; and then the Nansett left the +assembly, and disappeared among the trees and bushes that bounded the +plain on every side. + +Wattawamat gave no immediate reply to the proposal of the English +Chief; but, as is not unusual with the Indians, kept up a long +discourse, and contrived to lengthen the audience for a considerable +time. Another Indian then approached the Sachem, and again whispered +to him some words that gave him evident satisfaction, for he smiled +grimly, and displayed his fine row of ivory teeth for a moment, as he +nodded approbation to the messenger. Then, resuming his wonted gravity +of demeanor, he replied to Captain Standish that he was satisfied, by +his assurances, of the good faith of the white men, and that he and his +brother Chiefs would avail themselves of his invitation, and meet in +the wigwam a little before sunset; where he hoped so to arrange all the +little disagreements that had occurred between the red men and the +mighty strangers, as to be able to establish between them and all his +countrymen the same friendship and alliance that appeared to exist with +the Wampanoge tribe, whose Chief, he observed, with a slight curl of +his lip, had failed in his promise to attend their meeting that day. + +The cause of this favorable decision on the part of Wattawamat was the +report that Coubitant had just sent him of the insignificant force of +the English, which that crafty and swift-footed warrior had contrived +to ascertain, by running round the border of the weed to the place +where Standish's men were at work, and taking an accurate and +unobserved survey of their numbers. + +He felt convinced that it would be easy for the Chiefs, and such of +their attendants as might be allowed to follow them to the place of +conference, to overpower and destroy every one of the little band of +whites, and then to prosecute their original intention of carrying fire +and slaughter into both the British settlements. In all this scheme +there was nothing so grateful to the ruthless heart of Coubitant as the +idea of Rodolph's death; and that too, as he trusted, by his own hand. +O, how he panted for the devilish joy of tearing off his scalp, and +carrying it back to throw it triumphantly at Henrich's feet! We shall +see whether such joy was accorded to him. + +Standish and his companions took their leave, and returned to the hill, +where they found great progress had been made in building the wigwam; +and two hours before sunset it was completely wattled round, leaving +only a small aperture near the top to admit light, and a narrow place +of entrance, to which a strong door was affixed. + +The captain then explained his plan, which was approved by all but +Maitland; and he forbore to urge any further opposition, which, he +felt, would now be useless. A temperate meal was partaken of, and a +hymn sung by the undaunted little company; and pipes and tobacco having +been plentifully placed in the hut, the sides of which were decorated +with pieces of gay colored calico, and a few knives and trinkets, as +pretended gifts to the Chiefs, nothing remained but to await the +arrival of the victims. + +Soon the Indian Chiefs, decked in all their bravery of feathers and +embroidered skins, came marching a cross the plain, followed by a few +attendants less richly adorned. Standish and his party went to meet +them, and conducted them with much courtesy to the wigwam, which was +soon obscured by the clouds of smoke that issued from the pipes of the +grave and silent assembly. But this silent gravity did not long +continue. Captain Standish addressed the Chiefs, and strove to speak +kindly to men whose deaths he was compassing all the while: but, +whether his resolution somewhat failed as the moment for the execution +of his bloody purpose drew on, or whether he was disconcerted by the +absence of Rodolph, who refused to enter the wigwam, and assist at the +slaughter, so it was that he manifested evident signs of weakness and +indecision. + +The Chiefs were emboldened by this, and they were troubled by no qualms +of conscience on the subject of shedding the white men's blood. They +rose from their seats on the ground, and began to taunt the captain +with his want of eloquence, and also with the smallness of his stature, +which was despicable in their eyes. Then, growing still bolder as they +became excited, they drew their knives, and whetted them before the +eyes of their hosts: flourishing them round their heads, and boasting +how they had already shed the blood of many white men in the distant +European settlements. + +It was a fearful scene: but the real peril of his situation instantly +restored the commander to his wonted resolution and firmness. He called +on his men to be ready, and not to allow one of the Chiefs to escape +from the wigwam, and with his hand on his pistols, he waited the proper +moment for action. The Indians continued to pour forth the most abusive +epithets: but they did not begin the expected attack, and it was +evident that they were a little intimidated by the undaunted bearing of +the white men. One of them, however, seemed actuated by some desperate +purpose, and to be regardless of aught else. From the moment of his +entrance into the wigwam, his eyes had sought some object that they did +not find: and now, in all the excitement of the approaching conflict, +his only aim seemed to be to make his way through the entrance in +search of some person on whom he desired to wreak his fury. It was +Rodolph whom Coubitant sought, and who was now, providentially, out of +his reach, and waiting the result of the deed against which he had +vainly protested. + +At length the wrath of Standish broke loose. He gave the appointed +signal, and the door was closed--shutting in friends and foes in one +small field of battle, or, rather, of carnage. The scene in the dimly- +lighted wigwam was terrific; and the yells of the infuriated natives +broke, with a sickening effect, on the ears of Rodolph Maitland, who +could not consent to share in what he considered a murderous conflict, +and not an honorable war; and who yet felt as if he was deserting his +countrymen, by thus remaining inactive. + +But if he felt undecided as to his proper course of action, that +indecision did not last long. In a few moments the door of the wigwam +was violently burst open, and the combatants rushed out, struggling and +bleeding, from the den of slaughter. All the white men came forth, for, +though many of them were wounded, not one had fallen. But three of the +Indians lay dead and dying on the floor of the hut; one of them being +the mangled body of Wattawamat, who was slain by Standish with his own +knife--that very knife which the savage had sharpened for the purpose +of plunging it into the heart of the white chief! + +Where was Rodolph now? In the midst of the fray, fighting desperately +and successfully. The moment he saw the battle raging in open field, +and beheld the blood flowing from the wounds of his countrymen, he +forgot all else except that his strong right arm wielded a trusty +blade; and its skilful stroke soon brought another of the red warriors +to the ground, and chased away those who sought to secure their wounded +comrade. The Indians saw that they were overmatched, and that nothing +but flight could save the remainder of their party; they therefore +uttered their wild war-cry once more, and commenced a rapid retreat +down the hill, pausing several times to send back a volley of arrows on +their victorious foes; which, however, fell harmless to the earth, +though more than one was aimed at Rodolph, by the strong and skilful +hand of Coubitant. + +But rest was not to be afforded to the little conquering band. While +they were securing the wounded Indian, and binding up their own wounds, +they discovered a movement in the body of savages on the other side of +the plain, and truly surmised that they were preparing to attack them +in greater numbers. Standish instantly gave orders that the Indian whom +Rodolph had brought to the ground should be hung to a neighboring tree, +which was as instantly executed; and he re-entered the tent, to make +sure that no life remained in those three who lay on its bloody floor. +All were dead: and Standish, approaching the body of the Chieftain +Wattawamat, raised his good broad sword, and at one blow severed the +head from the trunk. Then seizing the gory head by the long scalp-lock, +he carried it forth as a trophy, and desired one of his men to secure +it, and carry it back to New Plymouth. + +No time remained for further parley. A band of Indians were approaching +across the plain; and Standish disdained to fly, even before such +superior numbers. Every musket and pistol was hastily loaded, and the +undaunted party marched down the hill to meet the coming foe. They met: +and in spite of the furious onset of the savages, they were again made +to feel that their undisciplined hordes were no match for the well- +aimed fire-arms of the white men, and had no power to break the order +of their steady ranks. Once more they fled, leaving another of their +number dead on the field, and they returned no more to the charge. +During all this affair, Hobomak had remained a quiet spectator of the +combat, and of the defeat of his countrymen; and now he approached the +English captain, and complacently praised his bravery and military +prowess; and he remained as devoted as ever to his Christian friends. + +The triumphant soldiers returned to New Plymouth, and were received +with joyful exultation by the Governor and the inhabitants, who felt +deeply grateful for the deliverance that had been accorded to them, and +the safety of the brave men who had fought in their defense. All the +little band had been preserved from serious personal injury; but +Rodolph Maitland had also been preserved from blood-guiltiness, and +that was more to him than life and safety, and to his Christian and +devoted wife also. + +The head of Wattawamat was brought to New Plymouth, and the dreadful +trophy was conspicuously placed over the entrance to the fortress, as a +warning to the natives against any future conspiracies for the +destruction of the white men. So great, indeed, was the terror inspired +by the power and the severity of the settlers, that many of the +natives--who were conscious of having been engaged in the conspiracy, +though undiscovered--left their wigwams, and fled into the woods, or +concealed themselves in reedy morasses, where a great number of them +perished from hunger and disease. The settlers were much distressed at +this result of their proceedings, which, at the same time, they +considered to have been perfectly justified by the necessity of self- +preservation. But when their venerated pastor Robinson--to whom they +had, ever since their emigration, looked for guidance and sympathy-- +heard of these sad events, he expressed the deepest sorrow, and begged +them never again to be led away by the fiery temper of their leader; +adding these touching and impressive words--' How happy a thing had it +been, if you had _converted some_ before you had killed any!' + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +‘A change came o'er the spirit of my dream: +The boy was sprung to manhood; to the wilds +Of distant climes he made himself a home. +And his soul drank their beauties; he was girt +With strange and dusky aspects; he was not +Himself like what he had been:--on the sea, +And on the shore, he was a wanderer.' BYRON. + +On the border of a green meadow, watered by a narrow stream, the +wigwams of a large Indian settlement were lighted up by the slanting +beams of the setting sun, as they shone, soft and bright, through the +tall dark pines and gently-waving birch trees beneath which the village +was erected. The deep red trunks of the ancient fir trees contrasted +beautifully with the silvery bark of the birch; and between the shadows +which were cast by the gigantic boles of these, and many other +varieties of timber, the sunbeams played on the smooth soft turf, and +illuminated a scene of peaceful joy and contentment. + +Towards the center of the broken and irregular semi-circle in which the +huts were arranged, rose two wigwams, of a size and construction +superior to the rest; and around them were planted many flowering +shrubs and fruit-bearing plants, that clearly showed the habitations to +have been permanently fixed for some seasons, and to have been occupied +by persons who possessed more of good taste and forethought than are +commonly displayed by the improvident natives. Many climbing plants +also threw their luxuriant branches over the sides and roof of these +rude, but picturesque dwellings, and the brilliant blossoms hung +gracefully around the eaves and the doorway, and moved gently in the +evening breeze. + +On a neatly-carved bench, in front of one of these wigwams, sat an aged +Indian Chief, and by his side a young woman, who seemed to possess all +the ease of manner and refinement of a European, but whose clear brown +skin, and glossy jet-black hair and eyes, at once showed her to be of +the same race as her venerable companion. Her dress was also Indian, +but arranged with a taste and delicacy that rendered it eminently +becoming to her graceful figure; while her hair, instead of being +either drawn up to knot on the crown of the head, or left loose and +disheveled in native fashion, was braided into a truly classical form, +and simply adorned with a beautiful white water-lily--a flower that +Oriana always loved. + +Two other figures completed the group that was formed near the wigwam +door. One of them was a young man of tall end muscular form, whose +dress and richly-carved weapons would have proclaimed him to be an +Indian warrior and chieftain, had not his curling brown hair, and deep +blue eyes, spoken of a Saxon lineage. Courage and intelligence gleamed +in those fearless eyes, but no Indian fierceness or cunning were there; +and as the tall warrior stooped towards the ground, and lifted up in +his arms a laughing little child that was reclining on the mossy turf, +and tearing to pieces a handful of bright-colored flowers that his +father had gathered for him, the smile of affection and happiness that +lighted up those clear blue eyes, showed that a warm and manly heart +was there. + +'Ah! Ludovico!' said the happy young father, as he fondly kissed the +child, whose azure eyes, and long black eyelashes and curling raven +hair, showed his descent both from the fair race of Britain, and +America's wild wandering children. 'Ah, Ludovico! how well I remember +your uncle, when he was a merry infant like you, and used to roll on +the grass in my sweet sister Edith's garden, and tear its gaudy +blossoms, as you do these flowers of the forest. Those were happy +days,' he added--and the bright smile of careless mirth changed to one +of pensive sadness--'yes; those were happy days that never can return. +If my sisters, and my playful little brother, yet live, they must be +changed indeed from what they were when last I saw their sweet faces on +that eventful evening, that fixed the course of my destiny. Edith must +now be a woman--a lovely woman, too; and little Ludovico a fine open- +hearted boy. And my beloved parents, too: O, that I knew they were +alive and well and that ere long they would see and bless my Oriana and +my child!' + +And Henrich seated himself by the side of his young Indian wife, and +gazed in the face of his laughing boy, with an expression at once so +sad and sweet, that the child became silent and thoughtful too; and, +dropping the flowers that filled his little hands, he gently clasped +them as if in prayer, and looked long and searchingly into his father's +eyes. + +'There, now you look exactly as my brother used to do when he knelt at +my mother's knee, and she taught him to lisp his evening prayer,' +exclaimed Henrich and his eyes glistened with emotion, as home, and all +its loved associations, rushed into his mind. + +Oriana saw his sadness; and felt--as she often had done before on +similar occasions--a pang of painful regret, and even of jealousy, +towards those much-loved relatives whom her husband still so deeply +regretted. She laid her hand on his, and raising her large expressive +eyes to his now melancholy countenance, she gently said-- + +'Does Henrich still grieve that the red men stole him away from the +home of his childhood, and brought him to dwell among the forests? Is +not Oriana better to him than a sister, and are not the smiles of his +own Ludovico sweeter to his heart than even those of his little brother +used to be? And is not my father his father also? O Henrich--my own +Henrich'--she added, while she leaned her head on his shoulder, and +tears burst from her eyes, and chased each other down her clear olive +checks, to which deep emotion now gave a richer glow--'tell me, do you +wish to be set free from all the ties that bind you to our race, and +return to your own people, to dwell again with them; and, perhaps, to +lift the tomahawk, and east the spear against those who have loved you, +and cherished you so fondly? Often have you told me that your Indian +wife and child are dearer to you than all that you have left behind you +at New Plymouth. But tell it to me again! Let me hear you say again +that you are happy here, and will never desert us; for when I see that +sorrowful look in your dear eyes, and remember all you have lost, and +still are losing, to live in a wilderness with wild and savage men, my +heart misgives me; and I feel that you were never made for such a life, +and that your love is far too precious to be given for ever to an +Indian girl.' + +The smile returned to Henrich's eyes, as he listened to this fond +appeal; and he almost reproached himself for ever suffering regret for +the blessings he had lost to arise in his mind, when those he still +possessed were so many and so great. + +'Dear Oriana, you need not fear,' he replied, affectionately; 'I speak +the truth of my heart when I tell you that I would not exchange my +Indian home, and sacrifice my Indian squaw, and my little half-bred +son, for all the comforts and pleasures of civilized life--no, not even +to be restored to the parents I still love so dearly, and the brother +and sister who played with me in childhood. But still I yearn to look +upon their faces again, and to hear once more their words of love. I +well know how they have all mourned for me: and I know how, even after +so many years have passed, they would rejoice at finding me again!’ + +'Yes; they must indeed have mourned for you, Henrich. That must have +been a sad night to them when Coubitant bore you away. But I owe all +the happiness of my life to that cruel deed--and can I regret it? If my +"white brother" had not come to our camp, I should have lived and died +an ignorant Indian squaw--I should have known no thing of true +religion, or of the Christian's God--and,' continued Oriana, smiling at +her husband with a sweetness and archness of expression that made her +countenance really beautiful, 'I should never have known my Henrich.' + +'Child!' said old Tisquantum, rousing himself from the half-dreamy +reverie in which he had been sitting, and enjoying the warm sunbeams as +they fell on his now feeble limbs, and long white hair. 'Child, are you +talking again of Henrich leaving us? It is wrong of you to doubt him. +My son has given me his word that he will never take you from me until +Mahneto recalls my spirit to himself, and I dwell again with my +fathers. Has he not also said that he will never leave or forsake you +and his boy? Why, then, do you make your heart sad? Henrich has never +deceived us--he has never, in all the years that he has lived in our +wigwam, and shared our wanderings, said the thing that was not: and +shall we suspect him now? No, Oriana; I trust him as I would have +trusted my own Tekoa: and had my brave boy lived he could not have been +dearer to me than Henrich is. He could not have surpassed him in +hunting or in war: he could not have guided and governed my people with +more wisdom, now that I am too old and feeble to be their leader: and +he could not have watched over my declining years with more of +gentleness and love. Henrich will never desert us: no, not if we return +to the head-quarters of our tribe near Paomet,[*] as I hope to do ere I +close my eyes in death. So long as I feared my white son would leave +us, and return to his own people, I never turned my feet towards +Paomet; for he had wound himself into my heart, and had taken Tekoa's +place there: and I saw that he had wound himself into your heart too, +my child; and I knew that he was more to us than the land of our birth. +Therefore I have kept my hunters wandering from north to south, and +from east to west, and have visited the mountains, and the prairies, +and the mighty rivers, and the great lakes; and have found a home in +all. But now our Henrich is one of us, and never will forsake us for +any others. Is he not Sachem of my warriors, and do they not look to +him as their leader and their father? No; Henrich will never leave us +now!' + +[Footnote: The native name for Cape Cod, near which the main body of +the Nausetts resided.] + +And the old man, who had become excited during this long harangue, +smiled at his children with love and confidence, and again leaned back +and closed his eyes, relapsing into that quiet dreamy state in which +the Indians, especially the more aged among them, are so fond of +indulging. + +Tisquantum was now a very old man; and the great changes and +vicissitudes of climate and mode of life, and the severe bodily +exertions in warfare and hunting, to which he had been all his life +exposed, made him appear more advanced in years than he actually was. +Since the marriage of his daughter to the white stranger--which +occurred about three years previous to the time at which our narrative +has now arrived--he had indulged himself in an almost total cessation +from business, and from every active employment, and had resigned the +government of his followers into the able and energetic hands of his +son-in-law. Henrich was now regarded as Chieftain of that branch of the +Nausett tribe over which Tisquantum held authority; and so much had he. +made himself both loved and respected during his residence among the +red men, that all jealousy of his English origin and foreign complexion +had gradually died away, and his guidance in war or in council was +always promptly and implicitly followed. + +And Henrich was happy--very happy--in his wild and wandering life. He +had passed from boyhood to manhood amid the scenery and the inhabitants +of the wilderness; and though his heart and his memory would still +frequently revert to the home of his parents, and all that he had loved +and prized of the connections and the habits of civilized life, yet he +now hardly wished to resume those habits. Indeed, had such a resumption +implied the abandoning his wife and child, and his venerable father-in- +law, no consideration would ever have induced him to think of it. He +had likewise, as Tisquantum said, on obtaining his consent to his +marriage with Oriana, solemnly promised never to take her away from him +while he lived; therefore, at present he entertained no intention of +again rejoining his countrymen, and renouncing his Indian mode of life. + +Still 'the voices of his home' were often ringing in his ear by day and +by night; and the desire to know the fate of his beloved family, and +once more to behold each fondly-cherished member of it, would sometimes +come over him with an intensity that seemed to absorb every other +feeling. Then he would devise plan after plan, by which he might hope +to obtain some intelligence of the settlement, or convey to his +relatives the knowledge of his safety. But never had he yet succeeded. +Tisquantum had taken watchful care, for several years, to prevent any +such communication being effected; and it was, as we have seen mainly +with this object that he had absented himself from the rest of his +tribe, and his own former place of abode. + +He had led his warriors and their families far to the north, and there +he had resided for several years; only returning occasionally to the +south-western prairies for the hunting season, and again travelling +northward when the buffalo and the elk were no longer abundant in the +plains. In all these wanderings Henrich had rejoiced; and his whole +soul had been elevated by such constant communion with the grandest +works of nature--or rather, of nature's God. He had gazed on the +stupendous cataract of Niagara, and listened to its thunders,[*] till +he felt himself in the immediate presence of Deity in all its +omnipotence. + +[Footnote: O-ni-ga-rah, ‘the Thunder of Waters,’ is the Indian name for +these magnificent falls.] + +He had crossed the mighty rivers of America, that seemed to European +eyes to be arms of the sea; and had passed in light and frail canoes +over those vast lakes that are themselves like inland oceans. And, in +the high latitudes to which the restless and apprehensive spirit of +Tisquantum had led him, he had traveled over boundless fields of snow +in the sledges of the diminutive Esquimaux, and lodged in their strange +winter-dwellings of frozen snow, that look as if they were built of the +purest alabaster, with windows of ice as clear as crystal. And +marvelously beautiful those dwellings were in Henrich's eyes, as be +passed along the many rooms, with their cold walls glittering with the +lamp-light, or glowing from the reflection of the fire of pine +branches, that burnt so brightly in the center on a hearth of stone. +Well and warmly, too, had he slept on the bedsteads of snow, that these +small northern men find so comfortable, when they have strewn them with +a thick layer of pine boughs, and covered them with an abundant supply +of deerskins. And then the lights of the north--the lovely Aurora, with +its glowing hues of crimson and yellow and violet! When this beauteous +phenomena was gleaming in the horizon, and shooting up its spires of +colored light far into the deep blue sky, bow ardently did Henrich +desire the presence of his sister--of his Edith who used to share his +every feeling, and sympathize in all him love and reverence for the +works of God! But in all those days and months and years that elapsed +between the time when we left Henrich in the hunting-grounds of the +west, and the time to which we have now carried him, Oriana had been a +sister--yes, more than a sister-to him; and she had learnt to think as +he thought, and to feel as he felt, till he used to tell her that he +almost fancied the spirit of Edith had passed into her form, and had +come to share his exile. + +Certainly, the mind and feelings of the Indian girl did ripen and +expand with wonderful rapidity; and, as she grew to womanhood, her +gentle gracefulness of manner, and her devoted affection towards +Henrich, confirmed the attachment that had been gradually forming in +his heart ever since he had been her adopted brother, and made him +resolve to ask her of the Sachem as his wife. + +Since the conduct of Coubitant had excited--as we saw in a former +chapter--the suspicions of Tisquantum, and had so evidently increased +the dislike of Oriana, the Chieftain had abandoned all idea of +bestowing his daughter's hand on him or of making him his successor in +his official situation; and the departure of the cruel and wily savage +had been to him, as well as to Oriana and Henrich, a great satisfaction +and relief. None of them wished to see his dark countenance again, or +to be exposed to his evil machinations; and all were fully aware that +the marriage of the white stranger to the Sachem's lovely daughter was +a circumstance that would arouse all his jealousy and all his +vengeance. Nevertheless, this apprehension did not deter the old Chief +from giving a joyful consent to the proposal of Henrich to become his +son in fact, as he had long been in name and affection; and the summer +of the year 1627 had seen the nuptials celebrated in Indian fashion. On +the same day, also, the young widow, Mailah, became the wife of +Henrich's chosen friend and companion, Jyanough, who had never left the +Nausetts since first he joined them, but had followed his brother-in- +arms in all his various wanderings. + +It was a joyful day to the tribe when this double marriage took place; +and great was the feasting beneath the trees on the shores of the +mighty lake Ontario, where their camp was pitched. Game was roasted in +abundance, and much tobacco was consumed in honor of the happy couples, +who were all beloved by their simple followers; and for whom fresh +wigwams were built, and strewed with sweet sprays of pine and fir, and +furnished with all that Indian wants demanded, and Indian art could +furnish. With some difficulty, Henrich prevailed on the Sachem to +permit his daughter to forego the native custom of cutting off her hair +on the day of her marriage, and wearing an uncouth head-dress until it +grew again; but at length he was successful, on the plea that Oriana, +being a Christian, and about to unite herself to a Christian also, +could not be bound to observe the superstitious and barbarous +ceremonies of her race. Her fine black locks were, therefore, spared; +but Mailah was a second time robbed of hers, and appeared for many +months afterwards with her head closely shrouded in the prescribed +covering. + +Much did Henrich wish that he and his bride could have received the +blessing of a minister of the Gospel, as a sacred sanction of their +union. But this could not be: and he endeavored to supply the +deficiency, and to give a holy and Christian character to what he felt +to be the most solemn act of his life, by uniting in earnest prayer +with Oriana, Mailah, and Jyanough, that the blessing of God might rest +upon them all, and enable them to fulfil their new and relative duties +faithfully and affectionately and 'as unto the Lord.' + +Three years had elapsed since that day, and no event had occurred to +interrupt the domestic happiness of those young couples, or to disturb +the perfect friendship and unanimity that reigned between them. They +were a little Christian community--small indeed, but faithful and +sincere, and likely to increase in time; for little Lincoya was +carefully instructed in the blessed doctrines which his mother and his +step-father had received, and when Henrich's own son was born, he +baptized him in the name of the Holy Trinity, and gave him the +Christian name of his own loved brother Ludovico; and earnestly he +asked a blessing on his child, and prayed that he might be enabled to +bring him up a Christian, not in name only, but in deed and in truth. + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +‘Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand +before envy? +'Open rebuke is better than secret love. +'Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are +deceitful.' +PROV. xxii, 4--6 + +Tisquantum still sat dozing on his favorite seat before his dwelling, +and Henrich and Oriana remained beside him, silently watching the +peaceful slumbers of their venerable parent, and the playful sports of +their child, who was again roiling on the soft green turf at their +feet, and busily engaged in decking the shaggy head and neck of a +magnificent dog with the gay flowers that were scattered around him. + +It was Rodolph--the faithful Rodolph--who had once saved Henrich's life +from the treacherous designs of Coubitant, and who had often since +proved his guard and his, watchful protector in many seasons of peril +and difficulty. His devotion to his master was as strong as ever; and +his strength and swiftness were still unabated, whether in the flood or +the field. But years had somewhat subdued the former restless activity +of his spirits, and, now that he had dwelt so long in a settled home, +his manners had become so domestic, that he seemed to think his chief +duty consisted in amusing the little Ludovico, and carrying him about +on his bread shaggy shoulders, where he looked like the infant Hercules +mounted on his lion. They were, indeed, a picturesque pair, and no +wonder that the young parents of the beautiful child smiled as they +watched him wreathing his little hands in the long curling mane of the +good-tempered animal, and laying his soft rosy cheek on his back. + +Such was the group that occupied the small cultivated spot in front of +the chief, lodges of the village: and thus happy and tranquil might +they have remained, until the fading light had warned Oriana that it +was time to lay her child to rest in his mossy bed, and to prepare the +usual meal for her husband and her father. But they were interrupted by +the approach of Jyanough and Mailah, accompanied by the young Lincoya; +and also by a stranger, whose form seemed familiar to them, but whose +features the shadow of the over-hanging trees prevented them at first +from recognizing. + +But, as the party approached, a chill struck into the heart of Oriana, +and she instinctively clung closer to her husband's arm, as if she felt +that some danger threatened him; while the open, manly brow of Henrich +contracted for an instant, and was crossed by a look of doubt and +suspicion that was seldom seen to darken it, and could not rest there +long. In a moment that cloud had passed away, and he rose to greet the +stranger with a frank and dignified courtesy, that showed he felt +suspicion and distrust to be unworthy of him. Rodolph, also, seemed to +be affected by the same kind of unpleasant sensations that were felt by +his more intellectual, but not more sagacious fellow-creatures. No +sooner did the stranger advance beyond the shadow of trees, and thus +afford the dog a full view of his very peculiar and striking +countenance, than he uttered a low deep growl of anger; and, slowly +rising from the ground, placed himself between his little charge and +the supposed enemy, on whom he kept his keen eye immovably fixed, while +his strong white teeth were displayed in a very formidable row. + +Coubitant--for it could be no other than he--saw clearly the impression +that his appearance had excited on the assembled party of his old +acquaintances; but he was an adept in dissimulation, and he entirely +concealed his feelings under the garb of pleasure at this reunion after +so long a separation. The candid disposition of Henrich rendered him +liable to be deceived by these false professions of his former rival; +and he readily believed that Coubitant had, during his absence of so +many years, forgotten and laid aside all those feelings of envy and +jealousy that once appeared to fill his breast, and to actuate him to +deeds of enmity towards the white stranger, whose father had slain his +chosen friend and companion. + +But was it so? Had the cruel and wily savage indeed become the friend +of him who had, he deemed, supplanted him--not only in the favor of his +Chief, but also in the good graces of his intended bride--and who was +now, as he had learnt from Jyanough, the husband of Oriana, and the +virtual Sachem of Tisquantum's subject warriors? No: 'jealousy is cruel +as the grave; the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most +vehement flame'; and in the soul of Coubitant there dwelt no gentle +principles of mercy and forgiveness to quench this fiery flame. He was +a heathen: and, in his eyes, revenge was a virtue, and the +gratification of it a deep joy: and in the hope of attaining this joy, +he was willing to endure years of difficulty and disappointment, and to +forego all that he knew of home and of comfort. Therefore had he left +the tribe of his adoption, and the friends of his choice, and dwelt for +so many winters and summers among the Narragansetts, until he had +acquired influence in their councils, and won for himself rank in their +tribe. And all this rank and influence he had, as we have seen, exerted +to procure the destruction of the white men, because one of their +number had caused the death of his friend, and he had vowed to be +revenged on the race. He hated the pale-faces, and he hated their +religion and their peaceable disposition, which he considered to be +merely superstition and cowardice; and now that he had failed in all +his deep-laid schemes for their annihilation, all his hatred was +concentrated against Henrich, and he resolved once more to seek him +out, and, by again uniting himself to the band of Nausetts under +Tisquantum, to find an opportunity of ridding himself of one who seemed +born to cross his path, and blight his prospects in life. + +Until Coubitant had traced his old associates through many forests, and +over many plains, and had, at length, found the place of their present +abode, he knew not that all his former hopes of becoming the Sachem's +son-in law, and succeeding to his dignity, were already blasted by the +marriage of Oriana to Henrich, and the association of the latter in the +cares and the honors of the chieftainship. For some years after his +abrupt departure from the Nausetts--and while he was striving for +distinction, as well as for revenge, among the Narragansetts--he had +contrived, from time to time, to obtain information of the proceedings +of those whom he had thought it politic to leave for a time; and, as he +found that no steps were taken towards connecting the pale-faced +stranger with the family of the Sachem by marriage, after he had +attained the age at which Indian youths generally take wives; and it +was even reported that Tisquantum designed to unite him to the widow of +Lincoya--his jealous fears were hushed to sleep, and he still hoped to +succeed, ultimately, in his long-cherished plans. + +It was not that he loved Oriana. His heart was incapable of that +sentiment which alone is worthy of the name. But he had set his mind on +obtaining her, because she was, in every way, superior to the rest of +her young companions; and because such a union would aggrandize him in +the estimation of the tribe, and tend to further his views of becoming +their chief. + +After the failure of his schemes for the utter destruction of the +British settlements, and all his malicious designs against Rodolph in +particular, his personal views with regard to Oriana and Henrich, and +his desire to rule in Tisquantum's stead, returned to his mind with +unabated force, and he resolved again to join the Sachem, and endeavor +to regain his former influence over him, and the consideration in which +he had once been held by his subject-warriors. But the removal of the +tribe to the north, and their frequent journeyings from place to place, +had, for a great length of time, baffled his search; and when, at last, +he was successful, and a Nausett hunter--who had been dispatched from +Paomet on an errand to Tisquantum--met him, and guided him to the +encampment, it was only to have all his hopes dashed for ever to the +ground, and his soul more inflamed with wrath and malice than ever. + +On reaching the Nausett village Coubitant had met Jyanough, and been +conducted by him to his hut, where he learnt from him and Mailah all +that had happened to themselves and their friends since he had lost +sight of them; and it had required all the red-man's habitual self- +command and habit of dissimulation to enable him to conceal his fury +and disappointment. He did conceal them, however; and so effectually, +that both the Cree and his wife were deceived, and though that the +narrative excited in him no deeper interest than former intimacy would +naturally create. But this was far from being the case. Oriana and the +chieftainship were lost to him at present, it is true; but revenge +might still be his--that prize that Satan holds out to his slaves to +tempt them on to further guilt and ruin. To win that prize--and, +possibly, even more than that--was worth some further effort: and +deceit was no great effort to Coubitant. + +So he smiled in return to Henrich's greeting, and tried to draw Oriana +into friendly conversation, by noticing her lovely boy; who, however, +received his advances with a very bad grace. He also addressed +Tisquantum with all that respectful deference that is expected by an +aged Indian--more especially a Sachem--from the younger members of his +race; and, at length, he succeeded in banishing from the minds of +almost all his former acquaintances those doubts and suspicions that +his conduct had once aroused; and he was again admitted to the same +terms of intimacy with the Chief and his family that he had enjoyed in +years long gone by. + +Still, there was one who could not put confidence in Coubitant's +friendly manner, or believe that the feelings of enmity he once so +evidently entertained towards Henrich were altogether banished from his +mind. This was Jyanough, whose devoted attachment to the white +stranger had first led him to mistrust his rival; and who still +resolved to watch his movements with jealous care, and, if possible, to +guard his friend from any evil that might be designed against him. + +For some time, he could detect nothing in Coubitant's manner or actions +that could, in any way, confirm his suspicions, which he did not +communicate to any one but Mailah; for he felt it would be ungenerous +to fill the minds of others with the doubts that he could not banish +from his own. + +The summer advanced, and became one of extreme heat. The winding stream +that flowed through the meadow--on the skirts of which the Nausett +encampment was formed--gradually decreased, from the failure of the +springs that supplied it, until, at length, its shallow waters were +reduced to a rippling brook--so narrow, that young Lincoya could leap +over it, and Rodolph could carry his little charge across without any +risk of wetting his feet. The long grass and beautiful lilies, and +other wild flowers, that had grown so luxuriantly along the river's +brink, now faded for want of moisture; and the fresh verdure of the +meadow was changed to a dry and dusky yellow. Day by day the brook +dried up, and it became necessary for the camp to be removed to some +more favored spot, where the inhabitants and their cattle could still +find a sufficient supply of water. + +For this purpose, it was resolved to migrate southwards, to the banks +of the broad Missouri, which no drought could sensibly affect; and +there to remain until the summer heat had passed away, and the season +for travelling had arrived. Then Tisquantum purposed to bend his steps +once more towards the land of his birth, that he might end his days in +his native Paomet, and behold the home of his fathers before his death. +To this plan Henrich gave a glad assent; for he surely hoped that, when +he reached a district that bordered so nearly on the British +territories, he should be able to obtain some information respecting +his relatives, and, perhaps, even to see them. And Oriana no longer +dreaded returning to the dwellings of her childhood, for she felt +assured--notwithstanding the occasional misgivings that troubled her +anxious heart--that Henrich loved her far too well ever to desert her; +and that he loved truth too well ever to take her from her aged father, +let the temptation be never so great. + +All, therefore, looked forward with satisfaction to the autumn, when +the long journey towards the east was to commence: but they well knew +that its accomplishment would occupy several seasons; for the movement +of so large a party, of every age and sex, and the transport of all +their baggage across a district of many hundreds of miles in extent, +must, necessarily, be extremely slow, and interrupted by many pauses +for rest, as well as by the heat or the inclemency of the weather. + +Coubitant also expressed his pleasure at the proposed change, which +would afford occupation and excitement to his restless spirit, and +which, likewise, promised him better opportunities for carrying out his +ultimate schemes than he could hope for in his present tranquil mode of +life. His constant attention to Tisquantum, and his assiduous care to +consult his every wish and desire, had won upon the old man's feelings, +and he again regarded him rather as the proved friend of his lost +Tekoa, than as the suspected foe of his adopted son Henrich. He +frequently employed him in executing any affairs in which he still took +an active interest, and he soon came to be looked upon by the tribe as +a sort of coadjutor to their white Sachem, and the confidential friend +of the old Chieftain. This was just what Coubitant desired; and he lost +no opportunity of strengthening his influence over the Nausett +warriors, and making his presence agreeable and necessary to +Tisquantum. + +The time appointed for the breaking up of the encampment drew near, and +both Henrich and Oriana felt much regret at the prospect of leaving the +peaceful home where they had spent so many happy days, and where their +little Ludovico had been born. Their comfortable and substantial lodge, +shaded with the plants that decorated it so profusely and so gaily, had +been the most permanent dwelling that they had ever known since their +childhood: and though they hoped eventually to enjoy a still more +settled home, they could not look on this work of their own labor and +taste without affection, or leave it for ever without sorrow. + +In order to lessen the fatigue of Tisquantum it was arranged, at the +suggestion of Coubitant, that he should precede the old Sachem, and his +immediate family and attendants, to the place of their intended +encampment; and should select a suitable situation on the banks of the +Missouri, where he and the Nansett warriors could fell timber, and +prepare temporary huts for their reception. This part of the country +was familiar to him, as he had traveled through it, and dwelt among its +plains and its woods in the days of his wandering youth: and he gave +Henrich minute directions as to the route he must take, in order to +follow him to the river, which, he said, lay about three days' journey +to the southward. + +To the south of the present encampment arose a considerable eminence, +that was thickly wooded to the summit on the side that overlooked the +Nausett village, and partially sheltered it from the heat of the summer +sun. On the other side it was broken into steep precipices, and its +banks were scantily clothed with shrubs and grass, which the unusual +drought had now rendered dry and withered. A winding and narrow path +round the foot of this hill was the only road that led immediately into +the plain below; and by this path Coubitant proposed to conduct the +tribe, in order to avoid a long detour to the west, where a more easy +road would have been found. He described it to Henrich, who had often +been to the summit of the range of hills that overlooked it in pursuit +of game, but who was ignorant of the proposed route into the Missouri +district; and, after some conversation on the subject, he proposed that +the young Sachem should accompany him the following morning to the brow +of the mountain, from whence he could point out to him the road he must +take through the broken and undulating ground that lay at the bottom of +the hill; and the exact direction he must follow, after he reached the +wide and trackless prairie that intervened between that range and the +hills that bordered the Missouri. + +At break of day the march of the tribe was to commence; but as several +of the Nausetts were acquainted with the intricate path round the base +of the hills, it was not necessary for Coubitant to lead them that part +of their journey in person. He therefore proposed, after pointing out +to Henrich all the necessary land-marks which could be so well observed +from the summit, to find his own way down the steep side of the rugged +precipice, and rejoin the party in the plain. + +This plan was agreed to; and Coubitant invited Oriana to accompany her +husband, that she also might see and admire the extensive view that was +visible from the heights, and observe the track that her countrymen +would follow through the valley beneath. + +Oriana readily acceded to this proposal, not only because she loved to +go by Henrich's side wherever she could be his companion, but also +because--in spite of the present friendly terms to which Coubitant was +admitted by her father and Henrich--she never felt quite easy when the +latter was alone with the dark-browed warrior. + +The morning was clear and bright; and before the sun had risen far +above the horizon, and ere the sultry heat of the day had commenced, +Coubitant came to Henrich's lodge, and summoned him and his wife to +their early walk up the mountain. With light and active steps they took +their way through the wood, and Rodolph followed close behind them--not +now bounding and harking with joy, but at a measured pace, and with his +keen bright eye ever fixed on Coubitant. + +In passing through the scattered village of huts, the dwelling of +Jyanough lay near the path. Coubitant ceased to speak as he and his +companions approached it; and Oriana thought he quickened his pace, and +glanced anxiously at the dwelling, as if desirous to pass it unobserved +by its inmates. If such was his wish, he was, however, disappointed; +for, just as the party were leaving it behind them, they heard the +short sharp bark of Rodolph at the wigwam door, and immediately +afterwards the answering voice of Jyanough. + +'Rodolph, my old fellow, is it you?' exclaimed the Cree, as he came +forth from his hut, and looked anxiously at his friends, who now, to +Coubitant's inward vexation, stood to greet him. + +'Where are you off to so early?’ he inquired of Henrich; and why is +Coubitant not leading our warriors on their way?' + +'We are but going to the brow of the hill,' replied Henrich, 'that +Coubitant may point out to me the path by which we are to follow him. +He will then join his party in the plain, and I will quickly return to +accompany you on our projected hunting scheme. We must add to our stock +of provisions before we commence our journey.' + +'I will ascend the hill with you,' said Jyanough; and Coubitant saw +that he took a spear in his hand from the door of the wigwam. Forcing a +smile, he observed, as if carelessly-- + +'It is needless, my friend. Henrich's eye is so good that he will +readily understand all the directions that I shall give him. Do you +doubt the skill of our young Sachem to lead his people through the +woods and the savannas, being as great as his prowess in war and his +dexterity in hunting? Let him show that he is an Indian indeed, and +wants no aid in performing an Indian's duties.' + +'Be it so,' answered Jyanough; and he laid aside the spear, and +reentered the hut, rather to Henrich's surprise, and Oriana's +disappointment, but much to the satisfaction of Coubitant. + +Rodolph seemed displeased at this change in the apparent intentions of +his friend; and he lingered a few moments at the door of the lodge, +looking wistfully at its master. But Jyanough bade him go; and a call +from Henrich soon brought him again to his former position, and his +watchful observation of every movement of Coubitant. + +The brow of the hill was gained: and so grand and extensive was the +view to the south and west, that Oriana stood for some time +contemplating it with a refined pleasure, and forgot every feeling that +could interrupt the pure and lofty enjoyment. Beneath the precipitous +hill on which she stood, a plain, or wide savanna, stretched away for +many miles, covered with the tall prairie-grass, now dry and yellow, +and waving gracefully in the morning breeze. Its flat monotony was only +broken by a few clumps of trees and shrubs, that almost looked like +distant vessels crossing the wide trackless sea. But to the west this +plain was bounded by a range of hills, on which the rising sun shed a +brilliant glow, marking their clear outline against the deep blue sky +behind. And nearer to the hill from which she looked, the character of +the view was different, but not less interesting. It seemed as if some +mighty convulsion of nature had torn away the side of the hill, and +strewed the fragments in huge end broken masses in the valley beneath. +Over these crags the hand of nature had spread a partial covering of +moss and creeping plants; and many trees had grown up amongst them, +striking their roots deeply into the crevices, and adorning their rough +surfaces by their waving and pendant boughs. Through the rock-strewn +valley, a narrow and intricate path had been worn by the feet of the +wandering natives, and by the constant migrations of the herds of wild +animals that inhabited the prairie, in search of water or of fresher +herbage during the parching heat of an Indian summer. + +Along this difficult path the Nausett warriors and their families were +now slowly winding their way, many of them on horseback, followed by +their squaws and their children on foot; and others, less barbarous, +leading the steeds on which the women and infants were placed on the +summit of a pile of baggage, and carrying their own bows and quivers, +and long and slender spears. + +It was a picturesque scene: and the low chanting song of the distant +Indians--to which their march kept time--sounded sweetly, though +mournfully, as it rose on the breeze to the elevated position occupied +by Oriana and her two companions. The latter seemed fully occupied--the +one in pointing out, and the other in observing the route of the +travelers. But the eye of Henrich was not unobservant of the beauties +of the prospect; and that of Coubitant was restlessly roving to and fro +with quick and furtive glances, that seemed to indicate some secret +purpose, and to be watching for the moment to effect it. + +Some of the Nausetts in the path below looked upwards; and, observing +their young Sachem and his companions, they raised a shout of +recognition, that caused the rocks to echo, and also made the brows of +Coubitant to contract. He saw that he must delay his purpose until the +travelers were out of sight: and this chafed his spirit: but he +controlled it, and proposed to Henrich and Oriana to seat themselves on +the verge of the precipice, and watch the course of the travelers, +while he went to reconnoiter the steep path by which he designed to +join them. They did so, and the hushes that grew to the edge of the +steep declivity shaded the spot, and hid them from the retreating form +of Coubitant. + +For some time they sat together, admiring the beauty of the scene +before them, and watching the long procession in the defile below, as +it wound, 'in Indian file,’ between the rocks and tangled bushes that +cumbered the vale, until it was almost out of sight. Rudolph lay +beside them, apparently asleep; but the slumber of a faithful watch-dog +is always light, and Rodolph was one of the most vigilant of his race. +Why did he now utter a low uneasy moan, as if he dreamt of danger? It +was so low that, if Henrich heard it, he did not pay any heed to it, +and continued talking to Oriana of their approaching journey, and of +their plans for the future, in perfect security. + +But their conversation was suddenly and painfully interrupted. A +fierce bark from Rodolph, as he sprang on some one in the bush close +beside Henrich, and the grasp of a powerful hand upon his shoulder at +the same instant, caused the young Sachem to glance round. He found +himself held to the ground by Coubitant, who was endeavoring to force +him over the precipice; and would, from the suddenness and strength of +the attack, have undoubtedly succeeded, but for the timely aid of +Rodolph, who had seized on his left arm, and held it back in his +powerful jaws. He was, however, unable to displace the savage, or +release his master from the perilous situation in which he was placed; +and, owing to the manner in which Henrich had seated himself on the +extreme verge of the rock that overhung the precipice, it was out of +his power to spring to his feet, or offer any effectual resistance. The +slender but not feeble arm of Oriana, as she clung frantically to her +husband, and strove to draw him back to safety, was, apparently, the +only human power that now preserved him from instant destruction. Not +a sound was uttered by one of the struggling group; scarcely a breath +was drawn--so intense was the mental emotion, and the muscular effort +that nerved every fiber during these awfully protracted moments. + +But help was nigh! He, in whose hands are the lives of His creatures, +sent aid when aid was so needful. A loud cry was heard in the thicket; +and, as Coubitant made one more desperate effort to hurl his detested +rival from the rock, and almost succeeded in flinging the whole group +together into the depths below--he felt himself encircled by arms as +muscular as his own, and suddenly dragged backwards. + +Henrich sprang on the firm ground, and beheld his faithful friend +Jyanough in fierce conflict with the treacherous Coubitant, and +powerfully assisted by Rodolph, who had loosed the murderer's arm, but +continued to assail and wound him as he struggled to draw his new +antagonist to the brink, and seemed resolved to have one victim, even +if he shared the same dreadful fate himself. Henrich flew to the aid of +his friend, leaving Oriana motionless, and almost breathless, on the +spot where she had endured such agony of mind, and such violent bodily +exertion. For once, her strength and spirit failed her; for the trial +had been too great, and faintness overcame her as she saw her husband +again approach his deadly and now undisguised foe. + +Coubitant saw her sink to the ground, and, with a mighty effort, he +shook off the grasp of Jyanough, and darted towards Oriana. He had +thought to carry her off, a living prize, after the murder of her +husband; but now his only hope was vengeance and her destruction would +be vengeance, indeed, on Henrich. + +But love is stronger even than hate. The arms of Henrich snatched his +unconscious wife from the threatened peril; and, as he bore her away +from the scene of conflict, Jyanough again closed on the villain, and +the deadly struggle was resumed. It was brief, but awful. The +strength of Coubitant was becoming exhausted--his grasp began to +loosen, and his foot to falter. + +'Spare him!' cried Henrich, as he saw the combatants on the verge of +the craggy platform, and feared they would fall together on the rocks +beneath. 'Spare him; and secure him for the judgement of Tisquantum.' +And again he laid Oriana on the ground, and rushed to save alike his +friend and foe. + +'He dies!' exclaimed Jyanough. 'Let him meet the fate he merits!' And +springing backwards himself, he dashed his antagonist over the rock. +One moment Henrich saw his falling form, and met the still fiery glance +of that matchless eye--the next, he heard the crash of breaking +branches, and listened for the last fatal sound of the expiring body on +the rocks below. But the depth was too great: an awful stillness +followed; and, though Henrich strove to look downwards, and ascertain +the fate of his departed foe, the boughs and creepers that clothed the +perpendicular face of the rock, entirely prevented his doing so. + +'He is gone!' he exclaimed; and not in a voice of either joy or +triumph, for his soul was moved within him at the appalling fate of +such a man as Coubitant and at such a moment! 'He is gone to his last +account: and O! what fearful passions were in his heart! Thank God, he +did not drag you with him to death, my faithful Jyanough! But tell me,' +he added--as they returned together to where Oriana lay, still +unconscious of the dreadful tragedy that had just been enacted so near +her--' tell me, my friend, how it was that you were so near at hand, +when danger, which I could not repel, hung over me, and your hand was +interposed to save me?' + +'My mind misgave me that some treachery was intended,' replied +Jyanough, 'when I saw that wily serpent leading you to the mountain's +brow; and my suspicions were confirmed by his evident reluctance to my +joining the party. Rodolph's expressive countenance told me, too, that +there was danger to be feared; and no red man can excel Rodolph in +sagacity. So I resolved to be at hand if succor should be needed; and, +having waited till you were all fairly out of sight and hearing, I +followed slowly and stealthily, and reached the verge of the thicket +just in time to hear the warning cry of your noble dog, and see that +dastardly villain spring upon you from the bush. The rest you know: and +now you will believe me, when I own my conviction that your destruction +has been his object since the time I joined your camp: and that, to +accomplish it, and obtain possession of Oriana, he returned to +Tisquantum's tribe, and has worn the mask of friendship for so many +months. My soul is relieved of a burden by his death; and forgive me, +Henrich, if I own that I glory in having executed on him the vengeance +he deserved, and having devoted him to the fate he designed for you.' + +Henrich could not regret the death, however dreadful, of one who seemed +to have been so bent on the destruction of his happiness and his life; +but the thought of all the guilt that lay on Coubitant's soul, +unrepented of and unatoned, saddened and solemnized his spirit; and he +only replied to Jyanough's exulting words by a kindly pressure of his +friend's hand, as they approached Oriana. + +Her senses bad returned, and, with them, a painful sense of danger and +of dread, and she looked anxiously, and almost wildly, around her, as +Henrich knelt beside her, and gently raised her from the ground. + +‘Where is he?' she exclaimed. 'Where is that fearful form, and those +eyes of unearthly fire that glared on me just now? You are safe, my +Henrich,' she added; and, as she looked up in his face, tears of joy +and gratitude burst from her large expressive eyes, and relieved her +bursting heart. You are safe, my Henrich: and oh that that dark form of +dread and evil might never, never, cross my path again!' + +'Fear not, Oriana,' replied Jyanough, 'he never more will darken your +way through life. He has met the death he designed for Henrich, and let +us think of him no more. It is time to return to the camp; and your +husband and I will support you down the hill.' + +'I am well, quite well, now !' cried Oriana, and she rose from the +ground, and clung to Henrich's arm, as if to assure herself of his +presence and safety. 'I could walk through the world thus supported, +and thus guarded, too,' she added, as she stroked the head of the +joyous Rodolph, who now bounded round her and Henrich with all his +wonted spirit. 'I owe much to my two trusty friends; for, but for +their care and watchfulness, what would now have been my dreadful fate! +Let us leave this spot--so beautiful, but now so full of fearful +images!' + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +‘Hither and thither; hither and thither! +Madly they fly! +Whither, O, whither! Whither, O, whither? - +'Tis but to die! +Fire is behind them: fire is, around them: +Black is the sky? +Horror pursues them; anguish has found them: +Destruction is nigh! +And where is refuge? where is safety now? +Father of mercy! None can Save but Thou?' ANON. + +'What is that distant cloud, Henrich?' inquired Oriana, as they rode by +Tisquantum's side on the evening of the day of their journey towards the +Missouri. 'It seems like the smoke of an encampment, as I see it over +the tall waving grass: but it must be too near to be the camp of our +people; unless, indeed, they have tarried there, waiting the arrival of +Coubitant, who never will rejoin them more.' + +'I see the cloud you speak of, Oriana; and I have been watching it with +some anxiety for several minutes. It cannot be what you suggest, for +you know your father received a message from the trusty Salon--next in +command to Coubitant--to tell him that their leader not having joined +the party as he promised, a search had been made, and his mangled body +found at the foot of the rock, where, it was supposed, he must have +fallen in attempting the sleep descent. Salon's messenger further +stated that, having buried the corpse where it lay, he had led the +people on, and should pursue the path pointed out by Coubitant, and +hasten to prepare the necessary huts for our reception. I dispatched +the messenger again with further directions to Salon; and ere this, no +doubt, the encampment is formed on the shores of the great river to +which we are journeying. 'Father,' he added, as he turned towards +Tisquantum, ‘your eye is dim, but your sagacity is as keen as ever. +Can you discern that rising smoke, and tell us its cause?' + +The aged Sachem had been riding silently and abstractedly along. The +tall dry grass--now ripe, and shedding its seeds on every side--rose +frequently above his head; for he was mounted on a low strong horse, +and he had not observed the cloud that had attracted the attention of +the younger travelers. He now paused, and looked earnestly to the +south, in which direction the smoke appeared right before the advancing +party, and from whence a strong and sultry wind was blowing. As the +prairie grass rose and fell in undulating waves, the old man obtained a +distinct view of the smoke, which now seemed to have spread +considerably to the right and left, and also to be approaching towards +the travelers. + +The narrow, zigzag track of the deer and the buffaloes was the only +beaten path through the prairie; and this could only be traveled by two +or three horsemen abreast. The old Sachem, and Henrich, and Oriana, led +the party; and Jyanough, and Mailah, and young Lincoya, all well +mounted, rode immediately in the rear. The attendants of the two +families, and a few experienced warriors, some on foot and some on +horseback, followed in the winding path. + +On the halt of the foremost rank, the rest rode up, and were +immediately made aware of the ominous signs which hitherto they had not +noticed. Instantly terror was depicted in every countenance; and the +deep low voice of Tisquantum sank into every heart, as he exclaimed, +'The prairie is on fire!' + +'Turn!' cried Henrich, 'and fly! Let each horseman take one of those on +foot behind, and fly for your lives. Cast the baggage on the ground-- +stay for nothing, but our people's lives.' + +He was obeyed: men and women were all mounted; and Henrich snatched his +boy from the arms of the woman who carried him, and, giving the child +to Oriana, took up the terrified attendant on his own powerful steed. + +The wind rose higher: and now the roar of the pursuing flames came +fearfully on the fugitives, growing louder and louder, while volumes of +dense smoke were driven over their heads, and darkened the sky that had +so lately shone in all its summer brightness. + +Headlong the party dashed along the winding path, and sometimes the +terrified horses leaped into the tall grass, seeking a straighter +course, or eager to pass by those who had fled before them. But this +was a vain attempt. The wild pea-vines, and other creeping plants that +stretched among the grass, offered such impediments to rapid flight, as +forced them again into the path. + +And now the wild inhabitants of the broad savanna came rushing on, and +joined the furious flight, adding difficulty and confusion to the +horror of the scene. Buffaloes, elks, and antelopes, tore madly through +the grass, jostling the horses and their riders, and leaving them far +in the rear. The screaming eagle rode high above among the clouds of +smoke, and many smaller birds fell suffocated to the ground; while all +the insect tribe took wing, and everything that had life strove to +escape the dread pursuer. + +It was a desperate race! The strength of the fugitives began to fail, +and no refuge, no hope, seemed near. Alas! to some the race was lost. +The blinding effect of the dense smoke that filled the atmosphere, the +suffocating smell of the burning mass of vegetable matter, and the +lurid glare of the red flames that came on so rapidly, overpowered +alike the horses and their riders: while the roaring of the fire--which +sounded like a mighty rushing cataract--and the oppressive heat, seemed +to confuse the senses, and destroy the vital powers of the more feeble +and ill-mounted of the fugitives. Several of the horses fell, and +their devoted riders sank to the ground, unable any longer to sustain +the effort for life; and Henrich had the agony of passing by the +wretched victims, and leaving them to their fate, for he knew that he +had no power to save them. + +Many miles were traversed--and still the unbroken level of the prairie +spread out before them--and still the roaring and destructive flames +came borne on the mighty winds behind them. A few scattered trees were +the only objects that broke the monotony of the plains; and the hills, +at the foot of which they had traveled that morning, and where alone +they could lock for safety, were still at a great distance. At length, +the aged Tisquantum's powers of endurance began to give way. The reins +almost fell from his hands; and, in trembling accents, he declared his +total inability to proceed any further. + +Leave me, my children!' he exclaimed, 'to perish here; for my strength +is gone; and what matters it where the old Tisquantum breathes his +last. Mahneto is here, even in this awful hour, to receive my spirit; +and I shall but lose a few short months or years of age and infirmity.' + +'Never, my father!' cried H enrich, as he caught the reins of the +Sachem's horse; and while he still urged his own overloaded steed to +fresh exertions, endeavored also to support the failing form of his +father-in-law. 'Never will we leave you to die alone in this fiery +desert. Hold on, my father! hold on yet a little longer till we gain +the defile, where the flames cannot follow as, and all will yet be +well!' + +'I cannot, my son!' replied the old man. 'Farewell, my dear, my noble +boy!--farewell, my Oriana!’ And his head sank down upon the neck of his +horse. + +He would have fallen to the ground but for Henrich, who now checked the +panting steeds, and sprang down to his feet in time to receive him in +his arms. + +Fly, Oriana!' he exclaimed, as his wife also drew the bridle of her +foaming horse by his side. 'Fly, Oriana, my beloved! save your own +life, and that of our child! If possible, I will preserve your father-- +but if not, farewell! and God be with you!' + +One moment Oriana urged her horse again to its swiftest pace, as if in +obedience to her husband's command--the next, she was at Mailah's side, +holding her infant in one arm, white with the other she guided and +controlled the terrified animal on which she rode. + +'Here, Mailah!' she cried--and she clasped the child to her breast, and +imprinted one passionate kiss on its cheek--' Take my Ludovico, and +save his life, and I will return to my husband and father. If we follow +you, well. If not, be a mother to my child, and may the blessing of God +be on you!' + +She almost flung the infant into the extended arms of Mailah; and then, +having with difficulty turned her horse, and forced him to retrace his +steps, she again rejoined those with whom she was resolved to live or +die. + +One glance of affectionate reproach she met from her Henrich's eyes: +but he did not speak. With the assistance of Ludovico's nurse, who rode +behind him, he had just lifted Tisquantum to his own saddle, and was +preparing to mount himself, and endeavor to support the unconscious old +man, and again commence the race far life or death. But it seemed a +hopeless attempt--so utterly helpless was the Sachem, and so unable to +retain his seat. Quick as thought Oriana unbound her long twisted +girdle of many colors; and, flinging it to Henrich, desired him to bind +the failing form of her father to his own. He did so: and the nurse +having mounted behind Oriana, again the now furious steeds started +forward. All these actions had taken less time to perform than they +have to relate; but yet the pursuing flames had gained much way, and +the flight became more desperate, and more hazardous. Again the +prostrate forms of horses and their riders met the eyes of Henrich and +Oriana; but in the thickness of the air, and the wild speed at which +they were compelled to pass, it was impossible to distinguish who were +the unhappy victims. + +'Heaven be praised!' at length Henrich exclaimed--and they were the +first words he had uttered since the flight had been resumed--' Heaven +be praised! I see the rocks dimly through the clouds of smoke. Yet a +few moments, and we shall be safe. Already the grass around us is +shorter and thinner: we are leaving the savanna, and shall soon reach +the barren defile, where the flames will find no fuel' + +The horses seemed to know that safety was near at hand, for they +bounded forward with fresh vigor, and quickly joined the group of +breathless fugitives, who, having reached the extremity of the prairie, +had paused to rest from their desperate exertions, and to look out for +those of their companions who were missing, but who they hoped would +soon overtake them. + +Oriana snatched her now smiling boy from Mailah's arms, and embraced +him with a fervency and emotion that showed how little she had hoped to +see his face again. But her own happy and grateful feelings were +painfully interrupted by her friend's exclamation of agony-- + +'Where is my Lincoya?' she cried. 'Did he not follow with you? I saw +him close to me when I paused to take your child: and he is not here! +O, my Lincoya! my brave, my beautiful boy! Have you perished in the +flames, with none to help you?' And she broke forth into cries and +lamentations that wrung the heart of Oriana. + +She could give her no tidings of the lost youth, for she knew not whose +fainting forms she had passed in the narrow shrouded path; and it was +utterly impossible now to go and seek him, for the flames had followed +hard upon their flight, and were still raging over the mass of dry +herbage, and consuming even the scattered tufts that grew among the +stones at the entrance to the ravine. So intense was the heat of the +glowing surface, even after the blaze had died away, that it would not +be practicable to pass over it for many hours; and the party, who had +reached a place of safety, were compelled to make arrangements for +passing the night where they were, not only that they might be ready to +seek the remains of their lost friends the next morning, but also +because their own weary limbs, and those of their trembling horses, +refused to carry them any further. All the provisions and other +baggage, which they had carried for their journey, had been abandoned +in the flight, end had become a rapid prey to the devouring flames. But +several of the scorched and affrighted prairie fowls, and a few hares-- +exhausted with their long race--were easily secured by the young +hunters, end afforded a supper to the weary company. + +The horses were then turned loose to find fodder for themselves, and to +drink at the little brook that still trickled among the rocks; and +large fires having been lighted to scare the wild beasts that, like our +travelers, had been driven for refuge to the ravine, all lay down to +sleep, thankful to the deities in whom they respectively trusted, for +their preservation in such imminent peril. + +Fervent were the prayers and praises that were offered up that night by +the little band of Christians, among whom Henrich always officiated as +minister: and even the distressed spirit of Mailah was comforted and +calmed as she joined in his words of thanksgiving, and in his heartfelt +petitions that the lost Lincoya might yet be restored to his parents; +or that, if his spirit had already passed away from earth, it might +have been purified by faith, and received into the presence of its God +and Savior. + +Mailah was tranquilized; but her grief and anxiety were not removed: +and she passed that sad night in sleepless reflection on the dreadful +fate of her only child, and in sincere endeavors so to realize and +apply all the blessed truths she had learnt from Henrich, as to derive +from them that comfort to her own soul, and that perfect resignation to +the will of God, that she well knew they were designed to afford to the +Christian believer. And that night of watchfulness did not pass +unprofitably to Mailah's spirit. + +But where was Lincoya? Where was the youth whose mother mourned him as +dead? He was safe amid the top most boughs of a lonely tree, that now +stood scorched and leafless in the midst of the smoldering plain, +several miles from the safe retreat that had been gained by his +friends. + +The horse on which he rode that day, though fleet and active, was +young, and uninured to long continued and violent exertion; and, at +length, its foot getting entangled in some creeping plant that had +grown across the pathway, it had fallen violently to the ground, and +thrown its young rider among the prairie-grass, where he lay, stunned, +and unable to rise, until all his companions had passed by. Then he +regained the path, and attempted to raise the exhausted creature from +the earth: but all in vain. Its trembling limbs were unable to support +it; and Lincoya saw that he could no longer look to his favorite steed +for the safety of his own life, and must abandon it to perish in the +flames. + +But the boy was an Indian, and accustomed to Indian difficulties and +Indian expedients. He glanced rapidly around for some means of +preservation; and, seeing a tree of some magnitude, and at no great +distance, he resolved to try to reach it ere the coming fire had seized +on the surrounding herbage, and seek for a refuge in its summit. With +much difficulty, he forced his way through the tall rank grass that +waved above his head, and the wild vines that were entangled with it in +every direction; and he reached the foot of the tree just as the flames +were beginning to scorch its outmost branches. He sprang upward; and, +climbing with the agility of a squirrel, he was soon in the highest +fork of the tree, and enabled to look down in security on the +devastating fire beneath him. All around was one wide sea of ruddy +flames, that shot up in forked and waving tongues high amid the heavy +clouds of smoke. Happily for Lincoya, the herbage beneath his tree of +refuge grew thin and scanty, and did not afford much food for the +devouring elements; otherwise it must have consumed his retreat, and +suffocated him even in its topmost boughs. As it was, the lower +branches only were destroyed, and the boy was able to endure the heat +and smoke until the roaring flames had passed beneath him, and he +watched them driving onward in the wake of his flying friends. + +To follow his companions that night was hopeless, for how could he +traverse that red-hot plain? He, therefore, settled himself firmly +among the sheltering branches, to one of which he bound himself with +his belt of deer skin, and prepared to pass the night in that position, +as he had passed many similar ones when he had been out on hunting +expeditions with his father-in-law Jyanough. + +Long he gazed on the strange aspect of the wide savanna, as it glowed +in the darkness of night, with a lurid and fearful glare, that only +made the gloom more visible. But weariness and exhaustion at length +overcame him, and he fell asleep, and did not awake until the sun was +high in the heavens. The prospect around him was changed, but the plain +looked even more dreary and desolate than it appeared while the fire +was at work on its clothing of grass. Now all was laid low, and smoking +ashes alone covered the nakedness of the savanna. Lincoya gazed +earnestly in every direction, that he might make sure of the route he +must follow in order to rejoin his friends; and his attention was +attracted by the figures of two men approaching towards the tree in +which he sat, and apparently engage d in earnest conversation. For a +moment his hopes led him to believe that they were Jyanough and +Henrich, who had returned, probably, in search of him; and he was about +to hail them with a loud and joyful cry. But the caution so early +instilled into the mind of an Indian restrained him: and well it was +for him that he had not thus given vent to his feelings. The men drew +nearer, and he saw, to his amazement, that they were Coubitant--he +whose death and burial had been so confidently reported, and Salon--the +trusty Salon--to whom the conduct of the tribe had been deputed after +the supposed death of the appointed leader. + +They came beneath the tree; and, seating themselves at its foot, +proceeded to refresh themselves with food and water, that looked +tempting to the eyes of the fasting and parched Lincoya, as he gazed +noiselessly and attentively at their proceedings, and listened to their +discourse. + +'At last I have been successful, Salon,' said Coubitant to his +companion. 'At last I may rejoice in the destruction of those I hate +with so bitter a hatred. Those burnt and broken weapons were Henrich's, +end this ornament belonged to Oriana.' As he said this he displayed in +his hand a girdle clasp, that Lincoya recognized as having been worn by +the Squaw-Sachem on the previous day. It had fallen to the ground when +she gave the girdle to Henrich: and many of his personal accoutrements +had also been cast there, unheeded, in his anxiety to save Tisquantum. + +'I would I could have been more sure of all the bodies that lay just +beyond,' continued the savage; 'but I think I could not be mistaken in +those I most wished to find, burnt and disfigured as they were. And +the horses, too, were surely those they rode; for I knew the fragments +of Tisquantum's trappings, and recognized the form of Lincoya's pony. +Yes! they are all destroyed; I know it, and I exult in it! Now, who +shall prevent my being Sachem of the tribe, and leading my warriors to +the destruction of the detested white invaders of our land? + +'Truly,' replied Salon, 'your last scheme has succeeded better than any +of the others you have tried; and I now gladly hail you as Sachem of +our tribe. I have made sure of the fidelity of many of our bravest +warriors; and when those who would have taken the white man's part, and +followed him in obedience to Tisquantum's wishes, find that he is dead, +they will readily take you for their leader, as the bravest of our +tribe, and the most determined foe of the pale-faces. But it is +possible that Henrich has even yet escaped us. The bodies that lie +scorched on the ashes are fewer than the number that were to follow us. +We must, therefore, take measures to seize and destroy those who yet +live, if they are likely to disturb our scheme. Of course, they will +again set out on the same track, as being that which will most quickly +bring them where food and water are to be found. We have only to lie in +wait at the other side of the savanna, where the narrow mountain pass +leads to the river, and our arrows and spears will be sufficient to +silence every tongue that could speak against your claims.’ + +'You are right, nay faithful Salon,' answered Coubitant, with a sign of +warns approbation of the forethought of his accomplice. 'Let us lose no +time in crossing the plain; for, doubtless, the survivors of this +glorious fire will be early on their march, and it would not do for +them to overtake us in the midst of the ruin we have wrought. We will +set all inquiries to rest, and then we will report to our tribe that +the dreadful conflagration has deprived them of both their Chiefs, and +that it rests with themselves to choose another. O, Salon! my soul +burns to lead them to Paomet, that stronghold of our country's foes!' + +The murderers arose, and took their way directly across the prairie: +for all the rank herbage being now reduced to ashes, they were no +longer obliged to follow the winding course of the buffalo track. They +proceeded at a rapid pace; but it was some time ere Lincoya ventured to +descend from his hiding-place, as he feared being observed on the level +plain, if either of those ruthless villains should east a glance behind +them. At length their retreating forms appeared to him like specks in +the distance; and he came down from his watch-tower, and fled as fast +as his active young limbs could carry him, towards the spot where he +hoped to rejoin his friends. He had not very long continued his flight, +when he perceived several persons on horseback approaching towards him; +and soon he found himself in the arms of his joyful mother, and was +affectionately greeted by Jyanough and Henrich, who, with several +others, had come out to look if any of their missing companions were +still within reach of human aid. + +All but Lincoya had perished! The fire and the smoke had not only +destroyed their lives, but had so blackened and disfigured them that it +was impossible to identify a single individual. A grave was dug in the +yet warm earth; and all the victims were buried sufficiently deep to +preserve their remains from the ravages of wild beasts; and then the +party returned in all haste to those who anxiously awaited them at +their place of refuge. + +On the way, Lincoya related to his father-in-law and Henrich the whole +of the conversation which he had heard between Coubitant and Salon, +while he was in his safe retreat; and their surprise at finding that +the former had survived his desperate fall from the brow of the +precipice, and still lived to plan and work out schemes of cruelty and +malice, was only equaled by their indignation at thus discovering the +treachery and deceit of Salon. They had hitherto put the most entire +confidence in the fidelity of this man: and if they had still +entertained any doubts or suspicions as to the honesty of Coubitant's +intentions, they had relied on Salon to discover his plans, and prevent +any mischief being accomplished. + +The whole story was told to Tisquantum; and his counsel was asked as to +the best mode of now counteracting the further schemes of the traitors, +and escaping the snare which they found was yet to be laid for their +destruction. It would be impossible for them to reach the camp on the +banks of the Missouri, by the path which Coubitant had pointed out, +without passing through the defile where the villain and his +confederate now proposed to lie in wait for them, and where, in spite +of their superior numbers, many of their party would probably be +wounded by the arrows and darts of their hidden foes, without having +any opportunity of defending themselves. That route was therefore +abandoned. But the old Sachem remembered having traversed this part of +the continent many years ago, and he knew of a track to the west, by +which the mountains that skirted the course of the Missouri might be +avoided, and the rivers reached at a considerable distance above the +place at which the encampment was appointed to be formed. This road +was, indeed, much longer than that across the prairie, and would occupy +several days to traverse; so that it was doubtful whether Coubitant +would wait so long in his lurking-place, or whether he would conclude +that the Chiefs were dead, and return to take the command of the tribe. + +Nevertheless, no other course was open; and, with as little delay as +possible, the journey was commenced. A scanty supply of food was +obtained by the bows and arrows of the hunters, and water was +occasionally met with in the small rivulets that flowed from the hills, +and wandered on until they eventually lost themselves in the broad +Missouri. + +Inured to privations and to toilsome journeys, the Indian party heeded +them not, but cheerfully proceeded on their way until, at length, they +beheld the wigwams of their tribe standing on a green meadow near the +river's side. They hastened on, and were received with joyful +acclamations by the inhabitants, who had almost despaired of ever seeing +them again. The conflagration of the prairie was known to them; but +almost all of them were ignorant of the true cause of the awful +calamity, and attributed it entirely to accident. Nor were any +suspicions aroused in their minds by the conduct of Coubitant and Salon, +who had pretended the greatest alarm and anxiety for the fate of the +Chiefs and their party, and had set out as soon as it was possible to +traverse the savanna, in the hope, as they declared, of rendering +assistance to any of the Sachem's company who might have survived the +catastrophe. + +Much to the relief of all the party, they found that neither Coubitant +nor his accomplice had yet returned to the camp; and their prolonged +absence was becoming a source of uneasiness to the rest of the tribe, +who were preparing to send out a party of men to search for them, the +very day that Henrich led his detachment into the village. + +It was agreed by the Sachems and Jyanough, that they would not +communicate to the rest of their people all they had discovered of the +treachery of Coubitant and Salon; as they knew not yet how many of the +warriors might have been induced to join in the conspiracy, and connive +at their crimes. They, therefore, accounted for having traveled by so +circuitous a route, on the plea of their inability to cross the prairie +without any supply of either provisions or water; and they commanded +the party who were about to search for Coubitant and. Salon, to set out +immediately, and to use every possible exertion to find them, and bring +them in safety to the camp. They could have told their messengers +exactly where the villains were to be found; but that would have +betrayed a greater knowledge of their movements than it would have been +prudent to disclose; and they only directed the men to shout aloud +every now and then, as they traversed the mountain passes, that the +lost travelers might know of their approach; and also to carry with +them a supply of food sufficient to last several days. + +The messengers departed: and then Jyanough set himself to work, with +all an Indian's sagacity, to find out the extent to which the +conspiracy had been carried among the warriors of the tribe. He +succeeded in convicting four men of the design to elevate Coubitant to +the chieftainship, and of a knowledge and participation in his last +desperate scheme for the destruction of the Sachem and all his family. +Summary justice was, therefore, executed on the culprits, who scorned +to deny their crimes when once they were charged with them; and +submitted to the sentence of their Chief with a fortitude that almost +seemed to expiate their offence. The most daring of the four openly +exulted in his rebellious projects, and boasted of his long-concealed +hatred towards the pale-faced stranger, who presumed to exercise +authority over the free red men; and Tisquantum deemed it politic to +inflict on him a capital punishment. He was, therefore, directed to +kneel down before him, which he did with the greatest composure; and +the aged Chief then drew his long sharp knife, and, with a steady hand +and unflinching eye, plunged it into the heart of the criminal. He +expired without a groan or a struggle; and then the other three +wretches were led up together, and placed in the same humble posture +before the offended Sachem. At Henrich's request, the capital sentence +was remitted; but one of agony and shame was inflicted in its stead-- +one that is commonly reserved for the punishment of repeated cases of +theft. The Sachem's knife again was lifted, and, with a dexterous +movement of his hand, he slit the noses of each of the culprits from +top to bottom, and dismissed them, to carry for life the marks of their +disgrace. No cry was uttered by any one of the victims, nor the +slightest resistance offered to their venerable judge and executioner; +for such cowardice would, in the estimation of the Indians, have been +far more contemptible than the crime of which they had been convicted. +Silently they withdrew; nor did they, even by the expression of their +countenances, seem to question the justice of their chastisement. + +The next step to be pursued, was to prepare for securing Coubitant and +Salon the moment they should make their appearance in the camp, and +before they could be made aware of the discovery at their treason. For +this purpose, very effectual steps were taken; and Jyanough--the +faithful and energetic Jyanough--took the command of the band of trusty +warriors who were appointed to seize the leaders of the conspiracy, and +to bring them into the presence of the Chiefs. + +That evening, soon after sunset, the searching party returned; and, no +sooner did Jyanough perceive, from the spot where he had posted his men +among the rocks and bushes that commanded the pathway, that Coubitant +and his fellow-criminal were with them, than he gave the concerted +signal, and rushed upon them. In an instant, they were seized by the +arms, and dragged forcibly forward to the village. They asked no +questions of their captors--for conscience told them that their sin had +found them out, and that they were about to expiate their crimes by a +death, probably both lingering and agonizing. + +Doggedly they walked on, and were led to the spot where Tisquantum and +his son-in-law awaited their arrival. This was beneath a spreading tree +that grew near the banks of the river, which in that part were rather +high and precipitous. The shades of evening were deepening; and the +dark visage of Coubitant looked darker than ever, while the lurid light +of his deep-set eyes seemed to glow with even unwonted luster from +beneath his shaggy and overhanging brows. + +The greatest part of the tribe were gathered together in that place, +and stood silently around to view the criminals, and to witness their +expected fate; for now all were acquainted with their guilt and all who +were assembled here were indignant at their treachery against their +venerable and beloved Sachem, and their scarcely less respected white +Chieftain. + +The voice of Tisquantum broke the ominous silence. + +‘Coubitant,’ he solemnly began, 'you have deceived your Chief. You have +spoken to him words of peace, when death was in your heart. Is it not +so?’ + +'I would be Chief myself,' replied the savage, in a deep, undaunted +voice. 'I was taught to believe that I should succeed you; and a pale- +faced stranger has taken my place. I have lived but to obtain +vengeance--vengeance that you, Tisquantum, who were bound to wreak it +on the slayer of your son, refused to take. A mighty vengeance was in +my soul; and to possess it, I would have sacrificed the whole tribe. +Now do to me as I would have done to Henrich.' And he glared on his +hated rival with the eye of a beast of prey. Tisquantum regarded him +calmly, and gravely continued his examination. + +'And you have also drawn some of my people into rebel lion, and +persuaded them to consent to the murder of their Chief. One of them has +already shed his life-blood in punishment of his sin; and the rest will +bear the marks of shame to their graves. All this is your work.' + +'If more of your people had the courage to join me in resisting the +pretensions of the proud stranger, you and Henrich would now have been +lying dead at my feet. You would never again have been obeyed as +Sachems by the Nausetts. But they loved their slavery--and let them +keep it. My soul is free. You may send it forth in agony, if you will: +for I am in your power, and I ask no mercy from those to whom I would +have shown none. Do your worst. Coubitant's heart is strong; and I +shall soon be with the spirits of my fathers, where no white men can +enter. + +The wrath of Tisquantum was stirred by the taunts and the bold defiance +of his prisoner; and he resolved to execute on him a sentence that +should strike terror into any others of the tribe who might have +harbored thoughts of rebellion. + +‘The death that you intended should be my portion, and that of all my +family, shall be your own!' he exclaimed. The torments of fire shall +put a stop to your boasting. My children,' he added--turning to the +warriors who stood around him--' I call on you to do justice on this +villain. Form a pile of wood here on the river's brink; end when his +body is consumed, his ashes shall he cast on the stream, and go to +tell, in other lands, how Tisquantum punishes treachery.' + +A smile of scorn curled the lip of Coubitant, but he spoke not; and no +quivering feature betrayed any inward fear of the approaching agony. + +‘Hear me yet, Coubitant,' resumed the old Chieftain; and, as he spoke, +the strokes of his warriors' hatchets among the neighboring trees fell +on the victim's ear, but did not seem to move him. 'Hear me yet, and +answer me. Was it by your arts that Salon's soul was turned away from +his lawful Chief, and filled with thoughts of murder? Was he true to me +and mine until you returned to put evil thoughts into his heart? or had +pride and jealousy already crept in there, which you have only +fostered?' + +'Salon hugged his chains till I showed him that they were unworthy of a +true-born Indian. The smooth tongue of the pale-face had beguiled him, +till I told him that it would lead him to ruin and subjection. Yes: I +taught Salon to long for freedom for himself, and freedom for his race. +And now he will die for it, as a red man ought to die. Let the same +pile consume us both!' + +'No!' interrupted Henrich, eagerly. 'His guilt is far less than yours, +and mercy may be extended to him. By every law of God and man your +life, Coubitant, is forfeited; and justice requires that you should +die. But I would desire your death to be speedy, and I would spare you +all needless agony. My father,' he continued, addressing Tisquantum, +'let my request be heard in favor of Salon, that he may live to become +our trusty friend again; and since Coubitant must die, let it be by the +quick stroke of the knife, and not in the lingering horrors of the +stake.' + +'Cease to urge me, my son,' replied the Chief, in a tone of firm +determination, that forbad all hope of success. 'I have said that +Coubitant shall die the death he intended for us; and his funeral pile +shall light up this spot ere I retire to my lodge. Salon, also, shall +die: but, as he was deceived by the greater villain, he shall die a +warriors death.' + +The Sachem rose from his seat, and took a spear that leaned against the +trunk of the tree beside him. + +'Now meet the stroke like a man!' he cried; and gathering his somewhat +failing strength, he bore with all his force against the naked breast +of Salon. The life-blood gushed forth, and he fell a corpse upon the +earth. + +'Now drive in the stake, and heap the pile!' exclaimed the aged +Chieftain in a clear, loud voice of command, as he withdrew the bloody +lance, and waved it high above his head. He was excited by the scene he +was enacting, and the feelings of his race were aroused within him with +a violence that had been long unknown to him. He felt the joy that +savage natures feel in revenging themselves on their foes; and he +forgot the influence that Henrich's example and precepts of forbearance +had so lung exerted over his conduct, though they had not yet succeeded +in changing his heart. + +'Heap the pile high!' he cried; 'and let the flames bring back the +light of day, and show me the death struggles of him who would have +slain me, and all I love on earth. Drag the wretch forward, and bind +him strongly. The searching flames may yet have power to conquer his +calm indifference.' + +The lighted brand was ready, and the victim was led to the foot of the +pile. A rope was passed around his arms, and the noose was about to be +drawn tight, when, quick as lightning, the devoted victim saw that +there was yet one chance for life. The river was rolling beneath his +feet. Could he but reach it! His arms were snatched from those who held +them with a sudden violence, for which they were unprepared; and, with +one desperate bound, the prisoner gained the steep bank of the broad +dark stream. Another moment, and a heavy plash was heard in the waters. + +Darkness was gathering around the scene; and those who looked into the +river could distinguish no human form on its surface. + +'Fire the pile!' cried Tisquantum; and the flames burst up from the dry +crackling wood, and threw a broad sheet of light on the dark stream +below. + +'He is there!' again shouted the infuriated Chieftain. 'I see the white +foam that his rapid strokes leave behind him. Send your arrows after +him, my brave warriors, and suffer him not to escape. Ha! will Mahneto +let him thus avoid my vengeance?' + +The bow-strings twanged, and the arrows flew over the water. Where did +they fall? Not on Coubitant's struggling form; for he had heard the +Sachem's command, and had dived deeply beneath the surface of the +water, and changed his course down the stream. When he rose again, it +was in a part of the river that the flames did not illuminate; and +those who sought his life saw him no more. + +'Surely he was wounded, and has sunk, never to rise again!' exclaimed +Henrich. 'His doom has followed him!' + +'Mahneto be praised!' cried Tisquantum; 'but I would I had seen him +writhing in those flames!' And he turned and left the spot. + +Coubitant gained the western shore of the river; and he smiled a +strange and ominous smile, as he looked across the waters, and saw the +forms of his enemies by the light of that fire which had been intended +to consume his quivering flesh, and dismiss from earth his undaunted +and cruel spirit. + +'I will have vengeance yet!' ha muttered: and then he turned his steps +towards the south, and paused not until he had traveled many miles down +the river, when he lay down on its margin, and slept as soundly as if +no guilt lay on his soul. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +‘Out of small beginnings great things have arisen,…and as one small +candle may light a thousand. So the light here kindled hath shone on +many.’ +GOVERNOR BRADFORD’S JOURNAL. + +Once more we must leave our Indian friends, and return to New Plymouth, +and to comparatively civilized life, with all its cares and anxieties, +from so many of which the wild tenants of the woods are free. + +Cares and anxieties had, indeed, continued to be the portion of the +Pilgrim Fathers and their families, though mingled with many blessings. +Their numbers had considerably increased during the years that elapsed +since last we took a view of their condition; and their town bad +assumed a much more comfortable and imposing appearance. Many trading +vessels had also visited the rising colony from the mother-country, and +had brought out to the settlers useful supplies of clothing, and other +articles of great value. Among these, none were more acceptable to the +emigrants than the first specimens of horned cattle, consisting of +three cows and a bull, that reached the settlement about the third year +after its establishment. They were hailed with universal joy by all the +inhabitants of New Plymouth, who seemed to feel as if the presence of +such old accustomed objects, brought back to them a something of home +that they had never felt before in the land of their exile. These +precious cattle were a common possession of the whole colony, and were +not divided until the year 1627, when their numbers had greatly +increased, and when a regular division of the houses and lands also +took place. + +The trade of the colony had, likewise, been considerably augmented, +both with the Indians and with the English, whose fishing vessels +frequented the coast, and were the means of their carrying on a +constant intercourse and traffic with their friends at home. One of +these vessels brought out to the emigrants the sad intelligence of the +death of their beloved pastor, John Robinson--he who had been honored +and respected by every Puritan community, whether in Europe or America, +and for whose arrival the Pilgrims had looked, with anxious hope, ever +since the day of their sorrowful parting in Holland. 'Surely'--as a +friend of Bradford's wrote to him from Leyden--our pastor would never +have gone from hence, if prayers, tears or means of aid could have +saved him.' The consternation of the settlers was great indeed. Year +after year they had gone on, expecting and waiting for his coming to +resume his official duties among them; and, therefore, they had never +taken any measures to provide themselves with regular pastors, who +might preach the gospel to them three times every Lord's day, according +to their custom in Europe and also administer to them the sacrament, +which, previous to their exile, all the grown-up members of the +community had habitually received every Sunday. + +The death of their spiritual leader and counselor had destroyed all +their hopes of being again united to him on earth; and the blow fell +heavily on all, and cast a gloom over the settlement that was not soon +dispersed; but still the Pilgrims did not immediately proceed to choose +another minister. The belief that the divine service could receive no +part of its sanctity from either time, place, or person, but only from +the Holy Spirit of God, which hallows it--was then, as it is now, a +leading feature of the Independent and Presbyterian churches of +America, and, therefore, the Puritans of New Plymouth did not feel it a +necessity--although they deemed it a _privilege_--to enjoy the +spiritual ministrations of ordained clergymen. + +Hitherto the venerable Brewster, with the occasional aid of Bradford, +Winslow, and a few others distinguished for piety and eloquence, had +delivered the customary addresses and prayers, and had performed the +rite of baptism. At length, in the year 1628, Allerton, the assistant +of Bradford, after he had been on a mission to England, brought back +with him a young preacher of the name of Rogers, who very shortly gave +such evident signs of insanity, that the settlers were obliged to send +him back to his native land, at a considerable expense and trouble. + +In the meantime, the number of settlers on other parts of the coast of +New England had augmented to a great extent; and in Salem alone there +were four ministers who had come out with the English emigrants, of +whom only two could find adequate employment. One of the others, +therefore, named Ralph Smith, who was a man of much piety, and judged +orthodox by the Puritans, went to Plymouth, and offered himself as +pastor to the inhabitants. He was chosen by the people to be their +spiritual leader, and became the first regularly-appointed preacher who +officiated among these, the earliest settlers in New England. + +Two or three small vessels were, about this time, built by the men of +Plymouth for their own use, and proved of great service to them, as +their connection with other colonies of Europeans on the American coast +became more extensive and profitable. A friendly intercourse with the +Dutch settlers at the mouth of the great river Hudson had also lately +been established, to the great satisfaction of the Plymouthers, and to +the mutual advantage and comfort of both parties. It was commenced by +the men of Holland soon after their formal settlement near the Hudson, +where they erected a village, and a fortress called Fort Amsterdam. +From thence they addressed a courteous letter to their old connections, +the English exiles from Leyden; and invited them to an occasional +barter of their respective goods and productions, and also offered them +their services in any other way that could be useful. + +Governor Bradford--who still by annual election retained his important +office--returned an equally friendly reply to these overtures: and at +the same time tendered his own and his people's grateful +acknowledgements of all the kindness and hospitality that they had +received during their residence in Holland, in years gone by. The +following year they were surprised and gratified by a visit from De +Brazier, the Secretary of the Dutch colony, who anchored at Manomet, a +place twenty miles to the south of New Plymouth, and from thence sent +to request the Pilgrims to send a boat for him. His ship was well +stocked with such wares as were likely to be acceptable to the English; +and, according to the custom of the times, he was attended by several +gaily dressed trumpeters, and a numerous retinue of servants. The new +pinnace, which had recently been built at Manomet, was immediately +dispatched for the welcome visitors, and he was hospitably entertained +by his new friends for three days; after which the Governor, attended +by Rodolph and some others, returned with him to his vessel, to make +their purchases, and to give in exchange for their European goods, such +furs, and skins, and tobacco, as they had been able to collect in their +general storehouse on 'the Burying Hill.' + +From this period, an active trade was carried on between the two +settlements, which proved highly advantageous to both--the Dutch +supplying the men of Plymouth with sugar, linen, and other stuffs, in +return for their skins, timber, and tobacco. + +During all this time, an almost perfect peace was maintained with the +neighboring Indian tribes; and the friendship that had so early been +established between the English settlers and the Wampanoges became more +confirmed and strengthened. All external matters now wore a far more +prosperous aspect than they had hitherto done; and the Pilgrims felt +that they had both the means and the leisure to add to the comforts of +their social and domestic life. Some years previously, a small portion +of land had been assigned to each family for its own particular use: +but the possession of this land had not been made hereditary; and +although the fact of its being appropriated to one household had +considerably increased the zeal and industry of the cultivators, yet +they still desired that feeling of inalienable property which so +greatly adds to the value of every possession. + +To gratify this natural desire, the Governor and his council had deemed +it advisable to depart so far from the terms of the original treaty as +to allot to each colonist an acre of land, as near the town as +possible, in order that, if any danger threatened, they might be able +to unite speedily for the general defense. This arrangement gave much +satisfaction to the settlers; but in the year 1627 they were placed in +a still more comfortable and independent position. They were, by their +charter, lords of all the neighboring land for a circle of more than +one hundred miles. That portion of their territory, therefore, which +was most contiguous to the town, was divided into portions of twenty +acres, five long on the side next the coast, and four broad; and to +each citizen one of these portions was assigned, with the liberty of +purchasing another for his wife, and also one for every child who +resided with him. To every six of these pieces were allotted a cow, two +goats, and a few pigs; so that each settler became possessed of a +little farm of his own, and a small herd of cattle to stock it with: +and peace and plenty at length seemed to smile on the hardy and long- +enduring settlers. + +Meanwhile, the colony of Massachusetts, which had been founded in the +year 1624, increased rapidly. It was first planted at Nantasket, a +deserted village of the Indians, at the entrance of the Bay of +Massachusetts, where the Plymouth settlers had previously erected a few +houses, for the convenience of carrying on their trade with the +neighboring tribes. Another settlement had been formed, two years +later, at Naumkeak, a tongue of land of remarkable fertility, where +also a deserted Indian village was found, which formed the commencement +of the town afterwards called Salem; and which had become--at the +period we have now arrived at in our story--a place of some importance. +It was founded by a man of much zeal end enthusiasm, of the name of +Endicott; who was one of the original possessors of the patent granted +to several gentlemen of Dorsetshire, for the land in Massachusetts Bay, +extending from the Merrimak to the Charles River, from north to south; +but stretching to an indefinite distance westward, even over the +unexplored regions between the boisterous Atlantic, and the ‘Silent +Sea,’ as the Pacific has been very aptly and beautifully designated. + +Endicott had been invested, by the society to which he belonged in +England, with the government of the whole district of Massachusetts; +and he soon found himself called on to exercise his authority for the +suppression of the disturbances excited by the settlers of Quincy. This +place was inhabited by a set of low and immoral men, one of whom, named +Thomas Morton, had come over in the wild and dissolute train sent out +by Weston several years previously. He was a man of some talent, but of +very contemptible character: and had attached himself to the retinue of +Captain Wollaston and his companions, who first settled at Quincy, and +gave it the name of Mount Wollaston. He afterwards, with his friends, +removed to Virginia, leaving some of his servants and an overseer to +manage the plantation during his absence. But, no sooner was Morton +relieved of the presence of those who had hitherto kept him in some +restraint, than he roused the servants to a complete mutiny, which +ended in their driving the overseer from the plantation, and indulging +in every kind of excess. They even had the boldness and the dishonesty +to sell the land which had been left in their charge by the lawful +possessors, to the Indians; and to obtain fresh estates, which they +claimed as their own. And, having thus established a sort of lawless +independence, they passed their time in drinking and wild revelry. On +the first of May, they erected a may-pole, in old-English fashion; but, +not contented with celebrating that day of spring-time and flowers with +innocent pastimes, they hung the pole with verses of an immoral and +impious character, and, inviting the ignorant heathen to share in their +festivities, they abandoned themselves to drunkenness and profligacy. + +The horror and indignation of the severe Puritans of New Plymouth at +this outbreak of licentiousness, was great indeed. In their eyes almost +every amusement was looked upon as a sin; and the most innocent village +dance round a maypole was regarded as nearly allied to the heathenish +games in honor of the Goddess Flora. The conduct, therefore, of the +disorderly settlers of Quincy filled them with shame and grief; and +they felt humbled, as well as indignant, when they reflected on the +discredit which such proceedings must necessarily bring on the +Christian profession, and the British name. Nor was this all: it was +not merely discredit that they had to fear. The insane and profligate +conduct of Morton threatened to bring on them eventually, as well as on +all the emigrants, evils of a more personal kind. For, when Morton and +his wild associates found their means of self-gratification again +running short, they had the folly to part with arms and ammunition to +the Indians, and to teach them how to use them; thus giving them the +power of not only resisting the authority of the English, but also of +effectually attacking them whenever any subjects of dispute should +arise between them and the pale-faced invaders. + +Most joyfully the natives took advantage of this impolitic weakness; +and so eagerly did they purchase the coveted firearms of their rivals, +that Morton sent to England for a fresh supply of the dangerous +merchandise. Such conduct was quite sufficient to arouse the fears and +the vigilance of every other colony of New England; and the chief +inhabitants of the various plantations agreed to request the +interference of their brethren of New Plymouth, as being the oldest and +most powerful settlement, in order to bring the offenders to their +senses. Bradford willingly listened to their petition; for he desired +nothing more earnestly than to have an opportunity of openly +manifesting to his countrymen, and to the Indians, how greatly opposed +he and his people were to the proceedings of Morton's gang. He had +also a very sufficient pretext for such interference, as he could bring +forward the positive command of his sovereign, that no arms of any kind +should be given or sold to the natives. + +He resolved, however, before he had recourse to harsher measures, to +try and bring Morton and his wild crew to a better mode of life, by +friendly and persuasive messages. But these only excited the contempt +and derision of the ruffian; and the doughty warrior, Miles Standish, +was therefore dispatched, with a band of his veteran followers, to +seize on the desperadoes. They came upon them when they were in the +midst of their drunken revelry, and, after a fierce struggle, succeeded +in making them all prisoners, and conveying them safely to Plymouth. +From thence Morton was sent, by the first opportunity, to England, to +be tried by the High Council, who, however, did not take any active +measures against him or his followers. Many of the latter escaped, and +continued their disorderly life, until they were checked by the +vigorous proceedings of Endicott, who severely reprimanded them, and +cut down the may-pole which had given rise to so much offence, and he +named the hill on which the notorious plantation was situated, 'Mount +Dagon,' in memory of the profane doings of its inhabitants. + +The coast of Massachusetts Bay was now studded with plantations, and +with rising towns and villages. The stream of emigration continued to +increase; and the wealth and prosperity of the colonies in general kept +pace with the addition to their numbers, and with their extended trade +with foreign colonies and with the mother-country. Boston had become a +place of some note, and seemed to be regarded as the seat of commerce +for the Massachusetts district, as well as the center of the civil +government. Most of the families of the neighboring plantations, +especially of Charlestown, removed to Boston; and ere long it was +deemed expedient to found a regular church there, and the building of a +house of God was commenced. Winthrop, the governor, also exerted +himself in the erection of a fortress, to repel the dreaded attacks of +the Indians; but he soon perceived that this was a needless precaution, +for all the neighboring tribes readily offered their friendship, and +even their submission; and, as the strength of the colony daily +increased, he found that he had less and less to fear from the Indians. +The Sagamore of Sawgus, in the vicinity of Boston, remained the steady +friend of the English until his death; and Chickatabot, Sachem of +Neponset, one of the neighboring Chiefs of the Massachusetts, +frequently visited the rising town of Boston. On one of these occasions +he excited the mirth of the Governor and his suite, by requesting to be +allowed to purchase his fall-dress coat, to which he had taken a great +fancy. + +To this strange and original request, the Governor courteously replied +that it was not the custom of the English Sagamores to dispose of their +raiment in that manner; but he consoled the disappointed Chieftain by +sending for his tailor, and ordering him to measure Chickatabot for a +full suit. This treasure the Sachem carried away with him three days +afterwards, to astonish the eyes of his subjects in his native wilds; +and his loyalty towards the English was greatly strengthened by so +handsome and judicious a present. + +Cundincus, also, the Chief of the powerful and much dreaded +Narragansetts, sent his son with a friendly greeting to the new +settlers of Boston; and, in the following year, his nephew and +co-ruler, Miantonomo, came on a visit to the Governor. He was for some +days an inmate of Winthrop's house; and it is recorded that he not only +conducted himself with the greatest decorum, but that be also sat +patiently to listen to a sermon of an hour and a half's duration, of +which, of course, he scarcely comprehended one word. + +Governor Winthrop followed the good example that had already been set +by both Carver and Bradford at New Plymouth, in regard to all dealings +with the natives. He always maintained their rights with the most +strict and impartial justice; and if any Englishman committed an injury +against the property of an Indian, he compelled him to replace it--in +some cases even to twice the value of the article in question. + +The new settlers had always been on very friendly terms with the elder +colony of Plymouth; and visits were frequently exchanged between the +Governors and others of the inhabitants, which, though performed with +much difficulty and even danger, were a source of mutual pleasure to +the two bands of British emigrants. If the men of Plymouth regarded +with some feeling of jealous anxiety the growing power and greatness of +their rival, it was but natural. Nevertheless, no differences of any +importance arose between the colonies on the subject of civil +superiority. It was on spiritual matters that they sometimes disagreed; +and on these points the Plymouthers watched the newcomers with +suspicious sensitiveness, and resolved to maintain their dearly- +purchased based rights to religious freedom, against any pretensions +that might be made by the church of Boston. + +This latter community was frequently subject to divisions and disputes, +on those points of faith and discipline that each party regarded as +all-important, but on the carrying out of which they could not agree; +and a certain spirit of intolerance had already begun to show itself +among them, which, in later times, ripened into actual cruelty and +persecution. + +The first instance of any display of this unchristian spirit with which +our narrative is concerned, was the treatment of a young clergyman, +named Roger Williams, who came over to New England several years after +the emigration of the Pilgrim Fathers, when the renewed oppression of +the Puritan ministers, by the English bishops, drove many of their +number to seek a refuge in America. In the same year also arrived John +Elliott, a man whose name is deservedly remembered and respected in New +England, as standing conspicuous for zeal and virtue. So great and so +successful were his labors among the native heathen, and so eminent +were his piety and his self-denying charity, that he has been well +named the _'Prince of Missionaries'_ and 'the Great Apostle of the +Indians.' + +The arrival of these holy and zealous--though somewhat eccentric--men, +and of several others equally resolved to maintain the freedom of their +religious views and practices, tended greatly to strengthen and +establish the emigrants; and also added considerably to their comfort, +as every settlement became provided with regular and authorized +ministers of the gospel, and could enjoy all those religious privileges +from which they had been so long debarred. But it must also be +confessed that it became the source of much dissension and party +feeling, and led to that display of bigotry and intolerance that +eventually disgraced the Christian profession of the men of +Massachusetts.[*] + +[Footnote: The cruel fate of Mary Dyer, the Quaker, who was condemned +to death by Governor Endicott, at Boston, is a lamentable instance of +the narrow-minded and cruel policy of the rulers of that community. +She was banished from the state, but 'felt a call' to return and rebuke +the austerity of the men of Boston, and reprove them for their +spiritual pride. She was accompanied by two friends, William Robinson +and Marmaduke Stevenson, and all three were seized, imprisoned, and, +after a summary trial, were sent to the gallows. The two men were +executed; but at the moment when Mary Dyer was standing, calm and +resigned, with the rope around her neck, expecting to be launched into +eternity, a reprieve arrived, and the victim was released. But it was +only for a little time. She was again banished; and again returned, as +if to seek her fate. A second trial took place, and she was again +condemned. Her husband, who knew not of her return to Boston until it +was too late, appeared before the magistrates, and pleaded with all the +eloquence of affection and anguish. But he wept and prayed in vain. His +young and lovely wife was led to the scaffold, where she met her fate +with a pious and even cheerful resignation; but her blood has left a +dark stain on the history of the Church of Boston, that no time will +ever efface. This dreadful event occurred about forty years after that +period of which we are now treating.] + +Roger Williams was a man comparatively unknown in his own country, but +he was destined to exercise considerable influence in the land of his +adoption, by his peculiar views of religious freedom which went far +beyond those of the generality of his fellow Puritans. He desired to +extend to others that liberty of conscience which he claimed as his own +privilege, and for the attainment of which he had become a wanderer and +an exile. But he soon found that many of his countrymen had forgotten +in America the principles of spiritual freedom, for which they had so +nobly contended in England, and were ready to employ against those who +differed from them, the same 'carnal weapons' that had already driven +them from their mother-country. His sufferings were indeed light, in +comparison of those which were afterwards inflicted on the miserable +Quakers by the government of Massachusetts; but still they were hard +for flesh and blood to bear, and galling to a free spirit to receive +from those who boasted of their own love of freedom. + +Roger Williams was not more than thirty-two years of age when he +arrived in New England. He had boldly separated himself from all +communion with the high church of his native country; and, before he +would attach himself to the Church of Boston, he demanded from its +members a similar declaration of independence. The fathers of the +colony were, however, by no means prepared to take so decided a step, +which would lay them open to the attacks of the English hierarchy; and +although a few years afterwards, when they could do it with less risk +of punishment, they abjured all connection with the Church of England, +yet they dared not at present give any countenance to such individual +boldness as that which Williams had manifested. His uncompromising +principles were, however, in unison with those of the Church of Salem; +and he was invited by that community to be their teacher, as an +assistant to their pastor, Skelton, whose health was then declining. +The rulers of Boston were extremely indignant at this act of +independence on the part of the Salemers; and they addressed to them a +remonstrance, desiring them to take no such steps without the +concurrence of the government of the state of Massachusetts. But the +men of Salem did not withdraw their invitation, which was accepted by +Roger Williams; and in a short time his piety, his eloquence, and the +kind courtesy of his manners, gained for him the esteem and affection +of the whole community. + +He was not, however, permitted to remain in peace in his new home. The +suspicion and ill-will of the Boston government followed him to Salem, +and so greatly embittered his life, and interrupted his labors, that he +found it expedient to withdraw to Plymouth, where he found employment +as assistant to the regular pastor, Ralph Smith. His preaching caused +great excitement in New Plymouth, from the fervor of his eloquence, and +the freedom of his opinions, which aroused the sympathy of many of the +Pilgrim Fathers. Governor Bradford was much interested by the young +and enthusiastic minister; and he described him in his journal as 'a +man full of the fear of God, and of zeal, but very unsettled in +judgement.' Certainly, his opinions were peculiar, and his spirit bold +and defying, to a degree that rather shocked and astonished the sober, +severe, and exclusive men of Plymouth; but his sincere piety caused him +to be respected, even by those who shrank from going such lengths as he +did; and his engaging manners won the affection of all who were +admitted to his intimacy. + +One cause of the anger of the rulers of Boston against this energetic +young man was an essay which he wrote and addressed to the Governor of +Plymouth, in which he stated his conviction that 'the King of England +had no right whatever to give away these lands on which they had +settled; but that they belonged exclusively to the natives, and must be +bought in by auction from them.' No one who entertains a sense of +justice will now be disposed to object to this opinion; but it gave +great offence to the government of Boston, and he was summoned before +the general court, to answer to Governor Winthrop for having +promulgated such notions. He did not, however, attempt to defend them, +but good-humoredly declared that they were privately addressed to +Bradford, who, with tin chief men of Plymouth, agreed with him in all +the material points of his essay, and he offend to burn it if it had +given offence at Boston. The subject was then dropped, and Williams +returned to Plymouth, where he continued to reside for a considerable +time. + +During that period, he not only gained many friends among the +inhabitants, but he also, by a constant intercourse with the Wampanoges +and other neighboring tribes, obtained a considerable knowledge of +their language and manners, and secured their veneration and love. +This, as we shall have occasion to observe, proved afterwards of the +greatest advantage to him. + +But his own restless spirit was not satisfied with quietly discharging +the duties of his office, and enjoying the society of his own +countrymen and their Indian allies. Again he drew upon himself the +wrath of the Boston Church, by openly stating his conviction that no +civil government had a right to punish any individual for a breach of +the Sabbath, or for any offence against either of the four +commandments, or the first table. He maintained that these points +should be left to the conscience alone; or, in the case of those who +had agreed to a church covenant, to the authorities of the church. The +civil magistrates he considered as only empowered to punish such +violations of the law as interfered with the public peace. This +unheard-of heresy against the principles by which the Bostoners were +governed, was received with amazement and indignation: and, although +they could not take any immediate measures to testify their +displeasure, and to punish the offender, yet he thenceforth became the +object of hatred and suspicion to the rulers, and they only waited for +a fitting opportunity of openly manifesting it. + +Williams was aware of the feeling entertained towards him by the +government of Massachusetts, but he was not thereby deterred from +expressing his opinions in New Plymouth; and so great was his +attachment to the people of Salem, who had first afforded him a home, +that he would again have ventured thither, had he not been detained by +his new friends. They were both numerous and sincere: and, among them, +none were more attached to him than the Maitland family, who agreed +with him in most of his religious and political opinions, and valued +his society on account of his unaffected piety, and the various powers +and accomplishments of his mind. Possibly, it was the attraction that +Roger Williams found in this family that caused him so long to turn a +deaf ear to the repeated solicitations of his old friends at Salem, +that he would again take up his abode among them. Certainly, it was not +fear of the rulers of Boston that kept his undaunted spirit in a +district over which they had no authority; neither was it altogether +the harmony that subsisted between his views and those of the +hospitable Plymouthers. On many points they agreed, but not on all; +and those who differed from him feared that his continued residence +among them might excite a party spirit, and mar that peace which had +hitherto reigned in their community. + +Still Roger Williams did continue to dwell at New Plymouth; and still +his visits to the house of Maitland became more and more frequent.[*] + +[Footnote: A few liberties are taken with the private life of this +interesting character, in order to connect him more closely with the +events of the narrative. But all the incidents which can be regarded as +important are strictly historical, although the date and order of them +may be slightly altered.] + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +My child, my child, thou leav'st me!--I shall hear +The gentle voice no more that blest mine ear +With its first utterance I shall miss the sound +Of thy light step, amidst the flowers around; +And thy soft breathing hymn at twilight's close; +And thy “good night,” at parting for repose! +----Yet blessings with thee go! +Love guard thee, gentlest! and the exile's woe +From thy young heart be far!' HEMANS. + +At the period when Roger Williams was induced to seek a home among the +Pilgrim Fathers of New Plymouth, Edith Maitland had attained to +womanhood. She was not beautiful, strictly speaking, but she was +possessed of that 'something than beauty dearer,'--that nameless and +indescribable charm that is sometimes seen to surround a person whose +form and features would not satisfy the critical eye of an artist. It +was Edith's character which looked out from her clear hazel eye, and +won the interest and the affection of all who knew her. Gentle and +affectionate in disposition, but at the same time, firm, enduring, and +fall of energy, she combined the characteristic qualities of both her +parents, and added to them an originality all her own. Her education, +in the common acceptation of the term, had necessarily been both +desultory and imperfect; and yet, under its influence, the mind and +character of Edith had strengthened and matured in no common degree. +The very circumstances by which she was surrounded had educated her; +and sorrow--deep, abiding sorrow, for the loss of both her much-loved +brothers--had taught her to look on life in a different point of view, +and with different expectations from those with which it is usually +regarded by the young. Her mother had watched her opening mind and +disposition with much care and anxiety: but she had not sought to check +its interesting peculiarity, or to control the wild exuberance of +thought and feeling that were occasionally manifested by her +intelligent and engaging child. As she grew older, she became more and +more the companion of Helen, who studied her character attentively: +and, if we be allowed such a figure of speech, wisely endeavored to +train it in a right direction, rather than to prune it to any +conventional form. Thus a perfect confidence was established, and ever +subsisted between the mother and daughter; and the natural +thoughtfulness of spirit, and energy of purpose, that belonged to Edith, +were unchecked, and she was allowed to possess an individuality of +character that is, unhappily, too often repressed and destroyed in these +present days of high civilization and uniformity of education. + +The courteous manners which both Helen and her husband had acquired in +early life--when they dwelt in comparative affluence in England--were +inherited by their daughter in full measure; and her whole manner and +conduct were marked by a refinement and elegance that seemed little in +keeping with the life of extreme simplicity, and even of hardship, that +she had experienced from her early childhood. While her brothers were +spared to her, she was their constant companion and playfellow; and +except when her mother required her attendance, either as her pupil or +her assistant in domestic occupations, she spent the greatest part of +the day in rambling with them on the sea-shore, or through the adjacent +woods, or else in the active and tasteful cultivation of their garden. +And when successive calamities deprived her of these cherished objects +of her early affection, she still continued to wander to the spots +where they had played and conversed together, under the guardianship of +the faithful Fingal; and, with no companion but the powerful and +sagacious animal, she was even permitted to ramble through the woods as +far as the Wampanoge village, and divert her sorrowful thoughts in the +society of Apannow, and her lively little son Nepea. + +But after the sad day when Edith wept on the lifeless body of her +favorite Fingal, and saw him laid in the grave that was dug for him +beneath the great tulip-tree, she seemed to concentrate her affections +on the bower that Henrich had erected, and the plants that he and +Ludovico had transplanted from the forest to cover its trellised walls, +and to decorate the garden that surrounded it. Many of these were again +removed, and planted on Fingal's grave; and there--on a seat that her +brother had constructed—would Edith sit, hour after hour, either buried +in contemplations of the past and the future, or else devouring with +avidity the few books that her parents possessed, or that she could +procure from their friends and neighbors. She formed no intimacy with +any of her own young countrywomen. They were too unlike herself--they +had generally known no sorrow: or, if it had fallen on them, its +strokes had not made a like impression on their characters; and Edith +could find no consolation or pleasure in their society. So she lived +alone with her own spirit, and indulged her own high aspirations; and +none but Helen was the confidant of any of her thoughts and imaginings. +Many of them she kept within her own breast, for she felt that it would +distress her mother to know how little charm remained to her in life, +and how often she looked up into the blue depths of heaven, and wished +that she had 'the wings of a dove, and could flee away' from this cold +world, 'and be at rest' where Henrich and Ludovico dwelt. + +And yet Edith was not unhappy. As she grew up, and became a more equal +and rational companion to her parents, the cares and business of life +necessarily occupied more of her time and thoughts, and gave her less +leisure for solitary meditation; and her daily increasing sense of the +duties and responsibilities of a Christian, led her to regard as +selfishness that indulgence of her own thoughts and feelings in which +she had so much delighted. She was therefore cheerful, and even gay, at +home; but she desired no pleasures beyond those that her home afforded, +and that were perfectly consistent with the self denying views and +principles of her Puritan fellow-countrymen. + +In all the doctrines of her sect; Edith was thoroughly well-informed; +and to all those that were really scriptural, she gave a sincere and +heart-felt assent. But the stern severity of Puritan principles and +Puritan bigotry found no response in her gentle nature, and the narrow- +minded intolerance of the Boston Church aroused both her contempt and +indignation. She was, therefore, quite prepared to regard with +interest and favor the free-minded young minister who had made himself +obnoxious to their laws end customs, and had sought a refuge among the +more liberal and kindly Pilgrims of New Plymouth. + +The acquaintance of Roger Williams was soon made by the Maitlands; and, +once begun, it quickly ripened into intimacy and friendship. In +Rodolph he found a sound and able adviser; in Helen, a kind friend and +a well-informed companion; but in Edith he found a kindred spirit to +his own--one who could understand and sympathize in his yearnings for +freedom of thought and action, and in his strong sense of the injustice +of his oppressors. In all their tastes and pursuits they were, +likewise, as well agreed as in their religious and social opinions. +Edith's passionate love of natural beauty was fully shared by the young +refugee; and many an hour passed swiftly away while he instructed his +quick and willing scholar in the mysteries of sketching, in which +pleasant art he was himself a proficient. Edith loved music also, and +frequently accompanied her own rich voice with the simple notes of the +mandolin, while she sang the old songs of her fatherland. + +Hitherto, her mother had been her only instructor in this most refined +and refining of all human pleasures; but now she found an able and very +ready teacher in Roger Williams: and it was a matter of astonishment to +her father when he observed the rapid progress she made both in the +science and the practice of music, from the time the interesting +stranger undertook to give her lessons. His deep, manly voice +harmonized perfectly with her sweet tones; and they often brought tears +to the eyes of Helen, and called forth a sigh from the breast of +Rodolph, as they sang together some ancient English ballad, or united +their voices in the chants and anthems that were dear to the hearts of +the exiles, and recalled days of youth and happiness long passed away, +and never to return. + +Edith's bower was the usual scene of these domestic concerts; and there +the long, sweet summer evenings glided away in happiness, that the +'queen of that bower '--as Henrich had named her--had never known since +the last evening that she spent there with her brother. She began to +wonder why she had hitherto associated none but melancholy ideas with +the lovely spot; and to find that it was possible to feel even gay and +light-hearted while surrounded by Henrich's flowers, and looking on +Fingal's grave. How strange it seemed--and yet, how pleasant! A new +existence seemed opening before Edith's soul; and life no longer +appeared a dreary pilgrimage, which duty alone could render +interesting. The powers of her mind also received a fresh impulse from +the society of the cultivated Englishman, and was drawn out in a manner +as agreeable as it was new. Roger had brought from his native land a +collection of books, which, though small in number, seemed to Edith a +perfect library; and all were offered for her perusal. Several of them +were, of course, on controversial and doctrinal subjects; and these she +was able to understand and to appreciate: but among these graver and +more abstruse treatises, were some of a more attractive nature--some +volumes of foreign travel, and ancient legends, and heart-stirring +poetry, in which the soul of Edith reveled, as in a garden of new and +fragrant flowers. + +It was a fresh, and a very rich enjoyment to one who had known so few +literary pleasures, to pore over these volumes, and find her own vivid +thoughts and wild imaginings set before her in all the captivating +colors of poetry and fiction; or to follow the wanderings of travelers +through the civilized and enlightened countries of the old continent, +and learn from books those manners and customs of refined life, which, +in all human probability, it would never be her lot to witness. But +this enjoyment was more than doubled when Roger took the book, and--as +he often did--read to her and her mother while they sat at their work +in Edith's bower in the heat of the day; and if the younger listener +did occasionally pause in her occupation, and forget to ply her needle +while she looked up at the fine expressive countenance of the reader, +she may be pardoned; for the voice and the expression were in such +perfect unison, that the one added greatly to the effect of the other. + +Perhaps these days of peaceful intercourse, and growing, but +unacknowledged, affection, were among the happiest of Edith's checkered +life: certain it is that, in after days of trial and difficulty, she +looked back upon them as on some green and sunny spot in the varied +field of memory. + +But they could not last for ever. Days and weeks passed by, and Edith +was too happy in the present to occupy herself much about the future. +But her parents thought of it for her; and Roger thought of it for her, +and for himself. Her graceful manners and appearance had attracted him +on his first acquaintance with her, and the favorable impression had +been strengthened from day to day, as he acquired a more intimate +knowledge of her thoughtful character and amiable temper: and it was +not long ere he felt that his future happiness in life depended on her +returning those sentiments with which she had inspired him. + +Had he been possessed of much vanity, he would not long have +entertained any doubt on this interesting point; for Edith was too open +and ingenuous, and too little in the habit of disguising her feelings, +to pretend an indifference that her heart soon denied. But the very +admiration and respect with which she inspired Roger prevented him from +'laying the flattering unction to his soul'; and caused him, for some +time, to suppose that the very evident pleasure she felt in his society +arose from the solitary life she had hitherto led, and the natural +enjoyment of an intelligent mind in conversing with one who could enter +into her feelings and tastes, and impart some fresh ideas to give food +to her thoughts and imagination. + +Helen, however, was not under this misconception with regard to her +daughter's feelings, and she felt much anxiety as to the result of her +acquaintance with the young clergyman. The remarkable transparency of +Edith's character rendered it easy for a parent's eye to discover the +deep impression that Roger's fascinating manners, and rare +accomplishments, had made both on her fancy and her heart; and it was +equally easy to perceive that his affections were entirely gained, and +that he was not a man to draw back in this, or any other pursuit in +which his feelings were deeply engaged. There was a simple earnestness +of manner in every thing that he said or did that irresistibly won both +confidence and love; and Helen and her husband entertained not the +slightest doubt of the sincerity of his attachment to their child, or +of his full intention to offer his hand to her, as soon as he could +feel any certainty of its being accepted. Neither did they doubt his +power to make her happy; for it was evident that their tastes and +dispositions were admirably suited, and their characters marked to a +great degree by the same peculiarities. But it was these very +peculiarities in which they so well agreed, and which each would +probably strengthen and confirm in the other, that gave rise to the +anxious thoughts that dwelt in Helen's mind, and which she communicated +to Rudolph. + +Roger Williams was already a marked man, and an object of suspicion and +displeasure to the rising power of Boston. Already he had been +compelled to retire before the persecuting spirit of the Boston Church, +and to seek shelter in the rival and more charitable colony, where his +peculiar opinions were tolerated, even if they were not approved. But +the Maitlands knew that his position at New Plymouth did not satisfy +the yearnings of his earnest and aspiring soul, and that he felt a +strong desire to return to Salem, and minister among those who had been +his first friends, and his first congregation. His reason for so bag +delaying this measure was very evident; and Edith's parents justly +feared that, as soon as the object which now engrossed his whole mind +was attained, and he had won their daughter's heart and band, be would +take her from her present safe and peaceful home, to share with him the +trials and difficulties, and even dangers, which might await him on his +return to the state of Massachusetts, where they felt sure he would +again proclaim the opinions that had already given so much offence. + +This was a reasonable cause for anxiety; but it was not a sufficient +ground on which to refuse a connection with such a man as Roger +Williams--a man who might, indeed, by his daring freedom of spirit and +uncompromising opinions, bring earthly trial on himself and any one +whose fate was united to his; but whose lofty piety and steadfast faith +must carry with them a spiritual blessing, and gild and cheer the path, +however dark and thorny, in which he and his partner should be called +to tread. + +It was, therefore, with mingled feelings of pain and pleasure that +Helen heard from Edith that Roger had, at length, taken courage to +declare to her his own feelings, and to ask whether she could return +them. Her glowing cheek and glistening eye, as she revealed the +interesting fact, would have left her mother in no doubt as to the + answer she had returned, even if she had not already guessed her +sentiments; and she and Rodolph could but give their consent to her +wishes, and ask a blessing on her choice. The joy and gratitude of +Roger knew no bounds. Now he felt that life lay all bright and clear +before him, and that no outward trials could have power to cloud his +path, so long as Edith walked by his side, to divide his sorrows and +double his joys. + +He employed all his eloquence to persuade Rodolph and Helen to consent +to his speedy marriage; for, now that his object in lingering at +Plymouth was attained, all his love for his flock at Salem, and his +desire once more to dwell among them, returned with added force. He was +impatient to resume his spiritual duties where first he had commenced +them in New England; and he was eager, also, to present Edith as his +bride to the friends who had once so kindly received him, and who now +so pressingly invited him to return. + +The aspect of affairs in the State of Massachusetts was then peaceable, +and no demonstration of enmity towards Roger had lately been made by +the Boston rulers; so that Rodolph and Helen had no well-grounded +pretext for delaying their daughter's marriage, and her removal to +Salem with her husband. The letter of invitation to Roger Williams from +that community, also contained such alarming accounts of the rapidly +declining health of their pastor, Skelton, that the necessity for the +presence of his intended successor could not be denied. With some +reluctance the Maitlands, therefore, agreed to an early day for the +performance of the simple ceremony that would unite their beloved and +only remaining child to one whom they loved and respected, but whose +fiery zeal inspired them with doubt and anxiety. + +No sooner was the happy day fixed, than Roger hastened to dispatch a +trusty messenger to Roxburgh, with a letter to his valued friend and +brother minister, Elliot--who was appointed preacher in that town--to +entreat him to be present at his marriage, and to honor the ceremony by +giving the customary address at its conclusion. + +Much to his satisfaction--and that of all the Maitland family--this +request was acceded to, and the 'Prince of Missionaries' arrived at New +Plymouth, accompanied also by his bride. He was betrothed when he left +England, but circumstances had then prevented his intended wife from +accompanying him. But as soon as he was settled at Roxburgh, she +followed him to the land of his exile, and became his faithful and +devoted companion through a long and toilsome life, and his able and +efficient helpmate in all his difficulties. + +The chief object of this excellent man, in leaving his own country, was +not so much to escape the persecution that then awaited the ministers +of his sect, as to attempt the conversion of the native heathen. For +this pious and disinterested purpose, he abandoned home and kindred, +and all that was dear to him, and, at the age of twenty-seven, entered +that land of distant promise, to the evangelization of which he had +resolved to devote all the powers of his life, and the faculties of his +energetic mind. So abstemious and self-denying was he, that his mode of +life resembled that of a hermit; and, at the same time, so liberal was +he in relieving the wants of others--whether his own countrymen or the +red Indians--that, if his wife had not been a careful and clever +manager, they must often have been reduced to absolute want. There is +an anecdote recorded of him, so characteristic of the self-forgetting +spirit of the 'Great Apostle of the Indians,' that it ought not to be +omitted here, where we are endeavoring to give a faithful picture of +the manners and the principles of the Pilgrim Fathers, and their +immediate followers. + +The society in England, under whose auspices he had emigrated, allowed +him a salary of £50 a year, a great portion of which, as well as of his +small private resources, was always dedicated to charitable purposes. +It was his custom, when he received his quarterly payment from the +treasurer of the colony, to give away a considerable part of it before +he reached his home, so that _Dame_ Elliot--as she was called--only +received a very small sum, inadequate to the necessary expenses of her +frugal housekeeping. The paymaster knew the good man's peculiarities, +and was aware of the domestic embarrassments that his too-liberal +bounty often occasioned. He therefore tied the money up in a +handkerchief with so many knots, that he was sure the pastor could +never untie them; and gave it to him, saying in jest, 'Now really, +reverend sir, you must this time give it all to your worthy spouse.’ +Elliot smiled, and departed: but, before he reached his dwelling, he +remembered an afflicted family who stood in need of his assistance and +consolation; and, on going to visit them, he found them overwhelmed with +unexpected distress. He immediately attempted to open his handkerchief, +but all his efforts were unavailing to loosen the complicated knots. +'Well, well,' he said, at last, 'I see it is the will of the Lord that +you should have the whole.’ And, giving them all his wealth, he returned +home penniless. + +Dame Elliot never showed any displeasure at these improvident acts of +her husband. She admired and respected his pious motives, and his +beautiful spirit of self-denial: and she only strove the more to limit +her expenses, and to make their home cheerful and comfortable with the +scanty means she possessed, while she willingly conformed to the life +of extreme simplicity which he felt it right to adopt. More than one +dish was never allowed to appear on his table, and water was his only +beverage. If wine was offered him at the house of a friend, he +courteously declined, but never blamed in others the indulgence which +he denied to himself. He used to say, 'Wine is a precious, noble thing, +and we should thank the Lord for it; but to suit me aright, water +should rather be there.' + +Such were the Christian pair who came to attend the wedding of Edith +and Roger; and to offer their congratulations on the event, and their +prayers that it might tend to the present and the eternal happiness of +their valued friend and his interesting bride. It could not be +otherwise than that Dame Elliot and Edith should form a speedy and a +lasting friendship. There was a similarity of feeling, and a difference +of character, that rendered them peculiarly agreeable to each other; +and made them mutually rejoice in the prospect of future intercourse +which the strong regard that subsisted between Elliot and Williams, and +the nearness of Salem to Roxburgh, promised to afford them. The young +matron was of a much more calm and subdued temperament than her new +friend. Her early life and education had been very different from +Edith's; and the man on whom she had fixed her affections, and the mode +of life to which her marriage had conducted her, had alike tended to +promote a quiet composure, and steady regulation of mind, rather than +to arouse the enthusiastic feelings and the lively fancies that +distinguished Edith's character, and which had proved so irresistible a +charm to the fervid soul of Williams. But each of the young women was +well adapted to the lot which Providence had assigned them; and each +proved a blessing, and a support through life, to their respective +partners. + +But little preparation was required for the Puritan nuptials that were +now about to be celebrated: and little gaiety or display was manifested +on the occasion. According to the custom of the sect, the marriage +ceremony was performed by Bradford, as the chief civil magistrate, and +the personal friend of the family. At that period, marriage was +regarded as a mere civil act; and either the magistrate of the place, +or a commissary appointed for the purpose, was alone required by law to +officiate. If a clergyman chanced to be present, he was generally +requested to offer up a prayer, or even to deliver a suitable discourse +to the, parties; but this was a matter of choice, and not of necessity, +and had no share in the validity of the ceremony. Even the wedding ring +had already begun to be regarded by the Plymouthers as a relic of +Popish corruption and superstition, and was, in many cases, dispensed +with, and some time afterwards formally forbidden. But on this +occasion it was retained, at the wish of both Edith and her mother; who +were accustomed to regard it as a beautiful, and almost a sacred, +symbol of the purity and the duration of the holy tie of marriage. + +On the appointed day, the civil rite was duly and solemnly performed by +the Governor, in the presence of a few chosen friends, among whom none +felt more interest in the future welfare of the young bride than the +venerable William Brewster. Although he was not a regular minister, he +was invited by Rodolph and Helen to offer up a prayer for the temporal +and eternal happiness of their beloved child, and fervently and +eloquently the old man complied with their request: and tears of +affection and anxiety glistened in his eyes as he concluded his prayer, +and added his own heartfelt blessing to that which he had asked from +Heaven. + +Elliot then delivered a powerful and impressive address to the young +married couple, on their social and domestic, as well as their +spiritual duties; and a simple, but well-arranged repast at Rodolph's +house completed the ceremonies of the day. + +It was about this time that the marriage of Henrich and Oriana was +celebrated in the distant wilderness, where all the outward +circumstances were so different, and where no prescribed forms could be +observed, to render the simple ceremony legal or impressive. And, yet, +surely it was as sacred and as binding to those who then plighted their +faith to each other as if it had been performed with all the rites of +civilized life. The vows of Henrich and his Christian bride were made +in the presence of that God who instituted marriage, and hollowed it; +and they were sanctified by the 'prayer of faith,’ which rises as +freely, and as acceptably, from the wilderness as from the stately +cathedral. Had Edith and her much-loved brother known that their +earthly fate was thus being decided so nearly at the same period, how +would the supplications which they offered for themselves have been +mingled with prayers for the happiness of one another! + +A brief sojourn in her much-loved home was allowed to Edith after her +marriage; and then she gladly, but tearfully, left her parents, to +share the fortunes of him who would be more to her than father, or +mother, or brother, or sister, could be. The pinnace that belonged to +the colony was appointed by the Governor to convey Roger and his bride +to Massachusetts Bay, and land them as near as possible to their new +home in Salem; and thus Edith was spared the fatigue and difficulty of +a long and toilsome journey through the woods and the wilderness by +land. She was kindly and joyfully welcomed by her husband's friends and +admirers, who were already disposed to regard her with favor, and who +soon learnt both to love and respect her for her own many amiable and +estimable qualities. + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +'She was a woman of a steadfast mind, +Tender and deep in her excess of love.' + +The life of peace and tranquillity which Roger and his young bride +enjoyed in their new home, was not long permitted to be their happy +lot. The apprehensions that had been felt by Edith's anxious parents, +were but too soon realized; and, notwithstanding all the good advice +that he received at Plymouth, and all his own sincere resolutions to +avoid, if possible, all future disputes with the elders or the Boston +Church, Roger Williams again became the object of their persecuting +intolerance. + +The fact of his being again invited to Salem to assist the pastor, was +regarded as extremely offensive to the government of Boston: but when +Shelton died very shortly after Roger's arrival, and he was elected to +be the regular minister of the congregation, it was looked upon as a +sinful defiance of lawful authority, and one which demanded exemplary +punishment. An opportunity for this exercise of power soon occurred. +The township of Salem lain claim to a certain disputed piece of land, +and addressed a petition to the government of Massachusetts, in which +they demanded to be put in possession of it. But in consequence of the +recent act of the community with regard to Roger Williams's election, +the claim was unjustly rejected. The Salemers then, by the advice of +their pastor, wrote to all the other churches in the Bay, and requested +them to unite in a remonstrance to the government. This act was in +perfect accordance with the spirit of the puritanical principles, which +distinctly separated the church from the state; and it ought not, +therefore, to have given offence to any one. But their practice +differed greatly from their theory; and the feeling against Williams +was so strong that all the churches--the elders of which were opposed +to his opinions--now took part with the government of Boston against +him. + +This treatment so irritated the warm feelings of Williams, and so +keenly wounded his sense of justice and love of liberty, that he +required the Church of Salem to renounce all connection with the other +congregations; and even went so far as to refuse all intercourse with +his own church until this separation was agreed to. But strongly as the +Salemers were attached to their pastor, they could not consent to so +decisive a measure as he demanded; and, being vexed and dispirited by +the general disapprobation which their conduct had excited in the rest +of the colony, the greatest part of the congregation fell away from +him. + +This desertion grieved the heart of the zealous minister but it did not +discourage him, or subdue his determined spirit. He began to hold +spiritual meetings at his own house, which were attended by those +members of the church who fully concurred in his views, and who +considered that he had been treated with injustice. This proceeding +naturally aroused a strong party spirit in the town, and even +threatened to produce a permanent division in the church, as the +followers of Williams held themselves entirely aloof from the rest of +the congregation. + +Deeply did Edith lament this unhappy state of affairs. Her devotion to +her noble-minded husband, and the natural tendency of her own mind, led +her to sympathize entirely in his opinions and feelings; and her strong +sense of right and wrong caused her to condemn the injustice of the +government, and the weak, truckling spirit of the sister-churches. But +her judgement was more calm and dispassionate than that of Roger, and +her temper far less excitable. She therefore saw the impropriety, as +well as the danger, of, causing a schism in the church; and she used +all her powerful influence to induce her husband to give up these +irregular assemblies; and, without compromising his own opinions, to +endeavor to ward off the enmity of the men of Boston. + +She earnestly besought him again to leave the Congregation of Salem-- +the greater portion of which had already deserted him and his cause-- +and to return to Plymouth, where a safe and a happy home might yet be +afforded to them, and where no persecution for conscience' sake, need +be feared. But all her arguments and her persuasions were alike +ineffectual. On this one point she found her Roger firm and +inflexible--for on this point he felt that his honor and his conscience +were both concerned; and, even for Edith's sake; he could not act +contrary to their dictates. He knew that danger hung over his head; +and, though he would not shrink from it himself, he besought her to +seek a temporary refuge with her parents, and remain at Plymouth until +the threatened storm had blown over. But it was now Edith’s turn to +show herself firm and decided; and so clearly did Roger perceive that +separation would be to her a far greater trial than any other that +could befall her in his company, that he forbore to urge a measure that +it wrung his own heart to propose. + +At length the boding storm began to break over his head. For all his +supposed offences he was again summoned before the General Assembly at +Boston; and, in fear and anxiety, Edith saw him depart. She knew full +well that he would never renounce, or even soften down, his opinions, +through any fear of man; and she did not, for a moment, desire that he +should thus lower himself in her estimation and his own. But she also +knew the bitterness of the enmity felt towards him by the authorities +at Boston, and she could not repress her apprehensions of its +consequences. + +As she anticipated, Roger refused to acknowledge himself guilty of an +offence against the church or state; nor would he even yield one point +of his religious or political opinions, during a long disputation with +the celebrated pastor Hooker. He was, therefore, declared contumacious +by the government: and, with the assent of all the assembled clergy, +except his friend Elliot, he was banished from the territory of +Massachusetts. + +Six weeks were allowed him by the General Assembly to make his +preparations, and remove beyond the boundary of their dominions: but as +this term would have brought the time of his banishment to the winter +season, when such a journey would have been impracticable, he was +afterwards permitted to remain at Salem until the spring. + +With great apparent unconcern he returned to his home, where his fond +and admiring wife welcomed him with joy, and strengthened his spirit by +the cheerful manner in which she received the news of their sentence of +banishment. She had felt an undefined dread of something much more hard +to bear--of something which might possibly separate her husband from +her: but banishment _with him_ was only a change of home, and, let +their lot be cast where it might, she could be happy. Indeed, she +entertained a hope that. Roger would consent to remove to Plymouth, and +take up his abode there, which would have, given her extreme +satisfaction. But she soon found that this hope could not be +accomplished; for her enthusiastic husband had formed a design of +founding a church of his own, and of being entirely independent of all +government in spiritual matters. In order to carry out this purpose, he +daringly continued to hold the obnoxious assemblies in his own house, +and to instill his opinions into the minds of the many young and +zealous friends who gathered around him. These meetings were even more +numerously attended after his return from Boston than they were before +he was summoned to the bar of the General Assembly; for persecution and +injustice naturally recoil on the perpetrators of it, and the victim of +such harsh measures is sure to gain friends and supporters among the +warm-hearted and the generous. + +A report of these proceedings was carried to Boston, and also a rumor +of Williams's supposed plan for founding an independent church and +settlement in Narragansett Bay. It was even declared that some of his +friends had already gone off to the south, and were seeking, a fitting +spot on which to commence building. + +This information roused the fears, as well as the wrath, of the +government. The eloquence and abilities of Williams were well known to +the rulers, and they dreaded the influence that he would inevitably +exercise over the neighboring churches, if he established himself and +his followers in a district so contiguous to their own. They, +therefore, resolved to employ still more harsh and stringent measures +than had yet been attempted, in order to put a stop to his disorderly +proceedings, and prevent the further dissemination of his opinions. He +was, accordingly, once more summoned to the chief town; and, had he +obeyed the summons, he was to have been forcibly conveyed on board a +vessel then in the harbor, and sent off to England as a rebel and +schismatic, unworthy to dwell in the new settlement. + +When the summons arrived at Salem, Roger was ill, having caught a fever +from some members of his flock on whom he had been attending; and he +therefore replied, with truth, that it would endanger his life to +attempt the journey to Boston. His serious indisposition had occasioned +to Edith much anxiety and alarm; but now she was made to feel how often +those events which we regard as misfortunes are really 'blessings in +disguise'; and how frequently our merciful and all-seeing Father +renders them the means of our preservation from far greater evils. It +would be well if the conviction of this blessed truth were constantly +present to our minds. How many anxious cares would it disperse or +soothe, and how many thanksgivings would it call forth. + +Edith felt its truth, and its consolation, as she sat by the side of +her husband's couch, and wrote, from his dictation, the reply that +saved him from immediate compliance with the dreaded summons. Nothing +would have induced Roger to plead illness as an excuse for disobedience +unless it had actually existed: and his fearless spirit would probably +have led him into the snare that was laid for him. Edith knew this +secret danger; for Governor Winthrop, who had seen and admired her on +one of his visits to Plymouth, and who now kindly sympathized in her +feelings, had sent her a private note by the messenger, in which he +warned her of the danger that waited Williams at Boston, and desired +her, by some means, to prevent his appearing before the General +Assembly. Winthrop highly disapproved of the young minister's bold and +independent conduct; but he shrunk from so cruel an act as was resolved +on by his council. He did not, however, choose to declare his more +lenient judgement; and he adopted the plan of informing Roger's wife of +the fate that was designed for him, and leaving it to her judgement and +affection to take the proper measures to avert it. + +It was not until after the departure of the messenger, that Edith told +her husband of Winthrop's kind interference, and showed him his note. +The indignation of Williams at such a flagrant disregard of all common +justice was so great, that Edith feared it would bring on an accession +of the fever. It, however, acted in a perfectly contrary manner. He +slept well that night, and the following morning declared his intention +of setting off immediately to Boston, and there accusing the General +Assembly of their unlawful intention, and daring them to put it into +execution. + +'I will upbraid them with their injustice, and charge them with their +purposed crime!' he exclaimed; and his fine eyes flashed with +excitement, that almost made Edith fear that the fever had affected his +mind. 'I will appeal to God and man against their lawless cruelty,' he +continued; 'and rouse the whole colony to defend my right to liberty of +thought and action.' + +Oh, Roger!' cried his wife--and she caught his burning hand, and +pressed it to her throbbing heart--'cease such wild and desperate +words! Would you drive me to distraction, by thus throwing yourself +into the power of your bitter and relentless enemies? Who in Boston +would stand up to defend your cause? Who could deliver you from the +evil intentions of these cruel men? It is true that the Governor has +shown himself your friend--I should rather say, my friend--by giving me +this secret information; but he would not openly espouse your cause, or +resist the will of the Assembly. Why, then, should you spurn from you +the means of safety that have been so mercifully afforded, and tempt +Providence to leave you to your fate'? + +'Edith,' he replied--and the bright flush faded from his cheek, and the +fire in his eye died away, and he sank again upon his couch--'Edith, +you have subdued my spirit; or perhaps,' he added, smiling up in her +face, 'weakness has subdued it. I feel that I have no strength to +accomplish what I desire, and to show my persecutors that liberty of +thought and feeling is my birthright, and that I will never relinquish +the privilege. I must, therefore, submit to the will of One who is +wiser and mightier than I am; and believe me, my Edith,' he continued-- +as he saw the tears falling from her gentle eyes--'believe me, I do to +with perfect contentment now. The passion--the sinful passion--that +stirred me so mightily just now, is gone; and I feel the goodness of my +God in holding me back from the rash act I contemplated, and from +rushing upon dangers that I might indeed defy, but could not hope to +conquer. I will be calm, my love; and you shall devise some means for +my escape. I feel assured that still more violent measures will be +adopted by the Assembly to get me into their power; and now that I can +quietly reflect on the consequences of such an event, I am aware that +they would, probably, be our violent and indefinite separation. I could +not bear that, Edith; though I believe that I could bear much to +vindicate my honor.' + +How changed was Roger's countenance now! All passion--all excitement-- +was gone; and the natural sweetness of his disposition, and tenderness +of his heart, resumed their interrupted influence over his whole manner +and expression. Edith thought she had never either admired or loved him +so much as at this moment, when he had conquered his impetuous +feelings, and yielded his fiery impulse to show a bold resentment of +injury, to her influence and persuasions. + +‘Heaven bless you, my own Roger!' she exclaimed, 'and reward your +better resolution, by granting us many future years of united +happiness. But now we must think of the present, and provide for its +emergencies. I see clearly that there is now no safety for you in +Salem, and that a speedy flight can alone ensure your liberty. You have +made a great sacrifice for my sake; and I will also make one for yours. +I will not even ask to fly with you, for I could only be an encumbrance +to you at this inclement season of the year, and my presence here may +be of use to you. My heart rebels while I say it, Roger; but you must +go alone, and use every exertion to reach Plymouth as speedily as +possible. When you are safe beneath my father's roof, then will be time +enough to think of me. I feel no doubt that Governor Bradford will +afford you every assistance in his power; and, probably, will again +allow the vessel that brought us here in brighter days, to convey me +once more to you and to happiness.' + +Edith had tried to speak with steadiness and composure; and, so far, +she had succeeded tolerably well. But when she realized to herself the +time that must elapse before she could rejoin her husband, and all the +dangers and privations that might await him in the interval, her +calmness quite gave way, and she burst into tears of uncontrollable +agony. + +Roger strove to cheer her, and to point to the happy future that he +trusted was in store for them--if not on earth, yet assuredly in a +better world, where faithful hearts will never know the misery of +parting. But it was not until he had knelt with her in prayer, and had +humbly asked to meet the coming trial, and to be sanctified by it, that +her tears ceased to flow, and a smile of hope and resignation illumined +her interesting countenance. + +'I must act now, Roger,' she said, in a cheerful voice, as she rose +from her knees. 'Our time is short; and I must make such arrangements +for your comfort during your journey as are in my power. All other +things that are needful to you I will endeavor to send by sea to +Plymouth; or, if no opportunity occurs during the winter, you must have +patience until I can convey them myself.’ + +Her voice again trembled; and unbidden tears again rose to her eyes. +But she sought relief in occupation; and on the day after the morrow, +when Roger was to commence his toilsome journey at break of day, his +knapsack was ready, and stored with everything that would be most +requisite to his comfort. + +The moment of parting came; but we will not describe it. It was borne +by Edith as a devoted Christian wife can bear anything that is +necessary for the safety and welfare of her husband. But when he was +gone, and her swimming eyes could no longer see his beloved form, or +catch his last signal of farewell, the whole desolation of her own +position burst upon her: and Edith was, for a time, bowed down with +grief. She felt herself alone in the world, and she shrank from seeking +comfort or sympathy from any human being who was then near her. But +friends whom she could not then expect to see were near, and the +wounded heart found a balm and a consolation beyond its hopes. + +The very evening after Roger's departure, Edith's spirit was cheered by +the arrival of Elliot and his wife at her now dreary home. O, how she +welcomed them! and how deeply they sympathized in her distress and +anxiety! They had heard of the last summons that had been sent from the +General Assembly; and had hastened to Salem, in spite of the severity +of the weather to offer any assistance or counsel that might be needed +by either Roger or Edith. They rejoiced, with much thankfulness, when +they heard of his having escaped the cruel vengeance of his +adversaries; but their minds were filled with fear and anxiety, when +they reflected on the many perils that he might encounter on his long +journey, and the sufferings from cold, and hunger, and fatigue, that he +must endure in his present debilitated state of health. They did not, +however, add to Edith's anxiety by telling of their own, but exerted +themselves to cheer and rouse her, and lead her to place a perfect +trust in the over-ruling care of Him, without whose permission not even +a sparrow can fall to the ground. + +The wisdom of the plan that Edith had persuaded her husband to adopt +was soon but too apparent; for, in a few days, a pinnace arrived at +Salem, bringing an officer and attendants, who were commissioned by the +General Assembly to seize on the offending pastor, and convey him on +board a vessel that was lying at Nantasket, ready for sea. But this +cruel and arbitrary intention was happily frustrated. The officer came +to the dwelling of Williams, and had the mortification of finding that +he had been gone three days; nor could all his threats or persuasions +obtain from any of the inmates the least information concerning his +flight. He also sought out, and strictly interrogated, several of the +inhabitants of Salem, who were known to be the partisans of this +persecuted friend of liberty. But, although they were well acquainted +with his sudden departure and his destination, and some of the younger +men were even preparing to follow him, not one of them betrayed their +respected leader. + +The officer therefore returned to Boston, to report the ill-success of +his errand, which excited much wrath and vexation in the members of the +Assembly, but afforded secret satisfaction to the amiable Governor +Winthrop, who had unwillingly submitted to the decision of a large +majority of the government, and who had kindly exerted himself to +rescue from a cruel and unjust fate the man whose only fault consisted +in a determination to think for himself. + +Meanwhile, the fugitive was pursuing his slow and difficult way through +the woods and wilds to the south of Salem. But whither should he direct +his steps? Every road out of the district must lead him through the +territory of his foes and persecutors; and he dared not show in any of +the hamlets or villages, where his person and reputation were well +known, lest he should be seized and given up to the magistrates of +Boston. He, therefore, traveled chiefly by night, guided by the moon +and stars, and lay concealed in some damp covert, or rocky ravine, +during the day. The small stock of provisions that Edith had placed in +his knapsack was soon expended, and for some days he subsisted on the +nuts and berries that still remained on the trees. + +At length he felt himself safe from immediate pursuit, and changed his +course suddenly to the east. He emerged from the shelter of the woods, +and, hurrying across the open plain that skirted the bay, he found +himself at the spot which he desired to reach. This was a little cove +on the shore, surrounded on the land side by rocks, and only capable of +receiving a small boat into its tranquil harbor. As Roger approached +the water's edge, and stepped round the last point of rock that +concealed the inlet, he made a signal, which, to his great joy, was +instantly replied to from within. Day was just dawning over the far +horizon, and a dim twilight shone on the smooth and boundless ocean +that spread to the east. A few light strokes of an oar fell on Roger's +ear, and then he saw the white spray, and the dark form of a boat +emerging from the gloomy cavern that was formed by the overhanging +rocks. In a moment his hand was grasped in that of a friend, and all +his sense of loneliness vanished away. + +Seaton entreated him to lose no time in entering the boat, and leaving +the inhospitable shores of Massachusetts; and Williams gladly obeyed +him. The little shallop, which his friends at Salem had secretly +purchased, and sent by one of the most devoted of their number to meet +him at the appointed place, was well supplied with provisions and warm +clothing, which proved a most seasonable relief to Roger; but the most +acceptable part of its contents was a letter from Edith, informing him +of the welcome arrival of their friends, the Elliots, at Salem, and of +the futile efforts of the men of Boston to make him a prisoner. Edith +wrote more cheerfully than she felt; and she spoke of the happy time +when they would be reunited, and of her hopes that it was not far +distant, assuring him that she was willing--and trusted, ere long, to +be able--to follow him to any spot where he might fix his home. + +This letter, and the refreshment with which Seaton furnished him, +raised his drooping and exhausted spirits; and, at his friend's +request, he wrapped himself in the large boat-cloak that his provident +wife had sent for him and lay down to enjoy the first calm and +undisturbed repose that had been permitted to him since he left his +beloved home. + +Silently and rapidly the little boat glided over the calm surface of +the bay; and, ere long, it was opposite to the harbor of Boston, and +might be espied by some of the vessels lying there, Roger still slept +the deep sleep of exhaustion and security; but Seaton now required his +aid, and reluctantly aroused him to take a second oar, and speed the +shallop past the region of danger. Roger sprang to his feet, and seized +the oar, and the boat darted forward from the impulse of his now fresh +and powerful arm. It passed near several boats belonging to the +Bostoners; but the fugitive drew his large Spanish hat over his brows, +and hid his well-known form and dress beneath the folds of the ample +cloak, and thus escaped detection or observation. + +It was his intention to row down the bay as far as New Plymouth, where +he designed to visit Edith's parents and apprise them of all that had +befallen him; and also endeavor to prevail on Bradford to send a +vessel, as soon as the inclemency of the weather had subsided, to bring +his wife to her paternal home. He then proposed to go on with Seaton, +and any of the Plymouthers who would accompany him, and seek a +settlement further to the south, in some part of Narragansett Bay. But +this scheme was not permitted to be carried out. + +Towards evening, a fresh breeze sprang up from the east; and before +sun-set it blew so violently, that Roger and his companion had the +greatest difficulty in keeping their little vessel out at sea, and +preventing its being dashed on the coral reefs that girt that 'stern +and rock-bound coast.' Manfully they wrought at the oars; but their +strength was almost exhausted, and no creek or inlet offered them a +secure refuge. Still they persevered--for it was a struggle for life! +The least remission of their toil would have placed them at the mercy +of the wind, and they must have been driven violently against the +sunken rocks. + +At length, when the light of day was failing them, and they began to +give themselves up as lost, the keen eye of Roger espied an opening +through the foam-covered reef; and though it was narrow, and evidently +dangerous, he and Seaton resolved to make a desperate effort to pass +through it, and gain the smooth still waters that they knew must lie +between the rock and the shore. + +They breathed a fervent and heart-felt prayer for help from above, and +then commenced the fearful contest. The moment they turned the prow of +their shallop towards the shore, the light and buoyant little vessel +darted forward, impelled by both wind and tide, and mounted like a +seabird on the rolling waves. The dashing spray fell ever it, almost +blinding its crew, and the helm no longer had power to divert its +headlong course. + +'Now may He who rules the storm have pity on my Edith!' exclaimed +Roger, as he saw the fail extent of their peril, and not a fear for +himself crossed his steadfast soul. 'May the Lord of the winds and the +waves be our guide and protector, or the next minute will be our last!' + +He clasped his hands in prayer, and raised his kindling eye to the +frowning heavens above him. But his eye of faith could look through +those dark clouds, and see a Father's hand of love and mercy governing +and controlling the elements: and his spirit was at peace. + +'Now God be praised!' cried Seaton, as he drew a long shivering breath; +and snatching up both the oars, projected them on each side of the boat +to protect it from the rocks that bounded the narrow channel. 'We have +entered the passage; and, with Heaven's help, we shall yet be saved.' + +They had, indeed, dashed straight into the opening that divided the +reef, and through which the waves were rushing at a terrific rate; and +their only apparent chance of safety lay in the possibility of guiding +the little bark through the channel, without its being impelled against +the rugged sides. Williams caught one of the oars from his friend, and +both directed their whole strength to this object. There was a brief +interval of breathless suspense; and then the boat struck on a hidden +coral rock. It was but for a moment--another swelling wave lifted it +again, and rolled forward, bearing the little vessel on its summit into +the smooth water that lay, like a narrow lake, between the dangerous +reef and the flat sandy shore. + +But the peril was not yet over. The blow-on the rock, though momentary, +had been so violent as to spring a leak in the bottom of the boat; and +through this the water gushed up with fearful rapidity, threatening to +sink it before the shore could be reached. Again the oars were pulled +with the strength of desperation; and again the danger was averted. But +Roger Williams and his friend found themselves on a desert and +uninhabited coast, with a useless vessel, and no means of proceeding to +Plymouth. + +Still their lives had been providentially preserved, and they were +deeply grateful to the Divine power which had been exerted for their +rescue. And faith and courage, and bodily strength were their portion +likewise: and they did not despair. They slept long and soundly; and +the following morning, having ascertained that the boat was too +seriously injured to be repaired by any means at their command, they +resolved on abandoning it, and recommenced their journey on foot. + +The extreme difficulty of reaching Plymouth by land, and the wide +circuit from the course that he wished ultimately to pursue that must +be traveled in order to reach the settlement of the Pilgrim Fathers, +caused Williams to relinquish that part of his plan, and decide on +striking at once into the forest, and pursuing a south-westerly course +until he should arrive at Narragansett Bay. This would lead him through +the trackless woods, and the dreary wilds, inhabited only by the +barbarous and untutored red men. But from them he hoped to meet with +that hospitality and succor which was denied him by his fellow- +countrymen and fellow-Christians. + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +‘…Alas! to see the strength that clings +Round woman in such hours!…A mournful sight, +Though lovely! an o'erflowing of the springs, +The full springs of affection, deep and bright! +And she, because her life is ever twined +With other lives, and by no stormy wind +May thence be shaken; and because the light +Of tenderness is round her, and her eye +Doth weep such passionate tears--therefore, +She thus endures.' HEMANS. + +Without any guide, Roger and his faithful friend Seaton wandered +through the wilderness. They took from the stranded boat as much of +food and other useful articles as they could carry; but the provision +did not last long, and before they reached any Indian encampment they +were seduced to extreme want and suffering. Their clothes were drenched +by the frequent heavy rain, which so completely saturated the ground +and the dead branches that lay strewed upon it, as often to preclude +all possibility of lighting a fire. Their nights were passed on the +damp ground, or beneath any sheltering rock that they could find and +once a hollow tree afforded them a refuge from the storm that raged +around them, when no other was at hand. + +At length, after fourteen weeks of trial and hardship, they reached the +village of Packanokick, where dwelt Masasoyt, the aged Sagamore of the +Wampanoges. During the time that Williams had resided at Plymouth, he +had learnt the language of the natives; and on some of his visits to +the village of Mooanam, he had become acquainted with his father, +Masasoyt, the chief Sachem of the divided tribe. The regard and respect +with which his eloquence and his attractive manners had inspired the +younger Chieftain were fully shared by the Sagamore; and both prince +and people learnt to love and reverence the man who honored their +rights, respected their prejudices, and prayed to his God for their +welfare. + +His appearance in the village of Masasoyt was hailed with joy, and +regarded as a privilege by all the inhabitants. The Sachem received +both him and is way-worn companion with kindness and hospitality, and +gave them a chamber in his own lodge; which, if not remarkable either +for cleanliness or comfort, yet seemed a luxurious abode to men who had +passed so many days and nights in the unsheltered depths of the forest. + +On the following morning, when food and rest had somewhat restored the +exhausted strength of the travelers, Masasoyt invited Williams to a +private conference, in which he informed him that a serious quarrel had +again arisen between his tribe and that of Cundineus, the Chief of the +Narragansetts; and he entreated him to use all his powerful influence +with the latter to heal the present dissension, and prevent the dispute +from ending in open hostilities. Williams undertook this negotiation +with much satisfaction; for peace-making was not only in accordance +with his feelings, and with the duty of his profession, but he also +desired to secure the favor and protection of the Narragansett Chief, +on the borders of whose dominions he designed to fix his future home. +He, therefore, made no delay in setting out, with a few Indian +attendants, on the proposed expedition and in a few days, returned to +Packanokick with the welcome intelligence that the wrath of Cundincus +was appeased, and that he had listened favorably to the explanation of +his rival Chieftain. + +The old Narragansett Chief also was so captivated by the English +stranger, and so won by his peculiar eloquence, that we are told that +'the barbarous heart of the old prince loved him like a son to his +latest breath'; and his nephew and co-ruler, the young Miantonomo, also +regarded him as a friend, and placed in him a perfect confidence. + +'Let no one,' thankfully exclaimed Williams in his diary, 'mistrust +Providence--these ravens fed me in the wilderness!' + +But inactive repose was neither the wish nor the lot of Roger Williams; +and he earnestly desired to reach the spot where he proposed to found +his new settlement, and prepare a home for his beloved Edith; and from +whence, also, he hoped to be able to send a letter to Salem or to +Plymouth, which might allay the anxious fears that he well knew she had +so long been enduring. Since he had received the letter that Seaton +brought him from his high-minded wife, he had not had any opportunity +of conveying to her the intelligence of his own safety; or of hearing +from her whether her strength and spirits were supported under the +protracted trial of absence and anxiety. He knew, also, that ere this +time he had reason to believe himself a father; and his heart yearned +to be assured of the welfare of his wife and child, and to see them +safely lodged beneath the shelter of his own roof. It was a source of +extreme consolation to him, under all his feelings of anxiety, to +believe that his Edith had been cheered and supported by the presence +of Dame Elliot and her excellent husband, who, he felt assured, would +not leave her until she could be removed either to Plymouth or to her +husband's new abode: and to their kind care, and the protection of his +heavenly Father, he was contented to leave her, while he used every +effort to procure for her a safe and happy home, in which he could +hope, ere long, to welcome her. + +He, therefore, lost no time in concluding a bargain with Masasoyt for a +piece of land in the district called Seacomb[*], not far from the east +arm of Narragansett Bay; and thither he proceeded with Seaton, and +commenced building and planting. From this place, he found means to +convey intelligence, both to Salem and Plymouth, of the safe +termination of his perilous journey, and his intention to fix his +settlement on the piece of ground that he had purchased. His messengers +returned, after a considerable interval, and brought him a letter from +his now joyful wife, which gladdened his heart with the welcome news of +her health and safety; and that also of his little daughter Edith. This +name, she told him, had been given to the infant in accordance with +what she knew to be his wish; and his friend John Elliot--who, with his +wife, had resided chiefly at Salem since his departure--had performed +the rite of baptism. She further informed him that Governor Bradford, +on hearing of her lonely position, had kindly promised to send a vessel +for her; and, as the severity of winter had already partially subsided, +she was in daily expectation of the arrival of the pinnace, which would +carry her back to the happy home of her youth; and then she hoped the +time would not be long until she could rejoin her husband, and once +more be at peace. + +[Footnote: Now Reheboth] + +This letter called forth the lively joy and gratitude of Roger, and +animated him to fresh zeal and activity in all his proceedings at +Seacomb. He was also encouraged greatly by the arrival, at the same +time, of five of his most devoted adherents from Salem, who had no +sooner learnt from his Indian messenger, of his arrival at the place of +his destination, than they determined to accompany the friendly savage +on his return to Seacomb, and assist their friend and teacher in all +his labors for the formation of an independent settlement. + +All this visa cheering and satisfactory; but the trials of this +undaunted man were not over yet. His trusty messenger had brought him +another dispatch, which he had not yet attended to. He now opened it, +and found that it came from the Governor of Plymouth; and contained an +earnest injunction to him to abandon Seacomb, which, he informed him; +was included in their patent, and to remove to the other side of the +river that formed their boundary, where he could be free and +independent, like themselves. 'I accepted his wise counsel as a voice +from God,' wrote Williams: and he' immediately resolved to be guided by +it, and again commence his wanderings. + +In a frail Indian canoe, he and his companions rowed up the arm of the +sea, now called the river Seacock. They knew not where to land, or +where again to pitch their tent in the wilderness; but they were soon +guided by the friendly voices of a party of Narragansetts on the +opposite shore. These natives had recognized their friend Williams, and +now shouted out, in broken English, the welcome words, ‘What cheer?' +The sound fell like music on the ears of the desolate exiles; and, in +remembrance of the event, the spot of ground where they first landed on +the Narragansett territory received the name of _‘What Cheer?’_ which +it still retains. A spring, called _'Williams's Spring,'_ is also +shown by the present inhabitants of this district, in proud and +grateful memory of the spot where the founder of a future free state +first set foot on shore. + +The place where the wanderer landed was called by the Indians +Maushasuck; and it was made over to him by the generous Cundincus, as a +free and absolute possession, and also all the land included between +the rivers Pawtucket and Maushasuck.[*] This property he shared equally +with his present comrades, and also with some others who shortly after +joined him from Salem, and made their whole number amount to thirteen. +He did not reserve any advantage to himself, although the land actually +belonged to him alone; but divided it into thirteen equal portions, on +each of which a rude hut was immediately erected. These were soon +improved, and became a rising village, to which Williams gave the name +of Providence, in grateful remembrance of the Divine guidance and +protection which had brought him at length to 'the haven where he would +be.' + +[Footnote: Now called the Providence River.] + +He and his associates united themselves into a sort of 'town- +fellowship,' and independent church; and one of the first rules which +they laid down, for their future guidance and government, was that no +one should ever suffer, in that settlement, for conscience' sake. + +It was summer when the little village began to be built; and, before +the land could be cleared and prepared for cultivation, the season was +too far advanced to allow any hope of a corn-harvest. The new settlers +had, therefore, to endure the same poverty and privation that had been +the lot of the earlier planters in New England. They had no means of +obtaining any of the comforts of civilized life, except from Boston or +Plymouth: and as they possessed no vessel besides an Indian canoe, this +was a service of toil and much hazard. Still they did not repine, for +liberty was here their precious portion; and hope for the future +sustained them through the trials of the present time. + +But where was Edith? Where was that true-hearted woman while her +husband was thus struggling with difficulties and privations? She was +where both inclination and duty had led her--by his side; and smiling +at trials that she was permitted to share with him, and to lighten by +her presence. + +We must here revert to the time before Edith had been blessed by +receiving intelligence of her husband from Seacomb, and had so +cheerfully replied to the note which he wrote to her on a scrap of +paper torn from his pocket book. In order not to interrupt the history +of Roger's difficulties and their successful issue, we have not yet +narrated the trials that his exemplary wife had endured--and endured +with a resolution and fortitude equal to his own. + +When the joyful news of Roger's safety reached Edith at Salem, she was +slowly recovering from a long and dangerous illness, which anxiety and +sorrow had brought on her a few weeks after the birth of her child. +Through all her sufferings of mind end body, Dame Elliot had been her +nurse and her comforter; and she and her husband had sacrificed their +own domestic comfort, and their own humble but cherished home, to +lessen the sorrows of their afflicted friend. + +All the consolation that human sympathy and affection could afford to +Edith, was given by these true Christian friends; and all the spiritual +strength that the prayers end exhortations of such a minister as Elliot +could impart to a sorrowing spirit, were received, and gratefully +appreciated, by the object of his solicitude and care. But when weeks +and months had elapsed, and still no tidings came of the beloved +wanderer, what hope could be given to the desolate heart of Edith Her +friends had themselves given up all hope of Roger's having survived the +toils end privations of the journey; and how could they bid his wife +cheer up, and look for brighter days, which they believed would never +come? A letter which Edith received from her parents, by the captain of +a fishing-boat from Plymouth, too clearly proved that Williams had +never reached that settlement; and from that day the health and spirits +of his wife visibly declined. She did not give way to violent grief; +but a settled melancholy dwelt on her pale and lovely countenance, and +all the thoughtful abstraction of her early year, which happiness had +chased from her features, returned again. No object but her infant +seemed to rouse her; and then it was only to tears: but tears were +better than that look of deep and speechless sorrow that generally met +the anxious gaze of her friends, and made them, at times, apprehensive +for her reason. At length her physical powers gave way, and a violent +attack of fever brought Edith to the brink of the grave. + +During this period both Elliot and his wife devoted themselves, day and +night, to the poor sufferer, whose mind wandered continually, and whose +deeply-touching lamentations for the beloved one, whom she mourned as +dead, brought tears to the eyes of her faithful friends. They had no +hope of her recovery, nor could they heartily desire it; for they +believed her earthly happiness was wrecked for ever, and they could ask +no better fate for her than a speedy reunion with her Roger in a home +beyond the grave. + +Her child they looked on as their own, and cherished her with almost a +parent's love and care; while they resolved to bring her up in those +high and holy principles that had been so nobly contended for by her +unfortunate father, and so beautifully exemplified in the amiable +character of her mother. + +The fever ran high, and bore down all the strength--both moral and +physical--of its victim. At length, after days and nights of +restlessness and delirium, a deep and heavy sleep came on; and Edith +lay still and motionless for hours, while her untiring friends sat +watching her in silence, and offering up fervent prayers for the soul +that seemed to be departing. During this anxious period, a gentle knock +was made at the door; and Elliot, on opening it, was presented by +Edith's single attendant with the small packet that Roger's Indian +messenger had brought for her mistress. + +In trembling agitation, the pastor showed the direction--which he knew +to be in his friend's handwriting--to his wife: and now, indeed, they +lifted up their hearts to the God who heareth prayer, that He would be +pleased to recall the precious life that seemed to be fast ebbing away; +and to permit His tried and faithful servants again to be united, and +enjoy the happiness that yet might be their portion on earth. + +Noiselessly Elliot glided from the room--for he feared to awaken the +sleeper--and sought the friendly Indian, from whom he learnt the good +news of Roger's safety, and all the particulars that the red man could +relate concerning him. He then returned to Edith's chamber, and, in a +low whisper, communicated all that he had heard to his wife, and +consulted with her as to the best method of communicating the startling +tidings to Edith, should she ever awake from her present death-like +slumber. + +They were still engaged in earnest, but scarcely audible, conversation, +when Dame Elliot, who did not cease from watching her patient, observed +her open her large eyes, and fix them with a look of intelligent +inquiry on herself and her husband. She made a sign to him; and he +likewise was struck with the evident change in Edith's countenance, and +filled with hope that her reason had perfectly returned. This hope was +quickly confirmed by the invalid saying in a very low voice, but in a +collected manner-- + +'I have slept very long, and my dreams have been very painful. I +dreamt that I was alone in the world, and that an angel came to take my +soul where he had gone to dwell. And then--just as I bade farewell to +earth--a little form came between me and the angel, and held me back. +Where is that little being? Dame Elliot, let me look on her, that my +trembling spirit may be stayed. No, Roger; no--I must not ask to follow +you yet.' + +Edith seemed too weak for tears, or for any strong emotion; but she +closed her eyes, and slowly clasped her almost transparent hands upon +her breast, and looked so still and colorless, that she might have been +taken for a marble monument, but for the dark waving hair that fell +upon her pillow, and shaded her snowy neck. Dame Elliot took up the +infant from its little wicker cradle, and held it towards Edith, saying +gently-- + +‘Look up, my Edith, and bless the little being that God has given to +call you back to life and happiness.' + +_'Happiness!'_ murmured Edith. 'That word has no meaning for me! Duty +is my only tie to life.' + +But she did look up; and as her eyes were long end fondly fixed on the +unconscious features of the child, her own sweet look of gentleness +rose into them again, and she raised her feeble arms, as if to take the +infant. + +'And he will never see her,' she whispered. 'He will never look on his +child in this world.' + +Elliot thought that hope might now be given without danger; and he took +her wasted hand in his, and said-- + +'Edith, you have had much sorrow, and it has nearly brought you down to +the grave. But can you bear to feel the agitation of hope? Can you +listen calmly while I tell you that some tidings of your husband have +reached us, and that he was certainly alive after the time when you +believed him dead?' + +He paused, and looked anxiously to see the effect of this sentence; and +he was almost awed by the expression of Edith's countenance. It was not +agitation--it was not joy--it was not trembling uncertainty. But it was +a look of concentrated mental power and endurance, and of speechless +inquiry, that seemed to say, 'Now utter my sentence of life or death, +and do it quickly!' + +Dame Elliot could not bear it. Bursting into tears of deep emotion, she +beat down and imprinted a kiss on Edith's cold brow, while she +exclaimed, in broken accents-- + +'Yes! it is true, dearest Edith. You may live--and live, we hope, for +happiness as great as has ever been your portion.' + +'O, my God!' cried Edith-'this is too much!--too much of joy for one so +weak and faithless. But tell me, my friends--tell me all. I can bear it +now.' + +Gently and gradually Elliot prepared her for the blissful certainty of +her husband's safety; and when he found that illness had not greatly +weakened her natural strength of mind, and that she could bear the joy +that awaited her, he gave her Roger's own letter, and felt assured that +the tears she, at length, shed at the sight of his hand-writing, would +relieve and calm her over-burdened heart. + +In this he judged truly; for, though Edith was greatly exhausted after +this strong excitement, yet she passed a tranquil night, and was so +much recovered on the following morning as to be able to converse +composedly with her kind friends. The fever had passed away; and the +sense of restored happiness, joined to youth and a naturally good +constitution, had a rapid effect in renovating her strength and +spirits, and recalling a faint bloom to her cheek. + +Before the Indian set out on his return to Seacomb, she insisted on +seeing him, and herself delivering to him a letter to Roger, in which +she had carefully avoided all mention of her illness. She made +numerous inquiries of him relative to her husband's health and present +situation; and charged him to convey her packet safely, and tell his +employer that he had seen her and his child well and happy. She could +say this with truth; for so rapidly had she recovered, that the +inexperienced eye of the Indian could detect no remaining indisposition +in the slight and graceful form of the interesting pale-face, or any +trace of disease in the bright eye that smiled so kindly upon him. + +He departed with the friends of Williams, and earnestly did his wife +wish that it had been possible for her to accompany them, and join her +husband at once. But this could not be; and she could only endeavor to +regain her strength, so as to be able to proceed to Plymouth, as soon +as the promised vessel arrived. In due time it came: and bidding her +kind and devoted friends an affectionate farewell, Edith and her child +embarked, with all the little property that remained to her, and soon +found herself once more beneath the peaceful roof of her parents. + +Until she arrived at Plymouth, she was not aware of the fresh trial +that had befallen her husband, in being compelled to abandon his +settlement at Seacomb, and remove into the Narragansett district. This +change was distressing to her, as it net only placed the lines of her +future habitation at a greater distance from her parents and friends at +New Plymouth, but also removed it further from all civilized life, and +into a district inhabited by a tribe whom she had learnt to dread from +her childhood, as the rivals and foes of the friendly Wampanoges. +Still these considerations did not, in any measure, abate her eagerness +to fellow Roger, and take her part in all his toils and anxieties. The +winter had passed away, and, though far from genial, the weather was +more tolerable for travelling; and Edith resolved to set out. + +All the arguments and entreaties of Helen and Rodolph to induce her to +delay her journey for some months, were ineffectual. Her husband lived; +and he was suffering hardship--and could she remain separated from him, +now that her own strength had been restored? The only concession she +could be persuaded to make, was to wait until some friend from Plymouth +was found to accompany her. Gladly would her father have done so; but +he was suffering so severely from the ague that so often attacked the +settlement in the spring months, as to be perfectly incompetent to +attempt the toilsome journey. No vessel could now be procured, and it +was on foot that Edith proposed to traverse the wide extent of +wilderness that stretched between Plymouth and Roger's place of refuge. + +Two faithful and active Indians were appointed by Mooanam to be her +guides, and to carry the infant which she would not consent to leave +behind her; and, in order that this might be accomplished with greater +facility, Apannow provided her with one of the Indian cradles--or, +rather, pouches--in which the red squaws so commonly carry their young +children on their backs. This was thickly lined with soft and elastic +bog-moss, and well adapted to the purpose for which it was designed. + +All was prepared, and the impatient Edith only waited for a companion +from among her own countrymen, who were all so much occupied at that +busy season as to feel little disposed to undertake so long a journey. +But she found one at length who was sufficiently interested in her +happiness, and that of her husband, to leave his home and his +occupations, and offer to be her protector. This was the excellent +Edward Winslow, who had been her father's constant friend ever since +their first emigration, and who bad also learnt to know and value Roger +Williams, during his residence at Plymouth. + +With such a companion, Edith felt she had nothing to fear; and her +anxious parents committed her to his care with greater confidence than +they would have done to that of any other protector. His natural +sagacity, his courage, and his knowledge of the Indians and their +language, rendered him peculiarly suitable for the enterprise; and his +warm friendship for Rodolph and all his family, and the lively powers +of his pious and intelligent mind, ensured to Edith both a kind and an +agreeable fellow-traveler. + +Nevertheless, it was not without many prayers and tears that Helen saw +her daughter once more leave her childhood's home, and commence her +journey. But Edith's spirits were joyous, and her hopes were high; and +her child lay smiling contentedly in its strange nest, which was slung +on the shoulders of one of the Indian guides. The other carried a +small stock of provisions, and other necessaries, and thus the little +party set forth. + +We will rot follow them, day by day, in their fatiguing journey; but +merely state that its length and difficulty exceeded even the +expectations of Edith and her companion; but never damped the +persevering courage of the former, or drew from her a complaint, or a +wish to return. She only felt that every step, however rough and +toilsome, carried her nearer to the object that was dearest to her on +earth; and this conviction supported her when otherwise her strength +must have failed. + +Sometimes an Indian wigwam afforded her rest and shelter; but, +frequently, a bed of dry leaves, and a roof of boughs, were the best +lodging that Winslow and the Indians could provide for her and her +little infant. Happily the weather was calm and mild, and the season +sufficiently advanced to enable the Indians to find a quantity of +nutritious roots, which, with the meal, or nokake, that they carried +with them--or procured from the natives by the way--formed the chief +subsistence of the party. Occasionally, their fare was improved by a +wild turkey, or wood duck; or, perhaps, a squirrel or hare, that Winslow +brought down with his gun; but often the day's journey was performed +with no other refreshment than a few spoonsful of dry meal, and a +draught of cold water, until something more nourishing could be procured +at their place of repose for the right. + +Roger Williams was standing one evening on the bank of the river, or +rather, arm of the sea, called Seacock, near the spot where he had +first landed, and to which he had given the name of 'What Cheer?' He +was examining the landing-place, and contriving some means of turning +it into a sort of harbor for canoes that belonged to the settlers in +his new village, when his attention was attracted to the other side of +the river, by hearing his own name loudly called by native voices. He +looked to the spot, and saw two Indians plunge into the water, and swim +rapidly towards him: and, as they did so, he also observed two other +figures emerge from a grove of trees that reached nearly to the eastern +brink of the inlet. + +The distance was considerable, but Roger's keen eye could discern that +one of them was a female form; and, as they approached nearer to the +water's edge, and the rays of the evening sun fell brightly upon them, +he also saw that the arms of that graceful and familiar form carried an +infant. + +‘Surely it is an illusion!' he exclaimed. I have so long pictured to +my mind that blessed sight, that at length my fancy seems realized. It +cannot be!' + +But again his name was called--not now with an Indian accent, but in +the manly English tones of Edward Winslow 'Bring down a canoe, Roger!' +he shouted across the Water. 'Edith and your child cannot swim this, +arm of the sea.' + +It was then true! Edith--his beloved wife--was there and only that +narrow inlet divided them! The Indians had sprung to the shore, and +were waiting his directions, to go in search of a canoe; but for a few +moments he did not regard them, so riveted were his eyes, and all his +senses, on the opposite shore. But now he remembered that only by means +of a boat could he attain that shore; and making a signal of wild joy +and welcome to Edith, he hurried up the creek with the Indians, and +rapidly unloosed the moorings of his canoe, which lay securely behind a +projecting rock. He leaped into it, leaving the natives on the shore, +and paddled the canoe swiftly down the creek, to the spot where Edith +stood waiting to receive him, trembling with agitation and joy. + +When the first burst of emotion, at this, long-desired meeting with his +wife and hitherto unknown child, had subsided, Roger warmly welcomed +the friend who had so kindly protected them during their long journey, +and brought them to the wild spot that was now his only home. He then +led them to the canoe, and, with Winslow's assistance, soon rowed them +to the other side, and conducted them to his, infant settlement. + +The huts were indeed erected, and covered in with shingle roofs; but +their appearance promised little of outward comfort to Edith. Yet an +inward joy and satisfaction were now permitted to her, which, at one +time, she had never hoped to enjoy again on earth; and all externals +were as nothing when compared with this. Nevertheless, she exerted +herself with all a woman's taste and skill to arrange the simple +furniture of the hut, and even to add a something of decoration; and +both her husband and Winslow wondered at the improvement which she soon +effected in the appearance of the dwelling, and the ingenuity with +which she converted the rudest materials into articles of use or +ornament. + +Her joyous spirits, and active moments, gave a life and animation to +the hitherto dreary scene; and Roger felt that he had, indeed, in her a +helpmate, who would cheer the loneliest situation, and shed a grace and +charm ever poverty itself. + +Winslow appreciated all her excellent and amiable qualities very highly +also; and yet he lamented the lot of both his friends, who had to +endure, in this comparative solitude, all the struggles, and all the +hardships, that the Pilgrim Fathers had once encountered, and had now +conquered. + +But the visit of this, 'great and pious soul,' as Roger described +Edward Winslow, very greatly cheered the heart of the exiles. He +remained for many weeks in the new settlement; and only left it when +the advance of the season warned him that the short Indian summer was +drawing to an end. A vessel which arrived at that time from Plymouth, +and which brought the wives and families of several of the settlers, +afforded him the means of returning by sea, and avoiding the tedious +land journey. He departed, with the thanks and blessings of his +friends, to convey to Edith's, parents the happy intelligence that she +was both well and happy, and that it was evident her cheerful spirit +had power to sustain her through every difficulty by which she might be +surrounded. + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +'Epictetus says: "Every thing hath two handles." The art of taking +things by the right handle, or the better side--which charity always +doth--would save much of those janglings and heart-burnings that so +abound in the world.' ARCHBISHOP LEIGHTON. + +For a long period an unbroken peace had subsisted between the English +settlers and the native tribes. But this could no longer be maintained, +and a succession of petty injuries and mutual misunderstandings brought +about a state of hostility that the Pilgrim Fathers had labored--and, +generally, with success--to avert. + +Their kind and equitable treatment of the Indians had not been, as we +have had occasion to show, adopted by the later emigrants, and doubt +and suspicion had taken the place of that confidence and respect with +which the red men had soon learnt to regard the settlers of New +Plymouth. + +The recent colony of Connecticut, which was composed of bands of +settlers from Plymouth and Massachusetts, and also a few Dutch +planters, first came into hostile collision with the natives. The +settlers of New Plymouth had entered upon an almost deserted land; +those of Massachusetts had ensured to themselves safety by their +superior strength; and those among the Narragansetts were protected +from injury by the friendly feelings of the neighboring Indians. But +the settlement of Connecticut was surrounded by hardy and hostile +races, and could only enjoy security so long as the mutual hatred of +the native tribes prevented them from uniting against the intruders. + +In the extreme west of the Narragansett district, and near the entrance +of Long Island Sound, dwelt a powerful division of the Pequodees; of +that race of red warriors whose pride and ambition caused them to be +both feared and hated by the other tribes in the vicinity. They could +bring upwards of seven hundred warriors into the field, and their +Chief, Sassacus, had, in common with almost all the great Indian +Sagamores, a number of subordinate chiefs, who yielded to him a certain +degree of obedience. The Narragansetts were the only tribe that could +at all compete in strength with the fierce and haughty Pequodees; and +their young Chieftain, Miantonomo, was already regarded by Sassacus as +a dangerous rival. + +Such was the feeling that existed among the tribes near the settlements +of Connecticut, when an event occurred that disturbed the peace of the +whole community. Two merchants of Virginia, who had long dwelt in +Massachusetts, and who were engaged in trafficking with the Connecticut +settlers, were suddenly and treacherously attacked by a party of +Pequodees, and, with their attendants, barbarously murdered. And +shortly afterwards another trader, named Oldham, met the same fate, +being assassinated while he was quietly sleeping in his boat, by some +Indians who had, but an hour before, been conversing with him in a +friendly manner. This latter murder did not take place actually among +the Pequodees, but on a small island belonging to the Narragansetts, +called Block Island. But the inhabitants denied all knowledge of its +perpetration, and the murderers fled to the Pequodees, by whom they +were received and sheltered. A strong suspicion, therefore, lay on +them as being guilty of the latter crime, as well as the former. + +The government of Massachusetts immediately resolved on punishing the +offenders, and a troop of eighty or ninety men were sent off to Block +Island, to seek for the murderers. The natives endeavored to oppose +their landing; but, after a short contest, they fled, and hid +themselves in the woods. For two days the Boston soldiers remained on +the island, burning and devastating the villages and fields, end firing +at random into the thickets, but without seeing a single being. They +then broke up the canoes that lay on the beach, and sailed away to the +country of the Pequodees to insist on the guilty individuals being +delivered to them and, on this condition, to offer peace. But neither +the murderers nor their protectors were to be found. All had fled to +the forests and the marshes, whither the English could not follow +them, and they merely succeeded in killing and wounding a few +stragglers, and burning the huts that came in their way. + +This fruitless expedition rendered the Pequodees bolder than ever, and +the neighboring towns were harassed by their nightly attacks, and, +notwithstanding all their precautions, and the patrols that were set on +every side, the savages fell on the whites whenever they were at work +in the distant fields. They slew the men with their tomahawks end +dragged their wretched wives and daughters away to captivity; and thus, +in a short time, thirty of the English settlers had become the victims +of their fury. Meanwhile, messengers were sent to Plymouth and +Massachusetts, to implore their aid, and the latter state promised two +hundred soldiers, and the former forty, which were as many as its small +population could afford. + +The Pequodees, dreading the power of the English, endeavored to move +the Narragansetts--who had from the most distant times been their +rivals and enemies--to join them in an offensive and defensive alliance +against the white men, whom they represented as a common foe to the +Indians, and the future destroyers of their race. + +This intended confederation was discovered by Roger Williams, who spent +much of his time in visiting the Indian villages and instructing the +natives, with all of whom he obtained a remarkable degree of influence. +This noble-minded and truly Christian-spirited man immediately seized +the opportunity of repaying with benefits the heavy injuries that he +had received from the Massachusetts; and, with an admirable magnanimity +and self devotion, he set himself to prevent the dangerous alliance. + +The government of Massachusetts were well aware that Williams was the +only man who could effect this desirable object; and, on hearing from +him of the schemes of Sassacus, they immediately requested the former +victim of their unjust persecution to employ his influence with the +natives for the benefit of his countrymen: and well and zealously be +complied with this request. He left his now comfortable home, and all +the various employments that occupied his time, and travelled +restlessly from place to place, defying the storms and the waves, in a +miserable canoe; and meeting, with an undaunted courage, the assembled +parties of hostile tribes whom he sought, at his own extreme peril, to +bring into alliance with the English. He succeeded in his patriotic +object, and, after along doubtful negotiation, he persuaded the +Narragansetts to refuse the proffered coalition with the Pequodees. +Their young chief, Miantonomo, even went a journey to Boston, where he +was received with distinguished marks of honor and respect, and signed +a treaty which allied him to the settlers against his own countrymen. + +The troops from the river-towns assembled together, and went down the +Connecticut to attack the Pequodees in their own land. Their numbers +were but small--not exceeding eighty men--as each town furnished a much +weaker force than had been promised. But they were joined by a band of +the Mohicans, a hardy race inhabiting the valleys of the Connecticut, +and who had been alienated from the Pequodees by the oppression and +arrogance that had excited the enmity of so many other tribes. The +combined forces of the English and Indians were placed under the +command of Captain Mason, a brave and intelligent officer who had +served in the Netherlands under General Fairfax. + +The detachment that was expected from New Plymouth was not ready to +march at the time of the troops taking the field. Captain Standish, +therefore, did not set out himself; but he allowed such of his brother- +soldiers as were ready, to precede him, and take part in the +commencement of the campaign. Among these, Rodolph Maitland, who still +retained all the fire and energy of his youth, was the foremost; and he +led a little band of brave companions to the place of rendezvous. The +learned minister Stone--the friend and colleague of Hooker--accompanied +the troops from Boston; for a band of Puritanical warriors would have +thought themselves but badly provided for without such spiritual aid. + +The instructions of the government of Connecticut directed Mason to +land in the harbor of Pequod,[*] and thus attack the Indian forces on +their own ground. But he found the natural strength of the place so +much greater than he expected, and also observed that it was so +watchfully guarded by his enemies, that he resolved to pass on to the +harbor in Narragansett Bay; and, after having strengthened his forces +with the warriors promised by Miantonomo, to attack the Pequodees from +thence. A circumstance occurred here that is so characteristic of the +time, and of the manners of the Puritans, that it must not be omitted. +The officers under Mason were dissatisfied with this alteration in the +plan of the campaign, and asserted that the instructions given to the +commander ought to be literally followed. It was, therefore, resolved +to refer the question to the minister, who was directed 'to bring down +by prayer the responsive decision of the Lord.' Stone passed nearly the +whole night in prayer and supplication for wisdom to decide the matter, +and the next morning declared to the officers that the view taken by +their leader was the right one; on which they all submitted without a +murmur. + +[Footnote: Now Newhaven] + +The Indian reinforcements continued to increase. Miantonomo brought two +hundred warriors, and other allied tribes joined them on their march, +until the number of native auxiliaries amounted to five hundred. In +these Mason placed little confidence, and would gladly have awaited the +arrival of the forty men from Plymouth, who were already at Providence +on their way to join him. But his men were eager to attack the savages, +and the Indians taunted him with cowardice for desiring to delay the +conflict; and he was forced to advance at once. + +The great strength of the Pequodees consisted in two large forts, in +one of which the redoubted Chief, Sassacus, himself commanded. The +other was situated on the banks of the Mystic, an inconsiderable river +that runs parallel to the Connecticut. These Indian forts or castles +consisted of wooden palisades, thirty or forty feet high, generally +erected on an elevated situation, and enclosing a space sufficiently +large to contain a considerable number of wigwams for the aged men--or +whiteheads--and the women and children. + +These two fortresses were the pride and the confidence of the +Pequodees, who believed them to be invulnerable; as, indeed, they had +hitherto found them to the assaults of their own countrymen. And the +other Indian tribes appeared to hold them in the same estimation; for +when they found that it was Mason's intention to march directly to the +fort on the Mystic, their courage failed completely. They were only +accustomed to the Indian mode of warfare, which consists in secret +attacks and cunning stratagems; and the idea of braving the terrible +Pequodees in their strongholds, overpowered their resolution. The very +warriors who, only the day before, had boasted of their deeds, now were +crest-fallen, and cried out, 'Sassacus is a God; he is invincible!' and +they deserted in troops, and returned to their own dwellings. Thus the +English found themselves deprived of at least a hundred of their +Narragansett allies. The rest remained with them, as did also the +Mohicans; but their fear of the Pequodees was so great, that Mason could +only employ them as a sort of rear-guard. + +Meanwhile, these haughty Indians were exulting in their supposed +security, and indulging in songs and feasting. They believed that the +English were terrified at their strength and reputed numbers, and had +fled from the intended place of landing in Pequod harbor in fear, and +had abandoned their enterprise altogether. They, therefore, amused +themselves with fishing in the bay; and then inviting their allies to +join their revels, they passed the night in vaunting of their own great +actions, and defying the cowardly whites. + +We have seen that their assuming arrogance had aroused the jealousy and +hatred of most of the neighboring tribes; but there were still a few +who adhered to their cause, and were willing to unite with them against +the British intruders. Among those, none were more powerful or more +zealous than the Nausetts--that tribe which had so greatly harassed and +annoyed the first settlers at Plymouth, and which still retained the +same feelings of enmity that had then influenced them. The presence of +Henrich among that portion of the tribe that was governed by Tisquantum +had, indeed, secured to himself the respect and regard of almost the +whole community; but it had not weakened the strong prejudice that +they, as well as the main body of their tribe, entertained against his +race, or lessened their ardent desire to rid the land of the powerful +invaders. + +Sassacus was well acquainted with the sentiments of his Nausett allies, +and he had lost no time in securing the co-operation of the Sagamore of +the tribe, as soon as he knew that the British troops were preparing to +attack him, and he had, also, dispatched a swift messenger to meet +Tisquantum and his warriors, and entreat them to use all possible +expedition to join him in his own fortress, and assist in defending it +against his enemies. + +With the present position and intended movements of Tisquantum's party, +the Pequodee Chief was perfectly conversant; for there was one in his +castle who was acquainted with the plans of the Nausetts, and had only +left their councils when their camp was pitched on the banks of the +great Missouri. + +This individual had reasons of his own, besides his wish to strengthen +his countrymen against the English, for desiring the presence of +Tisquantum's warriors in the approaching contest. He hoped to place +Henrich in such a position, that he would have no alternative but +either to lead the Nausetts against his own people or to excite their +distrust, and even hatred, by refusing to do so. He expected, and +wished, that he should adopt the latter course; for he knew that he had +himself still many secret adherents in the tribe, who would gladly make +this an excuse for withdrawing their allegiance from the white Sachem, +and bestowing it on him; and thus, at length, the long-sought object of +his restless ambition might he attained. And then--then revenge!--that +burning passion of his soul--might quickly be also satiated! + +It was now many months since Coubitant had escaped the punishment that +was due to his many crimes, and had fled from the wrath of Tisquantum. +But he had contrived to keep up an exact knowledge of the movements of +the tribe, and even an intercourse with his own treacherous partisans. +Often, indeed, as the Nausetts traveled slowly across the wide plain +between the Missouri and the Mississippi, that well-known and terrible +eye of fire was fixed upon them from the elevated bough of some thick +tree, or from the overhanging summit of a neighboring rock; and often +at night, when the camp was sunk in the silence of repose, his guilty +confederates crept forth to meet him in some retired spot, and form +plans for the future. + +In this way Coubitant dodged the path of the Nausetts while they +traversed the forests and savannas, the lulls and the valleys, that led +them at length to the great lake, now so well known as Lake Superior. +Here they encamped for a considerable time, in order to construct a +sufficient number of canoes to carry the whole party across it and +also, by following the chain of lakes and rivers that intersects that +part of the great continent, and ends in Lake Ontario, to enable them +to land at no very great distance from their own native district. + +When the little fleet set out on its long and circuitous voyage, +Coubitant actually contrived to be one of the passengers. His partisans +secured a canoe to themselves; and, pretending that some of their +arrangements were incomplete, they lingered on the shore until the rest +of the boats were nearly out of sight. They then summoned their leader +from his place of concealment, and, giving him a seat in the canoe, +followed at their leisure. Thus he performed the whole of the voyage; +and when the tribe landed on the eastern shore of Ontario, and +recommenced their wanderings on land, he left their route, and hastened +forward to try and contrive some schemes that could further his own +views. + +The news of the war between the English and his old friends, the +Pequodees, soon reached him; and, in an incredibly short time, he +arrived in their country, and joined Sassacus in his fortified village. +It was he who travelled from thence to the head-quarters of the +Nausetts, near Cape Cod, and secured their assistance in the coming +conflict; and then returned in time to send a trusty emissary to meet +Tisquantum, and deliver to him a courteous message from Sassacus. + +This message had the desired effect; for Tisquantum called a council of +his braves, and submitted to them the request of their powerful ally, +that they would fight with him against the Narragansetts. The emissary +was instructed to say nothing of the quarrel with the English; for +Coubitant wished to get Henrich into the power of the Pequodees, before +he became aware of the service that was to be required of him; and he +trusted that no intelligence would reach him in the desolate country +through which he and his warriors would have to march. + +All the assembled council were unanimous in their decision, that the +request of Sassacus should be complied with; and Tisquantum then turned +to Henrich, who sat beside him, and said-- + +'My son! the days are past when I could lead forth my warriors to the +battle, and wield my tomahawk with the best and the bravest. I must sit +in my tent with the children and the squaws, and tell of the deeds that +I once could perform, while my young braves are in the field of fight. +You must now be their leader, Henrich; and let them see that, though +your skin is fair, you have in your breast an Indian heart.' + +'I will, my father,' replied the Young Sachem. 'Your warriors shall be +led into the thickest of the battle, even as if your long-lost Tekoa +went before them with his glancing spear. Tisquantum shall never have +cause to feel shame for the son of his adoption.' + +'I know it, my brave Henrich,' said the old Chief, 'I know that the +honor of Tisquantum's race is safe in your hands; and that you will +fight in defence of my ancient friends and allies, even as I would have +fought in the days of my young strength. Come away, now; my warriors +must prepare to go with the messenger of the great Sassacus. No time +must be lost in giving him the aid he asks; and you, my son, will be +ready by to-morrow's dawn to lead them on their way. I cannot go with +you, for these feeble limbs are unfit to travel at the speed with which +you must cross the forests and the plains; neither could the women and +children bear it. We will follow the course that we designed to take, +and go to the land of my fathers in the far east; and there we will +wait for our victorious warriors.’ + +As Tisquantum said this, he left the hall of council, which consisted +of a shadowing maple tree, and led his companion to the hut of boughs, +in which Oriana and Mailah sat anxiously awaiting the result of the +conference. They did not regret when they heard that their husbands +were to hasten to the scene of war, for they were Indian women, and +could glory in the deeds of their warriors. But when they were informed +that the main body of the tribe was to pursue the intended route +towards Paomet,[*] their grief and disappointment were very great. + +[Footnote: Cape Cod] + +'Must I leave you, Henrich?' exclaimed Oriana. 'Must I know that you +are in the battle-field; and wounded perhaps, and wanting my aid, and I +far away? Let me go with you! You know that Oriana can bear danger, and +fatigue, and hardship; and with you there would be no danger.' + +'It cannot be,' replied Henrich, gently but decidedly. 'Your father +cannot travel, as we must do, with no respite or repose; and you, my +Oriana, could not leave him and our boy. You must go with them to +Paomet, my love; and prepare a home for me after the fight is done. The +camp of the fierce Pequodees is no place for you.' + +Oriana felt that her husband was right; and she said no more. But she +did not the less sorrowfully assist him in his preparations for the +journey and the battle, or feel less keenly the grief of separation +when, at daybreak on the following morning, he and his warriors were +ready to set out. + +'My son,' said Tisquantum, as he grasped the hand of Henrich, 'I have +one request--I would rather say command--to impress upon you before we +part. Let it not be known in the camp that you are a pale-face. I know +that your good arm will bring glory on yourself and those who follow +you; and I would have that glory belong to my own people, among whom +you have learned to fight. I ask it also for your own sake; for in the +camp of Sassacus there may be some who regard your race with jealousy +and hatred, and would not bear to see a pale-face excelling the red +men. You may trust my warriors. They look on you as they would have +done on my Tekoa. But you may not trust either our Indian friends, or +our Indian foes.' + +Henrich regarded this precaution as needless; yet, when Oriana joined +her entreaties to those of her father, he readily gave the promise +required. His costume and accoutrements were strictly native; and +constant exposure to the air and sun had burnt his skin almost to a +copper color. But his eyes were a deep blue; and his hair, though now +dark, had a rich auburn glow upon it, that differed greatly from the +jet black locks so universal among the Indians. To hide this, Oriana +gathered it up into a knot on the top of his head in native fashion, +and covered it with a close black cap. Over this his Sachem's coronet +of feathers was placed; and it would have required a very scrutinising +and suspicious eye to have detected the disguise. The blue eyes alone +gave intimation of an European extraction; and they were so shaded by +long black lashes, and had an expression so deep and penetrating, that +few could discover of what color they were. The tongue of Hannah, too, +had learnt to speak the Indian language with a pure, native accent, +that no one could acquire who had not been brought up among the red +men; so that there was little fear of his being known for a pale-face, +amid the excitement and confusion of the war. + +The warriors departed; and Tisquantum's party resumed their journey, +though not so joyously as before their separation from those who were +going to meet danger, and, perhaps, death. + +With unremitting speed, the Nausett braves pursued their way, and +reached the land of the Pequodees before the campaign had begun. +Sassacus had, as we have seen, taken up his position in one of his +boasted forts, and he wanted no reinforcements there; for his presence +was regarded by his people as a panoply of strength. He, therefore, +sent to desire the Nausett detachment to march to Fort Mystic, and +assist the garrison there in defending it against any attack that might +he made. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +'Merciful God! how horrible is night! +…There the shout +Of battle, the barbarian yell, the bray +Of dissonant instruments, the clang of arms, +The shriek of agony, the groan of death, +In one wild uproar and continuous din, +Shake the still air; while overhead, the moon, +Regardless of the stir of this low world, +Holds on her heavenly way.’ MADOC. + +Henrich was now called on to perform the part of an Indian leader in an +Indian camp. It was no new position to him; for, during his years of +wandering with the Nansetts, he had taken an active part in many of the +wars that were being waged by the tribes among whom they had sojourned, +against their hostile neighbors. He, therefore, was fully conversant +with Indian modes of warfare; but he was as unaccustomed as his +followers were to the defence of a fortress, or to a pitched battle +between assembled forces in an open field. + +He had not been long at Fort Mystic ere he found that he was about to +be opposed to some of his own countrymen, and the information filled +him with grief and dismay. It is true, he had dwelt so long among the +Nausett Indians, and all his personal interests were so bound up with +theirs, that he felt as if they were indeed his kindred. But still his +heart yearned towards his own people and the friends of his childhood, +and the idea of being instrumental in shedding the blood of a Briton +was utterly repugnant to him. It was now, however, too late to retract. +He had pledged his word to Tisquantum that he would lead his warriors +bravely against the foes of his allies, and honor forbad him to decline +the post of their Sachem and commander. He therefore concealed his +scruples and anxieties in his own breast, and resolved to do what he +now felt to be his duty. It was with much satisfaction that he learnt, +from one of the Indian spies, that the detachment of troops from New +Plymouth had been unable to join the forces of their countrymen; for +thus he should be spared the trial of being placed in opposition to +those with whom, perhaps, he had been brought up in childhood. Towards +the other settlers be entertained a far less friendly feeling; as +reports of their cruel and unjust conduct towards the natives had, from +time to time, reached him during his residence in different parts of +the continent. + +The Pequodees and their allies treated him with respect and honor, as +the representative of their ancient friend Tisquantum; and if his +English blood was known to any of them, they made no remarks on the +subject. They did not dare to notice what such a man as the Nausett +Sachem appeared to be, chose to conceal. + +But it is certain that there was one in the fortress of Mystic whose +keen eye had penetrated the disguise, and to whom the features of +Henrich were so familiar, that he could even read his thoughts in his +open and ingenuous countenance. Coubitant was already in the castle +before the Nausett detachment arrived; and, while he dexterously +contrived to conceal himself from Henrich, he watched him narrowly, and +his eye was on him when he first became aware that English soldiers +were with the foes with whom he must contend. Then did the savage exult +in the painful struggle that he could perceive the news excited in his +rival's breast, and he hoped that the white Sachem would find some +pretext for leaving the fort, and deserting to his own countrymen. He +kept spies continually watching his every movement, with orders to +allow him full liberty to escape, but to follow and secure him before +his purpose could be effected, and bring him in bonds to receive from +Coubitant's own hand the punishment of a coward and a deserter. + +But he waited in vain for any such attempt on the part of the young +Sachem. Henrich never left the fortress, and employed himself in +endeavoring to keep his men from sharing in the revelry and wild +security of their countrymen. + +In this endeavor he had but little success, and Jyanough alone remained +with his friend, and took no part in the noisy songs and dances that +followed the feast, and con-tinned almost until midnight. + +Then a deep and profound stillness gradually succeeded to the barbarous +noises of the wild festival; and long before day-break the exhausted +revellers were all buried in a heavy sleep. Even the watch, whose +business it was to patrol round the fort, had that night carelessly +left their respective stations, and come inside the palisades to light +their pipes. Here they found none awake but the Nausett Sachem and his +friend, who were slowly walking among the weary and sleeping warriors, +attended only by a large and powerful dog. There was another wakeful +eye in the fortress, and that was even now fixed on Henrich. Bat he +whose dark soul looked forth from that singular eye, was himself +concealed from view, and was intently watching the object of his hatred, +and hoping that he would now attempt some act of cowardice or +treachery. + +Henrich and Jyanough approached the guard, who had thus thoughtlessly +left their post, and desired them immediately to return to their duty. +But while the men remonstrated on the uselessness of so strictly +keeping a watch, now that no present attack could be expected, they +were startled by the loud and furious barking of Rodolph, who had +wandered to the open gate, and thus gave ominous warning of approaching +danger. The terrified guard now reached to the gate, accompanied by +Henrich and Jyanough, when, to their dismay, they beheld in the faint +moonlight a large body of men approaching close to the fort. + +They easily discerned that the foremost of the troop were Europeans; +and they raised a loud cry of ‘Owannux! Owannux!’--Englishmen! +Englishmen!--which quickly aroused the sleepers, and brought them +towards the gate. In the next minute the fort was thickly hemmed in by +the British force, and a second dense ring was formed beyond them by +their Indian allies. + +The main entrance was soon forced by the swords and muskets of the +vigorous assailants; and, though the Pequodees fought with all the fury +of despair, they were driven back, and compelled to retreat towards the +wigwams. They were closely pursued by their foes; and, at length, threw +themselves into the huts, which contained the terrified women and +children, and resolved to defend them to the last gasp. While the +murderous strife continued, the light of day began to dawn; and soon +the full glow of the rising sun revealed the work that had been done in +darkness. The ground was strewed with dead and dying Indians; but the +band of English warriors was yet unbroken, and was fiercely bearing +onward towards the wigwams. Their numbers were small, indeed, when +compared with those of their opponents; but the latter had no +firearms, and a panic seemed to have struck them from the force and +suddenness of the attack. Still they defended the lines of wigwams with +desperation, until Mason, with amazing boldness, entered one of them, +and, seizing a brand from the hearth, set fire to the roof of reeds. An +Indian warrior was in the act of levelling his arrow at him, when an +English officer sprang forward, and cut the string of the bent bow with +his sword. + +This officer caught the eye of Henrich; and, though he knew not why, +riveted it by a strange and unaccountable attraction. He was a noble- +looking man; and, though his dark hair was slightly tinged with grey, +his muscular limbs had apparently lost none of their force, and his +spirit none of its courage and energy. + +So fixedly was the attention of Henrich fastened on the gallant +soldier, that, for a time, he was regardless of the battle that raged +around him, and of the fearful conflagration that was spreading along +the Indian huts. These were only composed of weed and dry moss and +reeds; and the flames quickly caught hold of them, and promised soon to +bring the conflict to a dreadful close. + +The eye of Henrich was still fixed on that noble English officer; and +the instinctive feeling of admiration and respect with which his aspect +inspired him, was increased by seeing him, regardless of his own +safety, actively engaged in rescuing an Indian woman and her child from +a mass of burning ruins. + +He had been observed by other eyes also--by eyes that recognised him, +and glared with irrepressible fury as they fell on him'. An Indian +warrior approached him from behind, while he was unguardedly pursuing +his work of mercy; and Henrich saw the savage preparing to strike a +deadly blow, that would have cleft the head of the stranger in twain. +Could he stand and see the noble Briton thus fall by a secret and +unresisted attack? No! every feeling and every instinct of his heart +forbad it! One instant his tomahawk flew in a gleaming circle round +his head; and the next it fell with crushing force on the right +shoulder of the savage, and sank deeply into his chest. It was a timely +blow, and saved the white man's life. But it could not save him from a +severe wound in the back, where the axe of the Indian fell heavily, as +his arm dropped powerlessly by his side--never to be raised again. + +Coubitant sank on the ground; and, as he turned to look on his +unexpected assailant, his blood-shot eyes met those of Henrich, and +glared fiercely, first at him, and then at his intended victim, whose +life had been so strangely preserved. They stood side by side, +unconscious of the tie that bound them so closely together. Coubitant +knew it well; and he felt in this awful moment that Mahneto had, in +righteous retribution, sent the son to preserve the father's life from +the hand of him who had hated both alike. He hated them still: and, +even with his dying breath, he would not reveal the secret that would +have united those seemingly hostile warriors in the embrace of deep +affection. + +Rodolph had not seen the friend whose timely aid had partially averted +the deadly blow that had been aimed at him by the savage. But, on +turning round, he was astonished to perceive that his foe and his +avenger were apparently of the same party. The latter--whose countenance +expressed the deepest indignation, and who was raising his bloody +hatchet from the prostrate form of the wounded Indian--was evidently not +one of the allies of the English; and his dress and ornaments, and air +of dignified command, indicated him to be a Chief among his own people. +Why, then, had he come to the aid of an enemy? + +Rodolph gazed inquiringly at the fine countenance of the young Sachem, +which was now bent upon the dying Indian at his feet. + +'Coubitant!' he exclaimed in the Nausett tongue, ‘is it, indeed, you +whom I have thus slain unknowingly? You have been a bitter and an +untiring enemy to me; but it was not for this that I smote thee to the +earth. I knew you not. But I saw you aim a cowardly blow at the white +chief; and I saved him. I forgive you now for all your hatred, and all +your evil designs, which Mahneto has thus recompensed upon your own +head.' + +'I ask not your forgiveness,' replied the savage in a deep, struggling +voice--for the hand of death was on him, and the dark fire of his eye +was waning out. 'In death, I hate and defy you! And in death I enjoy a +revenge that you know not of.' + +He strove to raise his hand in menace, but it fell to the ground; and, +with a groan of suppressed agony, he expired. + +The fight was raging with unabated violence, and the conflagration had +already spread to the farthest end of the fortress. Henrich looked +around for his comrades, who were bravely contending with their +powerful foes at some distance, and he hastily prepared to join them. +But, as he turned away, he courteously waved his hand to Rodolph, and +said in the English language, but with an Indian accent, + +'Farewell, brave Englishman!' + +Rodolph started. That voice had thrilled through his heart when it had +spoken a strange language: but now it struck upon him with a sense of +familiarity that be could not account for, as the Indian Chief was +evidently an utter stranger to him. He returned his parting salutation +and 'farewell'; but still he watched his retreating form, and thought +he distinctly heard him utter the name 'Rodolph!' as a large dog, which +had stood near him during their brief encounter, bounded after him over +foe heaps of slain and dying. + +'Surely it was my own fancy that conjured up that name,' thought +Rodolph. The next moment he found himself compelled again to join the +conflict, and, at the head of his little band, to fight his way out of +the fortress, which was rapidly becoming a prey to the devouring +flames. All the English withdrew outside the palisades, and thickly +surrounded the fort; while their Indian allies, who had hitherto kept +aloof, now took courage to approach, and form a second circle outside. +The most furious despair now took possession of the souls of the +devoted Pequodees: and their terrible war-cry was heard resounding +high, and mingled with the agonising yells of the women and children, +and helpless aged men, who were expiring amid the flames. Many of the +warriors climbed the palisades, and leaped down among their foes, +hoping to escape; but they were quickly despatched by the muskets and +bayonets of the English; or if any had power to break through the first +hostile line, they fell beneath the battle-axes of the Mohicans. + +Rodolph had received a considerable wound, but it had not entirely +disabled him. At the head of his men he passed through the open gate +of the fortress, and attempted still to lead and command them. He +found, however that his strength was failing, and that he could no +longer wield his good broad sword. He therefore stood leaning on it, +and watching, with mingled feelings of pity and horror, the progress of +the work of destruction. + +Presently he saw a side entrance to the fort thrown suddenly open, and +the form of the Indian Chief--whose tomahawk had saved his life, and +whose voice had awakened such strange feelings--appeared rushing forth. +He was attended by another striking looking warrior, and followed by a +band of determined natives, who were resolved to escape, or sell their +lives dearly. + +Rodolph's men, who occupied the position opposite to that gate, raised +their muskets to fire on these brave men; but their commander loudly +and authoritatively bade them desist. + +'Hold! I command you!' he exclaimed. 'Let that noble Chieftain escape, +and all his attendants for his sake. He saved my life in the fort; and +death to the man who injures him! + +He attempted to rush forward to enforce his orders, but pain and loss +of blond prevented him from moving; and he would have fallen but for +the support of one of his comrades. + +Meanwhile, Henrich and Jyanough, and their band of Nausetts, had rushed +through the unopposing ranks of the English, and were now contending +desperately with the Indian line beyond. The British troops paused, and +looked after them; and the sympathy that brave men feel for each other +prevented any of them from attempting to pursue or molest them. On the +contrary, all now wished them success. + +With breathless anxiety Rodolph gazed after them, and watched the +towering plumes that adorned the noble head of the Sachem, as he bore +onward through the opposing crowd of Indians. He passed, and gained the +plain beyond, attended by his followers; and, from the elevated +position at which the fort was erected, Rodolph could still watch the +little band retiring, until the Indian heroes were hidden from view by +a thicket. + +So fiercely had the fire seconded the efforts of the English that the +whole conflict only lasted one hour. In that brief space of time, +between five and six hundred Indians--young and old, men and women-- +were destroyed by fire and sword; and the small remainder were made +prisoners of war by the English, or carried off as prizes by the +hostile natives. Only two of the British soldiers were slain, but many +were wounded; and the arrows remaining some time in the wounds, and the +want of necessary medicine and refreshment, added greatly to their +sufferings The medical attendants attached to the expedition, and the +provisions, had all been left in the boats, and a march of more than +six miles through their enemies' land was necessary, in order to reach +them. + +Litters were therefore constructed and, in these, the wounded were sent +off under the charge of the Mohicans, while the able-bodied men, whose +number was reduced to little more than forty, prepared to follow as a +rear-guard. The whole party were still near the smoking ruins of the +fort, when they were startled by perceiving a large body of armed +natives approaching. These were a band of more than three hundred +Pequodees, sent by Sassacus to aid the garrison of Fort Mystic. +Happily, they did not discover the small number of the English who were +in a condition to oppose them, and they turned aside, and avoided a +re-encounter. The white men took advantage of this mistake on the part +of their enemies, and hastened forward with all the speed that +circumstances would allow. + +But they had not proceeded far when their ears were assailed by the +most discordant yells from the Pequodees. They had reached the scene of +devastation; and, when they beheld the ruined fort, and the ground +strewn with hundreds of mangled corpses and expiring friends, their +fury knew no bounds. They stamped and howled with rage and grief, and +madly tore their hair; while they gave vent to their excited feelings +in that fearful and peculiar yell, at the sound of which the stoutest +hearts might quail. Then, with a wild and desperate effort at revenge, +they rushed down the bill in pursuit of their cruel enemies. The rear- +guard turned, and met the onset bravely. The savages were received with +a shower of bullets, which checked their furious assault; but they hung +on the rear of the English, and harassed them during the whole of their +retreat. They, however, reached their vessels in safety, and arrived +in triumph at Hartford, from which port they had sailed three weeks +before. + +This discomfiture proved a death-blow to the pride and power of the +redoubted Sassacus. Disgusted alike by his arrogance, and by his recent +defeat, many of his own warriors deserted him and attached themselves +to other tribes; and the Sachem then destroyed his second fortress, end +carried off his treasure to the land of the Mohawks, near the river +Hudson, and, with his principal Chiefs, joined that warlike race. + +Meanwhile, the remainder of the troops from Massachusetts, whom the +Government had not thought it necessary to send with Captain Mason, had +landed at Saybroke, led by Captain Houghton, and attended by Wilson as +their spiritual guide. They arrived just in time to hear of the +successful issue of the campaign; and had, therefore, nothing left for +them to do, except to join a small band from Connecticut, and keep down +or destroy the few Pequodees, or other hostile Indians who still lurked +about the district, and kept the settlers in fear and anxiety. These +wretched natives were chased into their most secret haunts, where they +were barbarously slain; their wigwams were burnt, and their fields +desolated. Nor were the English the only foes of the once terrible +Pequodees. Their Indian rivals took advantage of their present weak and +scattered condition, to wreak upon them the suppressed vengeance of +bygone years; and pursued, with ruthless cruelty, those whose very name +had once inspired them with awe and dread. And yet--with shame be it +said!--the _Christian_ leader of the troops of Massachusetts, himself a +member of the strict and exclusive Church of Boston, surpassed these +savages in cruelty. + +On one occasion, he made prisoners of nearly a hundred Pequodees. Of +these miserable creatures he sent the wives and children into servitude +at Boston, while he caused the men--thirty-seven in number--to be bound +hand and foot, and carried in a shallop outside the harbor, where they +wore thrown overboard. If this barbarous deed was not committed by the +directions of the _Christian_ Fathers of Massachusetts, yet they +certainly neither disclaimed nor censured it. Indeed, so little were +cruelty and oppression, when exercised against the red men, regarded as +crimes by many of the settlers, that one of their learned divines, even +of the age succeeding the perpetrations of the above appalling event, +expressed it as his opinion that ‘Heaven had smiled on the English +_hunt’;_ and added, with horrible and disgusting levity, 'that it was +found to be the quickest way _feed the fishes_ with the multitude of +Indian captives!' + +The other tribes who had joined the Pequodees in opposing the +conquering white men, were pardoned on their submission; but that +devoted race, who fought like heroes to the very last, were extirpated +as a nation from the face of the earth. The very name in which they had +so long gloried, and which had been a terror to all the neighboring +tribes, was not permitted to remain, and to tell where once they had +dwelt and reigned unrivalled. The river, which had been called the +Pequod, received the appellation of the Thames; and the native +township, on the ruins of which an English settlement was founded, was +afterwards called New London. Numbers of the women and boys, who were +taken captive from tune to time by the British troops, were sold and +carried as slaves to Bermuda, and others were divided among the +settlers, and condemned--not _nominally to slavery,_ for that was +forbidden by the laws of New England, but--to _perpetual servitude,_ +which must, indeed, have been much the same thing to free-born Indian +spirits, accustomed to the wild liberty of the forests and the +prairies. + +Sassacus--the once mighty Chief of this mighty and heroic people--was +basely slain by the Mohawks, among whom he had sought fellowship and +protection, for the sake of the treasures that be had brought with him +from his own lost dominions; and his heart was sent by his murderers as +a peace-offering to the government of Connecticut. + +Thus ended the war which had been commenced as a necessary measure of +self-defence, and in which the pious and high-minded Roger Williams +had, at first, taken so active and influential a part. The manner in +which it was carried out, and the cruelty that marked so many of its +details, were repulsive in the highest degree to his just and +benevolent spirit; but where mercy was concerned, his opinion and +advice had no influence with the stern men of Boston. The only act +which met with his approbation in the conclusion of the campaign, was +the assignment of the depopulated lands of the Pequodees to Uncas, the +Chief of the Mohicans. As being a conquered territory, the usual laws +of war would have annexed it to the territory of the victors. But, in +this case, the settlers adhered to their original principle of only +obtaining, by purchase from the natives, those tracts of land on which +they desired to settle; and a great part of that which was now bestowed +on Uncas, was afterwards bought back from him and his inferior Sachems, +or obtained by friendly contract, until the English became possessors +of the whole district. + +At a subsequent period, the Pequodees who had escaped from their +desolated land, and joined other tribes, assembled themselves together, +and made one final effort at establishing their independence in a +distant part of the country. But their power and prosperity were broken +for ever. Captain Mason was again sent to subdue this remnant of the +tribe; and the destruction that was accomplished on these unhappy +exiles spread a fear of the white men through all the Indian race in +that part of the continent. From that time the settlers of +Connecticut--who had been the original cause of this cruel war--enjoyed +an unbroken peace and security for forty years. + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +'The voices of my home! I hear them still! + They have been with me through the stormy night-- +The blessed household voices wont to fill + My heart’s clear depths with unalloyed delight! +I hear them still unchanged; though some from earth +Are music parted, and the tones of mirth-- + Wild silvery tones, that rang through days more bright, +Have died in others--yet to me they come +Singing of boyhood back!--the voices of my home!' HEMANS. + +One Sabbath evening, a few months after the events related in the last +chapter, and when the short second Indian summer, that so often returns +late in the month of September, was at its height, the inhabitants of +New Plymouth were assembled at their meeting-house on 'the Burying +Hill,' and engaged at their usual devotions. None were left in their +dwellings except those whom age or sickness prevented from joining the +rest of the congregation, or those who were necessarily detained by the +care of young children. + +The habitation of Rodolph Maitland was, therefore, deserted by all but +Janet, who would gladly have gone that evening to listen to the husband +of her young mistress; for Roger Williams was to lead the prayers of +the congregation, and to deliver to them the customary address. But +Edith’s little girl demanded her care; and old Janet took too much +pride and pleasure in the interesting child to repine at having the +charge of her, even though it prevented her from attending at the +meeting-house on the first occasion of Roger's officiating there since +his marriage. + +Little Edith was just beginning to walk alone, and it was her delight +to play in the bright sunny garden, and pluck the gay flowers that +still bloomed there in profusion. She was thus engaged, and murmuring a +sweet but inarticulate song that her mother had attempted to teach her, +when Janet, apprehending no danger, returned for a moment to the house, +to perform some domestic duty. + +Just then a stranger, followed by a large dog, entered the garden by +the wicket gate that led towards the forest, and stood silently gazing +around him, without at first observing the happy and occupied child. He +was tall and of a commanding appearance; and his costume, which was +richly ornamented in the Indian fashion, bespoke him to be a native of +high rank. But had any one closely examined his countenance, they would +have discovered beneath those long dark lashes, and clearly marked +eyebrows, the deep blue eye of the Saxon race, which was also indicated +by the rich brown hair, that, now unconcealed, waved across his manly +forehead. A keen eye would also have detected on the features of that +seeming Indian Sachem an expression of deep thought and strong emotion, +that told of old remembrances not yet obliterated, and of feelings that +belonged to home and kindred. + +Yes! Henrich was, indeed, absorbed in those recollections that were +revived in his breast by the sight of objects once so familiar, but +which many years had elapsed since last he had looked on. Much was +changed: but much was still the same. The rude hut commodious log-house +that once stood on that site was now replaced by a substantial and +picturesque dwelling in the Elizabethan style of architecture, whose +deep bay windows were hung with the sweet single roses that were +natives of the woods, and other flowering plants; while wreaths of the +well-known Virginian creeper, now glowing in its scarlet hue of autumn, +climbed to the summit of the carved gables and pinnacles that +ornamented the building, and hung from thence in rich festoons. + +On the front of this dwelling the evening sun fell brightly, and its +slanting beams likewise partially illuminated the garden with long +streaks of light, while other parts were thrown into strong shadow by +the trees and shrubs that grew among the flower-beds. One of these--a +noble tulip-tree--rose in the centre of the enclosure and stretched its +giant arms wide on every side. On this tree the eyes of the wanderer +rested long; and then he approached it, and stood looking wistfully +towards a bower that was situated near the old tree, and over which the +creepers fell in wild luxuriance. + +Was it a tear that glittered in that warlike stranger's eye, as a ray +from the western sun fell on his face through the thick overhanging +foliage? And did those manly limbs tremble as he clasped his hands over +his face, and sank on the rustic seat beneath the tulip-tree? + +'I cannot enter the house!' he exclaimed, in a low voice. 'I cannot +seek those loved ones there where once we dwelt in happiness together; +and where, perhaps, none now remain to welcome the wanderer home! O, +that some one would appear who might tell me of their fate!' + +Henrich spoke to himself in his native tongue. He could not speak a +strange language in that old familiar spot; and his voice attracted the +notice of the little girl, who was now slowly moving towards him, her +hands filled with the spoils of the flower-beds. She stopped, and +gazed at the stranger, and then uttered a faint cry of fear that at +once roused Henrich from his reverie. His eyes fell on the lovely +child, and instantly his memory recalled the features and expression of +his brother Ludovico, to whom the little Edith bore a strong +resemblance. + +With an irresistible impulse he sprang forward, and caught the little +girl in his arms, and sought, by caresses, to soothe her fears, and +hush her cries of terror. But those cries had caught the watchful ear +of Janet; and, with all the speed that she could use, she came running +from the house, merely anticipating that her charge had fallen down, or +was alarmed at finding herself alone. + +What was, then, her terror and amazement at seeing her in the arms of +an Indian! One instant she stood rivetted to the spot, not knowing how +to act. The next she turned, and again hurried in to the house, from +whence she escaped by a back door, and sped breathlessly towards 'the +Burying Hill.' She knew that the service was over--for the last strains +of the parting hymn had been borne down by the evening breeze as she +left the house--and therefore she would find help and succor from the +returning congregation. That deep, melodious sound had been heard by +Henrich also; and it had struck a chord in his heart that vibrated +almost to agony. The stillness and abstraction of his look, as he +listened to the dying cadence, silenced the cries of the little child. +She gazed into his upturned eyes; and, possibly, she felt that those +eyes had an expression that was neither strange nor terrible--for now +she suffered the stranger to seat himself again on the bench beneath +the tulip tree, and place her gently on his knee. + +Such was the picture that met the eyes of Edith, and her husband, and +parents, as they rushed into the garden, followed by the trembling and +exhausted Janet. + +'My child! my Edith!’ shrieked the young mother and sprang towards the +tree. That name told a long history to the wanderer which his heart +had already guessed. The Indian warrior rose, but he did not fly. No! +he only met the terrified mother; and as he placed her child in her +trembling arms, he folded them both in his own. + +In amazement and indignation at this rude action, Roger now caught his +arm, and in the Indian tongue, inquired hastily-- + +'Who are you? and what can cause this freedom?' + +I am Henrich Maitland!' exclaimed the stranger; 'and the Lord has +brought me back to my home once more.' + +Oh, the music--the thrilling, startling music--of those words to the +ears and hearts of those who bad so long believed him dead! The +surprise and joy were too intense for Helen, and she sank fainting into +the arms of her long-lost son: while Rodolph grasped his hand, and +exclaimed with deep emotion-- + +'Now, God be praised! my brave, my blessed son! Surely His mercies are +infinite, and His ways past finding out! Now I know why my heart +yearned so strangely towards the Indian Chief who saved my life in the +Fort of Mystic; and why his voice had such a thrilling and familiar +tone, that spoke of home, and bygone years. Look on me, my Henrich, and +say, do you not recognise the English soldier whom your generous +interference preserved from a dreadful death?' + +The change in Rodolph's dress, and his own overpowering emotions, had +hitherto prevented Henrich from discovering that, in the noble-looking +man whom he was proud to call his father, he also beheld that gallant +British officer whose appearance had so powerfully attracted him in the +conflict of Fort Mystic. But when he looked into that fine countenance, +he well remembered every feature; and he wondered why he, had not known +him, even when they met so unexpectedly in the excitement of the +battle. + +That was a happy hour; and, in the joy of meeting so many that he +loved, Henrich for awhile forgot that any one was missing. But soon be +looked around, as if seeking some familiar object, which did not meet +his eye. He feared to ask for Ludovico: but his father saw the +inquiring look, and guessed its import. + +'He is gone!' he said, gently. 'Your brother did not remain with us +long after you had left us; and his young spirit is now where we +believed that yours had long been dwelling in peace. He would have +rejoiced to see this day, dear Henrich; for he, as well as Edith, +mourned your loss sincerely. But he is happy now, and we will not +regret him. The Lord has restored to us one of our sons in a manner so +strange, and under such extraordinary circumstances, that we can hardly +realise the blessing. Tell us, Henrich, how this has been brought +about.' + +The violent agitation occasioned by such a meeting had now somewhat +subsided; and the wanderer could calmly relate the story of his +adventures, while his mother and sister sat on each side of him, gazing +fondly at his much-changed, but still familiar countenance; and the +scarcely less interested Janet seated herself on the turf, with little +Edith on her knees. Rodolph and Roger Williams also reclined on the +ground, and all were impatient for the narrative. + +'Our group is not complete,' said Henrich. 'Come hither, Rodolph!' And +then, addressing his dog in the Indian language, he made him lie down +at his feet. + +'Then my ears did not deceive me?' exclaimed Maitland. 'When you left +me, Henrich, in the midst of that fearful fray, I thought I heard you +pronounce my name; and the sound startled me strangely. Have you, then, +called your unconscious companion by your father's name; and in all +your wanderings, and your trials, and temptations, has that name been +dear to you?' + +‘Heaven only knows _how_ dear!’ replied the Sachem. ‘The remembrance of +my parents, and all they taught me in my childhood, has been not only +my joy and consolation, but my safeguard also. You will find me very +unlearned and ignorant in all worldly knowledge, for I have had no +means of keeping up the little I had acquired. But, God be praised! I +have been kept from forgetting Him, and the Saviour in whom you taught +me to put my trust. Nor have I been quite alone in my faith. One there +is of whom I shall have much to tell you in the course of my history, +who has been, and is, my spiritual companion and support. I have had +many blessings!' + +'How truly is it declared, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my +Spirit, saith the Lord"!' exclaimed Helen, as she raised her eyes in +grateful gratitude to Heaven. Now she and Rodolph felt that they had, +_indeed,_ recovered their lost son--not for time alone, but for +eternity. + +Henrich's long and adventurous story was told: and so many were the +questions and the comments that it called forth, that long are it was +finished the light of day had all departed, and been replaced by the +softer rays of the unclouded moon. It was with mingled feelings of +disappointment and of gratitude, that Henrich's friends heard of his +marriage with an Indian female. But as he described her character, and +spoke of her sincere and humble faith, and of all that she had been to +him since the first day of his captivity, they became more than +reconciled to the alliance, and thanked God who had so mercifully +provided their son with such a friend and companion, to cheer his +otherwise lonely life. They, and Edith also, felt impatient to become +acquainted with this new relative, whom they were already prepared to +love; and, as she was now dwelling near Cape Cod with her father and +the rest of her tribe, they hoped to do so before the winter set in. + +Henrich promised that this hope should be compiled with; but it was a +source of sorrow and disappointment to his family, when they heard that +he was pledged to the aged Tisquantum never to take his only and +beloved child from him as long as he lived. He could not, therefore, +at present change his mode of life, or take up his abode at New +Plymouth but must return to dwell with his Indian friends, and fill the +place of Tisquantum's son and representative, until the old man should +be gathered to his fathers. + +The days that Henrich passed in the home of his childhood flew rapidly +away. All his old friends gathered around him to welcome him on his +unexpected return, and to offer their congratulations to his happy +parents and sister. The joy of the venerable Brewster at again +beholding his young friend and pupil, and at finding him still a +sincere and intelligent Christian, was very great; and even among those +who had never known him, his adventurous story, and his frank and +engaging manners, excited the deepest interest. Between himself and +his brother-in-law, Roger Williams, a strong and lasting friendship was +established; and when the time arrived for Henrich to return to Paomet, +Roger proposed to accompany him, and assist in escorting his wife and +child to pay their promised visit to New Plymouth. This offer was +gladly accepted; and the English minister and the Indian Chief set out +on foot. The journey was comparatively easy to men who had long been +accustomed to such toils and difficulties as both Henrich and Roger +had, for years, been inured to, and they reached Paomet very quickly. + +But sorrow met them there. The first sound that fell on their ears as +they approached the village was the Indian dirge for a departing soul. +Henrich listened for a moment to catch the exact direction from whence +the ominous sound proceeded, and then darted forward with such +velocity, that Roger, active as he was, could with difficulty follow +him. Henrich hastened towards a large dwelling at the upper end of the +village; and entering the low door, he beheld a sight which, though it +filled his heart with unaffected grief, was yet, in some sense, a +relief to his fears. + +It was not for his wife or child that the wail was being made. It was +Tisquantum who lay on the bed of death, and who turned his dim and +sunken eyes towards him as he passed the threshold. The old man smiled +a joyful welcome, and held out his trembling hand to greet him. And +Oriana--who was seated on the ground by her father's bedside, in an +attitude of deep and silent sorrow--sprang to her feet with a cry of +joy, and throwing herself into her husband's arms, burst into a flood +of long-suppressed tears. + +'You are come at lest,' she exclaimed. 'You are come in time to see my +father die, and to receive his blessing. O, Henrich! how I have hoped +end preyed for your return. I feared you would be too late; and my +beloved father has something to confide to you--I know he has--which +will fill your soul with joy. Father,' she continued, in a calmer +voice, as she led Henrich to his side, and joined their hands in her +own--' Father, say those blessed words again. Tell your son that you +believe and love the Christian's God, and that you desire to die in +this faith.' + +Henrich was surprised. He had not hoped that Tisquantum had been thus +far influenced by what he had seen and heard of the Christian religion, +and his joy was equal to his astonishment. + +He looked inquiringly at the old Chief's countenance, and pressed his +withered hand. At length, in a feeble, but calm and decided voice, +Tisquantum spoke. + +'My son, it is true. I have observed and listened, but I have held my +peace. When you were a boy, you talked to me of the Christian's God, +and I smiled in my soul at your ignorance. Then I found that you +believed in the Great Mahneto, and I was satisfied. But for years I +have studied your character, to find out why, young as you were, I felt +for you a respect that I never felt for any human being except my own +heroic father. At last, I understood that it was because your religion +made you true, and brave, and good, and kept you from committing any of +the crimes that I saw others guilty of. If all your nation acted as you +have done, Henrich, their coming to this land would have proved a +blessing indeed to the red men, and our people would not hate them, and +seek to destroy them, as I once sought to do. But enough of this. My +strength is failing. Henrich, your example has taught me that your God +is holy, and just, and good; it has made me feel the truth of the +Christian's religion.' + +Tears of humble joy and gratitude glistened in Henrich's eyes at this +confession. He knelt beside the dying convert, and bowed his head upon +the bed; but his heart was too full to allow him to express his +thanksgivings audibly. Oriana was equally affected; but another form +knelt beside them, and another deep rich voice arose in prayer, which +was uttered fluently in the Indian language, and in which the hearts of +all present joined fervently, although the speaker was a stranger to +all but Henrich. + +It was Roger Williams, who had been an unobserved witness of the +foregoing deeply interesting scene, and had listened, with deep and +grateful emotion, to the words of the expiring Chief. He now spoke the +feelings of all his auditors, and, with his wonted power and eloquence, +poured forth a fervent prayer for the aged 'babe in Christ,' and +blessed the God of all spirits that it had pleased Him, even 'in the +eleventh hour,' to call the heathen Chief into the fold of Christ. + +When his prayer was finished, Henrich presented his friend and brother +to his father-in-law, and told him that, from his lips, he might bear +all that one of the Lord's most zealous and devoted ministers could +tell him of holy and eternal things. Gladly the old man availed +himself of this opportunity of obtaining instruction, end being +prepared for what he now earnestly desired--an admittance by baptism +into the once despised religion of the white men. + +For this task no man was more fitted than Roger Williams. He well knew +how to deal with Indian prejudices, and bow to call forth the +affections, by the relation of the simple and touching truths of the +gospel. Tisquantum heard with a willing and teachable spirit, and he +believed, and was at peace. His life was rapidly ebbing away, and no +time was to be lost; for though he rallied a little after the arrival +of Henrich and Roger, it was evident that his time on earth could only +be counted by hours. + +The following morning, therefore, at his own earnest desire, he was +baptised by Williams, in the presence of his rejoicing children, and of +Jyanough and Mailah, who formed a little congregation of sincere +Christians in the midst of an heathen population. + +The venerable Chieftain did not long survive his admission into the +pale of the visible church of Christ. His strength faded hour by hour; +but he was calm and collected to the last. He gave to Henrich all his +parting directions for the government of his people, if he still +continued to live among them, and to be their Sachem. 'But,' he added, +'I know that your heart is with your own people, and that you desire to +return to your former home. I cannot blame you; for I well know the +yearning of spirit that draws a man to his kindred, and to his father’s +house. And Oriana will go with you, and make your home and your people +her own. If this is to be, then let Jyanough be Sachem in your stead. +He also is just and upright, and will guide my warriors with courage +and wisdom. There is none besides yourself to whom I could so +confidently leave them. And now, farewell, my children! May the good +God in whom you trust receive my sinful soul for His Son's sake; and +may his blessing rest on those who have led me into the truth.' + +Tisquantum had been supported in his bed, while he thus took leave of +his sorrowing relatives and friends. He now lay down, and never rose +again. Neither did he utter many more words; but lay as if engaged in +thought and prayer, and occasionally fixed his failing eyes with fond +affection on his child and Henrich. At length they gently closed, and +the venerable old Chief slept the sleep of death. + +Oriana's grief was deep and sincere, for she had loved her father +almost passionately; but she did not now 'sorrow as those without +hope'; and, ere long, she was calm. The funeral was conducted in the +simple manner of the Puritans; and all Tisquantum's warriors stood +respectfully and silently round his grave, while Williams addressed +them in their own language, and exhorted them to follow the example of +their departed Chief, and examine the faith of the Christians, and +embrace it to the salvation of their souls. + +Not long after the death of Tisquantum, and before the severity of +winter prevented the journey being practicable, Henrich and his wife +took leave of the Nausetts, and of their Christian friends, Jyanough +and Mailah; and, accompanied by Roger Williams, and two or three Indian +attendants who desired to follow their fortunes, took their way towards +New Plymouth. Their departure from Paomet was much regretted, for they +were greatly beloved by the red men. But the promotion of Jyanough to +the Chieftainship gave general satisfaction; and there were even some +who thought it was more consistent with their dignity and independence, +to be governed by one of their own race, rather than by a pale-face, +let his personal qualities he ever so estimable. + +Henrich's heart beat high when he again arrived at his father's +dwelling, and presented his wife and child to his parents and his +sister. He cast searching glances at their countenances, to read their +feelings at thus greeting an _Indian_ as their near relative; but he +saw no expression that could give him pain. On the contrary, the +native grace and beauty of Oriana, and the gentle refinement of her +manner, evidently struck them with surprise and pleasure, and made upon +them all a most favorable impression. Nor did a further acquaintance +lessen this kindly feeling. It was impossible to know Oriana, and not +to love her; and she was soon regarded as a daughter and a sister by +all her husband's relatives; while the young Ludovico was cherished and +caressed by all the household, and by none more than by his little +cousin Edith. + +The Maitlands were now a happy family; and when, in the ensuing spring, +their daughter and her husband again left them to return to their +distant home at Providence, they felt they had still a daughter left to +them in the Indian wife of their beloved Henrich. This long-lost son +did not again leave them, except to pay occasional visits with Oriana +to their Nausett friends. But he fixed his permanent home at Plymouth, +where his knowledge of the Indian language and manners, and the +influence he continued to possess among the Nausetts and other +neighboring tribes, enabled him frequently to render important services +both to his own countrymen, and the red natives. His own merits, +likewise, won for him the love and respect of the settlers of New +Plymouth, who appreciated the unaffected devotion, and the simple +truthfulness, of his character; and felt that such men as Rodolph +Maitland and his son added glory to the history of 'the Pilgrim +Fathers.' + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Pilgrims of New England, by Mrs. J. B. Webb + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10222 *** diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d858aa1 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #10222 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10222) diff --git a/old/10222-8.txt b/old/10222-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2ddf433 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10222-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12116 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Pilgrims of New England, by Mrs. J. B. Webb + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Pilgrims of New England + A Tale Of The Early American Settlers + +Author: Mrs. J. B. Webb + +Release Date: November 23, 2003 [EBook #10222] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PILGRIMS OF NEW ENGLAND *** + + + + + +THE +PILGRIMS +OF +NEW ENGLAND: + +A TALE OF +THE EARLY AMERICAN SETTLERS. + +BY + +MRS. J. B. WEBB, +AUTHOR OF NAOMI, JULAMERK, ETC. + + + +PREFACE + +In the following story, an attempt has been made to illustrate the +manners and habits of the earliest Puritan settlers in New England, and +the trials and difficulties to which they were subjected during the +first years of their residence in their adopted country. All the +principal incidents that are woven into the narrative are strictly +historical, and are derived from authentic sources, which give an +impartial picture both of the virtues and the failings of these +remarkable emigrants. Unhappily, some of these incidents prove but too +clearly, how soon many of these exiles 'for conscience sake' forgot to +practice those principles of religious liberty and toleration, for the +preservation and enjoyment of which they had themselves abandoned home +and kindred, and the church of their forefathers; and they tend to +lessen the feelings of respect and admiration with which their piety, +and their disinterested spirit, must necessarily inspire us. We cannot +but regret to find how early, in many of the Puritan communities, that +piety became tinged with fanaticism, and that free spirit degenerated +into bigotry and intolerance in their treatment of others, who had an +equal claim with themselves to a freedom of private judgement, and to +the adoption or rejection of any peculiar forms or mode of discipline. + +It is hoped, that a story founded on the history of these admirable, +but sometimes misguided, men, may prove interesting to many who have +hitherto been but slightly acquainted with the fate of their self- +exiled countrymen; and may tend to remove the prejudice with which, in +many minds, they are regarded: for, while we remember their errors and +infirmities, we should also remember that their faults were essentially +those of the age in which they lived, and the education they had +received; while their virtues were derived from the pure faith that +they possessed, and which was dearer to them than aught on earth +beside. + +KINGS PYON HOUSE, +HEREFORD + + + +THE +PILGRIMS OF NEW ENGLAND. + + + +CHAPTER I. + +The breaking waves dashed high +On a stern and rock-hound coast: +And the woods against a stormy sky, +Their giant branches tost. +And the heavy night hung dark +The hills and waters o'er, +When a hand of exiles moored their bark +On the wild New England shore. HEMANS. + +It was, indeed, a stern and rock-bound coast beneath which the +gallant little Mayflower furled her tattered sails, and dropped her +anchor, on the evening of the eleventh of November, in the year 1620. +The shores of New England had been, for several days, dimly descried by +her passengers, through the gloomy mists that hung over the dreary and +uncultivated tract of land towards which their prow was turned; but the +heavy sea that dashed against the rocks, the ignorance of the captain +and his crew with regard to the nature of the coast, and the crazy +state of the deeply-laden vessel, had hitherto prevented their making +the land. At length the ship was safely moored in a small inlet, +beyond the reach of the foaming breakers; and the Pilgrim Fathers +hastened to leave the vessel in which they had so long been imprisoned, +and, with their families, to set foot on the land that was henceforth +to be their home. Cold, indeed, was the welcome which they received +from their adopted country; and cheerless was the view that met their +gaze, as they landed on a massy rock of granite, at the foot of a +precipitous cliff, and looked along the barren, inhospitable shore, and +over the dark waters which they had so lately crossed. + +But hope was strong in the hearts of these exiles; and the faith that +had led them to seek these untrodden shores, had not deserted them +during their long and tempestuous voyage; and they looked upward +through the gloom and dreariness that surrounded them, and fixed their +trusting eyes on Him who had guided them in safety over the great deep, +and brought them at length to a resting-place. Their first act was to +kneel down on the cold rock, and offer up their prayers and praises to +that God for whose sake they had given up country, and friends, and +home, and to whose service they now dedicated themselves and their +children: and strikingly grand must have been that act of worship. The +manly voices of the sturdy Pilgrims rose in deep and solemn unison, +followed by those of the women and children, and resounded along the +silent coast, while the heavy urges of the receding tide kept up a +hoarse and monotonous accompaniment. Then arose a hymn of +thanksgiving--and the rocks and the neighboring hills re-echoed the +exulting strain, that seemed to drown the voices of the wind and the +waves, and to rise unmixed to heaven. It was the triumph of faith--the +holy and heartfelt expression of undying trust and confidence in God! +Surely, at that time, the Pilgrims were meet objects for the admiring +gaze of men and angels! But they were not always so. + +It was on the shore of Cape Cod Bay that the new settlers had landed, +in the inlet now called New Plymouth Harbor: but this was not the place +of their original destination. They had intended to steer for the +mouth of Hudson's River, and to have fixed their habitation in that +less exposed and inhospitable district. But the Dutch had already +conceived the project, which they afterwards accomplished, of settling +in that part of the new continent; and it is supposed that the captain +of the Mayflower was bribed by them to convey the English emigrants +further to the north; so that the first American land which they beheld +was Cape Cod. They found that the place where they had landed was +beyond the precincts of the territory which had been granted to them; +and even beyond that of the Company from which they derived their right +of colonization; and after exploring hastily the neighboring coast, and +finding it dreary and unpromising, they again embarked, and insisted on +the captain's conveying them to the district which they had first +desired to reach. They sailed to the south, and many days were lost in +endeavoring to find a more convenient spot for their settlement: but it +was in vain. The shoals and the breakers with which the coast was +lined, presented obstacles that were insurmountable at that advanced, +and unusually inclement, season; and, weary and disheartened, they +returned to the place of their first landing. There they fixed their +abode, and there they founded the infant city of New Plymouth. It was a +desolate situation, and one that subjected the new settlers to many +trials and privations; for the nearest English settlements then +established were upwards of five hundred miles distant. Winter having +set in with more than common severity, they felt that no more time +could be wasted in seeking for a better spot, on which to build their +first American habitations. Sickness also had begun to show itself +among the little band of men, women, and children who were all +unaccustomed to the hardships and confinement of a long voyage; and it +was necessary to disembark with all possible speed, and erect huts to +shelter them from the daily increasing inclemency of the weather. For +this purpose, the forests of oak, pine, juniper, and sassafras, that +had grown undisturbed for centuries along the coast, furnished them +with abundant materials; and the woods soon echoed to the unaccustomed +sound of the hatchet and the saw, at which all the men, of every rank +and condition, labored unremittingly, while the women and children +gathered up the great muscles, and other shell-fish, which abounded on +the shore, and collected dry wood for firing. + +But before we follow the settlers in the detail of their sufferings and +trials, and of their ultimate success and prosperity, it will be +needful to go back a few years, and consider the motives that led these +brave men to expose themselves and their families to such severe +hardships, and to abandon their home and their kindred. A brief glance +at their previous history will suffice for this purpose. + +It is well known that the Puritans were greatly dissatisfied with the +state of the Church in England at the time when James the First +ascended the throne of this country. From him they hoped for protection +and encouragement; but in this expectation they were grievously +disappointed. The conference at Hampton Court proved how little +sympathy he entertained for their party; and the convocation which was +held soon after utterly all their hopes. Already a considerable number +of these dissenters had joined themselves into what they called a +_'Church Estate,_ pledged to walk in God's ways,' and to renounce the +evil passions of the world. They had protested against the episcopal +form of church government, and declared their approval of the +discipline and the forms adopted by the Church of Geneva, and also of +that established in the Netherlands. In order to enjoy the liberty in +ecclesiastical matters which they so greatly desired, they made up +their minds to retire to Amsterdam, under their excellent and respected +pastor, John Robinson; and this project was effected by the greater +number of their party; though some were discovered before they could +embark, and were detained and imprisoned, and treated with much +severity. Ultimately, however, they all escaped, and remained +unmolested at Amsterdam and the Hague, until the year 16O8, when they +removed to Leyden with their pastor, where they resided for eleven +years, and were joined by many others who fled from England during the +early part of the reign of James. + +These men now felt that their only hope of enjoying perfect religious +liberty, and of establishing a church according to their own dearly- +loved principles, lay in a voluntary exile. Their English prejudices +made them shrink from continuing to dwell among the Dutch, who had +hitherto given them a hospitable asylum; for they feared that, by +frequent intermarriages, they should eventually lose their nationality; +and they resolved to seek a new home, where they might found an English +colony, and, while they followed that mode of worship which was alone +consistent with their views and principles; might still be subjects of +the English crown, and keep up an intercourse with the friends they +dearly loved, and the land where their forefathers had lived and died. + +The recent discovery of the vast continent of America, in several parts +of which the British had already begun to form colonies, opened to them +a field of enterprise, as well as a quiet refuge from persecution and +controversy; and thither the Puritans turned their eyes. Nor were they +the first who had taken advantage of the unoccupied wastes of the New +World, and sought in them an asylum from intolerant oppression. Already +a numerous band of French Huguenots had retired thither, under the +conduct of their celebrated Calvinistic leader, De Monts, who was +invested with the government of the district lying between Montreal and +Philadelphia, by a patent from his sovereign, Henry the Fourth. No +traces of this colony now remain, while those planted by the English +Puritans have taken root in the American soil, and flourished so +greatly, that a few years ago their descendants were found to amount to +4,000,000: so remarkably has the blessing of God, at least in temporal +matters, been bestowed on an enterprise which was, doubtless, +undertaken in dependence on His protection; and was carried out with +that fortitude and resolution which are the results of sincere piety +struggling with deep adversity.[*] + +[Footnote: For this account of the cause which led to the emigration of +the Puritans, and the manner in which they effected it, the authoress +is chiefly indebted to Mardens History of the Puritans, and Talvis +History of the Colonization of America.] + +The idea of retiring to the shores of America was first suggested to +his followers by their pastor, John Robinson, whose influence over his +flock was almost unexampled. This influence was derived from the purity +of his life, and the holy consistency of his conduct. He was possessed +of a gentle temper; and the strictness of his religious principles was +united with a spirit of toleration towards others, which was too little +felt or practiced in those days, and which was not, as is too often the +case, changed into bitterness by the sufferings that he had himself +experienced. Well had it been for those who professed to be guided by +his example and advice, and who left the shores of Europe with the +sanction of his counsel and his blessing, if they had carried with them +the truly Christian spirit of their respected minister, and had +suffered that spirit to guide them in the formation, and during the +growth, of their infant church in America! But, as we shall presently +see, this was not the case: the mercy and toleration which the Puritan +exiles had vainly asked at the hands of their brethren at home, they +denied to others who differed from them; and, consequently, while they +have so greatly prospered in the things of this world, in religion they +have evidently declined. + +Emigration being resolved on, the first step that was taken by the +Puritans, was an application to King James for an assurance of +protection and toleration in the new home which they desired to seek; +but this was more than the wary king would guarantee to them. All that +they could obtain was a vague promise, that so long as they conducted +themselves peaceably, they should not be molested; and, relying on this +promise, they immediately commenced a negotiation with the Virginian +Company, for the possession of a tract of land within the limits of the +patent which had been granted to them for colonizing that part of +America. This was easily obtained; for the Society had hitherto only +been able to occupy a few isolated spots of their extensive territory, +and, therefore, were willing to encourage fresh settlers. + +The congregation over which Robinson presided, amounted, at the time of +their intended emigration, to upwards of three hundred in number; but +their resources were inadequate to the expense of moving all together, +and it was therefore arranged that only a part of the flock should sail +at first, under the guidance of William Brewster; while the rest should +remain at Leyden, under the care of their pastor, and wait for the +report of their friends before they followed them to their chosen place +of exile. + +The names of the vessels which were engaged to convey the Pilgrims from +the shores of Europe, were the Mayflower and the Speedwell--names still +cherished by heir descendants. When they were ready for sea, the whole +congregation assembled themselves together, and observed a solemn fast, +which concluded with prayer; and Robinson preached to them from Ezra +viii, 21: 'Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that +we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way +for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.' He +afterwards addressed them in a deeply impressive speech, in which he +earnestly deprecated all party spirit and bigotry, and exhorted them to +be guided only by the pure doctrines of God's Word. + +'I charge you,' said this truly Christian and evangelical minister, +'that you follow me no further than you have seen me follow the Lord +Jesus Christ. The Lord has more truth yet to break forth out of his +Holy Word. I cannot sufficiently bewail the condition of the reformed +churches, which are come to a period in religion, and will go, at +present, no further than the instruments of their reformation. Luther +and Calvin were great and shining lights in their times, yet they +penetrated not into the whole counsel of God. The Lutherans cannot be +drawn to go beyond what Luther saw; and the Calvinists, you see, stick +fast where they were left by that great man of God.[*] I beseech you, +remember it--'tis an article of your church covenant--that you shall be +ready to receive whatever truth shall be made known to you from the +Word of God. + +[Footnote: See Remarks on the Dangers of the Church,' by Rev. Edward +Bickersteth.] + +The congregation then repaired to the house of their pastor, and +partook of a farewell repast together; after which they proceeded to +Delft Harbor, and there the Pilgrims embarked. Again their minister +offered up fervent prayer in behalf of this portion of his flock who +were about to encounter the dangers of a long voyage, and to seek a +home in an almost unknown land--and then in deep silence they parted. +'No cheers or noisy acclamations resounded along the shore, for such +demonstrations were little in accordance with the usual serious habits +of the Puritans, and still less so with the feelings of sadness which +now oppressed their hearts. But a volley of small shot, and three +pieces of ordnance,' writes Winslow, one of the emigrants, 'announced +to those on shore the hearty courage and affectionate adieus of those +on board; and so, lifting up our hands to one another, and our hearts +to the Lord, we departed.' + +Thus the Pilgrims set sail, with mingled feelings of hope for the +future, and regret for what they left behind; and greatly would their +sorrow have been increased, had they known that they would never again +behold on earth the countenance of their much-loved pastor. They fully +anticipated his following them, with the rest of their brethren, as +soon as they should have found a suitable place of settlement for the +whole congregation. But poverty and other obstacles detained him in +Europe, and he terminated his useful and exemplary life at Leyden. + +The emigrants had not proceeded far on their voyage, when it was +discovered that the Mayflower, commanded by Captain Jones, was in need +of some repairs; and the two vessels put into Dartmouth--not to sail +together again. The captain of the Speedwell declared that he was +afraid to encounter the voyage; and from this, or some other motive, he +positively refused to proceed any further. Several of the passengers +also, had already begun to feel disheartened, and they returned with +him to London, and abandoned the enterprise altogether. Doubtless, the +Pilgrims bad no cause to lament the departure of these faint-hearted +comrades; but it occasioned them much present inconvenience, for, not +being able to procure another vessel to convey the remainder of the +passengers who had embarked in the Speedwell, they were all obliged to +be crowded into the Mayflower, which sailed again on the sixth of +September, 1620, with considerably upwards of a hundred men, women, and +children on her narrow decks, in addition to her own crew of seamen. + +After a very tedious and tempestuous voyage, they came in sight of the +American shores on the eighth of November; and, as we have already +seen, they landed three days afterwards in Cape Cod Bay, and eventually +founded the city of New Plymouth at the place of their disembarkation. +A portion of the granite rock on which the Pilgrim Fathers first set +foot has since been removed from the coast, and placed in front of' +The Pilgrim's Hall,' enclosed in an iron railing; and the anniversary +of their landing, afterwards called Forefather's-day, has ever since +been observed by their descendants as a day of solemn festivity, in +remembrance of the mercy of Providence, which led them safely through +so many difficulties and dangers; and permitted them to find a new +home, and a new country, and to bring their enterprise to such a +prosperous issue. + +It is with the first period of their establishment on the uncultivated +shores of North America that our story commences; and it is connected +with the sufferings and privations which were so patiently endured, and +the difficulties which were so resolutely overcome, by these devoted +men, before they had taken root in their new settlement, or gathered +around themselves and their families the comforts which they had +abandoned in their own land for conscience sake. Many trials awaited +them ere prosperity became their portion, and ere they could feel +either rest or security in the wild regions where they had sought a +refuge: and these trials will be brought more distinctly to our minds, +if we view them in connection with some of the individuals of the +expedition, and follow the fortunes of one family more particularly. +This family we will call by the name of Maitland, and endeavor in their +somewhat imaginary history, to describe the mode of life, and some of +the joys and sorrows--the difficulties and successes--of the Pilgrim +Fathers. + +Owing to the many delays which the emigrants had experienced, a severe +winter had set in before they landed, and had fixed a spot for their +permanent abode; and they found themselves exposed to the inclemency of +a North climate, with no other shelter than a few tents, besides that +which the vessel continued to afford. In haste they felled the trees of +the neighboring forests; and in haste they constructed the village of +log huts which was to be their present abode, and which, ultimately, +grew into the flourishing and wealthy city of New Plymouth. In the +erection of this hamlet, no head was so fertile in plans and +expedients, and no arms were so strong to execute them, as those of +Rodolph Maitland, the head of the family in whom we are specially +interested. He was a younger member of a very respectable family in +the North of England, and had passed his youth and early manhood in the +service of his country as a soldier. This profession, however, became +distasteful to him when the religious dissensions which troubled the +land called on him, at times, to obey his commander in carrying out +schemes of oppression which were contrary both to his feelings and his +principles. His marriage with Helen Seatown, the daughter of a +nonconforming minister, increased his repugnance to bearing arms, which +might be turned against the party to which he was now so closely +connected; and he threw up his commission, and soon afterwards +accompanied his father-in-law to Holland, and joined the congregation +of the respected Robinson at Leyden. + +Here he continued to reside until the resolution to emigrate was formed +by the Puritan refugees, when he was among the first to embrace the +proposition of the pastor, and to lend all the aid which his +comparative wealth, and the influence of his connections in England, +enabled him to offer in furtherance of the enterprise. His father-in- +law had died soon after his arrival at Leyden; but his amiable and +devoted wife was most willing to follow him in his voluntary exile, and +to take her children to the New World, where she hoped to bring them up +in the same principles of pure evangelical religion which she had +learnt from her own parents, and which were dearer to her than home or +friends or aught on earth besides. + +At the time when the Pilgrims reached America, the Maitlands family +consisted of two sons, Henrich and Ludovico; the elder of whom was +sixteen years of age, and the younger about seven; and one little girl +between ten and eleven, named Edith. In the thoughtful seriousness of +his eldest boy, which was united with great intelligence and spirit, +and a manly resolution beyond his years, Rodolph saw his own character +again depicted; and Helen proudly hoped that her Henrich would one day +manifest all those qualities of mind and person by which his father had +first won her admiration and love, and by which he had since gained the +esteem and affection of all who were in any way connected with him. +Henrich was now old enough to understand, and almost to appreciate, the +motives which had induced his parents and their companions to become +exiles from home: and his young heart exulted in the resolution that +freed him from the cold formality of Dutch manners, and opened to his +adventurous spirit a prospect of liberty and enterprise, far better +suited to his inclination and character. Religious freedom he desired, +because he had been taught that it was his rightful privilege, and that +the want of it had occasioned those troubles which first drove his +parents and friends from their native land. But personal freedom he +yearned for with his whole soul; and the wild shores of New England, +and the depths of the unexplored forests that now met his eager gaze, +filled his ardent mind with anticipations of adventurous joys hitherto +unknown to him. These anticipations were destined to be fulfilled, ere +long, in a manner which he neither foresaw nor desired. + +His brother Ludovico was a playful child, too young to share all the +feelings of the earnest Henrich, who always acted as his guide and +protector during their sports and rambles; but in the gentle little +Edith he found a kindred spirit, and a heart that could sympathize in +all his joys and sorrows. Young as she was, Edith felt the influence of +her brother's character; and she looked up to him with feelings of +devoted love and admiring pride. She was his constant companion, and +his ever-ready assistant in all his difficulties. This had been very +much the case during their residence in Holland; but on their arrival +in New England, Edith was left still more to her brother's guidance. +Their parents were necessarily too much occupied with the cares end +anxieties which their new situation brought upon them, to devote much +time to their children; and when the light labors in which Henrich and +Edith were able to render any assistance were over, they and Ludovico +amused themselves by wandering along the shore in search of shells and +seaweed; or else they followed the wood-cutters into the forest, to +seek for such flowering plants as still were to be found in the more +sheltered spots, and to transplant them to the garden that was to +surround and embellish their rude dwelling. + +As soon as a tolerable shelter had been obtained, by the erection of a +sufficient number of log-huts, to contain the families of the settlers, +it was resolved that a party of men should go on an exploring +expedition, and endeavor to ascertain the nature and resources of the +coast on which they had landed; and, also, whether it was inhabited by +any tribes of native Indians. Hitherto they had seen no human beings, +and they had remained undisturbed possessors of the soil. But they +could hardly expect that this state of things would long continue; and +they were anxious, if possible, to discover the native inhabitants and +natural possessors of the country, and to establish friendly relations +with them. + +Sixteen of the Pilgrims volunteered for this expedition, headed by +Rodolph Maitland, whose military experience, and superior intelligence, +well fitted him to be the leader of the party. The rest of the men +remained to protect their families, and to complete the village; which +already presented a very respectable appearance, and promised to afford +a tolerably comfortable residence to the new settlers, until they +should have leisure and means to erect dwellings more in accordance +with their previous habits of life. + +The government of the little colony was unanimously confided to John +Carver, who was elected President for one year; but he did not live +long to exercise his authority, or to enjoy the confidence reposed in +him by his fellow-settlers. During the short period, however, that he +was spared to them, he exerted himself successfully to promote the +welfare of the community, and to preserve peace and unanimity among the +members of which it was composed; and before the departure of the +exploring party, he called on all the Pilgrim Fathers to sign a +covenant, which had been drawn up during the voyage, and which +contained a statement of the peculiar religious principles of the +congregation, and also of the mode of civil government that they proposed +to establish in the colony. This government was not to be independent +of the mother country, for the Pilgrims regarded themselves as still +being the subjects of King James; and the patent which they had +procured to enable them to settle in New England was granted by the +Company to whom the king had assigned the right of colonizing that part +of North America. They, therefore, intended to be governed mainly by +English laws, and to keep up a constant and intimate connection with +their English brethren. It may be well here to mention that their plan +of civil government consisted in the election of a governor or +president by general vote, and of seven counselors to assist him; the +only privilege granted to the president being that his vote counted +double. This state of things continued for eighteen years, after which +time the growth of the colony rendered a change expedient, and each new +town that was founded sent delegates to a general court. It would, +however, be useless here to follow the political changes of these early +settlers, as it is only with their first form of government that our +story is concerned. + +According to the habitual custom of the Pilgrims, the Sabbath which +preceded the sending forth this band of spies to search the land, was +observed with the utmost solemnity; for no press of occupations--no +necessity for haste--ever induced them to neglect this duty. For the +liberty of practicing their own mode of worship, they had sought these +shores; and, having been permitted safely to reach them, they used that +liberty, and were never unmindful of their religious privileges. Every +Sabbath was a day of sacred rest; and every undertaking was sanctified +by prayer; sometimes even, as we shall have occasion to observe, when +the undertaking was such as could hardly be supposed to deserve the +blessing of God. Still, there is every reason to believe that their +piety, as a body, was sincere; and while we condemn the sternness and +severity into which they were too frequently betrayed, we must yield +our heartfelt approbation to the self-denying resolution and +unflinching faith that were their governing principle and their ever- +actuating motive. Well have these principles and motives been +described by a late well-known poet, and well may we conclude this +introductory chapter with the last verse of that exquisite song, with +the first of which we commenced it: + +'What sought they thus afar? + Bright jewels of the mine? +The wealth of seas, the spoils of war? + They sought a faith's pure shrine. +Aye--call it holy ground + The soil where first they trod! +They have left unstain'd what there they found + Freedom to worship God!' + + + + +CHIAPTER II. + +'In much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, In distresses As +having nothing, and yet possessing all things.'--2 COR. vi, 4, 10. + +'Is it not much that I may worship Him, +With naught my spirit's breathings to control, +And feel His presence in the vast, and dim, +And whispering woods, where dying thunders roll + From the far cat'racts?' HEMANS. + +With some anxiety the settlers saw the exploring party set out on their +hazardous enterprise. The season was far advanced, and drifting +snowstorms gave warning of the inclement winter that was rapidly +setting in. Still it was deemed necessary to make some investigation +into the nature of the country, and to endeavor to obtain, if possible, +a supply of provisions before the increasing severity of the weather +should render it impracticable to do so. But, above all, it was +desirable to ascertain what native tribes dwelt in the vicinity of the +settlement, and to use every means to establish friendly relations with +them; not only because such a course would be most in accordance with +the principles of the Gospel which the emigrants professed to hold and +to practice, but also because, in the present state of the infant +colony, they were altogether unprepared to resist any attack that might +be made on them by a large body of Indians. + +Maitland led his party inland at first, and for two days they saw no +traces or human inhabitants; but on the afternoon of the third day, as +they were looking about for a convenient spot on which to encamp for +the night, some large and apparently artificial mounds of earth were +observed, scattered over an open glade in the forest. At the first +glance, they appeared like dwelling places; and, knowing something of +the habits of the Indians, Rodolph and two of his companions approached +them warily, fearing to surprise and irritate the inhabitants. But +after making a circuit, and ascertaining that these supposed huts had +no doorways, they went up to them, and found them to be solid mounds, +at the foot of which neatly plaited baskets, filled with ears of maize, +were placed. These were eagerly seized upon; and a further search being +made, several warlike and agricultural implements were discovered +buried beneath the surface of the earth. It was evident that these +mounds were native graves, and that they had recently been visited by +the tribe to which they belonged, who most probably resided in the +neighborhood. Therefore, to avoid exciting their displeasure and +jealousy, Rodolph caused all the weapons and other tools to be restored +to their places; and, in exchange for the corn, which was too much +needed to be left behind, he put into the baskets several strings of +beads, and other trifles, with which he was provided for the purpose of +barter, or as presents to the natives. + +It did not appear either safe or desirable to remain near a spot so +sacred to the Indians; the party therefore moved further into the depth +of the forest, where they erected their tents, which consisted merely +of blankets supported on poles; and, lighting large fires, they slept +by turns, while half their number kept a vigilant watch. Their rest +was, however, undisturbed, either by lurking Indians or by prowling +beasts of prey; and at day-break they resumed their march, in the hope +of discovering the native camp. But their search was in vain; and +Rodolph determined to leave the forest, and return to the settlement +along the shore, hoping there to find some traces of the natives. +Before he and his comrades left the shelter of the wood, they fired +their muskets at the small game which abounded in every direction, +partly with a view to supply themselves with food, and partly to +attract the notice of any straggling Indians who might be wandering +near, and who would conduct them to their wigwams. But the echoes were +the only sounds that answered their reports, and it was clear that no +native camp was within hearing. + +The place where Maitland and his little band reached the coast was +nearly twenty leagues from the settlement, towards the north, and has +since been known by the name of Angoum. Here they found two empty +huts, containing all the curiously-worked utensils used by the Indians +of that districtbowls, trays, and dishes, formed of calabashes and +carved wood or bark; and beautiful baskets constructed of crabshells, +ingeniously wrought together, with well-woven mats of grass and +bulrushes, dyed of various brilliant colors. The inhabitants had +probably gone on a fishing expedition, and would return in a few days, +as they had left behind them a considerable quantity of dried acorns, +which, at that period, formed a common article of food with these +children of the forest. + +Rodolph suffered nothing to be taken from the huts, but proceeded along +the coast in a southerly direction and, at length, he perceived two +canoes at a considerable distance from the shore, containing several +Indians, who took no notice of the signals they made, but rowed rapidly +away on an opposite course. Finding it useless to linger any longer in +this part of the bay, Maitland led his party back to the settlement at +New Plymouth, taking accurate observations of the line of coast, and +communicated to President Carver all the information that he had been +able to collect. This was not very satisfactory; and the governor +resolved to send out a second party, well armed, who should proceed in +the shallop to the southern part of Cape Cod Bay. This expedition was +placed under the command of Captain Standish, who was regarded as the +military chief of the settlers; and Maitland again formed one of the +number. On this occasion he obtained permission to take Henrich with +him, as he wished the boy to become early inured to the hardships and +privations which it would probably be his lot to bear for many years, +and also to acquire habits of courage and vigilance that might be of +service to him hereafter. Henrich was delighted with this arrangement, +which gratified his desire for adventure, and also proved that his +father now placed some confidence in him, and no longer regarded him as +a mere child. His astonishment was great when first he beheld the +whales, those huge and fearful-looking monsters of the ocean, lifting +their gigantic heads above the waves, and lashing the surface to foam +with their powerful tails; or ejecting vast spouts of water like +fountains, from their upraised heads. These, and many other strange +objects, attracted his attention as the boat moved down the bay; but +all were forgotten in the absorbing interest with which he regarded, +for the first time, the wild red men that met his view as the boat +neared the shore, at a spot about eight leagues from New Plymouth, +called by the Pilgrims _Thievish Harbor._ Several of these savages, in +their strange attire of skins, and feathers, and woven grasses, showed +themselves among the rocks that stood above the landing-place; but, +regardless of the peaceful signs that were made to them by Captain +Standish and his crew, they hastily retreated and when the party +disembarked, not an Indian was to be seen. With much circumspection, +the captain advanced at the head of his resolute band, who all held +their muskets ready for action, if self-defense should compel them to +use them; but with a positive order from their commander to refrain +from any act of hostility so long as it was possible to do so. + +This command could not, however, be long obeyed; for as the party +proceeded through the rocks and stunted trees that lined the coast, +they came in sight of a burial ground, similar to that which had been +discovered in the first expedition, except that, in this case, the +mounds of earth were enclosed by a strong palisade of upright poles, +bound together firmly at the top. Through the interstices of these +poles, Standish and his men saw the glittering eyes of the savages +watching their approach; and before they could decide whether to +advance or retreat, a shower of arrows was discharged, several of which +took effect, though not mortally. This wanton aggression roused the +spirit of the sturdy Englishmen, and regardless of the efforts which +Captain Standish made to restrain them, a volley of musket balls +instantly replied to the challenge of the red men; and the wild cries +that arose from the cemetery plainly told that they had not sped in +vain. Even Rodolph Maitland was surprised out of his usual calm +resolution and presence of mind; for he saw his son fall bleeding to +the ground, pierced through the leg by an arrow, and almost +involuntarily he fired off his musket at an Indian whose body was more +exposed than the rest, and whose greater profusion of ornament showed +him to be one of their chief warriors. Rodolph saw him fall from the +palisades on which he had climbed to take a better aim at the white +men; and instantly a gate was opened in the enclosure, and, with a +hideous yell, the savages rushed forth, brandishing their spears and +battle-axes, and shouting their war-cry, 'Woach! woach! ha, ha, hach, +woach!' Their number appeared to be about thirty men; and Standish knew +that his party, several of whom were already slightly wounded, could +not resist the fury of their attack. He therefore gave the word for an +instant retreat to the boat, as the only means of safety. His gallant +band would gladly have pressed on, and met the savages in close combat; +but they had promised to obey their leader, and reluctantly they +followed him to the shore. + +The path by which they had emerged on the burial-place was narrow and +winding, and they were soon hidden from the sight of the Indians; but +they heard their wild whoop among the rocks and bushes, and knew that +they were in eager pursuit. Maitland had caught up his wounded boy in +his arms, and now bore him rapidly forward; but the weight of his +burden, and the roughness of the way, retarded his steps and, powerful +as he was, he could not keep up with his comrades, who were unconscious +that he had fallen behind them. He thought of his wife--of Henrich's +mother--and he pat forth his utmost strength. Still the war cry came +nearer and nearer; and Henrich, who had hitherto uttered no sound of +pain, or word of complaint exclaimed wildly-- + +Father! I see them! There--there--they have entered the thicket, and +one has climbed the rock, and will soon overtake us. O, father, fly! +for his battle-axe is lifted up, and his eyes glare terribly' + +Maitland's heart beat furiously. He could not pause, or turn, to look +at the coming foe; but his quick and ready mind was active in devising +some means of saving the life of his child. + +'Load my gun, Henrich!' he exclaimed. 'I cannot long continue this +speed. Be steady, and be quick: our lives depend upon it!' + +The gallant boy instantly obeyed the difficult command; and the instant +it was done, Rodolph dropped on one knee, supported his bleeding son on +the other, and taking a deliberate aim at the Indian, who was preparing +to leap from the rock into the path behind them, he fired. The upraised +arms of the savage fell powerless--the heavy axe dropped from his +hand--and, falling forward over the rock, he lay expiring in the narrow +pathway. The feathery coronets of several of his comrades were seen +above the bushes at some distance: and again the father raised his son, +who now hung fainting in his arms, and hurried, with renewed speed, +towards the shore. As he neared it, he met two of his companions who, +having reached the boat, had missed him and Henrich, and hastened back +to secure their retreat. It was a seasonable reinforcement, for +Rodolph's strength was failing him. He gave his boy into the arms of +one of his friends, and loading his gun, he stood with the other, to +defend the passage to the shore. The savages came on; and the white men +fired, and retreated, loading as they fell back, and again firing; +until their pursuers, either wounded or disheartened, came to a stand +still, and contented themselves with yelling their discordant war-cry, +and shooting arrows, which happily missed their aim. + +The whole party embarked safely, and were soon beyond the reach of the +missiles which the Indians continued to discharge; and Maitland had the +joy of seeing young Henrich speedily recover his senses, and his spirit +too. It was evident that the arrows used by the red men on this +occasion were not poisoned, and no great or permanent evil was likely +to arise from any of the wounds received; but a spirit of hostility had +been established between the settlers and the Nausett tribe, to which +their assailants belonged, and Rodolph was a marked man, and an object +of determined revenge, to all who had shared in the conflict. The spot +where it took place was named _the First Encounter,_ in memory of the +event, and long retained that name: and the consequences of this first +combat proved to be equally calamitous to the savages, and to their +more civilized foes, for many subsequent years. + +The exploring party returned to their settlement as speedily as +possible, being anxious to obtain medical relief for the wounded. +Helen Maitland and her children were wandering on the shore when the +boat first came in sight; and for several evenings the desolate coast +had been her constant haunt, after the necessary labors of the day were +completed. It had been with much reluctance that she had consented to +her husband's wish of taking Henrich on the hazardous expedition; and +his being of the party had greatly increased the anxiety and uneasiness +which Rodolph's absence always caused her. As the days passed on, this +anxiety became greater; and visions of fatal encounters with the +savages beset her naturally timid mind. Daily therefore she left her +hut, and wrapped in the mantle of fur with which her husband had +provided her before he brought her to brave a North American winter, +she paced backwards and forwards on the beach, looking out over the +dark waters, and lifting her heart in prayer for the safe and speedy +return of the wanderers. Edith and Ludovico accompanied her but they +could not share her anxiety. They looked, indeed, with eagerness for +the expected boat which was to bring back their much-loved father and +brother; but they soon forgot the object of their search, and amused +themselves by climbing the rocks, and gathering the shells which the +wintry waves now cast up in abundance. + +They were thus engaged when Edith happened to glance to the south and +saw the long desired coming round a little promontory that concealed it +from her mother as she walked below. In an instant the treasure of +shells and seaweed was forgotten, and little Edith was bounding down to +the beach, followed by Ludovico. + +'The boat mother, the boat!' she eagerly exclaimed, as she pointed in +the direction in which it was approaching; and in another moment she +and her little brother were at Helen's side, and all hastening to the +landing-place--that very granite rock on which they had first +disembarked on the American shore. The boat came rear; and as soon as +the crew perceived Helen and the children on the rock, they raised a +hearty cheer to tell her that all was well. She saw her husband +standing on the prow, and her heart bounded with joy; but she looked +for Henrich, and she did not see him, and fear mingled with her joy. A +few more strokes of the oars, and the boat glided up to the rock, and +Rodolph leaped on shore, and embraced his wife and children. + +'Heaven be praised! you are safe, my Rodolph,' exclaimed Helen. 'But +where is Henrich?--where is my boy? + +'He also is safe, Helen. His life is preserved; but he is wounded, and +unable to come from the boat to meet you. Bear up,' he added, seeing +that she trembled violently, while the tears flowed down her blanched +cheeks 'you need not fear: the brave boy is maimed, indeed, but I +trust not seriously injured. He is weak from loss of blood, and must +not be agitated; therefore meet him cheerfully, and then hasten to make +the arrangements for his comfort that your scanty means will permit.' + +Helen dried her tears, and forced, a smile to greet her wounded child, +who was now being lifted from the bottom of the boat, and gently +carried on shore by two of the men. His pallid countenance, and blood- +stained garments, struck a chill to her heart; but she concealed her +grief, and silenced the sobs and exclamations of the warm-hearted +little Edith and her terrified brother; and then, having affectionately +welcomed the almost fainting boy, she hurried away with the children to +prepare for his reception in the comfortless log-hut. + +Assisted by Janet--the faithful servant who had nursed her children, +and followed her from England to Holland, and from Holland to America-- +she soon arranged a bed for their patient; and Henrich smiled +cheerfully, though languidly, when he found himself again beneath the +humble roof that was now his home, and surrounded by all whom he loved. +His wound proved to be a severe one--more so than his father had +imagined; and the loss of blood had been so considerable that he was +reduced to extreme weakness. Now it was that Helen felt the absence of +all the comforts, and even luxuries, to which she had been accustomed +from childhood, but of whose loss she had hitherto never complained. +Henrich's illness proved a very long and painful one; and +notwithstanding the kindness of all her friends, and the attentions +paid by the rest of the settlers to the young patient--who was a +general favorite--it was difficult to procure for him either the food +or the medical attendance that his case required: and frequently his +parents feared that a foreign grave would soon be all that would remain +to them of their dearly-loved child. + +To add to their anxiety and distress, an epidemic disease, of which +some signs had appeared in the settlement before the exploring party +set out, now increased to a fearful degree. The stores which had been +brought out in the crowded Mayflower were nearly expended, except such +a stock as Captain Jones considered necessary for the voyage back to +England: and a great scarcity of bread began to be felt. The animals, +which they procured by the gun and the chase, were not sufficient to +supply the wants of the settlers, and famine--actual famine--stared +them in the face, and increased the violence of the pestilence. Many +sank beneath the accumulated evils of hardship, privation, and +sickness, and the number of the little settlement was sadly reduced +during the inclement months of January and February. + +The constant care which was bestowed on Henrich at length proved +effectual in healing his wound, and partially restoring his strength; +and his parents had, eventually, the happiness of seeing that the a +anger was past, and their son was restored to them. They also had cause +to acknowledge, with gratitude, that the affliction had been blessed to +him as well as to themselves. The elders of the community, who acted as +the pastors of the infant colony, were unwearied in their attentions to +their weaker and more distressed brethren. They were, indeed, the +physicians both of their bodies and souls; and Henrich was not +neglected by them. The excellent and venerable William Brewster was the +intimate and valued friend of Rodolph Maitland and his wife. He had +been both their friend and adviser for many years of comparative peace +and prosperity; and now that he shared their troubles and adversities, +his ready sympathy, and active kindness, rendered him dearer to them +than ever. + +Brewster was a man whose character and position in life naturally gave +him great influence with the Pilgrim Fathers. He had received a liberal +education, and possessed a far greater knowledge of the world than the +generality of his companions in exile, having been brought up as a +diplomatist under Davison, when he was Secretary of State to Queen +Elisabeth. He was devoted to the cause of religious liberty; and it was +he who had assisted his friend, John Robinson, in withdrawing his +congregation from the persecution that threatened them in England, to a +peaceful asylum in Holland. At the time of the emigration to America, +he was already in the decline of life; but his energies were in no +degree weakened, and his zeal for the glory of God, and the good of his +fellow Christians, was unabated. + +He desired to spend all his remaining years in promoting the welfare of +the colony, and in proclaiming the Gospel to the heathen; and while he +was ever mindful of the wants, both spiritual and temporal, of the +flock ever whom he was appointed to preside, until their pastor +Robinson could join them, he never forgot the grand object of his +voluntary exile, or ceased to pray that the Lord would be pleased to +open 'a great door and effectual,' before him, and enable him to bring +many of the savage and ignorant natives into the fold of Christ. In +all these plans he was warmly seconded by Edward Winslow, but hitherto +no such opening had appeared and the sickness and distress which +prevailed in the settlement gave full occupation to them and to their +brother elders. During all the period of Henrich's tedious illness, not +a day passed in which Brewster did not visit the suffering boy to +cheer him, to soothe him, and, above all, to prepare him for that +better world to which he then believed he was surely hastening. To +these visits Henrich looked forward with delight; and often, when +domestic business called away his mother and Janet, the minister would +remain with him for hours, seated on a low stool by of his bed, and +read to him, or talk to him, in a strain so holy and yet so cheerful, +that Edith would leave her work and softly seat herself on Henrich's +couch, that she might catch his every word, while little Ludovico would +cease from his noisy sports, and creep up on the good man's knee, and +fix his large soft eyes on his sweet and noble countenance. + +These hours were not unimproved by Henrich. His character was formed, +and his principles were fixed, and his mind and spirit grew strong and +ripe beyond his years. Never were these hours of peaceful happiness +forgotten; and often amid the strange and stirring scenes which it was +his lot in after-life to witness and to share, did he bless the over- +ruling providence of God, which had laid him on a bed of pain and +weakness, that he might learn lessons of piety and of usefulness, which +otherwise he would never have acquired. + +It was while they were thus happily engaged one afternoon, when Henrich +was slowly recovering his strength, that the elder and his young +audience were startled by wild and discordant sounds, mingled with +cries of fear, which proceeded from the outskirts of the straggling +village, and seemed to be approaching. Henrich raised himself on his +bed, and a look of terror overspread his countenance, as he exclaimed: +'It is the war cry of the savages! O! I know it well! Go, Mr. +Brewster, fly! save my mother. I will follow you.' + +And the brave boy tried to leap from the couch, and reach his father's +sword, which hung against the wooden walls of his chamber. But it was +in vain; the wounded leg refused to bear his weight, and he was forced +to relinquish his design. Brewster, however, snatched the sword, and +drawing it, rushed from the hut, leaving Edith and Ludovico clinging +with trembling hands around their brother. + +Henrich's fears proved but too true. No sooner had the elder traversed +the enclosure that surrounded Maitland's dwelling, than he beheld +Helen, and several of the other women who had gone out to assist their +husbands in the lighter parts of their agricultural labors, flying in +terror and confusion to their huts, while the men were engaged in close +combat with a party of native Indians. The same war-cry which had rung +on their ears in the first encounter told Rodolph and his comrades that +these savages were of the same tribe, and probably the same individuals +from whom they had escaped with such difficulty on that occasion. They +were right; for it was indeed a band of the Nausetts, who, headed by +their Chief, had come to seek revenge for the loss they had sustained +at their former meeting. The warrior whom Rodolph's musket had laid +low was Tekoa, the only son of the Nausett chief; and he was resolved +that the white man's blood should flow, to expiate the deed. He knew +that the son of the stranger who had slain his young warrior had been +wounded, and, as he hoped, mortally; but that did not suffice for his +revenge, and he had either suddenly attacked the settlement, in the +hope of securing either Rudolph himself or some of his comrades, that +he might shed the white man's blood on the grave of his son, and tear +off their scalps as trophies of victory. + +The settlers who now contended with the savages were but few in number, +for many of the men lay sick, and many had died; and they were mostly +unarmed, except with their agricultural implements. Rudolph and a few +others had short swords, or dirks, attached to their girdles, and with +these they dealt blows that told with deadly effect on the half-naked +bodies of their foes; and the good broad-sword that Brewster quickly +placed in Maitland's hand, was not long in discomfiting several of the +Indians, who had singled him out, at the command of their Chief, as the +special object of their attack. Meanwhile, many of the women, and such +of the invalids as had power to rise, had again left the huts, and +borne to their husbands and friends the arms which had been left in +their dwellings; and in spite of the arrows and darts of the Indians, +by which several of them were wounded, they continued to load the guns +for the combatants while the conflict lasted. Happily this was not +long. The _fire-breathing_ muskets struck terror into the ignorant +savages; and when two or three of their number had fallen, they turned +to fly; first, however, catching up the bodies of their comrades, which +they carried off to ensure their honorable burial, and to save them +from the indignities which they supposed the pale-faces would heap on +the dead. + +In vain their Chief endeavored to rally them, and compel them to +return to the conflict. In vain he waved his battle-axe on high, and +shouted his war-whoop, Woach! woach! ha, ha, hach, woach!' A panic had +seized his followers, and they fled precipitately into the forest from +they had issued, so suddenly and so fiercely, to the attack. One +warrior stood alone by the Chief. He was young and handsome, but his +countenance was dark and sinister and an expression of cunning was +strongly marked in his glittering deep-set eyes and overhanging brows. +He saw that it was hopeless to contend any longer with the powerful +strangers, and, by words and actions, he was evidently persuading the +Chief to retire. The settlers had ceased to fire the moment that their +enemies fled; and there was a deep silence, while every eye was fixed +on the striking figure of the enraged Chief, whose every feature was +distorted by excited passions. He stood with his tomahawk uplifted, +and his tall and muscular figure in an attitude of command and +defiance; while, in a loud and distinct voice, he uttered a vow of +vengeance, the words of which were unintelligible to the settlers, +though the meaning could easily be guessed from his looks and gestures. +Then he hung his battle-axe to his gaudy belt, and pointing his hand at +Rodolph, he retired slowly and majestically like a lion discomfited but +not subdued, to seek his people and to upbraid them with their +cowardice. + +This attack of the Indians effectually destroyed all feelings of +security in the minds of the settlers. Henceforth they were obliged, +like the Jews of old, to go to their labor every man with his sword +girded to his side, and continually to hold themselves in readiness for +a sudden assault. The pestilence continued to rage, and the scarcity of +food increased to such a degree, that for several weeks no bread was to +be been in the settlement. The governor, Mr. Carver, exerted himself +with zeal and benevolence to lesser the misery of his people; but with +so little effect, that when the spring at length set in, and the +captain of the Mayflower prepared to return to England, the little band +of settlers was found to be reduced to one half the original number; +and these were weakened by illness, and by want of proper nourishment. + +But great as were their difficulties and sufferings, their faith and +resolution never failed; and when the Mayflower again set sail for +England, not one of the fifty emigrants who remained expressed a desire +to return. + + + +CHAPTER III. + +What men were they? Of dark-brown color, +With sunny redness; wild of eye; their tinged brows +So smooth, as never yet anxiety +Nor busy thought had made a furrow there. +. . . . . . . Soon the courteous guise +Of men, not purporting nor fearing ill, +Won confidence: their wild distrustful looks +Assumed a milder meaning. MADOC. + +We have said that the band of the exiles was reduced to half the number +that had, six months before, left the shores of Europe, so full of hope +and of holy resolution; and still, in spite of all their outward trials +and difficulties, the hope and the resolution of the survivors were as +high and as firm as ever. They trusted in the God whom they had served +so faithfully; and they knew that, in his own good time, he would give +them deliverance. But their days of darkness were not yet over. The +inclemency of the winter had indeed passed away, and the face of nature +began to smile upon them; yet sickness still prevailed, and the many +graves that rose on the spot which they had chosen for a burial ground, +daily reminded them of the losses that almost every family had already +sustained. The grief that had thus been brought upon them by death was +also greatly aggravated by the harassing attacks of the Indians, who +Were evidently still lurking in the neighboring woods; and who now +frequently came in small parties, and committed depredations of every +kind that lay in their power. Their real but concealed object was to +capture Rodolph, either alive or dead; for nothing short of his +destruction, or at least that of some member of his family, could +satisfy the bereaved Chief for the loss of his son. He, therefore, +left a party of his bravest and most subtle warriors in an encampment +about a day's journey from the Christian village, with orders to make +frequent visits to the settlement, and leave no means untried which +either force or cunning could suggest, that might lead to the full +gratification of his revenge. + +The old Chief himself returned to his wigwams, which lay some distance +from New Plymouth, near the burial ground where the first encounter +'had taken place. The detachment was left under the command end +guidance of Coubitant, the young warrior who had stood by him to the +last in the conflict at the village; and who was, since the death of +Tisquantum's son, regarded as the most distinguished of the young +braves of that part of the tribe over which the Sachem ruled. His +cunning, and his ferocious courage, well fitted him for the task +assigned to him; and as the young warrior who fell at 'the first +encounter' had been his chosen friend and companion in arms, his own +desire for vengeance was only second to that of the Chief; and the +malignant gaze which he had fixed on Rodolph when he led Tisquantum +from the field, well expressed the feelings and the determination of +his heart. + +That glance had been seen by Janet; who, on that occasion, had +displayed a courage and resolution hardly to be expected at her +advanced age. She had easily induced her trembling mistress to remain +in the house, whither they had both fled at the first attack of the +Indians; but she had herself returned to the place of conflict, bearing +Rodolph's musket and ammunition, and she bad remained by the side of +Brewster, to whose ready hand she transferred it, until all danger was +over. Then she had fixed her attention on the Chief and his companion; +and the fine form and handsome features of the young Indian warrior +appeared like a statue of bronze, while he stood motionless by +Tisquantum. But when he turned to follow his Chief, the expression +with which he looked at Rodolph transformed his countenance into that +of a demoniac. Janet never forgot that look. + +The state of continual watchfulness and suspense in which the emigrants +were kept by their wary and active foes, was extremely harassing to +their weakened force; so much so, that the President resolved to make +another attempt to establish a friendly intercourse with some other +native tribe, who might, possibly, assist them in driving of' the +Nausetts; and whose friendship would also be useful to them in various +ways. An opportunity for this attempt soon presented itself; for a +party of the settlers, in following the windings of a brook that flowed +through their new town into the sea, in pursuit of wild fowl, came upon +two large and beautiful lakes, about three miles inland. The shores of +these lakes were adorned with clumps of lofty and majestic trees, and +the grass was spangled with wild flowers, and studded with graceful +shrubs and underwood. Among the bushes they descried several fallow +deer, and the surface of the water was animated by flocks of water +fowl, among which the brilliant and graceful wood duck was conspicuous. + +But the objects that chiefly attracted the notice of the sportsmen, +were several wigwams that stood on the further side of the lake, +beneath the shade of some overhanging trees. In front of these huts the +hall-naked children were playing, while the women were pursuing their +domestic occupations. Some were weaving baskets and mats, and others +washing their fishing nets in the lake. But no men were to be seen; and +Rodolph, who, as usual, led the hunting party, determined to approach +the wigwams. In order to show his peaceful intentions, be gave his +musket to one of his companions; and inviting his friend Winslow to do +the same, and to accompany him, he proceeded round the lake. As soon as +the women perceived them, they uttered wild cries of fear; and, +snatching up their children, attempted to escape into the thicket +behind their huts. Rodolph and Winslow then started in pursuit, and +succeeded in capturing one little copper-colored fellow, who was +endeavoring to keep pace with his mother. She could not carry him, for +she had already an infant in her arms, and she knew not that he was in +the power of their dreaded pursuers until she reached the thicket, and +looked back for her boy. He was struggling violently in Maitland's +hands, but not a cry escaped his lips; and when he found all his +efforts to free himself were vain, he gave up the attempt, and stood +motionless, with a look of proud endurance that was highly +characteristic of his race. His mother had less fortitude. She uttered +a shriek that pierced the heart of Rodolph; and laying her infant on +the grass, she almost forgot her own fears, and, in an imploring +attitude, crept forward towards her imaginary foes while her eloquent +eyes pleaded for her child's release more than any words could have +done. Maitland could not resist that appeal. He only detained the boy +until he had hung round his neck several strings of gaily-colored +beads, with which the hunters were always provided, and then he set him +at liberty. + +In an instant the child was in his mother's arms; and when her +passionate caresses had expressed her joy, she waved with a graceful +salutation to the Englishman, and bent to the ground in token of +gratitude. Then she looked at the beads, and her white teeth glittered +as she smiled a sunny smile of delight and admiration at what seemed to +her such priceless treasures. Rodolph drew from the pouch which hung at +his leathern belt a string of beads more brilliant still, and held them +towards the woman. She gazed at them, and then at the frank and open +countenance of the stranger; and fear gave way to the desire of +possessing the offered gift. She slowly approached, holding her child +by the hand, and suffered Rodolph to suspend the gaudy necklace round +her graceful and slender throat. Then she motioned to him to remain, +and ran swiftly to the thicket to bring back her companions, who had +paused in their flight, and were now watching with eager eyes the +actions of the white man. + +Her persuasions, and the sight of her newly-acquired ornament, soon +overcame the remaining fears of her auditors, and all returned in a +body, smiling, and extending their hands, in the hope of receiving +similar gifts. Maitland and Winslow, who had now joined him, divided +all their store of trinkets among the eager applicants; and then, in +return, made signs requesting to be permitted to enter the wigwams. +This request was acceded to; and Apannow--for that was the name of the +female who had first approached the strangers--led the way to the hut +in the center of the village, which was larger and better appointed +than any one of the rest. It was evidently the dwelling of the chief of +the tribe; and the beautifully carved implements which hung to the +walls, and the skulls and scalps that adorned the roof, showed that its +possessor was a distinguished warrior. + +Apannow brought forth the best refreshment that her hut afforded, and +placed it with a native grace before her guests, inviting them to +partake of it, and first tasting of each article herself, to show that +it was harmless. Her gentle and intelligent manners greatly interested +Rudolph and his companion; and by degrees they succeeded in obtaining +from her, and the other women who crowded the wigwam, such information +as they chiefly desired. By expressive signs and gestures, they were +made to understand that all the red men were gone on a fishing +expedition to the head of the further lake, and would not return until +the morrow. They afterwards learnt, also, that the village had only been +occupied for a few days, as it was merely the summer residence of a part +of the tribe of the Wampanoge Indians, who, with their chief, annually +repaired to that beautiful station for the purpose of fishing in the +extensive lakes. The rest of the tribe were located in various places to +the west, occupying the district since known as the state of Rhode +Island. + +Maitland and Winslow took leave of their new friends, intimating that +they would return and seek an interview with the Chief in two days, and +bearing with them a supply of fish and dried maize, which they received +from Apannow as a pledge of amity, and which they knew would be most +welcome to the invalids who were still suffering from disease at the +settlement. They quickly rejoined the rest of their comrades, who had +remained at a distance, for fear of alarming the timid Indian females; +and all returned to New Plymouth. The intelligence they brought, and +the seasonable refreshment they bore to the sick, were joyfully +welcomed by the whole community; and the spirits of the settlers rose +at the prospect of securing Indian friends and allies, who might, under +their present distressing circumstances, afford them such essential +help and security. The necessity for such aid had lately become more +urgent than ever, for a party of their untiring enemies, the Nausetts, +had very recently invaded the enclosure within which lay the loved +remains of all who bad perished since their arrival in America. The +graves were sadly numerous; and the sorrowing survivors had reverently +decked the mounds that covered them with shrubs, and green boughs from +the evergreens that abounded in the neighboring woods, as emblems of +their abiding grief, and also of their immortal hopes. These marks of +affectionate regard the savages had rudely torn away; and not content +with this, they had even, in some instances, removed the fresh-laid +turf, and dug up the earth, so as to expose the coffins that lay +beneath. No other injury or outrage could have so deeply wounded the +feelings, or aroused the indignation, of the emigrants, as this +desecration of the homes of the dead and they earnestly desired to form +some alliance with another tribe, which might enable them to punish and +to prevent such gross and wanton indignities. In the meantime, in the +hope of avoiding a recurrence of so distressing a calamity, the +colonists ploughed over the whole surface of their cemetery, and sowed +it with corn; thus concealing what was to them so sacred from the eyes +of their wild and ruthless foes. + +The day after Maitland's visit to the wigwams, the emigrants were +astonished at the appearance of a fine athletic Indian, armed with a +bow and arrows, who walked up to the common hall, near the center of +the village, and saluted the Governor and those who were with him, in +the words 'Welcome Englishmen!' In reply to their eager inquiries, he +informed them that his name was Samoset, and that he was 'a Sagamore of +a northern tribe of Indians dwelling near the coast of Maine, where he +had acquired a slight knowledge of the English language from the +fishermen who frequented the island of Monhiggon near that shore. He +had been for several months residing among the Wampanoges; and on the +return of the Chief and his followers to the wigwams, he had heard from +the Squaw-Sachem, that two strangers, who, from her account, he +concluded to be Englishmen, had visited the encampment, and proposed to +do so again in two days. He had, therefore, by desire of the Chief, +Mooanam, come over to the British settlement, to assure the emigrants +of a friendly reception, and to conduct the embassy to the presence of +the Sagamore. His kind offices were gratefully and joyfully accepted by +the Governor; and Samoset remained that day as his guest. Although the +Indian's knowledge of English was very limited, the Pilgrim Fathers +learnt from him the name, and something of the history, of their +inveterate foes, the Nausetts; and also, that the commencement of their +enmity to the settlers arose not merely from their being intruders on +their domains, but from the remembrance of an injury which they had +received, some years previously, from an English captain of the name of +Hunt, who, when cruising on these shores, had allured a number of +natives on board his ship, and had then treacherously carried them off, +and sold the greater part of them at Malaga, as slaves. Two he took +with him to England, and they at length got back to Cape Cod Bay, in a +vessel belonging to the Plymouth Company. This scandalous action had +filled the Nausetts and Pokanokits,[*] who were the injured tribes, +with bitter hatred against the white men; and five years afterwards, +they would have sacrificed the life of Captain Dermer, when he was +skirting these shores, had he not been saved by Squanto, one of the +kidnapped Pokanokits, whom he had brought back in his vessel, and who +had become attached to the English. + +[Footnote: The Pokanokit, dwelt on the peninsula which forms the Bay of +Cape Cod, and on a small pert or Rhode Island; the rest being occupied +by the Wampanoge; of whom Masasoyt was Grand Sagamore.] + +The feeling of animosity thus engendered had been aggravated by the +slaughter of Tisquantum's only son; and little hope could be +entertained of establishing a friendly intercourse with a tribe who +felt that they had so much to revenge against the white race. + +In two days, according to the intimation of Rodolph to the Indian +women, a deputation of the settlers, headed by Captain Standish, and +accompanied by Maitland, repaired to the Indian village under the +guidance of Samoset. They were expected by the inhabitants; and, as +soon as they were perceived approaching round the margin of the lake, +two young men came forth to meet them, and accompany them to the tent +of the Chief. Mooanam was prepared for their reception, and attired in +his gala costume of furs and feathers, with his most elaborately worked +battle-axe hung to his side, and a long and slender spear, tipped with +bone, in his hand. He rose from his seat on the ground at the entrance +of the strangers, and greeted them courteously; while his wife, the +Squaw-Sachem Apannow, and his lively little son Nepea, stood by his +side, and smiled a welcome to Rodolph, pointing at the same time +significantly to the beads which adorned their necks and arms. + +Standish had now an interpreter, though a very imperfect one; and by +his means a sort of friendly compact was formed, and gifts were +exchanged as the pledges of its sincerity. An invitation was then given +to the young Chief and to his brother Quadequina--who was one of those +who had conducted the white men to their presence--to return the visit +of the settlers, by coming the following day to their town. The +invitation was accepted, and the deputation returned to their homes, +escorted a great part of the by many of their Indian allies. + +Great preparations were made at New Plymouth for the reception of the +red Chief and his attendants, in such a manner as to impress them with +the wealth and power of emigrants. The large wooden building which was +intended as a sort of council chamber and public hall, was hung inside +with cloth and linen of various colors, and ornamented with swords, and +muskets, and pistols that the colony could produce. An elevated seat +was placed for the Governor at the upper end of the apartment, and +tables composed of long planks were laid down on each side, on which +were arranged such viands as the settlers could produce. The repast was +humble; but Helen and her female friends arranged it with taste, and +the children gathered the bright wild flowers that so early enliven the +groves and meadows when an American winter has passed away, to deck the +tables, and form garlands along the walls. A strange contrast did these +buds and blossoms of spring form to the implements of war and death +with which they were mingled: but the effect of the whole was gay, and +appeared very imposing to the simple children of the wilderness, as +they entered the wide portal, and passed up the hall to meet the +Puritan Governor. + +John Carver and his attendants were clad in the dark-colored and sober +garments which were usually adopted by their sect; and their long +beards and grave countenances struck a feeling of awe and reverence +into their savage guests. But the red men betrayed no embarrassment or +timidity. They advanced with a step at once bold and graceful, and +even controlled their natural feeling of curiosity so far as to cast no +wandering glances at the novelties that surrounded them. They kept +their eyes steadily fixed on the Governor, and returned his salutation +with a courteous dignity that did credit to their native breeding; and +then the Chief and Quadequina seated themselves on the high-backed +chairs that were placed for them on each side of the seat of the +President. Such a mode of sitting was certainly altogether new to these +sons of the forest, and they found it both awkward and disagreeable; +yet they showed no discomposure or restraint, and not a smile betrayed +their surprise, either at this or any other of the strange customs of +their hosts. + +After a few rather amusing efforts to carry on a communication with his +guests, through the intervention of Samoset, Carver invited them to +table, and again had occasion to admire the readiness and the natural +grace with which they accommodated themselves to customs so new and so +wonderful as those of the white men. When the repast was concluded, the +President led Mooanam and his party round the village, and showed them +everything that was worthy of attention; and so intelligent did he find +them, that he had no difficulty in making them comprehend the use of +many European implements, and many of the inventions and contrivances +of civilized life. With much satisfaction the good pastor, Brewster, +marked the sparkling eyes and speaking countenances of these gentle +savages; for he there hoped he saw encouragement to his ardent hope of +ere long bringing them to a knowledge of the simple and saving truths +of the gospel. With the Governor's permission, he led them to the plain +and unadorned edifice which was the emigrants' place of worship, and +easily made them understand that it was dedicated to the service of the +one Great Spirit who reigns over all; and from thence they were +conducted to the cemetery, and shown, by expressive signs, the insult +that had been offered to the dead by men of their own race. Some war- +like implements that had been picked up after one of the recent +skirmishes were shown to Mooanam and his brother, when they instantly +exclaimed, Nausett!' and knitting their brows, and putting themselves +into an attitude of defiance, they plainly intimated that the tribe was +one with which they were at enmity. + +They pointed in the direction where the Nausetts dwelt, and seemed to +invite the settlers to join them in assaulting their encampment; but +ignorance of their language, and of their habits prevented the +President from assenting to what appeared to be their earnest wish. + +As the sickness that had so long raged in the colony had now nearly +disappeared, and the advance of the season promised soon to open +sources of plentiful provision in the and the fields and streams, +Brewster felt that he could be spared for a time from the settlement; +and he proposed to Mr. Carver that he should return with Mooanam to his +village, and endeavor to acquire such a knowledge of the native +language, as should enable hint to act as an interpreter, and also give +him the means of imparting to the red men the spiritual knowledge that +he so ardently desired to bestow. The Governor willingly consented to +this proposal; and when it was explained to the Indian Chief, he gave +the most cordial and ready assent. The mild yet dignified countenance +of the elder had won his respect and confidence; and he hoped to gain +as great advantages from a more intimate connection with the white men, +as they expected from his alliance and support. + +Henrich was now able to leave his couch, and again to join Edith and +his young companions out of doors; but he still looked delicate, and +his former strength and activity had not fully returned. He was, +however, able to walk with the assistance of a crutch that his father +had made for him; and he formed one of the group that followed the +Indians in their procession through the village, and also escorted them +as far as the confines of the wood in whose depths their village lay. +The Chief remarked the boy, and showed sympathy for his lameness, which +he was given to understand was owing to an aggression of the Nausetts; +and his eyes flashed, and his nostrils dilated, and his whole +countenance was changed from its habitual expression of gentle dignity, +to one of fierce hostility. It was evident that, in these Wampanoges, +the settlers had secured allies who would be zealous and persevering in +protecting them from the attacks of their harassing enemies, the +Nausetts; and who would, when the proper time should arrive, assist +them in fleeing the district of such troublesome inhabitants. + +The Indians returned to their wigwams, and the elder accompanied them, +and became an inmate of Mooanam's lodge. He soon began to acquire some +knowledge of the language of his host, and also to instruct him and his +wife in many English words and phrases, in which their aptitude to +learn astonished him. A constant communication was kept up between the +Indian village and that of the settlers, and a real regard and esteem +sprang up between them. As the spring advanced, Henrich was able to +throw aside his crutch, and to accompany his father and mother in their +frequent visits to the wigwams, and much of his leisure time was passed +in the company of the young Indians of his own age, whose activity and +address in all their sports and games he admired and emulated. The +presence of his friend Brewster in the Wampanoge village, also gave it +increased attractions in the eyes of Henrich. The good man was still +his friend and preceptor; and with his assistance, he made considerable +progress in the acquirement of the native language, as well as in every +other kind of knowledge that Brewster was able to impart. But all the +elder's instructions were made subservient to that best of all +knowledge--the knowledge of God, and of his revealed Word; and in this +his pupil advanced and grew in a manner that both surprised and +delighted him. The boy's naturally thoughtful character had become +matured during his long and painful illness; and he had learnt to feel +the value of heavenly things, and the comparative littleness of all +'those things which are seen, and are temporal.' He entered warmly +into all the elder's benevolent desires and intentions for the +conversion of the dark heathen among whom their lot was cast; and he +already looked forward to being his assistant in the holy work. +Brewster regarded him as destined to become both a pastor and a zealous +and successful missionary, when he should arrive at a proper age; and +he frequently spoke of him as his own appointed successor in the +spiritual direction of the congregation. + +This sacred office Henrich anticipated with pride and satisfaction; for +where could he find a more fitting exercise for his adventurous and +enterprising spirit, and also for his love of the truth, than in +seeking the wild men amid their forests and wildernesses, and winning +them to peace, and happiness, and civilization, by the knowledge of the +all-powerful doctrines of the gospel? + +With the Indians he soon became a great favorite; and the readiness +with which he acquired the use of the bow, and learnt to cast the dart, +and wield the light tomahawks that were used by the Indian boys to +practice their young hands, excited their warmest admiration, and made +them prophesy that he would one day become a distinguished Brave. His +skill in hunting and fishing also became considerable; and he learnt +from his copper-colored friends many of their songs and dances, with +which he delighted Edith and Ludovico at home. His new companions did +not draw away his affections from his sister. She was still the object +of his warmest love; and to give her pleasure was the strongest desire +of his heart. In his long rambles with his Indian play-fellows he never +forgot his Edith; and many a stream was crossed, and many a rock was +climbed, to procure flowering plants to deck her garden, and creepers +to clothe the bower which he had formed for her beneath a venerable +walnut-tree that stood within their father's little domain, and at no +great distance from their dwelling. + +An attempt had been made, at first, by the colonists to follow the +example of the primitive church at Jerusalem; and to hold the land of +which they had taken possession in common, to be worked by the whole +community, and the produce to be equally divided amongst their families +in due proportion. But this plan was soon abandoned, as quite unsuited +to the habits and manners of these men of Britain; and every family had +a small portion, consisting of an acre each, assigned to it for the +special use and maintenance of its members. The fields in every +allotment had been sown chiefly with grain procured from the friendly +Wampanoges; and for some time past the Nausetts had left them +unmolested. + +The knowledge which Brewster soon acquired of the soft and musical +language of the natives enabled him, with the assistance of Samoset, +who still resided among them, to transact all business between them and +his countrymen; and also to become acquainted with the history and +circumstances of these useful allies. He learnt that Mooanam was not +the great Sachem or Sagamore of the whole tribe, but that he was the +eldest son of Masasoyt, the king or chief of the Wampanoges, who +resided at Packanokick, their principal village, which was situated in +the state of Rhode Island, near a mountain called Montaup, at a +considerable distance from Patupet, the native name for New Plymouth. + +The means of a still more extended intercourse was about this time +opened to the settlers, by the arrival at New Plymouth of another +Indian, who was already acquainted with the English, and who was also a +much greater proficient in their language than their friend Samoset. +This was no other than Squanto, the man who had been taken prisoner by +Captain Hunt some years previous, and conveyed to England. During his +residence there, he had learnt to make himself understood in the white +man's tongue, and he had also learnt to admire and respect the white +man's character. When, therefore, he had found his way hack to his +native land in a fishing vessel, and was informed by the Wampanoge +Sagamore--whom he visited in his journey to rejoin his own tribe--that +an English settlement had been formed on the shores of Cape Cod Bay, he +determined to visit it. Masasoyt encouraged him in this intention, and +sent him to his son Mooanam, to be introduced to the strangers, and to +assist in forming a permanent alliance with them. + +These overtures were joyfully received by the Governor, Mr. Carver, and +he determined to take immediate advantage of this opportunity of adding +to the strength and security of the infant colony. The intended +departure of Samoset also made it very desirable to secure the +friendship and the services of the newcomer Squanto; as, +notwithstanding the progress which Winslow and some others were making +in the Wampanoge language, a native interpreter must long be required, +in order to carry on a mutual intercourse. + +An embassy to the great Sagamore was therefore resolved on, with a view +to confirm and strengthen the alliance that had been formed with his +sons: and again Rodolph was selected to accompany Captain Standish as +his aide-de-camp, while Samoset and Squanto were to act as interpreters. +The journey was long, and Maitland was obliged reluctantly to +refuse Henrich's request to attend him. He feared the fatigue of so +many days' travelling on foot would be too much for his son's strength, +and Helen strongly opposed his going. He therefore gave up the much +desired expedition, and endeavored to chase away his feeling of +disappointment by renewed exertions in ornamenting the garden, and +putting the grounds into a state of perfect order, to please his father +on his return. + +The expedition was accompanied by the Sagamore's younger son, +Quadequina, who was anxious to introduce the new allies of his tribe to +his father, and to ensure their friendly reception. They reached +Packanokick after a pleasant journey of about forty miles, and were +kindly welcomed by Masasoyt, to whom a messenger had been sent +beforehand to prepare him for their arrival. + +The Sagamore was a noble-looking old man, and was treated by his son, +and by all his subjects, with the most profound respect; nor did his +strange costume in any way destroy his kingly appearance. His limbs +were naked, and were curiously painted and oiled, and his neck and arms +were decorated with strings of large white beads composed of polished +bone; while a richly embroidered bag or pouch, containing tobacco, was +suspended at the back of his neck. His coronet of feathers was lofty, +and of the most brilliant colors, and the rest of his dress consisted +of a tunic and moccasins of dressed deer skin, exquisitely worked with +colored grass and porcupine's quills. He willingly and fully ratified +the treaty which had been made by his sons with the white strangers, +whose appearance and manners seemed to prepossess him much in their +favor; and after detaining them for some days in his lodge, and +entertaining him with the greatest hospitality and kindness, he +dismissed them with presents of native manufacture, in return for the +European arms and ornaments which they had offered to his acceptance. +Samoset here left the settlers, and Squanto became henceforth their +faithful friend and useful interpreter. + + + +CHAPTER IV + +In your patience possess ye your souls. LUKE, xxi 19. + +One evening, about the time that Helen began to expect the return of +the embassy from Packanokick, Henrich was unusually busy in the garden, +arranging the flower-beds, and beautifying Edith's bower, in which he +and his sister had planned a little fte to welcome their father home. +Their mother had learnt to feel, that while they were thus employed, +and within the precincts of their own domain, they were safe from every +danger. The Nausetts had not attempted any depredations for an unusual +length of time; and a feeling of security and peace had taken the place +of that constant watchfulness and anxiety, which had long proved so +harassing to the settlers. They began to flatter themselves that their +foes had retired from the neighborhood, and would no more return to +molest them, now that they knew the emigrants to be on such friendly +terms with their powerful rivals, the Wampanoges. But false was this +appearance of security; and vain was every hope that the Nausetts would +forego their designs of vengeance, or cease to devise schemes of +mischief against those by whom they thought themselves injured! They +did not, indeed, continue to attack the settlement openly, for they had +been taught to dread the British fire-arms and the British courage; but +they still continued to lurk in the neighboring forest, and to keep a +vigilant watch over all that took place at the settlement. Often were +the keen eyes of Coubitant and his most trusty followers fixed, with a +malignant gaze, on the dwelling of Rodolph and often were his +movements, and those of his family, carefully noted by these sagacious +savages, when no suspicion of their presence existed in the minds of +the settlers. They would climb by night to the summit of some lofty +tree that overlooked the village, and there remain all day unseen, to +obtain a knowledge of the habits and proceedings of their hated +enemies, and to devise plans for turning this knowledge to account. + +The departure of the embassy to Packanokick was, consequently, well +known to Coubitant, and he resolved to take advantage of the absence of +so considerable a part of the British force, to execute, if possible, +his schemes of vengeance. What they were, and how he attempted their +accomplishment, will be presently seen. + +Edith's bower looked gay with its spring blossoms and luxuriant +creepers, but Henrich was not quite satisfied with its appearance, and +he wished to place at its entrance a graceful climbing plant which he +had observed during his last walk to the Wampanoge village, and had +neglected to secure it on his return. It had been the desire of his +parents that he should not go into the forest which bordered their +grounds, except in the company of his father or some of his friends; +but the apparent departure of the Nausetts had caused this injunction +to be neglected of late, and he, and even his younger brother and +sister, had frequently strayed, unmolested, a short distance into the +wood, in search of flowers and fruits; and even Helen had ceased to +feel alarm. + +'Edith,' said Henrich, on the evening of which we are speaking; 'I +think my father will return tonight, or tomorrow at the farthest; and I +must complete my task before he arrives. Your bower still requires a +few plants to adorn the entrance, and the seats of moss are scarcely +finished. Let us go into the wood, and procure what we want before the +sun sets, and our mother comes out to see what progress we have made.' + +No, Henrich,' replied his sister; 'do not go this evening. I know not +why, but the wood looks dark and gloomy; there is no sunlight on the +path, and the shadows are so deep, that I could fancy every low bush +was a crouching Indian. I cannot go into the wood tonight.' + +'You are timid, dear Edith. You never feared to go with me before; and +why should you fear this evening? See, the sun is still high in the +horizon, and the darkness is all in your own fancy. Come and see that +lovely creeper I told you of; and when you have admired it hanging from +the decayed trunk of the old tree that supports it, you shall help me +to remove it to your bower, where it will be the fairest flower that +grows, except the little fairy queen herself.' + +Henrich caught his sister's hand, and kissing her playfully, attempted +to draw her from the bower. But she looked sad and anxious, and +replied-- + +'O, Henrich! do not ask me; my bower is fair enough, and I would not go +as far as that old tree tonight, for all the flowers that grow in the +forest. Stay with me, Henrich, dear. Our mother will join us soon, and +she will be alarmed if you are not here.' + +The boy looked at his sister's pensive face with an affectionate smile: +but he was not to be diverted from his scheme. + +Stay here, then, Edith,' he replied; 'and tell my mother that I shall +return in little more than ten minutes. Come, Ludovico,' he added, +calling his little brother, who was always ready to follow where +Henrich led. 'Come, Ludovico, you are not afraid of the shadows. Bring +your basket, and you shall gather moss while I dig up my creeper. When +Edith sees its drooping white flowers, she will forgive me for laughing +at her unusual fears.' + +Edith said no more. She was sure that Henrich knew best; and she +silently watched him leave the garden, and enter the shade of the thick +forest, accompanied by her joyous little brother. Were her fears, +indeed, the mere creation of her own young fancy I or were they +occasioned by one of those strange and unaccountable presentiments +which have been felt so frequently as to justify the old proverb, + +'Coming events cast their shadow, before them. + +Edith sat on the mossy seat that Henrich had formed in her bower. It +looked towards the wood, and the commanding situation which it +occupied, on a rising ground towards the center of the garden, enabled +her to overlook the green fence that enclosed the grounds, and to watch +the receding forms of her brothers, until they were hidden from her +sight by the winding of the path through the underwood. Still she +gazed, and her heart grew sad; and tears, which she could not check, +rolled down her cheeks. Did she again fancy? and did her tearful eyes +now convert the bushes into the figures of two dark Indians, in the +costume of the dreaded Nausetts? Surely those were human forms that +moved so swiftly and so silently from the dark stem of a gigantic oak, +and crossing the forest path, were instantly again concealed. Edith +wiped her glistening eyes. She held her breath, and feared to move; +but the beating of her young heart was audible. No sound met her +listening ear--no movement again was detected by her straining eye--and +she began to think that her own fears had conjured up those terrible +forms. + +But what was that distant cry that sounded from the wood in the +direction in which her brothers had gone? And why does she now behold +Ludovico running wildly, and alone, down the path, with terror depicted +in his countenance? + +Edith flew to meet him; but ere she reached him, the dreadful truth was +made known to her by his agonized cry. + +'O, my brother! my brother! they have taken him, Edith; they are +dragging him away! They will kill him!' he shrieked aloud, as he threw +himself into Edith's arms, almost choked with the violence of his +feelings, and the speed with which he had fled. + +What could Edith do? She dared not leave him, to be carried off, +perhaps, by some other prowling savage, who might still be lingering +near; and she could not carry him home. Slowly she drew him on, while +every moment seemed an hour, that delayed her from giving the alarm, +and sending friends to the rescue of her darling brother. + +O! why did he leave me?' she murmured. 'Why did he go, when I knew +that danger was near?' + +As soon as she had brought the panting and terrified Ludovico within +the precincts of the garden, she left him, and ran towards the house, +calling loudly on her mother, who rushed out on hearing her voice of +terror, and was instantly made acquainted with the appalling fact that +had occurred. Who shall tell the agony of her feelings, or describe the +sufferings of that mother's heart, when she knew that her child was in +the power of the savage and relentless enemies of the white men? She +was, indeed, ignorant of the peculiar vengeance that they desired to +wreak on her husband and all his race; but the malevolent character of +the Nausetts had been sufficiently manifested in their repeated and +destructive attacks on the settlement, and their willful desecration of +the graves of the exiles, to awaken the most poignant fears in her +breast. Rodolph, too, was absent, and Brewster was still at the +Wampanoge village; and where should she seek for succor or for counsel! + +Hastily calling Janet, who was the only domestic at home, she committed +Ludovico to her care; and taking Edith by the hand, she hurried from +the garden, scarcely knowing whither she bent her steps, but in the +vague hope of meeting some of the settlers returning from their labors +in the fields, and inducing them to go to the rescue of her boy. + +Onward she fled along the skirts of the forest, towards the fields of +her husband's friend Winslow, who, she well knew, would aid her with +all his power: but she found him not, and no human being appeared in +sight to listen to her appeal for succor. The sun was setting, and all +had returned to the village. What then could Helen do? To retrace her +steps, and seek her friends and neighbors in their homes, would be to +lose precious moments, on which the life and liberty of her Henrich +might depend. To strike into the depths of the forest, and cross the +belt of wood that divided the settlement from Mooanam's encampment +would be the quickest plan, and probably the most effectual, as her +Wampanoge friends would know far better than the settlers how to follow +in the train of the fugitives, and how either to persuade or to compel +them to release their prisoners. Helen had never dared to enter the +wood, except under the protection of her husband, even in the broad +light of day; and now the gloom of evening was gathering around her, +and the path that led into the wood was obscured by the shadows of the +thick foliage above. Bat where were all her fears and apprehensions? +She was unconscious of such feelings now. The timid woman's heart was +nerved to the occasion, and no danger could now make her shrink. + +She turned rapidly into the narrow path, and pursued her way with a +firmness and decision, of which, at any other time, when she was +trusting to the arm and guidance of Rodolph, she would have believed +herself incapable. She knew the direction in which the Indian village +lay, and the slanting rays of the declining sun occasionally penetrated +the thick wood, and cast bright streaks of light on the mossy ground, +and the boles of the giant trees around; but soon they faded away, and +a deep gloom overspread her path. + +'Mother,' said the trembling little Edith, as she clung to Helens +hand, and exerted her utmost strength to keep up with her rapid steps; +'Mother, do you not fear to pass through this forest now? Shall we not +meet more of those dreadful savages who have taken away my brother? Oh, +Henrich! Henrich!' she cried--while tears burst afresh from her eyes at +the recollection of her brother's fate--'why did you venture into this +wood to seek plants for my bower?' and the child sobbed convulsively, +from mingled grief and fear. + +Cease, Edith, cease!' replied the deeply distressed, but now firm and +courageous Helen: 'I fear nothing while I am seeking aid for Henrich. +God will protect us, my child! she added: and she raised her glistening +eyes to heaven, and gazed, hopefully and trustingly, on one bright star +that shone upon her between the summits of the lofty trees. Her heart +was strengthened by her pious confidence in her heavenly Father. She +remembered also that Edith looked to her for protection; and all +personal fears were absorbed by that generous and elevating feeling of +self-devotion, which is shared even by the lower and weaker animals +when their offspring are in danger. So Helen forgot herself, and felt +strong to guard her child, and strong to seek and obtain aid for him +whose peril was more real and urgent. + +Onward she pressed in silence but her soul was pleading eloquently with +God. Soon Edith checked her suddenly, and exclaimed, as she stumbled +over something in the pathway, 'Oh mother, here are Henrich's tools; +and there I see Ludovico's basket full of moss! This is the spot to +which my brothers were coming; and yonder is the old tree, with the +white flowers hanging on it, that Henrich wished to plant by my bower. +It must have been here that the Indians seized him while he was at +work.' + +That part of the wood was more light and open than the rest of their +way had been; and Helen hastily surveyed it, that she might be able to +guide the Wampanoges thither, and point out to them where to commence +the pursuit. Again she resumed her way; and, regardless of fatigue, she +never paused again until she reached the border of the quiet and lonely +lake, on which the rising moon was now shining in all her silvery +splendor. The huts of the friendly natives stood out, clear and dark, +on the level shore of the lake, and Helen and her weary child soon +reached them, and hastened to Mooanams lodge. There they found the +Chief, and his interesting young wife and children, sitting on the +matted floor, listening with deep attention to the words of life and +salvation which Brewster was reading and interpreting to them from the +Holy Scriptures. The hurried entrance of Helen startled and alarmed +them; for her countenance plainly told them, that some calamity had +occasioned her unlooked-for appearance at such an unwonted time. + +With breathless haste she told her sad errand, and Brewster quickly +explained her words to the Chief, Mooanam seized his arms, and rushed +from the lodge, calling, in a loud and commanding voice, on his people +to arm themselves and accompany him in the pursuit of the cruel and +vindictive Nausetts. All was hurry and excitement throughout the +village, and every swarthy warrior pressed forward, and desired to +share in the expedition to save their young English favorite. It was +necessary, however, to leave a strong party at the village, to guard it +from any act of treachery or violence on the part of their malicious +rivals, who, it was now evident, were still lurking in the +neighborhood; and, while Mooanam was selecting his party, and arranging +his plans, a clear shrill voice was heard from the margin of the lake, +crying, 'The canoes! the canoes! Quadequina is returning.' + +'The canoes, the canoes!' resounded through the crowd; and Helen's +heart hounded with joy and gratitude. Rodolph was near; and all would +yet be well. + +Little Nepea had led Edith to the shore while the warriors were +discussing their plans; and in a strange mixture of English and Indian +words, the children were conversing on the recent sad event. The quick +ear of the young savage had detected the splash of oars at the farther +side of the lake, and he instantly discovered the three canoes that +were leaving the opposite coast, and emerging from the deep shadow of +the overhanging trees. He had raised that joyful cry; and now all the +inhabitants of the village rushed down to the shore to welcome their +brethren, and to tell the startling news. + +Nearest to the brink stood Helen and her little girl, closely attended +by Mooanam and the Squaw-Sachem Apannow, who shared her impatient +anxiety for the return of the embassy, that they might have the benefit +of Maitland's counsel, and also obtain an addition to their forces. The +elder, Brewster, was deeply moved at the misfortune that had befallen +his young friend, Henrich. But he knew that not a moment was to be +lost! and, while all others were crowding down to the lake side, he +busied him self in arranging the volunteers for the pursuit, and seeing +that his own musket was in a proper state for active service. + +The canoes sped swiftly across the moonlit waters; and as they neared +the shore, Rodolph perceived the forms of his wife and daughter, +surrounded by the dark Indians, and ready to receive him. But he felt +only pleasure at this unexpected and welcome meeting. No feeling of +alarm crossed his breast, until he drew near enough to distinguish +Helen's countenance; and then he knew that she had come with evil +tidings. He sprang from the canoe, eager to hear the truth: but all +the firmness and courage which had so wonderfully sustained his wife +while she was obliged to act for herself, forsook her the moment she +felt herself supported by her Rodolph's arm; and faintly exclaiming, 'O +my son, my son!' she fainted; while little Edith burst into tears, and +sobbed out her brother's name. + +'Tell me, in the name of heaven, what all this means!' exclaimed +Maitland, turning a look of eager inquiry on Mooanam, who stood with +characteristic silence and apparent composure, waiting the proper +moment to speak. 'Tell me,' cried the distracted father again, 'what +dire calamity has befallen my boy?' + +'My heart is dark for you,' replied the Sachem, in a voice of perfect +calmness, though a tear glistened in his coal black eye, and his brow +was clouded by anxiety. 'My heart is very dark for you, and for your +young warrior--for, boy as he was, he was a brave at heart.' + +Mooanam spoke in his native tongue, intermixed with English words and +phrases, which he had learned from Brewster and the other settlers; but +the father's heart comprehended all he said, and needed no interpreter. + +'Is my son dead, then?' he exclaimed. 'Has accident or violence +quenched his young spirit?' + +'Worse than dead,' slowly replied the Sachem; and he looked pityingly +at Helen, who now began to recover her senses. 'Leave your wife to the +care of the squaws,' he added, 'and come with me to the wise man +yonder, and he will tell you all.' + +He led Rodolph to where Brewster was occupied in making preparations, +and soon the afflicted father was made acquainted with the fate of his +son. He felt indeed that death--a calm and peaceful death beneath his +own accustomed roof, and with those he dearly loved around him--would +have been a far happier lot for Henrich than that to which he now +feared he might be doomed--than that which, possibly, his darling boy +was at that moment enduring at the hands of his cruel and malignant +enemies. + +The thought was maddening. But there was still a hope of saving him by +speed and resolution; and he urged the Sachem to depart instantly. One +moment he gave to visit and endeavor to cheer his wife, who now lay +powerless and weeping in Apannow's lodge; and then he joined the Chief, +who, with Brewster and a band of picked men, were ready to accompany +him. The pastor had already learnt from Edith all that she could tell +relative to the spot where her brother had been captured; and to that +spot the pursuing party hurried, and soon discovered the basket and the +tools that told where the boys had been so rudely interrupted in their +work. Quickly the trodden grass, and the broken branches of the thick +underwood, showed in what direction the boy had been dragged by his +captors; and on the track the Wampanoge warriors followed, like hounds +in the chase. But, alas! the Nausetts had had a fearful start of them; +and little hope existed in the breast of Mooanam that they could +overtake them, in time to avert the dreadful fate that he had feared +for Henrich. + +The Sachem was himself an Indian, and he well knew the Indian desire +for retaliation and vengeance. He was, indeed, a man of a mild and +generous nature, and he belonged to a tribe less distinguished by +cruelty than the Nausetts. But still he felt that, according to the +savage code of the natives, blood must atone for blood, and he believed +that already the life of Henrich had probably been sacrificed in +expiation of his father's having slain the son of the Nausett Chief. +Still he led his warriors on, and neither paused nor spoke until the +party emerged from the thick wood, upon a little opening that was +lighted up brilliantly by the moon-beams. Here, where it was evident a +small temporary encampment had existed, and had only been very recently +and hastily removed, he stopped, and looked earnestly around. The poles +still stood erect which lied supported the tents of the Nausetts; the +fires were still burning; and many articles of domestic use lay +scattered about, which the hasty departure of the inhabitants had +probably prevented their removing. + +Rudolph hurried through the camp in search of some sign of his son; and +his eager eye fell on the well-known tunic that Henrich was accustomed +to wear. He snatched it up hastily; and then, with a deep groan, let it +fall again upon the ground. The breast of the tunic was pierced through +in several places, and the whole dress was stained with blood--blood +that was newly shed. + +Maitland pointed to this evidence of his son's death! and when the +Sachem had examined it, he set his teeth together, and drew in his +breath with an oppressed, hissing sound, as of severe pain. + +'It is over, my friend,' he said, in a low deep voice to Rodolph--'it +is over; and we are too late. Naught now remains but to take revenge-- +full, ample revenge. Let us follow the miscreants.' + +Rudolph turned, and looked at him. He fixed on him such a searching +gaze--a gaze so full of gentle reproof and of deep settled grief-that +the warm-hearted Chief stood silent, and almost abashed before his +Christian friend. + +'Is it thus you have learned of Brewster?' said the sorrowing father. +'Is it thus that you are taught in that book which the Great Spirit has +dictated? The Father of us all has declared, "vengeance is mine; I will +repay "; and since we are too late to save my son, we will not commit +deeds of blood which his now happy and ransomed spirit would abhor.' + +Mooanam was silenced, but not convinced. Inwardly he vowed vengeance +against those who had dealt so cruelly with the unoffending boy; +though, under similar circumstances, he would probably have acted with +the same spirit. But the Chief bad allied himself with the white men. +He loved and reverenced them; and he was resolved to avenge the wrongs +of Maitland, as if they had been his own. + +Sadly and silently the party returned to the Indian village, where they +arrived at the break of day. We will not attempt to describe the +mother's anguish when she was made acquainted with the dreaded fate of +her son; but Helen was a Christian, and while her heart was bowed down +with crushing grief, her spirit strove to hush its rebellious +questionings, and to submit itself to the will of God. + +'It is the Lord,' she meekly exclaimed: let Him do what seemeth Him +good!' + +That morning she returned with her husband and Edith to the settlement; +and they were accompanied by Brewster, whose pious exhortations and +sympathizing kindness were invaluable to the bereaved and afflicted +parents. The grief of Edith was less capable of being suppressed; and +it broke out afresh when little Ludovico came to meet them, and +inquired for his brother. From the child they learnt, that while he and +Henrich were busily engaged in their several occupations in the wood, +two Indians had suddenly rushed from the thick brushwood, and seized on +his brother before he had time to fly. Ludovico was gathering moss at +some distance, but he saw what passed, and uttered a cry that attracted +the attention of the savages; and one of them east a spear at him with +such violence, that, missing its intended mark, it stuck firmly in a +tree close behind him. Seeing this, his noble and courageous brother +called out to him to hide among the bushes, and make his way home as +quickly as possible; and the Indians, eager to secure the prize they +had so long been watching for, hurried away through the forest, +dragging Henrich with them. + +The murderous attempt made by these savages against the life of +Ludovico proved but too clearly that the destruction of Rodolph's +children was their object, and banished every hope that lingered in +Helen's breast; and this conviction of their cruel intentions was still +further confirmed by Janet's account of the look and gesture of the +warrior who attended his Chief when the Nausetts first assailed the +settlement. Rodolph had seen, and understood the action; and as he had +also learnt through his Wampanoge friends that Tekoa, the son of the +Nausett Chief, had fallen in the first encounter, he knew enough of +Indian customs to be aware that he, as the slayer, was a marked object +of their vengeance. He had, however, always concealed his suspicions +from Helen; and the only effect they had produced on him was causing +him, at that time, to prohibit his children from venturing unguarded +into the wood, more strictly than he would otherwise have done. + + + +CHAPTER V. + +'Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath +shalt thou restrain.' PSA. lxxvi,10. + +We will now, for a time, leave the settlement--where the sad news of +the capture and supposed death of Henrich had spread a general gloom +and consternation--and follow the subject of their pitying grief, from +the time that he was seized and made a prisoner in the hands of the +savages. They did not slay him; for the Lord had work and service in +store for the young missionary, and he suffered not a hair of his head +to be hurt. + +Coubitant--for he was one of those whose patient vigilance had, at +length, been crowned by success--and his companion had hurried him at +their greatest speed through the wood, to the spot where their +temporary camp was pitched, and where several others of their tribe +awaited their return. A few minutes sufficed to remove the matting +that formed their tents, and to collect their arms and utensils; but +Coubitant well knew that the child who had escaped his cruelty would +soon alarm the settlers, and that an instant pursuit would follow. He +therefore, devised plan to deceive, and, perhaps altogether to check +the white men, at least for a time, by making them believe that the +death of the captive had already taken place. He would have instantly +gratified the feelings of his cruel and revengeful heart, and have shed +the innocent blood of Rodolph's son to atone for the death of his +friend, but that he feared to disappoint his Chief, who so earnestly +desired to imbrue his own hands in the blood of the slayer. He, +therefore, resolved on the stratagem we have described. He stripped off +the captive's tunic, and, after piercing it several times with his +dagger, he opened a vein in his own arm with the same weapon, and let +the hot blood flow freely over the torn vesture. + +This done, he smiled a demon's smile, as he cast the tunic on the +ground, and thought with malignant pleasure of the anguish that its +discovery would occasion to his hated foe. + +Henrich gazed in trembling wonder at this act; and when Coubitant again +approached him to bind his hands, he believed that he was about to +plunge that blood-stained knife into his beating heart. He was young, +and life was new and precious to him; and for a moment he shrank back, +while the blood curdled in his veins. But, young as he was, he was also +a child of God; and he knew that all events are governed by His +Almighty power, and over-ruled by His wisdom and love. So he was +enabled to lift up his eyes and his trusting heart to heaven, and to +await his expected fate with calmness. Coubitant saw his firmness, and +he wondered and admired. He placed the dagger in his belt and hastily +tying the captive's hands behind his back, he motioned to his +companions to follow, and struck into a narrow and almost +undistinguishable path. + +Forcing Henrich to go before him, while he held the rope of twisted +grass that bound his hands he followed close behind, and placed his +foot in each print that the prisoner made, so as to destroy the +impression of the boy's European shoe. The other Indians did the same; +as exactly did they tread in one another's steps, that, when all had +passed, it seemed as if only one solitary traveler had left his track +on the soft ground. + + Thus, 'in Indian file,' they traversed a belt of wood, till they came +out on a dry and sun-burnt plain, where their steps left no impression. +Coubitant then advanced to the side of his prisoner, and, taking his +arm in his powerful grasp, he compelled him to advance, at an almost +breathless speed, across the plain. In the wood, on the other side, he +allowed a short pause, and gave Henrich some water from a bottle made +of a dried gourd, which hung about his neck; and thus they traveled on, +with slight refreshment and little rest, until the sun arose in all his +splendor, and displayed to Henrich's admiring gaze the wild and +magnificent woodland scenery through which he was travelling. Under +other circumstances, he would keenly have enjoyed the novelty and the +beauty of the objects that met his eyes, so different from the +luxuriant, but flat and monotonous fields, and gardens, and canals, +that he so well remembered in Holland. Here all was wild and varied; +and all was on a scale of grandeur that inspired him with a feeling of +awe and solemnity, heightened, no doubt, by the fearful uncertainty of +his fate, and the thought that, perhaps, this was the last time that he +should look upon these glorious hills, and ancient forests, and wide +rushing rivers--the handiworks, and the visible teachers of God's +power. Something of American scenery he had become acquainted with in +his rambles round the Indian village, but only enough to make him long +to see more; and had he now been travelling by the side of his father, +or his friend Brewster, the elastic morning air, and the splendid and +ever-varying views, would have made his young heart bound with joy and +health. + + As it was, the silent beauty of nature was not without its influence on +the captive boy. He seemed to feel more strongly the presence and the +goodness of his heavenly Father; and his young spirit was cheered to +endure his present desolate situation, and strengthened to meet +whatever future trials might await him. He had learnt from Brewster to +make himself understood in the Wampanoge language, and he resolved to +try whether his Nausett guide would reply to his questions in that +tongue. He therefore besought him to tell him whither he was leading +him, and for what purpose. But Coubitant deigned him no reply. He +understood him--for the Nausett language was but another dialect of the +Wampanoge--but he did not choose to inform the boy of his destination +at present, and he preserved a profound silence, and an expression of +sullen gravity. + +It was not until the evening of the fourth day that the party reached +the Nausett village, which, as we have already observed, was situate +near the site of the 'first encounter'; and to which Tisquantum, and +the greater part of his warriors had returned, when Coubitant and a few +picked associates were left to carry out his schemes of vengeance. +Henrich was instantly conducted to the lodge of the old Chief; and +brightly did Tisquantum's dark eyes glitter when he beheld the son of +his enemy in his power. He praised the skill and the perseverance by +which Coubitant had thus procured him the means of revenge; and, taking +off his own brilliant coronet of feathers, he placed it on the head of +the proud and successful warrior, as a distinguished mark of his +approbation. + +Coubitant was highly gratified; but his desire for vengeance was +stronger than his vanity, and forgetting the honor that had been +conferred upon him, he entreated the Chief to allow him instantly to +drive his spear into the boy's heart, or else with his own weapon to +take the life of the slayer's child. + +'Not yet!' replied Tisquantum--and Henrich comprehended the full +purport of his words--'not today, Coubitant. I would pour out the +blood of the white youth with pomp and ceremony, as an offering to the +spirit of my murdered son. Let the boy be fed and refreshed: tomorrow, +at break of day, he shall die. Go. I have said it.' + +'And will the Sachem give him into my charge until the morning dawns?' +inquired Coubitant. + +Tisquantum fixed his piercing eye on the savage, and read his +malevolent feelings; and he calmly answered, 'No: the victim shall +bleed because his father's blood flows in his veins. But he shall not +be tortured; for his was not the hand that deprived me of my son. The +boy shall remain in my own lodge, and sleep securely for this night +beneath the same roof that shelters my last remaining child--my lovely +Oriana.' + +Had the Chief observed Henrich's changing countenance, he would have +perceived that all he said was understood by the intended sufferer. But +he marked him not, and the boy commanded himself, and kept silence, +determined to await Coubitant's departure before he made one effort to +move the Chief to pity. He had, however, no opportunity of trying the +effect of his earnest appeal; for Tisquantum ordered one of his +attendants to remove him at once to the inner division of the lodge, +and to secure him there for the night: and then, motioning Coubitant to +retire, and resuming his pipe, he proceeded to 'drink smoke,' as +composedly as if his evening repose had not been interrupted. + +But, notwithstanding his outward composure, the Nausett chief was not +unmoved by the event that had just occurred. The sight of the son of +him whose hand had slain his young Tekoa brought back the image of his +brave young warrior, as he stood beside him at the fatal burial-ground, +full of youthful ardor, to combat the invaders of his land, and the +supposed enemies of his race. He recalled his daring look as he mounted +the palisade, and placed in his unerring bow the arrow that wounded the +English boy. And then he seemed to hear again the sharp report of the +white man's musket, and to behold once more the sudden fall of his son, +bleeding and expiring, to the ground. + +Tisquantum thought on that hour of anguish, when his duties as a chief +and a warrior had forbidden all expression of his grief; and he thought +of his return to his lodge, where only Oriana remained to welcome him-- +for the mother of his children, whom he had loved with unusual +affection, was dead--and tears gathered in the Sachem's eyes. Oriana +had deeply mourned her brother's death; for since she had lost her +mother, she had been permitted to enjoy much more of his society than +had previously been allowed her; and her father, also, had seemed to +transfer to her much of the love that be had borne towards his wife. +Now his daughter was his only domestic tie; and his chief object in +life was to give her in marriage to a warrior as brave as her young +brother, and who would supply to him the place of his departed son. + +At present, this prospect was not immediate, for Oriana was only in her +fourteenth year; but the Sachem was resolved that she should be worthy +of the hand of the greatest warriors of her tribe, and he took pains to +have her instructed in every art that was considered valuable or +ornamental to an Indian female. Already she could perform the most +elaborate patterns in native embroidery on her father's pouches and +moccasins; and her own garments were also delicately and fancifully +adorned in the same manner, with feathers, and shells, and colored +grasses. Besides this accomplishment, her skill in Indian cookery was +very great; and she could also use a bow and arrows, or cast a light +javelin, or swim across a rapid river, with a grace and activity that +delighted her proud father. + +Oriana, too, was gentle--as gentle as her mother, and her influence +over Tisquantum bade fair to equal that which his much-cherished and +deeply regretted wife had exercised over him. That influence had ever +been employed in the cause of mercy! and many an enemy, and many a +subject, had lived to bless the name of the Squaw-Sachem Oriana, when +she had quelled the wrath of the offended Chief, and turned aside his +intended vengeance. + +It was to the inner apartment of his spacious lodge, where his daughter +and her attendants were busily engaged in their domestic occupations, +that Henrich bad been led. His arms were still tied behind his back, +and the end of the rope that bound them was secured to a post in the +wall. The Indian who, at his chief's command, conducted him thither, +briefly informed Oriana that he was a prisoner, and desired her women +to look to his security: and then he left the captive to his strange +and inquisitive jailers. + +When Tisquantum had emptied his long pipe, he bethought himself of the +young captive's position, and proceeded to his daughter's apartment to +give orders for his hospitable entertainment that evening, and his safe +lodgment for the night--that night which he was resolved should be his +last. As he approached the thick curtain of deer-skins that hung over +the aperture between the two apartments, he thought he heard a strange +sweet voice speaking the Indian language with a foreign accent; and +hastily drawing aside the heavy drapery, he was astonished to see his +prisoner, and intended victim, liberated from the cord that had bound +him, and reclining on the furs and cushions that formed Oriana's usual +resting-place; while his gentle Indian child knelt beside him, and +offered him the food of which he was so much in need. Henrich was +gratefully thanking her; and as the Sachem entered, he heard him +exclaim in mournful accents-- + +But why do you thus so kindly treat me? It were better to let me die +of hunger and fatigue; for I know that to-morrow my blood is to be +shed: the cold knife is to pierce my heart.' + +'It shall not be,' replied Oriana, fervently. 'I have said that I will +save you.' And then she raised her sparkling eyes as she heard her +father's entrance; and springing on her feet, she darted forward, and +caught his arm. + +'Father!' she cried--and now she spoke so rapidly and energetically, +that Henrich could only guess the purport of her words, and read it in +her sweet expressive countenance--'Father! do not slay the white boy. +He says that he is doomed to die because his father caused my brother's +death. But surely Tekoa's generous spirit does not ask the blood of a +child. My brother is now happy in the great hunting grounds where our +fathers dwell. He feels no wrath against his slayer's son: he never +would have sought revenge against an innocent boy. Give me the captive, +O my father! and let him grow up in our lodge, and be to me a +playfellow and a brother.' + +Tisquantum gazed at his child in wonder, and his countenance softened. +She saw that he was moved and hastily turning from him, she approached +Henrich, who had risen from the couch, and now stood an earnest +spectator of the scene, on the issue of which his life or death, +humanly speaking, depended. She took his band, and led him to her +father, and again pleaded earnestly and passionately for his life; +while the touching expression of his own deep blue eyes, and the beauty +of his fair young face, added greatly to the power of her appeal. + +I have a little sister at home,' said Henrich--and the soft Indian +language sounded sweetly from his foreign lips--'and she will weep for +me as Oriana has wept for her brother. Let me return to Patupet, and +she and my parents will bless you.' + +At the mention of his parents, Tisquantum's brow grew dark again. He +thought of Rodolph as the destroyer of his son; and he turned away from +the two youthful suppliants, whose silent eloquence he felt he could +not long resist. + +'Your father killed my young Tekoa,' he replied. 'His fire weapon +quenched the light of my lodge, and took from me the support of my old +age. Should I have pity on his son?' + +'But let him dwell in our lodge, and fill my brother's vacant place!' +exclaimed Oriana. 'Do not send him back to the white men; and his +father, and his mother, and his little sister will still weep for him, +and believe him dead.' + +The same idea had crossed Tisquantum's breast. He looked again at the +boy, and thought how much Oriana's life would be cheered by such a +companion. His desire of revenge on Rodolph would also be gratified by +detaining his child, and bringing him up as an Indian, so long as his +parents believed that he had met with a bloody death; and, possibly, he +felt a time might come when the possession of an English captive might +prove advantageous to himself and his tribe. All fear of the boy's +escaping to his friends was removed from his mind; for he was about to +retire from that part of the country to a wild district far to the +west, and to join his allies, the Pequodees, in a hunting expedition to +some distant prairies. The portion of his tribe over which he was +Sachem, or chief, was willing to accompany him; and he had no intention +of returning again to the neighborhood of the English intruders, who, +he clearly foresaw, would ere long make themselves masters of the soil; +and who had already secured to themselves such powerful allies in the +Wampanoges--the enemies and rivals of the Nausetts. + +Tisquantum weighed all these considerations in his mind; and he +resolved to spare the life of his young captive. But he would not at +once announce that he had relented from his bloody purpose, and yielded +to his child's solicitations. He therefore maintained the severe +gravity that usually marked his countenance, and replied-- + +'But what can the white boy do, that he should fill the place of an +Indian chieftain's son? Can he cast the spear, or draw the bow, or +wrestle with our brave youths? + +Reviving hope had filled the heart of Henrich with courage, and he +looked boldly up into the Sachem's face, and merely answered, 'Try me.' + +The brevity and the calmness of the reply pleased the red Chief, and he +determined to take him at his word. + +'I will,' he said. 'To-morrow you shall show what skill you possess, +and your fate shall depend on your success. But how have you learned +anything of Indian sports, or of the Indian tongue?' + +'I have been much in Mooanam's lodge, and have played with the youths +of his village,' replied Henrich; 'and the Sachem was well pleased to +see me use a bow and arrow in his woods. And from him, and my young +companions, I learnt to speak their tongue.' + +'It is good,' said the old Chief, thoughtfully. Then, fixing his +penetrating eyes on Henrich again, he hastily inquired: 'And can you +use the fire-breathing weapons of your countrymen? and can you teach me +to make them? + +'I can use them,' answered the boy; 'but I cannot make them. They come +from my father's land, beyond the great sea. But,' he added--while a +stronger hope of life and liberty beamed in his bright blue eye and +flushing face--'send me back to my countrymen, and they will give you +muskets for my ransom.' + +'No, no!' said the Sachem: and the dark cloud again passed over his +countenance. 'Never will I restore you to your father, till he can give +me back my son. You shall live, if you can use our Indian weapons; but +you shall live and die as an Indian.' + +He turned and left the apartment; and the heart of Henrich sank within +him. Was he then taken for ever from his parents, and his brother, and +sister? Should he behold his friends, and his teacher, no more? And +must he dwell with savages, and lead a savage life? Death, he thought, +would be preferable to such a lot; and he half resolved to conceal his +skill and dexterity in Indian exercises, that Tisquantum might cast him +off and slay him, as unfit to dwell among his tribe. But hope soon +revived; and his trust in the providential mercy of God restored his +spirits, and enabled him even to look upon a lengthened captivity among +the red men with composure. Plans for escaping out of their hands, and +making his way back to the settlement, filled his mind; and a short +residence among the wild men even appeared to offer some attraction to +his enterprising spirit. So he turned to Oriana, who stood gazing on +his changing and expressive countenance with the deepest interest, and +again resumed the conversation which had been interrupted by the +entrance of the Chief. + +Many questions did those young strangers ask each other relative to +their respective homes, and native customs; and Henrich learnt, with +much dismay, that the Nausetts under Tisquantum's rule were so soon to +change their place of residence. His hopes of escape became less +strong, but they were not destroyed: and when he was summoned to pass +the night in the Sachem's apartment, he was able to lift up his heart +to God in prayer, and to lie down to sleep on the rude couch prepared +for him, with a calm trust in His Almighty power and goodness, and a +hope that He would see fit to shorten his trials, and restore him to +his friends. + +The Chief watched him as he knelt in prayer; and when he rose, and +prepared to lie down to sleep, he abruptly asked him why he had thus +remained on his knees so long? + +'I was praying to my God to protect me,' answered Henrich; and a tear +rose to his eye, as he remembered how he had knelt every evening with +his own beloved family; and thought how his absence, and their probable +belief in his death, would sadden the act of worship that would that +night be performed in his father's house. + +'Do you pray to the Great Spirit?' asked Tisquantum. + +'I do!' replied the young Christian. 'I pray to the Great Spirit, who +is the God and Father of all men; and I pray to his Son Jesus Christ, +who is the friend and Savior of all who love him.' + +'It is good!' said the Chief. 'We know the Great Spirit; but we know +nothing of the other gods of the white men. Sleep now; for your +strength and activity will be tried to-morrow.' And Henrich lay down, +and slept long and peacefully. + +He was awakened the next morning by the gentle voice of Oriana, who +stood beside him, and said, 'You must rise now, and eat with me, before +you go out to try your strength and skill. Come to my apartment.' + +Henrich opened his eyes, and gazed around him in wonder. But quickly +the whole sad reality of his situation came over him, and he felt that +he must nerve himself for the coming trial. Soon he followed Oriana to +her inner room, where a slight Indian repast of maize and fruits had +been prepared by the young Squaw-Sachem and her attendants. Tisquantum +had left the lodge, and was now occupied in preparing a spot for the +exercise of the white boy's skill. At his side stood Coubitant, silent +and gloomy. His indignation at the Chief's merciful intentions towards +the intended victim was great; and strongly had he urged him to the +immediate slaughter of the captive. But Tisquantum was not to be +lightly moved, either to good or evil. He had said that the boy should +live, if he proved himself worthy to bear Indian arms, and all the +cruel suggestions and arguments that Coubitant could bring forward only +made him more resolved to keep his word. + +The young savage then forbore to speak, for he saw that it was useless, +and he feared to displease his Chief, whose favor was the highest +object of his ambition. Since the untimely death of his son, Coubitant +had been constantly his companion and attendant, until he had been left +near the English settlement to carry out his schemes of revenge. His +success in this enterprise a raised him still higher in Tisquantum's +estimation; and visions of becoming the son-in-law of the Chief, and +eventually succeeding him in his office, already floated in the brain +of Coubitant. In a few years, Oriana's hand would be given to some +fortunate warrior; and who could have so strong a claim to it as the +man who had risked his own life to procure vengeance for her brother's +death? Therefore Coubitant held his peace, and checked the expression +of his deadly and malignant feelings towards the young prisoner. + +Soon Henrich was summoned to the ground where his fate was to be +decided, and he was directed to try his powers with several Indian boys +of his own age. In shooting with the bow and arrow, he could not, by +any means, rival their skill and accuracy of aim; but in casting the +spear, and wielding the tomahawk, he showed himself their equal; and +when he was made to wrestle with his swarthy and half-naked +competitors, the superior height and muscular powers of the British lad +enabled him to gain the victory in almost every instance. + +Tisquantum was satisfied. He pronounced him worthy to live; and, +notwithstanding the opposition of Coubitant, which was once more +cautiously manifested, he presented Henrich with the arms that he knew +so well how to use, and informed him that he should henceforth dwell in +his lodge among his braves, and should no more inhabit the apartments +of the women. To a young and generous mind success and approbation are +always grateful; and Henrich's eye kindled, and his cheek burned, as he +listened to the praises of the Chief, and felt that he owed his life, +under Providence, to his own efforts. And when his little friend Oriana +came bounding up to him, with joy and exultation in her intelligent +countenance, and playfully flung a wreath of flowers across his +shoulders in token of victory, he felt that even among these children +of the wilderness--these dreaded Nausett Indians--he could find +something to love. + +In Coubitant, he instinctively felt that he had also something to +dread; but the savage tried to conceal his feeling and even to please +the Chief and Oriana, by pretending an interest in their young +favorite, which for a long time deceived them as to his real +sentiments. The bustle of preparation for the intended removal of the +encampment began that day--for Tisquantum was now more eager than ever +to get beyond the reach of the settlers--and before sunset all was +ready. The next morning the march commenced at daybreak, and continued +for many days uninterruptedly, until the Chief and his followers +reached the residence of his Pequodee allies, when he considered +himself safe from pursuit, even if the settlers should attempt it. He +therefore halted his party, and took up his abode among his friends, to +wait until they were prepared to set out on their hunting expedition to +the western prairies. A period of repose was also very needful for the +women and children, for the march had been a most fatiguing one. Not +only had the Sachem dreaded the pursuit of the injured settlers, and +therefore hurried his party to their utmost speed; but the country +through which they had traveled was inhabited by the Narragansett +tribe, the ancient and hereditary foes of the Pequodees. It was, +consequently, desirable for the Nausetts, as allies of the latter, to +spend as little time as possible in the territories of their enemies; +and little rest ad been permitted to the travelers until they had +passed the boundary of the friendly Pequodees. + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +The woodsoh! solemn are the boundless woods; + Of the great western world, when day declines, +And louder sounds the roll of distant floods, + More deep the rustling of the ancient pines; +When dimness gathers on the stilly air, + And mystery seems o'er every leaf to brood, +Awful is it for human heart to bear + The might and burden of the solitude!' HEMANS. + +Many weeks elapsed after the Nausett party had joined the friendly +Pequodees, ere any preparations were made for journeying to the west; +and these days were chiefly employed by Henrich in improving his +knowledge of the Indian language, and especially of the Nausett +dialect, by conversing with Oriana and her young companions, both male +and female. He also endeavored to learn as much as possible of the +habit and the ideas of the simple people among whom his lot was now +cast; for he hoped, at some future time, when he had succeeded in +returning to his own countrymen, that such a knowledge might prove +useful both to himself and them. + +He was treated with much kindness by Tisquantum; and his favor with the +Chief ensured the respect and attention of all his dependants and +followers. From the day that the white boy had been spared from a cruel +and violent death, and established as a regular inmate of Tisquantum's +dwelling, it seemed as if he had regarded him as a son, and had adopted +him to fill the place of him whose death he so deeply deplored; and +Oriana already looked on him as a brother, and took the greatest +delight in his society. No apprehensions were now felt of his escaping +to the settlement; for the distance which they had traveled through +woods, and over hills and plains, to reach the Pequodee encampment, was +so great, that it was utterly impossible for any one but an Indian, +well accustomed to the country, to traverse it alone. Henrich was, +therefore, allowed to enjoy perfect liberty, and to ramble unmolested +around the camp; and it was his greatest pleasure to climb to the +summit of a neighboring hill, which was crowned by a few ancient and +majestic pines, and there to look in wonder and admiration at the +scenery around him. To the west, a vast and trackless forest spread as +far as the eye could reach, unbroken save by some distant lakes, that +shone like clear mirrors in their dark green setting. Trees of gigantic +growth rose high above their brethren of the wood, but wild luxuriant +creepers, many of them bearing clusters of bright blossoms, had climbed +ambitiously to their summits, seeking the light of day, and the warmth +of the sunbeams, which could not penetrate the thick underwood that was +their birth-place. It was a sea of varied and undulating foliage, +beautiful and striking, but almost oppressive to the spirit; and +Henrich gazed sadly over the interminable forest, and thought of the +weeks, and months--and, possibly, the years that this wilderness was to +be his home. Escape, under present circumstances, he felt to be +impossible; and he endeavored to reconcile himself to his fate, and to +look forward with hope to a dim and uncertain future. Could his parents +and Edith but have been assured of his safety, he thought he could have +borne his captivity more cheerfully; but to feel that they were mourning +him as dead, and that, perhaps, they would never know that his blood had +not been cruelly shed by his captors, was hard for the affectionate boy +to endure. + +To Oriana, alone, could he tell his feelings, and pour out his griefs +and anxieties; and Edith herself could not have listened to him with +more attention and sympathy than was shown by the young Indian girl. +When her domestic duties were accomplished, she would accompany her new +friend to his favorite retreat on the hill-top; and there, seated by +his side beneath the tall pines, she would hold his hand, and gaze into +his sorrowful countenance, and listen to his fond regrets for his +distant home, and all its dearly-loved inmates, till tears would gather +in her soft black eyes, and she almost wished that she could restore +him to his countrymen. But this she was powerless to do, even if she +could have made up her mind to the sacrifice of her 'white brother,' as +she called him. She had, indeed, wrought upon her father so far as to +save his life, and have him adopted into their tribe and family; but she +well knew that nothing would ever induce him to give up his possession +of Rodolph's son, or suffer his parents to know that he lived. + +All this she told to Henrich; and his spirit, sanguine as it was, +sickened at the prospect of a lengthened captivity among uncivilized +and heathen beings. He gazed mournfully to the east; he looked over the +wide expanse of country that he had lately traversed, and his eye +seemed to pierce the rising hills, and lofty forests, that lay between +him and his cherished home; and in the words of the Psalmist he cried, +'Oh that I had wings as a dove, for then would I flee away and be at +rest!' + +Would you leave me, my brother?' said Oriana, in reply to this +unconscious utterance of his feelings; 'would you leave me again alone, +to mourn the brother I have lost?' The Sachem loves you, and I love +you, too; and you may be happy in our lodge, and become a brave like +our young men.' + +Yes, Oriana, you and your father are kind to me; and I had never known +any other mode of life, I might be happy in your lodge. But I cannot +forget my parents, and me dear Edith who loved me so fondly, and my +little brother also. And then I had a friend--a kind friend, and full +of wisdom and goodness--who used to teach me all kinds of knowledge; +and, above all, the knowledge of the way to heaven. How can I think +that I may, perhaps, never see all these again, and not be sad?' And +Henrich buried his face in his hands and wept without restraint. + +Oriana gazed at him affectionately, and tears of sympathy filled her +large eyes also. But she drew away Henrichs hand, and kissed it, and +tried to cheer him in the best way that her simple mind could suggest. + +'My brother must not weep,' she said; 'for he is not a child, and our +Indian youths are ashamed of tears. Henrich will be a brave some day, +and he will delight in hunting, and in war, as our red warriors do; and +he will, I know, excel them all in strength and courage. What can he +desire more than to be a Nausett warrior?' + +'Oh, Oriana,' replied the boy--as he wiped away his tears, and almost +smiled at her attempts to console him by such a future prospect--' I +desire to return to my home, and my friends, and the worship of my God. +Among your people none know anything of the true God, and none believe +in His Son. I have no one to speak to me as my parents, and my +venerable teacher, used to do; and no one to kneel with me in prayer to +the Almighty.' + +'Do not you worship the Great Mahneto--the Mighty Spirit from whom +every good gift comes?' asked Oriana, with surprise. 'He is the one +true God, and all the red men know and worship him.' + +'Yes, Oriana, I do worship the one Great Spirit; the God and Father of +all men of every color and of every clime. But the Christian's God is +far more wise, and good, and merciful than the Indian's Mahneto: and He +has told his servants what He is, and how they ought to serve Him.' + +'Does your Mahneto speak to you?' asked the Indian girl. 'Could I hear +him speak?' + +'He has spoken to our fathers long ages ago, replied Henrich; 'and we +have His words written in a book. Oh, that I had that blessed book with +me! How it would comfort me to read it now!' + +'And you would read it to me, my brother? But tell me some of your +Mahneto's words; and tell me why you say He is greater and better than +the Good Spirit who protects the red men.' + +'I will gladly tell you all I know of the God whom I have been taught +to love and worship ever since I was a little child. I wish I could +make you love Him too, Oriana, and teach you to pray to Him, and to +believe in His Son as your friend and Savior.' + +'I will believe all you tell me, dear Henrich,' answered the ingenuous +girl; 'for I am sure you would never say the thing that is not.[*] But +what do you mean by a Savior? Is it some one who will save you from the +power of the evil spirit Hobbamock--the enemy of the red men?' + +[Footnote: The Indian expression for speaking a falsehood.] + +Then Henrich told her of Jesus the Merciful--Him who came to save a +world that was lost and ruined through sin; and to die for those who +deserve nothing but wrath and condemnation. Long the youthful teacher +and his attentive pupil conversed; and many and strange were the +questions that Oriana asked, and that Henrich was enabled, by the help +of the Spirit, to answer. The dark searching eyes of the intelligent +young Indian were fixed on his, and her glossy black hair was thrown +back over her shoulders, while she listened in wonder and admiration to +every word that fell from the lips of her' white brother.' + +That evening, a new and awakening source of interest was opened to the +young captive, and the dreariness of his life seemed almost to have +passed away. The affection of Oriana had hitherto been his only solace +and comfort, and now the hope of repaying that affection by becoming +the humble means of leading her out of the darkness of heathenism, and +pointing out to her the way of eternal salvation, raised his spirits, +and almost reconciled him to his present banishment from home, and all +its cherished joys and comforts. + +More deeply than ever did he now regret that he was deprived of all +access to the Word of Life, from which he might have read and +translated the story of mercy to his young disciple, and have taught +her the gracious promises of God. But Henrich had been well taught at +home; his truly pious parents had early stored his mind with numerous +passages of Scripture; and the effort he now made to recall to his +memory all the most interesting stories, and most striking texts, that +he had learnt from the Word of God, was the means of fixing them +indelibly on his own heart. He never in after life forgot what he now +taught to Oriana. The instruction was, as is generally the case, quite +as much blessed to the teacher as to the learner; and Henrich was +himself surprised to find how readily he could call to mind the very +passage he wanted; and how easily he could convey its import to Oriana +in her own melodious language. + +Frequently were these interesting conversations renewed, and never +without Henrich's perceiving, with thankfulness, that Oriana was making +progress in spiritual knowledge, and also in quickness of understanding +and general intelligence; for it may truly be said, that no kind of +learning awakens the dormant powers of the intellect, or quickens the +growth of the mind so effectually, as the knowledge of the one true +God, who created the spirit, and of his Son who died to redeem it from +the ignominious and degrading bondage, of sin and Satan. Henrich had, +at first, imagined that it would be utterly impossible for him to find +an intelligent companion among the savage race into whose hands he bad +fallen and he had deeply felt that sense of loneliness which a +cultivated mind, however young, must experience in the society of those +whose ideas and feelings are altogether beneath its own, and who can in +no way sympathize with any of its hopes, and fears, and aspirations. +But now the well-informed English boy began to perceive that the +superiority of the white men over the dark aborigines of America might, +possibly, arise much more from difference of education, than from +difference of race and color. He remembered, also, how ardently he had +desired to share with the pious Brewster and Winslow, in their +projected plans for the conversion of the natives; and he hoped that, +young and comparatively ignorant as he knew himself to be, it might, +perhaps, please God to make him the instrument of bestowing spiritual +blessings on some, at least, of the heathen among whom he dwelt. He, +therefore, resolved to employ all 'his powers of argument and +persuasion to convince the mind, and touch the heart of the young +Squaw-Sachem; not only for the sake of her own immortal soul, but also +in the hope that her influence, if she became a sincere Christian, +might greatly tend to the conversion of her father and his tribe. + +Since the night when Tisquantum had seen his young captive kneel in +prayer, and had questioned him as to the object of his worship, he had +never spoken to him on the subject of his religion; and, Henrich had +feared to address the stern old Chief, or to introduce a theme which, +though constantly present to his own mind, and the source of all his +consolation, would, probably, he rejected with scorn and contempt by +the Sachem. + +The more the Christian boy became acquainted with the character of +Tisquantum, the stronger became this fear, and the more he despaired of +any influence proving sufficiently strong to break the chains of error +and superstition that bound him to heathenism. The Chief was a +distinguished Powow, or conjuror; and was regarded by his own people, +and even by many other tribes, as possessing great super natural +powers. His pretensions were great, and fully accredited by his +subjects, who believed that he could control the power of the +subordinate evil spirits, and even exercise a certain influence on +Hobbamock himself. He was called a Mahneto, or priest; as being the +servant or deputy of the Great Mahneto, and permitted by him to cure +diseases by a word or a charm, to bring down rain on the thirsty land, +and to foretell the issue of events, such as the results of wars or +negotiations. The influence which these acknowledged powers gave him +over other tribes besides his own was very gratifying to his pride and +ambition; and could Henrich hope that he, a young and inexperienced +boy, could have wisdom or eloquence sufficient to 'bring down the high +thoughts' that exalted him, and to persuade him to 'become a disciple +of the meek and lowly Jesus? No; he knew that such a hope was, humanly +speaking, vain: but he knew, also, that 'with God all things are +possible'; and he ceased not to pray that the Spirit of light and truth +might enter the soul of the heathen Chief, and banish the spirit of +evil that now reigned so triumphantly there. + +Henrich's desire to see the Sachem become a Christian was increased in +the same measure that his hope of its accomplishment became less; for +the more intimately he became acquainted with him, the more he found in +his natural character that was interesting, and even estimable. +Tisquantum was brave; and he was also generous and sincere, far beyond +the generality of his race. We have said that the influence of his +wife, whom he had, loved to an unusual degree for an Indian, had tended +to soften his temper and disposition; and his regret for her loss, and +his anxiety that his only daughter should resemble her, had made him +more domestic in his habits than most of his brother chiefs. He was +kind, also, when not roused to harshness and cruelty by either revenge +or superstition; and he was capable of strong attachments where he had +once taken a prepossession in favor of any individual. + +Such a prepossession he had formed for his English captive on the +evening when his child had pleaded for his life, and when his own +ingenuous and beautiful countenance had joined so eloquently in her +supplications. No insidious efforts of the wily Coubitant had availed +to change the Sachem's sentiments; and he continued to treat Henrich as +an adopted son, and to allow him all the privileges and indulgences +that had once been bestowed on his beloved Tekoa. The white boy was +permitted to enjoy full and unrestricted liberty, now that he was +beyond all possible reach of his countrymen. He was encouraged to hunt, +and sport, and practice all athletic games and exercises with the +Nausett and Pequodee youths; and he was presented with such of the arms +and ornaments of the lost Tekoa as were deemed suitable to his use, and +his unusually tall and muscular figure. + +Often when adorned with these strange and curious specimens of Indian +art and ingenuity, did Haunch smile to think how Edith and Ludovico +would wonder and admire if they could see him thus attired: and then he +would sigh as he remembered that months and years must probably +elapse--and possibly even his life might come to an end--ere he could +hope to see their loved countenances, or to excite their surprise and +interest by a relation of all his perils and adventures. To Oriana, +alone, could he unburden his mind on such subjects; and from her he +always met with deep attention and heartfelt sympathy; but every day +she felt his presence to be more necessary to her happiness, and her +dread of his escaping to his own people to become greater. Not only did +she shrink from the idea of parting with her 'white brother '--her +newly-found and delightful friend and companion--but daily, as she grew +in the knowledge of Henrich's religion, and learnt to know and love the +Christian's God and Savior more sincerely, did she fear the possibility +of losing her zealous young teacher, and being deprived of all +intercourse with the only civilized and enlightened being whom she had +ever known. + +She therefore rejoiced when the time arrived for leaving the Pequodee +village, and pursuing the intended route to the west; for in spite of +the distance and the many difficulties and obstacles that divided +Henrich from the British settlement, she had lived in continual fear +and expectation of either seeing a band of the mighty strangers come to +demand his restitution, or revenge his supposed death; or else of his +escaping from the camp, and braving every danger, in the attempt to +return to his happy Christian home. Henrich often assured her with +sincerity that he had no idea of venturing on so hopeless an attempt; +but whenever the Indian girl saw his eyes fixed sadly on the eastern +horizon, and dimmed, as they often were, by tears of sad remembrance, +she felt her fears again arise, and longed more earnestly to leave the +spot, and plunge into the trackless forest that lay between the +Pequodee encampment and she proposed hunting grounds. + +The summer had passed away and autumn was beginning to tinge the varied +foliage of the forest with all its gaudy hues of yellow, and scarlet, +and purple, when the Nausetts, and such of their Pequodee friends as +desired to share in their hunting expedition, set forth from the +village. Many women and girls accompanied the caravan, the greater part +on foot, and bearing on their shoulders either the younger children, or +a large pack of baggage; while their husbands, and fathers, and +brothers, marched before them, encumbered only with their arms and +hunting accoutrements. Such was, and still is, the custom among the +uncivilized tribes of America, where women have ever been regarded as +being very little more exulted than the beasts that perish, and have +been accustomed to meet with scarcely more attention and respect. But +there are exceptions to this, as to every other rule; and where women +have possessed unusual strength of mind, or powers of influence, their +condition has been proportionately better. Such had been the ease with +Tisquantum's wife: and he had ever treated her with gentleness and +respect, and had never imposed on her any of those servile duties that +commonly fall to the lot of Indian squaws, even though they may be the +wives and daughters of the most exalted chiefs. To his daughter the +Sachem was equally considerate, and none but the lightest toils of +domestic Indian life were ever required from her; nor was any burden +more weighty than her own bow and quiver ever laid upon her slender and +graceful shoulders, when she followed her father in his frequent +wanderings. + +On the present occasion, as the journey promised to be unusually long +and uninterrupted, Tisquantum obtained for her a small and active horse +of the wild breed, that abounds in the western woods and plains; and of +which valuable animals the Pequodees possessed a moderate number, which +they had procured by barter from the neighboring Cree Indians. The +purchase of this steed gave Henrich the first opportunity of remarking +the Indian mode of buying and selling, and the article that formed +their medium of commerce, and was employed as money. This consisted of +square and highly-polished pieces of a peculiar kind of a peculiar +muscle-shell, called quahock, in each of which a hole was bored, to +enable it to be strung on a slender cord. The general name for this +native money was wampum, or white, from the color of those shells most +esteemed; but a dark-colored species was called luki, or black; and +both were used, of various forms and sizes, as ornaments by the +warriors, and their copper-colored wives and children. + +Several strings of wampum, both white and purple, were silently offered +by the Sachem for the horse which he selected as most suitable for his +daughter's use, and, after a pause, were as silently rejected by the +possessor. Another pause ensued; and Tisquantum added a fresh string of +the precious shell to the small heap that lay before him; and the same +scene was repeated, until the owner of the horse was satisfied, when he +placed the halter in the hands of the purchaser, gathered up his +treasure, and, with a look of mournful affection at the faithful +creature whom he was resigning to the power of another master, hurried +away to his wigwam. + +The next day the march began; and proud and happy was Oriana as she +closely followed her father's steps, mounted on her new palfrey, and +led by her adopted brother; while by her side bounded a favorite young +dog, of the celebrated breed now called Newfoundland, which had been +given to her brother as a puppy just before his melancholy death, and +had been her only playfellow and loved companion, until Henrich had +arrived to rival the faithful creature in her affections. At his +request, the dog received the name of Rodolph, in memory of his father; +and Henrich was never tired of caressing him, and teaching him to fetch +and carry, and to plunge into his favorite element, and bring from the +foamy torrent, or the placid lake, any object which he directed him to +seize. He was a noble fellow, and returned the care and kindness of +his new friend with all the ardor and faithfulness of his nature. It +was his duty to accompany Henrich in all his expeditions in pursuit of +game, and to bring to his feet every bird, or small animal, that his +increasing skill in archery enabled him to pierce with his light and +bone-pointed arrows. + +During his residence in the Pequodee village, he had generally gone on +such expeditions in company with several other men and boys; and Oriana +had, consequently, enjoyed little opportunity of perceiving how much he +had improved in dexterity since he had made his first trial before his +captors. But now, as they traversed the woods together, he frequently +aimed, at her desire, at some brilliant bird, or bounding squirrel; and +the young maiden exulted at his success, and at the sagacity and +obedience of Rodolph in bringing her the game. + +The constant occupation, and the change of scene that Henrich enjoyed +during this journey, tended greatly to raise his spirits, and even to +reconcile him to his new mode of life. He did not forget his friends +and his home--he did not even cease to think of them with the same +regret and affection; but it was with softened feelings, and with a +settled hope of eventually returning to them after a certain period of +wandering and adventure. The kind of life which he had often longed to +try was now his lot, and he enjoyed it under, peculiarly favorable +circumstances; for he partook of its wildness and excitement, without +enduring any of its hardships. No wonder, then, that a high-spirited +and active-minded youth of Henrich's age, should often forget that his +wanderings were compulsory; and should feel cheerful, and even +exhilarated, as he roamed through the boundless primeval forests, or +crossed the summits of the ranges of lofty hills that occasionally +lifted their barren crags above the otherwise unbroken sea of foliage. + +Pitching the camp for the night was always a season of excitement and +pleasure to the young traveler, and his lively companion, Oriana. The +selection of an open glade, and the procuring wood and water, and +erecting temporary huts, were all delightful from their novelty. And, +then, when all was done, and fires were kindled, and the frugal evening +meal was finished, it was pleasant to sit with Oriana beneath the lofty +trees, whose smooth straight trunks rose like stately columns, and to +watch the glancing beams of the setting sun as they shone on the varied +foliage now tinted with all the hues of autumn, and listen to the +sighing of the evening breeze, that made solemn music while it swept +through the forest. These were happy and tranquil hours; for then +Henrich would resume the interesting topics to which his dusky pupil +was never weary of listening. He would tell her--but no longer with +tears--of his home, and all its occupations and joys; he would repeat +the holy instructions that he had himself received; and, when far +removed from the observation of other eyes and ears, he would teach her +to kneel by his side, as Edith used to do, and to join him in +supplications to 'the High and Lofty One that inhabiteth eternity'; but +who yet listens to the humblest prayers that are addressed to Him in +sincerity, and hears every petition that is offered up in the name of +His beloved Son. + +The heart of Oriana was touched; and with a beautiful child-like +simplicity, she received all the blessed truths that her 'white +brother' taught her. Her affections were strongly drawn towards the +character of Jesus the Merciful, as she always called the Savior; and +she became sensitively alive to the guilt of every sin, as showing +ingratitude to the Benefactor who had laid down His life for His +creatures. Oriana was, in fact, a Christian--a young and a weak one, it +is true: but she possessed that faith which alone can constitute any one +'a branch in the true vine; and Henrich now felt that lie had found a +sister indeed. + +As the young Indian grew in grace, she grew also in sweetness of manner +and refinement of taste and behavior. She was no longer a savage, +either in mind or in conduct; and Henrich often looked at her in wonder +and admiration, when she had made her simple toilette by the side of a +clear stream, and had decked her glossy raven hair with one of the +magnificent water lilies that be had gathered for her on its brink: and +he wished that his mother and his fair young sister could behold his +little Indian beauty, for he knew that they would love her, and would +forget that she had a dusky skin, and was born of a savage and heathen +race. + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +'We saw thee, O stranger, and wept! +We looked for the youth of the sunny glance, +Whose step was the fleetest in chase or dance! +The light of his eye was a joy to see; +The path of his arrows a storm to flee! +But there came a voice from a distant shore; +He was call'dhe his found 'midst his tribe no more! +He is not in his place when the night fire, burn; +But we look for him still--he will yet return! +His brother sat with a drooping brow, +In the gloom of the shadowing cypress bough. +We roused him--we bade him no longer pine; +For we heard a step--but that step was thine.' HEMANS. + +'What was that cry of joy, Oriana?' exclaimed Henrich, as one evening +during their journey, he and his companion had strayed a little from +their party, who were seeking a resting-place for the night. 'What was +that cry of joy: and who is this Indian youth who has sprung from the +ground so eagerly, and is now hurrying towards us from that group of +overhanging trees? Is he a friend of yours?' + +I know him not! replied Oriana. 'I never passed through this forest +before: but I have heard that it is inhabited by the Crees. They are +friendly to our allies, the Pequodees, so we need not fear to meet +them.' + +As she spoke, the young stranger rapidly approached them, with an +expression of hope and expectation on his animated countenance; but +this changed as quickly to a look of deep despondence and grief, when +he had advanced within a few paces, and fixed his searching eyes en +Henrich's face. + +'No!' he murmured, in a low and mournful voice, and clasping his hands +in bitterness of disappointment.'No; it is not Uncas. It is not my +brother of the fleet foot, and the steady hand. Why does he yet tarry +so long? Four moons have come, and have waned away again, since he +began his journey to the land of spirits; and I have sat by his grave, +and supplied him with food and water, and watched and wept for his +return; and yet he does not come. O, Uncas, my brother! when shall I +hear thy step, and see thy bright glancing eye? I will go back, and +wait, and hope again.' + +And the young Indian turned away, too much absorbed in his own feelings +to take any further notice of Henrich and Oriana, who, both surprised +and affected at his words and manner, followed him silently. Several +other Indians of the Cree tribe now made their appearance among the +trees, and hastened towards the travelers. But a look of disappointment +was visible on every countenance: and the young travelers wondered +greatly.[1 and 2] + +[Footnote 1: 'J'ai pass moi-mme chez une peuplade Indienne, qui se +prenat a pleurer la vue d'un voyageur, parce qu'il lui rappelait des +amis partis pour la contre des Ames, et depuis long-temps en voyage. +--CHATEAUBRIAND.] + +[Footnote 2: 'They fancy their deceased friends and relatives to be +only gone on a journey; and, being in constant expectation of their +return, look for them vainly amongst foreign travelers.--PICART.] + +But, though evidently grieved at not meeting the being they looked for +so earnestly, the elder Crees did not forget the duties of hospitality. +With simple courtesy they invited Henrich and his companion to +accompany them to their wigwams, which were situated in a beautiful +glade close by, and were only concealed by the luxuriant growth of +underwood, that formed a sort of verdant and flowering screen around +them. The invitation was gratefully accepted; for the countenances of +the Crees inspired confidence, and Oriana knew that her father intended +to visit a settlement of these friendly people, in the district they +were now traversing. She also felt her curiosity strongly excited by +what had just occurred, and she longed for an explanation of the +conduct of the interesting young savage who had first accosted them. + +She therefore requested one of their new acquaintances to go in search +of the main body of their party, and to inform the Sachem that she and +Henrich had preceded them to the wigwams; and then--with a dignity and +composure that were astonishing in one so young and accustomed to so +wild a life--she guided her palfrey into the narrow path that wound +through the undergrowth of evergreens, while Henrich walked by her +side, and Rodolph bounded before her. + +They came to the spot where the young Indian sat by a grave; and tears +were falling from his eyes as he gazed at the grass-covered mound, +around which wore arranged several highly-carved and ornamented +weapons, and articles of attire; and also a small quantity of firewood, +and food, and tobacco, intended for the use of the departed on his long +journey to the land of spirits. This is a well-known custom of most of +the North American tribes; but the Crees have several superstitions +peculiar to themselves, especially that melancholy one to which we have +just alluded, and which subjects them to such lengthened sorrow and +disappointment; for they watch and look for the return of their lost +and lamented friends, who can never come again to gladden their eyes on +earth. O that they were taught to place their hopes of a blessed +reunion with those they love on the only sure foundation for such +hopes--even on Him who is 'the Resurrection and the Life! Then they +need never be disappointed. + +It was this strange expectation of the reappearance, in human form, of +the lately dead, that occasioned the incident we have just related. An +epidemic disease had been prevalent in the Cree village; and, among +those who had fallen victims to it, Uncas, the eldest orphan son of the +principal man of the village, was the most deeply regretted, and his +return was the most anxiously desired. + +Especially was this vain hope cherished by his younger brother +Jyanough, to whom he had been an object of the fondest love and most +unbounded admiration; and who daily, as the evening closed, took fresh +food and water to the grave, and sat there till night closed in, +calling on Uncas, and listening for his coming footsteps. Then he +retired sadly to his wigwam, to lament his brother's continued absence, +and to hope for better success the following evening. During each night +the dogs of the village, or the wild animals of the forest, devoured +the food designed for Uncas; but Jyanough believed it had been used by +his brother's spirit, and continued still to renew the store, and to +hope that, at length, the departed would show himself, and would return +to dwell in his wigwam. + +When Haunch approached the grave, leading Oriana's pony, the mourner +looked up, and gazed in his face again with that sad and inquiring +look. But now it did not change to disappointment, for he knew that the +stranger was not Uncas. There was even pleasure in his countenance as +the clear glance of the English boy's deep blue eye met his own; and he +rose from his seat at the head of the grave, and, going up to Henrich, +gently took his hand, and said-- + +'Will the white stranger be Jyanough's brother? His step is free, and +his eyes are bright, and his glance goes deep into Jyanough's heart. +Will the pale-face be the friend of him who has now no friend; for four +moons are guile and Uncas does not answer to my call?' + +Henrich and Jyanough were strangers: they were altogether different in +race, in education, and in their mode of thinking and feeling. Yet +there was one ground of sympathy between them, of which the young +Indian seemed instinctively conscious. Both had recently known deep +sorrow; and both had felt that sickening sense of loneliness that falls +on the young heart when suddenly divided from all it most dearly loves, +by death or other circumstances. Jyanough and his elder brother Uncas +had been deprived of both their parents, not many months before the +fatal disease broke out which had carried off so many victims amongst +the Crees. The orphan youths had then become all-in-all to each other, +and their mutual attachment had excited the respect and admiration of +the whole village, of which, at his father's death, Uncas became the +leading man. Had he lived his brother would have assisted him in the +government and direction of that portion of the tribe but when he fell +before the desolating pestilence, Jyanough was too young and +inexperienced to be made Sachem, and the title was conferred on a +warrior who was deemed more capable of supporting the dignity of the +community. Thenceforth the youth was alone in his wigwam. He had no +sister to under take its domestic duties, and no friend with whom it +pleased him to dwell. He saw something in Henrich's countenance that +promised sympathy, and he frankly demanded his friendship; and the +open-hearted English boy did not refuse to bestow it on the young +Indian. + +He spoke to him in his own tongue; and Jyanough's black eyes sparkled +with joy as he heard words of kindness from the lips of the pale-faced +stranger. Henrich's height and manly figure made him appear much older +than he really was; and as he and his new friend walked together +towards the village, he seemed to be Jyanough's equal in age and +strength, although the young savage was several years his senior. As +they entered the glade that was surrounded by lofty trees, and studded +with wigwams, Tisquantum and the rest of the party approached by a path +on the other side, and they all met in the center of the open space, +and were welcomed by the friendly Crees. Wigwams were appointed to the +Sachem and his daughter, and the most distinguished of the Nausetts and +their Pequodee allies; while the inferior Indians of both tribes were +directed to form huts for themselves beneath the neigh boring trees and +all were invited to partake freely of the hospitality of their hosts, +and to rest at the Cree settlement for several days, before they +resumed their journey. + +Jyanough conducted his English friend to his own wigwam, which was +neatly furnished, and adorned with native tools and weapons. He bade +him repose his tired limbs on Uncas' deserted couch; and while Henrich +lay on the bed of soft grass covered with deer skins, that occupied one +corner of the hut, the Indian youth busied himself in preparing an +evening repast for his guest. The chief article of this simple supper +consisted of _nokake,_ a kind of meal made of parched maize or Indian +corn, which Jyanough mixed with water in a calabash bowl, and, having +well kneaded it, made it into small cakes, and baked them on the embers +of his wood-fire. The nokake, in its raw state, constitutes the only +food of many Indian tribes when on a journey. They carry it in a bag, +or a hollow leathern girdle; and when they reach a brook or pond, they +take a spoonful of the dry meal, and then one of water, to prevent its +choking them. Three or four spoonfuls are sufficient for a meal for +these hardy and abstemious people; and, with a few dried shellfish, or +a morsel of deer's flesh, they will subsist on it for months. + +Such viands, with the addition of some wild fruits from the forest, +were all that Jyanough had to offer to his guest; but Henrich had known +privation at home, and he had become accustomed to Indian fare. The +kindness, also, and the courtesy of the untutored savage, as he warmly +expressed his pleasure at receiving him into has wigwam, were so +engaging, that the young traveler would cheerfully have put up with +worse accommodation. + +From Jyanough he now heard the story of his sorrows, which deeply +interested him; and, in return, he told his host all that he could +remember of his own past life, from his residence in Holland, and his +removal to America, even till the moment when he and Oriana had +approached the Cree village that evening The red man listened with +profound attention, and constantly interrupted the narrator with +intelligent questions on every subject that was interesting to him. But +especially was his curiosity awakened when Henrich, in speaking of his +grief at being torn from all his friends and relations, and his horror +when he had anticipated a sudden and violent death, alluded to his +trust in God as the only thing that had then supported him under his +trials and sufferings, and still enabled him to hope for the future. +The young Christian was not slow in answering all his inquiries as to +the nature of the white man's Mahneto, and explaining to him why the +true believer can endure, even with cheerfulness, afflictions and +bereavements that are most trying to flesh and blood, in the confident +hope that God will over-rule every event to his people's good, and will +eventually restore all that they have lost. + +'Then if I worship your _Keechee-Mahneto_[*] eagerly asked Jyanough, +will he give back to me my brother Uncas? I have called on my Mahneto +for four long moons in vain. I have offered him the best of my weapons, +and the chief of my prey in hunting; and I have promised to pour on +Uncas' grave the blood of the first prisoner I capture in war, or the +first of our enemies that I can take by subtlety. Still Mahneto does +not hear me. Tell me, then, pale-face, would your God hear me? + +[Footnote: _Keechee-Mahneto_ or Great Master of Life, is the name given +by the Crees to their notion of the Supreme Being. Maatche-Mahneto is +the Great Spirit of Evil.] + +Henrich was much moved at the impassioned eagerness of the Indian, +whose naturally mild and pensive expression was now changed for one of +bitter disappointment, and even of ferocity, and then again animated +with a look of anxious hope and inquiry. + +'Yes, Jyanough,' he replied, with earnest solemnity; 'my God will hear +you; but he will not give you back your brother in this world. If you +learn to believe in Him; and to serve Him, and to pray to Him in +sincerity, He will guide you to that blessed land where, after death, +all His people meet together, and where there is neither sorrow nor +separation.' + +'But is Uncas there?' cried the young savage. 'Is my brother there? For +I will serve no Mahneto who will not restore me to him!' + +Our young theologian was disconcerted, for a moment, at this puzzling +question, which has excited doubts and difficulties in wiser heads than +his, end to which Scripture gives no direct reply. He paused awhile; +and then he remembered that passage in the second chapter of the +Epistle to the Romans, where the Apostle is speaking of the +requirements of the law, and goes on to say, 'When the Gentiles which +have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, +having not the law, are a law unto themselves: which show the work of +the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, +and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one +another.' 'If St. Paul could say this of the severe and uncompromising +law, surely,' thought Henrich 'the Gospel of love and mercy must hold +out equal hope for those heathen who perish in involuntary ignorance, +but who have acted up to that law of conscience which was their only +guide.' He also recollected that Jesus himself, when on earth, +declared, that 'He that _knew not,_ and did commit things worthy of +stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes': and, therefore, he felt +justified in permitting the young Indian to hope that, hereafter, he +might again behold that brother whose virtues and whose affection were +the object of his pride and his regret. + +'I believe,' he replied, 'that your brother--who you say was always +kind, and just, and upright while he lived on earth--is now, through +the mercy of God, in a state of happiness: and I believe that, if you +also act up to what you know to be right, you will join him there, and +dwell with him for ever. But I can tell you how to attain a more +perfect happiness, and to share the highest joys of heaven in the +kingdom that God has prepared for His own son. I can tell you what He +has declared to be His will with regard to all His human creatures; +even that they should love that Son, and look to Him as their Savior +and their King. O, Jyanough, ask Oriana if she is not happier since she +learnt to love and worship the God of the Christians!--the only God who +can be just, and yet most merciful!' + +In the vehemence of his feelings, Henrich bad rather outstripped his +companion's powers of following and comprehending him. He saw this in +Jyanough's wandering and incredulous eyes; and he carefully and +patiently proceeded to explain to him the first rudiments of religion, +as he had done to Oriana: and to reply to all his doubts and questions +according to the ability that God gave him. A willing learner is +generally a quick one; and Henrich was well pleased with his second +pupil. If he was not ready to relinquish his old ideas and +superstitions, he was, at least, well inclined to listen to the +doctrines of his new friend, and even to receive them in connection +with many of his heathen opinions. Time, and the grace of God, Henrich +knew, could only cause these to give place to a purer belief, and +entirely banish the _unclean birds_ that dwelt in the cage' of the +young Indian's mind. But the fallow ground had already been, in a +manner, broken up, and some good seed scattered on the surface: and +Henrich lay down to rest with a fervent prayer that the dew of the +Spirit might fall upon it, and cause it to grow, and to bring forth +fruit. + +From the time of Henrich's captivity, he bad endeavored to keep up in +his own mind a remembrance of the Sabbath, or the Lord's Day (as it was +always called by the Puritans); and, as far as it was in his power to +do so, he observed it as a day of rest from common occupations and +amusements. On that day, he invariably declined joining any hunting or +fishing parties; and he also selected it as the time for his longest +spiritual conversations with Oriana; as he desired that she, also, +should learn to attach a peculiar feeling of reverence to a day that +must be sacred to every Christian, but which was always observed with +remarkable strictness by the sect to which Henrich belonged. + +In this, as in all other customs that the young pale-face wished to +follow, he was unopposed by Tisquantum; who seemed entirely indifferent +as to the religious feelings or social habits of his adopted son, so +long as he acquired a skill in the arts of war and hunting: and, in +these respects, Henrich's progress fully answered his expectations. He + was, like most youths of his age, extremely fond of every kind of +sport; and his strength and activity--which had greatly increased since +he had adopted the wild life of the Indians--rendered every active +exercise easy and delightful to him. He consequently grew rapidly in +the Sachem's favor, and in that of all his companions, who learnt to +love his kind and courteous manners, as much as they admired his +courage and address. One only of the red men envied him the esteem that +he gained, and hated him for it. This was Coubitant--the aspirant for +the chief place in Tisquantum's favor, and for the honor of one day +becoming his son-in-law. From the moment that the captor's life had +been spared by the Sachem, and he had been disappointed of his expected +vengeance for the death of his friend Tekoa, the savage had harbored in +his breast a feeling of hatred towards the son of the slayer, and had +burned with a malicious desire for Henrich s destruction. This feeling +he was compelled, as we have observed, to conceal from Tisquantum; but +it only gained strength by the restraint imposed on its outward +expression, and many were the schemes that he devised for its +gratification. At present, however, he found it impossible to execute +any of them; and the object of his hate and jealousy was happily +unconscious that he had so deadly an enemy continually near him. An +instinctive feeling had, indeed, caused Henrich to shun the fierce young +Indian, and to be less at ease in his company than in that of the other +red warriors; but his own generous and forgiving nature forbade his +suspecting the real sentiments entertained towards him by Coubitant, or +even supposing that his expressions of approval and encouragement were +all feigned to suit his own evil purposes. + +Oriana had never liked him; and time only strengthened the prejudice +she felt against him. She knew that he hoped eventually to make her his +wife--or rather his slave--for Coubitant was not a man to relax from +any of the domestic tyranny of his race; and the more she saw of her +'white brother,' and the more she heard from him of the habits and +manners of his countrymen, and of their treatment of their women, the +more she felt the usual life of an Indian squaw to be intolerable. Even +the companionship of the young females of her own race became +distasteful to her; for their ignorance, and utter want of +civilization, struck painfully on her now partially cultivated and +awakened mind, and made her feel ashamed of the coarseness of taste and +manners occasionally displayed by her former friends and associates. In +the Christian captive alone had she found, since her mother's death, a +companion who could sympathize in her tastes and feelings, which had +ever been above the standard of any others with whom she was +acquainted. And Henrich could do more than sympathize in her +aspirations--he could instruct her how they might be fully realized in +the attainment of divine knowledge, and the experience of Christian +love. No wonder, then, that Henrich held already the first place in her +heart and imagination, and was endowed by her lively fancy with every +quality and every perfection, both of mind and body, that she could +conceive to herself. + +The simple-minded girl made no concealment of her preference for the +young stranger, whom she regarded as a brother--but a brother in every +way immeasurably her superior--and her father never checked her growing +attachment. The youth of both parties, the position that Henrich +occupied in his family as his adopted son, and the difference of race +and color, prevented him from even anticipating that a warmer sentiment +than fraternal affection could arise between them; and he fully +regarded his daughter as the future inmate and mistress of an Indian +warrior's lodge--whether that of Coubitant or of some other brave, +would, he considered, entirely depend on the comparative prowess in war +and hunting, and the value of the presents that would be the offering +of those who claimed her hand. That she should exercise any choice in +the matter never occurred to him; and, probably, had he foreseen that +such would be the case, and that the choice would fill on the son of a +stranger--on the pale-faced captive whose father had slain her only +brother--he would have removed her from such dangerous influence. But +he thought not of such consequences resulting from the intimacy of +Henrich and Oriana: he only saw that his child was happy, and that she +daily improved in grace and intelligence, and in the skilful and +punctual performance of all her domestic duties; and he was well +satisfied that he had not shed the blood of the Christian youth on the +grave of his lost Tekoa. His own esteem and affection for his adopted +son also continued to increase; and, young as Henrich was, the +influence of his superior cultivation of mind, and rectitude of +principle, was felt even by the aged Chief, and caused him to treat +him, at times, with a degree of respect that added bitterness to +Coubitant's malicious feelings. + +He saw how fondly Oriana regarded her adopted brother, and personal +jealousy made him more clear-sighted as to the possibility of her +affection ripening into love than her father had as yet become; and +gladly would the rival of the unsuspecting Henrich have blackened him +in the eyes of the Chieftain, and caused him to be banished from the +lodge, had he been able to find any accusation against him. But in this +he invariably failed; for the pale-face was brave, honest, and +truthful, to a degree that baffled the ingenuity of his wily foe: and +Coubitant found that, instead of lowering Henrich in the regard of the +Sachem, he only excited him to take his part still more, and also ran a +great risk of losing all the favor which he had himself attained in +Tisquantum's eyes. + +The sudden friendship that the young Jyanough had conceived for the +white stranger, and the consequent favor with which he was looked upon +by Oriana, tended still more to irritate the malignant savage; and +when, a few days after the arrival of Tisquantum's party at the Cree +village, he saw the three young friends seated amicably together +beneath a shadowing tree, and evidently engaged in earnest +conversation, he could not resist stealing silently behind them, and +lurking in the underwood that formed a thick background to their +position, in order to listen to the subject of their discourse. How +astonished and how indignant was he to find that Henrich was reasoning +eloquently against the cruel and ridiculous superstitions of the Indian +tribes, and pointing out to his attentive hearers the infinite +superiority of the Christian's belief and the Christian's practice! +The acquiescence that Oriana expressed to the simple but forcible +arguments of the pale-face added to his exasperation; and he was also +angry, as well as astonished, to perceive that the young Cree, although +he was yet unconvinced, was still a willing listener, and an anxious +inquirer as to the creed of his white friend. + +Maddened with rage, and excited also by the hope of at length arousing +the anger of the Sachem against the Christian youth, he forgot his +former caution, and hurried away, with quick and noiseless step, to the +wigwam occupied by Tisquantum, and broke unceremoniously upon his +repose as he sat, in a half-dreaming state, on the soft mat that +covered the floor, and 'drank smoke' from his long, clay pipe. + +With vehement gestures, Coubitant explained to the Sachem the cause of +his sudden interruption, and implored him to listen to the counsel of +his most faithful friend and subject, and to lose no time in banishing +from his favor and presence one who showed himself unworthy of all the +benefits he had heaped upon him, and who employed the life that had +been so unduly spared in perverting the mind of his benefactor's only +child. In vain his eloquence--in vain his wrath. Tisquantum regarded +him calmly until he had exhausted his torrent of passionate +expostulations, and then, quietly removing the pipe from his lips, he +replied, with his and decision-- + +'My brother is angry. His zeal for the honor of Mahneto has made him +forget his respect for the Sachem and the Sachem's adopted son. The +life of the white stranger was spared that he might bring joy to the +mournful eyes of Oriana. He has done so. My daughter smiles again, and +it is well. Coubitant may go. + +He then resumed his pipe, and, closing his eyes again, gave himself up +to the drowsy contemplations, which the entrance of Coubitant had +interrupted; and the disappointed warrior retired with a scowl on his +dark brow, and aggravated malice in his still darker heart. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +They proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the Lord +JER. IX, 3. + +The indifference of Tisquantum on the subject of the religious opinions +that his daughter might imbibe from her Christian companion, may seem +strange. But the Sachem, though a heathen, was, in fact, no fanatic. He +believed--or professed to believe--that he was himself in the +possession of supernatural powers; and so long as these pretensions +were acknowledged, and he continued to enjoy the confidence and +veneration of his ignorant countrymen, he was perfectly satisfied. +Henrich had also, on their first acquaintance, distinctly professed his +faith in the existence and the power of the Great Mahneto, or _Master +of Life;_ and this was all the _religion_--properly so called--of which +Tisquantum had any idea. He did not, therefore, give himself any +concern as to the other objects of his adopted son's belief or worship; +neither did he care to prevent Oriana from listening to the doctrines +of the pale-face, so long as she continued obedient and gentle, and +neglected none of the duties of an Indian squaw. + +The feelings of Coubitant were different. Not only did he burn with an +eager desire to deprive his rival of the Sachem's love and esteem, but +he also entertained a strong abhorrence of the religion of the white +men, as he had seen it practiced, and knew it was disseminated, by the +Spanish settlers in Mexico, whither he had traveled in his early youth. +In his eyes, these Christians were base idolaters; for such was the +impression made on him by the images and crucifixes that he beheld, and +the marks of veneration that were paid to these idols of wood and +stone, by the superstitious and degenerate Spaniards of that district. +When, therefore, he heard Henrich endeavoring to inculcate the worship +of Jesus, as the Son of God, on Oriana and Jyanough, he not unnaturally +regarded him as a believer in all the deities whose images he had seen +associated with that of Jesus, and receiving equal homage. + +Such, unhappily, has too often been the impression made on the minds of +the heathen, in every quarter of the globe, by the vain and +superstitious observances of the Roman Church, when her ministers have +proposed to their acceptance so corrupt a form of Christianity, instead +of the pure and holy doctrines of unadulterated Scripture. To those +nations already given over to idolatry it has appeared that their +civilized teachers were only offering them another kind of image- +worship; but to the Indians of North America--who make use of no images +of their deity, and generally acknowledge but one Great Spirit of +universal power and beneficence, and one Spirit of evil--the carved and +painted figures of the Spanish invaders naturally gave the idea of a +multitude of gods; and, in some of them, excited unbounded indignation +and hatred. This was the case with Coubitant; who, though totally +uninfluenced by any love or fear of the Great Mahneto whom he professed +to worship, was yet--like many other bigots of various countries and +creeds--keenly jealous of any innovations in the religion of his +nation; and ready to oppose, and even to exterminate, all who attempted +to subvert it. + +He now regarded Henrich as such an aggressor on the national faith and +practice; and he consequently hated him with a redoubled hatred, and +ceased not to plot in secret his ultimate destruction. + +Meanwhile, his intended victim was passing his time in considerable +enjoyment, and with a sense of perfect security, among the Crees. This +tribe was at that time remarkable for hospitality, and likewise for +courage and integrity. These good qualities have sadly degenerated +since their intercourse with Europeans has enabled them to gratify the +passion of all savages for intoxicating liquors: but at the period of +which we are speaking, they were a singularly fine race of Indians, and +their renown as warriors enabled them to extend protection to such of +the neighboring tribes as entered into alliance with them. Disease had, +indeed, recently reduced their numbers in many of the villages that +were situated in the dense forest, and were thus deprived of a free +circulation of air; and the wigwams at which Tisquantum's party had +arrived were among those that had suffered most severely. Several of +the lodges had been altogether deserted, in consequence of the death of +the proprietors; in which case the Indians frequently strip off the +thick mats which form the outer covering of the wigwam, and leave the +bare poles a perishing monument of desolation! This is only done when +the head of the family dies. The property of which he has not +otherwise disposed during his life, is then buried with him; and his +friends continue, for a long period, to revisit the grave, and make +offerings of food, arms, and cooking utensils. These articles are +deemed sacred to the spirit of the departed, and no Indian would think +of taking them away unless he replaced them with something of equal +value. This is permitted; and the custom must often afford relief to +the hungry traveler through the forests, who comes unexpectedly upon +the burial grounds of some of his race, and finds the graves amply +supplied with maize and tobacco--more useful to the living than to the +dead. + +Many such graves, besides that of Uncas, were to be seen in the +vicinity of the Cree village: and it seemed likely that their numbers +would be still augmented; for the disease which had already proved so +fatal, had not left the wigwams, although its violence had considerably +abated. Old Terah, the uncle of Jyanough, and the chief of the present +Sachem's council, lay dangerously ill; and all the charms, and all the +barbarous remedies usually resorted to in such cases, had been employed +by the Cree Powows in vain. Terah was one of the Pinces, or Pnieses--a +dignity conferred only on men of approved courage and wisdom--and many +a successful incursion had he led into the great plains of +Saskatchawan, where dwelt the Stone Indians, with whom the Crees had +long been at enmity--and many a prisoner had he brought back to his +village, and slain as an offering to Maatche-Mahneto, while he hung the +scalp that he had torn from the quivering victim on the walls of his +lodge, as its proudest ornament. + +Terah was also as wise in counsel as he was valiant in war; and, +although his age prevented his assuming the office of Sachem, or ruler +of the village,[*] on the death of his brother, yet his wisdom and +experience gave him great influence with Chingook, the present Chief, +and caused his life to be regarded as of peculiar value by the whole +community. + +[Footnote: Almost every considerable village has its Sachem, or Chief, +who is subordinate to the great Sachem or Sagamore, of the whole +tribe.] + +The arrival of so celebrated a Powow as Tisquantum during a time of +sickness-and especially when the death of so important a personage as +Terah was apprehended--was hailed with great joy by the whole village; +and presents of food, clothing, and arms poured into the lodge that +formed his temporary abode, from such of the Crees as desired to secure +his medical and supernatural aid for the relief of their suffering +relatives. All day he was occupied in visiting the wigwams of the sick, +and employing charms or incantations to drive away the evil spirits +from his patients; sometimes also administering violent emetics, and +other drugs from his _obee-bag,_ or medicine-pouch; which contained a +multitude of heterogeneous articles, such as herbs, bones, shells, +serpents' teeth, and pebbles--all necessary to the arts and practices +of a Powow. On the venerable Terah his skill and patience were +principally exercised, and many were the torments that he inflicted on +the dying old savage, and which were borne by the Pince with all the +calm endurance that became his dignity and reputation. Terah, like all +others of his exalted rank, had attained to the honor of being a Pince +by serving a hard apprenticeship to suffering and privation in his +early youth. He had passed through the ordeal triumphantly--and he who +had run barefoot through sharp and tearing thorns--who had endured to +have his shins beaten with a hard and heavy mallet, and his flesh +burned with red hot spearsand had not even betrayed a sense of pain-- +in order to attain the rank of a great counselor, and the privilege of +attending the Sachem as one of his guard of honor--did not shrink when +his barbarous physician burned a blister on his chest with red-hot +ashes, and scarified the horny soles of his feet till the blood flowed +plentifully. Those, and strong emetic herbs, which he forced his +patient to repeat until he fainted away, constituted the medical +treatment of Tisquantum: but much greater benefit was expected--and, +such is the power of imagination in these ignorant savages, that it was +often attained--from the practice of his charms and conjurations. + +As soon as Tisquantum saw his noble patient reduced to a state of +unconsciousness by his physical treatment, he commenced a course of +spiritual incantations. In a fierce and unnatural voice, he called on +Hobbamock, or Satan, who he declared was visible to him in one of his +many forms of an eagle, a deer, a fawn, and sometimes a gigantic human +being. He then adjured the evil spirit, and commanded him to remove the +disease; promising, in return, to offer to him skins, and hatchets, and +even the scalps of his foes. If any signs of returning consciousness +appeared, the Powow speedily banished them by a repetition of his wild +howling, which he continued for hours, at the same time throwing +himself about with wild and unnatural gestures, and striking his hands +violently on his legs, until he became as much exhausted as his unlucky +patient. + +It was during one of these awful exhibitions of heathen cruelty and +superstition, that Henrich one evening drew nigh to the lodge of Terah, +accompanied by Oriana; and paused at the open entrance, in amazement +and horror at the scene he beheld. The dying man lay stretched on the +ground, in the center of the outer room of the hut, where he had been +placed that he might enjoy the full benefit of the great Powow's skill. +His eyes were closed and his gray hairs hung matted end disordered on +the ground, while his emaciated features appeared to be fixed in death. +A frightful wound was on his breast, and blood was trickling from his +lacerated feet; while the involuntary contractions of his limbs alone +denoted that he was yet alive, and sensible to suffering, which he was +now unable to make any effort to conceal. Around the walls of the hut +stood many of his relatives and dependants, whose countenances +expressed anxiety and hope, mingled with fear of the priestly Sachem. + +Among the bystanders, Henrich instantly recognized his friend Jyanough; +and he shuddered to see the ingenious and inquiring youth assisting at +such satanic rites. But the figure that chiefly attracted his +attention, and to which his eyes became riveted, was that of +Tisquantum--the father of his gentle and beloved Oriana! There stood +the Sachem: he whose countenance he had seldom seen disturbed from his +usual expression of gravity and composure, and whose dignity of manner +had hitherto always commanded his respect. There he now stood--a victim +to satanic influence! His tall figure was dilated to its utmost height +by excitement and violent muscular effort, as he stood by the side of +the sick man. His eyes were fixed with a fearful and unmeaning glare on +the darkest corner of the hut, and seemed to be starting from their +sockets; while his hands, stiff and motionless, were extended over the +body of Terah, as if to guard him from the assault of some demons +visible to the conjuror alone. In this statue-like posture he remained +for some moments, while his breast heaved convulsively, and foam +gathered on his parted lips. Then, suddenly, he uttered a yell--so loud +and so unearthly that Henrich started with surprise and terror: and +Oriana caught his hand, and tried to draw him away from a scene that +now filled her soul with shame and sorrow. + +But Henrich did not move: he did not heed the beseeching voice, and the +gentle violence of his companion, whose wishes were generally commands +to her white brother. + +That yell had recalled the patient to partial consciousness, and he +rolled his blood-shot eyes around him, as if endeavoring to collect his +wandering senses; and then his haggard countenance again resumed the +expression of imperturbable composure and firm endurance that an Indian +warrior thinks it a disgrace to lose, even in the extremity of +suffering. Then Tisquantum sank on one knee beside him, and burst forth +into a passionate address to his deities--the powers of good and evil-- +whom he regarded as almost equally mighty to decide the fate of the +patient. + +'O, Mahneto!' he exclaimed, in a hoarse and howling voice; 'O, +Richtan-Mahneto,[1] who created the first man and woman out of a stone, +and placed them in these forests to be the parents of thy red children; +is it thy will that Terah shall leave his brethren to mourn his +departed goodness and wisdom, and go on that long and toilsome journey +that leads to the hunting-grounds of our forefathers? Surely when his +spirit _knocks at the door,_ it will be opened to him, and the warriors +of our tribe will welcome him, while his foes will be driven away with +the awful sentence, _Quachet!_[2] Yes, Terah, the wise in counsel, and +the fearless in war, shall surely dwell in the fields of happiness, and +again strike the prey with the renewed strength and skill of his youth. +But not yet, Mahneto! O, not yet!I see Hobbamock lurking there in the +gloom! I see his fiery eagle eyes, and I hear the flap of his heavy +wing; and I know that he hovers here to suck the blood of Terah, with +all his murderous Weettakos around him![3] But Tisquantum's charms are +too strong for him: he cannot approach the sick man now. Ha! Maatche- +Mahneto!' he cried--and again he fixed his glaring eyes on the dark +space in the far corner of the hut, from which the spectators had +shrunk trembling away--' Ha! spirit of evil! I behold thee--and I defy +thee! Terah is not thine; and my power has compelled thee to send the +_Ashkook,_[4] with his healing tongue, to lick my brother's wounds; and +_Wobsacuck,_ with eagle beak, to devour the venom that clogs his veins, +and makes his breath come short and thick. I feel them on my shoulders, +as they sit there, and stretch out their necks to do my bidding! Terah +shall live!' + +[Footnote 1: _Richtan,_ supposed to signify old--Ancient of Days-- +the Maker] + +[Footnote 2: _Quachet,_ begone, or _march off;_ supposed to be the +sentence of condemnation uttered against the souls of the wicked, when +they present themselves, and _knock at the door'_ that leads to the +Indian Paradise.] + +[Footnote 3: _Weettako,_ a kind of vampire or devil, into which the +Crees and other tribes suppose all who have ever fed on human flesh to +be transformed after death.] + +[Footnote 4: _Ashkooke,_ a demon in the form of a snake, who, with his +brother-fiend, _Wobsacuck,_ are supposed to be sent by Hobbamock to +heal the sick, when forced, by the potent spells of the great Powow, to +work good instead of evil.] + +Tisquantum closed his wild oration with another loud and prolonged +yell, to which all the spectators, who crowded the sides of the hut, +replied by a short and yelping cry: and the Powow sank on the ground by +the side of his patient, faint and exhausted by the violent and +sustained exertions to which both his mind and body had been subjected +for several hours without intermission. The attendants, among whom +Jyanough was foremost, hastened to his assistance, and administered to +him some needful refreshment; and Henrich turned away, grieved and +disgusted, and fall of sympathy for his once heathen companion, who, he +now remembered, was standing by his side, and witnessing the wild and +degrading extravagances of a father whom she both loved and respected. + +He looked into her deep expressive eyes, and saw that they were filled +with tears of humiliation and mental agony. How could it be otherwise? +How could she--who had learned to love a God of mercy, and to believe +in a meek and lowly Savior--bear to see her father thus the slave of +Satan, and the minister of cruel and heathen superstition? Especially, +how could she bear that so degrading a scene should he witnessed by him +from whom she had derived all she knew of the gospel of joy and peace, +and whose esteem was more precious to her than the opinion of all the +world beside? + +Silently she walked by Henrich's side for neither of them were inclined +to speak the thoughts that filled their minds. And silently they would +have proceeded to Oriana's dwelling, where her white brother proposed +to leave her with her attendants, and then to return and seek his +deluded friend Jyanough; but ere they reached Tisquantum's lodge, they +were overtaken by the Indian youth. + +Jyanough had been too much engrossed by the exciting scene that took +place in Terah's dwelling--and too eagerly watching for some favorable +appearances that might encourage him to hope for the life of his only +surviving relative--to observe that Henrich was also a spectator of +these heathen rites, until all was concluded, and the patient and his +physician were alike overpowered by heat and exhaustion. Then he had +glanced towards the door, and had seen the saddened expression that +clouded the open features of the Christian youth, and the look of +anguish that Oriana cast on her degraded father; and then all the +truths that Henrich had endeavored so simply and so patiently to +impress upon his mind--all the arguments that his white friend had +employed to win him from heathen darkness, and guide him into Divine +truth--rushed at once upon his memory. He felt ashamed of the remaining +superstition that had led him to take part in such vain ceremonies, and +to deem that they could conduce to his uncle's recovery, after he had +heard, and even assented to, the holy belief of the Christians in the +universal power of Almighty God, and the victory of His Son Jesus +Christ over the devil and all his angels. And he was grieved, also, +that his kind and anxious young teacher should regard him as an +ungrateful, and, possibly, even as a deceitful hearer. + +He, therefore, hastened after Henrich and Oriana, and overtook them as +they approached the lodge appropriated to the Nausett Sachem. + +'Are you angry with your red brother?' he inquired earnestly, as he +laid his hand on Henrich's shoulder, and looked sadly in his face. 'Do +you think that Jyanough is a deceiver, and that he has listened to the +teaching of the white stranger only to gain his friendship, and then to +forsake him, and betray him, and return to the religion of his own +people? O, no! Jyanough's heart is open and clear before the eyes of +his friend; and he will gladly listen again to all the good things that +Henrich tells him, for his heart says that they are true. But his soul +is still very dark; and when he saw Terah ready to die, and felt that, +when he was gone, there would be none to love him among all his tribe, +the cloud grew thicker and thicker; and Maatche-Mahneto seemed to look +out of the midst of the deep gloom with wrathful eyes of fire, and +beckon him to follow to Terah's lodge, and join in the worship which +the great Powow was about to offer. Will your Mahneto forgive him, +Henrich? + +The heart of the Christian boy was penetrated with joy and thankfulness +at this frank confession of the young Indian. He clearly saw that the +struggle--the universal and enduring struggle--between the powers of +good and evil, had already commenced in the soul of the red man; and he +had full confidence in the blessed declaration, that 'He who hath begun +a good work of grace in the immortal spirit, will surely perfect it +unto the end.' Therefore, he replied without hesitation, 'He will +certainly forgive you, Jyanough; and if you desire His help to make +your soul light, and strong, and joyful, and ask for that help in +sincerity and truth, He will most assuredly give it to you. Let us +enter the lodge, and there unite our prayers to the Great Spirit, who +is the God and Father of all his creatures, that He will graciously +shed His light and His truth into all our hearts; and, especially, that +He will remove all the doubts and fears that still lie sadly and +heavily on our brother's spirit.' + +The three young friends did so: and in the deserted chamber of the +great heathen Powow, Tisquantum, the voice of Christian supplication +ascended to the throne of a prayer-answering God. Could it ascend +unheeded? or fail to bring down, in His own good time, an answer of +peace? + + + +CHAPTER IX + +The dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty. +PSA. lxxiv, 20 + +The night that followed this conversation, Jyanough passed in Terah's +lodge, and he nursed his suffering relative with gentle patience. But +he saw no signs of recovery, although the women and the Cree Powows +assured him that the fatal disease was driven away by Tisquantum's +powerful incantations, and that, when the sun rose, he would see the +spirit of Terah revive. So had the conjuror declared; and so these +misguided heathens believed. But when the first beams of opening day +entered the door of the lodge, which was set open to receive them, and +fell on the dark and pallid features of the aged sufferer, Jyanough +could no longer be deceived into hope. He saw that his revered uncle +was dying, and he hastened to inform Henrich of the fact, and to +entreat him to return with him to Terah's wigwam, and to prey to the +Great Spirit in his behalf. + +Henrich readily complied: and he, too, was convinced, by the first +glance at the dying Indian, that no human aid, however skilful, could +long retain that once powerful spirit in its worn and wasted tenement +of clay. He knelt down by the side of Terah's couch, and Jyanough knelt +with him; and, regardless of the wondering gaze of the ignorant +attendants, he offered up a short and simple prayer to God for the +soul of the departing warrior. + +The Cree Powows who had watched the sick man during the night, had left +the lodge as soon as daylight set in, to collect materials for a great +burnt offering they deigned to make, as a last resource, in front of +the Pince's dwelling. As Henrich and Jyanough rose from their knees, +the heathen priest entered, bearing strings of wampum, articles of +furniture, of clothing, food, tobacco, and everything of any value that +they had been able to obtain from the friends of Terah. All these +various articles were displayed before the dim eyes of the invalid, for +whose benefit they were to be reduced to a heap of useless ashes; and a +faint smile of satisfaction passed over Terah's countenance: but he +spoke not. Jyanough then bent down, and pressed his lips to the cold +brow of his almost unconscious uncle, and hurried with Henrich from the +lodge; for he could not bear again to witness any repetition of the +heathen ceremonies that had caused him so much shame the preceding day: +neither could he endure to see his last relative leave the world, +surrounded by a spiritual darkness which it was not in his power to +dispel. + +The young friends took their way into the forest, that they might be +beyond the sight and the sound of those rites that were about to be +performed for the recovery of one who had already begun to travel +through the valley of the shadow of death. They had not, however, +gone far in a westerly direction, before they chanced their intention, +and resolved to return to the village. The cause of this change of +purpose was their meeting with a band of Cree warriors, who had gone +out, some weeks previously, on an expedition against a settlement of +their enemies, the Stone Indians; and were now returning from the +plains of the Saskatchawan, laden with spoils. Many of the Crees bore +scalps suspended from their belts, as bloody trophies of victory; and +all had arms, and skins, and ornaments that they had carried away from +the pillaged wigwams of their foes. + +Henrich could not help gazing with admiration at the party of warriors +as they approached. The greater part of them were mounted on beautiful +and spirited horses of the wild breed of the western prairies, which +they rode with an ease and grace that astonished the young Englishman. +They wore no covering on their heads, and their black hair was cut +short, except one long scalp-lock hanging behind; so that their fine +countenances, which were rather of the Roman cast, were fully exposed +to view. Their dress consisted of a large blanket, wrapped gracefully +round the waist, and confined by a belt, so as to leave the bust and +arms bare; and so perfect and muscular were their figures, that they +had the appearance of noble bronze statues. Their native weapons, +consisting of spears and bows, with highly ornamented quivers suspended +from their shoulders, and battle-axes hung to their belts, added much +to their martial and picturesque effect. Behind the horsemen followed +a band on foot, who carried the stolen treasures of the wasted village; +and Henrich looked with curiosity at the various and beautifully +decorated articles of dress, and hunting equipments, that had formed +the pride and the wealth of the defeated Stone Indians. + +But the part of the spoil that interested and distressed both Henrich +and his companion more than all the rest, was a young Indian warrior, +who, with his wife and her infant, had been brought away as prisoners +to add to the triumph, and, probably, to glut the vengeance, of their +conquerors. There was an unextinguished fire in the eye of the captive, +and an expression of fearless indignation in the proud bearing with +which he strode by the side of his captors, that clearly told how +bravely he would sell his life but for the cords that tightly bound his +wrists behind him, and were held by a powerful Cree on each side. +Behind him walked his wife, with downcast features and faltering steps, +and at her back hung her little infant, suspended in a bag or pouch of +deer skin, half filled with the soft bog-moss, so much used by Indian +squaws to form the bed--and, indeed, the only covering--of their +children during the first year of their existence. The eyes of the +captive young mother were fixed tearfully on the majestic form of her +husband, who was too proud--perhaps, also, too sad--to turn and meet +her gaze, while the eyes of his foes were upon him to detect his +slightest weakness. Even the low wailing cry of her child was unheeded +by this broken hearted wife in that sad hour; for she well knew the +customs of Indian warfare, and she had no hope for the life of her +warrior, even if her own should be spared. + +Henrich gazed on the little group in pity; for be instinctively read +their story, and their coming fate, in their countenances, and in the +cruel glances that fell on them from their guards. He looked at +Jyanough; and in his expressive features he saw a fell confirmation of +his worst fears. + +'They will sacrifice them to Maatche-Mahneto in the vain hope of +lengthening Terah's life,' he softly whispered in Henrich's ear. 'Let +us go back and seek Oriana. Perhaps, for her sake, Tisquantum may ask +the lives of the squaw and her young child; and, as Chingook's honored +guest, they would be granted to him; but there is no hope for the +warrior. His blood will surely be shed to appease Maatche-Mahneto, and +to atone for the death of several of the Cree braves who have fallen +this year by the hands of the Stone tribe.' + +Hastily Henrich turned; and, followed by Jyanough, took a by-path well +known to them, and entered the village before the arrival of the +warriors and their unhappy prisoners. A brief explanation was +sufficient to enlist all the kindly feelings, and all the Christian +spirit, of Oriana in favor of their project; and she lost no time in +seeking her father, who had again repaired to Terah's hut, to +superintend the costly sacrifice that was being offered in his behalf. +She found him exulting in a partial improvement in his patient, whose +senses had again returned with a brief and deceitful brilliance, and +attributing what he called the aged Pince's recovery to the potency of +his own spells. + +This was no time for Oriana to argue with the elated Powow on the +fallacy of his pretensions. She therefore listened patiently to his +boastings; and then, with much feeling and natural eloquence, told him +the cause of her interrupting him at such a moment, and besought him to +exert all his great influence with the Crees, to induce them to spare +the lives of the Stone captives. + +Tisquantum listened with attention to her story and her petition, for +he was always gentle to Oriana; but he gave her little hope of that +fell success which her warm young heart desired, and anticipated. + +'My child,' he said, 'I will do what you ask, so far as to request that +the woman and child may be placed at your disposal. But the warrior's +life I cannot demand, for it would be an insult to the brave Crees to +suppose that they would suffer an enemy to escape, and tell his tribe +that they were woman-hearted. No, he must die; and, if the soul of his +ancestors dwells in him, he will exult in the opportunity of showing +how even a Stone Indian can meet death.' + +Oriana was repulsed, but not defeated, by this reply. +'Nay, my father,' she again began, 'either save all, or let all perish. +Do not take the brave young warrior from his wife and child, and leave +them in poverty and sorrow; but plead for mercy to be shown to him +also--and so may mercy be shown to his conquerors, and to you, his +deliverer, when--' + +'Peace, child,' interrupted the Sachem, with more asperity than he +usually showed to Oriana. 'These are the notions you have learned from +your white brother, and I desire not to hear them. Tisquantum knows his +duty. I will demand the lives of the woman and child of whom you speak; +but the warrior must abide his fate. And think you that he would not +scorn to live when honor is gone I Go'--he added more gently, as he saw +the sorrow that dimmed her eye--'go, and tell Jyanough to meet me at +the Sachem's lodge. Terah may yet be saved--this victim comes at s +happy moment, and surely Mahneto demands his life as at offering for +that of the venerable Pince.' + +Oriana shuddered at what she saw to be her father's meaning. Once she +would have felt as he did and have believed that their god could be +propitiated by blood and agony. But now she knew that all such cruel +sacrifices were worse than vain; and deeply she regretted her own +inability to bring her countrymen, and especially her own beloved +father, to a knowledge of the Gospel of mercy and peace; and thus save +them from imbruing their hands in the blood of their fellow men, and +thinking that they did good service to the Great Spirit. + +She hurried back to her companions, and, weeping, told them of her +partial success. It was all, and more than all, that Jyanough expected; +and he immediately went to meet Tisquantum at the lodge of the Cree +Sachem, Chingook, where he found the war party and their prisoners +assembled. After a few words to Jyanough, Tisquantum commenced a long +speech to his brother Sachem, in which he dilated on the friendship +that subsisted between them, and the joy that he had felt in exercising +his skill for the benefit of the brave and hospitable Crees. He then +spoke of Terah's perilous condition, and his fears that even his powers +had been baffled by the spirit of evil; and that the Pince would yet be +taken from them, unless some offering could be found more precious than +all that were now piled before his dwelling, and only waited for the +auspicious moment to be wrapped inflame, us a sacrifice to the offended +deity who had brought the pestilence. 'And have we not such an offering +here?' he added, pointing to the captive warrior, who stood, with head +erect, awaiting the sentence that he knew would be pronounced. 'Have we +not here a victim, sent by Mahneto himself, at the very moment when +Terah's life seems hanging on a breath? Lead him, then, to the sacred +pile; and as his soul goes forth, the soul of Terah shall revive. + +This speech was received with acclamations by the Crees; and already +the warriors were hurrying away their captive, while his wife followed, +as if mechanically, to share her husband's fate. Bat here Tisquantum +interposed, and, in his daughter's name, requested the life of the +woman and her child. His request was readily granted by Chingook; for +of what value was a squaw in the eyes of these Indian braves? + +The daughter of our friend and benefactor shall be denied nothing that +she asks,' replied the Cree Chief. 'Take the woman to Oriana's lodge, +and let her be her slave.' + +Jyanough approached to lead away the unhappy woman but she turned on +him a look of despairing misery, and, laying her band on her husband's +arm, said quickly, 'I will see my Lincoya die, and then I will follow +you where you will, for Mailah has no home.' + +Jyanough did not oppose her, for his heart was touched by her sorrow +and her fortitude; and the captive warrior turned his head, and bent on +her sad countenance one look of tenderness and approbation, that told +how deeply he was sensible of her devotion. + +He did not speak--perchance he could not trust his voice in that trying +moment--but he followed his guards, and his eye was again steadfast, +and his step was firm. + +Henrich and Oriana waited anxiously for the return of Jyanough: but he +came not; and they almost feared that Tisquantum's request had been too +coldly urged to prove successful. It was a calm autumnal day; and as +the sun rose high in the heavens, his beams were shrouded by heavy +thunder clouds, while a low and distant murmur foretold an approaching +storm, and added to the gloom that weighed heavily on Oriana's spirit. +All the sin and degradation of the faith of her countrymen seemed to +strike upon her mind with a force hitherto unknown, and to bow her down +in shame and sadness. Even to Henrich--to her loved Christian friend +and teacher--she could not now utter her feelings; and when, to divert +her thoughts, and remove her from the village where he knew so cruel a +scene would soon be enacted, he led her towards the forest, she +followed him silently. They seated themselves beneath an overshadowing +tree; and, for some time, no sound broke the oppressive silence save +the soft rustling of the leaves, that seemed to be moved by the spirits +of the air-for no wind was stirring. + +Presently a shriek--one single cry of agony--arose from the village: +and all was still again. + +'It was a woman's voice!' exclaimed Oriana, in a tone of deep +suffering. 'O, Henrich! they murder the helpless and the innocent; and +my father consents to the deed!' + +Henrich did not reply; he had no comfort to offer. But they both gazed +towards the village, as if hoping to discover, through the impervious +wood that surrounded it, some indications of what was going on in those +'habitations of cruelty. + +Soon a dense cloud of smoke rose high in the still at; and flames shot +up above the intervening trees. And then burst forth a mingled din of +wild unearthly sounds, that told of sated vengeance, and malignant joy, +and demoniac worship. Fiercely the war cry of the Crees rang in the +air, while above it rose the shrill sound of clashing spears and +tomahawks; and Oriana knew that the savages were dancing round a death- +fire, and calling on Mahneto to accept their bloody offering. + +But now the threatening storm broke suddenly on that dark place of the +earth; and it seemed to Oriana's troubled spirit that the wrath of +heaven was poured upon her benighted race. Peal after peal resounded in +quick succession, and reverberated from the distant kills; while +flashes of forked lightning followed one another rapidly, and +dispelled, for a moment, the unnatural darkness. The young Indian clung +trembling and terrified to her companion, and hid her face on his +shoulder, to shut out the fearful scene, while Henrich spoke to her +words of comfort and encouragement, and at length succeeded in calming +her agitation. The rain poured down in torrents but so dense was the +foliage that hung over Oriana and her companion that it could not +penetrate their place of refuge; and they remained awaiting its +cessation, and watching the curling smoke, that seemed to die away as +the falling torrent extinguished the fire. But as it disappeared, +another cloud arose near the same spot; and wider and fiercer flames +sprang up, that defied the rain, and continued to burn with more and +more strength. Whence could they arise? Surely the wigwams were on +fire! + +Henrich communicated this fear to Oriana, and they arose and hurried +together towards the village, where an appalling scene met their eyes. +In front of Terah's dwelling were the smoldering remains of the +sacrificial fire, on which--still upheld by the stake to which he had +been bound--the burnt and, blackened form of a man was visible; while +close by the ashes lay a woman, so motionless that she seemed as +totally deprived of life as the wretched victim himself, and a child +was reclining on her shoulder, whose faint wailing cry showed that it +yet lived and suffered. + +None heeded the melancholy group; for the warriors, whose wild songs +and frantic dances had been interrupted by the sudden violence of the +storm, were all now engaged in fruitless efforts to extinguish the +flames that were rapidly consuming the lodge of Terah. The lightning +had struck it, and ignited its roof of reeds; and so rapidly had the +whole dwelling become a prey to the dreadful element, that even the +removal of the dying sage had been despaired of. But Jyanough, who had +been a silent spectator of all the previous scene of cruelty, was not +to be daunted by the smoke and flame that burst through the entrance, +and drove from the chamber of death all the attendants of the sufferer. +Boldly he rushed into Terah's dwelling; and, just as Henrich and Oriana +entered the open space in front of it, they beheld him issuing forth, +blackened with smoke and scorched with fire, and bending beneath the +weight of his uncle's corpse. + +Yes; Terah was already a corpse! All the charms and incantations of +the Powows bad failed to banish the disease that was sent to summon him +away. All the treasure that had been destroyed, and the precious life- +blood that had been spilled to propitiate false deities, could not for +one moment arrest the fiat of the true 'Master of life,' or detain the +spirit which was recalled by Him who gave it' That spirit had passed +away amidst the noise of the tempest; and when Henrich sprang forward, +and assisted his friend to lay the body gently on the earth, they saw +that the spark of life had fled! + +All further attempts at extinguishing the fire were now abandoned; and +the Crees gathered round their departed friend to condole with +Jyanough, who was his nearest relative, and to commence that dismal +howling by which they express their grief on such occasions. All the +property of the dead man was already consumed; but the best mats and +skins that Jyanoughs wigwam contained were brought to wrap the corpse +in; and when the site of his former dwelling could be cleared of ashes +and rubbish, a grave was speedily dug in the center of it, and the, +body laid by the simple sepulchre, around which the friends of the +venerated Pince seated themselves, and howled, and wept, and detailed +the virtues and the wisdom of the dead. + +Jyanough was expected to act the part of chief mourner in these +ceremonies; and the real affection he had entertained for his uncle +induced him to comply, and to remain all that day, and all the +following night, at the grate. But he refused to cover his face with +soot--as is customary on such occasions of domestic sorrow--or to join +the Powows in their frantic cries and exorcisms, to drive off the +Weettakos from sucking the dead man's blood. The presence of Henrich +seemed to annoy and irritate these priests of Satan; and he was glad to +retire from a scene so repugnant to his better feelings, and to return +to Oriana, by whose care and direction the unhappy Mailah and her +infant had been promptly removed from the place of death and +desolation, and conveyed to her own apartment in Tisquantums lodge. + +Her kind efforts had restored the poor young widow to consciousness; +and she now sat on the floor, with her child on her knee, listening +with a calmness that almost seemed apathy, to the words of comfort that +were uttered by the gentle Squaw-Sachem. + +Mailah was very young. Scarcely sixteen summers had passed over her +head; and yet--such is Indian life--she had already been a wife and a +mother; and now, alas! she was a widow. Her grief had been passionate +at the last, and had burst forth in that one wild cry that had startled +Orianas ear in the forest. But that was over now, and she seemed +resigned to her hard fate, and willing to endure it. Perhaps this was +for her infant's sake; and, perhaps, her sensibilities were blunted by +the life she had led, in common with the rest of her race and sex--a +life in which the best feelings and sympathies of our nature are almost +unknown. It was not until Oriana led her to speak of her past life, and +the home of her youth--now desolate and in ruins--that tears of natural +grief flowed from her eyes. Then she seemed roused to a full sense of +all she had lost, end broke out into mournful lamentations for her +murdered Lincoya, whose noble qualities and high lineage she eloquently +extolled; while she sadly contrasted her present lonely and desolate +position with her happiness as the squaw of so distinguished a warrior, +and so successful a hunter. + +Oriana said all she could to console her; and assured her of her +protection and friendship, and of a home in her lodge when they +returned to their own country, where she should live as her sister, and +bring up her little Lincoya to emulate his father's courage and +virtues: and, ere long, the simple young savage again grew calm, said +lifted up her soft black eyes, and smiled gratefully at her new friend +and benefactor. She said she bad no wish to return to her own tribe, +for all her family and friends had been destroyed in the recent +massacre; and the village where she had spent such happy days was +reduced to ashes. She, therefore, was well content to remain with the +youthful Squaw-Sachem, to whose intercession she knew she owed her own +life and that of her child, and in whose service she professed her +willingness to live and die. + +Her manner and appearance greatly interested Henrich, for they were +marked by much greater refinement than he had seen in any of the Indian +females, except Oriana. This was to be accounted for by her noble +birth; for in those days the Indian chieftains prided themselves on the +purity and nobility of their lineage; and no member of a Sachem's +family was allowed to marry one of an inferior race. A certain air of +dignity generally distinguished the privileged class, even among the +females; although their lives were not exempt from much of hardship and +servitude, and they were regarded as altogether the inferiors of their +lords and masters. + +To Oriana the arrival of the young mother and her playful child was a +source of much pleasure and comfort; for she had begun to feel the want +of female society, and the women who accompanied Tisquantum's party, +and assisted her in the domestic duties of the family, were no +companions to her. In Mailah she saw that she could find a friend; and +her kindness and sympathy soon attached the lonely young squaw to her, +and even restored her to cheerfulness and activity. It was only when +she visited the grave in which Henrich and Jyanough had laid the +murdered Lincoya, and decked it with flowers and green boughs, that the +widow seemed to feel the greatness of her affliction. Then she would +weep bitterly, and, with passionate gestures, lament her brave warrior. +But, at other times, she was fully occupied with the care of her little +Lincoya, or in assisting Oriana in the light household duties that +devolved upon her. And her sweet voice was often heard singing to the +child, which generally hung at her back, nestled in its soft bed of +moss. + + + +CHAPTER X. + +The noble courser broke away. + And bounded o'er the plain? +The desert echoed to his tread, + As high he toss'd his graceful head, +And shook his flowing name. + +King of the Western deserts! Thou + Art still untam'd and free! +Ne'er shall that crest he forced to bow +Beneath the yoke of drudgery low: +But still in freedom shalt thou roam +The boundless fields that form thy home + Thy native Prairie!' ANON. + +The camp of the Indian hunters looked cheerful and picturesque, as +Oriana and Mailah approached it one evening on their return from a +ramble in the forest, where they had been to seek the wild fruits that +now abounded there, and paused at the skirt of the wood, to admire the +scene before them. The proposed hunting-ground had been reached the +preceding day, and already the temporary huts were completed, and the +tents of the Sachem pitched beneath a grove of lofty oaks and walnuts, +free from underwood, and on the border of a clear and rippling stream. +The Nausett and Pequodee hunters had purchased a considerable number of +horses from their Cree friends; and, therefore, the journey from +Chingook's village to the prairie, in which the encampment now stood, +had been performed with much ease and expedition; and the hardy animals +were so little fatigued by their march through the forest, that several +of the younger Indians had mounted again the morning after their +arrival, and gone off on a reconnoitering expedition, to discover what +prospect there was of finding much game in that neighborhood. + +Henrich--proud and happy in the possession of a spirited horse, with +which Tisquantum had presented him--insisted on being one of the party; +end he was accompanied, also, by Jyanough, who had left his native +village, now rendered sad and gloomy in his eyes, to follow his white +friend, and share his society at least for a time. This arrangement +gave Henrich the greatest satisfaction for the young Cree was the only +Indian of his own sex in whom he had been able to find a companion, or +who had peculiarly attached himself to the stranger: and the more he +saw of Jyanough the more he found in him to win his esteem and +friendship. + +Oriana and Mailah seated themselves on the luxuriant grass to rest; and +the young Indian mother removed her child from the strange cradle in +which she always carried it, and laid it on her knees; and then, after +gazing at it for a few moments, she began to sing a wild, sweet song, +to hush it to sleep. In a soft, monotonous cadence, she sang the sad +story of its little life--its birth--its captivity--and the death of +its murdered father, whom she exhorted it to imitate, and live to equal +in courage and in skill. And thus she sang: + +'Child of the slain Lincoya, sleep In peace! Thy mother wakes to guard +thee. But where is he whose smile once fell on thee as sunshine--thy +father, Lincoya? He is gone to the far distant hunting-grounds and +there, again, he casts the spear; and there he draws the unerring bow; +and there he quaffs the cup of immortality, with the spirits of the +good and brave. O Lincoya! thy voice was to me as a sweet song, or as +the summer breeze among the tall cypress trees--why didst thou leave +me? Thy step was swift and graceful as the roe upon the mountains--why +didst thou leave me? But I will follow thee, my warrior, The death-bird +has called me, and I come to thee! Thy child shall live; for Mahneto +has given him friends and a home. He shall grow up like thee, and +Oriana shill be o mother to him when I am gone: and the blue-eyed +stranger, whom she loves as I loved thee, shall guide his hand in war, +and in the chase. Lincoya! I come to thee! + +Oriana listened to the mournful chant of the young widow with much +interest and sympathy; but when she spoke of her love for her white +brother, in terms so new and strange, she almost felt offended. She +did not, however, remark on her friend's allusion to herself, but +turned the discourse to Mailah's sad prophecy of her own early death, +which she knew could only be grounded on one of the wild superstitions +of her race. + +'Why do you talk of dying, Mailah?' she asked. 'You are young and +strong; and you may again be happy. Why do you say you will leave your +child, and go to the land of spirits?' + +'The death-bird[*] called to me last night, as I sat at the open door +of the hut, and looked at the moon, and thought how its soft light was +guiding my Lincoya on long, long, journey, to the everlasting hunting +fields of his fathers. Cheepai-Peethees called me twice from the tree +that hung over the lodge; but when I called to it again, and whistled +clearly, it made no answer. I heard it the day before the Crees +destroyed our village. It called my husband then, and would not answer +him; and in two days he was slain. The death-bird is never mistaken. + +[Footnote: A small owl called _Cheepai-Peethees,_ or the _death-bird,_ +which the Indians attach the superstition here alluded to, and believe, +if it does not answer to their whistle, it denotes their speedy death.] + +O, Mailah!' replied the young Christian squaw, 'say not so. Surely it +is not thus that the great Mahneto calls His children to come to Him. +Once I believed all these Indian stories; but now I know that they are +false and vain. I know that our lives, and all things that befall us, +are in the hands of the wise and good God--the Mahneto of the +Christians and of the red men too. And now I have no fear of any of +those strange sounds that used to make me sad, and terrify me with +thoughts of coming evil. I most teach you to believe as I do now: or, +rather, my _white brother_ shall teach you; for he knows the words of +Mahneto himself. See, Mailah! There my brother comes--let us go to meet +him.' + +A flush of joy mounted to the clear olive cheek of Oriana as she said +these words, and she sprang to her feet with the lightness of a fawn. +Mailah rose more gently, and replacing her infant in the pouch, slung +it over her shoulder, and followed her friend, softly whispering in her +ear, The white stranger is your Lincoya.' + +The Indian beauty smiled, and blushed more deeply: but she did not +bound across the glade to meet Henrich as she had purposed doing. She +drew her slender figure to its full height, and stood still; and as +Henrich galloped across the green meadow, and alighted, full of +animation, to tell her of his success in his first essay at hunting the +elk, he wondered why she greeted him so coldly. + +The fact was that Oriana was beginning to find that the blue-eyed +stranger possessed even more interest in her eyes than she had ever +felt for her own dark brother, Tekon; and when Mailah had openly +alluded to this sentiment--which she thought unknown to all but +herself--her natural and instinctive delicacy was wounded. But the +feeling quickly wore away; and as Henrich and Jyanough detailed the +exciting sports of the day, she forgot all but the pleasure of +listening to his voice, and gazing at his fine countenance and bright +sweet smile. She was happy; and she though not of the future. + +And Henrich was happy, too. He had now found companions whom he could +love; and the life of the Indian hunters was all that he had ever +pictured to himself of freedom and adventure. The beauty of the +scenery--the clearness of the sky--and the glow of health and +excitement that animated his whole frame when he joined in the chase +with his savage friends, were all so entirely different to the life he +had led in damp and foggy Holland, that it was no wonder he enjoyed it, +and that his youthful spirits enabled him to subdue the oft-recurring +grief that he felt at each remembrance of his family and his home. Hope +was strong in his breast; and he trusted once again to meet all whom he +loved so dearly: and the present was so bright and inspiring that he +could not desire to change it yet. + +For many weeks the camp remained pitched in the same lovely situation; +and the time of the hunters was fully occupied in the discovery and +pursuit of the various wild animals that abounded in the uncultivated, +but richly verdant, prairie. Of these, the elk and the buffalo were the +most common victims to the spears and arrows of the Indians; and every +evening large quantities of meat were brought into the camp, and given +to the care of the squaws to dry and cure for winter consumption. These +larger animals were too heavy to be transported whole to the huts; end +therefore the hunters always skinned them and cut off the flesh where +they fell, and left the carcasses to the wolves and the birds of prey +that were ever ready at hand. But the smaller animals, and the wild +turkeys and other birds, that were killed in great numbers, were +brought in and thrown down by the blazing camp fires, that lighted up +the glade every night, and were speedily prepared and cooked for the +supper of the hungry hunters. + +As the leader of the expedition, Tisquantum was always presented with +the choicest of the game; and it was Oriana's task to superintend the +curing of the elk and buffalo meat, and the cooking that was required +for her father's lodge. In all these household cares she was greatly +assisted by Mailah, who was both active and skilful in all the duties +of an Indian squaw: and eager also to evince her gratitude for the +kindness and protection that were afforded to herself and her child by +the Nausett Chief, by doing all that she could to lighten Oriana's +labors. Time and occupation did not fail to have their usual effect on +one so young, and naturally so light-hearted as Mailah; and animated +cheerfulness took the place of the mournful expression that had +hitherto so frequently sat on her countenance. She did not forget +Lincoya; but she forgot the call of the death-bird: and when she sang +her child to sleep, it was no longer with the same sad cadence as at +first. Sorrow could not strike very deep, or abide very long in the +heart of a being so gay, and with a mind and feelings so utterly +uncultivated as those of the young Stone Indian. Neither could she live +so much in the society of the white stranger, and his two chosen +companions, without imbibing something of their intelligence, and +becoming sensible of their superiority of mind to all others with whom +she had ever associated: and she grew more and more attached to them, +and learnt to regret less the friends and companions among whom her +youth had been spent. + +She was a high-spirited and courageous creature: she would have +followed her husband unhesitatingly to death, had she been called on to +do so; or she would have died to save him, if her life could have +availed to purchase his. But now that he was gone, and she could not +even weep over his grave, and deck it with flowers and gifts, her +lively spirit rose again, and led her to seek amusement and occupation +in everything within her reach. + +The accounts which Henrich and Jyanough continually gave to her and +Oriana of their exciting adventures in the prairie, had aroused in both +of them a strong desire to be spectators of the sport; and they sought +and obtained Tisquantum's permission to accompany the hunters one +morning to the buffalo ground that lay nearest to the camp, and there +to witness the pursuit and capture of some of those magnificent +animals. + +A short ride through the forest brought the party out upon a vast and +glorious prairie, on which the rich autumnal sun was shining in all his +strength. On a rising ground that partially overlooked the plain, +Oriana and her companion took up their position, beneath the shade of a +grove of pines; and they watched the hunters as they examined the foot- +prints on the dewy turf, or followed the tracks of the elks and +buffaloes through the long prairie-grass, in order to make their +arrangements for enclosing the game and driving the animals into an +open and central situation. + +In the course of this examination, the recent tracks of a number of +wild horses were discovered, and fresh excitement was felt by the whole +party, for all were desirous to attempt the capture of these most +valuable animals; and they resolved, on this occasion, to make them the +chief objects of their pursuit. A ring was, therefore, formed by the +numerous company of horsemen, enclosing a very large space of the +beautiful park-like ground, which was studded with trees, either single +or in groups; while underneath them, in the distance, could be seen +many buffaloes lying down or grazing. The scene had the appearance of +a wide extent of finely-cultivated pasture, ornamented with timber of +every kind; end it forcibly recalled to Henrich's memory the fields and +the cattle that had surrounded his European home. But the size of the +trees, the extent of the natural meadow, and, above all, the wild +aspect of the red hunters with their spears, and bows, and tomahawks, +soon destroyed the fancied resemblance; while the eagerness and +excitement of the novel sport banished all the sad recollections to +which it had given rise. A desire also to distinguish himself in the +presence of Oriana, and show her that a pale-face could equal her own +dark race in courage and dexterity, inspired him with peculiar ardor; +and he galloped to the station appointed him by Tisquantum, with a +heart that bounded with pride and pleasure. + +The hunters were each provided with a long coil of grass rope, with a +noose at the end--now called a _lariat_ or _lasso_--used by the Indians +for casting over the horns of the elks and buffaloes, or the necks of +the wild horses, that they desired to capture. These they carried in +such a manner as to be ready to throw them off in an instant to their +whole length, if necessary; but much practice is required to do this +with precision, and Henrich did not yet hope for success in the +difficult art. His only chance of capturing a wild courser lay in his +skill in casting the spear, which might enable him to pierce the animal +through the upper part of the neck, and thus produce a temporary +insensibility, during which time he might be secured without any +permanent injury. This also requires great precision and address; but +Henrich had become an adept in the use of the light lance, and he felt +sanguine of success if the opportunity should he afforded him. + +The string of horsemen slowly and warily drew in towards the open spot +that was intended to be the scene of their operations, and of which +Oriana and Mailah had a good view from their safe and elevated +position; and soon a troop of wild horses were disturbed by one of the +hunters, and burst forth from a thick grove of trees that had +previously concealed them. They rushed madly over the plain, mingling +with the affrighted buffaloes and American deer, that had not hitherto +perceived the stealthy approach of their foes. At every point where +they attempted to escape from the enclosure they were met by a mounted +huntsman, and were driven back, with shouts and cries, towards the +center. All other game was now forgotten; and each hunter singled out, +for his own object of pursuit, the steed that pleased him best, and of +which he thought he could most easily gain possession. But one there +was--the leader of the troop--on which many eyes were fixed with eager +desire. He was a noble creature, of perfect form and proportions; and +as he pranced before his companions, with neck erect, and throwing his +head from side to side, as if to reconnoiter his assailants--while his +mane and tail floated in the breeze, and his glossy coal-black skin +gave back the rays of the morning sun--he looked like the King of the +Prairie, going forth in the pride of perfect freedom. + +The ring grew smaller and smaller; and every hand was steady, and every +eye was fixed for the moment of trial: and soon the headlong pursuit +commenced. At the first scattering of the wild troop, several of the +younger and more feeble horses were secured; and some of the hunters, +who despaired of nobler game, contented themselves with capturing or +slaying either elks or buffaloes. But the finest horses escaped the +first assault, and broke through the circling ring into the boundless +meadow, where they were followed at mad speed by the hunters, poising +their spears, and swinging their nooses round their heads, ready for a +cast. Henrich and Jyanough, and several others of the best mounted +Indians, had joined in the chase of the black leader, and dashed +furiously after him over the plain. The horse that the English boy rode +was strong and fleet, and the light weight of his rider enabled him to +keep with the foremost of the red hunters' steeds, and, at length, to +come almost alongside the noble courser. The spear was poised in +Henrich's hand, and was just about to fly, when suddenly his horse fell +to the ground, and rolled over on the turf, leaving his rider +prostrate, but uninjured, except being stunned for a moment by the +shock. + +When he opened his eyes, and sprang to his feet, he saw the king of the +desert galloping up a rising ground, over which he quickly disappeared, +still hotly pursued by Coubitant and several of the hunters. Jyanough +and the rest of his companions, had dismounted to assist their fallen +friend, and to form conjectures as to the probable cause of the unlucky +accident. For some time none could be perceived; but on carefully +examining his horse, Henrich at length discovered a small wound in the +hind leg, and found that the creature was lame. How, or by whom, the +wound had been given, he could not even surmise; for in the eagerness +of the chase he had not observed that Coubitant rode close behind him: +and that he had passed him at full speed the moment his horse stumbled +and fell. But Jyanough had remarked it; and from what he had already +seen of the wily Indian, he felt convinced that, prompted by malicious +jealousy, he had thus sought to deprive his rival of his hoped-for +success, and, perhaps, even to inflict on him some grievous personal +injury. + +The young Indian had, however, the good sense to conceal his suspicions +from Henrich at present, and to allow him to regard the whole affair as +accidental; but he determined to keep a strict watch over the conduct +of Coubitant for the future, and, if possible, to guard his friend from +all his evil machinations. + +Soon the Nausett and the rest of the hunters returned from their +fruitless chase, and reported the escape of the noble wild coursers and +when Jyanough heard the regrets that Coubitant expressed for the +accident that had befallen Henrich, and the condolences he offered on +his having thus missed the object which otherwise his skill most surely +have attained, he could scarcely contain his indignation at such +hypocrisy, or refrain from opening the eyes of the unsuspicious young +Englishman. + +They all returned together, at a slow pace, to the main body of the +hunters, for Henrich's horse was too lame to be mounted; and, as soon +as the adventure was made known, much sympathy and interest were shown +for the disappointment of the pale-face, in which Oriana's countenance +and manner showed she partook so warmly, that Coubitant turned aside to +conceal his anger and vexation, and heartily wished that his well-aimed +blow had not only deprived Henrich of the glory of that day's hunting, +but had also put a stop for ever to the success for which he both hated +and envied him. + +The sport continued, after this interruption, as actively as before, +but neither Henrich nor his horse could take any further share in it; +and he remained with Oriana and Mailah, enjoying the beauty of the +scenery, and gathering flowers and fruit for his companions, and for +the little. Lincoya, who, freed from the restraint of his moss-lined +bed, now rolled on the turf with Rodolph, and played with the gentle +and intelligent animal. + +How happy was Oriana that day! She was proud of the gallant bearing of +her 'white brother' among the red warriors of her own wild race, and +she had exulted at the praises which she had heard bestowed on his +address as a hunter, and his shill in horsemanship, by Tisquantum and +the elder Indians; and now, though she regretted his accident, and the +disappointment which it had caused him, she did not suspect that it had +been effected by the malice of a deadly enemy, and she rejoiced that it +had given her the pleasure of his society for the rest of the day--a +pleasure which she had but seldom enjoyed since their arrival in the +prairie. + +At the close of the day the game was collected, and, after due +preparation, was carried back to the camp, where the squaws had already +lighted the evening fires, and made every necessary arrangement for +cooking the expected supper. Around these fires the hunters sat in +groups, and discussed the events of the day, among which the accident +that had befallen the pale-face excited much interest and conjecture. +Jyanough listened to the probable and improbable causes that were +assigned by all the speakers, especially by Coubitant, to account for +so strange a circumstance; but he held his peace, for in his inmost +soul he was only more and more convinced that the subtle and dark- +brewed savage was the perpetrator of the malicious deed. + +In this suspicion, he was the more strongly confirmed by an event that +occurred a few days afterwards. It had been discovered that the stream +that ran so gently by the side of the encampment fell, at some distance +to the west, into a river of considerable size and depth, which then +ran on over a descending and rocky bed, forming alternately smooth +broad sheets of water and noisy broken falls, until it precipitated +itself over a sudden precipice of great depth, and fell dashing and +foaming into the basin which its continual fall had worn in the rocks +below. The distant roar of this cataract had frequently been heard in +the camp, when the wind came from that direction, and when the +stillness of the night--broken only by the occasional howl of wild +beasts seeking their prey, or the melancholy cry of the goat-sucker[*] +succeeded to the sounds of labor or idleness that generally kept the +temporary village alive by day. But, hitherto, no one had had leisure +or inclination to leave the excitement and novelty of hunting to +explore the river, or ascertain its capabilities for fishing. + +[Footnote: This mournful sound is believed by the Indians to be the +moaning of the departed spirits of women who have committed +infanticide; and who are, consequently, excluded by Mahneto from the +happy mountains which are the abode of the blessed.] + +Now, however, Coubitant brought in a report one evening that the great +stream abounded in fish; and proposed in to Henrich that, as he was for +the present unable to join in the more active business of the chase, he +should assist him in forming a light canoe, in which they could go out +and spear the game that lay beneath the clear blue water in the smooth +reaches of the river. + +To this proposal Henrich readily assented; for the sport was one of +which he had beard his Indian friends speak with great pleasure, and he +greatly wished to enjoy it. The canoe was immediately commenced; and as +it merely consisted of the trunk of a straight tulip-tree, hollowed out +by means of fire, and shaped with a hatchet, it was completed in a +couple of days. + +The light spears that were to pierce the fish were prepared, and long +slender lines of twisted grass were fastened to their shafts for the +purpose of drawing in their prey; and the following morning, when the +hunters were ready to set out on their usual expedition, Coubitant +desired Henrich to accompany him to the river side, where their little +bark lay ready to receive them. Why, on hearing this proposal, did +Jyanough still linger when all the rest of the hunters were mounted, +and his own steed was pawing the ground, impatient of his master's +delay? And why, after gazing a few moments at Coubitant's dark +countenance, did he declare his wish to join the fishing party, and +requested the Nausett to allow him to take a place in the canoe? Did he +see treachery in that eye of fire? Jyanough could lend his horse to the +pale-face, if he should happen to wish to hunt. + +His request was, however, negatived decidedly by Coubitant; who assured +him, with assumed courtesy, that he regretted the size of the boat was +too small to admit of its carrying a third sportsman with safety; but +invited him to join him in the same sport the following day, when, he +added--with that smile that Oriana hated--Jyanough could lend his horse +to the pale-face, if he should happen to wish to hunt. + +The young Cree was baffled. He would gladly have pre vented his friend +from accompanying Coubitant on the expedition; but be had no means of +doing so, or even of putting him on his guard against any possible evil +designs on the part of his companion. So he sprang upon his eager +horse, and galloped after the hunters, hoping that his fears and +suspicions were unfounded. + +Oriana and Mailah, attended by their faithful companion Rodolph, walked +down to the edge of the river, to see the fishermen embark in their +frail vessel; and, for some time, they watched the sport with +considerable interest, and admired the skill with which Coubitant +pierced and brought up several large fish. These he attracted towards +the canoe by means of some preparation that he scattered on the surface +of the water; and when the fish appeared within reach of his spear, he +darted it with unerring aim, and drew in his struggling victim with the +line that was attached to it. Henrich was also provided with weapons; +but as the sport was entirely new to him, he found it difficult to take +a steady aim, and his success was slight. + +Coubitant, however, had soon secured a considerable stock of fish, and +he rowed to the shore, and requested Oriana and her companion to convey +them to the Sachem's lodge; adding, in a careless tone, that it would +not be worth their while to return to the river, as he was going to a +reach at some distance down the stream, towards the head of the +cataract, where he expected to show Henrich excellent sport. + +The two young women returned to the camp; and, having committed the +fine fish to the care of the inferior squaws, they agreed to go again +towards the river, and take this opportunity of visiting the falls, +which they much desired to see, and near which they should probably +again meet the fishermen. They rambled through the wood, taking a +direct course towards the cataract, the sound of whose waters soon +became sufficiently audible to guide them in their unknown way. +Sometimes they came in sight of the river; and again they saw the +little canoe, either standing motionless on the smooth surface of the +water where the stream was wide and unbroken, or else passing, under +the skilful guidance of Coubitant, between the rocks that occasionally +disturbed its course, and formed foaming rapids, down which the little +bark darted with fearful velocity. + +The last reach of the broad river was as calm and smooth as a lake. It +seemed as if the collected mass of water, which had gathered there from +many a broken and troubled stream, and had struggled through many +windings and many difficulties, was reposing there, and gaining +strength for its last great leap over the dark precipice. As Oriana and +Mailah approached the verge of the scattered forest, and stood to gaze +on the magnificent scene before them, they perceived the canoe descend +a narrow rapid, and then take up a position below an elevated mass of +rock, where the water was perfectly still, and where the fishermen +could quietly pursue their occupation. They evidently did not perceive +their female friends, and the roar of the cataract was now so loud as +to prevent all possibility of their hearing their voices. For a short +time Oriana and her friend watched their movements, and saw several +fish captured; and then proceeded along the steep and rocky bank, in +order to obtain a still better view of the waterfall. + +It was a beautiful scene on which those two young Indians looked; and +they felt its power and grandeur, and stood silent and motionless. The +cataract was beneath them; and its roar came up like thunder from the +dark deep basin into which its weight of waters fell, and threw up a +cloud of foam and spray; and then it rushed away again, as if in +gladness at its safe descent and free course, until the shining stream +was hidden by the rocks and overhanging trees that marked its winding +course. The natural platform on which Oriana and Mailah stood, +commanded a view not only of the wild cataract and the lower stretch of +the river, but also of the bold steep rocks on the opposite side, and +the dark forest that stretched away to the distant mountains that +bounded the horizon. It likewise enabled them to perceive the small +canoe, lying motionless on the water, in the shadow of the projecting +rock. + +By and by the boat was rowed into the center of the river, and +Coubitant appeared to be seeking for a good fishing spot, as he pointed +in different directions, and once or twice darted his spear into the +water, and drew it out again without any success. Meanwhile, the canoe +floated slowly down the stream, but its motion gradually increased as +it approached the fall; and Oriana gazed at it, expecting every moment +that Coubitant, who had now taken the oar in his powerful grasp, would +turn its course, and either draw towards the shore; or else row back +again up the river, and land below the first rapids. To her surprise, +and somewhat to her anxiety, he still continued, however, to allow the +canoe to proceed; and she saw Henrich take a dart in his hand, and +stand erect as if to strike at something beneath the surface, to which +Coubitant pointed with the paddle. Another instant, and her white +brother was in the water, and struggling to catch the side of the +canoe! Breathlessly she gazed; and she distinctly saw the paddle which +Coubitant held, extended towards the uplifted hand of Henrich. Still he +did not grasp it! O! why was this? And then the boat, which bad already +floated perilously near to the fall, was Suddenly turned, and she +beheld Coubitant making violent efforts to overcome the force of the +current, and row to the opposite and nearest shore. He was alone! + +And where was Henrich? Where was the brave young stranger? Battling +desperately with the rapid stream which was carrying him onward to +destruction. He rose and sank, rose again, and the current bore him on +with resistless force. For a moment, Oriana clasped her hands over her +eyes, to shut out the dreadful sight; and then, as if inspired by a +gleam of supernatural hope, she darted forward, calling Rodolph, and +pointing to the stream. The intelligent creature had seen the form of +Henrich in the water, and only waited his mistress's command to risk +his life in the attempt to save him. But his sagacity taught him that +it was useless to enter the river above the fall; and he bounded down +the steep bank that led to its foot, and stood eager, and panting, on a +point of rock that overhung the basin. Oriana was quickly on the same +spot, followed by Mailah; but ere they reached it, the dog had plunged +into the foaming waters, and now appeared, upholding the inanimate form +of Henrich, and struggling fearfully to drag him from the whirlpool. + +O, it was a sickening sight! and Oriana's heart stood still in the +agony of suspense She could not aid her brother! She could not cope +with that mad whirl of water! But she leaped down the steep rocks, and +stood on the narrow ledge of shore below, to wait the moment for +action. At length--after what appeared almost a hopeless conflict with +the dashing waters--Rodolph appeared through the cloud of foam and +slowly and feebly swam towards the shore, still supporting the lifeless +burden that seemed almost to drag him beneath the surface. + +Now was the time for the Indian girl to prove her skill and courage. +Lightly she sprang into the water, and in a moment she was at Rodolphs +side; and, with one arm sustaining the drooping head of Henrich, while, +with the other, she dexterously swam back to the spot where Mailah +stood ready to assist her. With much difficulty they lifted the +senseless form of Henrich on the shore, and proceeded to adopt every +means in their power to restore suspended animation; while Rodolph--the +faithful devoted Rodolph--lay down panting and exhausted, but still +keeping a watchful eye on him whom he had so daringly rescued. Long the +two young Indians labored in silence, and almost in despair; for no +color returned to those pallid lips, and no warmth was perceptible in +the chilled and stiffened hands, that fell powerless by his side. +Still they persevered: and no tear, no lamentation, betrayed the +anguish that wrung the heart of Oriana, while she believed that all was +in vain. But her soul was lifted up in prayer to the One True God, in +whom she had been taught to put her trust by her beloved white +brother: and in His mercy was her only hope. + +Nor was that hope in vain. The warm beams of the mid-day sun fell +powerfully on that sheltered spot where the little group were gathered, +and, combined with the continued friction that Oriana and Mailah +employed, at length brought back the life-blood to Henrich's cheeks and +lips, and his anxious nurses had the joy of perceiving that he +breathed. A few minutes more, and he opened his deep blue eyes, and +looked wildly around him, and spoke some English words that Oriana +heard amid the din of the falling waters, and knew were of his home and +his kindred. And then he uttered her own name, and attempted to rise, +but fell back again into her arms, and smiled sweetly and gratefully +when her eyes met his, and he saw that she was watching over him. +There was joy--deep joy and gratitude--in those young hearts at that +moment; but Henrich's weakness, and the noise of, the roaring cataract, +prevented them from communicating their feelings in words, and Oriana +forbore to ask any questions of Henrich relative to the cause of his +perilous adventure. + +After some time he seemed greatly to recover, and, rising from the +ground, he slowly mounted the bank, supported by Oriana and her friend. +But it was evident that he was quite unable to proceed on foot to the +camp, and it was agreed that Mailah should return as quickly as +possible and bring such assistance as she could procure from thence, +while Henrich and Oriana should advance as far as his enfeebled state +would admit of. + +Mailah's light form soon disappeared in the wood, and it was not long +ere she reached the camp, and hastened to the tent of Tisquantum, who, +on that day, had not joined the hunting party. She told her story, in +which the old Chief showed the deepest interest; and she observed a +dark frown on his brow while she related the unsuccessful attempts of +Coubitant to draw Henrich from the water with his paddle; but he made +no remark. + +The hunters were still absent, and few men remained in the camp. These +were all engaged in felling wood and other laborious employments, and +Tisquantum prepared to lead his own horse out to meet his adopted son. +But, just as he and Mailah were leaving the camp for this purpose, +Coubitant came rapidly up from the river's brink, and, hurrying towards +them, began to relate, with expressions of grief and consternation, the +sad fate which he believed to have befallen the young stranger, and the +exertions that he had made to save his life, but which had, unhappily, +proved unavailing to avert the calamity. The sorrow of the Nausett +Indian seemed excessive; and Tisquantum probably considered it so, for +he listened with perfect calmness to his recital, and then merely +replied, 'Happily, the youth is safe. Mahneto has succored him, and I +go to bring him back to the camp.' + +Coubitant started: and he looked embarrassed for a moment, when he +caught the penetrating eye of Mailah fixed on his countenance. But he +quickly recovered his self-possession, and manifested such joy at the +escape of the white stranger from a watery grave, that Mailah almost +chid herself for her dreadful suspicions. + +Coubitant accompanied her and the Sachem on their way through the +forest, and when they met Henrich and Oriana, he again assumed such an +appearance of pleasure, and so warmly congratulated the former on his +miraculous deliverance, that the generous English youth strove to +banish from his mind the fearful thoughts that had arisen there while +he struggled for life close to the canoe, and wondered at the want of +skill and strength displayed by his companion in his abortive attempts +to save him. Oriana coldly received his greeting. She had long +suspected that he regarded Henrich with hatred and jealousy; and her +worst suspicions had that day received a strong confirmation. Still she +resolved to conceal them--at least at present--from all but Jyanough, +whose friendship for Henrich would, she knew, render him peculiarly +alive to all that concerned his safety. + +She had not long to wait, for the hunters soon returned; and she +observed that, when Jyanough heard the story of the day's adventure, +he cast a glance on Coubitant that made the conscious savage quail. +But when she related to the young Cree all that she and Mailah had +observed, he could restrain his feelings no longer, and plainly told +her that he was convinced that Coubitant was the author of the +calamity, and that it was not the first attempt he had made at +Henrich's life. + +They resolved that he should communicate all his suspicions to the +Sachem the following morning, and urge him to take measures for the +safety of his adopted son: but what was Jyanough's surprise, when he +opened the subject to Tisquantum, at being informed that Coubitant had +already left the camp with the Pequodees! Jyanough knew that it was +their intention that morning, at day-break, to set off on their return +to their own woods and plains, and he found that the wily Nausett had +expressed a desire to accompany them, and join in the war that was +going on between their tribe and some of their neighbors, in order to +distinguish himself as a warrior. It was not the Sachem's intention to +rejoin his tribe for a considerable time. He was fond of wandering, and +proposed to travel towards the north when the hunting season should be +over; and he also felt a reluctance to take his now greatly beloved +captive back to that part of the country where it was possible he might +gain intelligence of his friends, or, perhaps, even make his escape to +them. He had, therefore, consented to Coubitant's request, and +evidently felt an undefined satisfaction in his absence. + +This being the case, and the departure of Coubitant having removed all +present danger to Henrich from his malicious schemes, Jyanough forbore +to express all he felt to the old Sachem; and he returned to Oriana +with the pleasant intelligence that the enemy of her white brother had +departed. + +To the young Squaw-Sachem this news imparted infinite relief; and even +Henrich could not regret it, although he found it difficult to believe +that all the suspicions of his friends were well-founded. Still the +events of the preceding day were quite sufficient to make him doubt +more than ever the sincerity of Coubitant's professed regard; and he +felt that he should be happier now that the dark-browed savage was +gone. To his pleasant life of freedom we will now leave him, and return +to New Plymouth, where many events--deeply interesting to the +settlers--had occurred since his involuntary departure, and supposed +death. + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +'There went a dirge through the forest's gloom. +An exile was borne to a lonely tomb, +Brother;--so the chant was sung +In the slumberers native tongue-- +Friend and brother! not for thee +Shall the sound of weeping be. HEMANS. + +Sadly and slowly the Pilgrim Fathers passed along the scattered village +of log huts which was their home in their voluntary exile, and wound up +the pathway that led towards the summit of the mount, afterwards called +'the Burying Hill,' on which they had constructed a rude fort or +storehouse, and whither they were now bearing to his last earthly home +the chief and the most respected of their community. The Governor +Carver--he who had presided over their councils, and directed all their +movements since the memorable day of their landing, and had been the +friend, the physician, the comforter of his little flock, through all +their trials and all their sufferings--had fallen a victim to disease +and over-exertion, just as spring, with all its brighter hopes for the +future, had set in. + +It was but a few days after Henrich's capture that this heavy +affliction befell the colony, and added greatly to the gloom which the +loss of young Maitland had already cast over the whole village. The +departure, also, of the vessel in which the Pilgrims had come out to +America, occurred at the same time; and, although not one of the exiles +desired to return to the land of their birth, and to abandon the +enterprise on which they had entered so devotedly, yet it was a +melancholy hour when they bade adieu to the captain and his crew, and +saw the Mayflower sail away towards their still much-loved, country. + +The scurvy and other diseasescombined with the hardships and +privations to which they had been exposed during the winter and early +spring--had fearfully reduced the number of the ship's company; and of +those who remained, the greater part were weakened by illness, and +dispirited by the loss of so many of their brave comrades, whose graves +they had dug on the bleak shores of New England. The return of spring, +and the supply of provisions that the settlers were able to obtain from +the friendly Indians, had checked the progress of the fatal complaints +that had so fearfully ravaged the colony during the severity of winter; +and had restored the survivors of the ship's crew to comparative health +and strength. The captain was, therefore, glad to seize the first +opportunity of abandoning a shore which had presented to him so +cheerless and melancholy an aspect, and of leaving the steadfast and +devoted exiles to the fate which they had chosen, and which they were +resolved to abide in faith and hope. + +On the very day that the Mayflower set sail, and while its white sails +could still be distinguished in the eastern horizon, the Governor--who +took an active part in every occupation, and even every labor that +engaged the settlers--was busily employed in sowing corn in the fields +that were considered as the common property of the colony. In directing +and superintending this work, he was greatly assisted by the skill and +experience of Squanto, the native who, as we have already related, had +been so treacherously carried off to England by Hunt, and had, on his +return to America, sought out, and attached himself to, the settlers. +By them he was greatly regarded, and his knowledge of the English +language rendered his services of inestimable value in all their +intercourse with the Indian tribes; while his acquaintance with the +soil on which they had established themselves, and the native modes of +cultivating grain and other vegetable produce, was of the greatest use +to men who were only accustomed to European agriculture. + +The maize and other grain were sown in the fields that had been richly +manured with fish, to ensure an abundant crop;[*] and the laborers +returned in a body to the village, led by their venerable and respected +President; but no sooner had Carver re-entered his dwelling than he +swooned away and never recovered his consciousness. In a few days he +breathed his last, to the unutterable grief of his widow, and the deep +regret of all the settlers, whose love and confidence he had won during +his brief government, by his clear-sighted wisdom and his universal +kindness. + +[Footnote: It was the custom of the Indians to manure their fields with +_shads_ or _allezes,_ a small fish that comes up the rivers in vast +numbers at the spawning season. About a thousand fish were used for +every acre of land; and a single alleze was usually put into every +corn-hill, when they buried their grain for winter consumption; +probably as a charm to keep off the evil demons and hostile wandering +spirits.] + +As his funeral procession wound up the hill, tears might be seen on the +cheek of many a sturdy Pilgrim; and sobs and lamentations broke forth +from the women and children. After his remains were laid in their +resting-place, a fervent prayer was offered up by Brewster (whose age +and character caused him to be regarded as the pastor of the colony, +although he had never been called to the ministry after the custom of +the Puritans); and then a hymn was sung by the united voices of the +whole congregation. + +When this simple ceremony was over, and the grave of the departed +President was closed, and laid level with the surrounding ground--in +order to conceal it from the prowling Indians--the assembly repaired to +the fort, or store-house, that stood on the summit of the hill, and +which also served the purpose of a meeting-house or chapel. Its rude +end unadorned simplicity suited, the peculiar ideas of the Puritans, +who, in their zeal to escape from the elaborate ornaments and pompous +ceremonial employed by the Papists, had rushed into the opposite +extreme, and desired that both their place of worship, and their mode +of performing it, should be divested of every external decoration and +every prescribed form. The more their place of meeting for prayer +resembled an ordinary habitation, the better they considered it suited +to the sacred purpose; and they were, therefore, perfectly satisfied to +possess no other church than the rude fort, built of logs and posts, +and used indifferently as a granary for the public stores, and as a +fortress for the defense of the colony from any incursions of the +hostile tribes. + +In this primitive chapel, Brewster was accustomed to lead the devotions +of the Pilgrims and their families, every 'Lord's Day' morning and +afternoon;[*] and also on any other occasion of their assembling +together. But as they were in continual expectation of the arrival of +the venerated John Robinson, to resume his office of regular pastor of +the flock, they had not taken any measures to gratify their ardent +desire of hearing the _'blessed sermon'_ three times en every Lord's +Day, from some holy man entirely devoted to the service of God. The +addresses occasionally delivered to the congregation by Brewster, or by +any other of the ruling elders who might preside at a meeting, were +called _discourses_ not sermons; and the interpretation of certain +portions of Scripture, which was sometimes undertaken by any member of +the congregation who felt equal to it, was called _'prophesying.'_ +These were the only modes of spiritual instruction employed by the +first settlers, until they procured clergymen from England, or +appointed ministers from among their own elders; and these means were +highly valued by the settlers, who had abandoned home, and kindred, and +the comforts of civilized life, for no other motive than to secure to +themselves the privilege of worshipping God according to their own +ideas of what was good and profitable to their souls. The talents and +the elevated piety of William Brewster rendered him both a very +valuable teacher, and also, in the eyes of the Puritans, an efficient +substitute for their expected pastor. + +[Footnote: The Puritans never used the names _Sunday_ or _Sabbath._ +They objected is the first as savoring of Paganism and to the second as +pertaining to Judaism; and yet they enforced the observance of the +Christians day of rest with almost Mosaic strictness.] + +On the present mournful occasion he addressed the congregation, in a +very impressive manner, on the heavy loss they had sustained in the +death of their valued President; and exhorted them to remember and to +imitate his piety, his charity, and his exemplary patience and self- +denial, under the trying circumstances that had marked the period of +his brief government. These circumstances had become less painful, it +is true, since their friendly intercourse with the Wampanoges, and the +genial change in the weather; but still the trials of the Pilgrims were +by no means over, and their need of faith in the good providence of +God, and of persevering resolution in the path which they had chosen +for themselves, remained as great as ever. + +Deeply was the less of their first President felt by the colony, for +every individual mourned him as a private friend, as well as a wise end +benevolent ruler. But the blow fell with more crushing power on her who +had shared his checkered life of joy and sorrow for many years in +Europe, and had accompanied him into exile, with the devoted feeling +that his presence would make the wilderness a home. His sudden removal, +and the cheerless blank that succeeded, were more than the strength of +his afflicted widow could endure; and in six weeks she followed him +the grave. From that time, it appeared as if the severity of the +scourge that had ravaged the infant settlement was exhausted, for +scarcely any more deaths occurred during that year; and many who had +hitherto suffered from the effects of disease, regained their usual +strength, and lived to a remarkably advanced age. + +William Bradford was the individual selected by the community to fill +the arduous and responsible office that had been held so few months by +Carver; and the choice was a most judicious one, for he was a man well +suited to be the leader of a colony exposed to the peculiar +difficulties that surrounded the Puritan exiles. His uncommon sagacity +and penetration of character, and his undaunted resolution in times of +danger, caused him to be regarded as the very prop and support of the +settlement; and his worth was so generally acknowledged, and so highly +appreciated, that he continued to be annually elected Governor for +twelve succeeding years: and never did he disappoint the confidence +thus reposed in him. His treatment of the Indians was one point on +which he showed both the correctness of his judgement, and the right +feelings of his heart. He ever acted towards them with true Christian +benevolence and equity; and, at the same, he preserved that authority +and superiority over them which were necessary to the safety and well- +being of the colony; and he also carefully kept from them those +European weapons, the possession of which might render them dangerous +to the settlers, and aggravate the frequent hostilities among their own +rival tribes. Unhappily, a different course was afterwards pursued by +the leaders of the colony of Massachusetts; and the evil con sequences +of such short-sighted policy were soon but too apparent, and tended to +involve not only the new settlers, but also the original colony of New +Plymouth, in quarrels and disturbances with the natives. This however, +did not occur for some time after the period of which we are now +speaking; and, for the present, Bradford succeeded in maintaining the +best possible relations with the already friendly Wampanoges. + +William Bradford had been originally brought up as a husbandman; and +although he had abandoned this calling to devote himself to the study +of the Scriptures, and the writings of the Fathers--for which purpose +he had acquired the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew languages--he still +retained such a, know ledge of agriculture as proved extremely useful +to him as the leader of a young colony, whose support was to be mainly +derived from the land of which they had taken possession. He also +spoke French and Dutch fluently; and the diary and letters that he has +left to posterity show him to have been both a well informed and a +truly pious man. When the Puritans left Amsterdam under their pastor, +John Robinson, and settled at Leyden, Bradford was scarcely twenty +years of age. He there learnt the art of dyeing silk, in order to +support himself while he pursued his theological studies, and also +performed the part of historian to the community of which he had become +a member; and he remained with the congregation during all the years of +their residence in Holland, and attached himself with the most +affectionate reverence to their generally beloved and respected +minister. + +One of the first acts of his administration, as Governor of New +Plymouth, was to send another embassy to Masasoyt, the Great Sagamore +of the whole Wampanoge tribe, in order to strengthen and confirm his +present amicable feelings towards the white men, by means of presents, +and other marks of friendship. Squanto, as usual, accompanied the +party as interpreter; and nothing could be more satisfactory than the +interview proved to all parties, especially to the Indian Chief, who +was made both proud and happy by the gift of a red military coat, +adorned with silver lace. This he immediately put on, over the paint +and other savage ornaments in which he was decorated for the state +occasion; and he greatly diverted the members of the embassy by the +increased air of dignity that he assumed, and the grandiloquous manner +in which he began to extol his own power and glory. + +'Am I not,' he exclaimed, in a loud voice, 'Masasoyt, the great king? +Am I not lord of all the people of the Lowsons; and of such and such +places? And he enumerated nearly thirty uncouth Indian names of places +over which he claimed sovereignty, his wild subjects uttering a yell of +joy and exultation in answer to each word he uttered. The savage +monarch then proceeded to ratify and augment the agreement into which +he had already catered with Edward Winslow, and promised to guarantee +to the English settlers an exclusive trade with his tribe; at the same +time entreating them to prevent his powerful enemies, the +Narragansetts, from carrying on a commercial intercourse with the +French colonists. + +Notwithstanding the boasted power of this 'Chief of chiefs,' the +scarcity of provisions was so great in his village of Packanokick at +the time of this embassy, that he was only able to offer his white +friends one meal during their visit to him, which lasted a day and two +nights; and this solitary display of regal hospitality consisted of two +large fishes just caught in a neighboring lake, and which were divided +amongst forty hungry persons. In spite of this temporary distress, he +pressed the deputation to remain longer with him; but the object of +their mission having been attained, they were glad to leave the +residence of the Sagamore, which possessed far less of comfort and +civilization than were to be found in the picturesque summer camp of +his son and inferior Sachem, Mooanam. + +This lovely spot continued to be much frequented by the settlers, +between whom and their copper-colored neighbors a strong feeling of +mutual regard became established; and this friendship proved a great +advantage to both parties, in a social as well as a political point of +view. The Wampanoges found the benefit of their alliance with the +mighty English during the autumn of that year, when the dread which +their name and power had inspired proved a safeguard to the friendly +Indian tribe, and preserved them from a combined attack of several +other tribes who had, by some mysterious means, been instigated to +unite for their destruction. + +The intelligence of this conspiracy reached the settlers when a party +of them were on the peninsula of Cape Cod, whither they had gone to +bring back a young English boy, named Francis Billington, who had lost +himself in the forest some time previously, and, after having subsisted +for several days on wild fruits and berries, had reached a camp of the +Nausett Indians, hitherto so adverse to the Pilgrims. This seemed a +good opportunity for endeavoring to establish more friendly relations +with the tribe, and Bradford sent off ten men in the shallop to +negotiate for the boy's restoration, and to offer gifts to the +Nausetts, who, happily, were not so cruel and blood-thirsty a party as +those who had kidnapped Henrich Maitland. The overtures of the settlers +were well received, and they presented the Chief of the village with a +pair of knives, and also returned to the natives a quantity of corn, +more than equal to that which they had taken from the graves and huts +that they had discovered on their first landing, and which belonged to +the Nausetts. This act of justice gained for the settlers the esteem +and confidence of the Indians; and as these original possessors of the +soil did not dispute the title of the newcomers to the portion of the +American soil on which they had established themselves, they considered +henceforth that their claim was valid, and that they could stand before +the natives on terms of equality. + +The lost child was safely restored to Rodolph, who, as usual, shared +the conduct of the expedition with Edward Winslow. The joy and +gratitude of the boy's father, at being permitted to convey him home +uninjured, may be better imagined than described; and while Maitland +sympathized in his feelings, he could not help sadly contrasting the +fate of his own lost Henrich with that of the more fortunate Francis +Billington. But he believed that his son's earthly career had closed +for ever; and both he and Helen had submitted to the bereavement with +Christian piety and resignation, and had taught their wounded hearts to +restrain every impulse to repine, and even to feel thankful that their +beloved boy had been spared any protracted sufferings and trials, and +had been permitted so speedily to enter into his rest. Had they known +his actual late and condition, how much of painful anxiety would have +mingled with the sorrow of separation, from which they were now exempt! + +The restoration of the little wanderer having been effected, and a good +understanding having been established with the Nausetts of Cape Cod, +the negotiating party lost no time in returning to New Plymouth, and +communicating to Governor Bradford the intelligence of the conspiracy +against Masasoyt, to which allusion has already been made, and of which +they had been informed by the Nausett Sachem. The news was startling to +Bradford and to his council, who all felt the imperative necessity of +using immediate efforts for the assistance of the friendly Wampanoges. +They were impelled to this resolution, not only in consideration of the +alliance that had been formed between themselves and the Sagamore +Masasoyt, but also from a conviction that the safety and welfare of the +infant colony depended essentially upon their possessing the friendship +and the protection of some powerful tribe, like the Wampanoges, whose +numbers and warlike character caused them to be both feared and +respected by their weaker neighbors. It could only be by a combination +of several tribes that any important defeat Of the Wampanoges could +possibly be effected: and such a combination the Nausetts declared they +knew to have been already formed; though by what means, and with what +motive, remained at present a mystery. + +The Indian interpreter, Squanto, was therefore sent off to Masasoyt's +residence at Lowams, in order to ascertain the grounds of the quarrel, +and to effect, if possible, a reconciliation, without the necessity of +the Pilgrims having recourse to arms in defense of their allies. The +interpreter was also accompanied by Hobomak, a subject of the Wampanoge +chieftain's, who had lately left his own wigwams and settled among the +English, and who had already attached himself to the white men with an +uncommon degree of devotion. But ere the swarthy ambassadors reached +the village of Packanokick, they were suddenly attacked by a small +party of Narragansett warriors, who lay in ambush near their path +through the forest, and were conveyed away captives to the presence of +a fierce looking Indian, who appeared to be a man of power and +authority, and who was evidently awaiting their arrival in a small +temporary encampment at a little distance. + +No sooner had Hobomak glanced at this dark chieftain, than he +recognized Coubitant, the bitter foe of the settlers, and the captor of +Henrich Maitland. Coubitant had originally been a subject of the +Sachem Masasoyt; but some offence, either real or imaginary, had +converted him from a friend into a bitter foe; and then it was that he +had wandered towards the Spanish settlements, and obtained that +prejudiced notion of Christianity to which we have formerly alluded. +When tired of his wild roaming life, he had united himself to that +portion of the Nausett tribe which was under the guidance of +Tisquantum; and his attachment to the Sachem's son, Tekoa, had induced +him to remain a member of the tribe during his life, and to devote +himself to the object of revenging his death, after that event had +occurred at the first encounter with the white settlers. + +Hitherto that object had been frustrated by what appeared to him +Tisquantum's incomprehensible partiality fur Henrich, which had so +entirely prevented his wreaking his vengeance on the innocent son of +the slayer. But his was not a revenge that could expire unsatiated, or +change to friendship, and expend itself in acts of kindness, as that of +Tisquantum had done. No: the thirst for blood remained as strong in the +breast of Coubitant as it was on that very hour when he beheld his +brother-in-arms fall, bleeding and dying, beneath the mysterious +firearms of the white men; and he hoped still to pour forth the white +man's blood, as an oblation to the spirit of his friend. Therefore it +was that, when he found himself foiled in all his malicious schemes for +Henrich's destruction, and also perceived that he was himself becoming +an object of suspicion to Jyanough and to the Sachem, he had resolved on +quitting the Nausetts, and returning with the Pequodees into the +neighborhood of the English settlement. He hoped to stir up several +smaller tribes to join with the Narragansetts, and to make war against +the Wampanoges--the allies of the Pilgrims--and thus to deprive the +hated whites of their aid and protection, and, possibly, also to engage +the settlers in the quarrel, and then to find an opportunity of taking +one or more of them captive, and slaking the desires of his vindictive +spirit in the agonies that he would inflict on his victims. Truly, 'the +dark places' of his heart were full of the habitations of cruelty.' + +These deep-laid schemes of the wily savage had hitherto met with full +success; and by means of deceit and misrepresentation, he had roused up +and irritated the feelings of several Sachems and their dependants, and +induced them to agree to coalesce for the destruction of the +Wampanoges, and then to turn their arms against the settlers, with the +view of expelling them altogether from the country. His spies had +discovered the intended embassy of Squanto and Hobomak to the village +of the great Sagamore of Lowams; and he had, consequently, taken +effectual means to intercept it, as he feared its having a favorable +aspect. + +On the captives being brought before him, he scornfully reproached them +as the dastardly tools of the white men, and as traitors to their own +nation; and he declared his intention of detaining Squanto as a +prisoner, and as a hostage also, in order to ensure the return of +Hobomak to New Plymouth, with the message that be designed for the +Governor. This message consisted of a threat--which Hobomak well knew +he would execute--that if, on being liberated, he proceeded to +Packanokick, instead of returning to the settlement, he would flay the +unhappy Squanto alive, and send his skin and scalp to the white-hearted +English, to show them that the red men scorned their interference, and +knew how to punish it. + +Hobomak departed, and reluctantly left his companion in the hands of +the cruel Coubitant. But he had no power to liberate him, and his only +hope of obtaining any effectual succor for him, was in hastening to New +Plymouth, and persuading the Governor to send a well-armed force to cut +off the retreat of the Narragansetts and their leader, and attempt the +rescue of their caked interpreter. Hobomak was fleet of foot, and he +rested not until he had arrived in Bradford's presence, and told him of +the fate that had befallen Squanto. Weak as the colonists were, and +sincerely desirous as they also felt to preserve peace with the +natives, they yet deemed it incumbent on them to show the Indians that +they would not tamely submit to any insult or injury. Captain Standish +was, therefore, immediately dispatched with a body of fourteen men, +well armed and disciplined, who were at that time nearly all the men +capable of bearing arms of whom the colony could boast. Led by Hobomak, +they rapidly traversed the forest, and came upon Coubitant's party soon +after they had left their encampment. The Indian leader had +anticipated, and desired, this result of his conduct; and his heart +swelled with malignant joy when he beheld the hated Rodolph among the +foremost of the assailants. Now he deemed the evil spirit whom he +worshipped was about to repay him for all his abortive schemes and +disappointed efforts, by throwing the very object of his vengeful +hatred into his power. + +Forward he sprang, whirling his heavy tomahawk round his head, as if it +had been a child's toy, and preparing to bring it down on the white +man's skull with a force that must have cloven it in two. But Standish +saw the impending blow, and, quick as thought, he drew a pistol from +his belt, and fired it at the savage. The ball passed through his arm, +and the tomahawk fell bloodless to the ground. Had it but drunk the +life-blood of Rodolph, Coubitant would have been content to die. But +his foe still lived unharmed; and quickly he saw that three of his own +followers were also severely wounded, and that his party of naked +warriors were altogether incapable of resisting the fierce and well- +sustained attack of their civilized assailants. His only chance of +safety, and of future vengeance, lay in flight; and to that last +resource of a brave spirit he betook himself. He was quickly followed +by all his band, who were dismayed at the sound and the fatal effects +of the British fire-arms and, leaving Squanto behind them, they were +soon concealed from view by the thick underwood of the forest. The +object of the expedition having been attained, Standish did not pursue +the fugitives, but returned in triumph to the settlement, well +satisfied that he had given the Indians a salutary impression of the +decisive conduct, and the powerful measures, that would ever be adopted +by the white men, when their honor was insulted in the slightest +degree. + +That such an impression had been made on the red men was soon evident, +from the anxiety which was manifested by several of the neighboring +tribes to be admitted into the semblance, at least, of an alliance with +the mighty strangers. Nine Sachems intimated their desire to +acknowledge themselves the subjects of the white men's king, who dwelt +on the other side of 'the great water'; and a paper was accordingly +drawn up by Captain Standish to that effect, and subscribed with the +uncouth autographs of the copper-colored chieftains. Among these-- +strange to say--the mark of Coubitant, who had been raised to the rank +of Sachem by the Narragansetts, was to be seen; but the sincerity of +his friendly professions will be shown hereafter. At present, it suited +him to unite with the other chiefs in their pledge of allegiance to +King James, and of amity towards his British subjects; but he never +openly approached their settlement, or made the slightest advance +towards becoming better acquainted with them. His evil designs slept, +indeed, but they had not expired. They only waited the fitting +opportunity to be as actively pursued as ever. + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +Calm on the bosom of thy God, + Young spirit! rest thee now! +E'en while with us thy footsteps trod + His seat was on thy brow. + +Dust to its narrow house beneath! + Soul to its place on high! +They that have seen thy look in death, + No more may fear to die. + +Lone are the paths, and sad the bowers, + Whence thy meek smile is gone +But oh! a brighter borne than ours, + In Heaven, is now thine own.' HEMANS. + +We have observed that very few deaths took place in the colony of New +Plymouth during the second year of their exile, and after the fatal +stroke that deprived them of their President; but among those few, +there was one that carried grief and desolation into the hearts of the +family with whom our story is chiefly connected, and who were already +deeply afflicted by the loss of the first-born. Ludovico Maitland had +always been a delicate child, and on him, consequently, the care and +attention of his mother had been principally bestowed. Helen had +watched and tended him through all the severities of the first winters +in the New World, and many had been the privations that she had +voluntarily endured, unknown even to Rodolph, who would not have +suffered her thus to risk her own health, in order to add to the +comforts of her youngest and most helpless child. When the blessed +springtime came, and all nature began again to smile, she hoped that +Ludovico would also be renovated, and bloom again like the flowers he +loved so well. And her hopes appeared to be realized: for the sweet +playful child resumed his sports, and the bright color again glowed on +his soft cheek; and his parents deemed it the hue of health. + +At the time when Henrich was stolen away, the little fellow had been +remarkably well, and even Helen's fears for him had almost subsided; +but, whether it was the effect of the shock that he sustained when he +saw his brother seized by the fierce savages, and torn away from him, +and when he fled so breathlessly to tell the fearful tidings; or +whether it was merely the result of his own delicate constitution, +which could no longer bear up against the change of climate and food-- +from that time, he visibly declined. It is true he never complained, +and his cheerful spirits were unaltered; but the watchful eye of +affection could trace the insidious steps of disease in the changing +color, and the too frequently brilliant eye. + +Since Edith had lost her constant friend and companion, Henrich, she +naturally devoted herself more to her younger brother, and little +Ludovico became not only her lively play-fellow, but also her +intelligent pupil; and the occupation which she found in the care of +the engaging child served to divert her mind from the first real grief +she had ever known. Her mother's sorrow, though borne with the most +perfect resignation, had greatly affected her health; and as she had +entire confidence in Edith's steadiness, she was glad to leave the care +of Ludovico principally to her, especially when she observed the good +effect which the new responsibility had on her spirits. The two +children were, therefore, left much to themselves; and, with their +mother's sanction they passed a great portion of their time at the camp +of Mooanam, where they were always most kindly received, and where they +made rapid progress in acquiring the language, and also many of the +useful and ingenious arts, of their swarthy friends. + +The departure of Coubitant and his savage band, after their cruel +design against the peace of Rodolph's family had been accomplished, +removed all fears of injury or molestation from the minds of the +settlers; for no hostile Indians now remained in their immediate +neighborhood, and the path from New Plymouth to the village of the +friendly Wampanoges became a beaten and frequented track; so that Edith +and her little charge could go to and fro in safety, under the +protection of Fingal, a magnificent dog belonging to their father, and +their constant companion and playfellow; and frequently they were +accompanied, on their return to the British village, by the Chieftain's +wife, Apannow, and her little boy, Nepea, who was the darling of both +Edith and Ludovico. + +A strong attachment also sprang up between Apannow and Helen; for the +Squaw-Sachem was possessed of much natural gentleness of disposition, +and was most ready to adopt all those habits of civilized life that she +saw practiced among her English friends, and that it was possible for +her to transplant to her Indian home. She was, likewise, willing to +listen to the doctrines and precepts of the Gospel, and to admit their +beauty and their holiness, although it was long--very long--ere she, or +any of the adults of her tribe, were so far converted to the Christian +truth as to be either desirous or fit to be baptized. But there was no +bigotry or opposition in the mind of Apannow; and she became a kind and +sympathizing friend to Helen and to her children. + +Rodolph was necessarily much engaged in agricultural occupations, and +also in the business of the government, as he was one of the council +who were appointed to assist the President, and to share the labors and +responsibilities of his frequently very difficult office. The gradual +change in little Ludovico's health was, therefore, not so soon observed +by his father as by Helen and Edith; and when he returned to his much- +loved home after the toils and cares of the day, his wife forbore to +arouse fresh anxiety in his breast, by telling him of her own fears. +On the contrary, she rejoiced to see the pleasure and animation that +lighted up the sweet child's expressive countenance, as he ran to meet +his father, and the happiness of both as they played under the wide- +spreading trees that shaded their now luxuriant garden. At such times, +while listening to Ludovico's ringing laugh, and watching his light +footsteps as he chased his father and Edith from tree to tree, she +flattered herself that all must be well with the joyous child, and that +her apprehensions were unfounded. But, again, when the following day +found him pale and exhausted, and all the more so for the excitement +and exercise of the previous evening, these foreboding fears would +return, and her heart would sink heavily at the prospect of the coming +woe. + +The short summer of North America attained its height; and, as the heat +increased, so did Ludovico's young life wane away, and his strength +become daily less. Rudolph now saw, as plainly as his afflicted wife, +that their only remaining son was soon to be taken from them; and he +strove to arm both himself and her with the only power that could +support them under such an aggravated calamity. He constantly led her +to look only to Him who 'gave,' and who also 'takes away,' and without +whom 'not a sparrow falleth to the ground'; and to trust Him even in +the depth of sorrow: and he had the satisfaction of seeing her become +more and more resigned, and more and more strong in faith to meet the +coming trial. + +Slowly and gently it came; but it came at last: and though his parents +and his sister had long given up all hope of retaining their loved +Ludovico on earth, and had endeavored to resign him into the hands of +his Heavenly Father, yet, when the blow came, they felt it sudden, and +found how little they were prepared for it. One warm summer evening +the sweet child was carried by Rodolph to Edith's bower, that he might +look once more at the flowers he had helped to plant and to tend; and +his soft eyes seemed to take a last farewell of every cherished object, +and to follow the setting sun with a fixed gaze, that said those eyes +would never see it set again. But there was no sadness--no regret--in +the gentle countenance; and the infantine lips still smiled, as they +whispered the evening prayer that he had so often repeated with Edith. +Young as he was, Ludovico had learnt to love his Redeemer, and to feel +that to 'depart, and be with Christ, was far better than to abide on +earth; and the 'valley of the shadow or death,' which the Lord so +mercifully made easy to his flesh, had no terrors for his young spirit. + +Could his parents, then--could even his broken-hearted sister--bear to +disturb his angelic calmness by any display of their own grief? No: +they restrained it; and even tried to smile again as they replied to +his touching remarks, and spoke of the happy day when they should all +meet again in heaven, and dwell for ever in the presence of that +gracious Savior, who was new taking him, as they believed, to join his +dear brother Henrich. + +As twilight came on, his father bore him back to the house, and laid +him again on his little couch; and ere the glorious sun arose to +lighten the earth once more, his spirit had passed away into that realm +of perfect light where they 'have no need of the sun, neither of the +moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God does lighten it, and the +Lamb is the light thereof.' And many tears were shed for him, when the +sight of the grief of those he loved so dearly could no longer disturb +his peace, or check the willing spirit in its heavenward flight. + +The sorrows of the Maitlands--thus renewed and aggravated--excited the +warmest sympathy throughout the colony; for they were universally +respected and beloved, and their calm and pious resignation drew forth +the admiration of the whole community of Puritans, who deemed any +strong expressions of grief to be altogether unsuitable to Christians. +But Rodolph and Helen did not the less feel their chastisement, because +they forbore to express their feelings to any other than to God, and to +their revered friend and minister, Brewster. On Edith, this second +blow fell even more heavily than the first; for, since Henrich's loss, +she had devoted herself to her younger brother, and felt for him almost +a mother's love: and now her pupil, her playfellow--the sunshine of her +life--was taken away from her! Truly, the Lord was preparing her in the +furnace of affliction for the future lot to which He had appointed her; +and sorrow did net visit her in vain. Her character was strengthened +and matured, and her mind was taught to find resources in itself that +proved hereafter of inestimable value to her, and to those most nearly +connected with her. + +The thoughts and attention of her parents--and indeed of the whole +colony--were at this time diverted greatly from their own private cares +and interests, by an event of much importance to the settlement. This +was the arrival of a vessel, called the Fortune, from the mother- +country, bringing out to the colony a new and more comprehensive +charter, obtained for them by the Society of Plymouth, and also twenty- +five fresh settlers, who were chiefly friends and relatives of those +already established in New England. How welcome these familiar +countenances, that recalled days of happiness long passed but not +forgotten, were to the hearts and memories of their brethren, none but +exiles can tell! The new comers were indeed joyfully received, and +hospitably entertained by the Pilgrim Fathers; who invited them to take +up their quarters in their rude but comfortable dwellings, and to share +their scanty stores. Unfortunately, the new settlers were unable to +contribute any thing to these stores; for all their own provisions were +already consumed on the voyage. This accession to their numbers, +therefore, added greatly to the inconvenience of the colony, and +occasioned such a scarcity of food, that the Governor was obliged to +put the whole community upon a daily allowance; an arrangement to which +they all submitted without a murmur. And not only did the original +settlers thus consent to endure privation for the sake of their newly- +arrived friends and relatives, but they also contributed more liberally +than their narrow means could well afford, to provision the Fortune for +her voyage home. This was the occasion of the first mercantile +adventure of the Pilgrims, who took the opportunity of the return of +the ship to England, to send to the Society with which they were +connected a quantity of furs and timber to the value of five hundred +pounds. But success did not attend their speculation; for the vessel +fell into the hands of the French, and all their hopes of profit were, +for the present, blasted. + +It is needless to dwell on all the continued and various hardships that +these brave men, and their families, had to endure for several ensuing +winters. A few circumstances that more especially exemplify their +manners and mode of life, will be sufficient for the purposes of our +narrative, the course of which must necessarily be somewhat interrupted +by these details. Some knowledge of the habits of the adventurers, and +of the events that befell them at this early period of their history, +is however needful for the illustration of the story; and they shall be +briefly given, before we take up the thread of the narrative a few +years subsequent to the period of which we are now speaking. + +For some time the friendly relations with the Wampanoges, which had +been established by Carver and further cemented by Bradford, remained +undisturbed, and no signs of hostility were shown by any other of the +neighboring Indian tribes. This was probably owing, in a great degree, +to the wholesome example of decided measures that had been given to the +natives on the occasion of the capture of Hobomak and Squanto, and also +to the efficient means of defense that were now adopted by the +settlers. On their first arrival in New England, they had planted their +guns on the hill which commanded the rising city of New Plymouth, and +which afterwards received the name of 'the Burying Hill.' There, as we +have seen, the remains of the venerable Carver were deposited; and +there the infant form of Ludovico Maitland was laid in its last narrow +resting-place, and shaded by shrubs and plants that Edith, and the +faithful servant Janet, delighted to place there, and to tend and water +with untiring care and watchfulness. + +This hill was converted, during the first year of the Pilgrim's +residence in New England, into a kind of irregular fortification. The +storehouse--which was also the chapel and the council hall--stood on +the summit, and this was surrounded by a strong wall of timber, well +furnished with batteries, on which a watch was kept night and day, to +look out for the approach of any hostile parties of Indians. At a +considerable distance from this building ran a strong wooden palisade, +that enclosed the height entirely, and was divided into four portions, +the entrance to which was securely fastened every night; and the able- +bodied men of the colony, under the command of Miles Standish, were +arranged in four squadrons, to the care of each of which one quarter +was entrusted. The occupation which this charge entailed on the +limited number of men who were capable of undertaking it, in addition +to their necessary labors and employments in building their dwellings, +cultivating their fields, and procuring provisions by hunting and +fishing was both heavy and incessant; but disease had nearly left the +colony, and want, though occasionally felt to a painful degree, was not +always their portion; and the Pilgrim Fathers were cheerfully contented +with their lot. + +Still, it was a lot that involved much of hardship and personal +privation, as a drawback to the liberty, both religious and political, +that had been obtained by emigration. The harvests were scanty, and not +nearly sufficient to provide bread for the increasing community, and +also seed for the following year, and the supplies that were +occasionally procured from the Wampanoges, and their allies, were very +uncertain. At one time, every species of grain became so scarce that +the settlers had recourse to pig-nuts as a substitute for bread; and +the last pint of corn that remained to the colony, after the fields +were sown, was counted out among the whole community, when _five +grains_ fell to the share of each person, and these were looked upon as +a rare treat, and eaten as a particular dainty. Cattle were, as yet, +unknown in the colony; and their chief subsistence consisted of game, +wild fowl, and fish, of which the supply was frequently both scanty and +precarious. 'Often,' we are told in the diary of the Governor Bradford, +'we do not know in the evening where we shall get a meal next morning; +but yet we bear our want with joy, and trust in Providence.' And +strong, indeed, must have been the faith and patience of these Pilgrim +Fathers, which sustained their spirits amidst such long-continued +trials, and enabled them to meet and overcome such complicated +difficulties without hesitation and without a murmur! + +At one period their only food was fish, and occasionally merely +shellfish; but never was this miserable fare partaken of by the +emigrants, who assembled to receive their respective portions, without a +blessing being asked, and thanks being offered by the pious Brewster, +who, with a spirit of gratitude too often unknown to those who revel in +abundance, praised God for having permitted them 'to suck out of the +fullness of the sea, and for the treasures sunk in the sand.' While such +an example of holy trust, and patient submission to the will of God, was +set by the leading men of this suffering colony--men who were both loved +and respected--not a complaining word was uttered by the rest. All felt +that they were bound to emulate the faith and piety of their high-souled +Governor, and their venerated elder. + +And, truly, they had need of every motive, and of every aid--both human +and divine--that could keep their souls in peace, when actual famine at +length stared them in the face. The second winter had been endured; +and, in spite of cold and privation, the health of the colony had +improved; and spring again brought brighter hopes, and better prospects +of the summer's harvest. But before the grain was well grown up, a +drought came on, that threatened the utter destruction of the crops. +For six long weeks not one drop of rain fell on the thirsty land. 'The +sky was as brass' to the fainting emigrants, and 'the earth was as +iron' to them. Yet these men of God did not despair. They were +accustomed to regard every dispensation of Providence, whether +prosperous or afflictive, either as a special blessing from the hand of +God, to support and encourage His believing people, or as a Fatherly +chastisement, to punish their iniquities, and excite them to greater +piety and watchfulness. 'It pleased God,' said Edward Winslow, in +speaking of this inflict ion, 'to send a great dearth for our further +punishment.' Under this conviction, the congregation were called on by +the Governor and the elders to set apart a day for special humiliation +and prayer, in order to entreat the Lord to remove from them his +chastening hand, and to 'send a gracious rain upon His inheritance.' + +The call was universally obeyed; and men, women, and children assembled +themselves together, fasting, on 'the Burying Hill,' to listen to the +solemn address delivered by Brewster, and to unite in fervent prayers +and humble confessions to their God and Father. The sky that morning +was clear and bright as ever; and the sun walked in unclouded +brilliance and majesty through the deep blue vault of heaven. For +eight hours, the devotions of the assembly continued almost without +interruption; and it seemed as if 'none regarded, neither was there any +that answered.' But as the sun was sinking towards the western horizon, +a cloud, 'as it were a mans hand,' was seen to rise as if to meet the +glowing orb; and, ere he sank, his rays were obscured by a heavy bank +of clouds. Joy and gratitude now filled the breasts of the suppliants, +and the dim and anxious eye of many a mother, who had watched the +declining forms of her little ones in silent anguish, was lighted up +with hope, and glistened with a tear of thankfulness. Such, indeed, +had been the sufferings of the younger children, although the greatest +sacrifices had been made by their parents in order to provide them with +the food so necessary to their existence, that Helen had frequently +poured forth her heartfelt thanksgivings to her Heavenly Father, that +He had seen fit to remove her gentle and idolized Ludovico from a scene +of so much distress; and had called him away to a land where want, as +well as sorrow, is unknown, in a manner, and at a time, which allowed +her to ensure his ease and comfort to the last. To have seen her +darling pine for food, which she could not procure for him--to have +watched that fondly-cherished child sinking into his grave from the +actual want of proper nourishment, and to know that in the land they +had abandoned all that was needed to prolong his precious life was +teeming in profusion--would, she weakly thought, have been more than +her faith could have endured. But Helen erred in that doubting thought. +She was a _Christian:_ and had her Lord and Savior seen fit thus to try +her, He would also have given her grace to meet the trial as a +_Christian;_ for His promise to each one of His people is sure: 'As thy +day is, so shall thy strength be.' + +Edith, her only remaining child, was strong and energetic in mind and +body; and she was no burden to her mother. Cheerfully she had borne her +share of privation; and, uncomplainingly, she had assisted Helen and +Janet in seeking for roots and berries hour after hour in the forest, +when no other food was to be obtained. Now, on this day of fasting and +prayer, she stood beside her mother and Rodolph, and lifted up her +young voice in prayer for heavenly succor, and in praise, when the +first signal of coming aid was seen in the crimson west. + +The whole congregation had risen from their posture of supplication, +and were gazing with deep interest and emotion at the gathering clouds, +when they were startled at observing a large party of Indians emerging +from the thicket below, and advancing towards the palisade that formed +their outer fortification. At first they imagined them to be a hostile +body of Narragansetts, or Pequodees, who had discovered the manner in +which that day was being spent among the pale-faces, and had resolved +upon breaking the recently-formed treaty, and attempting their +destruction while they were thus assembled together and unarmed. But +these apprehensions were soon removed by the appearance of their friend +Mooanam, who advanced from the rest of his party, and hurried forward, +holding in his hands a fine fish, and calling on his allies to open +their gates and admit him and his followers into the fortress, for that +he had brought them food. + +Joyfully his summons was answered, and the generous red men entered the +enclosure, and laid before the Governor a quantity of, fish, sufficient +to supply the whole community with several wholesome and acceptable +meals. The kindness of this offering was highly estimated by the +settlers; for they well knew that their Indian friends had long been +suffering privations little less than what they had themselves endured, +and that their prospects for the future were hardly more cheering than +their own. The native and untaught courtesy, also, with which the +seasonable gift was offered, added not a little to its value. + +'Behold!' said Mooanam to the President, when he and his attendants had +placed the fresh spoils of their lake in order before him--'Behold what +the good Mahneto has given to his children in their day of distress! +And the red men could not eat and be in plenty, while they knew that +the faces of their white brethren were pale with want, and their little +children were crying for food. Take this, my brother, and let the +hearts of your people be glad, and bless Mahneto while they eat. I and +my young men will return to the supper that our squaws are preparing.' + +'We do bless Mahneto, who is the God and father both of the red and +white men!' replied Bradford with solemnity; for he was deeply +impressed by the pious feelings of the Sachem, and touched by his +considerate kindness. 'We do bless Mahneto; and we bless you also, our +faithful and generous friends, who have thus so promptly shared with us +the produce of your labors, instead of reserving it for your own future +wants. But here is enough for you and us; and you and your young men +must abide tonight in our village, and partake with us of the abundance +that you have provided. We leave the future in the bountiful hands of +Him who has thus made you His instruments to provide for us a table in +the wilderness.' + +'We will remain,' said Mooanam, 'and to-morrow some of your people +shall go with us to our lakes, and fish in our canoes. The clouds are +rising, and we shall, perhaps, have even better success than we have +met with today. But tell me, my white brother,' he continued--while he +looked inquiringly at Bradford--'tell me why your village is deserted +this evening, and why no sounds of labor met our ears as we passed +through the silent street? This is not the white men's day of rest; and +the white men do not leave their work to sleep or dance, as the red men +too often do. Why, then, are you and your people--even your squaws and +your little ones--assembled here today, and what caused that joyful +song that died away as we came to the foot hill?' + +We have spent the day in fasting and prayer,' replied the President. +'We know that our Great Father has sent this long drought upon us, to +chasten us for our sins: and we have met to humble ourselves before +Him, and implore Him to send us the fruitful showers from heaven, +before our crops are altogether withered in the ground. He alone can +command the clouds to drop fatness; and when He sees that His +punishment has done its appointed work, He surely will take it away. +Even now, while we were making our prayers and supplications unto Him, +and confessing our sins, He has sent a token that He has heard our cry, +and will grant our request. Look at those clouds that are rising over +the western hills, and gradually spreading like a curtain across the +sky. For six weary weeks those clouds have been withheld, and we have +been humbled; and, at times, our faith has well nigh failed. But the +faithfulness of our God never fails; and now we are confident that, ere +long, His blessing will descend upon us.' + +Mooanam made no reply; but he gazed intently on the gathering clouds, +and then looked searchingly into Bradford's fine expressive +countenance, as if to be assured that he had heard and understood +aright. Squanto stood beside him; and his aid had been several times +required by both parties, in order to the carrying out the above +discourse: and now the Sachem drew him aside, and conversed earnestly +with him in a low voice. He was making him repeat, in his own tongue, +the words of the white man; and Bradford heard him say to the +interpreter, as he turned away to rejoin him, 'Now we shall see whether +the Great Spirit really hears the prayers of the white men.' + +The President understood this remark, and fervently he lifted up his +own heart to the Lord, and prayed that the hopes of His suffering and +trusting people might now be fulfilled; not only for their own relief, +but also that the minds of the dark heathen might be impressed, and +that they might see and feel the power and the goodness of the +Christians' covenant God. + +While Mooanam and the Governor were engaged in conversation, the +assembly had dispersed to their own homes; each family carrying with +them their respective portion of the food so liberally offered by their +Indian friends, and eager to partake of the first plentiful meal that +they had enjoyed for several weeks; The hope of coming rain also +cheered the hearts of the Pilgrims; and there was joy and gratitude +throughout the village that evening. + +The Sachem and his people were gladly received and entertained in the +dwellings of the Governor and principal inhabitants; and when Mooanam +lay down to rest, he long gazed through the opening in the wooden wall +of the chamber that formed its only window, and watched the heavy +clouds as they sped across the sky, and observed the face of the +glimmering moon, that looked out so calmly and brightly between their +dark moving masses. The soul of the Sachem was deeply impressed; and he +thought of all that Bradford had said to him, and wondered whether the +God of the white men was indeed the God of the Indians also. + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +'It shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while +they are yet speaking, I will hear.' ISA. lxv, 24. + +Mooanam awoke from his sleep soon after the dawn of day appeared. He +looked up at the open window, and a strange feeling of awe came over +his soul, as he beheld the rain falling gently and steadily from the +dull grey sky. He sprang to his feet, and hurried into the next +apartment, where he found the President and his family already +assembled, and gazing at the descending shower in silent admiration. + +The Sachem caught the hands of Bradford in both his own; and while a +tear of deep emotion glistened in his dark eye he exclaimed-- + +'Now I see that your God loves you. When the red men ask for rain, and +use their conjuring arts to induce the Great Spirit to hear their wild +cries, he gives it, it is true; but he gives it with hail and thunder, +which makes the evil still greater. Your rain is of the right kind; it +will restore the drooping corn. Now we see that your God hears you, and +cares for you.' + +The same impression, to a certain degree, was made on all the Indians, +who were taught to regard this seasonable rain as the settlers +themselves regarded it--as a special interposition of Providence for +their relief. And were they wrong in thus looking upon it as an answer +to their prayers, from a prayer-hearing God? And was it vain +superstition that led them to rejoice as much in this proof of the +goodness and benevolence of the God whom they served, and of His +guiding and protecting hand being outstretched for their succor, as in +the prospect of coming plenty that was thus afforded to them? Surely +not. Their faith, and love, and confidence in God were all animated and +strengthened by their conviction that the relief thus seasonably +received came directly from Him who has promised in his faithful Word, +that _all things,_ whether joyous or grievous, 'shall work together +for good to them that love Him; to them that are called according to +His purpose. + +So deeply was Hobomak, the Wampanoge interpreter, impressed by this +instance of the pious trust of his white friends in the providence of +their God, and of the protection they enjoyed under His guidance and +government, that he gave himself up to a serious consideration of their +religion and so sincere was his desire for spiritual knowledge, and so +humble and teachable did he show himself, that, after a time, he was +judged fit to be admitted into the pale of the Christian church. He was +baptized as the first fruits of the settlers' efforts to evangelize the +heathen among whom they had cast their lot: and he lived a firm friend +of the white men, and died, after residing many years among them, +'leaving a good-hope that his soul went to rest. + +The welcome rain continued to fall for several hours without +intermission, on the morning that succeeded the Pilgrim's day of prayer +and humiliation; and Mooanam sent his young men home to fish in the +lake, while he remained with his white friends, intending to follow +them in the afternoon, with a party of the settlers, to share their +sport. As the day advanced, the clouds broke, and warm sunshine, +interrupted by frequent refreshing showers, succeeded to the settled +rain of the morning. So favorable, altogether, was the change, that +Winslow gratefully remarks: 'It is difficult to say whether our +withered corn, or our depressed spirits, were most refreshed and +quickened. So great was the benevolence and goodness of our God!' + +The Pilgrims had prayed for rain; and when their prayers were granted, +they did not neglect the equally incumbent Christian duty of +thanksgiving. Again the congregation ascended 'the Burying Hill'; and +again their united voices rose to heaven in prayers and songs of +praise. Mooanam formed one of the assembly; and he listened with deep +and reverent attention to the devotions of his friends, frequently +applying to Hobomak, who stood at his side, to explain to him the words +and sentences that he did not comprehend. + +The service concluded, and the women and children were descending the +hill by the path that led to the village, leaving the Governor and his +council to discuss some public business, and the other men to arrange +themselves as usual into companies, for the manning of their +fortification and other necessary employments. Just at that moment a +native, attired in the costume and equipments of a Narragansett, was +seen to approach the foot of the hill, bearing a bundle of strange +appearance in his hands. With a quick and decided step he mounted the +height, and glanced fiercely at the females and their children, whom he +passed in the winding path, and who all involuntarily shrank from the +gaze of his piercing and singularly expressive eye. In the breast of +Janet that glance struck a chill of horror; for she had once before +encountered it, and never could she forget or mistake it again. It +seemed that Fingal recognized it also, and knew the evil that it +foreboded. He was bounding down the hill by Edith's side, and, with +expressive looks and actions, inviting the pensive child to join in his +gambols, when the savage approached. Instantly he paused, and took his +stand close to his young mistress, as if to guard her from some +apprehended danger; and, as the red warrior passed, and bent his eye on +Edith, the sagacious creature uttered a low deep growl, and seemed +ready to spring at his throat, if the hand and voice of his young +companion had not restrained him. Fingal was a noble specimen of the +St. Bernard breed of dogs, whose sagacity is such as frequently to +appear like human reason, and his intelligence was not inferior to that +of the best of his race. In this instance it did not mislead him. + +The dark warrior strode on without one sign of courtesy, and paused not +until he had entered the group of elders and councilors who stood +around the President, prepared to attend him to the public hall. The +white men made way for him to approach the Governor; and, as he did so, +his keen eye met that of Rodolph Maitland, and instantly kindled with a +deeper fire, and gleamed with an expression of almost diabolical +vengeance, which was seen by Rodolph, and understood by him for he, +too, could not fail to recognize in the Narragansett warrior that same +Coubitant who had fought so well at 'the first encounter,' and who had +afterwards attended the Nausett Chief, Tisquantum, when he and his +people were repulsed in their attack on New Plymouth. It was evident +to Maitland that this savage entertained towards him and his race a +peculiar sentiment of hatred; but the cause of this feeling was unknown +to him. + +The idea, however, that Henrich's loss was in some way connected with +this man--or that he could give him some information respecting the +nature of his son's death, and the place where his remains had been +deposited--came forcibly to his mind; and, regardless of the cold +malignant gaze that Coubitant fixed on him, he hastily approached him, +and exclaimed in the Indian tongue--'Surely you are the Nausett warrior +whom I saw with the Sachem of that tribe. If so, you can tell me the +fate of my son--the boy who was carried off, and, I fear, cruelly slain +when Tisquantum and his people retired from these woods. O, tell me how +my boy was murdered, and where his dear remains were laid! + +Rodolph's fine countenance was lighted up with eager animation. A tear +of fond regret and affection glistened in his eye, and he could have +grasped the hand of the swarthy savage, and almost have blessed him, if +he would have told him that his darling Henrich had died by a single +blow, and that his body had been laid unmolested to rest. But Coubitant +drew back, and with a smile of fierce mockery and infernal triumph, +replied briefly-- + +'Ha! you found his bloody coat then. May your heart's blood soon flow +forth as his did; and may my eyes see your body equally mangled and +defaced!' + +At the same moment, he placed the bundle that he carried on the ground +before the President, saying, 'This comes from the Chief of the +Narragansetts!' and, turning away, hastily descended the hill, and was +lost to view among the trees of the skirting wood, before the council +had time to resolve on the course they should pursue respecting his +detention, or Rodolph had recovered the shock that his cruel words had +inflicted. + +The curiosity of the Governor and his friends was now directed to the +strange-looking package that lay on the ground. On examination, they +found the envelope to be composed of a dried snakeskin, which was +quickly opened, and disclosed several Indian arrows. Squanto gazed on +these with a significant look; and on being questioned by Bradford as +to the meaning of so singular an offering, he informed him that it was +the native mode of declaring war. + +The well-known enmity of the Narragansetts towards the Wampanoges--the +friends and allies of the settlers--rendered this hostile declaration +no surprise to the Governor and his council. But the fact of its being +conveyed by Coubitant, who had so lately, in the character of a +subordinate Narragansett chieftain, subscribed the written +acknowledgement of King James's supremacy, excited no small +astonishment. It was a source, also, of regret, as it proved how little +dependence could be placed in the professions of the natives. To enter +on a war with the numerous and powerful tribe of the Narragansetts, was +likewise far from being desirable in any point of view; for the +Pilgrims were little prepared either to meet such formidable +antagonist's in the field, or to resist the continual attacks and +aggression's that constitute the greatest share of Indian warfare. + +A consultation was therefore held as to the best method of replying to +the challenge of the Narragansett Sachem; and it was finally determined +that the most prudent and effectual course would be to show a resolute +appearance, and give no cause to the native's to suppose that they +dreaded their enmity. A bold acceptance of the challenge might, it was +urged both by Squanto and Hobomak, strike terror into the savages, and +deter them from prosecuting their present hostile intentions. + +Bradford, therefore, adopted the Indian method of communicating this +reply by expressive signs; and, taking the arrows--which appeared to be +poisoned--from the snakeskin, he placed some gunpowder and balls in the +significant wrapper. He then inquired who among his trusty warrior's +would volunteer to take the packet to the dwelling of Cundincus,[*] the +Chief of the Narragansetts. Several offered their services; and, among +those, none was so eager to be employed as Rodolph Maitland. He felt an +earnest desire to see and speak with Coubitant once more: and no fear +of the personal risk that he might incur in the expedition could deter +him from thus making another attempt to obtain some certain information +respecting his lost son. + +[Footnote: Afterwards called by the settlers, Canonicus.] + +Had the President known how much reason there was to fear that +treachery might be exercised towards Maitland, he would surely not have +suffered him thus to risk his valuable life. Rut he was ignorant of all +the peculiar circumstances that had occurred to show that he was a +special mark for the vengeance of Coubitant: and the confidence he felt +in his courage and ability led him--on this occasion, as on many +others--to select him as his ambassador. Two companions were assigned +to him, and Squanto was desired to attend the party as interpreter. + +When Helen heard that her husband was appointed to convey a reply to +the war-like message of the dark savage whom she had met on the hill, +and whose aspect had filled her with terror, she felt an involuntary +dread; and gladly would she have dissuaded him from accepting the +office of ambassador--which she knew not he had so earnestly +solicited--had she not been well aware that all such attempts would be +useless. Rodolph was not a man to shrink from any service that was +required of him for the public good; and least of all from any service +that involved danger and difficulty. He, however, concealed from his +anxious wife the fact that he had recognized in the Narragansett +messenger a deadly and determined foe, knowing how greatly--and perhaps +how justly--her fears would be increased, if she suspected that the +Indian champion was one of those who had planned and executed the +capture of her eldest son. + +But Janet had, as we have seen, remembered the swarthy savage, and the +scene with which his countenance was associated in her mind; and when +she had an opportunity of speaking to her master in private, she +implored him to resign the embassy into other hands, and not thus +rashly to encounter a foe, whose public conduct had proved him to be +unworthy of confidence, and whose expression of countenance betokened +both cruelty and treachery. But all her arguments were unavailing. +Maitland had undertaken the charge of the expedition at his own +request; and he would have felt himself dishonored in now declining it +from any personal motives, even had he been, in the least degree, +inclined to do so. On the contrary, his spirit was roused and excited +by the very perils he was conscious he might have to encounter; and his +desire to obtain, and convey to Helen, some intelligence of Henrich-- +even if that intelligence should still for ever the doubts end hopes, +that, in spite of every past circumstance, would sometimes arise in his +own heart, and that of his own wife--was so great that nothing could +have turned him from his purpose. He, therefore, desired the faithful +Janet to preserve the same silence on the subject of Coubitant that she +had already so judiciously adopted towards her mistress; and assured +her that he would neglect no precaution that might preserve him from +the treacherous intentions of the Indian, should any such be actually +entertained by him. + +The next morning Rodolph started at break of day, to convey the reply +of the Governor to the Narragansett Sachem, whose tribe inhabited the +district now called Rhode Island, lying to the south-west of New +Plymouth. He was accompanied by two friends, and likewise by the +interpreter, Squanto. His faithful dog, Fingal, also showed such a +strong desire to follow his master, that, although it was Maitland's +usual custom to leave him at home as a guard, during any of his +occasional absences, when his services in hunting were not required, he +could not, in this instance, resist his eager pleadings. Helen, also, +assured him that she should feel no apprehension at being deprived of +her usual protector, as no danger was likely to menace her dwelling; +and the increase in the population of the village, from the arrival of +the new settlers, had added an inmate to the family, in the person of +Claude Felton, a stout young laboring man, who had become the useful +assistant of Maitland in his agricultural occupations, and proved a +good and faithful servant. + +To his protection and watchful care Rodolph Maitland committed his +little family; and, taking a cheerful farewell of his wife and Edith, +he commenced his journey through the wild and almost trackless woods. +Guided by Squanto, the party reached the village of Cundineus, and were +received into the presence of the Sachem and his nephew Miantonomo, who +shared with him the cares and the dignity of his chieftainship. + +With the assistance of the interpreter, Rodolph informed the Chiefs +that he was the bearer of the reply of the mighty strangers to the bold +challenge that had been sent to them on the part of Cundineus and +Miantonomo; and he invited them to open the packet which he laid before +them, in order that they might fully understand the nature of that +reply, and judge whether the subjects of the powerful king of Great +Britain were terrified at the audacity of the red men. Probably Squanto +made some additions of his own to the harangue of the ambassador; for a +very ludicrous change of expression appeared on the countenances of the +savage Chieftains. The looks of fierce defiance with which they had +received the embassy gave way to anxious and timid glances, which they +hastily cast at the ominous snake-skin, while they involuntarily drew +back, as if they feared it would explode, and punish their rash +temerity. + +Rodolph saw the effect of Squanto's version of his speech, and resolved +to increase it. He understood enough of the native tongue to perceive +that the interpreter had alluded to the potent and deadly properties of +the contents of the snake-skin, and he desired him to inform the Chiefs +that the musket which he carried in his hand contained a very small +portion of the same substance, and he would give them proof of its +power. He then glanced for a moment into the lofty trees that +surrounded the place of audience, and perceiving a monkey that was +clinging to one of the wide-spreading branches, nod chattering angrily +at the intrusive foreigners, he took a deliberate aim, and in another +instant the creature lay lifeless and motionless on the ground. The +Indians were startled at the report, and amazed at the effect of the +invisible messenger of death. They hastened to examine the dead animal +but one drop of blood issuing from its skull was the only indication +that some missile had pierced its brain; and the veneration of the +Narragansetts and their Chiefs for the prowess of the white men +evidently rose in a great degree. + +But there was one among them who did not share the wonder or the awe of +the assembly. He stood silent and motionless, at a little distance from +the group, with his eyes intently fixed on Rodolph's countenance, and a +smile of malignant scorn and triumph on his own dark features. His arms +were folded across his scarred and painted breast, and his right hand +grasped the handle of a long knife that was stuck into his deerskin +belt. The action seemed to be involuntary, and without any present +purpose; for he remained in the same position, unobserved by Rodolph, +until he and his attendants had retired to the hut appointed them by +Cundineus, to rest and refresh themselves, end await the reply of the +Chief. + +Rodolph then desired Squanto to make inquiries for Coubitant, and, if +possible, to bring him to the hut. But the sagacious interpreter had +seen and recognized the white mans face; and he earnestly entreated +Maitland not to give him any opportunity of executing the vengeance +which was evidently burning at his heart, and ready to break forth in +some deed of fatal violence. Rodolph's English friends also joined so +warmly in these entreaties that he at length consented that Squanto +should seek the savage, and endeavor to draw from him all the +information that he could give respecting Henrich's death. He did so, +and a long conversation took place that evening, the result of which +was that he assured Rodolph that his son had indeed been murdered in +the wood, as he had always supposed, and that his scalp had been torn +off even before life was extinct, whilst his body had been conveyed to +the next encampment, and burned with many heathen rites, to appease the +troubled spirit of Tisquantum's son Tekoa. + +The father shuddered, and turned away to hide the rising tear, as he +listened to this harrowing but false account. He, however, fully +believed it; and felt that, henceforth, it would be vain to cherish any +hope concerning his son, except that blessed hope which is the +privilege of the Christian--the sure and certain hope of meeting +hereafter, in the presence of the God and Savior in whom he had taught +his child to place his trust. He said no more; he did not even question +Squanto as to the cause of his having spent so long a time in +conferring with Coubitant, when all the information he had obtained +amounted merely to the sad assurance that his son had suffered a +dreadful death. Had he done so, the interpreter might have found it +difficult to account for his conduct, as he had professed a strong +dislike to Coubitant, and a distrust of all his motives and actions. +The fact was, that the wily savage had discovered Squanto's love of +importance, and his desire to be supposed to possess the confidence of +the white men, and by flattering his vanity, he had drawn from him all +the information he could give with respect to the strength of the +settlers, and their capability of resisting an attack of the natives. +Squanto took care to exaggerate the numbers and the power of his +employers; but still it appeared to Coubitant, that if he could once +more induce the neighboring tribes to combine and invade their +territory, there was every probability of their being utterly +exterminated and nothing short of this could satisfy the feeling of +hatred that he entertained towards the whole race of the strangers. By +way of exalting the might of the settlers in the minds of the native, +Squanto assured Coubitant that the white men kept the plague, of which +the Indians well knew the desolating effects, imprisoned in a cellar, +where they also stowed, their gunpowder, and that they could let it +loose upon their foes at their pleasure. This strange evidence was +heard also by Miantonomo, whom Coubitant called to join the conference, +as he, knew that he already hated the English; and he desired to +strengthen that feeling to the utmost, for the furtherance of his own +plans. + +From Coubitant, Squanto also received some intelligence, which, in the +minds both of the superstitious interpreter and his heathen informant, +was of vital importance to the settlers, and calculated to inspire them +with dread. This was the awful fact that, a short time previous, +several of the neighboring tribes had met in the adjacent forest, and +that the Powows of the whole district had passed three days and nights +in cursing the strangers, and uttering against them the most horrible +imprecations. The effect of this diabolical proceeding, in causing the +defeat of their foes, Coubitant did not do not; and, in spite of his +veneration for the English, and his conviction that their deities were +more powerful than the Indian demons, Squanto was filled with +apprehensions on their account. He communicated the circumstance to +Rodolph, and was surprised and almost offended at the smile of +indifference and contempt with which the Christian listened to him. But +he found it impossible to make him attach any importance to what seemed +to him so serious a calamity; and, by degrees, his own fears subsided +and his mind was reassured by the arguments and the cool composure of +Maitland. + +Rodolph and his companions lay down to rest for the night in the Indian +hut, across the entrance of which Squanto placed several strong boughs, +and spread a cloak of deer-skin over them. This was done ostensibly for +the purpose of keeping out the cold night wind, but really to serve as +a screen from the prying eyes of Coubitant, whose intentions he much +mistrusted, and also as an obstacle to any attempt he might possibly +make to violate the laws of honor and hospitality, by a secret attack +on the person of the ambassador. Whether the savage actually meditated +any such act of treachery, was not known; but if he approached the hut +with a murderous purpose, he was probably deterred more by the fierce +growlings of Fingal--who lay at the entrance, but scarcely slept that +night--than by the barrier of boughs and deerskin. + +Several times were the party awakened by the trusty watch-dog's angry +bark; and once, when Rodolph hastened to the entrance, and drew aside +the curtain, he thought he could descry more than one retreating figure +in the uncertain darkness. The continued uneasiness of Fingal prevented +his master from again giving way to sleep until after day had dawned, +when his faithful guard became tranquil, and he likewise sought the +repose which he greatly needed before recommencing his fatiguing +journey. + +Ere he set out on his homeward way, Rodolph again repaired, with +Squanto, to the presence of the Chief; to demand his message to the +British Governor; and he was informed by Cundincus, that he had already +dispatched a messenger to restore the dreaded packet, and to deprecate +the wrath of the pale-faced Chieftain. This was all the ambassador +could desire; and, taking a courteous leave of the Sachem, he and his +attendants resumed their journey without further delay. + +For a considerable distance their path lay through the forest; and the +underwood was so close and thick that the road consisted of a narrow +track, scarcely wider than would admit of two persons passing one +another along it, and only calculated for travelling in 'Indian file,' +which is so much practiced by the natives. In this manner our party +proceeded, Rodolph leading the way, and his attendants following +singly; while Fingal, who seemed rejoiced to have left the village, +bounded along at his master's side, ever and anon leaping up to express +his joy by licking his face and hands. + +'Down, Fingal!' said his master, kindly patting his favorite's head, +and stroking his thick shaggy mane. 'Down, my good fellow; your joy is +too boisterous for this narrow, thorny path. You shall expend your +superfluous strength and spirits on the plain yonder; for I think I +detect some game scudding across the green meadow before us.' + +Rodolph paused to adjust his gun; and the sagacious dog ceased his wild +demonstrations, end paused also until the task was completed. Then as +his master rose to proceed, he once more sprang up to his shoulder, end +his intelligent eyes asked leave to dash through the covert, and drive +out the expected game. + +But why did that bound of pleasure change instantaneously into a +convulsion of agony? and why did the noble creature fall by his +master's side and look so earnestly up into his face? Surely, in the +midst of his own death struggle, he sought to tell him, with that mute +eloquence of love, that danger was near. Rodolph knew that it was so; +but no danger could then have compelled him to leave his dying friend-- +the friend whose life was now ebbing away as a sacrifice for his own. +Yes! the shaft that had pierced through the neck of Fingal was designed +for Rodolph's breast; and he who cast it deemed that it had found its +intended mark, when, through the bushes, he saw the white man's form +bend quickly and suddenly to the ground. Then Coubitant fled +exultingly, and his savage heart beat high with joy and triumph. + +But Rodolph thought not of him, or of his malice. He only saw his +faithful dog expiring at his side, and knew that he had no power to aid +him. It was evident that the arrow was poisoned, for the wound, +otherwise, appeared too slight to be mortal; and the foam that gathered +on Fingal's jaws, and the convulsive struggle that shook his form, +showed too plainly that his sufferings would soon be over. The +companions of Rodolph urged him to join them in instant flight; for +they felt the peril of their present situation, where the surrounding +thicket gave such ample opportunity to their lurking foes to take a +deadly aim, while, at the same time, it prevented them from either +discovering or pursuing their assailants. But all their arguments, and +all their entreaties, were unavailing so long as Fingal continued to +lick his master's caressing hand, and to reply to his well-known voice, +by looks of intelligent affection. + +Soon, however, his head sank powerless on Rodolph's knee, and the +bright glance of his eye faded away, and life and motion ceased. Was it +unmanly in his master to brush a tear from his eye, as he rose from the +ground, and turned away one moment from the lifeless form of his +favorite? + +I will not leave him here,' he said. 'The savages shall not mangle his +body, as they would gladly have mangled mine. His death has saved my +life; and all that remains of him shall be carried to a place of +safety, and buried beyond the reach of those who slew him.' + +'Yes,' replied Squanto readily--for he desired the removal of the dog +from that spot, for other reasons beside the gratification of +Maitland's feelings--' Yes; we will carry him away, and hide him from +Coubitants eyes. Doubtless he will return here, as soon as all is +quiet, to see the success of his murderous attempt; and when he finds +the path thus stained with blood, he will be satisfied, and pursue us +no further than to see whether we bury our dead companion in the +forest, or bear him to his home. We must, therefore, carry Fingal all +the way to New Plymouth, lest he should follow on our trail, and +discover that he has only slain a dog. + +Rodolph's English companions concurred in this view, and willingly lent +their aid to convey the body of Fingal from the place of his death. A +couple of poles were cut hastily, and a rude light litter was formed; +for Squanto wished that Coubitant should find traces of such +preparations, as they would help to convince him that they had thus +borne away the wounded or dead form of the ambassador. + +'Now,' said he, when all was ready, 'not another moment must be lost. +Even now the keen eye of the foe may be upon us, and our stratagem may +be in vain. Two of you must bear the litter, and must carefully place +your feet in the same spot, so as to form but one track; and lead our +pursuers to believe that only three men have passed along. And there, +throw that bloody handkerchief on the path, and Coubitant will take it +as a trophy of success. Stay, he exclaimed, as Rodolph and one of his +friends were about to raise the lifeless form of Fingal from the ground +'stay one moment, and I will completely deceive that deceiver.' + +He smiled as he spoke, for he felt it a pleasure and a triumph to +outwit the wily Coubitant. Then, while the body of the dog was +supported, he carefully pressed his feet on the soft path, so as to +leave a distinct impression, and convince any who should examine the +trail that it was not the dog who had been wounded. This cunning device +he practiced again and again until they had passed through the wood, +and entered the grassy meadow, where such precautions were no longer +needed. Then the party quickened their steps, and paused not again +until they had struck deeply into the forest that succeeded to the +undulating reach of meadowland. + +The way seemed long to Rodolph. He desired to reach his cherished home; +and yet he dreaded to return and sadden the heart of his little Edith +with the story of Fingal's death, and the sight of the inanimate form +of her last and much-loved playfellow. Had it not been for this +catastrophe, he would have kept from his wife and child the knowledge +of the cruel attempt that had been made on his life as such knowledge +could only distress them, and cause them needless anxiety and alarm in +future. But the death of Fingal must be accounted for; and, let the +consequence be what it might, it must be accounted for truly, and +without prevarication. Therefore it was that Rodolph dreaded meeting +those whose presence was the joy and the sunlight of his life. + +He reached his home, and silently entered his blooming garden; and, +with Squanto's assistance, laid the body of Fingal, now cold and stiff, +beneath the venerable tree that shaded Edith's bower. Then he entered +his dwelling, and found its inmates busily employed at their usual +domestic occupations, and overjoyed at his sudden and unexpected +arrival. But, in spite of his own pleasure, a shade of sadness and +anxiety was on his brow, which he could not hide from the quick eye of +Helen; and she eagerly inquired the cause. + +Sadly Rodolph told his story; and joy and deep gratitude for the +preservation of her beloved husband so filled and engrossed the heart +of Helen, as, for a time, to overpower every feeling of regret for the +loss of the faithful animal, who seemed to have been providentially +directed to accompany his master, and save his life at the sacrifice of +his own. + +But Edith keenly felt the loss she had sustained. She was thankful-- +very thankful--that her father had been restored to their home in +safety; but she did not the less deplore the death of her dear +companion: and, unable to restrain her tears, she hurried from the +house, and ran to hide her grief in her lonely bower. For some time her +parents did not perceive her absence, for they were occupied with their +own feelings of pious gratitude; but presently Rodolph remarked that +she had left the room, and remembered where he had deposited the body +of her favorite. He rose, and went towards the spot, accompanied by +Helen; and tears of sorrowful sympathy arose in the eyes of both, as +they beheld the desolate child lying on the ground by Fingals side, +with her arms around his neck, and her long waving hair hanging over +his inanimate face, that had never before met her gaze without an +answering look of intelligence and affection. + +Gently they raised her, and spoke to her words of love and comfort; but +she long refused to be comforted. And though, at length, she became +calm and resigned, and never was heard to utter one murmur at this +fresh stroke of sorrow, yet her pensive sadness became more confirmed, +and plainly showed that she mourned for Fingal, not only as her lost +companion, but also as a connecting link between her own heart and the +memory of her lamented brother. Poor Edith! her early life was one of +trial and disappointment; but it was good for her to be afflicted.' + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +'O Christian warriors! wherefore did you thus +Forget the precepts of your Lord and Chief, +And lend yourselves to deeds of guilt and blood! +Did ye not know--or, knowing, did not heed-- +Those solemn words of His, when death was nigh, +And He bequeathed a _legacy of "peace"_ +To His disciples? They that take the sword +Shall perish with the sword. O, well it were +If ye who left your native land, and sought +A desert for the liberty of faith, +Had acted more according to that faith, +And sought to win the souls you rashly sent +To meet their God and yours!' ANON. + +Yes, well, indeed, lied it been if the settlers had been able and +willing to preserve, unbroken, the friendly relations with the Indians, +which, after the first natural distrust felt by the natives towards the +white strangers had subsided, they were, in several instances, able to +establish. But such was not the case. They received many provocations +from the natives, even from those who professed to be most friendly +towards them, and also from the settlers who followed them from the +mother-country; and they did not always meet these provocations in the +truly Christian spirit which, it must be allowed, generally pervaded +their councils, and actuated their public and private proceedings with +the wild tribes by whom they were surrounded. + +Even Masasoyt--their friend and ally--was about this time nearly +estranged from them, and on the point of joining the Narragansetts in a +project for their destruction. This change in his sentiments was the +result of the machinations of Coubitant, assisted by the foolish +pretensions and love of interference which rendered Squanto almost as +dangerous as he was useful to his employers. His boasting tales about +the power of the English settlers to imprison and to let loose the +desolating plague at their will and pleasure, had been told to the +Sagamore of the Wampanoges, as well as to Coubitant and Miantonomo; and +suspicions had arisen in the breast of Masasoyt, which he vainly strove +to infuse into his more enlightened and trustworthy son, Mooanam. +Nothing that his father could say had any effect in weakening the +friendship entertained by the young Sachem, and his brother Quadequina, +towards the emigrants; and it was owing to this steady friendship that +they were made acquainted with the altered feelings of the Sagamore in +time to prevent their ripening into open hostility. + +Mooanam communicated to the President the doubts and suspicions that +had taken possession of his father's mind, and advised him immediately +to send the faithful and devoted Hobomak to Packanokick, to endeavor to +remove the evil impression, and restore his confidence in the Pilgrim +Fathers. He also convinced both Bradford and his council that the +conspiracy which Squanto had represented as already formed, and only +waiting the concurrence of Masasoyt to be carried into deadly effect, +was as yet in its infancy, and might, by judicious management, be +altogether broken up. The Pokanokit interpreter had greatly +exaggerated, in his report to the Governor, all that he had heard from +Coubitant while at the Narragansett village; and had persuaded him, in +spite of the opinion expressed by Rodolph, to believe not only that he +and his people had been cursed by the Powows, but also that the tribes +to which these satanic conjurors belonged were uniting for the common +purpose of attacking and destroying the British settlement. + +All this was done by Squanto, with no serious intention of injuring his +new friends, but from a vain desire to make himself important, and show +the extent of his knowledge and sagacity. His vanity was, however, very +near proving fatal to him: for when the trusty Hobomak had explained to +the Sagamore the real motives and intentions of the settlers towards +the natives, and had convinced him that all the strange and mysterious +stories that Squanto delighted to tell were either pure inventions or +gross exaggerations, a second change was effected in the old Chief's +feelings, and he sent to demand that the faithless interpreter should +be immediately delivered up to him. + +The Governor was extremely reluctant to comply with this demand, as he +well knew how cruel and how summary were the judgements of the native +Chiefs; and he, as well as the whole of the colony, felt a regard for +Squanto, notwithstanding his folly and his errors. Nevertheless, the +Pokanokit was a subject of the Sagamore, who had made an express +stipulation in his treaty with the settlers that any of his people, who +might take up their abode in the colony, should be given up to him +whenever he required it; and therefore Bradford felt himself compelled +to abandon Squanto to his fate. + +The messengers who accompanied Hobomak on his return to New Plymouth +were loaded with a quantity of valuable beaver-skins, which they laid +in a pile at the Governor's feet, as a bribe to induce him to comply +with Masasoyt's demand. These the Governor rejected with indignant +scorn, observing that no man's life could be purchased from the +English; and that if he resigned the interpreter into the power of his +native sovereign, it was only because truth and justice required it, +and not from any base motives either of fear or advantage. + +Then the messengers approached the wretched man, who stood calmly +awaiting the decision of the Governor; and he saw one of them draw from +his belt the knife that Masasoyt had commanded him to plunge into the +culprit's heart. But Squanto did not tremble. All the native +fortitude, so characteristic of his race, was manifested in this awful +moment; and the bystanders felt a respect for the Pokanokit that he had +never before inspired. + +Gladly would each individual have interposed to save him; and +breathlessly they watched the movements of the President, whose signal +was to fix the moment of Squanto's death. Bradford hesitated: the word +trembled on his lips, when suddenly looking towards the sea from the +summit of the Burying Hill,' on which the assembly stood, he espied a +shallop bounding over the waves, and advancing directly towards the +shore beneath. + +He made this a pretext--certainly, not a very well grounded onefor +delaying the execution of Squanto's sentence; and declared that he +would not give the fatal signal until he had ascertained the object and +the contents of the approaching vessel. This faltering on the part of +the Governor excited great wrath in the messengers of Masasoyt; and, +without any farther parley, they took up their beaver skins, and +departed to their home. Squanto's forfeited life was thus +providentially spared; and the conduct of Bradford was, through +Mooanam's good offices, overlooked b the Sagamore. But that life was +not greatly prolonged. Very soon after this event he was seized with +I virulent fever, while on a short journey with the Governor, and, in +spite of all the care and attention that were bestowed on him, he died, +much regretted by the whole colony. + +The boat, whose seasonable approach had been the means of arresting the +fatal stroke, was found to have been sent from some English fishing +vessels, many of which now constantly frequented the shores of New +England. It conveyed to the colony an addition of several able-bodied +men, who were joyfully welcomed by the settlers, as laborers were just +then much wanted, both in the fields and in the increasing town. These +men were sent out by an English merchant named Weston, who had long +endeavored to encourage the colonization of New England; but from very +different motives to those which had actuated the Pilgrim Fathers, and +led them to forsake the comforts of a European home for the toils and +uncertainties of an American wilderness. A desire for profit appears to +have been the ruling principle in Weston's mind. He was, therefore, +very indifferent as to the moral character of the men whom he sent out +to join the emigrants, and was only solicitous to secure a quick return +of the money that he had expended: and, finding that the prospect of +gain from a connection with the New Plymouthers was doubtful and tardy, +he had resolved to found a colony himself. + +For this purpose he had, some time previously, obtained a grant of a +portion of land in Massachusetts, and sent over sixty men to cultivate +it, in two ships, which he placed under the command of his brother-in- +law. The arrival of this fresh band of emigrants had proved a fruitful +source of trouble and annoyance to the first settlers, for they were +chiefly idle and profligate vagabonds, who had no settled occupation at +home, and no characters to sustain. Weston himself described them in a +letter to Bradford, as 'tolerably rude and profane.' And a friend of +the Pilgrims wrote from England to warn them against having any +connection with the new colony: and recommended them to have it +distinctly explained to the Indians, that they were a new and +independent society, for whose conduct and good faith they could in no +way be responsible. + +Notwithstanding all these warnings, and the very unprepossessing +appearance of the new emigrants, the Plymouthers had shown more +kindness and hospitality than they had prudence and caution: and had +received their countrymen into their own settlement on their arrival in +America. They had even permitted on half of their number to reside at +New Plymouth during the whole summer, while the strongest and +healthiest had proceeded to Massachusetts to fix on a spot for their +settlement, and prepare habitations. They had decided on a place called +Wessagussett,[*] a little to the south of Boston; and thither they were +afterwards followed by their companions from New Plymouth. The long +residence of these men among the pious and high-minded Pilgrims had +not, however, made any salutary impression on their minds: and all the +kindness and hospitality they had received were most ungratefully +forgotten. + +[Footnote: New Weymouth] + +In various ways the new colony vexed and annoyed the men of Plymouth; +but in no way more seriously than by their conduct towards the natives, +which was so different to the just and upright dealings of the +Pilgrims, that the Indians began to lose their confidence in the white +men, and to suspect deceit and imposition where hitherto they had only +found truth and justice. Weston's colony was, indeed, scarcely settled +at Wessagussett, before complaints were sent by the Indians to their +friends at Plymouth, of the repeated depredations that were committed +by the new settlers, who were continually carrying off their stores of +corn, and other property: and these accusations were by no means +surprising to Bradford and his council, as they had already detected +them in many acts of theft during their stay at New Plymouth. + +The harvest of this year was poor and scanty; and the great accession +to their numbers, caused by the visit of Weston's settlers, had +entirely consumed the stores of the Plymouthers, and reduced them again +to actual want. Joyfully, therefore, they hailed the arrival of two +ships from the mother country, laden with knives, beads, and various +other articles, that would be acceptable to the Indians in the way of +barter, and enable the settlers to purchase from them the necessary +supply of provisions, for which they had hitherto been compelled to pay +very dear in skins and furs. Meanwhile, the colony of Wessagussett was + in a still worse condition. They had quickly consumed all the food with +which the generous Plymouthers had supplied them, and had then stolen +everything on which they could lay their hands. They had also sold +almost all their clothes and bedding, and even their weapons; and were +brought to such extreme necessity that they did not refuse to do the +meanest services for the Indians who dwelt near their settlement, in +return for such means of subsistence as the red men were able to +furnish them with. For this condescension--so unlike the dignified yet +kind deportment of the Plymouthers--the natives despised them, and +treated them with contempt, and even violence. Thus early was the +British name brought into disrepute with the Indians, when men bearing +that name came among them for mere purposes of speculation and profit, +and ware not governed by the Christian principles of humanity and +justice that distinguished the earliest settlers in New England from +all those who followed them. Nor did the evil consequences of their ill +conduct rest with themselves. They fell also on the peaceably-disposed +colony of Plymouth, and were the means of involving them in hostilities +with the natives, which had hitherto been warded off by the kind and +judicious management of the Governor and his assistants. + +The general state of peace which had, up to this period, been +maintained with the Indians, was greatly to be attributed to the bold +and decisive measures that were always adopted by Miles Standish, the +military chief of the little community, and the leader of every warlike +expedition. He well knew how to impress the natives with a due respect, +for he never tolerated the slightest injury or insult, and yet he never +permitted his men to be guilty of any act of injustice or oppression +towards the red men. + +Since the arrival of Weston's disorderly colony, Captain Standish had +shown himself even more decided in maintaining the rights and the +dignity of the Plymouthers, and had endeavored to show the natives that +they were not to identify the new comers with those whom they had +already learnt to know and to respect. But at length, in spite of all +these judicious measures, the Pilgrims were drawn into the quarrel that +subsisted between their countrymen of Wessagussett and the natives; +and, having drawn the sword, they certainly forgot the principles of +mercy and humanity that had hitherto guided them. Active measures +were, undoubtedly, called for; but cruelty and stratagem were unworthy +of these Christian warriors. + +The continued marauding expeditions of the men of Wessagussett had +exasperated the neighboring tribes to the last degree; and the state of +weakness to which they were reduced by their own thoughtless and +improvident conduct, led the natives to suppose that they would fall an +easy prey to their combined force. They, therefore, again formed a +combination to attack and utterly destroy these oppressive intruders +into their country. Probably the council of Chiefs, who met in the +depths of the forest to arrange their plan of operations, would have +contented themselves with contriving the destruction of the new and +offending colony, which they might easily have effected had they +confined their projected operations to that object alone. But there was +one in the council who could not rest satisfied with such a partial +vengeance on the white strangers; and his fiery eloquence, and false +assertions and insinuations, prevailed over the rest of the Chiefs to +disregard every treaty, and every obligation that ought to have bound +them to the settlers of New Plymouth, and to include them also in their +savage scheme of massacre and plunder. + +The argument by which he finally overcame the scruples of those Chiefs +who had allied themselves with the first emigrants, and had acquired a +regard and respect for them, was one of self-preservation. He boldly +asserted that the men of New Plymouth would never either pardon or +forget the destruction of their countrymen of Wessagussett, but would +immediately lay aside the mask of kindness and forbearance with which +they had hitherto concealed their undoubted project of acquiring the +dominion of the whole country, and gradually destroying the red men; +and would call forth all their supernatural powers, and blast them with +fire and plague, unless they were taken by surprise, and annihilated at +one fell swoop. All the superstitious fears of the ignorant natives +were thus aroused, and if there were any in the assembly who were too +well acquainted with the white men to credit all that Coubitant +asserted, they thought it either unsafe or unwise to express their +opinions any further. + +Happily for the settlers, one such faithful and friendly spirit was +there to watch for their interests, and provide for their preservation. +Masasoyt had resumed all his kindly feelings towards his English +allies, since the misunderstanding occasioned by Squanto's meddling +propensities had been explained away by the trusty Hobomak. He had also +recently been visited by Edward Winslow, when he was afflicted with a +severe illness, and the Christian soldier had ministered to his relief +in a way that had excited both the wonder and the lively gratitude of +the Sagamore. When, therefore, he obeyed the summons of Coubitant to +join the general council of Chiefs, he had no intention of consenting +to any hostile measures being undertaken against his powerful and +beneficent friends. Weston's wild and disorderly crew had excited his +anger in common with that of all the other neighboring Sachems; and he +was quite willing to combine with his red brethren for their +chastisement--perhaps, even for their utter destruction: but he did not +confound the Pilgrim Fathers, who had never failed in truth and +honesty, with the deceitful and marauding vagabonds who wore white +faces, and called themselves Christian subjects of King James, while +they acted like heathen savages. + +At first, Masasoyt met the malignant arguments and false assertions of +Coubitant with an open and generous statement of the upright conduct of +the strangers towards himself and his tribe, during the three years of +their residence in New England; and urged the assembled Chiefs to +beware how they attempted to molest men whose power to resist and +punish any such attempt was only equaled by their willingness and +ability to benefit those who treated them with confidence and +integrity. But he soon perceived that his arguments in favor of mercy +and justice were powerless, when opposed to the fierce and crafty +harangues of Coubitant; and he, therefore, forbore to make any further +reply, and even appeared to acquiesce in the decision of the council, +that the only means of securing the safety and independence of the +Indian tribes was utterly to exterminate the invaders. + +The proposed plan for accomplishing this barbarous project, was first +to surround and fall on the miserable and sickly colony of +Wessagussett; and then, before the news of the massacre could reach New +Plymouth, to hasten thither, and wreak on its unsuspecting and +unprepared inhabitants the same fierce vengeance. + +The day and hour were fixed, and every necessary preliminary was +minutely arranged; and then the council broke up, and the Chiefs +returned to their respective dwellings, to collect and fully arm their +followers, and prepare to meet again at the appointed time and place, +with both hands and hearts read to execute the bloody deed. + +Masasoyt retired like the rest; and, attended by the little band of +warriors who formed his bodyguard, be took the forest path that led to +his dwelling at Packanokick. But he did not long pursue that path. When +he had proceeded such a distance through the forest as to feel sure +that he should not, by turning to the right, cross the route of any of +the other Chiefs, he dismissed all his followers, except two of the +most trusty and confidential. The rest he desired to proceed +immediately to Packanokick, and inform his people that they must +prepare for a warlike expedition, and that he was going to visit his +son, Mooanam, in order to give him directions to join in the enterprise +with that portion of the tribe that was under his authority. + +This was very far from being the truth; but the Indian Sagamore +considered that every falsehood and stratagem was allowable, and even +meritorious, that could further a desired object, especially if that +object was so undoubtedly good in itself as that which now engrossed +his thoughts and wishes. He did not know that it is sin to do evil +that good may come; and therefore we must judge him by his generous +motives, and not by his heathen practice. + +Having thus freed himself from those on whose discretion and fidelity +he could not fully rely, he changed his course, and traveled straight +towards New Plymouth. There was no beaten track through the tangled +woods in that direction; but the position of the sun, and the +appearance of the trees, were sufficient guides for the sagacious +Indian Chief, and, in spite of his advanced age, he pursued his way +with vigor and activity. Frequently his path was obstructed by the +luxuriant growth of underwood, or by the cable-like creepers that hung +in every direction, crossing each other like the rigging of a ship, and +presenting obstacles that nothing but the tomahawks that hung from the +girdles of the natives enabled them to overcome. With these weapons-- +ever ready, in the hand of an Indian, either to cut his way through the +forest, to fell the timbers for his wigwam or his canoe, to slay the +game that his arrows have brought to the ground, or to cleave the skull +of his enemy--did old Masasoyt and his devoted followers divide the +large tough climbing plants that obstructed their passage. Sometimes, +also, when the sun was totally obscured and the necessary windings in +their course would hive rendered them uncertain whether they were +following the right direction, these useful tomahawks enabled them to +consult the Indian compass. + +The manner in which these children of the wilderness supply to +themselves the want of that invaluable instrument is both curious and +ingenious, and it proved of essential use to the Wampanoge Chief on +this occasion. Whenever he found himself at fault from the absence of +the sun, or any other direct indication of the proper course, he raised +his battle-axe, and struck a heavy blow at some neighboring pine or +birch tree, on each side of which he cut a deep notch, and then, by +examining the grain of the wood, he could tell which was the north, and +which the south side--the former being easily ascertained by the +greater closeness of the concentric rings, and consequent hardness of +the fiber. The sap being more drawn to the south side by the action of +the sun, causes the rings on that side to swell more; and this +operation of nature has been observed by nature's children, and +employed by them as a sure guide in their long wanderings through the +pathless forests where they find a home. + +The journey to New Plymouth was rather a long one; but the Sagamore and +his companions were each provided with a small quantity of their usual +travelling food, _nokake_--or meal made of parched maize--which they +carried, in true Indian fashion, in their hollow leathern girdles. When +they came to a pond, or brook, they paused to eat a few handsful of +this simple provision, which is so dry that it can only be swallowed +when either water or snow is at hand, ready to wash down each mouthful; +and, consequently, in summer the natives have sometimes to travel long +distances before they can avail themselves of the food that is already +in their hands. + +Immediately on his arrival at New Plymouth, the Sagamore repaired to +the dwelling of Bradford; and, requesting a private interview--at which +no one was allowed to be present except the Wampanoge interpreter +Hobomak--he informed him of the conspiracy of the natives, and warned +him to be well prepared for the intended attack. Could he have given +this warning, and ensured the safety of his allies, without betraying +the whole of the conspirators' projects, he would gladly have done so; +for he both despised and hated the men of Wessagussett, and he was +willing that they should he treated as they seemed disposed to treat +such of his race as they could get into their power. He even made an +attempt to persuade Bradford to leave them to the fate they so well +deserved, and to connive at their destruction, which would remove an +increasing evil from the first colony. + +But the President soon convinced him that such a course would be +altogether at variance with the precepts and principles of that +religion in which he gloried, and which it was his chief aim, and that +of all his Christian brethren, to exalt and make honorable in the eyes +of the natives: and that, therefore, no selfish considerations could +induce them to abandon their countrymen to destruction, notwithstanding +their ingratitude towards themselves, and their ill conduct towards the +Indians. + +With this decision Masasoyt was extremely dissatisfied: but he could +not now withdraw the information he had imparted, even if he desired +it; and he also felt it to be most politic to secure the friendship of +the white men, even if it should involve the sacrifice of the lives of +some of his own countrymen, and interfere with their projects of +vengeance on their foes. This was most likely to be the case in the +present instance; for the Governor was excited to great indignation by +the intelligence f this second conspiracy, in which several of the +Chiefs who had signed the treaty with Captain Standish were concerned; +and he immediately summoned the gallant soldier, and the rest of his +council, to deliberate on the best means of defeating it. + +It now only wanted three days of the time appointed for the gathering +of the red warriors, and the attack on Wessagussett. No time was, +therefore, to be lost; and it was soon determined that Standish, with a +band of eight men, should march the following morning at day-break, and +come stealthily upon the savages before they could he fully prepared +for the assault. It was a bold--perhaps a rash--measure, for so small a +party to go forth, and encounter the native forces thus combined. But +Standish, though a man of prudence and discretion, was a stranger to +fear; and he and his followers had already learnt the power of order +and discipline, in compensating for any disadvantage of numbers. It +was, therefore, with cheerful confidence that the military force of the +settlement prepared for their march and they plainly showed on what +that confidence was founded, by requesting the prayers of the +congregation for their success. + +A great part of the night was, accordingly, spent in prayer; and the +blessing of the God of truth and mercy was solemnly asked upon an +enterprise that the leaders well knew was about to be carried out by +fraud and cruelty. + +At sunrise, the soldiers met on 'the Burying Hill,' and the staff of +office was given, with much solemnity, to Captain Standish, by the +pious and venerable Brewster. They had already taken leave of their +wives and families, who did not altogether share the cheerful +exultation displayed by the Puritan warriors; and who were not +permitted to be present at this final ceremony, lest their anxious +fears should disturb the composure of their husbands and fathers. +Notwithstanding this characteristic prohibition, Helen, and her younger +daughter Edith, had ventured to station themselves in the path that led +down 'the Burying Hill,' in the direction in which Standish and his men +were to march, that they might take one more farewell of Rodolph before +he left them on an expedition which, to their minds, seemed fraught +with danger and uncertainty; and where they feared he might again be +exposed to the vengeance of his untiring foe. + +The gallant little band marched down the hill, and came where Edith and +her child stood waiting, beneath a tree, for what might be their last +look on one most dearly loved; and when Rodolph saw them he forgot the +strictness of discipline and order required by his commander, and left +the ranks to indulge the feelings of his heart, by again embracing his +weeping wife and child. + +The stern captain instantly recalled him; and when he saw a tear +glistening in the eye of the husband and father, a slight expression of +wonder and contempt passed over his countenance. He marveled that so +brave a soldier and so strict a Puritan as Rodolph Maitland should +still remain subject to so much worldly weakness. But Standish was not, +at that time, a married man; and he was very deeply imbued with all the +severe and unbending principles of his sect, which even went so far as +to demand the suppression of all natural feelings--making it a fault +for a mother to kiss her children on the Lord's day--and inflicting +actual punishment on the captain of a ship for having embraced his wife +on 5 Sunday, when, after a long separation, she hurried to meet him, as +he landed from the vessel! To such puerile littlenesses will even great +minds descend. + +Rodolph was unmoved by the commander's contemptuous glance. He knew his +own unflinching Puritan principles, and his own undaunted courage; and +he knew his value in the eyes of Standish. The captain knew it also, +for he never liked to go on any enterprise that required bravery and +cool judgement without securing the aid of Maitland; and although the +tenderness of his friend's feelings, and the warmth of his domestic +attachments--so different to the coolness and apathy which was so +prevalent in the community--were a continual subject of surprise and +pity to the iron-hearted leader, yet he highly respected him, and even +loved him, as much as such a gentle feeling as love of any kind could +find admittance to his breast. + +They journeyed on thenthat stern captain, who had no tie to life, and +deemed it a privilege to die with 'the sword of the Lord and of Gideon' +in his hand, fighting for the cause of his own peculiar sect, in which +alone he thought salvation could be found; and that warm-hearted +husband and father, who felt that he had left behind him what was far +dearer than life itself--those who alone made life precious to him-and +who yet was willing to sacrifice all, if honor and duty demanded it. +Which was the braver man of the two? + +Both were brave; but Standish was the most unscrupulous. He considered +that any stratagem was lawful which could place his heathen enemies in +his power; and no arguments of the high-minded and truthful Maitland +could convince him that deceit and treachery, even towards their +infidel foes, were unworthy of Christian warriors. Miles Standish was +resolved to use some device to get the chiefs of the conspiracy off +their guard, and, by destroying them, to break up the hostile +confederacy altogether: and as Maitland was bound to obey his orders, +and also knew the utter impossibility either of changing the resolves +of his captain or of deserting the enterprise, he was compelled to join +in proceedings that he could not approve. + +When the little band had arrived at the spot indicated by Masasoyt, and +within a short distance of the Indian place of rendezvous, Standish +commanded his men to halt for rest and refreshment for the last time +before the expected encounter with the army of savages who were +assembling for their destruction. This halting-place was situated on +the summit of a considerable elevation, well covered with trees and +bushes, and overlooking a plain, on the further side of which the +Indian camp was formed. The advantageous position in which the +emigrants were posted enabled them to obtain a full view of their +enemies without being perceived by them; and Captain Standish resolved +to remain there quietly that night, in order to recruit the strength of +his men after their rapid and toilsome journey, and to mature his plans +for subduing the horde of natives before him with so small a band as +now surrounded him, and who waited but his orders to rush on to the +most desperate enterprise. + +The Wampanoge interpreter, Hobomak, accompanied the party at his own +desire, and that, also, of his sovereign, Masasoyt. Standish was glad +of his assistance in his capacity of interpreter: he had already shown +such devoted attachment to the English, that they entertained no fears +of his either betraying or deserting their cause; and, on this +occasion, he fully justified their confidence. + +Early in the morning, the leader announced his intention of going +himself to the Indian camp, to make overtures of peace, and to invite +the Chiefs to a conference; and he desired his men to construct a +strong and spacious wigwam for their reception, and to make a door to +it, which could be closed and fastened securely. He did not then +explain his project more clearly; but Rudolph understood it, and his +soul revolted from the treachery he suspected. 'Now,' said the +captain, having finished his directions to his well-disciplined +followers, 'who will volunteer to go down with me and Hobomak to the +heathen camp, and to carry the flag of truce before me? It may be a +service of danger to enter that hornet's nest; and no one who has left +his soldier's heart at home with his wife or his children, had better +attempt it.' + +Rudolph felt the sarcasm, though it was uttered good humoredly, and he +instantly replied-- + +'I am ready, my chief, to attend you wherever you may go; and if I have +left my heart's affections at New Plymouth, you shall see that I have +brought with me none the less of courage and fidelity to my leaders and +my countrymen. The dearer my home, the more energetic shall be my +efforts to preserve it from desolation. Besides,' he added, In an +undertone, so that only Standish should hear: 'I much prefer going +boldly into the midst of the enemy, even at the risk of my life, to +remaining here to assist in constructing a trap for their destruction.' + +'You are a brave fellow, Maitland,' said the captain, grasping his hand +with warmth and energy, 'but you have brought some peculiar prejudices +over from Europe with you, and do not yet perceive the difference of +warring on equal terms with civilized troops--as you were accustomed to +do in your youth--and contending with a horde of savages, who know +nothing of the laws of honor, and who are even now combined to destroy +us all, without either challenge or preparation. Come along with me, +and leave the rest to do as I have directed. Necessity has no law; and +if we do not meet those cunning natives with equal cunning, we shall +have no chance against them.' + +'Truth and sincerity appear to me the strongest necessity; and the God +of truth will order the results as he pleases,' answered Rodolph. 'But +I have sworn to obey your orders, and you need not fear the constancy +of either my heart or hand. I know my duty as a soldier, and I will do +it.' + +'I know you will, Maitland,' replied his commander; and his respect for +his conscientious friend rose higher than ever, while a slight +misgiving as to the righteousness of his own projected plan passed +through his breast. It did not abide there, however, for he was really +satisfied that he was acting in conformity to the will of God, and that +he was fully justified in asking for His blessing to crown his +murderous schemes with success. + +Maitland took the flag of truce, which consisted of a long spear, with +a white handkerchief attached to the summit, and preceded the captain, +who followed in full uniform, attended by his swarthy interpreter. As +soon as they emerged from the wood that covered the halting-place, and +entered the open plain, they were espied by the keen and watchful eyes +of the natives; and a messenger was dispatched to meet them, and bring +them to the presence of the Indian leader, Wattawamat, who was regarded +as the chief of the conspirators. + +Captain Standish assumed a pacific air, and desired Hobomak to advance +before him, and inform the Chiefs that he came to propose terms of +reconciliation and peace. He then himself approached them; and, with +the aid of the interpreter, made to them a rather lengthy harangue on +the benefits that would accrue to them from preserving peace with +the white men; and his sorrow, and that of his employers, on having +accidentally discovered that the tribes of Massachusetts entertained +feelings of enmity towards the British settlers at Wessagussett. + +Ever and anon, during the translations of the various paragraphs of +this speech, Rodolph observed the keen eyes of the captain, as they +carefully surveyed the surrounding force, and examined the individuals +who appeared to be their leaders. And once, when his own eye followed +the direction of his commander's, his glance encountered one that +instantly riveted it, and excited in his breast some sensations--not of +_fear,_ for Rodolph knew not the feeling--but of inquietude and +distrust. Yes; Coubitant was there, gazing at his supposed victim with +amazement and hatred; and half inclined to believe that some +supernatural power must belong to the man who could have been wounded +with his deadly arrow, and yet survive to confront him once more. There +he stood--with disappointed vengeance in his heart, and fury flashing +from that eye of fire. + +But while he kept a continual watch on every movement of Rodolph's, his +quick ear lost not one word of the speech that Hobomak was rendering +into his native tongue. He heard when, in Standish's name, he invited +the Chiefs to meet him in the wigwam that his men were constructing on +the border of the thicket, and where, he said, he would smoke with them +the pipe of peace, and give to them the presents that the Governor had +sent, as pledges of his friendly intentions. + +The moment this invitation had been delivered, Coubitant approached +Wattawamat, and whispered a few words in his ear, to which the +Chieftain gave a sign of acquiescence; and then the Nansett left the +assembly, and disappeared among the trees and bushes that bounded the +plain on every side. + +Wattawamat gave no immediate reply to the proposal of the English +Chief; but, as is not unusual with the Indians, kept up a long +discourse, and contrived to lengthen the audience for a considerable +time. Another Indian then approached the Sachem, and again whispered +to him some words that gave him evident satisfaction, for he smiled +grimly, and displayed his fine row of ivory teeth for a moment, as he +nodded approbation to the messenger. Then, resuming his wonted gravity +of demeanor, he replied to Captain Standish that he was satisfied, by +his assurances, of the good faith of the white men, and that he and his +brother Chiefs would avail themselves of his invitation, and meet in +the wigwam a little before sunset; where he hoped so to arrange all the +little disagreements that had occurred between the red men and the +mighty strangers, as to be able to establish between them and all his +countrymen the same friendship and alliance that appeared to exist with +the Wampanoge tribe, whose Chief, he observed, with a slight curl of +his lip, had failed in his promise to attend their meeting that day. + +The cause of this favorable decision on the part of Wattawamat was the +report that Coubitant had just sent him of the insignificant force of +the English, which that crafty and swift-footed warrior had contrived +to ascertain, by running round the border of the weed to the place +where Standish's men were at work, and taking an accurate and +unobserved survey of their numbers. + +He felt convinced that it would be easy for the Chiefs, and such of +their attendants as might be allowed to follow them to the place of +conference, to overpower and destroy every one of the little band of +whites, and then to prosecute their original intention of carrying fire +and slaughter into both the British settlements. In all this scheme +there was nothing so grateful to the ruthless heart of Coubitant as the +idea of Rodolph's death; and that too, as he trusted, by his own hand. +O, how he panted for the devilish joy of tearing off his scalp, and +carrying it back to throw it triumphantly at Henrich's feet! We shall +see whether such joy was accorded to him. + +Standish and his companions took their leave, and returned to the hill, +where they found great progress had been made in building the wigwam; +and two hours before sunset it was completely wattled round, leaving +only a small aperture near the top to admit light, and a narrow place +of entrance, to which a strong door was affixed. + +The captain then explained his plan, which was approved by all but +Maitland; and he forbore to urge any further opposition, which, he +felt, would now be useless. A temperate meal was partaken of, and a +hymn sung by the undaunted little company; and pipes and tobacco having +been plentifully placed in the hut, the sides of which were decorated +with pieces of gay colored calico, and a few knives and trinkets, as +pretended gifts to the Chiefs, nothing remained but to await the +arrival of the victims. + +Soon the Indian Chiefs, decked in all their bravery of feathers and +embroidered skins, came marching a cross the plain, followed by a few +attendants less richly adorned. Standish and his party went to meet +them, and conducted them with much courtesy to the wigwam, which was +soon obscured by the clouds of smoke that issued from the pipes of the +grave and silent assembly. But this silent gravity did not long +continue. Captain Standish addressed the Chiefs, and strove to speak +kindly to men whose deaths he was compassing all the while: but, +whether his resolution somewhat failed as the moment for the execution +of his bloody purpose drew on, or whether he was disconcerted by the +absence of Rodolph, who refused to enter the wigwam, and assist at the +slaughter, so it was that he manifested evident signs of weakness and +indecision. + +The Chiefs were emboldened by this, and they were troubled by no qualms +of conscience on the subject of shedding the white men's blood. They +rose from their seats on the ground, and began to taunt the captain +with his want of eloquence, and also with the smallness of his stature, +which was despicable in their eyes. Then, growing still bolder as they +became excited, they drew their knives, and whetted them before the +eyes of their hosts: flourishing them round their heads, and boasting +how they had already shed the blood of many white men in the distant +European settlements. + +It was a fearful scene: but the real peril of his situation instantly +restored the commander to his wonted resolution and firmness. He called +on his men to be ready, and not to allow one of the Chiefs to escape +from the wigwam, and with his hand on his pistols, he waited the proper +moment for action. The Indians continued to pour forth the most abusive +epithets: but they did not begin the expected attack, and it was +evident that they were a little intimidated by the undaunted bearing of +the white men. One of them, however, seemed actuated by some desperate +purpose, and to be regardless of aught else. From the moment of his +entrance into the wigwam, his eyes had sought some object that they did +not find: and now, in all the excitement of the approaching conflict, +his only aim seemed to be to make his way through the entrance in +search of some person on whom he desired to wreak his fury. It was +Rodolph whom Coubitant sought, and who was now, providentially, out of +his reach, and waiting the result of the deed against which he had +vainly protested. + +At length the wrath of Standish broke loose. He gave the appointed +signal, and the door was closed--shutting in friends and foes in one +small field of battle, or, rather, of carnage. The scene in the dimly- +lighted wigwam was terrific; and the yells of the infuriated natives +broke, with a sickening effect, on the ears of Rodolph Maitland, who +could not consent to share in what he considered a murderous conflict, +and not an honorable war; and who yet felt as if he was deserting his +countrymen, by thus remaining inactive. + +But if he felt undecided as to his proper course of action, that +indecision did not last long. In a few moments the door of the wigwam +was violently burst open, and the combatants rushed out, struggling and +bleeding, from the den of slaughter. All the white men came forth, for, +though many of them were wounded, not one had fallen. But three of the +Indians lay dead and dying on the floor of the hut; one of them being +the mangled body of Wattawamat, who was slain by Standish with his own +knife--that very knife which the savage had sharpened for the purpose +of plunging it into the heart of the white chief! + +Where was Rodolph now? In the midst of the fray, fighting desperately +and successfully. The moment he saw the battle raging in open field, +and beheld the blood flowing from the wounds of his countrymen, he +forgot all else except that his strong right arm wielded a trusty +blade; and its skilful stroke soon brought another of the red warriors +to the ground, and chased away those who sought to secure their wounded +comrade. The Indians saw that they were overmatched, and that nothing +but flight could save the remainder of their party; they therefore +uttered their wild war-cry once more, and commenced a rapid retreat +down the hill, pausing several times to send back a volley of arrows on +their victorious foes; which, however, fell harmless to the earth, +though more than one was aimed at Rodolph, by the strong and skilful +hand of Coubitant. + +But rest was not to be afforded to the little conquering band. While +they were securing the wounded Indian, and binding up their own wounds, +they discovered a movement in the body of savages on the other side of +the plain, and truly surmised that they were preparing to attack them +in greater numbers. Standish instantly gave orders that the Indian whom +Rodolph had brought to the ground should be hung to a neighboring tree, +which was as instantly executed; and he re-entered the tent, to make +sure that no life remained in those three who lay on its bloody floor. +All were dead: and Standish, approaching the body of the Chieftain +Wattawamat, raised his good broad sword, and at one blow severed the +head from the trunk. Then seizing the gory head by the long scalp-lock, +he carried it forth as a trophy, and desired one of his men to secure +it, and carry it back to New Plymouth. + +No time remained for further parley. A band of Indians were approaching +across the plain; and Standish disdained to fly, even before such +superior numbers. Every musket and pistol was hastily loaded, and the +undaunted party marched down the hill to meet the coming foe. They met: +and in spite of the furious onset of the savages, they were again made +to feel that their undisciplined hordes were no match for the well- +aimed fire-arms of the white men, and had no power to break the order +of their steady ranks. Once more they fled, leaving another of their +number dead on the field, and they returned no more to the charge. +During all this affair, Hobomak had remained a quiet spectator of the +combat, and of the defeat of his countrymen; and now he approached the +English captain, and complacently praised his bravery and military +prowess; and he remained as devoted as ever to his Christian friends. + +The triumphant soldiers returned to New Plymouth, and were received +with joyful exultation by the Governor and the inhabitants, who felt +deeply grateful for the deliverance that had been accorded to them, and +the safety of the brave men who had fought in their defense. All the +little band had been preserved from serious personal injury; but +Rodolph Maitland had also been preserved from blood-guiltiness, and +that was more to him than life and safety, and to his Christian and +devoted wife also. + +The head of Wattawamat was brought to New Plymouth, and the dreadful +trophy was conspicuously placed over the entrance to the fortress, as a +warning to the natives against any future conspiracies for the +destruction of the white men. So great, indeed, was the terror inspired +by the power and the severity of the settlers, that many of the +natives--who were conscious of having been engaged in the conspiracy, +though undiscovered--left their wigwams, and fled into the woods, or +concealed themselves in reedy morasses, where a great number of them +perished from hunger and disease. The settlers were much distressed at +this result of their proceedings, which, at the same time, they +considered to have been perfectly justified by the necessity of self- +preservation. But when their venerated pastor Robinson--to whom they +had, ever since their emigration, looked for guidance and sympathy-- +heard of these sad events, he expressed the deepest sorrow, and begged +them never again to be led away by the fiery temper of their leader; +adding these touching and impressive words--' How happy a thing had it +been, if you had _converted some_ before you had killed any!' + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +A change came o'er the spirit of my dream: +The boy was sprung to manhood; to the wilds +Of distant climes he made himself a home. +And his soul drank their beauties; he was girt +With strange and dusky aspects; he was not +Himself like what he had been:--on the sea, +And on the shore, he was a wanderer.' BYRON. + +On the border of a green meadow, watered by a narrow stream, the +wigwams of a large Indian settlement were lighted up by the slanting +beams of the setting sun, as they shone, soft and bright, through the +tall dark pines and gently-waving birch trees beneath which the village +was erected. The deep red trunks of the ancient fir trees contrasted +beautifully with the silvery bark of the birch; and between the shadows +which were cast by the gigantic boles of these, and many other +varieties of timber, the sunbeams played on the smooth soft turf, and +illuminated a scene of peaceful joy and contentment. + +Towards the center of the broken and irregular semi-circle in which the +huts were arranged, rose two wigwams, of a size and construction +superior to the rest; and around them were planted many flowering +shrubs and fruit-bearing plants, that clearly showed the habitations to +have been permanently fixed for some seasons, and to have been occupied +by persons who possessed more of good taste and forethought than are +commonly displayed by the improvident natives. Many climbing plants +also threw their luxuriant branches over the sides and roof of these +rude, but picturesque dwellings, and the brilliant blossoms hung +gracefully around the eaves and the doorway, and moved gently in the +evening breeze. + +On a neatly-carved bench, in front of one of these wigwams, sat an aged +Indian Chief, and by his side a young woman, who seemed to possess all +the ease of manner and refinement of a European, but whose clear brown +skin, and glossy jet-black hair and eyes, at once showed her to be of +the same race as her venerable companion. Her dress was also Indian, +but arranged with a taste and delicacy that rendered it eminently +becoming to her graceful figure; while her hair, instead of being +either drawn up to knot on the crown of the head, or left loose and +disheveled in native fashion, was braided into a truly classical form, +and simply adorned with a beautiful white water-lily--a flower that +Oriana always loved. + +Two other figures completed the group that was formed near the wigwam +door. One of them was a young man of tall end muscular form, whose +dress and richly-carved weapons would have proclaimed him to be an +Indian warrior and chieftain, had not his curling brown hair, and deep +blue eyes, spoken of a Saxon lineage. Courage and intelligence gleamed +in those fearless eyes, but no Indian fierceness or cunning were there; +and as the tall warrior stooped towards the ground, and lifted up in +his arms a laughing little child that was reclining on the mossy turf, +and tearing to pieces a handful of bright-colored flowers that his +father had gathered for him, the smile of affection and happiness that +lighted up those clear blue eyes, showed that a warm and manly heart +was there. + +'Ah! Ludovico!' said the happy young father, as he fondly kissed the +child, whose azure eyes, and long black eyelashes and curling raven +hair, showed his descent both from the fair race of Britain, and +America's wild wandering children. 'Ah, Ludovico! how well I remember +your uncle, when he was a merry infant like you, and used to roll on +the grass in my sweet sister Edith's garden, and tear its gaudy +blossoms, as you do these flowers of the forest. Those were happy +days,' he added--and the bright smile of careless mirth changed to one +of pensive sadness--'yes; those were happy days that never can return. +If my sisters, and my playful little brother, yet live, they must be +changed indeed from what they were when last I saw their sweet faces on +that eventful evening, that fixed the course of my destiny. Edith must +now be a woman--a lovely woman, too; and little Ludovico a fine open- +hearted boy. And my beloved parents, too: O, that I knew they were +alive and well and that ere long they would see and bless my Oriana and +my child!' + +And Henrich seated himself by the side of his young Indian wife, and +gazed in the face of his laughing boy, with an expression at once so +sad and sweet, that the child became silent and thoughtful too; and, +dropping the flowers that filled his little hands, he gently clasped +them as if in prayer, and looked long and searchingly into his father's +eyes. + +'There, now you look exactly as my brother used to do when he knelt at +my mother's knee, and she taught him to lisp his evening prayer,' +exclaimed Henrich and his eyes glistened with emotion, as home, and all +its loved associations, rushed into his mind. + +Oriana saw his sadness; and felt--as she often had done before on +similar occasions--a pang of painful regret, and even of jealousy, +towards those much-loved relatives whom her husband still so deeply +regretted. She laid her hand on his, and raising her large expressive +eyes to his now melancholy countenance, she gently said-- + +'Does Henrich still grieve that the red men stole him away from the +home of his childhood, and brought him to dwell among the forests? Is +not Oriana better to him than a sister, and are not the smiles of his +own Ludovico sweeter to his heart than even those of his little brother +used to be? And is not my father his father also? O Henrich--my own +Henrich'--she added, while she leaned her head on his shoulder, and +tears burst from her eyes, and chased each other down her clear olive +checks, to which deep emotion now gave a richer glow--'tell me, do you +wish to be set free from all the ties that bind you to our race, and +return to your own people, to dwell again with them; and, perhaps, to +lift the tomahawk, and east the spear against those who have loved you, +and cherished you so fondly? Often have you told me that your Indian +wife and child are dearer to you than all that you have left behind you +at New Plymouth. But tell it to me again! Let me hear you say again +that you are happy here, and will never desert us; for when I see that +sorrowful look in your dear eyes, and remember all you have lost, and +still are losing, to live in a wilderness with wild and savage men, my +heart misgives me; and I feel that you were never made for such a life, +and that your love is far too precious to be given for ever to an +Indian girl.' + +The smile returned to Henrich's eyes, as he listened to this fond +appeal; and he almost reproached himself for ever suffering regret for +the blessings he had lost to arise in his mind, when those he still +possessed were so many and so great. + +'Dear Oriana, you need not fear,' he replied, affectionately; 'I speak +the truth of my heart when I tell you that I would not exchange my +Indian home, and sacrifice my Indian squaw, and my little half-bred +son, for all the comforts and pleasures of civilized life--no, not even +to be restored to the parents I still love so dearly, and the brother +and sister who played with me in childhood. But still I yearn to look +upon their faces again, and to hear once more their words of love. I +well know how they have all mourned for me: and I know how, even after +so many years have passed, they would rejoice at finding me again! + +'Yes; they must indeed have mourned for you, Henrich. That must have +been a sad night to them when Coubitant bore you away. But I owe all +the happiness of my life to that cruel deed--and can I regret it? If my +"white brother" had not come to our camp, I should have lived and died +an ignorant Indian squaw--I should have known no thing of true +religion, or of the Christian's God--and,' continued Oriana, smiling at +her husband with a sweetness and archness of expression that made her +countenance really beautiful, 'I should never have known my Henrich.' + +'Child!' said old Tisquantum, rousing himself from the half-dreamy +reverie in which he had been sitting, and enjoying the warm sunbeams as +they fell on his now feeble limbs, and long white hair. 'Child, are you +talking again of Henrich leaving us? It is wrong of you to doubt him. +My son has given me his word that he will never take you from me until +Mahneto recalls my spirit to himself, and I dwell again with my +fathers. Has he not also said that he will never leave or forsake you +and his boy? Why, then, do you make your heart sad? Henrich has never +deceived us--he has never, in all the years that he has lived in our +wigwam, and shared our wanderings, said the thing that was not: and +shall we suspect him now? No, Oriana; I trust him as I would have +trusted my own Tekoa: and had my brave boy lived he could not have been +dearer to me than Henrich is. He could not have surpassed him in +hunting or in war: he could not have guided and governed my people with +more wisdom, now that I am too old and feeble to be their leader: and +he could not have watched over my declining years with more of +gentleness and love. Henrich will never desert us: no, not if we return +to the head-quarters of our tribe near Paomet,[*] as I hope to do ere I +close my eyes in death. So long as I feared my white son would leave +us, and return to his own people, I never turned my feet towards +Paomet; for he had wound himself into my heart, and had taken Tekoa's +place there: and I saw that he had wound himself into your heart too, +my child; and I knew that he was more to us than the land of our birth. +Therefore I have kept my hunters wandering from north to south, and +from east to west, and have visited the mountains, and the prairies, +and the mighty rivers, and the great lakes; and have found a home in +all. But now our Henrich is one of us, and never will forsake us for +any others. Is he not Sachem of my warriors, and do they not look to +him as their leader and their father? No; Henrich will never leave us +now!' + +[Footnote: The native name for Cape Cod, near which the main body of +the Nausetts resided.] + +And the old man, who had become excited during this long harangue, +smiled at his children with love and confidence, and again leaned back +and closed his eyes, relapsing into that quiet dreamy state in which +the Indians, especially the more aged among them, are so fond of +indulging. + +Tisquantum was now a very old man; and the great changes and +vicissitudes of climate and mode of life, and the severe bodily +exertions in warfare and hunting, to which he had been all his life +exposed, made him appear more advanced in years than he actually was. +Since the marriage of his daughter to the white stranger--which +occurred about three years previous to the time at which our narrative +has now arrived--he had indulged himself in an almost total cessation +from business, and from every active employment, and had resigned the +government of his followers into the able and energetic hands of his +son-in-law. Henrich was now regarded as Chieftain of that branch of the +Nausett tribe over which Tisquantum held authority; and so much had he. +made himself both loved and respected during his residence among the +red men, that all jealousy of his English origin and foreign complexion +had gradually died away, and his guidance in war or in council was +always promptly and implicitly followed. + +And Henrich was happy--very happy--in his wild and wandering life. He +had passed from boyhood to manhood amid the scenery and the inhabitants +of the wilderness; and though his heart and his memory would still +frequently revert to the home of his parents, and all that he had loved +and prized of the connections and the habits of civilized life, yet he +now hardly wished to resume those habits. Indeed, had such a resumption +implied the abandoning his wife and child, and his venerable father-in- +law, no consideration would ever have induced him to think of it. He +had likewise, as Tisquantum said, on obtaining his consent to his +marriage with Oriana, solemnly promised never to take her away from him +while he lived; therefore, at present he entertained no intention of +again rejoining his countrymen, and renouncing his Indian mode of life. + +Still 'the voices of his home' were often ringing in his ear by day and +by night; and the desire to know the fate of his beloved family, and +once more to behold each fondly-cherished member of it, would sometimes +come over him with an intensity that seemed to absorb every other +feeling. Then he would devise plan after plan, by which he might hope +to obtain some intelligence of the settlement, or convey to his +relatives the knowledge of his safety. But never had he yet succeeded. +Tisquantum had taken watchful care, for several years, to prevent any +such communication being effected; and it was, as we have seen mainly +with this object that he had absented himself from the rest of his +tribe, and his own former place of abode. + +He had led his warriors and their families far to the north, and there +he had resided for several years; only returning occasionally to the +south-western prairies for the hunting season, and again travelling +northward when the buffalo and the elk were no longer abundant in the +plains. In all these wanderings Henrich had rejoiced; and his whole +soul had been elevated by such constant communion with the grandest +works of nature--or rather, of nature's God. He had gazed on the +stupendous cataract of Niagara, and listened to its thunders,[*] till +he felt himself in the immediate presence of Deity in all its +omnipotence. + +[Footnote: O-ni-ga-rah, the Thunder of Waters, is the Indian name for +these magnificent falls.] + +He had crossed the mighty rivers of America, that seemed to European +eyes to be arms of the sea; and had passed in light and frail canoes +over those vast lakes that are themselves like inland oceans. And, in +the high latitudes to which the restless and apprehensive spirit of +Tisquantum had led him, he had traveled over boundless fields of snow +in the sledges of the diminutive Esquimaux, and lodged in their strange +winter-dwellings of frozen snow, that look as if they were built of the +purest alabaster, with windows of ice as clear as crystal. And +marvelously beautiful those dwellings were in Henrich's eyes, as be +passed along the many rooms, with their cold walls glittering with the +lamp-light, or glowing from the reflection of the fire of pine +branches, that burnt so brightly in the center on a hearth of stone. +Well and warmly, too, had he slept on the bedsteads of snow, that these +small northern men find so comfortable, when they have strewn them with +a thick layer of pine boughs, and covered them with an abundant supply +of deerskins. And then the lights of the north--the lovely Aurora, with +its glowing hues of crimson and yellow and violet! When this beauteous +phenomena was gleaming in the horizon, and shooting up its spires of +colored light far into the deep blue sky, bow ardently did Henrich +desire the presence of his sister--of his Edith who used to share his +every feeling, and sympathize in all him love and reverence for the +works of God! But in all those days and months and years that elapsed +between the time when we left Henrich in the hunting-grounds of the +west, and the time to which we have now carried him, Oriana had been a +sister--yes, more than a sister-to him; and she had learnt to think as +he thought, and to feel as he felt, till he used to tell her that he +almost fancied the spirit of Edith had passed into her form, and had +come to share his exile. + +Certainly, the mind and feelings of the Indian girl did ripen and +expand with wonderful rapidity; and, as she grew to womanhood, her +gentle gracefulness of manner, and her devoted affection towards +Henrich, confirmed the attachment that had been gradually forming in +his heart ever since he had been her adopted brother, and made him +resolve to ask her of the Sachem as his wife. + +Since the conduct of Coubitant had excited--as we saw in a former +chapter--the suspicions of Tisquantum, and had so evidently increased +the dislike of Oriana, the Chieftain had abandoned all idea of +bestowing his daughter's hand on him or of making him his successor in +his official situation; and the departure of the cruel and wily savage +had been to him, as well as to Oriana and Henrich, a great satisfaction +and relief. None of them wished to see his dark countenance again, or +to be exposed to his evil machinations; and all were fully aware that +the marriage of the white stranger to the Sachem's lovely daughter was +a circumstance that would arouse all his jealousy and all his +vengeance. Nevertheless, this apprehension did not deter the old Chief +from giving a joyful consent to the proposal of Henrich to become his +son in fact, as he had long been in name and affection; and the summer +of the year 1627 had seen the nuptials celebrated in Indian fashion. On +the same day, also, the young widow, Mailah, became the wife of +Henrich's chosen friend and companion, Jyanough, who had never left the +Nausetts since first he joined them, but had followed his brother-in- +arms in all his various wanderings. + +It was a joyful day to the tribe when this double marriage took place; +and great was the feasting beneath the trees on the shores of the +mighty lake Ontario, where their camp was pitched. Game was roasted in +abundance, and much tobacco was consumed in honor of the happy couples, +who were all beloved by their simple followers; and for whom fresh +wigwams were built, and strewed with sweet sprays of pine and fir, and +furnished with all that Indian wants demanded, and Indian art could +furnish. With some difficulty, Henrich prevailed on the Sachem to +permit his daughter to forego the native custom of cutting off her hair +on the day of her marriage, and wearing an uncouth head-dress until it +grew again; but at length he was successful, on the plea that Oriana, +being a Christian, and about to unite herself to a Christian also, +could not be bound to observe the superstitious and barbarous +ceremonies of her race. Her fine black locks were, therefore, spared; +but Mailah was a second time robbed of hers, and appeared for many +months afterwards with her head closely shrouded in the prescribed +covering. + +Much did Henrich wish that he and his bride could have received the +blessing of a minister of the Gospel, as a sacred sanction of their +union. But this could not be: and he endeavored to supply the +deficiency, and to give a holy and Christian character to what he felt +to be the most solemn act of his life, by uniting in earnest prayer +with Oriana, Mailah, and Jyanough, that the blessing of God might rest +upon them all, and enable them to fulfil their new and relative duties +faithfully and affectionately and 'as unto the Lord.' + +Three years had elapsed since that day, and no event had occurred to +interrupt the domestic happiness of those young couples, or to disturb +the perfect friendship and unanimity that reigned between them. They +were a little Christian community--small indeed, but faithful and +sincere, and likely to increase in time; for little Lincoya was +carefully instructed in the blessed doctrines which his mother and his +step-father had received, and when Henrich's own son was born, he +baptized him in the name of the Holy Trinity, and gave him the +Christian name of his own loved brother Ludovico; and earnestly he +asked a blessing on his child, and prayed that he might be enabled to +bring him up a Christian, not in name only, but in deed and in truth. + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand +before envy? +'Open rebuke is better than secret love. +'Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are +deceitful.' +PROV. xxii, 4--6 + +Tisquantum still sat dozing on his favorite seat before his dwelling, +and Henrich and Oriana remained beside him, silently watching the +peaceful slumbers of their venerable parent, and the playful sports of +their child, who was again roiling on the soft green turf at their +feet, and busily engaged in decking the shaggy head and neck of a +magnificent dog with the gay flowers that were scattered around him. + +It was Rodolph--the faithful Rodolph--who had once saved Henrich's life +from the treacherous designs of Coubitant, and who had often since +proved his guard and his, watchful protector in many seasons of peril +and difficulty. His devotion to his master was as strong as ever; and +his strength and swiftness were still unabated, whether in the flood or +the field. But years had somewhat subdued the former restless activity +of his spirits, and, now that he had dwelt so long in a settled home, +his manners had become so domestic, that he seemed to think his chief +duty consisted in amusing the little Ludovico, and carrying him about +on his bread shaggy shoulders, where he looked like the infant Hercules +mounted on his lion. They were, indeed, a picturesque pair, and no +wonder that the young parents of the beautiful child smiled as they +watched him wreathing his little hands in the long curling mane of the +good-tempered animal, and laying his soft rosy cheek on his back. + +Such was the group that occupied the small cultivated spot in front of +the chief, lodges of the village: and thus happy and tranquil might +they have remained, until the fading light had warned Oriana that it +was time to lay her child to rest in his mossy bed, and to prepare the +usual meal for her husband and her father. But they were interrupted by +the approach of Jyanough and Mailah, accompanied by the young Lincoya; +and also by a stranger, whose form seemed familiar to them, but whose +features the shadow of the over-hanging trees prevented them at first +from recognizing. + +But, as the party approached, a chill struck into the heart of Oriana, +and she instinctively clung closer to her husband's arm, as if she felt +that some danger threatened him; while the open, manly brow of Henrich +contracted for an instant, and was crossed by a look of doubt and +suspicion that was seldom seen to darken it, and could not rest there +long. In a moment that cloud had passed away, and he rose to greet the +stranger with a frank and dignified courtesy, that showed he felt +suspicion and distrust to be unworthy of him. Rodolph, also, seemed to +be affected by the same kind of unpleasant sensations that were felt by +his more intellectual, but not more sagacious fellow-creatures. No +sooner did the stranger advance beyond the shadow of trees, and thus +afford the dog a full view of his very peculiar and striking +countenance, than he uttered a low deep growl of anger; and, slowly +rising from the ground, placed himself between his little charge and +the supposed enemy, on whom he kept his keen eye immovably fixed, while +his strong white teeth were displayed in a very formidable row. + +Coubitant--for it could be no other than he--saw clearly the impression +that his appearance had excited on the assembled party of his old +acquaintances; but he was an adept in dissimulation, and he entirely +concealed his feelings under the garb of pleasure at this reunion after +so long a separation. The candid disposition of Henrich rendered him +liable to be deceived by these false professions of his former rival; +and he readily believed that Coubitant had, during his absence of so +many years, forgotten and laid aside all those feelings of envy and +jealousy that once appeared to fill his breast, and to actuate him to +deeds of enmity towards the white stranger, whose father had slain his +chosen friend and companion. + +But was it so? Had the cruel and wily savage indeed become the friend +of him who had, he deemed, supplanted him--not only in the favor of his +Chief, but also in the good graces of his intended bride--and who was +now, as he had learnt from Jyanough, the husband of Oriana, and the +virtual Sachem of Tisquantum's subject warriors? No: 'jealousy is cruel +as the grave; the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most +vehement flame'; and in the soul of Coubitant there dwelt no gentle +principles of mercy and forgiveness to quench this fiery flame. He was +a heathen: and, in his eyes, revenge was a virtue, and the +gratification of it a deep joy: and in the hope of attaining this joy, +he was willing to endure years of difficulty and disappointment, and to +forego all that he knew of home and of comfort. Therefore had he left +the tribe of his adoption, and the friends of his choice, and dwelt for +so many winters and summers among the Narragansetts, until he had +acquired influence in their councils, and won for himself rank in their +tribe. And all this rank and influence he had, as we have seen, exerted +to procure the destruction of the white men, because one of their +number had caused the death of his friend, and he had vowed to be +revenged on the race. He hated the pale-faces, and he hated their +religion and their peaceable disposition, which he considered to be +merely superstition and cowardice; and now that he had failed in all +his deep-laid schemes for their annihilation, all his hatred was +concentrated against Henrich, and he resolved once more to seek him +out, and, by again uniting himself to the band of Nausetts under +Tisquantum, to find an opportunity of ridding himself of one who seemed +born to cross his path, and blight his prospects in life. + +Until Coubitant had traced his old associates through many forests, and +over many plains, and had, at length, found the place of their present +abode, he knew not that all his former hopes of becoming the Sachem's +son-in law, and succeeding to his dignity, were already blasted by the +marriage of Oriana to Henrich, and the association of the latter in the +cares and the honors of the chieftainship. For some years after his +abrupt departure from the Nausetts--and while he was striving for +distinction, as well as for revenge, among the Narragansetts--he had +contrived, from time to time, to obtain information of the proceedings +of those whom he had thought it politic to leave for a time; and, as he +found that no steps were taken towards connecting the pale-faced +stranger with the family of the Sachem by marriage, after he had +attained the age at which Indian youths generally take wives; and it +was even reported that Tisquantum designed to unite him to the widow of +Lincoya--his jealous fears were hushed to sleep, and he still hoped to +succeed, ultimately, in his long-cherished plans. + +It was not that he loved Oriana. His heart was incapable of that +sentiment which alone is worthy of the name. But he had set his mind on +obtaining her, because she was, in every way, superior to the rest of +her young companions; and because such a union would aggrandize him in +the estimation of the tribe, and tend to further his views of becoming +their chief. + +After the failure of his schemes for the utter destruction of the +British settlements, and all his malicious designs against Rodolph in +particular, his personal views with regard to Oriana and Henrich, and +his desire to rule in Tisquantum's stead, returned to his mind with +unabated force, and he resolved again to join the Sachem, and endeavor +to regain his former influence over him, and the consideration in which +he had once been held by his subject-warriors. But the removal of the +tribe to the north, and their frequent journeyings from place to place, +had, for a great length of time, baffled his search; and when, at last, +he was successful, and a Nausett hunter--who had been dispatched from +Paomet on an errand to Tisquantum--met him, and guided him to the +encampment, it was only to have all his hopes dashed for ever to the +ground, and his soul more inflamed with wrath and malice than ever. + +On reaching the Nausett village Coubitant had met Jyanough, and been +conducted by him to his hut, where he learnt from him and Mailah all +that had happened to themselves and their friends since he had lost +sight of them; and it had required all the red-man's habitual self- +command and habit of dissimulation to enable him to conceal his fury +and disappointment. He did conceal them, however; and so effectually, +that both the Cree and his wife were deceived, and though that the +narrative excited in him no deeper interest than former intimacy would +naturally create. But this was far from being the case. Oriana and the +chieftainship were lost to him at present, it is true; but revenge +might still be his--that prize that Satan holds out to his slaves to +tempt them on to further guilt and ruin. To win that prize--and, +possibly, even more than that--was worth some further effort: and +deceit was no great effort to Coubitant. + +So he smiled in return to Henrich's greeting, and tried to draw Oriana +into friendly conversation, by noticing her lovely boy; who, however, +received his advances with a very bad grace. He also addressed +Tisquantum with all that respectful deference that is expected by an +aged Indian--more especially a Sachem--from the younger members of his +race; and, at length, he succeeded in banishing from the minds of +almost all his former acquaintances those doubts and suspicions that +his conduct had once aroused; and he was again admitted to the same +terms of intimacy with the Chief and his family that he had enjoyed in +years long gone by. + +Still, there was one who could not put confidence in Coubitant's +friendly manner, or believe that the feelings of enmity he once so +evidently entertained towards Henrich were altogether banished from his +mind. This was Jyanough, whose devoted attachment to the white +stranger had first led him to mistrust his rival; and who still +resolved to watch his movements with jealous care, and, if possible, to +guard his friend from any evil that might be designed against him. + +For some time, he could detect nothing in Coubitant's manner or actions +that could, in any way, confirm his suspicions, which he did not +communicate to any one but Mailah; for he felt it would be ungenerous +to fill the minds of others with the doubts that he could not banish +from his own. + +The summer advanced, and became one of extreme heat. The winding stream +that flowed through the meadow--on the skirts of which the Nausett +encampment was formed--gradually decreased, from the failure of the +springs that supplied it, until, at length, its shallow waters were +reduced to a rippling brook--so narrow, that young Lincoya could leap +over it, and Rodolph could carry his little charge across without any +risk of wetting his feet. The long grass and beautiful lilies, and +other wild flowers, that had grown so luxuriantly along the river's +brink, now faded for want of moisture; and the fresh verdure of the +meadow was changed to a dry and dusky yellow. Day by day the brook +dried up, and it became necessary for the camp to be removed to some +more favored spot, where the inhabitants and their cattle could still +find a sufficient supply of water. + +For this purpose, it was resolved to migrate southwards, to the banks +of the broad Missouri, which no drought could sensibly affect; and +there to remain until the summer heat had passed away, and the season +for travelling had arrived. Then Tisquantum purposed to bend his steps +once more towards the land of his birth, that he might end his days in +his native Paomet, and behold the home of his fathers before his death. +To this plan Henrich gave a glad assent; for he surely hoped that, when +he reached a district that bordered so nearly on the British +territories, he should be able to obtain some information respecting +his relatives, and, perhaps, even to see them. And Oriana no longer +dreaded returning to the dwellings of her childhood, for she felt +assured--notwithstanding the occasional misgivings that troubled her +anxious heart--that Henrich loved her far too well ever to desert her; +and that he loved truth too well ever to take her from her aged father, +let the temptation be never so great. + +All, therefore, looked forward with satisfaction to the autumn, when +the long journey towards the east was to commence: but they well knew +that its accomplishment would occupy several seasons; for the movement +of so large a party, of every age and sex, and the transport of all +their baggage across a district of many hundreds of miles in extent, +must, necessarily, be extremely slow, and interrupted by many pauses +for rest, as well as by the heat or the inclemency of the weather. + +Coubitant also expressed his pleasure at the proposed change, which +would afford occupation and excitement to his restless spirit, and +which, likewise, promised him better opportunities for carrying out his +ultimate schemes than he could hope for in his present tranquil mode of +life. His constant attention to Tisquantum, and his assiduous care to +consult his every wish and desire, had won upon the old man's feelings, +and he again regarded him rather as the proved friend of his lost +Tekoa, than as the suspected foe of his adopted son Henrich. He +frequently employed him in executing any affairs in which he still took +an active interest, and he soon came to be looked upon by the tribe as +a sort of coadjutor to their white Sachem, and the confidential friend +of the old Chieftain. This was just what Coubitant desired; and he lost +no opportunity of strengthening his influence over the Nausett +warriors, and making his presence agreeable and necessary to +Tisquantum. + +The time appointed for the breaking up of the encampment drew near, and +both Henrich and Oriana felt much regret at the prospect of leaving the +peaceful home where they had spent so many happy days, and where their +little Ludovico had been born. Their comfortable and substantial lodge, +shaded with the plants that decorated it so profusely and so gaily, had +been the most permanent dwelling that they had ever known since their +childhood: and though they hoped eventually to enjoy a still more +settled home, they could not look on this work of their own labor and +taste without affection, or leave it for ever without sorrow. + +In order to lessen the fatigue of Tisquantum it was arranged, at the +suggestion of Coubitant, that he should precede the old Sachem, and his +immediate family and attendants, to the place of their intended +encampment; and should select a suitable situation on the banks of the +Missouri, where he and the Nansett warriors could fell timber, and +prepare temporary huts for their reception. This part of the country +was familiar to him, as he had traveled through it, and dwelt among its +plains and its woods in the days of his wandering youth: and he gave +Henrich minute directions as to the route he must take, in order to +follow him to the river, which, he said, lay about three days' journey +to the southward. + +To the south of the present encampment arose a considerable eminence, +that was thickly wooded to the summit on the side that overlooked the +Nausett village, and partially sheltered it from the heat of the summer +sun. On the other side it was broken into steep precipices, and its +banks were scantily clothed with shrubs and grass, which the unusual +drought had now rendered dry and withered. A winding and narrow path +round the foot of this hill was the only road that led immediately into +the plain below; and by this path Coubitant proposed to conduct the +tribe, in order to avoid a long detour to the west, where a more easy +road would have been found. He described it to Henrich, who had often +been to the summit of the range of hills that overlooked it in pursuit +of game, but who was ignorant of the proposed route into the Missouri +district; and, after some conversation on the subject, he proposed that +the young Sachem should accompany him the following morning to the brow +of the mountain, from whence he could point out to him the road he must +take through the broken and undulating ground that lay at the bottom of +the hill; and the exact direction he must follow, after he reached the +wide and trackless prairie that intervened between that range and the +hills that bordered the Missouri. + +At break of day the march of the tribe was to commence; but as several +of the Nausetts were acquainted with the intricate path round the base +of the hills, it was not necessary for Coubitant to lead them that part +of their journey in person. He therefore proposed, after pointing out +to Henrich all the necessary land-marks which could be so well observed +from the summit, to find his own way down the steep side of the rugged +precipice, and rejoin the party in the plain. + +This plan was agreed to; and Coubitant invited Oriana to accompany her +husband, that she also might see and admire the extensive view that was +visible from the heights, and observe the track that her countrymen +would follow through the valley beneath. + +Oriana readily acceded to this proposal, not only because she loved to +go by Henrich's side wherever she could be his companion, but also +because--in spite of the present friendly terms to which Coubitant was +admitted by her father and Henrich--she never felt quite easy when the +latter was alone with the dark-browed warrior. + +The morning was clear and bright; and before the sun had risen far +above the horizon, and ere the sultry heat of the day had commenced, +Coubitant came to Henrich's lodge, and summoned him and his wife to +their early walk up the mountain. With light and active steps they took +their way through the wood, and Rodolph followed close behind them--not +now bounding and harking with joy, but at a measured pace, and with his +keen bright eye ever fixed on Coubitant. + +In passing through the scattered village of huts, the dwelling of +Jyanough lay near the path. Coubitant ceased to speak as he and his +companions approached it; and Oriana thought he quickened his pace, and +glanced anxiously at the dwelling, as if desirous to pass it unobserved +by its inmates. If such was his wish, he was, however, disappointed; +for, just as the party were leaving it behind them, they heard the +short sharp bark of Rodolph at the wigwam door, and immediately +afterwards the answering voice of Jyanough. + +'Rodolph, my old fellow, is it you?' exclaimed the Cree, as he came +forth from his hut, and looked anxiously at his friends, who now, to +Coubitant's inward vexation, stood to greet him. + +'Where are you off to so early? he inquired of Henrich; and why is +Coubitant not leading our warriors on their way?' + +'We are but going to the brow of the hill,' replied Henrich, 'that +Coubitant may point out to me the path by which we are to follow him. +He will then join his party in the plain, and I will quickly return to +accompany you on our projected hunting scheme. We must add to our stock +of provisions before we commence our journey.' + +'I will ascend the hill with you,' said Jyanough; and Coubitant saw +that he took a spear in his hand from the door of the wigwam. Forcing a +smile, he observed, as if carelessly-- + +'It is needless, my friend. Henrich's eye is so good that he will +readily understand all the directions that I shall give him. Do you +doubt the skill of our young Sachem to lead his people through the +woods and the savannas, being as great as his prowess in war and his +dexterity in hunting? Let him show that he is an Indian indeed, and +wants no aid in performing an Indian's duties.' + +'Be it so,' answered Jyanough; and he laid aside the spear, and +reentered the hut, rather to Henrich's surprise, and Oriana's +disappointment, but much to the satisfaction of Coubitant. + +Rodolph seemed displeased at this change in the apparent intentions of +his friend; and he lingered a few moments at the door of the lodge, +looking wistfully at its master. But Jyanough bade him go; and a call +from Henrich soon brought him again to his former position, and his +watchful observation of every movement of Coubitant. + +The brow of the hill was gained: and so grand and extensive was the +view to the south and west, that Oriana stood for some time +contemplating it with a refined pleasure, and forgot every feeling that +could interrupt the pure and lofty enjoyment. Beneath the precipitous +hill on which she stood, a plain, or wide savanna, stretched away for +many miles, covered with the tall prairie-grass, now dry and yellow, +and waving gracefully in the morning breeze. Its flat monotony was only +broken by a few clumps of trees and shrubs, that almost looked like +distant vessels crossing the wide trackless sea. But to the west this +plain was bounded by a range of hills, on which the rising sun shed a +brilliant glow, marking their clear outline against the deep blue sky +behind. And nearer to the hill from which she looked, the character of +the view was different, but not less interesting. It seemed as if some +mighty convulsion of nature had torn away the side of the hill, and +strewed the fragments in huge end broken masses in the valley beneath. +Over these crags the hand of nature had spread a partial covering of +moss and creeping plants; and many trees had grown up amongst them, +striking their roots deeply into the crevices, and adorning their rough +surfaces by their waving and pendant boughs. Through the rock-strewn +valley, a narrow and intricate path had been worn by the feet of the +wandering natives, and by the constant migrations of the herds of wild +animals that inhabited the prairie, in search of water or of fresher +herbage during the parching heat of an Indian summer. + +Along this difficult path the Nausett warriors and their families were +now slowly winding their way, many of them on horseback, followed by +their squaws and their children on foot; and others, less barbarous, +leading the steeds on which the women and infants were placed on the +summit of a pile of baggage, and carrying their own bows and quivers, +and long and slender spears. + +It was a picturesque scene: and the low chanting song of the distant +Indians--to which their march kept time--sounded sweetly, though +mournfully, as it rose on the breeze to the elevated position occupied +by Oriana and her two companions. The latter seemed fully occupied--the +one in pointing out, and the other in observing the route of the +travelers. But the eye of Henrich was not unobservant of the beauties +of the prospect; and that of Coubitant was restlessly roving to and fro +with quick and furtive glances, that seemed to indicate some secret +purpose, and to be watching for the moment to effect it. + +Some of the Nausetts in the path below looked upwards; and, observing +their young Sachem and his companions, they raised a shout of +recognition, that caused the rocks to echo, and also made the brows of +Coubitant to contract. He saw that he must delay his purpose until the +travelers were out of sight: and this chafed his spirit: but he +controlled it, and proposed to Henrich and Oriana to seat themselves on +the verge of the precipice, and watch the course of the travelers, +while he went to reconnoiter the steep path by which he designed to +join them. They did so, and the hushes that grew to the edge of the +steep declivity shaded the spot, and hid them from the retreating form +of Coubitant. + +For some time they sat together, admiring the beauty of the scene +before them, and watching the long procession in the defile below, as +it wound, 'in Indian file, between the rocks and tangled bushes that +cumbered the vale, until it was almost out of sight. Rudolph lay +beside them, apparently asleep; but the slumber of a faithful watch-dog +is always light, and Rodolph was one of the most vigilant of his race. +Why did he now utter a low uneasy moan, as if he dreamt of danger? It +was so low that, if Henrich heard it, he did not pay any heed to it, +and continued talking to Oriana of their approaching journey, and of +their plans for the future, in perfect security. + +But their conversation was suddenly and painfully interrupted. A +fierce bark from Rodolph, as he sprang on some one in the bush close +beside Henrich, and the grasp of a powerful hand upon his shoulder at +the same instant, caused the young Sachem to glance round. He found +himself held to the ground by Coubitant, who was endeavoring to force +him over the precipice; and would, from the suddenness and strength of +the attack, have undoubtedly succeeded, but for the timely aid of +Rodolph, who had seized on his left arm, and held it back in his +powerful jaws. He was, however, unable to displace the savage, or +release his master from the perilous situation in which he was placed; +and, owing to the manner in which Henrich had seated himself on the +extreme verge of the rock that overhung the precipice, it was out of +his power to spring to his feet, or offer any effectual resistance. The +slender but not feeble arm of Oriana, as she clung frantically to her +husband, and strove to draw him back to safety, was, apparently, the +only human power that now preserved him from instant destruction. Not +a sound was uttered by one of the struggling group; scarcely a breath +was drawn--so intense was the mental emotion, and the muscular effort +that nerved every fiber during these awfully protracted moments. + +But help was nigh! He, in whose hands are the lives of His creatures, +sent aid when aid was so needful. A loud cry was heard in the thicket; +and, as Coubitant made one more desperate effort to hurl his detested +rival from the rock, and almost succeeded in flinging the whole group +together into the depths below--he felt himself encircled by arms as +muscular as his own, and suddenly dragged backwards. + +Henrich sprang on the firm ground, and beheld his faithful friend +Jyanough in fierce conflict with the treacherous Coubitant, and +powerfully assisted by Rodolph, who had loosed the murderer's arm, but +continued to assail and wound him as he struggled to draw his new +antagonist to the brink, and seemed resolved to have one victim, even +if he shared the same dreadful fate himself. Henrich flew to the aid of +his friend, leaving Oriana motionless, and almost breathless, on the +spot where she had endured such agony of mind, and such violent bodily +exertion. For once, her strength and spirit failed her; for the trial +had been too great, and faintness overcame her as she saw her husband +again approach his deadly and now undisguised foe. + +Coubitant saw her sink to the ground, and, with a mighty effort, he +shook off the grasp of Jyanough, and darted towards Oriana. He had +thought to carry her off, a living prize, after the murder of her +husband; but now his only hope was vengeance and her destruction would +be vengeance, indeed, on Henrich. + +But love is stronger even than hate. The arms of Henrich snatched his +unconscious wife from the threatened peril; and, as he bore her away +from the scene of conflict, Jyanough again closed on the villain, and +the deadly struggle was resumed. It was brief, but awful. The +strength of Coubitant was becoming exhausted--his grasp began to +loosen, and his foot to falter. + +'Spare him!' cried Henrich, as he saw the combatants on the verge of +the craggy platform, and feared they would fall together on the rocks +beneath. 'Spare him; and secure him for the judgement of Tisquantum.' +And again he laid Oriana on the ground, and rushed to save alike his +friend and foe. + +'He dies!' exclaimed Jyanough. 'Let him meet the fate he merits!' And +springing backwards himself, he dashed his antagonist over the rock. +One moment Henrich saw his falling form, and met the still fiery glance +of that matchless eye--the next, he heard the crash of breaking +branches, and listened for the last fatal sound of the expiring body on +the rocks below. But the depth was too great: an awful stillness +followed; and, though Henrich strove to look downwards, and ascertain +the fate of his departed foe, the boughs and creepers that clothed the +perpendicular face of the rock, entirely prevented his doing so. + +'He is gone!' he exclaimed; and not in a voice of either joy or +triumph, for his soul was moved within him at the appalling fate of +such a man as Coubitant and at such a moment! 'He is gone to his last +account: and O! what fearful passions were in his heart! Thank God, he +did not drag you with him to death, my faithful Jyanough! But tell me,' +he added--as they returned together to where Oriana lay, still +unconscious of the dreadful tragedy that had just been enacted so near +her--' tell me, my friend, how it was that you were so near at hand, +when danger, which I could not repel, hung over me, and your hand was +interposed to save me?' + +'My mind misgave me that some treachery was intended,' replied +Jyanough, 'when I saw that wily serpent leading you to the mountain's +brow; and my suspicions were confirmed by his evident reluctance to my +joining the party. Rodolph's expressive countenance told me, too, that +there was danger to be feared; and no red man can excel Rodolph in +sagacity. So I resolved to be at hand if succor should be needed; and, +having waited till you were all fairly out of sight and hearing, I +followed slowly and stealthily, and reached the verge of the thicket +just in time to hear the warning cry of your noble dog, and see that +dastardly villain spring upon you from the bush. The rest you know: and +now you will believe me, when I own my conviction that your destruction +has been his object since the time I joined your camp: and that, to +accomplish it, and obtain possession of Oriana, he returned to +Tisquantum's tribe, and has worn the mask of friendship for so many +months. My soul is relieved of a burden by his death; and forgive me, +Henrich, if I own that I glory in having executed on him the vengeance +he deserved, and having devoted him to the fate he designed for you.' + +Henrich could not regret the death, however dreadful, of one who seemed +to have been so bent on the destruction of his happiness and his life; +but the thought of all the guilt that lay on Coubitant's soul, +unrepented of and unatoned, saddened and solemnized his spirit; and he +only replied to Jyanough's exulting words by a kindly pressure of his +friend's hand, as they approached Oriana. + +Her senses bad returned, and, with them, a painful sense of danger and +of dread, and she looked anxiously, and almost wildly, around her, as +Henrich knelt beside her, and gently raised her from the ground. + +Where is he?' she exclaimed. 'Where is that fearful form, and those +eyes of unearthly fire that glared on me just now? You are safe, my +Henrich,' she added; and, as she looked up in his face, tears of joy +and gratitude burst from her large expressive eyes, and relieved her +bursting heart. You are safe, my Henrich: and oh that that dark form of +dread and evil might never, never, cross my path again!' + +'Fear not, Oriana,' replied Jyanough, 'he never more will darken your +way through life. He has met the death he designed for Henrich, and let +us think of him no more. It is time to return to the camp; and your +husband and I will support you down the hill.' + +'I am well, quite well, now !' cried Oriana, and she rose from the +ground, and clung to Henrich's arm, as if to assure herself of his +presence and safety. 'I could walk through the world thus supported, +and thus guarded, too,' she added, as she stroked the head of the +joyous Rodolph, who now bounded round her and Henrich with all his +wonted spirit. 'I owe much to my two trusty friends; for, but for +their care and watchfulness, what would now have been my dreadful fate! +Let us leave this spot--so beautiful, but now so full of fearful +images!' + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +Hither and thither; hither and thither! +Madly they fly! +Whither, O, whither! Whither, O, whither? - +'Tis but to die! +Fire is behind them: fire is, around them: +Black is the sky? +Horror pursues them; anguish has found them: +Destruction is nigh! +And where is refuge? where is safety now? +Father of mercy! None can Save but Thou?' ANON. + +'What is that distant cloud, Henrich?' inquired Oriana, as they rode by +Tisquantum's side on the evening of the day of their journey towards the +Missouri. 'It seems like the smoke of an encampment, as I see it over +the tall waving grass: but it must be too near to be the camp of our +people; unless, indeed, they have tarried there, waiting the arrival of +Coubitant, who never will rejoin them more.' + +'I see the cloud you speak of, Oriana; and I have been watching it with +some anxiety for several minutes. It cannot be what you suggest, for +you know your father received a message from the trusty Salon--next in +command to Coubitant--to tell him that their leader not having joined +the party as he promised, a search had been made, and his mangled body +found at the foot of the rock, where, it was supposed, he must have +fallen in attempting the sleep descent. Salon's messenger further +stated that, having buried the corpse where it lay, he had led the +people on, and should pursue the path pointed out by Coubitant, and +hasten to prepare the necessary huts for our reception. I dispatched +the messenger again with further directions to Salon; and ere this, no +doubt, the encampment is formed on the shores of the great river to +which we are journeying. 'Father,' he added, as he turned towards +Tisquantum, your eye is dim, but your sagacity is as keen as ever. +Can you discern that rising smoke, and tell us its cause?' + +The aged Sachem had been riding silently and abstractedly along. The +tall dry grass--now ripe, and shedding its seeds on every side--rose +frequently above his head; for he was mounted on a low strong horse, +and he had not observed the cloud that had attracted the attention of +the younger travelers. He now paused, and looked earnestly to the +south, in which direction the smoke appeared right before the advancing +party, and from whence a strong and sultry wind was blowing. As the +prairie grass rose and fell in undulating waves, the old man obtained a +distinct view of the smoke, which now seemed to have spread +considerably to the right and left, and also to be approaching towards +the travelers. + +The narrow, zigzag track of the deer and the buffaloes was the only +beaten path through the prairie; and this could only be traveled by two +or three horsemen abreast. The old Sachem, and Henrich, and Oriana, led +the party; and Jyanough, and Mailah, and young Lincoya, all well +mounted, rode immediately in the rear. The attendants of the two +families, and a few experienced warriors, some on foot and some on +horseback, followed in the winding path. + +On the halt of the foremost rank, the rest rode up, and were +immediately made aware of the ominous signs which hitherto they had not +noticed. Instantly terror was depicted in every countenance; and the +deep low voice of Tisquantum sank into every heart, as he exclaimed, +'The prairie is on fire!' + +'Turn!' cried Henrich, 'and fly! Let each horseman take one of those on +foot behind, and fly for your lives. Cast the baggage on the ground-- +stay for nothing, but our people's lives.' + +He was obeyed: men and women were all mounted; and Henrich snatched his +boy from the arms of the woman who carried him, and, giving the child +to Oriana, took up the terrified attendant on his own powerful steed. + +The wind rose higher: and now the roar of the pursuing flames came +fearfully on the fugitives, growing louder and louder, while volumes of +dense smoke were driven over their heads, and darkened the sky that had +so lately shone in all its summer brightness. + +Headlong the party dashed along the winding path, and sometimes the +terrified horses leaped into the tall grass, seeking a straighter +course, or eager to pass by those who had fled before them. But this +was a vain attempt. The wild pea-vines, and other creeping plants that +stretched among the grass, offered such impediments to rapid flight, as +forced them again into the path. + +And now the wild inhabitants of the broad savanna came rushing on, and +joined the furious flight, adding difficulty and confusion to the +horror of the scene. Buffaloes, elks, and antelopes, tore madly through +the grass, jostling the horses and their riders, and leaving them far +in the rear. The screaming eagle rode high above among the clouds of +smoke, and many smaller birds fell suffocated to the ground; while all +the insect tribe took wing, and everything that had life strove to +escape the dread pursuer. + +It was a desperate race! The strength of the fugitives began to fail, +and no refuge, no hope, seemed near. Alas! to some the race was lost. +The blinding effect of the dense smoke that filled the atmosphere, the +suffocating smell of the burning mass of vegetable matter, and the +lurid glare of the red flames that came on so rapidly, overpowered +alike the horses and their riders: while the roaring of the fire--which +sounded like a mighty rushing cataract--and the oppressive heat, seemed +to confuse the senses, and destroy the vital powers of the more feeble +and ill-mounted of the fugitives. Several of the horses fell, and +their devoted riders sank to the ground, unable any longer to sustain +the effort for life; and Henrich had the agony of passing by the +wretched victims, and leaving them to their fate, for he knew that he +had no power to save them. + +Many miles were traversed--and still the unbroken level of the prairie +spread out before them--and still the roaring and destructive flames +came borne on the mighty winds behind them. A few scattered trees were +the only objects that broke the monotony of the plains; and the hills, +at the foot of which they had traveled that morning, and where alone +they could lock for safety, were still at a great distance. At length, +the aged Tisquantum's powers of endurance began to give way. The reins +almost fell from his hands; and, in trembling accents, he declared his +total inability to proceed any further. + +Leave me, my children!' he exclaimed, 'to perish here; for my strength +is gone; and what matters it where the old Tisquantum breathes his +last. Mahneto is here, even in this awful hour, to receive my spirit; +and I shall but lose a few short months or years of age and infirmity.' + +'Never, my father!' cried H enrich, as he caught the reins of the +Sachem's horse; and while he still urged his own overloaded steed to +fresh exertions, endeavored also to support the failing form of his +father-in-law. 'Never will we leave you to die alone in this fiery +desert. Hold on, my father! hold on yet a little longer till we gain +the defile, where the flames cannot follow as, and all will yet be +well!' + +'I cannot, my son!' replied the old man. 'Farewell, my dear, my noble +boy!--farewell, my Oriana! And his head sank down upon the neck of his +horse. + +He would have fallen to the ground but for Henrich, who now checked the +panting steeds, and sprang down to his feet in time to receive him in +his arms. + +Fly, Oriana!' he exclaimed, as his wife also drew the bridle of her +foaming horse by his side. 'Fly, Oriana, my beloved! save your own +life, and that of our child! If possible, I will preserve your father-- +but if not, farewell! and God be with you!' + +One moment Oriana urged her horse again to its swiftest pace, as if in +obedience to her husband's command--the next, she was at Mailah's side, +holding her infant in one arm, white with the other she guided and +controlled the terrified animal on which she rode. + +'Here, Mailah!' she cried--and she clasped the child to her breast, and +imprinted one passionate kiss on its cheek--' Take my Ludovico, and +save his life, and I will return to my husband and father. If we follow +you, well. If not, be a mother to my child, and may the blessing of God +be on you!' + +She almost flung the infant into the extended arms of Mailah; and then, +having with difficulty turned her horse, and forced him to retrace his +steps, she again rejoined those with whom she was resolved to live or +die. + +One glance of affectionate reproach she met from her Henrich's eyes: +but he did not speak. With the assistance of Ludovico's nurse, who rode +behind him, he had just lifted Tisquantum to his own saddle, and was +preparing to mount himself, and endeavor to support the unconscious old +man, and again commence the race far life or death. But it seemed a +hopeless attempt--so utterly helpless was the Sachem, and so unable to +retain his seat. Quick as thought Oriana unbound her long twisted +girdle of many colors; and, flinging it to Henrich, desired him to bind +the failing form of her father to his own. He did so: and the nurse +having mounted behind Oriana, again the now furious steeds started +forward. All these actions had taken less time to perform than they +have to relate; but yet the pursuing flames had gained much way, and +the flight became more desperate, and more hazardous. Again the +prostrate forms of horses and their riders met the eyes of Henrich and +Oriana; but in the thickness of the air, and the wild speed at which +they were compelled to pass, it was impossible to distinguish who were +the unhappy victims. + +'Heaven be praised!' at length Henrich exclaimed--and they were the +first words he had uttered since the flight had been resumed--' Heaven +be praised! I see the rocks dimly through the clouds of smoke. Yet a +few moments, and we shall be safe. Already the grass around us is +shorter and thinner: we are leaving the savanna, and shall soon reach +the barren defile, where the flames will find no fuel' + +The horses seemed to know that safety was near at hand, for they +bounded forward with fresh vigor, and quickly joined the group of +breathless fugitives, who, having reached the extremity of the prairie, +had paused to rest from their desperate exertions, and to look out for +those of their companions who were missing, but who they hoped would +soon overtake them. + +Oriana snatched her now smiling boy from Mailah's arms, and embraced +him with a fervency and emotion that showed how little she had hoped to +see his face again. But her own happy and grateful feelings were +painfully interrupted by her friend's exclamation of agony-- + +'Where is my Lincoya?' she cried. 'Did he not follow with you? I saw +him close to me when I paused to take your child: and he is not here! +O, my Lincoya! my brave, my beautiful boy! Have you perished in the +flames, with none to help you?' And she broke forth into cries and +lamentations that wrung the heart of Oriana. + +She could give her no tidings of the lost youth, for she knew not whose +fainting forms she had passed in the narrow shrouded path; and it was +utterly impossible now to go and seek him, for the flames had followed +hard upon their flight, and were still raging over the mass of dry +herbage, and consuming even the scattered tufts that grew among the +stones at the entrance to the ravine. So intense was the heat of the +glowing surface, even after the blaze had died away, that it would not +be practicable to pass over it for many hours; and the party, who had +reached a place of safety, were compelled to make arrangements for +passing the night where they were, not only that they might be ready to +seek the remains of their lost friends the next morning, but also +because their own weary limbs, and those of their trembling horses, +refused to carry them any further. All the provisions and other +baggage, which they had carried for their journey, had been abandoned +in the flight, end had become a rapid prey to the devouring flames. But +several of the scorched and affrighted prairie fowls, and a few hares-- +exhausted with their long race--were easily secured by the young +hunters, end afforded a supper to the weary company. + +The horses were then turned loose to find fodder for themselves, and to +drink at the little brook that still trickled among the rocks; and +large fires having been lighted to scare the wild beasts that, like our +travelers, had been driven for refuge to the ravine, all lay down to +sleep, thankful to the deities in whom they respectively trusted, for +their preservation in such imminent peril. + +Fervent were the prayers and praises that were offered up that night by +the little band of Christians, among whom Henrich always officiated as +minister: and even the distressed spirit of Mailah was comforted and +calmed as she joined in his words of thanksgiving, and in his heartfelt +petitions that the lost Lincoya might yet be restored to his parents; +or that, if his spirit had already passed away from earth, it might +have been purified by faith, and received into the presence of its God +and Savior. + +Mailah was tranquilized; but her grief and anxiety were not removed: +and she passed that sad night in sleepless reflection on the dreadful +fate of her only child, and in sincere endeavors so to realize and +apply all the blessed truths she had learnt from Henrich, as to derive +from them that comfort to her own soul, and that perfect resignation to +the will of God, that she well knew they were designed to afford to the +Christian believer. And that night of watchfulness did not pass +unprofitably to Mailah's spirit. + +But where was Lincoya? Where was the youth whose mother mourned him as +dead? He was safe amid the top most boughs of a lonely tree, that now +stood scorched and leafless in the midst of the smoldering plain, +several miles from the safe retreat that had been gained by his +friends. + +The horse on which he rode that day, though fleet and active, was +young, and uninured to long continued and violent exertion; and, at +length, its foot getting entangled in some creeping plant that had +grown across the pathway, it had fallen violently to the ground, and +thrown its young rider among the prairie-grass, where he lay, stunned, +and unable to rise, until all his companions had passed by. Then he +regained the path, and attempted to raise the exhausted creature from +the earth: but all in vain. Its trembling limbs were unable to support +it; and Lincoya saw that he could no longer look to his favorite steed +for the safety of his own life, and must abandon it to perish in the +flames. + +But the boy was an Indian, and accustomed to Indian difficulties and +Indian expedients. He glanced rapidly around for some means of +preservation; and, seeing a tree of some magnitude, and at no great +distance, he resolved to try to reach it ere the coming fire had seized +on the surrounding herbage, and seek for a refuge in its summit. With +much difficulty, he forced his way through the tall rank grass that +waved above his head, and the wild vines that were entangled with it in +every direction; and he reached the foot of the tree just as the flames +were beginning to scorch its outmost branches. He sprang upward; and, +climbing with the agility of a squirrel, he was soon in the highest +fork of the tree, and enabled to look down in security on the +devastating fire beneath him. All around was one wide sea of ruddy +flames, that shot up in forked and waving tongues high amid the heavy +clouds of smoke. Happily for Lincoya, the herbage beneath his tree of +refuge grew thin and scanty, and did not afford much food for the +devouring elements; otherwise it must have consumed his retreat, and +suffocated him even in its topmost boughs. As it was, the lower +branches only were destroyed, and the boy was able to endure the heat +and smoke until the roaring flames had passed beneath him, and he +watched them driving onward in the wake of his flying friends. + +To follow his companions that night was hopeless, for how could he +traverse that red-hot plain? He, therefore, settled himself firmly +among the sheltering branches, to one of which he bound himself with +his belt of deer skin, and prepared to pass the night in that position, +as he had passed many similar ones when he had been out on hunting +expeditions with his father-in-law Jyanough. + +Long he gazed on the strange aspect of the wide savanna, as it glowed +in the darkness of night, with a lurid and fearful glare, that only +made the gloom more visible. But weariness and exhaustion at length +overcame him, and he fell asleep, and did not awake until the sun was +high in the heavens. The prospect around him was changed, but the plain +looked even more dreary and desolate than it appeared while the fire +was at work on its clothing of grass. Now all was laid low, and smoking +ashes alone covered the nakedness of the savanna. Lincoya gazed +earnestly in every direction, that he might make sure of the route he +must follow in order to rejoin his friends; and his attention was +attracted by the figures of two men approaching towards the tree in +which he sat, and apparently engage d in earnest conversation. For a +moment his hopes led him to believe that they were Jyanough and +Henrich, who had returned, probably, in search of him; and he was about +to hail them with a loud and joyful cry. But the caution so early +instilled into the mind of an Indian restrained him: and well it was +for him that he had not thus given vent to his feelings. The men drew +nearer, and he saw, to his amazement, that they were Coubitant--he +whose death and burial had been so confidently reported, and Salon--the +trusty Salon--to whom the conduct of the tribe had been deputed after +the supposed death of the appointed leader. + +They came beneath the tree; and, seating themselves at its foot, +proceeded to refresh themselves with food and water, that looked +tempting to the eyes of the fasting and parched Lincoya, as he gazed +noiselessly and attentively at their proceedings, and listened to their +discourse. + +'At last I have been successful, Salon,' said Coubitant to his +companion. 'At last I may rejoice in the destruction of those I hate +with so bitter a hatred. Those burnt and broken weapons were Henrich's, +end this ornament belonged to Oriana.' As he said this he displayed in +his hand a girdle clasp, that Lincoya recognized as having been worn by +the Squaw-Sachem on the previous day. It had fallen to the ground when +she gave the girdle to Henrich: and many of his personal accoutrements +had also been cast there, unheeded, in his anxiety to save Tisquantum. + +'I would I could have been more sure of all the bodies that lay just +beyond,' continued the savage; 'but I think I could not be mistaken in +those I most wished to find, burnt and disfigured as they were. And +the horses, too, were surely those they rode; for I knew the fragments +of Tisquantum's trappings, and recognized the form of Lincoya's pony. +Yes! they are all destroyed; I know it, and I exult in it! Now, who +shall prevent my being Sachem of the tribe, and leading my warriors to +the destruction of the detested white invaders of our land? + +'Truly,' replied Salon, 'your last scheme has succeeded better than any +of the others you have tried; and I now gladly hail you as Sachem of +our tribe. I have made sure of the fidelity of many of our bravest +warriors; and when those who would have taken the white man's part, and +followed him in obedience to Tisquantum's wishes, find that he is dead, +they will readily take you for their leader, as the bravest of our +tribe, and the most determined foe of the pale-faces. But it is +possible that Henrich has even yet escaped us. The bodies that lie +scorched on the ashes are fewer than the number that were to follow us. +We must, therefore, take measures to seize and destroy those who yet +live, if they are likely to disturb our scheme. Of course, they will +again set out on the same track, as being that which will most quickly +bring them where food and water are to be found. We have only to lie in +wait at the other side of the savanna, where the narrow mountain pass +leads to the river, and our arrows and spears will be sufficient to +silence every tongue that could speak against your claims. + +'You are right, nay faithful Salon,' answered Coubitant, with a sign of +warns approbation of the forethought of his accomplice. 'Let us lose no +time in crossing the plain; for, doubtless, the survivors of this +glorious fire will be early on their march, and it would not do for +them to overtake us in the midst of the ruin we have wrought. We will +set all inquiries to rest, and then we will report to our tribe that +the dreadful conflagration has deprived them of both their Chiefs, and +that it rests with themselves to choose another. O, Salon! my soul +burns to lead them to Paomet, that stronghold of our country's foes!' + +The murderers arose, and took their way directly across the prairie: +for all the rank herbage being now reduced to ashes, they were no +longer obliged to follow the winding course of the buffalo track. They +proceeded at a rapid pace; but it was some time ere Lincoya ventured to +descend from his hiding-place, as he feared being observed on the level +plain, if either of those ruthless villains should east a glance behind +them. At length their retreating forms appeared to him like specks in +the distance; and he came down from his watch-tower, and fled as fast +as his active young limbs could carry him, towards the spot where he +hoped to rejoin his friends. He had not very long continued his flight, +when he perceived several persons on horseback approaching towards him; +and soon he found himself in the arms of his joyful mother, and was +affectionately greeted by Jyanough and Henrich, who, with several +others, had come out to look if any of their missing companions were +still within reach of human aid. + +All but Lincoya had perished! The fire and the smoke had not only +destroyed their lives, but had so blackened and disfigured them that it +was impossible to identify a single individual. A grave was dug in the +yet warm earth; and all the victims were buried sufficiently deep to +preserve their remains from the ravages of wild beasts; and then the +party returned in all haste to those who anxiously awaited them at +their place of refuge. + +On the way, Lincoya related to his father-in-law and Henrich the whole +of the conversation which he had heard between Coubitant and Salon, +while he was in his safe retreat; and their surprise at finding that +the former had survived his desperate fall from the brow of the +precipice, and still lived to plan and work out schemes of cruelty and +malice, was only equaled by their indignation at thus discovering the +treachery and deceit of Salon. They had hitherto put the most entire +confidence in the fidelity of this man: and if they had still +entertained any doubts or suspicions as to the honesty of Coubitant's +intentions, they had relied on Salon to discover his plans, and prevent +any mischief being accomplished. + +The whole story was told to Tisquantum; and his counsel was asked as to +the best mode of now counteracting the further schemes of the traitors, +and escaping the snare which they found was yet to be laid for their +destruction. It would be impossible for them to reach the camp on the +banks of the Missouri, by the path which Coubitant had pointed out, +without passing through the defile where the villain and his +confederate now proposed to lie in wait for them, and where, in spite +of their superior numbers, many of their party would probably be +wounded by the arrows and darts of their hidden foes, without having +any opportunity of defending themselves. That route was therefore +abandoned. But the old Sachem remembered having traversed this part of +the continent many years ago, and he knew of a track to the west, by +which the mountains that skirted the course of the Missouri might be +avoided, and the rivers reached at a considerable distance above the +place at which the encampment was appointed to be formed. This road +was, indeed, much longer than that across the prairie, and would occupy +several days to traverse; so that it was doubtful whether Coubitant +would wait so long in his lurking-place, or whether he would conclude +that the Chiefs were dead, and return to take the command of the tribe. + +Nevertheless, no other course was open; and, with as little delay as +possible, the journey was commenced. A scanty supply of food was +obtained by the bows and arrows of the hunters, and water was +occasionally met with in the small rivulets that flowed from the hills, +and wandered on until they eventually lost themselves in the broad +Missouri. + +Inured to privations and to toilsome journeys, the Indian party heeded +them not, but cheerfully proceeded on their way until, at length, they +beheld the wigwams of their tribe standing on a green meadow near the +river's side. They hastened on, and were received with joyful +acclamations by the inhabitants, who had almost despaired of ever seeing +them again. The conflagration of the prairie was known to them; but +almost all of them were ignorant of the true cause of the awful +calamity, and attributed it entirely to accident. Nor were any +suspicions aroused in their minds by the conduct of Coubitant and Salon, +who had pretended the greatest alarm and anxiety for the fate of the +Chiefs and their party, and had set out as soon as it was possible to +traverse the savanna, in the hope, as they declared, of rendering +assistance to any of the Sachem's company who might have survived the +catastrophe. + +Much to the relief of all the party, they found that neither Coubitant +nor his accomplice had yet returned to the camp; and their prolonged +absence was becoming a source of uneasiness to the rest of the tribe, +who were preparing to send out a party of men to search for them, the +very day that Henrich led his detachment into the village. + +It was agreed by the Sachems and Jyanough, that they would not +communicate to the rest of their people all they had discovered of the +treachery of Coubitant and Salon; as they knew not yet how many of the +warriors might have been induced to join in the conspiracy, and connive +at their crimes. They, therefore, accounted for having traveled by so +circuitous a route, on the plea of their inability to cross the prairie +without any supply of either provisions or water; and they commanded +the party who were about to search for Coubitant and. Salon, to set out +immediately, and to use every possible exertion to find them, and bring +them in safety to the camp. They could have told their messengers +exactly where the villains were to be found; but that would have +betrayed a greater knowledge of their movements than it would have been +prudent to disclose; and they only directed the men to shout aloud +every now and then, as they traversed the mountain passes, that the +lost travelers might know of their approach; and also to carry with +them a supply of food sufficient to last several days. + +The messengers departed: and then Jyanough set himself to work, with +all an Indian's sagacity, to find out the extent to which the +conspiracy had been carried among the warriors of the tribe. He +succeeded in convicting four men of the design to elevate Coubitant to +the chieftainship, and of a knowledge and participation in his last +desperate scheme for the destruction of the Sachem and all his family. +Summary justice was, therefore, executed on the culprits, who scorned +to deny their crimes when once they were charged with them; and +submitted to the sentence of their Chief with a fortitude that almost +seemed to expiate their offence. The most daring of the four openly +exulted in his rebellious projects, and boasted of his long-concealed +hatred towards the pale-faced stranger, who presumed to exercise +authority over the free red men; and Tisquantum deemed it politic to +inflict on him a capital punishment. He was, therefore, directed to +kneel down before him, which he did with the greatest composure; and +the aged Chief then drew his long sharp knife, and, with a steady hand +and unflinching eye, plunged it into the heart of the criminal. He +expired without a groan or a struggle; and then the other three +wretches were led up together, and placed in the same humble posture +before the offended Sachem. At Henrich's request, the capital sentence +was remitted; but one of agony and shame was inflicted in its stead-- +one that is commonly reserved for the punishment of repeated cases of +theft. The Sachem's knife again was lifted, and, with a dexterous +movement of his hand, he slit the noses of each of the culprits from +top to bottom, and dismissed them, to carry for life the marks of their +disgrace. No cry was uttered by any one of the victims, nor the +slightest resistance offered to their venerable judge and executioner; +for such cowardice would, in the estimation of the Indians, have been +far more contemptible than the crime of which they had been convicted. +Silently they withdrew; nor did they, even by the expression of their +countenances, seem to question the justice of their chastisement. + +The next step to be pursued, was to prepare for securing Coubitant and +Salon the moment they should make their appearance in the camp, and +before they could be made aware of the discovery at their treason. For +this purpose, very effectual steps were taken; and Jyanough--the +faithful and energetic Jyanough--took the command of the band of trusty +warriors who were appointed to seize the leaders of the conspiracy, and +to bring them into the presence of the Chiefs. + +That evening, soon after sunset, the searching party returned; and, no +sooner did Jyanough perceive, from the spot where he had posted his men +among the rocks and bushes that commanded the pathway, that Coubitant +and his fellow-criminal were with them, than he gave the concerted +signal, and rushed upon them. In an instant, they were seized by the +arms, and dragged forcibly forward to the village. They asked no +questions of their captors--for conscience told them that their sin had +found them out, and that they were about to expiate their crimes by a +death, probably both lingering and agonizing. + +Doggedly they walked on, and were led to the spot where Tisquantum and +his son-in-law awaited their arrival. This was beneath a spreading tree +that grew near the banks of the river, which in that part were rather +high and precipitous. The shades of evening were deepening; and the +dark visage of Coubitant looked darker than ever, while the lurid light +of his deep-set eyes seemed to glow with even unwonted luster from +beneath his shaggy and overhanging brows. + +The greatest part of the tribe were gathered together in that place, +and stood silently around to view the criminals, and to witness their +expected fate; for now all were acquainted with their guilt and all who +were assembled here were indignant at their treachery against their +venerable and beloved Sachem, and their scarcely less respected white +Chieftain. + +The voice of Tisquantum broke the ominous silence. + +Coubitant, he solemnly began, 'you have deceived your Chief. You have +spoken to him words of peace, when death was in your heart. Is it not +so? + +'I would be Chief myself,' replied the savage, in a deep, undaunted +voice. 'I was taught to believe that I should succeed you; and a pale- +faced stranger has taken my place. I have lived but to obtain +vengeance--vengeance that you, Tisquantum, who were bound to wreak it +on the slayer of your son, refused to take. A mighty vengeance was in +my soul; and to possess it, I would have sacrificed the whole tribe. +Now do to me as I would have done to Henrich.' And he glared on his +hated rival with the eye of a beast of prey. Tisquantum regarded him +calmly, and gravely continued his examination. + +'And you have also drawn some of my people into rebel lion, and +persuaded them to consent to the murder of their Chief. One of them has +already shed his life-blood in punishment of his sin; and the rest will +bear the marks of shame to their graves. All this is your work.' + +'If more of your people had the courage to join me in resisting the +pretensions of the proud stranger, you and Henrich would now have been +lying dead at my feet. You would never again have been obeyed as +Sachems by the Nausetts. But they loved their slavery--and let them +keep it. My soul is free. You may send it forth in agony, if you will: +for I am in your power, and I ask no mercy from those to whom I would +have shown none. Do your worst. Coubitant's heart is strong; and I +shall soon be with the spirits of my fathers, where no white men can +enter. + +The wrath of Tisquantum was stirred by the taunts and the bold defiance +of his prisoner; and he resolved to execute on him a sentence that +should strike terror into any others of the tribe who might have +harbored thoughts of rebellion. + +The death that you intended should be my portion, and that of all my +family, shall be your own!' he exclaimed. The torments of fire shall +put a stop to your boasting. My children,' he added--turning to the +warriors who stood around him--' I call on you to do justice on this +villain. Form a pile of wood here on the river's brink; end when his +body is consumed, his ashes shall he cast on the stream, and go to +tell, in other lands, how Tisquantum punishes treachery.' + +A smile of scorn curled the lip of Coubitant, but he spoke not; and no +quivering feature betrayed any inward fear of the approaching agony. + +Hear me yet, Coubitant,' resumed the old Chieftain; and, as he spoke, +the strokes of his warriors' hatchets among the neighboring trees fell +on the victim's ear, but did not seem to move him. 'Hear me yet, and +answer me. Was it by your arts that Salon's soul was turned away from +his lawful Chief, and filled with thoughts of murder? Was he true to me +and mine until you returned to put evil thoughts into his heart? or had +pride and jealousy already crept in there, which you have only +fostered?' + +'Salon hugged his chains till I showed him that they were unworthy of a +true-born Indian. The smooth tongue of the pale-face had beguiled him, +till I told him that it would lead him to ruin and subjection. Yes: I +taught Salon to long for freedom for himself, and freedom for his race. +And now he will die for it, as a red man ought to die. Let the same +pile consume us both!' + +'No!' interrupted Henrich, eagerly. 'His guilt is far less than yours, +and mercy may be extended to him. By every law of God and man your +life, Coubitant, is forfeited; and justice requires that you should +die. But I would desire your death to be speedy, and I would spare you +all needless agony. My father,' he continued, addressing Tisquantum, +'let my request be heard in favor of Salon, that he may live to become +our trusty friend again; and since Coubitant must die, let it be by the +quick stroke of the knife, and not in the lingering horrors of the +stake.' + +'Cease to urge me, my son,' replied the Chief, in a tone of firm +determination, that forbad all hope of success. 'I have said that +Coubitant shall die the death he intended for us; and his funeral pile +shall light up this spot ere I retire to my lodge. Salon, also, shall +die: but, as he was deceived by the greater villain, he shall die a +warriors death.' + +The Sachem rose from his seat, and took a spear that leaned against the +trunk of the tree beside him. + +'Now meet the stroke like a man!' he cried; and gathering his somewhat +failing strength, he bore with all his force against the naked breast +of Salon. The life-blood gushed forth, and he fell a corpse upon the +earth. + +'Now drive in the stake, and heap the pile!' exclaimed the aged +Chieftain in a clear, loud voice of command, as he withdrew the bloody +lance, and waved it high above his head. He was excited by the scene he +was enacting, and the feelings of his race were aroused within him with +a violence that had been long unknown to him. He felt the joy that +savage natures feel in revenging themselves on their foes; and he +forgot the influence that Henrich's example and precepts of forbearance +had so lung exerted over his conduct, though they had not yet succeeded +in changing his heart. + +'Heap the pile high!' he cried; 'and let the flames bring back the +light of day, and show me the death struggles of him who would have +slain me, and all I love on earth. Drag the wretch forward, and bind +him strongly. The searching flames may yet have power to conquer his +calm indifference.' + +The lighted brand was ready, and the victim was led to the foot of the +pile. A rope was passed around his arms, and the noose was about to be +drawn tight, when, quick as lightning, the devoted victim saw that +there was yet one chance for life. The river was rolling beneath his +feet. Could he but reach it! His arms were snatched from those who held +them with a sudden violence, for which they were unprepared; and, with +one desperate bound, the prisoner gained the steep bank of the broad +dark stream. Another moment, and a heavy plash was heard in the waters. + +Darkness was gathering around the scene; and those who looked into the +river could distinguish no human form on its surface. + +'Fire the pile!' cried Tisquantum; and the flames burst up from the dry +crackling wood, and threw a broad sheet of light on the dark stream +below. + +'He is there!' again shouted the infuriated Chieftain. 'I see the white +foam that his rapid strokes leave behind him. Send your arrows after +him, my brave warriors, and suffer him not to escape. Ha! will Mahneto +let him thus avoid my vengeance?' + +The bow-strings twanged, and the arrows flew over the water. Where did +they fall? Not on Coubitant's struggling form; for he had heard the +Sachem's command, and had dived deeply beneath the surface of the +water, and changed his course down the stream. When he rose again, it +was in a part of the river that the flames did not illuminate; and +those who sought his life saw him no more. + +'Surely he was wounded, and has sunk, never to rise again!' exclaimed +Henrich. 'His doom has followed him!' + +'Mahneto be praised!' cried Tisquantum; 'but I would I had seen him +writhing in those flames!' And he turned and left the spot. + +Coubitant gained the western shore of the river; and he smiled a +strange and ominous smile, as he looked across the waters, and saw the +forms of his enemies by the light of that fire which had been intended +to consume his quivering flesh, and dismiss from earth his undaunted +and cruel spirit. + +'I will have vengeance yet!' ha muttered: and then he turned his steps +towards the south, and paused not until he had traveled many miles down +the river, when he lay down on its margin, and slept as soundly as if +no guilt lay on his soul. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +Out of small beginnings great things have arisen,and as one small +candle may light a thousand. So the light here kindled hath shone on +many. +GOVERNOR BRADFORDS JOURNAL. + +Once more we must leave our Indian friends, and return to New Plymouth, +and to comparatively civilized life, with all its cares and anxieties, +from so many of which the wild tenants of the woods are free. + +Cares and anxieties had, indeed, continued to be the portion of the +Pilgrim Fathers and their families, though mingled with many blessings. +Their numbers had considerably increased during the years that elapsed +since last we took a view of their condition; and their town bad +assumed a much more comfortable and imposing appearance. Many trading +vessels had also visited the rising colony from the mother-country, and +had brought out to the settlers useful supplies of clothing, and other +articles of great value. Among these, none were more acceptable to the +emigrants than the first specimens of horned cattle, consisting of +three cows and a bull, that reached the settlement about the third year +after its establishment. They were hailed with universal joy by all the +inhabitants of New Plymouth, who seemed to feel as if the presence of +such old accustomed objects, brought back to them a something of home +that they had never felt before in the land of their exile. These +precious cattle were a common possession of the whole colony, and were +not divided until the year 1627, when their numbers had greatly +increased, and when a regular division of the houses and lands also +took place. + +The trade of the colony had, likewise, been considerably augmented, +both with the Indians and with the English, whose fishing vessels +frequented the coast, and were the means of their carrying on a +constant intercourse and traffic with their friends at home. One of +these vessels brought out to the emigrants the sad intelligence of the +death of their beloved pastor, John Robinson--he who had been honored +and respected by every Puritan community, whether in Europe or America, +and for whose arrival the Pilgrims had looked, with anxious hope, ever +since the day of their sorrowful parting in Holland. 'Surely'--as a +friend of Bradford's wrote to him from Leyden--our pastor would never +have gone from hence, if prayers, tears or means of aid could have +saved him.' The consternation of the settlers was great indeed. Year +after year they had gone on, expecting and waiting for his coming to +resume his official duties among them; and, therefore, they had never +taken any measures to provide themselves with regular pastors, who +might preach the gospel to them three times every Lord's day, according +to their custom in Europe and also administer to them the sacrament, +which, previous to their exile, all the grown-up members of the +community had habitually received every Sunday. + +The death of their spiritual leader and counselor had destroyed all +their hopes of being again united to him on earth; and the blow fell +heavily on all, and cast a gloom over the settlement that was not soon +dispersed; but still the Pilgrims did not immediately proceed to choose +another minister. The belief that the divine service could receive no +part of its sanctity from either time, place, or person, but only from +the Holy Spirit of God, which hallows it--was then, as it is now, a +leading feature of the Independent and Presbyterian churches of +America, and, therefore, the Puritans of New Plymouth did not feel it a +necessity--although they deemed it a _privilege_--to enjoy the +spiritual ministrations of ordained clergymen. + +Hitherto the venerable Brewster, with the occasional aid of Bradford, +Winslow, and a few others distinguished for piety and eloquence, had +delivered the customary addresses and prayers, and had performed the +rite of baptism. At length, in the year 1628, Allerton, the assistant +of Bradford, after he had been on a mission to England, brought back +with him a young preacher of the name of Rogers, who very shortly gave +such evident signs of insanity, that the settlers were obliged to send +him back to his native land, at a considerable expense and trouble. + +In the meantime, the number of settlers on other parts of the coast of +New England had augmented to a great extent; and in Salem alone there +were four ministers who had come out with the English emigrants, of +whom only two could find adequate employment. One of the others, +therefore, named Ralph Smith, who was a man of much piety, and judged +orthodox by the Puritans, went to Plymouth, and offered himself as +pastor to the inhabitants. He was chosen by the people to be their +spiritual leader, and became the first regularly-appointed preacher who +officiated among these, the earliest settlers in New England. + +Two or three small vessels were, about this time, built by the men of +Plymouth for their own use, and proved of great service to them, as +their connection with other colonies of Europeans on the American coast +became more extensive and profitable. A friendly intercourse with the +Dutch settlers at the mouth of the great river Hudson had also lately +been established, to the great satisfaction of the Plymouthers, and to +the mutual advantage and comfort of both parties. It was commenced by +the men of Holland soon after their formal settlement near the Hudson, +where they erected a village, and a fortress called Fort Amsterdam. +From thence they addressed a courteous letter to their old connections, +the English exiles from Leyden; and invited them to an occasional +barter of their respective goods and productions, and also offered them +their services in any other way that could be useful. + +Governor Bradford--who still by annual election retained his important +office--returned an equally friendly reply to these overtures: and at +the same time tendered his own and his people's grateful +acknowledgements of all the kindness and hospitality that they had +received during their residence in Holland, in years gone by. The +following year they were surprised and gratified by a visit from De +Brazier, the Secretary of the Dutch colony, who anchored at Manomet, a +place twenty miles to the south of New Plymouth, and from thence sent +to request the Pilgrims to send a boat for him. His ship was well +stocked with such wares as were likely to be acceptable to the English; +and, according to the custom of the times, he was attended by several +gaily dressed trumpeters, and a numerous retinue of servants. The new +pinnace, which had recently been built at Manomet, was immediately +dispatched for the welcome visitors, and he was hospitably entertained +by his new friends for three days; after which the Governor, attended +by Rodolph and some others, returned with him to his vessel, to make +their purchases, and to give in exchange for their European goods, such +furs, and skins, and tobacco, as they had been able to collect in their +general storehouse on 'the Burying Hill.' + +From this period, an active trade was carried on between the two +settlements, which proved highly advantageous to both--the Dutch +supplying the men of Plymouth with sugar, linen, and other stuffs, in +return for their skins, timber, and tobacco. + +During all this time, an almost perfect peace was maintained with the +neighboring Indian tribes; and the friendship that had so early been +established between the English settlers and the Wampanoges became more +confirmed and strengthened. All external matters now wore a far more +prosperous aspect than they had hitherto done; and the Pilgrims felt +that they had both the means and the leisure to add to the comforts of +their social and domestic life. Some years previously, a small portion +of land had been assigned to each family for its own particular use: +but the possession of this land had not been made hereditary; and +although the fact of its being appropriated to one household had +considerably increased the zeal and industry of the cultivators, yet +they still desired that feeling of inalienable property which so +greatly adds to the value of every possession. + +To gratify this natural desire, the Governor and his council had deemed +it advisable to depart so far from the terms of the original treaty as +to allot to each colonist an acre of land, as near the town as +possible, in order that, if any danger threatened, they might be able +to unite speedily for the general defense. This arrangement gave much +satisfaction to the settlers; but in the year 1627 they were placed in +a still more comfortable and independent position. They were, by their +charter, lords of all the neighboring land for a circle of more than +one hundred miles. That portion of their territory, therefore, which +was most contiguous to the town, was divided into portions of twenty +acres, five long on the side next the coast, and four broad; and to +each citizen one of these portions was assigned, with the liberty of +purchasing another for his wife, and also one for every child who +resided with him. To every six of these pieces were allotted a cow, two +goats, and a few pigs; so that each settler became possessed of a +little farm of his own, and a small herd of cattle to stock it with: +and peace and plenty at length seemed to smile on the hardy and long- +enduring settlers. + +Meanwhile, the colony of Massachusetts, which had been founded in the +year 1624, increased rapidly. It was first planted at Nantasket, a +deserted village of the Indians, at the entrance of the Bay of +Massachusetts, where the Plymouth settlers had previously erected a few +houses, for the convenience of carrying on their trade with the +neighboring tribes. Another settlement had been formed, two years +later, at Naumkeak, a tongue of land of remarkable fertility, where +also a deserted Indian village was found, which formed the commencement +of the town afterwards called Salem; and which had become--at the +period we have now arrived at in our story--a place of some importance. +It was founded by a man of much zeal end enthusiasm, of the name of +Endicott; who was one of the original possessors of the patent granted +to several gentlemen of Dorsetshire, for the land in Massachusetts Bay, +extending from the Merrimak to the Charles River, from north to south; +but stretching to an indefinite distance westward, even over the +unexplored regions between the boisterous Atlantic, and the Silent +Sea, as the Pacific has been very aptly and beautifully designated. + +Endicott had been invested, by the society to which he belonged in +England, with the government of the whole district of Massachusetts; +and he soon found himself called on to exercise his authority for the +suppression of the disturbances excited by the settlers of Quincy. This +place was inhabited by a set of low and immoral men, one of whom, named +Thomas Morton, had come over in the wild and dissolute train sent out +by Weston several years previously. He was a man of some talent, but of +very contemptible character: and had attached himself to the retinue of +Captain Wollaston and his companions, who first settled at Quincy, and +gave it the name of Mount Wollaston. He afterwards, with his friends, +removed to Virginia, leaving some of his servants and an overseer to +manage the plantation during his absence. But, no sooner was Morton +relieved of the presence of those who had hitherto kept him in some +restraint, than he roused the servants to a complete mutiny, which +ended in their driving the overseer from the plantation, and indulging +in every kind of excess. They even had the boldness and the dishonesty +to sell the land which had been left in their charge by the lawful +possessors, to the Indians; and to obtain fresh estates, which they +claimed as their own. And, having thus established a sort of lawless +independence, they passed their time in drinking and wild revelry. On +the first of May, they erected a may-pole, in old-English fashion; but, +not contented with celebrating that day of spring-time and flowers with +innocent pastimes, they hung the pole with verses of an immoral and +impious character, and, inviting the ignorant heathen to share in their +festivities, they abandoned themselves to drunkenness and profligacy. + +The horror and indignation of the severe Puritans of New Plymouth at +this outbreak of licentiousness, was great indeed. In their eyes almost +every amusement was looked upon as a sin; and the most innocent village +dance round a maypole was regarded as nearly allied to the heathenish +games in honor of the Goddess Flora. The conduct, therefore, of the +disorderly settlers of Quincy filled them with shame and grief; and +they felt humbled, as well as indignant, when they reflected on the +discredit which such proceedings must necessarily bring on the +Christian profession, and the British name. Nor was this all: it was +not merely discredit that they had to fear. The insane and profligate +conduct of Morton threatened to bring on them eventually, as well as on +all the emigrants, evils of a more personal kind. For, when Morton and +his wild associates found their means of self-gratification again +running short, they had the folly to part with arms and ammunition to +the Indians, and to teach them how to use them; thus giving them the +power of not only resisting the authority of the English, but also of +effectually attacking them whenever any subjects of dispute should +arise between them and the pale-faced invaders. + +Most joyfully the natives took advantage of this impolitic weakness; +and so eagerly did they purchase the coveted firearms of their rivals, +that Morton sent to England for a fresh supply of the dangerous +merchandise. Such conduct was quite sufficient to arouse the fears and +the vigilance of every other colony of New England; and the chief +inhabitants of the various plantations agreed to request the +interference of their brethren of New Plymouth, as being the oldest and +most powerful settlement, in order to bring the offenders to their +senses. Bradford willingly listened to their petition; for he desired +nothing more earnestly than to have an opportunity of openly +manifesting to his countrymen, and to the Indians, how greatly opposed +he and his people were to the proceedings of Morton's gang. He had +also a very sufficient pretext for such interference, as he could bring +forward the positive command of his sovereign, that no arms of any kind +should be given or sold to the natives. + +He resolved, however, before he had recourse to harsher measures, to +try and bring Morton and his wild crew to a better mode of life, by +friendly and persuasive messages. But these only excited the contempt +and derision of the ruffian; and the doughty warrior, Miles Standish, +was therefore dispatched, with a band of his veteran followers, to +seize on the desperadoes. They came upon them when they were in the +midst of their drunken revelry, and, after a fierce struggle, succeeded +in making them all prisoners, and conveying them safely to Plymouth. +From thence Morton was sent, by the first opportunity, to England, to +be tried by the High Council, who, however, did not take any active +measures against him or his followers. Many of the latter escaped, and +continued their disorderly life, until they were checked by the +vigorous proceedings of Endicott, who severely reprimanded them, and +cut down the may-pole which had given rise to so much offence, and he +named the hill on which the notorious plantation was situated, 'Mount +Dagon,' in memory of the profane doings of its inhabitants. + +The coast of Massachusetts Bay was now studded with plantations, and +with rising towns and villages. The stream of emigration continued to +increase; and the wealth and prosperity of the colonies in general kept +pace with the addition to their numbers, and with their extended trade +with foreign colonies and with the mother-country. Boston had become a +place of some note, and seemed to be regarded as the seat of commerce +for the Massachusetts district, as well as the center of the civil +government. Most of the families of the neighboring plantations, +especially of Charlestown, removed to Boston; and ere long it was +deemed expedient to found a regular church there, and the building of a +house of God was commenced. Winthrop, the governor, also exerted +himself in the erection of a fortress, to repel the dreaded attacks of +the Indians; but he soon perceived that this was a needless precaution, +for all the neighboring tribes readily offered their friendship, and +even their submission; and, as the strength of the colony daily +increased, he found that he had less and less to fear from the Indians. +The Sagamore of Sawgus, in the vicinity of Boston, remained the steady +friend of the English until his death; and Chickatabot, Sachem of +Neponset, one of the neighboring Chiefs of the Massachusetts, +frequently visited the rising town of Boston. On one of these occasions +he excited the mirth of the Governor and his suite, by requesting to be +allowed to purchase his fall-dress coat, to which he had taken a great +fancy. + +To this strange and original request, the Governor courteously replied +that it was not the custom of the English Sagamores to dispose of their +raiment in that manner; but he consoled the disappointed Chieftain by +sending for his tailor, and ordering him to measure Chickatabot for a +full suit. This treasure the Sachem carried away with him three days +afterwards, to astonish the eyes of his subjects in his native wilds; +and his loyalty towards the English was greatly strengthened by so +handsome and judicious a present. + +Cundincus, also, the Chief of the powerful and much dreaded +Narragansetts, sent his son with a friendly greeting to the new +settlers of Boston; and, in the following year, his nephew and +co-ruler, Miantonomo, came on a visit to the Governor. He was for some +days an inmate of Winthrop's house; and it is recorded that he not only +conducted himself with the greatest decorum, but that be also sat +patiently to listen to a sermon of an hour and a half's duration, of +which, of course, he scarcely comprehended one word. + +Governor Winthrop followed the good example that had already been set +by both Carver and Bradford at New Plymouth, in regard to all dealings +with the natives. He always maintained their rights with the most +strict and impartial justice; and if any Englishman committed an injury +against the property of an Indian, he compelled him to replace it--in +some cases even to twice the value of the article in question. + +The new settlers had always been on very friendly terms with the elder +colony of Plymouth; and visits were frequently exchanged between the +Governors and others of the inhabitants, which, though performed with +much difficulty and even danger, were a source of mutual pleasure to +the two bands of British emigrants. If the men of Plymouth regarded +with some feeling of jealous anxiety the growing power and greatness of +their rival, it was but natural. Nevertheless, no differences of any +importance arose between the colonies on the subject of civil +superiority. It was on spiritual matters that they sometimes disagreed; +and on these points the Plymouthers watched the newcomers with +suspicious sensitiveness, and resolved to maintain their dearly- +purchased based rights to religious freedom, against any pretensions +that might be made by the church of Boston. + +This latter community was frequently subject to divisions and disputes, +on those points of faith and discipline that each party regarded as +all-important, but on the carrying out of which they could not agree; +and a certain spirit of intolerance had already begun to show itself +among them, which, in later times, ripened into actual cruelty and +persecution. + +The first instance of any display of this unchristian spirit with which +our narrative is concerned, was the treatment of a young clergyman, +named Roger Williams, who came over to New England several years after +the emigration of the Pilgrim Fathers, when the renewed oppression of +the Puritan ministers, by the English bishops, drove many of their +number to seek a refuge in America. In the same year also arrived John +Elliott, a man whose name is deservedly remembered and respected in New +England, as standing conspicuous for zeal and virtue. So great and so +successful were his labors among the native heathen, and so eminent +were his piety and his self-denying charity, that he has been well +named the _'Prince of Missionaries'_ and 'the Great Apostle of the +Indians.' + +The arrival of these holy and zealous--though somewhat eccentric--men, +and of several others equally resolved to maintain the freedom of their +religious views and practices, tended greatly to strengthen and +establish the emigrants; and also added considerably to their comfort, +as every settlement became provided with regular and authorized +ministers of the gospel, and could enjoy all those religious privileges +from which they had been so long debarred. But it must also be +confessed that it became the source of much dissension and party +feeling, and led to that display of bigotry and intolerance that +eventually disgraced the Christian profession of the men of +Massachusetts.[*] + +[Footnote: The cruel fate of Mary Dyer, the Quaker, who was condemned +to death by Governor Endicott, at Boston, is a lamentable instance of +the narrow-minded and cruel policy of the rulers of that community. +She was banished from the state, but 'felt a call' to return and rebuke +the austerity of the men of Boston, and reprove them for their +spiritual pride. She was accompanied by two friends, William Robinson +and Marmaduke Stevenson, and all three were seized, imprisoned, and, +after a summary trial, were sent to the gallows. The two men were +executed; but at the moment when Mary Dyer was standing, calm and +resigned, with the rope around her neck, expecting to be launched into +eternity, a reprieve arrived, and the victim was released. But it was +only for a little time. She was again banished; and again returned, as +if to seek her fate. A second trial took place, and she was again +condemned. Her husband, who knew not of her return to Boston until it +was too late, appeared before the magistrates, and pleaded with all the +eloquence of affection and anguish. But he wept and prayed in vain. His +young and lovely wife was led to the scaffold, where she met her fate +with a pious and even cheerful resignation; but her blood has left a +dark stain on the history of the Church of Boston, that no time will +ever efface. This dreadful event occurred about forty years after that +period of which we are now treating.] + +Roger Williams was a man comparatively unknown in his own country, but +he was destined to exercise considerable influence in the land of his +adoption, by his peculiar views of religious freedom which went far +beyond those of the generality of his fellow Puritans. He desired to +extend to others that liberty of conscience which he claimed as his own +privilege, and for the attainment of which he had become a wanderer and +an exile. But he soon found that many of his countrymen had forgotten +in America the principles of spiritual freedom, for which they had so +nobly contended in England, and were ready to employ against those who +differed from them, the same 'carnal weapons' that had already driven +them from their mother-country. His sufferings were indeed light, in +comparison of those which were afterwards inflicted on the miserable +Quakers by the government of Massachusetts; but still they were hard +for flesh and blood to bear, and galling to a free spirit to receive +from those who boasted of their own love of freedom. + +Roger Williams was not more than thirty-two years of age when he +arrived in New England. He had boldly separated himself from all +communion with the high church of his native country; and, before he +would attach himself to the Church of Boston, he demanded from its +members a similar declaration of independence. The fathers of the +colony were, however, by no means prepared to take so decided a step, +which would lay them open to the attacks of the English hierarchy; and +although a few years afterwards, when they could do it with less risk +of punishment, they abjured all connection with the Church of England, +yet they dared not at present give any countenance to such individual +boldness as that which Williams had manifested. His uncompromising +principles were, however, in unison with those of the Church of Salem; +and he was invited by that community to be their teacher, as an +assistant to their pastor, Skelton, whose health was then declining. +The rulers of Boston were extremely indignant at this act of +independence on the part of the Salemers; and they addressed to them a +remonstrance, desiring them to take no such steps without the +concurrence of the government of the state of Massachusetts. But the +men of Salem did not withdraw their invitation, which was accepted by +Roger Williams; and in a short time his piety, his eloquence, and the +kind courtesy of his manners, gained for him the esteem and affection +of the whole community. + +He was not, however, permitted to remain in peace in his new home. The +suspicion and ill-will of the Boston government followed him to Salem, +and so greatly embittered his life, and interrupted his labors, that he +found it expedient to withdraw to Plymouth, where he found employment +as assistant to the regular pastor, Ralph Smith. His preaching caused +great excitement in New Plymouth, from the fervor of his eloquence, and +the freedom of his opinions, which aroused the sympathy of many of the +Pilgrim Fathers. Governor Bradford was much interested by the young +and enthusiastic minister; and he described him in his journal as 'a +man full of the fear of God, and of zeal, but very unsettled in +judgement.' Certainly, his opinions were peculiar, and his spirit bold +and defying, to a degree that rather shocked and astonished the sober, +severe, and exclusive men of Plymouth; but his sincere piety caused him +to be respected, even by those who shrank from going such lengths as he +did; and his engaging manners won the affection of all who were +admitted to his intimacy. + +One cause of the anger of the rulers of Boston against this energetic +young man was an essay which he wrote and addressed to the Governor of +Plymouth, in which he stated his conviction that 'the King of England +had no right whatever to give away these lands on which they had +settled; but that they belonged exclusively to the natives, and must be +bought in by auction from them.' No one who entertains a sense of +justice will now be disposed to object to this opinion; but it gave +great offence to the government of Boston, and he was summoned before +the general court, to answer to Governor Winthrop for having +promulgated such notions. He did not, however, attempt to defend them, +but good-humoredly declared that they were privately addressed to +Bradford, who, with tin chief men of Plymouth, agreed with him in all +the material points of his essay, and he offend to burn it if it had +given offence at Boston. The subject was then dropped, and Williams +returned to Plymouth, where he continued to reside for a considerable +time. + +During that period, he not only gained many friends among the +inhabitants, but he also, by a constant intercourse with the Wampanoges +and other neighboring tribes, obtained a considerable knowledge of +their language and manners, and secured their veneration and love. +This, as we shall have occasion to observe, proved afterwards of the +greatest advantage to him. + +But his own restless spirit was not satisfied with quietly discharging +the duties of his office, and enjoying the society of his own +countrymen and their Indian allies. Again he drew upon himself the +wrath of the Boston Church, by openly stating his conviction that no +civil government had a right to punish any individual for a breach of +the Sabbath, or for any offence against either of the four +commandments, or the first table. He maintained that these points +should be left to the conscience alone; or, in the case of those who +had agreed to a church covenant, to the authorities of the church. The +civil magistrates he considered as only empowered to punish such +violations of the law as interfered with the public peace. This +unheard-of heresy against the principles by which the Bostoners were +governed, was received with amazement and indignation: and, although +they could not take any immediate measures to testify their +displeasure, and to punish the offender, yet he thenceforth became the +object of hatred and suspicion to the rulers, and they only waited for +a fitting opportunity of openly manifesting it. + +Williams was aware of the feeling entertained towards him by the +government of Massachusetts, but he was not thereby deterred from +expressing his opinions in New Plymouth; and so great was his +attachment to the people of Salem, who had first afforded him a home, +that he would again have ventured thither, had he not been detained by +his new friends. They were both numerous and sincere: and, among them, +none were more attached to him than the Maitland family, who agreed +with him in most of his religious and political opinions, and valued +his society on account of his unaffected piety, and the various powers +and accomplishments of his mind. Possibly, it was the attraction that +Roger Williams found in this family that caused him so long to turn a +deaf ear to the repeated solicitations of his old friends at Salem, +that he would again take up his abode among them. Certainly, it was not +fear of the rulers of Boston that kept his undaunted spirit in a +district over which they had no authority; neither was it altogether +the harmony that subsisted between his views and those of the +hospitable Plymouthers. On many points they agreed, but not on all; +and those who differed from him feared that his continued residence +among them might excite a party spirit, and mar that peace which had +hitherto reigned in their community. + +Still Roger Williams did continue to dwell at New Plymouth; and still +his visits to the house of Maitland became more and more frequent.[*] + +[Footnote: A few liberties are taken with the private life of this +interesting character, in order to connect him more closely with the +events of the narrative. But all the incidents which can be regarded as +important are strictly historical, although the date and order of them +may be slightly altered.] + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +My child, my child, thou leav'st me!--I shall hear +The gentle voice no more that blest mine ear +With its first utterance I shall miss the sound +Of thy light step, amidst the flowers around; +And thy soft breathing hymn at twilight's close; +And thy good night, at parting for repose! +----Yet blessings with thee go! +Love guard thee, gentlest! and the exile's woe +From thy young heart be far!' HEMANS. + +At the period when Roger Williams was induced to seek a home among the +Pilgrim Fathers of New Plymouth, Edith Maitland had attained to +womanhood. She was not beautiful, strictly speaking, but she was +possessed of that 'something than beauty dearer,'--that nameless and +indescribable charm that is sometimes seen to surround a person whose +form and features would not satisfy the critical eye of an artist. It +was Edith's character which looked out from her clear hazel eye, and +won the interest and the affection of all who knew her. Gentle and +affectionate in disposition, but at the same time, firm, enduring, and +fall of energy, she combined the characteristic qualities of both her +parents, and added to them an originality all her own. Her education, +in the common acceptation of the term, had necessarily been both +desultory and imperfect; and yet, under its influence, the mind and +character of Edith had strengthened and matured in no common degree. +The very circumstances by which she was surrounded had educated her; +and sorrow--deep, abiding sorrow, for the loss of both her much-loved +brothers--had taught her to look on life in a different point of view, +and with different expectations from those with which it is usually +regarded by the young. Her mother had watched her opening mind and +disposition with much care and anxiety: but she had not sought to check +its interesting peculiarity, or to control the wild exuberance of +thought and feeling that were occasionally manifested by her +intelligent and engaging child. As she grew older, she became more and +more the companion of Helen, who studied her character attentively: +and, if we be allowed such a figure of speech, wisely endeavored to +train it in a right direction, rather than to prune it to any +conventional form. Thus a perfect confidence was established, and ever +subsisted between the mother and daughter; and the natural +thoughtfulness of spirit, and energy of purpose, that belonged to Edith, +were unchecked, and she was allowed to possess an individuality of +character that is, unhappily, too often repressed and destroyed in these +present days of high civilization and uniformity of education. + +The courteous manners which both Helen and her husband had acquired in +early life--when they dwelt in comparative affluence in England--were +inherited by their daughter in full measure; and her whole manner and +conduct were marked by a refinement and elegance that seemed little in +keeping with the life of extreme simplicity, and even of hardship, that +she had experienced from her early childhood. While her brothers were +spared to her, she was their constant companion and playfellow; and +except when her mother required her attendance, either as her pupil or +her assistant in domestic occupations, she spent the greatest part of +the day in rambling with them on the sea-shore, or through the adjacent +woods, or else in the active and tasteful cultivation of their garden. +And when successive calamities deprived her of these cherished objects +of her early affection, she still continued to wander to the spots +where they had played and conversed together, under the guardianship of +the faithful Fingal; and, with no companion but the powerful and +sagacious animal, she was even permitted to ramble through the woods as +far as the Wampanoge village, and divert her sorrowful thoughts in the +society of Apannow, and her lively little son Nepea. + +But after the sad day when Edith wept on the lifeless body of her +favorite Fingal, and saw him laid in the grave that was dug for him +beneath the great tulip-tree, she seemed to concentrate her affections +on the bower that Henrich had erected, and the plants that he and +Ludovico had transplanted from the forest to cover its trellised walls, +and to decorate the garden that surrounded it. Many of these were again +removed, and planted on Fingal's grave; and there--on a seat that her +brother had constructedwould Edith sit, hour after hour, either buried +in contemplations of the past and the future, or else devouring with +avidity the few books that her parents possessed, or that she could +procure from their friends and neighbors. She formed no intimacy with +any of her own young countrywomen. They were too unlike herself--they +had generally known no sorrow: or, if it had fallen on them, its +strokes had not made a like impression on their characters; and Edith +could find no consolation or pleasure in their society. So she lived +alone with her own spirit, and indulged her own high aspirations; and +none but Helen was the confidant of any of her thoughts and imaginings. +Many of them she kept within her own breast, for she felt that it would +distress her mother to know how little charm remained to her in life, +and how often she looked up into the blue depths of heaven, and wished +that she had 'the wings of a dove, and could flee away' from this cold +world, 'and be at rest' where Henrich and Ludovico dwelt. + +And yet Edith was not unhappy. As she grew up, and became a more equal +and rational companion to her parents, the cares and business of life +necessarily occupied more of her time and thoughts, and gave her less +leisure for solitary meditation; and her daily increasing sense of the +duties and responsibilities of a Christian, led her to regard as +selfishness that indulgence of her own thoughts and feelings in which +she had so much delighted. She was therefore cheerful, and even gay, at +home; but she desired no pleasures beyond those that her home afforded, +and that were perfectly consistent with the self denying views and +principles of her Puritan fellow-countrymen. + +In all the doctrines of her sect; Edith was thoroughly well-informed; +and to all those that were really scriptural, she gave a sincere and +heart-felt assent. But the stern severity of Puritan principles and +Puritan bigotry found no response in her gentle nature, and the narrow- +minded intolerance of the Boston Church aroused both her contempt and +indignation. She was, therefore, quite prepared to regard with +interest and favor the free-minded young minister who had made himself +obnoxious to their laws end customs, and had sought a refuge among the +more liberal and kindly Pilgrims of New Plymouth. + +The acquaintance of Roger Williams was soon made by the Maitlands; and, +once begun, it quickly ripened into intimacy and friendship. In +Rodolph he found a sound and able adviser; in Helen, a kind friend and +a well-informed companion; but in Edith he found a kindred spirit to +his own--one who could understand and sympathize in his yearnings for +freedom of thought and action, and in his strong sense of the injustice +of his oppressors. In all their tastes and pursuits they were, +likewise, as well agreed as in their religious and social opinions. +Edith's passionate love of natural beauty was fully shared by the young +refugee; and many an hour passed swiftly away while he instructed his +quick and willing scholar in the mysteries of sketching, in which +pleasant art he was himself a proficient. Edith loved music also, and +frequently accompanied her own rich voice with the simple notes of the +mandolin, while she sang the old songs of her fatherland. + +Hitherto, her mother had been her only instructor in this most refined +and refining of all human pleasures; but now she found an able and very +ready teacher in Roger Williams: and it was a matter of astonishment to +her father when he observed the rapid progress she made both in the +science and the practice of music, from the time the interesting +stranger undertook to give her lessons. His deep, manly voice +harmonized perfectly with her sweet tones; and they often brought tears +to the eyes of Helen, and called forth a sigh from the breast of +Rodolph, as they sang together some ancient English ballad, or united +their voices in the chants and anthems that were dear to the hearts of +the exiles, and recalled days of youth and happiness long passed away, +and never to return. + +Edith's bower was the usual scene of these domestic concerts; and there +the long, sweet summer evenings glided away in happiness, that the +'queen of that bower '--as Henrich had named her--had never known since +the last evening that she spent there with her brother. She began to +wonder why she had hitherto associated none but melancholy ideas with +the lovely spot; and to find that it was possible to feel even gay and +light-hearted while surrounded by Henrich's flowers, and looking on +Fingal's grave. How strange it seemed--and yet, how pleasant! A new +existence seemed opening before Edith's soul; and life no longer +appeared a dreary pilgrimage, which duty alone could render +interesting. The powers of her mind also received a fresh impulse from +the society of the cultivated Englishman, and was drawn out in a manner +as agreeable as it was new. Roger had brought from his native land a +collection of books, which, though small in number, seemed to Edith a +perfect library; and all were offered for her perusal. Several of them +were, of course, on controversial and doctrinal subjects; and these she +was able to understand and to appreciate: but among these graver and +more abstruse treatises, were some of a more attractive nature--some +volumes of foreign travel, and ancient legends, and heart-stirring +poetry, in which the soul of Edith reveled, as in a garden of new and +fragrant flowers. + +It was a fresh, and a very rich enjoyment to one who had known so few +literary pleasures, to pore over these volumes, and find her own vivid +thoughts and wild imaginings set before her in all the captivating +colors of poetry and fiction; or to follow the wanderings of travelers +through the civilized and enlightened countries of the old continent, +and learn from books those manners and customs of refined life, which, +in all human probability, it would never be her lot to witness. But +this enjoyment was more than doubled when Roger took the book, and--as +he often did--read to her and her mother while they sat at their work +in Edith's bower in the heat of the day; and if the younger listener +did occasionally pause in her occupation, and forget to ply her needle +while she looked up at the fine expressive countenance of the reader, +she may be pardoned; for the voice and the expression were in such +perfect unison, that the one added greatly to the effect of the other. + +Perhaps these days of peaceful intercourse, and growing, but +unacknowledged, affection, were among the happiest of Edith's checkered +life: certain it is that, in after days of trial and difficulty, she +looked back upon them as on some green and sunny spot in the varied +field of memory. + +But they could not last for ever. Days and weeks passed by, and Edith +was too happy in the present to occupy herself much about the future. +But her parents thought of it for her; and Roger thought of it for her, +and for himself. Her graceful manners and appearance had attracted him +on his first acquaintance with her, and the favorable impression had +been strengthened from day to day, as he acquired a more intimate +knowledge of her thoughtful character and amiable temper: and it was +not long ere he felt that his future happiness in life depended on her +returning those sentiments with which she had inspired him. + +Had he been possessed of much vanity, he would not long have +entertained any doubt on this interesting point; for Edith was too open +and ingenuous, and too little in the habit of disguising her feelings, +to pretend an indifference that her heart soon denied. But the very +admiration and respect with which she inspired Roger prevented him from +'laying the flattering unction to his soul'; and caused him, for some +time, to suppose that the very evident pleasure she felt in his society +arose from the solitary life she had hitherto led, and the natural +enjoyment of an intelligent mind in conversing with one who could enter +into her feelings and tastes, and impart some fresh ideas to give food +to her thoughts and imagination. + +Helen, however, was not under this misconception with regard to her +daughter's feelings, and she felt much anxiety as to the result of her +acquaintance with the young clergyman. The remarkable transparency of +Edith's character rendered it easy for a parent's eye to discover the +deep impression that Roger's fascinating manners, and rare +accomplishments, had made both on her fancy and her heart; and it was +equally easy to perceive that his affections were entirely gained, and +that he was not a man to draw back in this, or any other pursuit in +which his feelings were deeply engaged. There was a simple earnestness +of manner in every thing that he said or did that irresistibly won both +confidence and love; and Helen and her husband entertained not the +slightest doubt of the sincerity of his attachment to their child, or +of his full intention to offer his hand to her, as soon as he could +feel any certainty of its being accepted. Neither did they doubt his +power to make her happy; for it was evident that their tastes and +dispositions were admirably suited, and their characters marked to a +great degree by the same peculiarities. But it was these very +peculiarities in which they so well agreed, and which each would +probably strengthen and confirm in the other, that gave rise to the +anxious thoughts that dwelt in Helen's mind, and which she communicated +to Rudolph. + +Roger Williams was already a marked man, and an object of suspicion and +displeasure to the rising power of Boston. Already he had been +compelled to retire before the persecuting spirit of the Boston Church, +and to seek shelter in the rival and more charitable colony, where his +peculiar opinions were tolerated, even if they were not approved. But +the Maitlands knew that his position at New Plymouth did not satisfy +the yearnings of his earnest and aspiring soul, and that he felt a +strong desire to return to Salem, and minister among those who had been +his first friends, and his first congregation. His reason for so bag +delaying this measure was very evident; and Edith's parents justly +feared that, as soon as the object which now engrossed his whole mind +was attained, and he had won their daughter's heart and band, be would +take her from her present safe and peaceful home, to share with him the +trials and difficulties, and even dangers, which might await him on his +return to the state of Massachusetts, where they felt sure he would +again proclaim the opinions that had already given so much offence. + +This was a reasonable cause for anxiety; but it was not a sufficient +ground on which to refuse a connection with such a man as Roger +Williams--a man who might, indeed, by his daring freedom of spirit and +uncompromising opinions, bring earthly trial on himself and any one +whose fate was united to his; but whose lofty piety and steadfast faith +must carry with them a spiritual blessing, and gild and cheer the path, +however dark and thorny, in which he and his partner should be called +to tread. + +It was, therefore, with mingled feelings of pain and pleasure that +Helen heard from Edith that Roger had, at length, taken courage to +declare to her his own feelings, and to ask whether she could return +them. Her glowing cheek and glistening eye, as she revealed the +interesting fact, would have left her mother in no doubt as to the + answer she had returned, even if she had not already guessed her +sentiments; and she and Rodolph could but give their consent to her +wishes, and ask a blessing on her choice. The joy and gratitude of +Roger knew no bounds. Now he felt that life lay all bright and clear +before him, and that no outward trials could have power to cloud his +path, so long as Edith walked by his side, to divide his sorrows and +double his joys. + +He employed all his eloquence to persuade Rodolph and Helen to consent +to his speedy marriage; for, now that his object in lingering at +Plymouth was attained, all his love for his flock at Salem, and his +desire once more to dwell among them, returned with added force. He was +impatient to resume his spiritual duties where first he had commenced +them in New England; and he was eager, also, to present Edith as his +bride to the friends who had once so kindly received him, and who now +so pressingly invited him to return. + +The aspect of affairs in the State of Massachusetts was then peaceable, +and no demonstration of enmity towards Roger had lately been made by +the Boston rulers; so that Rodolph and Helen had no well-grounded +pretext for delaying their daughter's marriage, and her removal to +Salem with her husband. The letter of invitation to Roger Williams from +that community, also contained such alarming accounts of the rapidly +declining health of their pastor, Skelton, that the necessity for the +presence of his intended successor could not be denied. With some +reluctance the Maitlands, therefore, agreed to an early day for the +performance of the simple ceremony that would unite their beloved and +only remaining child to one whom they loved and respected, but whose +fiery zeal inspired them with doubt and anxiety. + +No sooner was the happy day fixed, than Roger hastened to dispatch a +trusty messenger to Roxburgh, with a letter to his valued friend and +brother minister, Elliot--who was appointed preacher in that town--to +entreat him to be present at his marriage, and to honor the ceremony by +giving the customary address at its conclusion. + +Much to his satisfaction--and that of all the Maitland family--this +request was acceded to, and the 'Prince of Missionaries' arrived at New +Plymouth, accompanied also by his bride. He was betrothed when he left +England, but circumstances had then prevented his intended wife from +accompanying him. But as soon as he was settled at Roxburgh, she +followed him to the land of his exile, and became his faithful and +devoted companion through a long and toilsome life, and his able and +efficient helpmate in all his difficulties. + +The chief object of this excellent man, in leaving his own country, was +not so much to escape the persecution that then awaited the ministers +of his sect, as to attempt the conversion of the native heathen. For +this pious and disinterested purpose, he abandoned home and kindred, +and all that was dear to him, and, at the age of twenty-seven, entered +that land of distant promise, to the evangelization of which he had +resolved to devote all the powers of his life, and the faculties of his +energetic mind. So abstemious and self-denying was he, that his mode of +life resembled that of a hermit; and, at the same time, so liberal was +he in relieving the wants of others--whether his own countrymen or the +red Indians--that, if his wife had not been a careful and clever +manager, they must often have been reduced to absolute want. There is +an anecdote recorded of him, so characteristic of the self-forgetting +spirit of the 'Great Apostle of the Indians,' that it ought not to be +omitted here, where we are endeavoring to give a faithful picture of +the manners and the principles of the Pilgrim Fathers, and their +immediate followers. + +The society in England, under whose auspices he had emigrated, allowed +him a salary of 50 a year, a great portion of which, as well as of his +small private resources, was always dedicated to charitable purposes. +It was his custom, when he received his quarterly payment from the +treasurer of the colony, to give away a considerable part of it before +he reached his home, so that _Dame_ Elliot--as she was called--only +received a very small sum, inadequate to the necessary expenses of her +frugal housekeeping. The paymaster knew the good man's peculiarities, +and was aware of the domestic embarrassments that his too-liberal +bounty often occasioned. He therefore tied the money up in a +handkerchief with so many knots, that he was sure the pastor could +never untie them; and gave it to him, saying in jest, 'Now really, +reverend sir, you must this time give it all to your worthy spouse. +Elliot smiled, and departed: but, before he reached his dwelling, he +remembered an afflicted family who stood in need of his assistance and +consolation; and, on going to visit them, he found them overwhelmed with +unexpected distress. He immediately attempted to open his handkerchief, +but all his efforts were unavailing to loosen the complicated knots. +'Well, well,' he said, at last, 'I see it is the will of the Lord that +you should have the whole. And, giving them all his wealth, he returned +home penniless. + +Dame Elliot never showed any displeasure at these improvident acts of +her husband. She admired and respected his pious motives, and his +beautiful spirit of self-denial: and she only strove the more to limit +her expenses, and to make their home cheerful and comfortable with the +scanty means she possessed, while she willingly conformed to the life +of extreme simplicity which he felt it right to adopt. More than one +dish was never allowed to appear on his table, and water was his only +beverage. If wine was offered him at the house of a friend, he +courteously declined, but never blamed in others the indulgence which +he denied to himself. He used to say, 'Wine is a precious, noble thing, +and we should thank the Lord for it; but to suit me aright, water +should rather be there.' + +Such were the Christian pair who came to attend the wedding of Edith +and Roger; and to offer their congratulations on the event, and their +prayers that it might tend to the present and the eternal happiness of +their valued friend and his interesting bride. It could not be +otherwise than that Dame Elliot and Edith should form a speedy and a +lasting friendship. There was a similarity of feeling, and a difference +of character, that rendered them peculiarly agreeable to each other; +and made them mutually rejoice in the prospect of future intercourse +which the strong regard that subsisted between Elliot and Williams, and +the nearness of Salem to Roxburgh, promised to afford them. The young +matron was of a much more calm and subdued temperament than her new +friend. Her early life and education had been very different from +Edith's; and the man on whom she had fixed her affections, and the mode +of life to which her marriage had conducted her, had alike tended to +promote a quiet composure, and steady regulation of mind, rather than +to arouse the enthusiastic feelings and the lively fancies that +distinguished Edith's character, and which had proved so irresistible a +charm to the fervid soul of Williams. But each of the young women was +well adapted to the lot which Providence had assigned them; and each +proved a blessing, and a support through life, to their respective +partners. + +But little preparation was required for the Puritan nuptials that were +now about to be celebrated: and little gaiety or display was manifested +on the occasion. According to the custom of the sect, the marriage +ceremony was performed by Bradford, as the chief civil magistrate, and +the personal friend of the family. At that period, marriage was +regarded as a mere civil act; and either the magistrate of the place, +or a commissary appointed for the purpose, was alone required by law to +officiate. If a clergyman chanced to be present, he was generally +requested to offer up a prayer, or even to deliver a suitable discourse +to the, parties; but this was a matter of choice, and not of necessity, +and had no share in the validity of the ceremony. Even the wedding ring +had already begun to be regarded by the Plymouthers as a relic of +Popish corruption and superstition, and was, in many cases, dispensed +with, and some time afterwards formally forbidden. But on this +occasion it was retained, at the wish of both Edith and her mother; who +were accustomed to regard it as a beautiful, and almost a sacred, +symbol of the purity and the duration of the holy tie of marriage. + +On the appointed day, the civil rite was duly and solemnly performed by +the Governor, in the presence of a few chosen friends, among whom none +felt more interest in the future welfare of the young bride than the +venerable William Brewster. Although he was not a regular minister, he +was invited by Rodolph and Helen to offer up a prayer for the temporal +and eternal happiness of their beloved child, and fervently and +eloquently the old man complied with their request: and tears of +affection and anxiety glistened in his eyes as he concluded his prayer, +and added his own heartfelt blessing to that which he had asked from +Heaven. + +Elliot then delivered a powerful and impressive address to the young +married couple, on their social and domestic, as well as their +spiritual duties; and a simple, but well-arranged repast at Rodolph's +house completed the ceremonies of the day. + +It was about this time that the marriage of Henrich and Oriana was +celebrated in the distant wilderness, where all the outward +circumstances were so different, and where no prescribed forms could be +observed, to render the simple ceremony legal or impressive. And, yet, +surely it was as sacred and as binding to those who then plighted their +faith to each other as if it had been performed with all the rites of +civilized life. The vows of Henrich and his Christian bride were made +in the presence of that God who instituted marriage, and hollowed it; +and they were sanctified by the 'prayer of faith, which rises as +freely, and as acceptably, from the wilderness as from the stately +cathedral. Had Edith and her much-loved brother known that their +earthly fate was thus being decided so nearly at the same period, how +would the supplications which they offered for themselves have been +mingled with prayers for the happiness of one another! + +A brief sojourn in her much-loved home was allowed to Edith after her +marriage; and then she gladly, but tearfully, left her parents, to +share the fortunes of him who would be more to her than father, or +mother, or brother, or sister, could be. The pinnace that belonged to +the colony was appointed by the Governor to convey Roger and his bride +to Massachusetts Bay, and land them as near as possible to their new +home in Salem; and thus Edith was spared the fatigue and difficulty of +a long and toilsome journey through the woods and the wilderness by +land. She was kindly and joyfully welcomed by her husband's friends and +admirers, who were already disposed to regard her with favor, and who +soon learnt both to love and respect her for her own many amiable and +estimable qualities. + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +'She was a woman of a steadfast mind, +Tender and deep in her excess of love.' + +The life of peace and tranquillity which Roger and his young bride +enjoyed in their new home, was not long permitted to be their happy +lot. The apprehensions that had been felt by Edith's anxious parents, +were but too soon realized; and, notwithstanding all the good advice +that he received at Plymouth, and all his own sincere resolutions to +avoid, if possible, all future disputes with the elders or the Boston +Church, Roger Williams again became the object of their persecuting +intolerance. + +The fact of his being again invited to Salem to assist the pastor, was +regarded as extremely offensive to the government of Boston: but when +Shelton died very shortly after Roger's arrival, and he was elected to +be the regular minister of the congregation, it was looked upon as a +sinful defiance of lawful authority, and one which demanded exemplary +punishment. An opportunity for this exercise of power soon occurred. +The township of Salem lain claim to a certain disputed piece of land, +and addressed a petition to the government of Massachusetts, in which +they demanded to be put in possession of it. But in consequence of the +recent act of the community with regard to Roger Williams's election, +the claim was unjustly rejected. The Salemers then, by the advice of +their pastor, wrote to all the other churches in the Bay, and requested +them to unite in a remonstrance to the government. This act was in +perfect accordance with the spirit of the puritanical principles, which +distinctly separated the church from the state; and it ought not, +therefore, to have given offence to any one. But their practice +differed greatly from their theory; and the feeling against Williams +was so strong that all the churches--the elders of which were opposed +to his opinions--now took part with the government of Boston against +him. + +This treatment so irritated the warm feelings of Williams, and so +keenly wounded his sense of justice and love of liberty, that he +required the Church of Salem to renounce all connection with the other +congregations; and even went so far as to refuse all intercourse with +his own church until this separation was agreed to. But strongly as the +Salemers were attached to their pastor, they could not consent to so +decisive a measure as he demanded; and, being vexed and dispirited by +the general disapprobation which their conduct had excited in the rest +of the colony, the greatest part of the congregation fell away from +him. + +This desertion grieved the heart of the zealous minister but it did not +discourage him, or subdue his determined spirit. He began to hold +spiritual meetings at his own house, which were attended by those +members of the church who fully concurred in his views, and who +considered that he had been treated with injustice. This proceeding +naturally aroused a strong party spirit in the town, and even +threatened to produce a permanent division in the church, as the +followers of Williams held themselves entirely aloof from the rest of +the congregation. + +Deeply did Edith lament this unhappy state of affairs. Her devotion to +her noble-minded husband, and the natural tendency of her own mind, led +her to sympathize entirely in his opinions and feelings; and her strong +sense of right and wrong caused her to condemn the injustice of the +government, and the weak, truckling spirit of the sister-churches. But +her judgement was more calm and dispassionate than that of Roger, and +her temper far less excitable. She therefore saw the impropriety, as +well as the danger, of, causing a schism in the church; and she used +all her powerful influence to induce her husband to give up these +irregular assemblies; and, without compromising his own opinions, to +endeavor to ward off the enmity of the men of Boston. + +She earnestly besought him again to leave the Congregation of Salem-- +the greater portion of which had already deserted him and his cause-- +and to return to Plymouth, where a safe and a happy home might yet be +afforded to them, and where no persecution for conscience' sake, need +be feared. But all her arguments and her persuasions were alike +ineffectual. On this one point she found her Roger firm and +inflexible--for on this point he felt that his honor and his conscience +were both concerned; and, even for Edith's sake; he could not act +contrary to their dictates. He knew that danger hung over his head; +and, though he would not shrink from it himself, he besought her to +seek a temporary refuge with her parents, and remain at Plymouth until +the threatened storm had blown over. But it was now Ediths turn to +show herself firm and decided; and so clearly did Roger perceive that +separation would be to her a far greater trial than any other that +could befall her in his company, that he forbore to urge a measure that +it wrung his own heart to propose. + +At length the boding storm began to break over his head. For all his +supposed offences he was again summoned before the General Assembly at +Boston; and, in fear and anxiety, Edith saw him depart. She knew full +well that he would never renounce, or even soften down, his opinions, +through any fear of man; and she did not, for a moment, desire that he +should thus lower himself in her estimation and his own. But she also +knew the bitterness of the enmity felt towards him by the authorities +at Boston, and she could not repress her apprehensions of its +consequences. + +As she anticipated, Roger refused to acknowledge himself guilty of an +offence against the church or state; nor would he even yield one point +of his religious or political opinions, during a long disputation with +the celebrated pastor Hooker. He was, therefore, declared contumacious +by the government: and, with the assent of all the assembled clergy, +except his friend Elliot, he was banished from the territory of +Massachusetts. + +Six weeks were allowed him by the General Assembly to make his +preparations, and remove beyond the boundary of their dominions: but as +this term would have brought the time of his banishment to the winter +season, when such a journey would have been impracticable, he was +afterwards permitted to remain at Salem until the spring. + +With great apparent unconcern he returned to his home, where his fond +and admiring wife welcomed him with joy, and strengthened his spirit by +the cheerful manner in which she received the news of their sentence of +banishment. She had felt an undefined dread of something much more hard +to bear--of something which might possibly separate her husband from +her: but banishment _with him_ was only a change of home, and, let +their lot be cast where it might, she could be happy. Indeed, she +entertained a hope that. Roger would consent to remove to Plymouth, and +take up his abode there, which would have, given her extreme +satisfaction. But she soon found that this hope could not be +accomplished; for her enthusiastic husband had formed a design of +founding a church of his own, and of being entirely independent of all +government in spiritual matters. In order to carry out this purpose, he +daringly continued to hold the obnoxious assemblies in his own house, +and to instill his opinions into the minds of the many young and +zealous friends who gathered around him. These meetings were even more +numerously attended after his return from Boston than they were before +he was summoned to the bar of the General Assembly; for persecution and +injustice naturally recoil on the perpetrators of it, and the victim of +such harsh measures is sure to gain friends and supporters among the +warm-hearted and the generous. + +A report of these proceedings was carried to Boston, and also a rumor +of Williams's supposed plan for founding an independent church and +settlement in Narragansett Bay. It was even declared that some of his +friends had already gone off to the south, and were seeking, a fitting +spot on which to commence building. + +This information roused the fears, as well as the wrath, of the +government. The eloquence and abilities of Williams were well known to +the rulers, and they dreaded the influence that he would inevitably +exercise over the neighboring churches, if he established himself and +his followers in a district so contiguous to their own. They, +therefore, resolved to employ still more harsh and stringent measures +than had yet been attempted, in order to put a stop to his disorderly +proceedings, and prevent the further dissemination of his opinions. He +was, accordingly, once more summoned to the chief town; and, had he +obeyed the summons, he was to have been forcibly conveyed on board a +vessel then in the harbor, and sent off to England as a rebel and +schismatic, unworthy to dwell in the new settlement. + +When the summons arrived at Salem, Roger was ill, having caught a fever +from some members of his flock on whom he had been attending; and he +therefore replied, with truth, that it would endanger his life to +attempt the journey to Boston. His serious indisposition had occasioned +to Edith much anxiety and alarm; but now she was made to feel how often +those events which we regard as misfortunes are really 'blessings in +disguise'; and how frequently our merciful and all-seeing Father +renders them the means of our preservation from far greater evils. It +would be well if the conviction of this blessed truth were constantly +present to our minds. How many anxious cares would it disperse or +soothe, and how many thanksgivings would it call forth. + +Edith felt its truth, and its consolation, as she sat by the side of +her husband's couch, and wrote, from his dictation, the reply that +saved him from immediate compliance with the dreaded summons. Nothing +would have induced Roger to plead illness as an excuse for disobedience +unless it had actually existed: and his fearless spirit would probably +have led him into the snare that was laid for him. Edith knew this +secret danger; for Governor Winthrop, who had seen and admired her on +one of his visits to Plymouth, and who now kindly sympathized in her +feelings, had sent her a private note by the messenger, in which he +warned her of the danger that waited Williams at Boston, and desired +her, by some means, to prevent his appearing before the General +Assembly. Winthrop highly disapproved of the young minister's bold and +independent conduct; but he shrunk from so cruel an act as was resolved +on by his council. He did not, however, choose to declare his more +lenient judgement; and he adopted the plan of informing Roger's wife of +the fate that was designed for him, and leaving it to her judgement and +affection to take the proper measures to avert it. + +It was not until after the departure of the messenger, that Edith told +her husband of Winthrop's kind interference, and showed him his note. +The indignation of Williams at such a flagrant disregard of all common +justice was so great, that Edith feared it would bring on an accession +of the fever. It, however, acted in a perfectly contrary manner. He +slept well that night, and the following morning declared his intention +of setting off immediately to Boston, and there accusing the General +Assembly of their unlawful intention, and daring them to put it into +execution. + +'I will upbraid them with their injustice, and charge them with their +purposed crime!' he exclaimed; and his fine eyes flashed with +excitement, that almost made Edith fear that the fever had affected his +mind. 'I will appeal to God and man against their lawless cruelty,' he +continued; 'and rouse the whole colony to defend my right to liberty of +thought and action.' + +Oh, Roger!' cried his wife--and she caught his burning hand, and +pressed it to her throbbing heart--'cease such wild and desperate +words! Would you drive me to distraction, by thus throwing yourself +into the power of your bitter and relentless enemies? Who in Boston +would stand up to defend your cause? Who could deliver you from the +evil intentions of these cruel men? It is true that the Governor has +shown himself your friend--I should rather say, my friend--by giving me +this secret information; but he would not openly espouse your cause, or +resist the will of the Assembly. Why, then, should you spurn from you +the means of safety that have been so mercifully afforded, and tempt +Providence to leave you to your fate'? + +'Edith,' he replied--and the bright flush faded from his cheek, and the +fire in his eye died away, and he sank again upon his couch--'Edith, +you have subdued my spirit; or perhaps,' he added, smiling up in her +face, 'weakness has subdued it. I feel that I have no strength to +accomplish what I desire, and to show my persecutors that liberty of +thought and feeling is my birthright, and that I will never relinquish +the privilege. I must, therefore, submit to the will of One who is +wiser and mightier than I am; and believe me, my Edith,' he continued-- +as he saw the tears falling from her gentle eyes--'believe me, I do to +with perfect contentment now. The passion--the sinful passion--that +stirred me so mightily just now, is gone; and I feel the goodness of my +God in holding me back from the rash act I contemplated, and from +rushing upon dangers that I might indeed defy, but could not hope to +conquer. I will be calm, my love; and you shall devise some means for +my escape. I feel assured that still more violent measures will be +adopted by the Assembly to get me into their power; and now that I can +quietly reflect on the consequences of such an event, I am aware that +they would, probably, be our violent and indefinite separation. I could +not bear that, Edith; though I believe that I could bear much to +vindicate my honor.' + +How changed was Roger's countenance now! All passion--all excitement-- +was gone; and the natural sweetness of his disposition, and tenderness +of his heart, resumed their interrupted influence over his whole manner +and expression. Edith thought she had never either admired or loved him +so much as at this moment, when he had conquered his impetuous +feelings, and yielded his fiery impulse to show a bold resentment of +injury, to her influence and persuasions. + +Heaven bless you, my own Roger!' she exclaimed, 'and reward your +better resolution, by granting us many future years of united +happiness. But now we must think of the present, and provide for its +emergencies. I see clearly that there is now no safety for you in +Salem, and that a speedy flight can alone ensure your liberty. You have +made a great sacrifice for my sake; and I will also make one for yours. +I will not even ask to fly with you, for I could only be an encumbrance +to you at this inclement season of the year, and my presence here may +be of use to you. My heart rebels while I say it, Roger; but you must +go alone, and use every exertion to reach Plymouth as speedily as +possible. When you are safe beneath my father's roof, then will be time +enough to think of me. I feel no doubt that Governor Bradford will +afford you every assistance in his power; and, probably, will again +allow the vessel that brought us here in brighter days, to convey me +once more to you and to happiness.' + +Edith had tried to speak with steadiness and composure; and, so far, +she had succeeded tolerably well. But when she realized to herself the +time that must elapse before she could rejoin her husband, and all the +dangers and privations that might await him in the interval, her +calmness quite gave way, and she burst into tears of uncontrollable +agony. + +Roger strove to cheer her, and to point to the happy future that he +trusted was in store for them--if not on earth, yet assuredly in a +better world, where faithful hearts will never know the misery of +parting. But it was not until he had knelt with her in prayer, and had +humbly asked to meet the coming trial, and to be sanctified by it, that +her tears ceased to flow, and a smile of hope and resignation illumined +her interesting countenance. + +'I must act now, Roger,' she said, in a cheerful voice, as she rose +from her knees. 'Our time is short; and I must make such arrangements +for your comfort during your journey as are in my power. All other +things that are needful to you I will endeavor to send by sea to +Plymouth; or, if no opportunity occurs during the winter, you must have +patience until I can convey them myself. + +Her voice again trembled; and unbidden tears again rose to her eyes. +But she sought relief in occupation; and on the day after the morrow, +when Roger was to commence his toilsome journey at break of day, his +knapsack was ready, and stored with everything that would be most +requisite to his comfort. + +The moment of parting came; but we will not describe it. It was borne +by Edith as a devoted Christian wife can bear anything that is +necessary for the safety and welfare of her husband. But when he was +gone, and her swimming eyes could no longer see his beloved form, or +catch his last signal of farewell, the whole desolation of her own +position burst upon her: and Edith was, for a time, bowed down with +grief. She felt herself alone in the world, and she shrank from seeking +comfort or sympathy from any human being who was then near her. But +friends whom she could not then expect to see were near, and the +wounded heart found a balm and a consolation beyond its hopes. + +The very evening after Roger's departure, Edith's spirit was cheered by +the arrival of Elliot and his wife at her now dreary home. O, how she +welcomed them! and how deeply they sympathized in her distress and +anxiety! They had heard of the last summons that had been sent from the +General Assembly; and had hastened to Salem, in spite of the severity +of the weather to offer any assistance or counsel that might be needed +by either Roger or Edith. They rejoiced, with much thankfulness, when +they heard of his having escaped the cruel vengeance of his +adversaries; but their minds were filled with fear and anxiety, when +they reflected on the many perils that he might encounter on his long +journey, and the sufferings from cold, and hunger, and fatigue, that he +must endure in his present debilitated state of health. They did not, +however, add to Edith's anxiety by telling of their own, but exerted +themselves to cheer and rouse her, and lead her to place a perfect +trust in the over-ruling care of Him, without whose permission not even +a sparrow can fall to the ground. + +The wisdom of the plan that Edith had persuaded her husband to adopt +was soon but too apparent; for, in a few days, a pinnace arrived at +Salem, bringing an officer and attendants, who were commissioned by the +General Assembly to seize on the offending pastor, and convey him on +board a vessel that was lying at Nantasket, ready for sea. But this +cruel and arbitrary intention was happily frustrated. The officer came +to the dwelling of Williams, and had the mortification of finding that +he had been gone three days; nor could all his threats or persuasions +obtain from any of the inmates the least information concerning his +flight. He also sought out, and strictly interrogated, several of the +inhabitants of Salem, who were known to be the partisans of this +persecuted friend of liberty. But, although they were well acquainted +with his sudden departure and his destination, and some of the younger +men were even preparing to follow him, not one of them betrayed their +respected leader. + +The officer therefore returned to Boston, to report the ill-success of +his errand, which excited much wrath and vexation in the members of the +Assembly, but afforded secret satisfaction to the amiable Governor +Winthrop, who had unwillingly submitted to the decision of a large +majority of the government, and who had kindly exerted himself to +rescue from a cruel and unjust fate the man whose only fault consisted +in a determination to think for himself. + +Meanwhile, the fugitive was pursuing his slow and difficult way through +the woods and wilds to the south of Salem. But whither should he direct +his steps? Every road out of the district must lead him through the +territory of his foes and persecutors; and he dared not show in any of +the hamlets or villages, where his person and reputation were well +known, lest he should be seized and given up to the magistrates of +Boston. He, therefore, traveled chiefly by night, guided by the moon +and stars, and lay concealed in some damp covert, or rocky ravine, +during the day. The small stock of provisions that Edith had placed in +his knapsack was soon expended, and for some days he subsisted on the +nuts and berries that still remained on the trees. + +At length he felt himself safe from immediate pursuit, and changed his +course suddenly to the east. He emerged from the shelter of the woods, +and, hurrying across the open plain that skirted the bay, he found +himself at the spot which he desired to reach. This was a little cove +on the shore, surrounded on the land side by rocks, and only capable of +receiving a small boat into its tranquil harbor. As Roger approached +the water's edge, and stepped round the last point of rock that +concealed the inlet, he made a signal, which, to his great joy, was +instantly replied to from within. Day was just dawning over the far +horizon, and a dim twilight shone on the smooth and boundless ocean +that spread to the east. A few light strokes of an oar fell on Roger's +ear, and then he saw the white spray, and the dark form of a boat +emerging from the gloomy cavern that was formed by the overhanging +rocks. In a moment his hand was grasped in that of a friend, and all +his sense of loneliness vanished away. + +Seaton entreated him to lose no time in entering the boat, and leaving +the inhospitable shores of Massachusetts; and Williams gladly obeyed +him. The little shallop, which his friends at Salem had secretly +purchased, and sent by one of the most devoted of their number to meet +him at the appointed place, was well supplied with provisions and warm +clothing, which proved a most seasonable relief to Roger; but the most +acceptable part of its contents was a letter from Edith, informing him +of the welcome arrival of their friends, the Elliots, at Salem, and of +the futile efforts of the men of Boston to make him a prisoner. Edith +wrote more cheerfully than she felt; and she spoke of the happy time +when they would be reunited, and of her hopes that it was not far +distant, assuring him that she was willing--and trusted, ere long, to +be able--to follow him to any spot where he might fix his home. + +This letter, and the refreshment with which Seaton furnished him, +raised his drooping and exhausted spirits; and, at his friend's +request, he wrapped himself in the large boat-cloak that his provident +wife had sent for him and lay down to enjoy the first calm and +undisturbed repose that had been permitted to him since he left his +beloved home. + +Silently and rapidly the little boat glided over the calm surface of +the bay; and, ere long, it was opposite to the harbor of Boston, and +might be espied by some of the vessels lying there, Roger still slept +the deep sleep of exhaustion and security; but Seaton now required his +aid, and reluctantly aroused him to take a second oar, and speed the +shallop past the region of danger. Roger sprang to his feet, and seized +the oar, and the boat darted forward from the impulse of his now fresh +and powerful arm. It passed near several boats belonging to the +Bostoners; but the fugitive drew his large Spanish hat over his brows, +and hid his well-known form and dress beneath the folds of the ample +cloak, and thus escaped detection or observation. + +It was his intention to row down the bay as far as New Plymouth, where +he designed to visit Edith's parents and apprise them of all that had +befallen him; and also endeavor to prevail on Bradford to send a +vessel, as soon as the inclemency of the weather had subsided, to bring +his wife to her paternal home. He then proposed to go on with Seaton, +and any of the Plymouthers who would accompany him, and seek a +settlement further to the south, in some part of Narragansett Bay. But +this scheme was not permitted to be carried out. + +Towards evening, a fresh breeze sprang up from the east; and before +sun-set it blew so violently, that Roger and his companion had the +greatest difficulty in keeping their little vessel out at sea, and +preventing its being dashed on the coral reefs that girt that 'stern +and rock-bound coast.' Manfully they wrought at the oars; but their +strength was almost exhausted, and no creek or inlet offered them a +secure refuge. Still they persevered--for it was a struggle for life! +The least remission of their toil would have placed them at the mercy +of the wind, and they must have been driven violently against the +sunken rocks. + +At length, when the light of day was failing them, and they began to +give themselves up as lost, the keen eye of Roger espied an opening +through the foam-covered reef; and though it was narrow, and evidently +dangerous, he and Seaton resolved to make a desperate effort to pass +through it, and gain the smooth still waters that they knew must lie +between the rock and the shore. + +They breathed a fervent and heart-felt prayer for help from above, and +then commenced the fearful contest. The moment they turned the prow of +their shallop towards the shore, the light and buoyant little vessel +darted forward, impelled by both wind and tide, and mounted like a +seabird on the rolling waves. The dashing spray fell ever it, almost +blinding its crew, and the helm no longer had power to divert its +headlong course. + +'Now may He who rules the storm have pity on my Edith!' exclaimed +Roger, as he saw the fail extent of their peril, and not a fear for +himself crossed his steadfast soul. 'May the Lord of the winds and the +waves be our guide and protector, or the next minute will be our last!' + +He clasped his hands in prayer, and raised his kindling eye to the +frowning heavens above him. But his eye of faith could look through +those dark clouds, and see a Father's hand of love and mercy governing +and controlling the elements: and his spirit was at peace. + +'Now God be praised!' cried Seaton, as he drew a long shivering breath; +and snatching up both the oars, projected them on each side of the boat +to protect it from the rocks that bounded the narrow channel. 'We have +entered the passage; and, with Heaven's help, we shall yet be saved.' + +They had, indeed, dashed straight into the opening that divided the +reef, and through which the waves were rushing at a terrific rate; and +their only apparent chance of safety lay in the possibility of guiding +the little bark through the channel, without its being impelled against +the rugged sides. Williams caught one of the oars from his friend, and +both directed their whole strength to this object. There was a brief +interval of breathless suspense; and then the boat struck on a hidden +coral rock. It was but for a moment--another swelling wave lifted it +again, and rolled forward, bearing the little vessel on its summit into +the smooth water that lay, like a narrow lake, between the dangerous +reef and the flat sandy shore. + +But the peril was not yet over. The blow-on the rock, though momentary, +had been so violent as to spring a leak in the bottom of the boat; and +through this the water gushed up with fearful rapidity, threatening to +sink it before the shore could be reached. Again the oars were pulled +with the strength of desperation; and again the danger was averted. But +Roger Williams and his friend found themselves on a desert and +uninhabited coast, with a useless vessel, and no means of proceeding to +Plymouth. + +Still their lives had been providentially preserved, and they were +deeply grateful to the Divine power which had been exerted for their +rescue. And faith and courage, and bodily strength were their portion +likewise: and they did not despair. They slept long and soundly; and +the following morning, having ascertained that the boat was too +seriously injured to be repaired by any means at their command, they +resolved on abandoning it, and recommenced their journey on foot. + +The extreme difficulty of reaching Plymouth by land, and the wide +circuit from the course that he wished ultimately to pursue that must +be traveled in order to reach the settlement of the Pilgrim Fathers, +caused Williams to relinquish that part of his plan, and decide on +striking at once into the forest, and pursuing a south-westerly course +until he should arrive at Narragansett Bay. This would lead him through +the trackless woods, and the dreary wilds, inhabited only by the +barbarous and untutored red men. But from them he hoped to meet with +that hospitality and succor which was denied him by his fellow- +countrymen and fellow-Christians. + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +Alas! to see the strength that clings +Round woman in such hours!A mournful sight, +Though lovely! an o'erflowing of the springs, +The full springs of affection, deep and bright! +And she, because her life is ever twined +With other lives, and by no stormy wind +May thence be shaken; and because the light +Of tenderness is round her, and her eye +Doth weep such passionate tears--therefore, +She thus endures.' HEMANS. + +Without any guide, Roger and his faithful friend Seaton wandered +through the wilderness. They took from the stranded boat as much of +food and other useful articles as they could carry; but the provision +did not last long, and before they reached any Indian encampment they +were seduced to extreme want and suffering. Their clothes were drenched +by the frequent heavy rain, which so completely saturated the ground +and the dead branches that lay strewed upon it, as often to preclude +all possibility of lighting a fire. Their nights were passed on the +damp ground, or beneath any sheltering rock that they could find and +once a hollow tree afforded them a refuge from the storm that raged +around them, when no other was at hand. + +At length, after fourteen weeks of trial and hardship, they reached the +village of Packanokick, where dwelt Masasoyt, the aged Sagamore of the +Wampanoges. During the time that Williams had resided at Plymouth, he +had learnt the language of the natives; and on some of his visits to +the village of Mooanam, he had become acquainted with his father, +Masasoyt, the chief Sachem of the divided tribe. The regard and respect +with which his eloquence and his attractive manners had inspired the +younger Chieftain were fully shared by the Sagamore; and both prince +and people learnt to love and reverence the man who honored their +rights, respected their prejudices, and prayed to his God for their +welfare. + +His appearance in the village of Masasoyt was hailed with joy, and +regarded as a privilege by all the inhabitants. The Sachem received +both him and is way-worn companion with kindness and hospitality, and +gave them a chamber in his own lodge; which, if not remarkable either +for cleanliness or comfort, yet seemed a luxurious abode to men who had +passed so many days and nights in the unsheltered depths of the forest. + +On the following morning, when food and rest had somewhat restored the +exhausted strength of the travelers, Masasoyt invited Williams to a +private conference, in which he informed him that a serious quarrel had +again arisen between his tribe and that of Cundineus, the Chief of the +Narragansetts; and he entreated him to use all his powerful influence +with the latter to heal the present dissension, and prevent the dispute +from ending in open hostilities. Williams undertook this negotiation +with much satisfaction; for peace-making was not only in accordance +with his feelings, and with the duty of his profession, but he also +desired to secure the favor and protection of the Narragansett Chief, +on the borders of whose dominions he designed to fix his future home. +He, therefore, made no delay in setting out, with a few Indian +attendants, on the proposed expedition and in a few days, returned to +Packanokick with the welcome intelligence that the wrath of Cundincus +was appeased, and that he had listened favorably to the explanation of +his rival Chieftain. + +The old Narragansett Chief also was so captivated by the English +stranger, and so won by his peculiar eloquence, that we are told that +'the barbarous heart of the old prince loved him like a son to his +latest breath'; and his nephew and co-ruler, the young Miantonomo, also +regarded him as a friend, and placed in him a perfect confidence. + +'Let no one,' thankfully exclaimed Williams in his diary, 'mistrust +Providence--these ravens fed me in the wilderness!' + +But inactive repose was neither the wish nor the lot of Roger Williams; +and he earnestly desired to reach the spot where he proposed to found +his new settlement, and prepare a home for his beloved Edith; and from +whence, also, he hoped to be able to send a letter to Salem or to +Plymouth, which might allay the anxious fears that he well knew she had +so long been enduring. Since he had received the letter that Seaton +brought him from his high-minded wife, he had not had any opportunity +of conveying to her the intelligence of his own safety; or of hearing +from her whether her strength and spirits were supported under the +protracted trial of absence and anxiety. He knew, also, that ere this +time he had reason to believe himself a father; and his heart yearned +to be assured of the welfare of his wife and child, and to see them +safely lodged beneath the shelter of his own roof. It was a source of +extreme consolation to him, under all his feelings of anxiety, to +believe that his Edith had been cheered and supported by the presence +of Dame Elliot and her excellent husband, who, he felt assured, would +not leave her until she could be removed either to Plymouth or to her +husband's new abode: and to their kind care, and the protection of his +heavenly Father, he was contented to leave her, while he used every +effort to procure for her a safe and happy home, in which he could +hope, ere long, to welcome her. + +He, therefore, lost no time in concluding a bargain with Masasoyt for a +piece of land in the district called Seacomb[*], not far from the east +arm of Narragansett Bay; and thither he proceeded with Seaton, and +commenced building and planting. From this place, he found means to +convey intelligence, both to Salem and Plymouth, of the safe +termination of his perilous journey, and his intention to fix his +settlement on the piece of ground that he had purchased. His messengers +returned, after a considerable interval, and brought him a letter from +his now joyful wife, which gladdened his heart with the welcome news of +her health and safety; and that also of his little daughter Edith. This +name, she told him, had been given to the infant in accordance with +what she knew to be his wish; and his friend John Elliot--who, with his +wife, had resided chiefly at Salem since his departure--had performed +the rite of baptism. She further informed him that Governor Bradford, +on hearing of her lonely position, had kindly promised to send a vessel +for her; and, as the severity of winter had already partially subsided, +she was in daily expectation of the arrival of the pinnace, which would +carry her back to the happy home of her youth; and then she hoped the +time would not be long until she could rejoin her husband, and once +more be at peace. + +[Footnote: Now Reheboth] + +This letter called forth the lively joy and gratitude of Roger, and +animated him to fresh zeal and activity in all his proceedings at +Seacomb. He was also encouraged greatly by the arrival, at the same +time, of five of his most devoted adherents from Salem, who had no +sooner learnt from his Indian messenger, of his arrival at the place of +his destination, than they determined to accompany the friendly savage +on his return to Seacomb, and assist their friend and teacher in all +his labors for the formation of an independent settlement. + +All this visa cheering and satisfactory; but the trials of this +undaunted man were not over yet. His trusty messenger had brought him +another dispatch, which he had not yet attended to. He now opened it, +and found that it came from the Governor of Plymouth; and contained an +earnest injunction to him to abandon Seacomb, which, he informed him; +was included in their patent, and to remove to the other side of the +river that formed their boundary, where he could be free and +independent, like themselves. 'I accepted his wise counsel as a voice +from God,' wrote Williams: and he' immediately resolved to be guided by +it, and again commence his wanderings. + +In a frail Indian canoe, he and his companions rowed up the arm of the +sea, now called the river Seacock. They knew not where to land, or +where again to pitch their tent in the wilderness; but they were soon +guided by the friendly voices of a party of Narragansetts on the +opposite shore. These natives had recognized their friend Williams, and +now shouted out, in broken English, the welcome words, What cheer?' +The sound fell like music on the ears of the desolate exiles; and, in +remembrance of the event, the spot of ground where they first landed on +the Narragansett territory received the name of _What Cheer?_ which +it still retains. A spring, called _'Williams's Spring,'_ is also +shown by the present inhabitants of this district, in proud and +grateful memory of the spot where the founder of a future free state +first set foot on shore. + +The place where the wanderer landed was called by the Indians +Maushasuck; and it was made over to him by the generous Cundincus, as a +free and absolute possession, and also all the land included between +the rivers Pawtucket and Maushasuck.[*] This property he shared equally +with his present comrades, and also with some others who shortly after +joined him from Salem, and made their whole number amount to thirteen. +He did not reserve any advantage to himself, although the land actually +belonged to him alone; but divided it into thirteen equal portions, on +each of which a rude hut was immediately erected. These were soon +improved, and became a rising village, to which Williams gave the name +of Providence, in grateful remembrance of the Divine guidance and +protection which had brought him at length to 'the haven where he would +be.' + +[Footnote: Now called the Providence River.] + +He and his associates united themselves into a sort of 'town- +fellowship,' and independent church; and one of the first rules which +they laid down, for their future guidance and government, was that no +one should ever suffer, in that settlement, for conscience' sake. + +It was summer when the little village began to be built; and, before +the land could be cleared and prepared for cultivation, the season was +too far advanced to allow any hope of a corn-harvest. The new settlers +had, therefore, to endure the same poverty and privation that had been +the lot of the earlier planters in New England. They had no means of +obtaining any of the comforts of civilized life, except from Boston or +Plymouth: and as they possessed no vessel besides an Indian canoe, this +was a service of toil and much hazard. Still they did not repine, for +liberty was here their precious portion; and hope for the future +sustained them through the trials of the present time. + +But where was Edith? Where was that true-hearted woman while her +husband was thus struggling with difficulties and privations? She was +where both inclination and duty had led her--by his side; and smiling +at trials that she was permitted to share with him, and to lighten by +her presence. + +We must here revert to the time before Edith had been blessed by +receiving intelligence of her husband from Seacomb, and had so +cheerfully replied to the note which he wrote to her on a scrap of +paper torn from his pocket book. In order not to interrupt the history +of Roger's difficulties and their successful issue, we have not yet +narrated the trials that his exemplary wife had endured--and endured +with a resolution and fortitude equal to his own. + +When the joyful news of Roger's safety reached Edith at Salem, she was +slowly recovering from a long and dangerous illness, which anxiety and +sorrow had brought on her a few weeks after the birth of her child. +Through all her sufferings of mind end body, Dame Elliot had been her +nurse and her comforter; and she and her husband had sacrificed their +own domestic comfort, and their own humble but cherished home, to +lessen the sorrows of their afflicted friend. + +All the consolation that human sympathy and affection could afford to +Edith, was given by these true Christian friends; and all the spiritual +strength that the prayers end exhortations of such a minister as Elliot +could impart to a sorrowing spirit, were received, and gratefully +appreciated, by the object of his solicitude and care. But when weeks +and months had elapsed, and still no tidings came of the beloved +wanderer, what hope could be given to the desolate heart of Edith Her +friends had themselves given up all hope of Roger's having survived the +toils end privations of the journey; and how could they bid his wife +cheer up, and look for brighter days, which they believed would never +come? A letter which Edith received from her parents, by the captain of +a fishing-boat from Plymouth, too clearly proved that Williams had +never reached that settlement; and from that day the health and spirits +of his wife visibly declined. She did not give way to violent grief; +but a settled melancholy dwelt on her pale and lovely countenance, and +all the thoughtful abstraction of her early year, which happiness had +chased from her features, returned again. No object but her infant +seemed to rouse her; and then it was only to tears: but tears were +better than that look of deep and speechless sorrow that generally met +the anxious gaze of her friends, and made them, at times, apprehensive +for her reason. At length her physical powers gave way, and a violent +attack of fever brought Edith to the brink of the grave. + +During this period both Elliot and his wife devoted themselves, day and +night, to the poor sufferer, whose mind wandered continually, and whose +deeply-touching lamentations for the beloved one, whom she mourned as +dead, brought tears to the eyes of her faithful friends. They had no +hope of her recovery, nor could they heartily desire it; for they +believed her earthly happiness was wrecked for ever, and they could ask +no better fate for her than a speedy reunion with her Roger in a home +beyond the grave. + +Her child they looked on as their own, and cherished her with almost a +parent's love and care; while they resolved to bring her up in those +high and holy principles that had been so nobly contended for by her +unfortunate father, and so beautifully exemplified in the amiable +character of her mother. + +The fever ran high, and bore down all the strength--both moral and +physical--of its victim. At length, after days and nights of +restlessness and delirium, a deep and heavy sleep came on; and Edith +lay still and motionless for hours, while her untiring friends sat +watching her in silence, and offering up fervent prayers for the soul +that seemed to be departing. During this anxious period, a gentle knock +was made at the door; and Elliot, on opening it, was presented by +Edith's single attendant with the small packet that Roger's Indian +messenger had brought for her mistress. + +In trembling agitation, the pastor showed the direction--which he knew +to be in his friend's handwriting--to his wife: and now, indeed, they +lifted up their hearts to the God who heareth prayer, that He would be +pleased to recall the precious life that seemed to be fast ebbing away; +and to permit His tried and faithful servants again to be united, and +enjoy the happiness that yet might be their portion on earth. + +Noiselessly Elliot glided from the room--for he feared to awaken the +sleeper--and sought the friendly Indian, from whom he learnt the good +news of Roger's safety, and all the particulars that the red man could +relate concerning him. He then returned to Edith's chamber, and, in a +low whisper, communicated all that he had heard to his wife, and +consulted with her as to the best method of communicating the startling +tidings to Edith, should she ever awake from her present death-like +slumber. + +They were still engaged in earnest, but scarcely audible, conversation, +when Dame Elliot, who did not cease from watching her patient, observed +her open her large eyes, and fix them with a look of intelligent +inquiry on herself and her husband. She made a sign to him; and he +likewise was struck with the evident change in Edith's countenance, and +filled with hope that her reason had perfectly returned. This hope was +quickly confirmed by the invalid saying in a very low voice, but in a +collected manner-- + +'I have slept very long, and my dreams have been very painful. I +dreamt that I was alone in the world, and that an angel came to take my +soul where he had gone to dwell. And then--just as I bade farewell to +earth--a little form came between me and the angel, and held me back. +Where is that little being? Dame Elliot, let me look on her, that my +trembling spirit may be stayed. No, Roger; no--I must not ask to follow +you yet.' + +Edith seemed too weak for tears, or for any strong emotion; but she +closed her eyes, and slowly clasped her almost transparent hands upon +her breast, and looked so still and colorless, that she might have been +taken for a marble monument, but for the dark waving hair that fell +upon her pillow, and shaded her snowy neck. Dame Elliot took up the +infant from its little wicker cradle, and held it towards Edith, saying +gently-- + +Look up, my Edith, and bless the little being that God has given to +call you back to life and happiness.' + +_'Happiness!'_ murmured Edith. 'That word has no meaning for me! Duty +is my only tie to life.' + +But she did look up; and as her eyes were long end fondly fixed on the +unconscious features of the child, her own sweet look of gentleness +rose into them again, and she raised her feeble arms, as if to take the +infant. + +'And he will never see her,' she whispered. 'He will never look on his +child in this world.' + +Elliot thought that hope might now be given without danger; and he took +her wasted hand in his, and said-- + +'Edith, you have had much sorrow, and it has nearly brought you down to +the grave. But can you bear to feel the agitation of hope? Can you +listen calmly while I tell you that some tidings of your husband have +reached us, and that he was certainly alive after the time when you +believed him dead?' + +He paused, and looked anxiously to see the effect of this sentence; and +he was almost awed by the expression of Edith's countenance. It was not +agitation--it was not joy--it was not trembling uncertainty. But it was +a look of concentrated mental power and endurance, and of speechless +inquiry, that seemed to say, 'Now utter my sentence of life or death, +and do it quickly!' + +Dame Elliot could not bear it. Bursting into tears of deep emotion, she +beat down and imprinted a kiss on Edith's cold brow, while she +exclaimed, in broken accents-- + +'Yes! it is true, dearest Edith. You may live--and live, we hope, for +happiness as great as has ever been your portion.' + +'O, my God!' cried Edith-'this is too much!--too much of joy for one so +weak and faithless. But tell me, my friends--tell me all. I can bear it +now.' + +Gently and gradually Elliot prepared her for the blissful certainty of +her husband's safety; and when he found that illness had not greatly +weakened her natural strength of mind, and that she could bear the joy +that awaited her, he gave her Roger's own letter, and felt assured that +the tears she, at length, shed at the sight of his hand-writing, would +relieve and calm her over-burdened heart. + +In this he judged truly; for, though Edith was greatly exhausted after +this strong excitement, yet she passed a tranquil night, and was so +much recovered on the following morning as to be able to converse +composedly with her kind friends. The fever had passed away; and the +sense of restored happiness, joined to youth and a naturally good +constitution, had a rapid effect in renovating her strength and +spirits, and recalling a faint bloom to her cheek. + +Before the Indian set out on his return to Seacomb, she insisted on +seeing him, and herself delivering to him a letter to Roger, in which +she had carefully avoided all mention of her illness. She made +numerous inquiries of him relative to her husband's health and present +situation; and charged him to convey her packet safely, and tell his +employer that he had seen her and his child well and happy. She could +say this with truth; for so rapidly had she recovered, that the +inexperienced eye of the Indian could detect no remaining indisposition +in the slight and graceful form of the interesting pale-face, or any +trace of disease in the bright eye that smiled so kindly upon him. + +He departed with the friends of Williams, and earnestly did his wife +wish that it had been possible for her to accompany them, and join her +husband at once. But this could not be; and she could only endeavor to +regain her strength, so as to be able to proceed to Plymouth, as soon +as the promised vessel arrived. In due time it came: and bidding her +kind and devoted friends an affectionate farewell, Edith and her child +embarked, with all the little property that remained to her, and soon +found herself once more beneath the peaceful roof of her parents. + +Until she arrived at Plymouth, she was not aware of the fresh trial +that had befallen her husband, in being compelled to abandon his +settlement at Seacomb, and remove into the Narragansett district. This +change was distressing to her, as it net only placed the lines of her +future habitation at a greater distance from her parents and friends at +New Plymouth, but also removed it further from all civilized life, and +into a district inhabited by a tribe whom she had learnt to dread from +her childhood, as the rivals and foes of the friendly Wampanoges. +Still these considerations did not, in any measure, abate her eagerness +to fellow Roger, and take her part in all his toils and anxieties. The +winter had passed away, and, though far from genial, the weather was +more tolerable for travelling; and Edith resolved to set out. + +All the arguments and entreaties of Helen and Rodolph to induce her to +delay her journey for some months, were ineffectual. Her husband lived; +and he was suffering hardship--and could she remain separated from him, +now that her own strength had been restored? The only concession she +could be persuaded to make, was to wait until some friend from Plymouth +was found to accompany her. Gladly would her father have done so; but +he was suffering so severely from the ague that so often attacked the +settlement in the spring months, as to be perfectly incompetent to +attempt the toilsome journey. No vessel could now be procured, and it +was on foot that Edith proposed to traverse the wide extent of +wilderness that stretched between Plymouth and Roger's place of refuge. + +Two faithful and active Indians were appointed by Mooanam to be her +guides, and to carry the infant which she would not consent to leave +behind her; and, in order that this might be accomplished with greater +facility, Apannow provided her with one of the Indian cradles--or, +rather, pouches--in which the red squaws so commonly carry their young +children on their backs. This was thickly lined with soft and elastic +bog-moss, and well adapted to the purpose for which it was designed. + +All was prepared, and the impatient Edith only waited for a companion +from among her own countrymen, who were all so much occupied at that +busy season as to feel little disposed to undertake so long a journey. +But she found one at length who was sufficiently interested in her +happiness, and that of her husband, to leave his home and his +occupations, and offer to be her protector. This was the excellent +Edward Winslow, who had been her father's constant friend ever since +their first emigration, and who bad also learnt to know and value Roger +Williams, during his residence at Plymouth. + +With such a companion, Edith felt she had nothing to fear; and her +anxious parents committed her to his care with greater confidence than +they would have done to that of any other protector. His natural +sagacity, his courage, and his knowledge of the Indians and their +language, rendered him peculiarly suitable for the enterprise; and his +warm friendship for Rodolph and all his family, and the lively powers +of his pious and intelligent mind, ensured to Edith both a kind and an +agreeable fellow-traveler. + +Nevertheless, it was not without many prayers and tears that Helen saw +her daughter once more leave her childhood's home, and commence her +journey. But Edith's spirits were joyous, and her hopes were high; and +her child lay smiling contentedly in its strange nest, which was slung +on the shoulders of one of the Indian guides. The other carried a +small stock of provisions, and other necessaries, and thus the little +party set forth. + +We will rot follow them, day by day, in their fatiguing journey; but +merely state that its length and difficulty exceeded even the +expectations of Edith and her companion; but never damped the +persevering courage of the former, or drew from her a complaint, or a +wish to return. She only felt that every step, however rough and +toilsome, carried her nearer to the object that was dearest to her on +earth; and this conviction supported her when otherwise her strength +must have failed. + +Sometimes an Indian wigwam afforded her rest and shelter; but, +frequently, a bed of dry leaves, and a roof of boughs, were the best +lodging that Winslow and the Indians could provide for her and her +little infant. Happily the weather was calm and mild, and the season +sufficiently advanced to enable the Indians to find a quantity of +nutritious roots, which, with the meal, or nokake, that they carried +with them--or procured from the natives by the way--formed the chief +subsistence of the party. Occasionally, their fare was improved by a +wild turkey, or wood duck; or, perhaps, a squirrel or hare, that Winslow +brought down with his gun; but often the day's journey was performed +with no other refreshment than a few spoonsful of dry meal, and a +draught of cold water, until something more nourishing could be procured +at their place of repose for the right. + +Roger Williams was standing one evening on the bank of the river, or +rather, arm of the sea, called Seacock, near the spot where he had +first landed, and to which he had given the name of 'What Cheer?' He +was examining the landing-place, and contriving some means of turning +it into a sort of harbor for canoes that belonged to the settlers in +his new village, when his attention was attracted to the other side of +the river, by hearing his own name loudly called by native voices. He +looked to the spot, and saw two Indians plunge into the water, and swim +rapidly towards him: and, as they did so, he also observed two other +figures emerge from a grove of trees that reached nearly to the eastern +brink of the inlet. + +The distance was considerable, but Roger's keen eye could discern that +one of them was a female form; and, as they approached nearer to the +water's edge, and the rays of the evening sun fell brightly upon them, +he also saw that the arms of that graceful and familiar form carried an +infant. + +Surely it is an illusion!' he exclaimed. I have so long pictured to +my mind that blessed sight, that at length my fancy seems realized. It +cannot be!' + +But again his name was called--not now with an Indian accent, but in +the manly English tones of Edward Winslow 'Bring down a canoe, Roger!' +he shouted across the Water. 'Edith and your child cannot swim this, +arm of the sea.' + +It was then true! Edith--his beloved wife--was there and only that +narrow inlet divided them! The Indians had sprung to the shore, and +were waiting his directions, to go in search of a canoe; but for a few +moments he did not regard them, so riveted were his eyes, and all his +senses, on the opposite shore. But now he remembered that only by means +of a boat could he attain that shore; and making a signal of wild joy +and welcome to Edith, he hurried up the creek with the Indians, and +rapidly unloosed the moorings of his canoe, which lay securely behind a +projecting rock. He leaped into it, leaving the natives on the shore, +and paddled the canoe swiftly down the creek, to the spot where Edith +stood waiting to receive him, trembling with agitation and joy. + +When the first burst of emotion, at this, long-desired meeting with his +wife and hitherto unknown child, had subsided, Roger warmly welcomed +the friend who had so kindly protected them during their long journey, +and brought them to the wild spot that was now his only home. He then +led them to the canoe, and, with Winslow's assistance, soon rowed them +to the other side, and conducted them to his, infant settlement. + +The huts were indeed erected, and covered in with shingle roofs; but +their appearance promised little of outward comfort to Edith. Yet an +inward joy and satisfaction were now permitted to her, which, at one +time, she had never hoped to enjoy again on earth; and all externals +were as nothing when compared with this. Nevertheless, she exerted +herself with all a woman's taste and skill to arrange the simple +furniture of the hut, and even to add a something of decoration; and +both her husband and Winslow wondered at the improvement which she soon +effected in the appearance of the dwelling, and the ingenuity with +which she converted the rudest materials into articles of use or +ornament. + +Her joyous spirits, and active moments, gave a life and animation to +the hitherto dreary scene; and Roger felt that he had, indeed, in her a +helpmate, who would cheer the loneliest situation, and shed a grace and +charm ever poverty itself. + +Winslow appreciated all her excellent and amiable qualities very highly +also; and yet he lamented the lot of both his friends, who had to +endure, in this comparative solitude, all the struggles, and all the +hardships, that the Pilgrim Fathers had once encountered, and had now +conquered. + +But the visit of this, 'great and pious soul,' as Roger described +Edward Winslow, very greatly cheered the heart of the exiles. He +remained for many weeks in the new settlement; and only left it when +the advance of the season warned him that the short Indian summer was +drawing to an end. A vessel which arrived at that time from Plymouth, +and which brought the wives and families of several of the settlers, +afforded him the means of returning by sea, and avoiding the tedious +land journey. He departed, with the thanks and blessings of his +friends, to convey to Edith's, parents the happy intelligence that she +was both well and happy, and that it was evident her cheerful spirit +had power to sustain her through every difficulty by which she might be +surrounded. + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +'Epictetus says: "Every thing hath two handles." The art of taking +things by the right handle, or the better side--which charity always +doth--would save much of those janglings and heart-burnings that so +abound in the world.' ARCHBISHOP LEIGHTON. + +For a long period an unbroken peace had subsisted between the English +settlers and the native tribes. But this could no longer be maintained, +and a succession of petty injuries and mutual misunderstandings brought +about a state of hostility that the Pilgrim Fathers had labored--and, +generally, with success--to avert. + +Their kind and equitable treatment of the Indians had not been, as we +have had occasion to show, adopted by the later emigrants, and doubt +and suspicion had taken the place of that confidence and respect with +which the red men had soon learnt to regard the settlers of New +Plymouth. + +The recent colony of Connecticut, which was composed of bands of +settlers from Plymouth and Massachusetts, and also a few Dutch +planters, first came into hostile collision with the natives. The +settlers of New Plymouth had entered upon an almost deserted land; +those of Massachusetts had ensured to themselves safety by their +superior strength; and those among the Narragansetts were protected +from injury by the friendly feelings of the neighboring Indians. But +the settlement of Connecticut was surrounded by hardy and hostile +races, and could only enjoy security so long as the mutual hatred of +the native tribes prevented them from uniting against the intruders. + +In the extreme west of the Narragansett district, and near the entrance +of Long Island Sound, dwelt a powerful division of the Pequodees; of +that race of red warriors whose pride and ambition caused them to be +both feared and hated by the other tribes in the vicinity. They could +bring upwards of seven hundred warriors into the field, and their +Chief, Sassacus, had, in common with almost all the great Indian +Sagamores, a number of subordinate chiefs, who yielded to him a certain +degree of obedience. The Narragansetts were the only tribe that could +at all compete in strength with the fierce and haughty Pequodees; and +their young Chieftain, Miantonomo, was already regarded by Sassacus as +a dangerous rival. + +Such was the feeling that existed among the tribes near the settlements +of Connecticut, when an event occurred that disturbed the peace of the +whole community. Two merchants of Virginia, who had long dwelt in +Massachusetts, and who were engaged in trafficking with the Connecticut +settlers, were suddenly and treacherously attacked by a party of +Pequodees, and, with their attendants, barbarously murdered. And +shortly afterwards another trader, named Oldham, met the same fate, +being assassinated while he was quietly sleeping in his boat, by some +Indians who had, but an hour before, been conversing with him in a +friendly manner. This latter murder did not take place actually among +the Pequodees, but on a small island belonging to the Narragansetts, +called Block Island. But the inhabitants denied all knowledge of its +perpetration, and the murderers fled to the Pequodees, by whom they +were received and sheltered. A strong suspicion, therefore, lay on +them as being guilty of the latter crime, as well as the former. + +The government of Massachusetts immediately resolved on punishing the +offenders, and a troop of eighty or ninety men were sent off to Block +Island, to seek for the murderers. The natives endeavored to oppose +their landing; but, after a short contest, they fled, and hid +themselves in the woods. For two days the Boston soldiers remained on +the island, burning and devastating the villages and fields, end firing +at random into the thickets, but without seeing a single being. They +then broke up the canoes that lay on the beach, and sailed away to the +country of the Pequodees to insist on the guilty individuals being +delivered to them and, on this condition, to offer peace. But neither +the murderers nor their protectors were to be found. All had fled to +the forests and the marshes, whither the English could not follow +them, and they merely succeeded in killing and wounding a few +stragglers, and burning the huts that came in their way. + +This fruitless expedition rendered the Pequodees bolder than ever, and +the neighboring towns were harassed by their nightly attacks, and, +notwithstanding all their precautions, and the patrols that were set on +every side, the savages fell on the whites whenever they were at work +in the distant fields. They slew the men with their tomahawks end +dragged their wretched wives and daughters away to captivity; and thus, +in a short time, thirty of the English settlers had become the victims +of their fury. Meanwhile, messengers were sent to Plymouth and +Massachusetts, to implore their aid, and the latter state promised two +hundred soldiers, and the former forty, which were as many as its small +population could afford. + +The Pequodees, dreading the power of the English, endeavored to move +the Narragansetts--who had from the most distant times been their +rivals and enemies--to join them in an offensive and defensive alliance +against the white men, whom they represented as a common foe to the +Indians, and the future destroyers of their race. + +This intended confederation was discovered by Roger Williams, who spent +much of his time in visiting the Indian villages and instructing the +natives, with all of whom he obtained a remarkable degree of influence. +This noble-minded and truly Christian-spirited man immediately seized +the opportunity of repaying with benefits the heavy injuries that he +had received from the Massachusetts; and, with an admirable magnanimity +and self devotion, he set himself to prevent the dangerous alliance. + +The government of Massachusetts were well aware that Williams was the +only man who could effect this desirable object; and, on hearing from +him of the schemes of Sassacus, they immediately requested the former +victim of their unjust persecution to employ his influence with the +natives for the benefit of his countrymen: and well and zealously be +complied with this request. He left his now comfortable home, and all +the various employments that occupied his time, and travelled +restlessly from place to place, defying the storms and the waves, in a +miserable canoe; and meeting, with an undaunted courage, the assembled +parties of hostile tribes whom he sought, at his own extreme peril, to +bring into alliance with the English. He succeeded in his patriotic +object, and, after along doubtful negotiation, he persuaded the +Narragansetts to refuse the proffered coalition with the Pequodees. +Their young chief, Miantonomo, even went a journey to Boston, where he +was received with distinguished marks of honor and respect, and signed +a treaty which allied him to the settlers against his own countrymen. + +The troops from the river-towns assembled together, and went down the +Connecticut to attack the Pequodees in their own land. Their numbers +were but small--not exceeding eighty men--as each town furnished a much +weaker force than had been promised. But they were joined by a band of +the Mohicans, a hardy race inhabiting the valleys of the Connecticut, +and who had been alienated from the Pequodees by the oppression and +arrogance that had excited the enmity of so many other tribes. The +combined forces of the English and Indians were placed under the +command of Captain Mason, a brave and intelligent officer who had +served in the Netherlands under General Fairfax. + +The detachment that was expected from New Plymouth was not ready to +march at the time of the troops taking the field. Captain Standish, +therefore, did not set out himself; but he allowed such of his brother- +soldiers as were ready, to precede him, and take part in the +commencement of the campaign. Among these, Rodolph Maitland, who still +retained all the fire and energy of his youth, was the foremost; and he +led a little band of brave companions to the place of rendezvous. The +learned minister Stone--the friend and colleague of Hooker--accompanied +the troops from Boston; for a band of Puritanical warriors would have +thought themselves but badly provided for without such spiritual aid. + +The instructions of the government of Connecticut directed Mason to +land in the harbor of Pequod,[*] and thus attack the Indian forces on +their own ground. But he found the natural strength of the place so +much greater than he expected, and also observed that it was so +watchfully guarded by his enemies, that he resolved to pass on to the +harbor in Narragansett Bay; and, after having strengthened his forces +with the warriors promised by Miantonomo, to attack the Pequodees from +thence. A circumstance occurred here that is so characteristic of the +time, and of the manners of the Puritans, that it must not be omitted. +The officers under Mason were dissatisfied with this alteration in the +plan of the campaign, and asserted that the instructions given to the +commander ought to be literally followed. It was, therefore, resolved +to refer the question to the minister, who was directed 'to bring down +by prayer the responsive decision of the Lord.' Stone passed nearly the +whole night in prayer and supplication for wisdom to decide the matter, +and the next morning declared to the officers that the view taken by +their leader was the right one; on which they all submitted without a +murmur. + +[Footnote: Now Newhaven] + +The Indian reinforcements continued to increase. Miantonomo brought two +hundred warriors, and other allied tribes joined them on their march, +until the number of native auxiliaries amounted to five hundred. In +these Mason placed little confidence, and would gladly have awaited the +arrival of the forty men from Plymouth, who were already at Providence +on their way to join him. But his men were eager to attack the savages, +and the Indians taunted him with cowardice for desiring to delay the +conflict; and he was forced to advance at once. + +The great strength of the Pequodees consisted in two large forts, in +one of which the redoubted Chief, Sassacus, himself commanded. The +other was situated on the banks of the Mystic, an inconsiderable river +that runs parallel to the Connecticut. These Indian forts or castles +consisted of wooden palisades, thirty or forty feet high, generally +erected on an elevated situation, and enclosing a space sufficiently +large to contain a considerable number of wigwams for the aged men--or +whiteheads--and the women and children. + +These two fortresses were the pride and the confidence of the +Pequodees, who believed them to be invulnerable; as, indeed, they had +hitherto found them to the assaults of their own countrymen. And the +other Indian tribes appeared to hold them in the same estimation; for +when they found that it was Mason's intention to march directly to the +fort on the Mystic, their courage failed completely. They were only +accustomed to the Indian mode of warfare, which consists in secret +attacks and cunning stratagems; and the idea of braving the terrible +Pequodees in their strongholds, overpowered their resolution. The very +warriors who, only the day before, had boasted of their deeds, now were +crest-fallen, and cried out, 'Sassacus is a God; he is invincible!' and +they deserted in troops, and returned to their own dwellings. Thus the +English found themselves deprived of at least a hundred of their +Narragansett allies. The rest remained with them, as did also the +Mohicans; but their fear of the Pequodees was so great, that Mason could +only employ them as a sort of rear-guard. + +Meanwhile, these haughty Indians were exulting in their supposed +security, and indulging in songs and feasting. They believed that the +English were terrified at their strength and reputed numbers, and had +fled from the intended place of landing in Pequod harbor in fear, and +had abandoned their enterprise altogether. They, therefore, amused +themselves with fishing in the bay; and then inviting their allies to +join their revels, they passed the night in vaunting of their own great +actions, and defying the cowardly whites. + +We have seen that their assuming arrogance had aroused the jealousy and +hatred of most of the neighboring tribes; but there were still a few +who adhered to their cause, and were willing to unite with them against +the British intruders. Among those, none were more powerful or more +zealous than the Nausetts--that tribe which had so greatly harassed and +annoyed the first settlers at Plymouth, and which still retained the +same feelings of enmity that had then influenced them. The presence of +Henrich among that portion of the tribe that was governed by Tisquantum +had, indeed, secured to himself the respect and regard of almost the +whole community; but it had not weakened the strong prejudice that +they, as well as the main body of their tribe, entertained against his +race, or lessened their ardent desire to rid the land of the powerful +invaders. + +Sassacus was well acquainted with the sentiments of his Nausett allies, +and he had lost no time in securing the co-operation of the Sagamore of +the tribe, as soon as he knew that the British troops were preparing to +attack him, and he had, also, dispatched a swift messenger to meet +Tisquantum and his warriors, and entreat them to use all possible +expedition to join him in his own fortress, and assist in defending it +against his enemies. + +With the present position and intended movements of Tisquantum's party, +the Pequodee Chief was perfectly conversant; for there was one in his +castle who was acquainted with the plans of the Nausetts, and had only +left their councils when their camp was pitched on the banks of the +great Missouri. + +This individual had reasons of his own, besides his wish to strengthen +his countrymen against the English, for desiring the presence of +Tisquantum's warriors in the approaching contest. He hoped to place +Henrich in such a position, that he would have no alternative but +either to lead the Nausetts against his own people or to excite their +distrust, and even hatred, by refusing to do so. He expected, and +wished, that he should adopt the latter course; for he knew that he had +himself still many secret adherents in the tribe, who would gladly make +this an excuse for withdrawing their allegiance from the white Sachem, +and bestowing it on him; and thus, at length, the long-sought object of +his restless ambition might he attained. And then--then revenge!--that +burning passion of his soul--might quickly be also satiated! + +It was now many months since Coubitant had escaped the punishment that +was due to his many crimes, and had fled from the wrath of Tisquantum. +But he had contrived to keep up an exact knowledge of the movements of +the tribe, and even an intercourse with his own treacherous partisans. +Often, indeed, as the Nausetts traveled slowly across the wide plain +between the Missouri and the Mississippi, that well-known and terrible +eye of fire was fixed upon them from the elevated bough of some thick +tree, or from the overhanging summit of a neighboring rock; and often +at night, when the camp was sunk in the silence of repose, his guilty +confederates crept forth to meet him in some retired spot, and form +plans for the future. + +In this way Coubitant dodged the path of the Nausetts while they +traversed the forests and savannas, the lulls and the valleys, that led +them at length to the great lake, now so well known as Lake Superior. +Here they encamped for a considerable time, in order to construct a +sufficient number of canoes to carry the whole party across it and +also, by following the chain of lakes and rivers that intersects that +part of the great continent, and ends in Lake Ontario, to enable them +to land at no very great distance from their own native district. + +When the little fleet set out on its long and circuitous voyage, +Coubitant actually contrived to be one of the passengers. His partisans +secured a canoe to themselves; and, pretending that some of their +arrangements were incomplete, they lingered on the shore until the rest +of the boats were nearly out of sight. They then summoned their leader +from his place of concealment, and, giving him a seat in the canoe, +followed at their leisure. Thus he performed the whole of the voyage; +and when the tribe landed on the eastern shore of Ontario, and +recommenced their wanderings on land, he left their route, and hastened +forward to try and contrive some schemes that could further his own +views. + +The news of the war between the English and his old friends, the +Pequodees, soon reached him; and, in an incredibly short time, he +arrived in their country, and joined Sassacus in his fortified village. +It was he who travelled from thence to the head-quarters of the +Nausetts, near Cape Cod, and secured their assistance in the coming +conflict; and then returned in time to send a trusty emissary to meet +Tisquantum, and deliver to him a courteous message from Sassacus. + +This message had the desired effect; for Tisquantum called a council of +his braves, and submitted to them the request of their powerful ally, +that they would fight with him against the Narragansetts. The emissary +was instructed to say nothing of the quarrel with the English; for +Coubitant wished to get Henrich into the power of the Pequodees, before +he became aware of the service that was to be required of him; and he +trusted that no intelligence would reach him in the desolate country +through which he and his warriors would have to march. + +All the assembled council were unanimous in their decision, that the +request of Sassacus should be complied with; and Tisquantum then turned +to Henrich, who sat beside him, and said-- + +'My son! the days are past when I could lead forth my warriors to the +battle, and wield my tomahawk with the best and the bravest. I must sit +in my tent with the children and the squaws, and tell of the deeds that +I once could perform, while my young braves are in the field of fight. +You must now be their leader, Henrich; and let them see that, though +your skin is fair, you have in your breast an Indian heart.' + +'I will, my father,' replied the Young Sachem. 'Your warriors shall be +led into the thickest of the battle, even as if your long-lost Tekoa +went before them with his glancing spear. Tisquantum shall never have +cause to feel shame for the son of his adoption.' + +'I know it, my brave Henrich,' said the old Chief, 'I know that the +honor of Tisquantum's race is safe in your hands; and that you will +fight in defence of my ancient friends and allies, even as I would have +fought in the days of my young strength. Come away, now; my warriors +must prepare to go with the messenger of the great Sassacus. No time +must be lost in giving him the aid he asks; and you, my son, will be +ready by to-morrow's dawn to lead them on their way. I cannot go with +you, for these feeble limbs are unfit to travel at the speed with which +you must cross the forests and the plains; neither could the women and +children bear it. We will follow the course that we designed to take, +and go to the land of my fathers in the far east; and there we will +wait for our victorious warriors. + +As Tisquantum said this, he left the hall of council, which consisted +of a shadowing maple tree, and led his companion to the hut of boughs, +in which Oriana and Mailah sat anxiously awaiting the result of the +conference. They did not regret when they heard that their husbands +were to hasten to the scene of war, for they were Indian women, and +could glory in the deeds of their warriors. But when they were informed +that the main body of the tribe was to pursue the intended route +towards Paomet,[*] their grief and disappointment were very great. + +[Footnote: Cape Cod] + +'Must I leave you, Henrich?' exclaimed Oriana. 'Must I know that you +are in the battle-field; and wounded perhaps, and wanting my aid, and I +far away? Let me go with you! You know that Oriana can bear danger, and +fatigue, and hardship; and with you there would be no danger.' + +'It cannot be,' replied Henrich, gently but decidedly. 'Your father +cannot travel, as we must do, with no respite or repose; and you, my +Oriana, could not leave him and our boy. You must go with them to +Paomet, my love; and prepare a home for me after the fight is done. The +camp of the fierce Pequodees is no place for you.' + +Oriana felt that her husband was right; and she said no more. But she +did not the less sorrowfully assist him in his preparations for the +journey and the battle, or feel less keenly the grief of separation +when, at daybreak on the following morning, he and his warriors were +ready to set out. + +'My son,' said Tisquantum, as he grasped the hand of Henrich, 'I have +one request--I would rather say command--to impress upon you before we +part. Let it not be known in the camp that you are a pale-face. I know +that your good arm will bring glory on yourself and those who follow +you; and I would have that glory belong to my own people, among whom +you have learned to fight. I ask it also for your own sake; for in the +camp of Sassacus there may be some who regard your race with jealousy +and hatred, and would not bear to see a pale-face excelling the red +men. You may trust my warriors. They look on you as they would have +done on my Tekoa. But you may not trust either our Indian friends, or +our Indian foes.' + +Henrich regarded this precaution as needless; yet, when Oriana joined +her entreaties to those of her father, he readily gave the promise +required. His costume and accoutrements were strictly native; and +constant exposure to the air and sun had burnt his skin almost to a +copper color. But his eyes were a deep blue; and his hair, though now +dark, had a rich auburn glow upon it, that differed greatly from the +jet black locks so universal among the Indians. To hide this, Oriana +gathered it up into a knot on the top of his head in native fashion, +and covered it with a close black cap. Over this his Sachem's coronet +of feathers was placed; and it would have required a very scrutinising +and suspicious eye to have detected the disguise. The blue eyes alone +gave intimation of an European extraction; and they were so shaded by +long black lashes, and had an expression so deep and penetrating, that +few could discover of what color they were. The tongue of Hannah, too, +had learnt to speak the Indian language with a pure, native accent, +that no one could acquire who had not been brought up among the red +men; so that there was little fear of his being known for a pale-face, +amid the excitement and confusion of the war. + +The warriors departed; and Tisquantum's party resumed their journey, +though not so joyously as before their separation from those who were +going to meet danger, and, perhaps, death. + +With unremitting speed, the Nausett braves pursued their way, and +reached the land of the Pequodees before the campaign had begun. +Sassacus had, as we have seen, taken up his position in one of his +boasted forts, and he wanted no reinforcements there; for his presence +was regarded by his people as a panoply of strength. He, therefore, +sent to desire the Nausett detachment to march to Fort Mystic, and +assist the garrison there in defending it against any attack that might +he made. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +'Merciful God! how horrible is night! +There the shout +Of battle, the barbarian yell, the bray +Of dissonant instruments, the clang of arms, +The shriek of agony, the groan of death, +In one wild uproar and continuous din, +Shake the still air; while overhead, the moon, +Regardless of the stir of this low world, +Holds on her heavenly way. MADOC. + +Henrich was now called on to perform the part of an Indian leader in an +Indian camp. It was no new position to him; for, during his years of +wandering with the Nansetts, he had taken an active part in many of the +wars that were being waged by the tribes among whom they had sojourned, +against their hostile neighbors. He, therefore, was fully conversant +with Indian modes of warfare; but he was as unaccustomed as his +followers were to the defence of a fortress, or to a pitched battle +between assembled forces in an open field. + +He had not been long at Fort Mystic ere he found that he was about to +be opposed to some of his own countrymen, and the information filled +him with grief and dismay. It is true, he had dwelt so long among the +Nausett Indians, and all his personal interests were so bound up with +theirs, that he felt as if they were indeed his kindred. But still his +heart yearned towards his own people and the friends of his childhood, +and the idea of being instrumental in shedding the blood of a Briton +was utterly repugnant to him. It was now, however, too late to retract. +He had pledged his word to Tisquantum that he would lead his warriors +bravely against the foes of his allies, and honor forbad him to decline +the post of their Sachem and commander. He therefore concealed his +scruples and anxieties in his own breast, and resolved to do what he +now felt to be his duty. It was with much satisfaction that he learnt, +from one of the Indian spies, that the detachment of troops from New +Plymouth had been unable to join the forces of their countrymen; for +thus he should be spared the trial of being placed in opposition to +those with whom, perhaps, he had been brought up in childhood. Towards +the other settlers be entertained a far less friendly feeling; as +reports of their cruel and unjust conduct towards the natives had, from +time to time, reached him during his residence in different parts of +the continent. + +The Pequodees and their allies treated him with respect and honor, as +the representative of their ancient friend Tisquantum; and if his +English blood was known to any of them, they made no remarks on the +subject. They did not dare to notice what such a man as the Nausett +Sachem appeared to be, chose to conceal. + +But it is certain that there was one in the fortress of Mystic whose +keen eye had penetrated the disguise, and to whom the features of +Henrich were so familiar, that he could even read his thoughts in his +open and ingenuous countenance. Coubitant was already in the castle +before the Nausett detachment arrived; and, while he dexterously +contrived to conceal himself from Henrich, he watched him narrowly, and +his eye was on him when he first became aware that English soldiers +were with the foes with whom he must contend. Then did the savage exult +in the painful struggle that he could perceive the news excited in his +rival's breast, and he hoped that the white Sachem would find some +pretext for leaving the fort, and deserting to his own countrymen. He +kept spies continually watching his every movement, with orders to +allow him full liberty to escape, but to follow and secure him before +his purpose could be effected, and bring him in bonds to receive from +Coubitant's own hand the punishment of a coward and a deserter. + +But he waited in vain for any such attempt on the part of the young +Sachem. Henrich never left the fortress, and employed himself in +endeavoring to keep his men from sharing in the revelry and wild +security of their countrymen. + +In this endeavor he had but little success, and Jyanough alone remained +with his friend, and took no part in the noisy songs and dances that +followed the feast, and con-tinned almost until midnight. + +Then a deep and profound stillness gradually succeeded to the barbarous +noises of the wild festival; and long before day-break the exhausted +revellers were all buried in a heavy sleep. Even the watch, whose +business it was to patrol round the fort, had that night carelessly +left their respective stations, and come inside the palisades to light +their pipes. Here they found none awake but the Nausett Sachem and his +friend, who were slowly walking among the weary and sleeping warriors, +attended only by a large and powerful dog. There was another wakeful +eye in the fortress, and that was even now fixed on Henrich. Bat he +whose dark soul looked forth from that singular eye, was himself +concealed from view, and was intently watching the object of his hatred, +and hoping that he would now attempt some act of cowardice or +treachery. + +Henrich and Jyanough approached the guard, who had thus thoughtlessly +left their post, and desired them immediately to return to their duty. +But while the men remonstrated on the uselessness of so strictly +keeping a watch, now that no present attack could be expected, they +were startled by the loud and furious barking of Rodolph, who had +wandered to the open gate, and thus gave ominous warning of approaching +danger. The terrified guard now reached to the gate, accompanied by +Henrich and Jyanough, when, to their dismay, they beheld in the faint +moonlight a large body of men approaching close to the fort. + +They easily discerned that the foremost of the troop were Europeans; +and they raised a loud cry of Owannux! Owannux!--Englishmen! +Englishmen!--which quickly aroused the sleepers, and brought them +towards the gate. In the next minute the fort was thickly hemmed in by +the British force, and a second dense ring was formed beyond them by +their Indian allies. + +The main entrance was soon forced by the swords and muskets of the +vigorous assailants; and, though the Pequodees fought with all the fury +of despair, they were driven back, and compelled to retreat towards the +wigwams. They were closely pursued by their foes; and, at length, threw +themselves into the huts, which contained the terrified women and +children, and resolved to defend them to the last gasp. While the +murderous strife continued, the light of day began to dawn; and soon +the full glow of the rising sun revealed the work that had been done in +darkness. The ground was strewed with dead and dying Indians; but the +band of English warriors was yet unbroken, and was fiercely bearing +onward towards the wigwams. Their numbers were small, indeed, when +compared with those of their opponents; but the latter had no +firearms, and a panic seemed to have struck them from the force and +suddenness of the attack. Still they defended the lines of wigwams with +desperation, until Mason, with amazing boldness, entered one of them, +and, seizing a brand from the hearth, set fire to the roof of reeds. An +Indian warrior was in the act of levelling his arrow at him, when an +English officer sprang forward, and cut the string of the bent bow with +his sword. + +This officer caught the eye of Henrich; and, though he knew not why, +riveted it by a strange and unaccountable attraction. He was a noble- +looking man; and, though his dark hair was slightly tinged with grey, +his muscular limbs had apparently lost none of their force, and his +spirit none of its courage and energy. + +So fixedly was the attention of Henrich fastened on the gallant +soldier, that, for a time, he was regardless of the battle that raged +around him, and of the fearful conflagration that was spreading along +the Indian huts. These were only composed of weed and dry moss and +reeds; and the flames quickly caught hold of them, and promised soon to +bring the conflict to a dreadful close. + +The eye of Henrich was still fixed on that noble English officer; and +the instinctive feeling of admiration and respect with which his aspect +inspired him, was increased by seeing him, regardless of his own +safety, actively engaged in rescuing an Indian woman and her child from +a mass of burning ruins. + +He had been observed by other eyes also--by eyes that recognised him, +and glared with irrepressible fury as they fell on him'. An Indian +warrior approached him from behind, while he was unguardedly pursuing +his work of mercy; and Henrich saw the savage preparing to strike a +deadly blow, that would have cleft the head of the stranger in twain. +Could he stand and see the noble Briton thus fall by a secret and +unresisted attack? No! every feeling and every instinct of his heart +forbad it! One instant his tomahawk flew in a gleaming circle round +his head; and the next it fell with crushing force on the right +shoulder of the savage, and sank deeply into his chest. It was a timely +blow, and saved the white man's life. But it could not save him from a +severe wound in the back, where the axe of the Indian fell heavily, as +his arm dropped powerlessly by his side--never to be raised again. + +Coubitant sank on the ground; and, as he turned to look on his +unexpected assailant, his blood-shot eyes met those of Henrich, and +glared fiercely, first at him, and then at his intended victim, whose +life had been so strangely preserved. They stood side by side, +unconscious of the tie that bound them so closely together. Coubitant +knew it well; and he felt in this awful moment that Mahneto had, in +righteous retribution, sent the son to preserve the father's life from +the hand of him who had hated both alike. He hated them still: and, +even with his dying breath, he would not reveal the secret that would +have united those seemingly hostile warriors in the embrace of deep +affection. + +Rodolph had not seen the friend whose timely aid had partially averted +the deadly blow that had been aimed at him by the savage. But, on +turning round, he was astonished to perceive that his foe and his +avenger were apparently of the same party. The latter--whose countenance +expressed the deepest indignation, and who was raising his bloody +hatchet from the prostrate form of the wounded Indian--was evidently not +one of the allies of the English; and his dress and ornaments, and air +of dignified command, indicated him to be a Chief among his own people. +Why, then, had he come to the aid of an enemy? + +Rodolph gazed inquiringly at the fine countenance of the young Sachem, +which was now bent upon the dying Indian at his feet. + +'Coubitant!' he exclaimed in the Nausett tongue, is it, indeed, you +whom I have thus slain unknowingly? You have been a bitter and an +untiring enemy to me; but it was not for this that I smote thee to the +earth. I knew you not. But I saw you aim a cowardly blow at the white +chief; and I saved him. I forgive you now for all your hatred, and all +your evil designs, which Mahneto has thus recompensed upon your own +head.' + +'I ask not your forgiveness,' replied the savage in a deep, struggling +voice--for the hand of death was on him, and the dark fire of his eye +was waning out. 'In death, I hate and defy you! And in death I enjoy a +revenge that you know not of.' + +He strove to raise his hand in menace, but it fell to the ground; and, +with a groan of suppressed agony, he expired. + +The fight was raging with unabated violence, and the conflagration had +already spread to the farthest end of the fortress. Henrich looked +around for his comrades, who were bravely contending with their +powerful foes at some distance, and he hastily prepared to join them. +But, as he turned away, he courteously waved his hand to Rodolph, and +said in the English language, but with an Indian accent, + +'Farewell, brave Englishman!' + +Rodolph started. That voice had thrilled through his heart when it had +spoken a strange language: but now it struck upon him with a sense of +familiarity that be could not account for, as the Indian Chief was +evidently an utter stranger to him. He returned his parting salutation +and 'farewell'; but still he watched his retreating form, and thought +he distinctly heard him utter the name 'Rodolph!' as a large dog, which +had stood near him during their brief encounter, bounded after him over +foe heaps of slain and dying. + +'Surely it was my own fancy that conjured up that name,' thought +Rodolph. The next moment he found himself compelled again to join the +conflict, and, at the head of his little band, to fight his way out of +the fortress, which was rapidly becoming a prey to the devouring +flames. All the English withdrew outside the palisades, and thickly +surrounded the fort; while their Indian allies, who had hitherto kept +aloof, now took courage to approach, and form a second circle outside. +The most furious despair now took possession of the souls of the +devoted Pequodees: and their terrible war-cry was heard resounding +high, and mingled with the agonising yells of the women and children, +and helpless aged men, who were expiring amid the flames. Many of the +warriors climbed the palisades, and leaped down among their foes, +hoping to escape; but they were quickly despatched by the muskets and +bayonets of the English; or if any had power to break through the first +hostile line, they fell beneath the battle-axes of the Mohicans. + +Rodolph had received a considerable wound, but it had not entirely +disabled him. At the head of his men he passed through the open gate +of the fortress, and attempted still to lead and command them. He +found, however that his strength was failing, and that he could no +longer wield his good broad sword. He therefore stood leaning on it, +and watching, with mingled feelings of pity and horror, the progress of +the work of destruction. + +Presently he saw a side entrance to the fort thrown suddenly open, and +the form of the Indian Chief--whose tomahawk had saved his life, and +whose voice had awakened such strange feelings--appeared rushing forth. +He was attended by another striking looking warrior, and followed by a +band of determined natives, who were resolved to escape, or sell their +lives dearly. + +Rodolph's men, who occupied the position opposite to that gate, raised +their muskets to fire on these brave men; but their commander loudly +and authoritatively bade them desist. + +'Hold! I command you!' he exclaimed. 'Let that noble Chieftain escape, +and all his attendants for his sake. He saved my life in the fort; and +death to the man who injures him! + +He attempted to rush forward to enforce his orders, but pain and loss +of blond prevented him from moving; and he would have fallen but for +the support of one of his comrades. + +Meanwhile, Henrich and Jyanough, and their band of Nausetts, had rushed +through the unopposing ranks of the English, and were now contending +desperately with the Indian line beyond. The British troops paused, and +looked after them; and the sympathy that brave men feel for each other +prevented any of them from attempting to pursue or molest them. On the +contrary, all now wished them success. + +With breathless anxiety Rodolph gazed after them, and watched the +towering plumes that adorned the noble head of the Sachem, as he bore +onward through the opposing crowd of Indians. He passed, and gained the +plain beyond, attended by his followers; and, from the elevated +position at which the fort was erected, Rodolph could still watch the +little band retiring, until the Indian heroes were hidden from view by +a thicket. + +So fiercely had the fire seconded the efforts of the English that the +whole conflict only lasted one hour. In that brief space of time, +between five and six hundred Indians--young and old, men and women-- +were destroyed by fire and sword; and the small remainder were made +prisoners of war by the English, or carried off as prizes by the +hostile natives. Only two of the British soldiers were slain, but many +were wounded; and the arrows remaining some time in the wounds, and the +want of necessary medicine and refreshment, added greatly to their +sufferings The medical attendants attached to the expedition, and the +provisions, had all been left in the boats, and a march of more than +six miles through their enemies' land was necessary, in order to reach +them. + +Litters were therefore constructed and, in these, the wounded were sent +off under the charge of the Mohicans, while the able-bodied men, whose +number was reduced to little more than forty, prepared to follow as a +rear-guard. The whole party were still near the smoking ruins of the +fort, when they were startled by perceiving a large body of armed +natives approaching. These were a band of more than three hundred +Pequodees, sent by Sassacus to aid the garrison of Fort Mystic. +Happily, they did not discover the small number of the English who were +in a condition to oppose them, and they turned aside, and avoided a +re-encounter. The white men took advantage of this mistake on the part +of their enemies, and hastened forward with all the speed that +circumstances would allow. + +But they had not proceeded far when their ears were assailed by the +most discordant yells from the Pequodees. They had reached the scene of +devastation; and, when they beheld the ruined fort, and the ground +strewn with hundreds of mangled corpses and expiring friends, their +fury knew no bounds. They stamped and howled with rage and grief, and +madly tore their hair; while they gave vent to their excited feelings +in that fearful and peculiar yell, at the sound of which the stoutest +hearts might quail. Then, with a wild and desperate effort at revenge, +they rushed down the bill in pursuit of their cruel enemies. The rear- +guard turned, and met the onset bravely. The savages were received with +a shower of bullets, which checked their furious assault; but they hung +on the rear of the English, and harassed them during the whole of their +retreat. They, however, reached their vessels in safety, and arrived +in triumph at Hartford, from which port they had sailed three weeks +before. + +This discomfiture proved a death-blow to the pride and power of the +redoubted Sassacus. Disgusted alike by his arrogance, and by his recent +defeat, many of his own warriors deserted him and attached themselves +to other tribes; and the Sachem then destroyed his second fortress, end +carried off his treasure to the land of the Mohawks, near the river +Hudson, and, with his principal Chiefs, joined that warlike race. + +Meanwhile, the remainder of the troops from Massachusetts, whom the +Government had not thought it necessary to send with Captain Mason, had +landed at Saybroke, led by Captain Houghton, and attended by Wilson as +their spiritual guide. They arrived just in time to hear of the +successful issue of the campaign; and had, therefore, nothing left for +them to do, except to join a small band from Connecticut, and keep down +or destroy the few Pequodees, or other hostile Indians who still lurked +about the district, and kept the settlers in fear and anxiety. These +wretched natives were chased into their most secret haunts, where they +were barbarously slain; their wigwams were burnt, and their fields +desolated. Nor were the English the only foes of the once terrible +Pequodees. Their Indian rivals took advantage of their present weak and +scattered condition, to wreak upon them the suppressed vengeance of +bygone years; and pursued, with ruthless cruelty, those whose very name +had once inspired them with awe and dread. And yet--with shame be it +said!--the _Christian_ leader of the troops of Massachusetts, himself a +member of the strict and exclusive Church of Boston, surpassed these +savages in cruelty. + +On one occasion, he made prisoners of nearly a hundred Pequodees. Of +these miserable creatures he sent the wives and children into servitude +at Boston, while he caused the men--thirty-seven in number--to be bound +hand and foot, and carried in a shallop outside the harbor, where they +wore thrown overboard. If this barbarous deed was not committed by the +directions of the _Christian_ Fathers of Massachusetts, yet they +certainly neither disclaimed nor censured it. Indeed, so little were +cruelty and oppression, when exercised against the red men, regarded as +crimes by many of the settlers, that one of their learned divines, even +of the age succeeding the perpetrations of the above appalling event, +expressed it as his opinion that Heaven had smiled on the English +_hunt;_ and added, with horrible and disgusting levity, 'that it was +found to be the quickest way _feed the fishes_ with the multitude of +Indian captives!' + +The other tribes who had joined the Pequodees in opposing the +conquering white men, were pardoned on their submission; but that +devoted race, who fought like heroes to the very last, were extirpated +as a nation from the face of the earth. The very name in which they had +so long gloried, and which had been a terror to all the neighboring +tribes, was not permitted to remain, and to tell where once they had +dwelt and reigned unrivalled. The river, which had been called the +Pequod, received the appellation of the Thames; and the native +township, on the ruins of which an English settlement was founded, was +afterwards called New London. Numbers of the women and boys, who were +taken captive from tune to time by the British troops, were sold and +carried as slaves to Bermuda, and others were divided among the +settlers, and condemned--not _nominally to slavery,_ for that was +forbidden by the laws of New England, but--to _perpetual servitude,_ +which must, indeed, have been much the same thing to free-born Indian +spirits, accustomed to the wild liberty of the forests and the +prairies. + +Sassacus--the once mighty Chief of this mighty and heroic people--was +basely slain by the Mohawks, among whom he had sought fellowship and +protection, for the sake of the treasures that be had brought with him +from his own lost dominions; and his heart was sent by his murderers as +a peace-offering to the government of Connecticut. + +Thus ended the war which had been commenced as a necessary measure of +self-defence, and in which the pious and high-minded Roger Williams +had, at first, taken so active and influential a part. The manner in +which it was carried out, and the cruelty that marked so many of its +details, were repulsive in the highest degree to his just and +benevolent spirit; but where mercy was concerned, his opinion and +advice had no influence with the stern men of Boston. The only act +which met with his approbation in the conclusion of the campaign, was +the assignment of the depopulated lands of the Pequodees to Uncas, the +Chief of the Mohicans. As being a conquered territory, the usual laws +of war would have annexed it to the territory of the victors. But, in +this case, the settlers adhered to their original principle of only +obtaining, by purchase from the natives, those tracts of land on which +they desired to settle; and a great part of that which was now bestowed +on Uncas, was afterwards bought back from him and his inferior Sachems, +or obtained by friendly contract, until the English became possessors +of the whole district. + +At a subsequent period, the Pequodees who had escaped from their +desolated land, and joined other tribes, assembled themselves together, +and made one final effort at establishing their independence in a +distant part of the country. But their power and prosperity were broken +for ever. Captain Mason was again sent to subdue this remnant of the +tribe; and the destruction that was accomplished on these unhappy +exiles spread a fear of the white men through all the Indian race in +that part of the continent. From that time the settlers of +Connecticut--who had been the original cause of this cruel war--enjoyed +an unbroken peace and security for forty years. + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +'The voices of my home! I hear them still! + They have been with me through the stormy night-- +The blessed household voices wont to fill + My hearts clear depths with unalloyed delight! +I hear them still unchanged; though some from earth +Are music parted, and the tones of mirth-- + Wild silvery tones, that rang through days more bright, +Have died in others--yet to me they come +Singing of boyhood back!--the voices of my home!' HEMANS. + +One Sabbath evening, a few months after the events related in the last +chapter, and when the short second Indian summer, that so often returns +late in the month of September, was at its height, the inhabitants of +New Plymouth were assembled at their meeting-house on 'the Burying +Hill,' and engaged at their usual devotions. None were left in their +dwellings except those whom age or sickness prevented from joining the +rest of the congregation, or those who were necessarily detained by the +care of young children. + +The habitation of Rodolph Maitland was, therefore, deserted by all but +Janet, who would gladly have gone that evening to listen to the husband +of her young mistress; for Roger Williams was to lead the prayers of +the congregation, and to deliver to them the customary address. But +Ediths little girl demanded her care; and old Janet took too much +pride and pleasure in the interesting child to repine at having the +charge of her, even though it prevented her from attending at the +meeting-house on the first occasion of Roger's officiating there since +his marriage. + +Little Edith was just beginning to walk alone, and it was her delight +to play in the bright sunny garden, and pluck the gay flowers that +still bloomed there in profusion. She was thus engaged, and murmuring a +sweet but inarticulate song that her mother had attempted to teach her, +when Janet, apprehending no danger, returned for a moment to the house, +to perform some domestic duty. + +Just then a stranger, followed by a large dog, entered the garden by +the wicket gate that led towards the forest, and stood silently gazing +around him, without at first observing the happy and occupied child. He +was tall and of a commanding appearance; and his costume, which was +richly ornamented in the Indian fashion, bespoke him to be a native of +high rank. But had any one closely examined his countenance, they would +have discovered beneath those long dark lashes, and clearly marked +eyebrows, the deep blue eye of the Saxon race, which was also indicated +by the rich brown hair, that, now unconcealed, waved across his manly +forehead. A keen eye would also have detected on the features of that +seeming Indian Sachem an expression of deep thought and strong emotion, +that told of old remembrances not yet obliterated, and of feelings that +belonged to home and kindred. + +Yes! Henrich was, indeed, absorbed in those recollections that were +revived in his breast by the sight of objects once so familiar, but +which many years had elapsed since last he had looked on. Much was +changed: but much was still the same. The rude hut commodious log-house +that once stood on that site was now replaced by a substantial and +picturesque dwelling in the Elizabethan style of architecture, whose +deep bay windows were hung with the sweet single roses that were +natives of the woods, and other flowering plants; while wreaths of the +well-known Virginian creeper, now glowing in its scarlet hue of autumn, +climbed to the summit of the carved gables and pinnacles that +ornamented the building, and hung from thence in rich festoons. + +On the front of this dwelling the evening sun fell brightly, and its +slanting beams likewise partially illuminated the garden with long +streaks of light, while other parts were thrown into strong shadow by +the trees and shrubs that grew among the flower-beds. One of these--a +noble tulip-tree--rose in the centre of the enclosure and stretched its +giant arms wide on every side. On this tree the eyes of the wanderer +rested long; and then he approached it, and stood looking wistfully +towards a bower that was situated near the old tree, and over which the +creepers fell in wild luxuriance. + +Was it a tear that glittered in that warlike stranger's eye, as a ray +from the western sun fell on his face through the thick overhanging +foliage? And did those manly limbs tremble as he clasped his hands over +his face, and sank on the rustic seat beneath the tulip-tree? + +'I cannot enter the house!' he exclaimed, in a low voice. 'I cannot +seek those loved ones there where once we dwelt in happiness together; +and where, perhaps, none now remain to welcome the wanderer home! O, +that some one would appear who might tell me of their fate!' + +Henrich spoke to himself in his native tongue. He could not speak a +strange language in that old familiar spot; and his voice attracted the +notice of the little girl, who was now slowly moving towards him, her +hands filled with the spoils of the flower-beds. She stopped, and +gazed at the stranger, and then uttered a faint cry of fear that at +once roused Henrich from his reverie. His eyes fell on the lovely +child, and instantly his memory recalled the features and expression of +his brother Ludovico, to whom the little Edith bore a strong +resemblance. + +With an irresistible impulse he sprang forward, and caught the little +girl in his arms, and sought, by caresses, to soothe her fears, and +hush her cries of terror. But those cries had caught the watchful ear +of Janet; and, with all the speed that she could use, she came running +from the house, merely anticipating that her charge had fallen down, or +was alarmed at finding herself alone. + +What was, then, her terror and amazement at seeing her in the arms of +an Indian! One instant she stood rivetted to the spot, not knowing how +to act. The next she turned, and again hurried in to the house, from +whence she escaped by a back door, and sped breathlessly towards 'the +Burying Hill.' She knew that the service was over--for the last strains +of the parting hymn had been borne down by the evening breeze as she +left the house--and therefore she would find help and succor from the +returning congregation. That deep, melodious sound had been heard by +Henrich also; and it had struck a chord in his heart that vibrated +almost to agony. The stillness and abstraction of his look, as he +listened to the dying cadence, silenced the cries of the little child. +She gazed into his upturned eyes; and, possibly, she felt that those +eyes had an expression that was neither strange nor terrible--for now +she suffered the stranger to seat himself again on the bench beneath +the tulip tree, and place her gently on his knee. + +Such was the picture that met the eyes of Edith, and her husband, and +parents, as they rushed into the garden, followed by the trembling and +exhausted Janet. + +'My child! my Edith! shrieked the young mother and sprang towards the +tree. That name told a long history to the wanderer which his heart +had already guessed. The Indian warrior rose, but he did not fly. No! +he only met the terrified mother; and as he placed her child in her +trembling arms, he folded them both in his own. + +In amazement and indignation at this rude action, Roger now caught his +arm, and in the Indian tongue, inquired hastily-- + +'Who are you? and what can cause this freedom?' + +I am Henrich Maitland!' exclaimed the stranger; 'and the Lord has +brought me back to my home once more.' + +Oh, the music--the thrilling, startling music--of those words to the +ears and hearts of those who bad so long believed him dead! The +surprise and joy were too intense for Helen, and she sank fainting into +the arms of her long-lost son: while Rodolph grasped his hand, and +exclaimed with deep emotion-- + +'Now, God be praised! my brave, my blessed son! Surely His mercies are +infinite, and His ways past finding out! Now I know why my heart +yearned so strangely towards the Indian Chief who saved my life in the +Fort of Mystic; and why his voice had such a thrilling and familiar +tone, that spoke of home, and bygone years. Look on me, my Henrich, and +say, do you not recognise the English soldier whom your generous +interference preserved from a dreadful death?' + +The change in Rodolph's dress, and his own overpowering emotions, had +hitherto prevented Henrich from discovering that, in the noble-looking +man whom he was proud to call his father, he also beheld that gallant +British officer whose appearance had so powerfully attracted him in the +conflict of Fort Mystic. But when he looked into that fine countenance, +he well remembered every feature; and he wondered why he, had not known +him, even when they met so unexpectedly in the excitement of the +battle. + +That was a happy hour; and, in the joy of meeting so many that he +loved, Henrich for awhile forgot that any one was missing. But soon be +looked around, as if seeking some familiar object, which did not meet +his eye. He feared to ask for Ludovico: but his father saw the +inquiring look, and guessed its import. + +'He is gone!' he said, gently. 'Your brother did not remain with us +long after you had left us; and his young spirit is now where we +believed that yours had long been dwelling in peace. He would have +rejoiced to see this day, dear Henrich; for he, as well as Edith, +mourned your loss sincerely. But he is happy now, and we will not +regret him. The Lord has restored to us one of our sons in a manner so +strange, and under such extraordinary circumstances, that we can hardly +realise the blessing. Tell us, Henrich, how this has been brought +about.' + +The violent agitation occasioned by such a meeting had now somewhat +subsided; and the wanderer could calmly relate the story of his +adventures, while his mother and sister sat on each side of him, gazing +fondly at his much-changed, but still familiar countenance; and the +scarcely less interested Janet seated herself on the turf, with little +Edith on her knees. Rodolph and Roger Williams also reclined on the +ground, and all were impatient for the narrative. + +'Our group is not complete,' said Henrich. 'Come hither, Rodolph!' And +then, addressing his dog in the Indian language, he made him lie down +at his feet. + +'Then my ears did not deceive me?' exclaimed Maitland. 'When you left +me, Henrich, in the midst of that fearful fray, I thought I heard you +pronounce my name; and the sound startled me strangely. Have you, then, +called your unconscious companion by your father's name; and in all +your wanderings, and your trials, and temptations, has that name been +dear to you?' + +Heaven only knows _how_ dear! replied the Sachem. The remembrance of +my parents, and all they taught me in my childhood, has been not only +my joy and consolation, but my safeguard also. You will find me very +unlearned and ignorant in all worldly knowledge, for I have had no +means of keeping up the little I had acquired. But, God be praised! I +have been kept from forgetting Him, and the Saviour in whom you taught +me to put my trust. Nor have I been quite alone in my faith. One there +is of whom I shall have much to tell you in the course of my history, +who has been, and is, my spiritual companion and support. I have had +many blessings!' + +'How truly is it declared, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my +Spirit, saith the Lord"!' exclaimed Helen, as she raised her eyes in +grateful gratitude to Heaven. Now she and Rodolph felt that they had, +_indeed,_ recovered their lost son--not for time alone, but for +eternity. + +Henrich's long and adventurous story was told: and so many were the +questions and the comments that it called forth, that long are it was +finished the light of day had all departed, and been replaced by the +softer rays of the unclouded moon. It was with mingled feelings of +disappointment and of gratitude, that Henrich's friends heard of his +marriage with an Indian female. But as he described her character, and +spoke of her sincere and humble faith, and of all that she had been to +him since the first day of his captivity, they became more than +reconciled to the alliance, and thanked God who had so mercifully +provided their son with such a friend and companion, to cheer his +otherwise lonely life. They, and Edith also, felt impatient to become +acquainted with this new relative, whom they were already prepared to +love; and, as she was now dwelling near Cape Cod with her father and +the rest of her tribe, they hoped to do so before the winter set in. + +Henrich promised that this hope should be compiled with; but it was a +source of sorrow and disappointment to his family, when they heard that +he was pledged to the aged Tisquantum never to take his only and +beloved child from him as long as he lived. He could not, therefore, +at present change his mode of life, or take up his abode at New +Plymouth but must return to dwell with his Indian friends, and fill the +place of Tisquantum's son and representative, until the old man should +be gathered to his fathers. + +The days that Henrich passed in the home of his childhood flew rapidly +away. All his old friends gathered around him to welcome him on his +unexpected return, and to offer their congratulations to his happy +parents and sister. The joy of the venerable Brewster at again +beholding his young friend and pupil, and at finding him still a +sincere and intelligent Christian, was very great; and even among those +who had never known him, his adventurous story, and his frank and +engaging manners, excited the deepest interest. Between himself and +his brother-in-law, Roger Williams, a strong and lasting friendship was +established; and when the time arrived for Henrich to return to Paomet, +Roger proposed to accompany him, and assist in escorting his wife and +child to pay their promised visit to New Plymouth. This offer was +gladly accepted; and the English minister and the Indian Chief set out +on foot. The journey was comparatively easy to men who had long been +accustomed to such toils and difficulties as both Henrich and Roger +had, for years, been inured to, and they reached Paomet very quickly. + +But sorrow met them there. The first sound that fell on their ears as +they approached the village was the Indian dirge for a departing soul. +Henrich listened for a moment to catch the exact direction from whence +the ominous sound proceeded, and then darted forward with such +velocity, that Roger, active as he was, could with difficulty follow +him. Henrich hastened towards a large dwelling at the upper end of the +village; and entering the low door, he beheld a sight which, though it +filled his heart with unaffected grief, was yet, in some sense, a +relief to his fears. + +It was not for his wife or child that the wail was being made. It was +Tisquantum who lay on the bed of death, and who turned his dim and +sunken eyes towards him as he passed the threshold. The old man smiled +a joyful welcome, and held out his trembling hand to greet him. And +Oriana--who was seated on the ground by her father's bedside, in an +attitude of deep and silent sorrow--sprang to her feet with a cry of +joy, and throwing herself into her husband's arms, burst into a flood +of long-suppressed tears. + +'You are come at lest,' she exclaimed. 'You are come in time to see my +father die, and to receive his blessing. O, Henrich! how I have hoped +end preyed for your return. I feared you would be too late; and my +beloved father has something to confide to you--I know he has--which +will fill your soul with joy. Father,' she continued, in a calmer +voice, as she led Henrich to his side, and joined their hands in her +own--' Father, say those blessed words again. Tell your son that you +believe and love the Christian's God, and that you desire to die in +this faith.' + +Henrich was surprised. He had not hoped that Tisquantum had been thus +far influenced by what he had seen and heard of the Christian religion, +and his joy was equal to his astonishment. + +He looked inquiringly at the old Chief's countenance, and pressed his +withered hand. At length, in a feeble, but calm and decided voice, +Tisquantum spoke. + +'My son, it is true. I have observed and listened, but I have held my +peace. When you were a boy, you talked to me of the Christian's God, +and I smiled in my soul at your ignorance. Then I found that you +believed in the Great Mahneto, and I was satisfied. But for years I +have studied your character, to find out why, young as you were, I felt +for you a respect that I never felt for any human being except my own +heroic father. At last, I understood that it was because your religion +made you true, and brave, and good, and kept you from committing any of +the crimes that I saw others guilty of. If all your nation acted as you +have done, Henrich, their coming to this land would have proved a +blessing indeed to the red men, and our people would not hate them, and +seek to destroy them, as I once sought to do. But enough of this. My +strength is failing. Henrich, your example has taught me that your God +is holy, and just, and good; it has made me feel the truth of the +Christian's religion.' + +Tears of humble joy and gratitude glistened in Henrich's eyes at this +confession. He knelt beside the dying convert, and bowed his head upon +the bed; but his heart was too full to allow him to express his +thanksgivings audibly. Oriana was equally affected; but another form +knelt beside them, and another deep rich voice arose in prayer, which +was uttered fluently in the Indian language, and in which the hearts of +all present joined fervently, although the speaker was a stranger to +all but Henrich. + +It was Roger Williams, who had been an unobserved witness of the +foregoing deeply interesting scene, and had listened, with deep and +grateful emotion, to the words of the expiring Chief. He now spoke the +feelings of all his auditors, and, with his wonted power and eloquence, +poured forth a fervent prayer for the aged 'babe in Christ,' and +blessed the God of all spirits that it had pleased Him, even 'in the +eleventh hour,' to call the heathen Chief into the fold of Christ. + +When his prayer was finished, Henrich presented his friend and brother +to his father-in-law, and told him that, from his lips, he might bear +all that one of the Lord's most zealous and devoted ministers could +tell him of holy and eternal things. Gladly the old man availed +himself of this opportunity of obtaining instruction, end being +prepared for what he now earnestly desired--an admittance by baptism +into the once despised religion of the white men. + +For this task no man was more fitted than Roger Williams. He well knew +how to deal with Indian prejudices, and bow to call forth the +affections, by the relation of the simple and touching truths of the +gospel. Tisquantum heard with a willing and teachable spirit, and he +believed, and was at peace. His life was rapidly ebbing away, and no +time was to be lost; for though he rallied a little after the arrival +of Henrich and Roger, it was evident that his time on earth could only +be counted by hours. + +The following morning, therefore, at his own earnest desire, he was +baptised by Williams, in the presence of his rejoicing children, and of +Jyanough and Mailah, who formed a little congregation of sincere +Christians in the midst of an heathen population. + +The venerable Chieftain did not long survive his admission into the +pale of the visible church of Christ. His strength faded hour by hour; +but he was calm and collected to the last. He gave to Henrich all his +parting directions for the government of his people, if he still +continued to live among them, and to be their Sachem. 'But,' he added, +'I know that your heart is with your own people, and that you desire to +return to your former home. I cannot blame you; for I well know the +yearning of spirit that draws a man to his kindred, and to his fathers +house. And Oriana will go with you, and make your home and your people +her own. If this is to be, then let Jyanough be Sachem in your stead. +He also is just and upright, and will guide my warriors with courage +and wisdom. There is none besides yourself to whom I could so +confidently leave them. And now, farewell, my children! May the good +God in whom you trust receive my sinful soul for His Son's sake; and +may his blessing rest on those who have led me into the truth.' + +Tisquantum had been supported in his bed, while he thus took leave of +his sorrowing relatives and friends. He now lay down, and never rose +again. Neither did he utter many more words; but lay as if engaged in +thought and prayer, and occasionally fixed his failing eyes with fond +affection on his child and Henrich. At length they gently closed, and +the venerable old Chief slept the sleep of death. + +Oriana's grief was deep and sincere, for she had loved her father +almost passionately; but she did not now 'sorrow as those without +hope'; and, ere long, she was calm. The funeral was conducted in the +simple manner of the Puritans; and all Tisquantum's warriors stood +respectfully and silently round his grave, while Williams addressed +them in their own language, and exhorted them to follow the example of +their departed Chief, and examine the faith of the Christians, and +embrace it to the salvation of their souls. + +Not long after the death of Tisquantum, and before the severity of +winter prevented the journey being practicable, Henrich and his wife +took leave of the Nausetts, and of their Christian friends, Jyanough +and Mailah; and, accompanied by Roger Williams, and two or three Indian +attendants who desired to follow their fortunes, took their way towards +New Plymouth. Their departure from Paomet was much regretted, for they +were greatly beloved by the red men. But the promotion of Jyanough to +the Chieftainship gave general satisfaction; and there were even some +who thought it was more consistent with their dignity and independence, +to be governed by one of their own race, rather than by a pale-face, +let his personal qualities he ever so estimable. + +Henrich's heart beat high when he again arrived at his father's +dwelling, and presented his wife and child to his parents and his +sister. He cast searching glances at their countenances, to read their +feelings at thus greeting an _Indian_ as their near relative; but he +saw no expression that could give him pain. On the contrary, the +native grace and beauty of Oriana, and the gentle refinement of her +manner, evidently struck them with surprise and pleasure, and made upon +them all a most favorable impression. Nor did a further acquaintance +lessen this kindly feeling. It was impossible to know Oriana, and not +to love her; and she was soon regarded as a daughter and a sister by +all her husband's relatives; while the young Ludovico was cherished and +caressed by all the household, and by none more than by his little +cousin Edith. + +The Maitlands were now a happy family; and when, in the ensuing spring, +their daughter and her husband again left them to return to their +distant home at Providence, they felt they had still a daughter left to +them in the Indian wife of their beloved Henrich. This long-lost son +did not again leave them, except to pay occasional visits with Oriana +to their Nausett friends. But he fixed his permanent home at Plymouth, +where his knowledge of the Indian language and manners, and the +influence he continued to possess among the Nausetts and other +neighboring tribes, enabled him frequently to render important services +both to his own countrymen, and the red natives. His own merits, +likewise, won for him the love and respect of the settlers of New +Plymouth, who appreciated the unaffected devotion, and the simple +truthfulness, of his character; and felt that such men as Rodolph +Maitland and his son added glory to the history of 'the Pilgrim +Fathers.' + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Pilgrims of New England, by Mrs. J. B. Webb + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PILGRIMS OF NEW ENGLAND *** + +***** This file should be named 10222-8.txt or 10222-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/2/10222/ + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: + https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL + + diff --git a/old/10222-8.zip b/old/10222-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..85f703b --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10222-8.zip diff --git a/old/10222.txt b/old/10222.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fbc28c9 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10222.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12116 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Pilgrims of New England, by Mrs. J. B. Webb + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Pilgrims of New England + A Tale Of The Early American Settlers + +Author: Mrs. J. B. Webb + +Release Date: November 23, 2003 [EBook #10222] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PILGRIMS OF NEW ENGLAND *** + + + + + +THE +PILGRIMS +OF +NEW ENGLAND: + +A TALE OF +THE EARLY AMERICAN SETTLERS. + +BY + +MRS. J. B. WEBB, +AUTHOR OF "NAOMI," "JULAMERK," ETC. + + + +PREFACE + +In the following story, an attempt has been made to illustrate the +manners and habits of the earliest Puritan settlers in New England, and +the trials and difficulties to which they were subjected during the +first years of their residence in their adopted country. All the +principal incidents that are woven into the narrative are strictly +historical, and are derived from authentic sources, which give an +impartial picture both of the virtues and the failings of these +remarkable emigrants. Unhappily, some of these incidents prove but too +clearly, how soon many of these exiles 'for conscience sake' forgot to +practice those principles of religious liberty and toleration, for the +preservation and enjoyment of which they had themselves abandoned home +and kindred, and the church of their forefathers; and they tend to +lessen the feelings of respect and admiration with which their piety, +and their disinterested spirit, must necessarily inspire us. We cannot +but regret to find how early, in many of the Puritan communities, that +piety became tinged with fanaticism, and that free spirit degenerated +into bigotry and intolerance in their treatment of others, who had an +equal claim with themselves to a freedom of private judgement, and to +the adoption or rejection of any peculiar forms or mode of discipline. + +It is hoped, that a story founded on the history of these admirable, +but sometimes misguided, men, may prove interesting to many who have +hitherto been but slightly acquainted with the fate of their self- +exiled countrymen; and may tend to remove the prejudice with which, in +many minds, they are regarded: for, while we remember their errors and +infirmities, we should also remember that their faults were essentially +those of the age in which they lived, and the education they had +received; while their virtues were derived from the pure faith that +they possessed, and which was dearer to them than aught on earth +beside. + +KING'S PYON HOUSE, +HEREFORD + + + +THE +PILGRIMS OF NEW ENGLAND. + + + +CHAPTER I. + +'The breaking waves dashed high +On a stern and rock-hound coast: +And the woods against a stormy sky, +Their giant branches tost. +And the heavy night hung dark +The hills and waters o'er, +When a hand of exiles moored their bark +On the wild New England shore.' HEMANS. + +It was, indeed, a 'stern and rock-bound coast' beneath which the +gallant little Mayflower furled her tattered sails, and dropped her +anchor, on the evening of the eleventh of November, in the year 1620. +The shores of New England had been, for several days, dimly descried by +her passengers, through the gloomy mists that hung over the dreary and +uncultivated tract of land towards which their prow was turned; but the +heavy sea that dashed against the rocks, the ignorance of the captain +and his crew with regard to the nature of the coast, and the crazy +state of the deeply-laden vessel, had hitherto prevented their making +the land. At length the ship was safely moored in a small inlet, +beyond the reach of the foaming breakers; and the Pilgrim Fathers +hastened to leave the vessel in which they had so long been imprisoned, +and, with their families, to set foot on the land that was henceforth +to be their home. Cold, indeed, was the welcome which they received +from their adopted country; and cheerless was the view that met their +gaze, as they landed on a massy rock of granite, at the foot of a +precipitous cliff, and looked along the barren, inhospitable shore, and +over the dark waters which they had so lately crossed. + +But hope was strong in the hearts of these exiles; and the faith that +had led them to seek these untrodden shores, had not deserted them +during their long and tempestuous voyage; and they looked upward +through the gloom and dreariness that surrounded them, and fixed their +trusting eyes on Him who had guided them in safety over the great deep, +and brought them at length to a resting-place. Their first act was to +kneel down on the cold rock, and offer up their prayers and praises to +that God for whose sake they had given up country, and friends, and +home, and to whose service they now dedicated themselves and their +children: and strikingly grand must have been that act of worship. The +manly voices of the sturdy Pilgrims rose in deep and solemn unison, +followed by those of the women and children, and resounded along the +silent coast, while the heavy urges of the receding tide kept up a +hoarse and monotonous accompaniment. Then arose a hymn of +thanksgiving--and the rocks and the neighboring hills re-echoed the +exulting strain, that seemed to drown the voices of the wind and the +waves, and to rise unmixed to heaven. It was the triumph of faith--the +holy and heartfelt expression of undying trust and confidence in God! +Surely, at that time, the Pilgrims were meet objects for the admiring +gaze of men and angels! But they were not always so. + +It was on the shore of Cape Cod Bay that the new settlers had landed, +in the inlet now called New Plymouth Harbor: but this was not the place +of their original destination. They had intended to steer for the +mouth of Hudson's River, and to have fixed their habitation in that +less exposed and inhospitable district. But the Dutch had already +conceived the project, which they afterwards accomplished, of settling +in that part of the new continent; and it is supposed that the captain +of the Mayflower was bribed by them to convey the English emigrants +further to the north; so that the first American land which they beheld +was Cape Cod. They found that the place where they had landed was +beyond the precincts of the territory which had been granted to them; +and even beyond that of the Company from which they derived their right +of colonization; and after exploring hastily the neighboring coast, and +finding it dreary and unpromising, they again embarked, and insisted on +the captain's conveying them to the district which they had first +desired to reach. They sailed to the south, and many days were lost in +endeavoring to find a more convenient spot for their settlement: but it +was in vain. The shoals and the breakers with which the coast was +lined, presented obstacles that were insurmountable at that advanced, +and unusually inclement, season; and, weary and disheartened, they +returned to the place of their first landing. There they fixed their +abode, and there they founded the infant city of New Plymouth. It was a +desolate situation, and one that subjected the new settlers to many +trials and privations; for the nearest English settlements then +established were upwards of five hundred miles distant. Winter having +set in with more than common severity, they felt that no more time +could be wasted in seeking for a better spot, on which to build their +first American habitations. Sickness also had begun to show itself +among the little band of men, women, and children who were all +unaccustomed to the hardships and confinement of a long voyage; and it +was necessary to disembark with all possible speed, and erect huts to +shelter them from the daily increasing inclemency of the weather. For +this purpose, the forests of oak, pine, juniper, and sassafras, that +had grown undisturbed for centuries along the coast, furnished them +with abundant materials; and the woods soon echoed to the unaccustomed +sound of the hatchet and the saw, at which all the men, of every rank +and condition, labored unremittingly, while the women and children +gathered up the great muscles, and other shell-fish, which abounded on +the shore, and collected dry wood for firing. + +But before we follow the settlers in the detail of their sufferings and +trials, and of their ultimate success and prosperity, it will be +needful to go back a few years, and consider the motives that led these +brave men to expose themselves and their families to such severe +hardships, and to abandon their home and their kindred. A brief glance +at their previous history will suffice for this purpose. + +It is well known that the Puritans were greatly dissatisfied with the +state of the Church in England at the time when James the First +ascended the throne of this country. From him they hoped for protection +and encouragement; but in this expectation they were grievously +disappointed. The conference at Hampton Court proved how little +sympathy he entertained for their party; and the convocation which was +held soon after utterly all their hopes. Already a considerable number +of these dissenters had joined themselves into what they called a +_'Church Estate,_ pledged to walk in God's ways,' and to renounce the +evil passions of the world. They had protested against the episcopal +form of church government, and declared their approval of the +discipline and the forms adopted by the Church of Geneva, and also of +that established in the Netherlands. In order to enjoy the liberty in +ecclesiastical matters which they so greatly desired, they made up +their minds to retire to Amsterdam, under their excellent and respected +pastor, John Robinson; and this project was effected by the greater +number of their party; though some were discovered before they could +embark, and were detained and imprisoned, and treated with much +severity. Ultimately, however, they all escaped, and remained +unmolested at Amsterdam and the Hague, until the year 16O8, when they +removed to Leyden with their pastor, where they resided for eleven +years, and were joined by many others who fled from England during the +early part of the reign of James. + +These men now felt that their only hope of enjoying perfect religious +liberty, and of establishing a church according to their own dearly- +loved principles, lay in a voluntary exile. Their English prejudices +made them shrink from continuing to dwell among the Dutch, who had +hitherto given them a hospitable asylum; for they feared that, by +frequent intermarriages, they should eventually lose their nationality; +and they resolved to seek a new home, where they might found an English +colony, and, while they followed that mode of worship which was alone +consistent with their views and principles; might still be subjects of +the English crown, and keep up an intercourse with the friends they +dearly loved, and the land where their forefathers had lived and died. + +The recent discovery of the vast continent of America, in several parts +of which the British had already begun to form colonies, opened to them +a field of enterprise, as well as a quiet refuge from persecution and +controversy; and thither the Puritans turned their eyes. Nor were they +the first who had taken advantage of the unoccupied wastes of the New +World, and sought in them an asylum from intolerant oppression. Already +a numerous band of French Huguenots had retired thither, under the +conduct of their celebrated Calvinistic leader, De Monts, who was +invested with the government of the district lying between Montreal and +Philadelphia, by a patent from his sovereign, Henry the Fourth. No +traces of this colony now remain, while those planted by the English +Puritans have taken root in the American soil, and flourished so +greatly, that a few years ago their descendants were found to amount to +4,000,000: so remarkably has the blessing of God, at least in temporal +matters, been bestowed on an enterprise which was, doubtless, +undertaken in dependence on His protection; and was carried out with +that fortitude and resolution which are the results of sincere piety +struggling with deep adversity.[*] + +[Footnote: For this account of the cause which led to the emigration of +the Puritans, and the manner in which they effected it, the authoress +is chiefly indebted to Marden's 'History of the Puritans,' and Talvi's +'History of the Colonization of America.'] + +The idea of retiring to the shores of America was first suggested to +his followers by their pastor, John Robinson, whose influence over his +flock was almost unexampled. This influence was derived from the purity +of his life, and the holy consistency of his conduct. He was possessed +of a gentle temper; and the strictness of his religious principles was +united with a spirit of toleration towards others, which was too little +felt or practiced in those days, and which was not, as is too often the +case, changed into bitterness by the sufferings that he had himself +experienced. Well had it been for those who professed to be guided by +his example and advice, and who left the shores of Europe with the +sanction of his counsel and his blessing, if they had carried with them +the truly Christian spirit of their respected minister, and had +suffered that spirit to guide them in the formation, and during the +growth, of their infant church in America! But, as we shall presently +see, this was not the case: the mercy and toleration which the Puritan +exiles had vainly asked at the hands of their brethren at home, they +denied to others who differed from them; and, consequently, while they +have so greatly prospered in the things of this world, in religion they +have evidently declined. + +Emigration being resolved on, the first step that was taken by the +Puritans, was an application to King James for an assurance of +protection and toleration in the new home which they desired to seek; +but this was more than the wary king would guarantee to them. All that +they could obtain was a vague promise, that so long as they conducted +themselves peaceably, they should not be molested; and, relying on this +promise, they immediately commenced a negotiation with the Virginian +Company, for the possession of a tract of land within the limits of the +patent which had been granted to them for colonizing that part of +America. This was easily obtained; for the Society had hitherto only +been able to occupy a few isolated spots of their extensive territory, +and, therefore, were willing to encourage fresh settlers. + +The congregation over which Robinson presided, amounted, at the time of +their intended emigration, to upwards of three hundred in number; but +their resources were inadequate to the expense of moving all together, +and it was therefore arranged that only a part of the flock should sail +at first, under the guidance of William Brewster; while the rest should +remain at Leyden, under the care of their pastor, and wait for the +report of their friends before they followed them to their chosen place +of exile. + +The names of the vessels which were engaged to convey the Pilgrims from +the shores of Europe, were the Mayflower and the Speedwell--names still +cherished by heir descendants. When they were ready for sea, the whole +congregation assembled themselves together, and observed a solemn fast, +which concluded with prayer; and Robinson preached to them from Ezra +viii, 21: 'Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that +we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way +for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.' He +afterwards addressed them in a deeply impressive speech, in which he +earnestly deprecated all party spirit and bigotry, and exhorted them to +be guided only by the pure doctrines of God's Word. + +'I charge you,' said this truly Christian and evangelical minister, +'that you follow me no further than you have seen me follow the Lord +Jesus Christ. The Lord has more truth yet to break forth out of his +Holy Word. I cannot sufficiently bewail the condition of the reformed +churches, which are come to a period in religion, and will go, at +present, no further than the instruments of their reformation. Luther +and Calvin were great and shining lights in their times, yet they +penetrated not into the whole counsel of God. The Lutherans cannot be +drawn to go beyond what Luther saw; and the Calvinists, you see, stick +fast where they were left by that great man of God.[*] I beseech you, +remember it--'tis an article of your church covenant--that you shall be +ready to receive whatever truth shall be made known to you from the +Word of God.' + +[Footnote: See 'Remarks on the Dangers of the Church,' by Rev. Edward +Bickersteth.] + +The congregation then repaired to the house of their pastor, and +partook of a farewell repast together; after which they proceeded to +Delft Harbor, and there the Pilgrims embarked. Again their minister +offered up fervent prayer in behalf of this portion of his flock who +were about to encounter the dangers of a long voyage, and to seek a +home in an almost unknown land--and then in deep silence they parted. +'No cheers or noisy acclamations resounded along the shore, for such +demonstrations were little in accordance with the usual serious habits +of the Puritans, and still less so with the feelings of sadness which +now oppressed their hearts. But a volley of small shot, and three +pieces of ordnance,' writes Winslow, one of the emigrants, 'announced +to those on shore the hearty courage and affectionate adieus of those +on board; and so, lifting up our hands to one another, and our hearts +to the Lord, we departed.' + +Thus the Pilgrims set sail, with mingled feelings of hope for the +future, and regret for what they left behind; and greatly would their +sorrow have been increased, had they known that they would never again +behold on earth the countenance of their much-loved pastor. They fully +anticipated his following them, with the rest of their brethren, as +soon as they should have found a suitable place of settlement for the +whole congregation. But poverty and other obstacles detained him in +Europe, and he terminated his useful and exemplary life at Leyden. + +The emigrants had not proceeded far on their voyage, when it was +discovered that the Mayflower, commanded by Captain Jones, was in need +of some repairs; and the two vessels put into Dartmouth--not to sail +together again. The captain of the Speedwell declared that he was +afraid to encounter the voyage; and from this, or some other motive, he +positively refused to proceed any further. Several of the passengers +also, had already begun to feel disheartened, and they returned with +him to London, and abandoned the enterprise altogether. Doubtless, the +Pilgrims bad no cause to lament the departure of these faint-hearted +comrades; but it occasioned them much present inconvenience, for, not +being able to procure another vessel to convey the remainder of the +passengers who had embarked in the Speedwell, they were all obliged to +be crowded into the Mayflower, which sailed again on the sixth of +September, 1620, with considerably upwards of a hundred men, women, and +children on her narrow decks, in addition to her own crew of seamen. + +After a very tedious and tempestuous voyage, they came in sight of the +American shores on the eighth of November; and, as we have already +seen, they landed three days afterwards in Cape Cod Bay, and eventually +founded the city of New Plymouth at the place of their disembarkation. +A portion of the granite rock on which the Pilgrim Fathers first set +foot has since been removed from the coast, and placed in front of' +'The Pilgrim's Hall,' enclosed in an iron railing; and the anniversary +of their landing, afterwards called Forefather's-day, has ever since +been observed by their descendants as a day of solemn festivity, in +remembrance of the mercy of Providence, which led them safely through +so many difficulties and dangers; and permitted them to find a new +home, and a new country, and to bring their enterprise to such a +prosperous issue. + +It is with the first period of their establishment on the uncultivated +shores of North America that our story commences; and it is connected +with the sufferings and privations which were so patiently endured, and +the difficulties which were so resolutely overcome, by these devoted +men, before they had taken root in their new settlement, or gathered +around themselves and their families the comforts which they had +abandoned in their own land for conscience sake. Many trials awaited +them ere prosperity became their portion, and ere they could feel +either rest or security in the wild regions where they had sought a +refuge: and these trials will be brought more distinctly to our minds, +if we view them in connection with some of the individuals of the +expedition, and follow the fortunes of one family more particularly. +This family we will call by the name of Maitland, and endeavor in their +somewhat imaginary history, to describe the mode of life, and some of +the joys and sorrows--the difficulties and successes--of the Pilgrim +Fathers. + +Owing to the many delays which the emigrants had experienced, a severe +winter had set in before they landed, and had fixed a spot for their +permanent abode; and they found themselves exposed to the inclemency of +a North climate, with no other shelter than a few tents, besides that +which the vessel continued to afford. In haste they felled the trees of +the neighboring forests; and in haste they constructed the village of +log huts which was to be their present abode, and which, ultimately, +grew into the flourishing and wealthy city of New Plymouth. In the +erection of this hamlet, no head was so fertile in plans and +expedients, and no arms were so strong to execute them, as those of +Rodolph Maitland, the head of the family in whom we are specially +interested. He was a younger member of a very respectable family in +the North of England, and had passed his youth and early manhood in the +service of his country as a soldier. This profession, however, became +distasteful to him when the religious dissensions which troubled the +land called on him, at times, to obey his commander in carrying out +schemes of oppression which were contrary both to his feelings and his +principles. His marriage with Helen Seatown, the daughter of a +nonconforming minister, increased his repugnance to bearing arms, which +might be turned against the party to which he was now so closely +connected; and he threw up his commission, and soon afterwards +accompanied his father-in-law to Holland, and joined the congregation +of the respected Robinson at Leyden. + +Here he continued to reside until the resolution to emigrate was formed +by the Puritan refugees, when he was among the first to embrace the +proposition of the pastor, and to lend all the aid which his +comparative wealth, and the influence of his connections in England, +enabled him to offer in furtherance of the enterprise. His father-in- +law had died soon after his arrival at Leyden; but his amiable and +devoted wife was most willing to follow him in his voluntary exile, and +to take her children to the New World, where she hoped to bring them up +in the same principles of pure evangelical religion which she had +learnt from her own parents, and which were dearer to her than home or +friends or aught on earth besides. + +At the time when the Pilgrims reached America, the Maitland's family +consisted of two sons, Henrich and Ludovico; the elder of whom was +sixteen years of age, and the younger about seven; and one little girl +between ten and eleven, named Edith. In the thoughtful seriousness of +his eldest boy, which was united with great intelligence and spirit, +and a manly resolution beyond his years, Rodolph saw his own character +again depicted; and Helen proudly hoped that her Henrich would one day +manifest all those qualities of mind and person by which his father had +first won her admiration and love, and by which he had since gained the +esteem and affection of all who were in any way connected with him. +Henrich was now old enough to understand, and almost to appreciate, the +motives which had induced his parents and their companions to become +exiles from home: and his young heart exulted in the resolution that +freed him from the cold formality of Dutch manners, and opened to his +adventurous spirit a prospect of liberty and enterprise, far better +suited to his inclination and character. Religious freedom he desired, +because he had been taught that it was his rightful privilege, and that +the want of it had occasioned those troubles which first drove his +parents and friends from their native land. But personal freedom he +yearned for with his whole soul; and the wild shores of New England, +and the depths of the unexplored forests that now met his eager gaze, +filled his ardent mind with anticipations of adventurous joys hitherto +unknown to him. These anticipations were destined to be fulfilled, ere +long, in a manner which he neither foresaw nor desired. + +His brother Ludovico was a playful child, too young to share all the +feelings of the earnest Henrich, who always acted as his guide and +protector during their sports and rambles; but in the gentle little +Edith he found a kindred spirit, and a heart that could sympathize in +all his joys and sorrows. Young as she was, Edith felt the influence of +her brother's character; and she looked up to him with feelings of +devoted love and admiring pride. She was his constant companion, and +his ever-ready assistant in all his difficulties. This had been very +much the case during their residence in Holland; but on their arrival +in New England, Edith was left still more to her brother's guidance. +Their parents were necessarily too much occupied with the cares end +anxieties which their new situation brought upon them, to devote much +time to their children; and when the light labors in which Henrich and +Edith were able to render any assistance were over, they and Ludovico +amused themselves by wandering along the shore in search of shells and +seaweed; or else they followed the wood-cutters into the forest, to +seek for such flowering plants as still were to be found in the more +sheltered spots, and to transplant them to the garden that was to +surround and embellish their rude dwelling. + +As soon as a tolerable shelter had been obtained, by the erection of a +sufficient number of log-huts, to contain the families of the settlers, +it was resolved that a party of men should go on an exploring +expedition, and endeavor to ascertain the nature and resources of the +coast on which they had landed; and, also, whether it was inhabited by +any tribes of native Indians. Hitherto they had seen no human beings, +and they had remained undisturbed possessors of the soil. But they +could hardly expect that this state of things would long continue; and +they were anxious, if possible, to discover the native inhabitants and +natural possessors of the country, and to establish friendly relations +with them. + +Sixteen of the Pilgrims volunteered for this expedition, headed by +Rodolph Maitland, whose military experience, and superior intelligence, +well fitted him to be the leader of the party. The rest of the men +remained to protect their families, and to complete the village; which +already presented a very respectable appearance, and promised to afford +a tolerably comfortable residence to the new settlers, until they +should have leisure and means to erect dwellings more in accordance +with their previous habits of life. + +The government of the little colony was unanimously confided to John +Carver, who was elected President for one year; but he did not live +long to exercise his authority, or to enjoy the confidence reposed in +him by his fellow-settlers. During the short period, however, that he +was spared to them, he exerted himself successfully to promote the +welfare of the community, and to preserve peace and unanimity among the +members of which it was composed; and before the departure of the +exploring party, he called on all the Pilgrim Fathers to sign a +covenant, which had been drawn up during the voyage, and which +contained a statement of the peculiar religious principles of the +congregation, and also of the mode of civil government that they proposed +to establish in the colony. This government was not to be independent +of the mother country, for the Pilgrims regarded themselves as still +being the subjects of King James; and the patent which they had +procured to enable them to settle in New England was granted by the +Company to whom the king had assigned the right of colonizing that part +of North America. They, therefore, intended to be governed mainly by +English laws, and to keep up a constant and intimate connection with +their English brethren. It may be well here to mention that their plan +of civil government consisted in the election of a governor or +president by general vote, and of seven counselors to assist him; the +only privilege granted to the president being that his vote counted +double. This state of things continued for eighteen years, after which +time the growth of the colony rendered a change expedient, and each new +town that was founded sent delegates to a general court. It would, +however, be useless here to follow the political changes of these early +settlers, as it is only with their first form of government that our +story is concerned. + +According to the habitual custom of the Pilgrims, the Sabbath which +preceded the sending forth this band of spies to search the land, was +observed with the utmost solemnity; for no press of occupations--no +necessity for haste--ever induced them to neglect this duty. For the +liberty of practicing their own mode of worship, they had sought these +shores; and, having been permitted safely to reach them, they used that +liberty, and were never unmindful of their religious privileges. Every +Sabbath was a day of sacred rest; and every undertaking was sanctified +by prayer; sometimes even, as we shall have occasion to observe, when +the undertaking was such as could hardly be supposed to deserve the +blessing of God. Still, there is every reason to believe that their +piety, as a body, was sincere; and while we condemn the sternness and +severity into which they were too frequently betrayed, we must yield +our heartfelt approbation to the self-denying resolution and +unflinching faith that were their governing principle and their ever- +actuating motive. Well have these principles and motives been +described by a late well-known poet, and well may we conclude this +introductory chapter with the last verse of that exquisite song, with +the first of which we commenced it: + +'What sought they thus afar? + Bright jewels of the mine? +The wealth of seas, the spoils of war? + They sought a faith's pure shrine. +Aye--call it holy ground + The soil where first they trod! +They have left unstain'd what there they found-- + Freedom to worship God!' + + + + +CHIAPTER II. + +'In much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, In distresses... As +having nothing, and yet possessing all things.'--2 COR. vi, 4, 10. + +'Is it not much that I may worship Him, +With naught my spirit's breathings to control, +And feel His presence in the vast, and dim, +And whispering woods, where dying thunders roll + From the far cat'racts?' HEMANS. + +With some anxiety the settlers saw the exploring party set out on their +hazardous enterprise. The season was far advanced, and drifting +snowstorms gave warning of the inclement winter that was rapidly +setting in. Still it was deemed necessary to make some investigation +into the nature of the country, and to endeavor to obtain, if possible, +a supply of provisions before the increasing severity of the weather +should render it impracticable to do so. But, above all, it was +desirable to ascertain what native tribes dwelt in the vicinity of the +settlement, and to use every means to establish friendly relations with +them; not only because such a course would be most in accordance with +the principles of the Gospel which the emigrants professed to hold and +to practice, but also because, in the present state of the infant +colony, they were altogether unprepared to resist any attack that might +be made on them by a large body of Indians. + +Maitland led his party inland at first, and for two days they saw no +traces or human inhabitants; but on the afternoon of the third day, as +they were looking about for a convenient spot on which to encamp for +the night, some large and apparently artificial mounds of earth were +observed, scattered over an open glade in the forest. At the first +glance, they appeared like dwelling places; and, knowing something of +the habits of the Indians, Rodolph and two of his companions approached +them warily, fearing to surprise and irritate the inhabitants. But +after making a circuit, and ascertaining that these supposed huts had +no doorways, they went up to them, and found them to be solid mounds, +at the foot of which neatly plaited baskets, filled with ears of maize, +were placed. These were eagerly seized upon; and a further search being +made, several warlike and agricultural implements were discovered +buried beneath the surface of the earth. It was evident that these +mounds were native graves, and that they had recently been visited by +the tribe to which they belonged, who most probably resided in the +neighborhood. Therefore, to avoid exciting their displeasure and +jealousy, Rodolph caused all the weapons and other tools to be restored +to their places; and, in exchange for the corn, which was too much +needed to be left behind, he put into the baskets several strings of +beads, and other trifles, with which he was provided for the purpose of +barter, or as presents to the natives. + +It did not appear either safe or desirable to remain near a spot so +sacred to the Indians; the party therefore moved further into the depth +of the forest, where they erected their tents, which consisted merely +of blankets supported on poles; and, lighting large fires, they slept +by turns, while half their number kept a vigilant watch. Their rest +was, however, undisturbed, either by lurking Indians or by prowling +beasts of prey; and at day-break they resumed their march, in the hope +of discovering the native camp. But their search was in vain; and +Rodolph determined to leave the forest, and return to the settlement +along the shore, hoping there to find some traces of the natives. +Before he and his comrades left the shelter of the wood, they fired +their muskets at the small game which abounded in every direction, +partly with a view to supply themselves with food, and partly to +attract the notice of any straggling Indians who might be wandering +near, and who would conduct them to their wigwams. But the echoes were +the only sounds that answered their reports, and it was clear that no +native camp was within hearing. + +The place where Maitland and his little band reached the coast was +nearly twenty leagues from the settlement, towards the north, and has +since been known by the name of Angoum. Here they found two empty +huts, containing all the curiously-worked utensils used by the Indians +of that district--bowls, trays, and dishes, formed of calabashes and +carved wood or bark; and beautiful baskets constructed of crabshells, +ingeniously wrought together, with well-woven mats of grass and +bulrushes, dyed of various brilliant colors. The inhabitants had +probably gone on a fishing expedition, and would return in a few days, +as they had left behind them a considerable quantity of dried acorns, +which, at that period, formed a common article of food with these +children of the forest. + +Rodolph suffered nothing to be taken from the huts, but proceeded along +the coast in a southerly direction and, at length, he perceived two +canoes at a considerable distance from the shore, containing several +Indians, who took no notice of the signals they made, but rowed rapidly +away on an opposite course. Finding it useless to linger any longer in +this part of the bay, Maitland led his party back to the settlement at +New Plymouth, taking accurate observations of the line of coast, and +communicated to President Carver all the information that he had been +able to collect. This was not very satisfactory; and the governor +resolved to send out a second party, well armed, who should proceed in +the shallop to the southern part of Cape Cod Bay. This expedition was +placed under the command of Captain Standish, who was regarded as the +military chief of the settlers; and Maitland again formed one of the +number. On this occasion he obtained permission to take Henrich with +him, as he wished the boy to become early inured to the hardships and +privations which it would probably be his lot to bear for many years, +and also to acquire habits of courage and vigilance that might be of +service to him hereafter. Henrich was delighted with this arrangement, +which gratified his desire for adventure, and also proved that his +father now placed some confidence in him, and no longer regarded him as +a mere child. His astonishment was great when first he beheld the +whales, those huge and fearful-looking monsters of the ocean, lifting +their gigantic heads above the waves, and lashing the surface to foam +with their powerful tails; or ejecting vast spouts of water like +fountains, from their upraised heads. These, and many other strange +objects, attracted his attention as the boat moved down the bay; but +all were forgotten in the absorbing interest with which he regarded, +for the first time, the wild red men that met his view as the boat +neared the shore, at a spot about eight leagues from New Plymouth, +called by the Pilgrims _Thievish Harbor._ Several of these savages, in +their strange attire of skins, and feathers, and woven grasses, showed +themselves among the rocks that stood above the landing-place; but, +regardless of the peaceful signs that were made to them by Captain +Standish and his crew, they hastily retreated and when the party +disembarked, not an Indian was to be seen. With much circumspection, +the captain advanced at the head of his resolute band, who all held +their muskets ready for action, if self-defense should compel them to +use them; but with a positive order from their commander to refrain +from any act of hostility so long as it was possible to do so. + +This command could not, however, be long obeyed; for as the party +proceeded through the rocks and stunted trees that lined the coast, +they came in sight of a burial ground, similar to that which had been +discovered in the first expedition, except that, in this case, the +mounds of earth were enclosed by a strong palisade of upright poles, +bound together firmly at the top. Through the interstices of these +poles, Standish and his men saw the glittering eyes of the savages +watching their approach; and before they could decide whether to +advance or retreat, a shower of arrows was discharged, several of which +took effect, though not mortally. This wanton aggression roused the +spirit of the sturdy Englishmen, and regardless of the efforts which +Captain Standish made to restrain them, a volley of musket balls +instantly replied to the challenge of the red men; and the wild cries +that arose from the cemetery plainly told that they had not sped in +vain. Even Rodolph Maitland was surprised out of his usual calm +resolution and presence of mind; for he saw his son fall bleeding to +the ground, pierced through the leg by an arrow, and almost +involuntarily he fired off his musket at an Indian whose body was more +exposed than the rest, and whose greater profusion of ornament showed +him to be one of their chief warriors. Rodolph saw him fall from the +palisades on which he had climbed to take a better aim at the white +men; and instantly a gate was opened in the enclosure, and, with a +hideous yell, the savages rushed forth, brandishing their spears and +battle-axes, and shouting their war-cry, 'Woach! woach! ha, ha, hach, +woach!' Their number appeared to be about thirty men; and Standish knew +that his party, several of whom were already slightly wounded, could +not resist the fury of their attack. He therefore gave the word for an +instant retreat to the boat, as the only means of safety. His gallant +band would gladly have pressed on, and met the savages in close combat; +but they had promised to obey their leader, and reluctantly they +followed him to the shore. + +The path by which they had emerged on the burial-place was narrow and +winding, and they were soon hidden from the sight of the Indians; but +they heard their wild whoop among the rocks and bushes, and knew that +they were in eager pursuit. Maitland had caught up his wounded boy in +his arms, and now bore him rapidly forward; but the weight of his +burden, and the roughness of the way, retarded his steps and, powerful +as he was, he could not keep up with his comrades, who were unconscious +that he had fallen behind them. He thought of his wife--of Henrich's +mother--and he pat forth his utmost strength. Still the war cry came +nearer and nearer; and Henrich, who had hitherto uttered no sound of +pain, or word of complaint exclaimed wildly-- + +'Father! I see them! There--there--they have entered the thicket, and +one has climbed the rock, and will soon overtake us. O, father, fly! +for his battle-axe is lifted up, and his eyes glare terribly' + +Maitland's heart beat furiously. He could not pause, or turn, to look +at the coming foe; but his quick and ready mind was active in devising +some means of saving the life of his child. + +'Load my gun, Henrich!' he exclaimed. 'I cannot long continue this +speed. Be steady, and be quick: our lives depend upon it!' + +The gallant boy instantly obeyed the difficult command; and the instant +it was done, Rodolph dropped on one knee, supported his bleeding son on +the other, and taking a deliberate aim at the Indian, who was preparing +to leap from the rock into the path behind them, he fired. The upraised +arms of the savage fell powerless--the heavy axe dropped from his +hand--and, falling forward over the rock, he lay expiring in the narrow +pathway. The feathery coronets of several of his comrades were seen +above the bushes at some distance: and again the father raised his son, +who now hung fainting in his arms, and hurried, with renewed speed, +towards the shore. As he neared it, he met two of his companions who, +having reached the boat, had missed him and Henrich, and hastened back +to secure their retreat. It was a seasonable reinforcement, for +Rodolph's strength was failing him. He gave his boy into the arms of +one of his friends, and loading his gun, he stood with the other, to +defend the passage to the shore. The savages came on; and the white men +fired, and retreated, loading as they fell back, and again firing; +until their pursuers, either wounded or disheartened, came to a stand +still, and contented themselves with yelling their discordant war-cry, +and shooting arrows, which happily missed their aim. + +The whole party embarked safely, and were soon beyond the reach of the +missiles which the Indians continued to discharge; and Maitland had the +joy of seeing young Henrich speedily recover his senses, and his spirit +too. It was evident that the arrows used by the red men on this +occasion were not poisoned, and no great or permanent evil was likely +to arise from any of the wounds received; but a spirit of hostility had +been established between the settlers and the Nausett tribe, to which +their assailants belonged, and Rodolph was a marked man, and an object +of determined revenge, to all who had shared in the conflict. The spot +where it took place was named _the First Encounter,_ in memory of the +event, and long retained that name: and the consequences of this first +combat proved to be equally calamitous to the savages, and to their +more civilized foes, for many subsequent years. + +The exploring party returned to their settlement as speedily as +possible, being anxious to obtain medical relief for the wounded. +Helen Maitland and her children were wandering on the shore when the +boat first came in sight; and for several evenings the desolate coast +had been her constant haunt, after the necessary labors of the day were +completed. It had been with much reluctance that she had consented to +her husband's wish of taking Henrich on the hazardous expedition; and +his being of the party had greatly increased the anxiety and uneasiness +which Rodolph's absence always caused her. As the days passed on, this +anxiety became greater; and visions of fatal encounters with the +savages beset her naturally timid mind. Daily therefore she left her +hut, and wrapped in the mantle of fur with which her husband had +provided her before he brought her to brave a North American winter, +she paced backwards and forwards on the beach, looking out over the +dark waters, and lifting her heart in prayer for the safe and speedy +return of the wanderers. Edith and Ludovico accompanied her but they +could not share her anxiety. They looked, indeed, with eagerness for +the expected boat which was to bring back their much-loved father and +brother; but they soon forgot the object of their search, and amused +themselves by climbing the rocks, and gathering the shells which the +wintry waves now cast up in abundance. + +They were thus engaged when Edith happened to glance to the south and +saw the long desired coming round a little promontory that concealed it +from her mother as she walked below. In an instant the treasure of +shells and seaweed was forgotten, and little Edith was bounding down to +the beach, followed by Ludovico. + +'The boat mother, the boat!' she eagerly exclaimed, as she pointed in +the direction in which it was approaching; and in another moment she +and her little brother were at Helen's side, and all hastening to the +landing-place--that very granite rock on which they had first +disembarked on the American shore. The boat came rear; and as soon as +the crew perceived Helen and the children on the rock, they raised a +hearty cheer to tell her that all was well. She saw her husband +standing on the prow, and her heart bounded with joy; but she looked +for Henrich, and she did not see him, and fear mingled with her joy. A +few more strokes of the oars, and the boat glided up to the rock, and +Rodolph leaped on shore, and embraced his wife and children. + +'Heaven be praised! you are safe, my Rodolph,' exclaimed Helen. 'But +where is Henrich?--where is my boy?' + +'He also is safe, Helen. His life is preserved; but he is wounded, and +unable to come from the boat to meet you. Bear up,' he added, seeing +that she trembled violently, while the tears flowed down her blanched +cheeks 'you need not fear: the brave boy is maimed, indeed, but I +trust not seriously injured. He is weak from loss of blood, and must +not be agitated; therefore meet him cheerfully, and then hasten to make +the arrangements for his comfort that your scanty means will permit.' + +Helen dried her tears, and forced, a smile to greet her wounded child, +who was now being lifted from the bottom of the boat, and gently +carried on shore by two of the men. His pallid countenance, and blood- +stained garments, struck a chill to her heart; but she concealed her +grief, and silenced the sobs and exclamations of the warm-hearted +little Edith and her terrified brother; and then, having affectionately +welcomed the almost fainting boy, she hurried away with the children to +prepare for his reception in the comfortless log-hut. + +Assisted by Janet--the faithful servant who had nursed her children, +and followed her from England to Holland, and from Holland to America-- +she soon arranged a bed for their patient; and Henrich smiled +cheerfully, though languidly, when he found himself again beneath the +humble roof that was now his home, and surrounded by all whom he loved. +His wound proved to be a severe one--more so than his father had +imagined; and the loss of blood had been so considerable that he was +reduced to extreme weakness. Now it was that Helen felt the absence of +all the comforts, and even luxuries, to which she had been accustomed +from childhood, but of whose loss she had hitherto never complained. +Henrich's illness proved a very long and painful one; and +notwithstanding the kindness of all her friends, and the attentions +paid by the rest of the settlers to the young patient--who was a +general favorite--it was difficult to procure for him either the food +or the medical attendance that his case required: and frequently his +parents feared that a foreign grave would soon be all that would remain +to them of their dearly-loved child. + +To add to their anxiety and distress, an epidemic disease, of which +some signs had appeared in the settlement before the exploring party +set out, now increased to a fearful degree. The stores which had been +brought out in the crowded Mayflower were nearly expended, except such +a stock as Captain Jones considered necessary for the voyage back to +England: and a great scarcity of bread began to be felt. The animals, +which they procured by the gun and the chase, were not sufficient to +supply the wants of the settlers, and famine--actual famine--stared +them in the face, and increased the violence of the pestilence. Many +sank beneath the accumulated evils of hardship, privation, and +sickness, and the number of the little settlement was sadly reduced +during the inclement months of January and February. + +The constant care which was bestowed on Henrich at length proved +effectual in healing his wound, and partially restoring his strength; +and his parents had, eventually, the happiness of seeing that the a +anger was past, and their son was restored to them. They also had cause +to acknowledge, with gratitude, that the affliction had been blessed to +him as well as to themselves. The elders of the community, who acted as +the pastors of the infant colony, were unwearied in their attentions to +their weaker and more distressed brethren. They were, indeed, the +physicians both of their bodies and souls; and Henrich was not +neglected by them. The excellent and venerable William Brewster was the +intimate and valued friend of Rodolph Maitland and his wife. He had +been both their friend and adviser for many years of comparative peace +and prosperity; and now that he shared their troubles and adversities, +his ready sympathy, and active kindness, rendered him dearer to them +than ever. + +Brewster was a man whose character and position in life naturally gave +him great influence with the Pilgrim Fathers. He had received a liberal +education, and possessed a far greater knowledge of the world than the +generality of his companions in exile, having been brought up as a +diplomatist under Davison, when he was Secretary of State to Queen +Elisabeth. He was devoted to the cause of religious liberty; and it was +he who had assisted his friend, John Robinson, in withdrawing his +congregation from the persecution that threatened them in England, to a +peaceful asylum in Holland. At the time of the emigration to America, +he was already in the decline of life; but his energies were in no +degree weakened, and his zeal for the glory of God, and the good of his +fellow Christians, was unabated. + +He desired to spend all his remaining years in promoting the welfare of +the colony, and in proclaiming the Gospel to the heathen; and while he +was ever mindful of the wants, both spiritual and temporal, of the +flock ever whom he was appointed to preside, until their pastor +Robinson could join them, he never forgot the grand object of his +voluntary exile, or ceased to pray that the Lord would be pleased to +open 'a great door and effectual,' before him, and enable him to bring +many of the savage and ignorant natives into the fold of Christ. In +all these plans he was warmly seconded by Edward Winslow, but hitherto +no such opening had appeared and the sickness and distress which +prevailed in the settlement gave full occupation to them and to their +brother elders. During all the period of Henrich's tedious illness, not +a day passed in which Brewster did not visit the suffering boy to +cheer him, to soothe him, and, above all, to prepare him for that +better world to which he then believed he was surely hastening. To +these visits Henrich looked forward with delight; and often, when +domestic business called away his mother and Janet, the minister would +remain with him for hours, seated on a low stool by of his bed, and +read to him, or talk to him, in a strain so holy and yet so cheerful, +that Edith would leave her work and softly seat herself on Henrich's +couch, that she might catch his every word, while little Ludovico would +cease from his noisy sports, and creep up on the good man's knee, and +fix his large soft eyes on his sweet and noble countenance. + +These hours were not unimproved by Henrich. His character was formed, +and his principles were fixed, and his mind and spirit grew strong and +ripe beyond his years. Never were these hours of peaceful happiness +forgotten; and often amid the strange and stirring scenes which it was +his lot in after-life to witness and to share, did he bless the over- +ruling providence of God, which had laid him on a bed of pain and +weakness, that he might learn lessons of piety and of usefulness, which +otherwise he would never have acquired. + +It was while they were thus happily engaged one afternoon, when Henrich +was slowly recovering his strength, that the elder and his young +audience were startled by wild and discordant sounds, mingled with +cries of fear, which proceeded from the outskirts of the straggling +village, and seemed to be approaching. Henrich raised himself on his +bed, and a look of terror overspread his countenance, as he exclaimed: +'It is the war cry of the savages! O! I know it well! Go, Mr. +Brewster, fly! save my mother. I will follow you.' + +And the brave boy tried to leap from the couch, and reach his father's +sword, which hung against the wooden walls of his chamber. But it was +in vain; the wounded leg refused to bear his weight, and he was forced +to relinquish his design. Brewster, however, snatched the sword, and +drawing it, rushed from the hut, leaving Edith and Ludovico clinging +with trembling hands around their brother. + +Henrich's fears proved but too true. No sooner had the elder traversed +the enclosure that surrounded Maitland's dwelling, than he beheld +Helen, and several of the other women who had gone out to assist their +husbands in the lighter parts of their agricultural labors, flying in +terror and confusion to their huts, while the men were engaged in close +combat with a party of native Indians. The same war-cry which had rung +on their ears in the first encounter told Rodolph and his comrades that +these savages were of the same tribe, and probably the same individuals +from whom they had escaped with such difficulty on that occasion. They +were right; for it was indeed a band of the Nausetts, who, headed by +their Chief, had come to seek revenge for the loss they had sustained +at their former meeting. The warrior whom Rodolph's musket had laid +low was Tekoa, the only son of the Nausett chief; and he was resolved +that the white man's blood should flow, to expiate the deed. He knew +that the son of the stranger who had slain his young warrior had been +wounded, and, as he hoped, mortally; but that did not suffice for his +revenge, and he had either suddenly attacked the settlement, in the +hope of securing either Rudolph himself or some of his comrades, that +he might shed the white man's blood on the grave of his son, and tear +off their scalps as trophies of victory. + +The settlers who now contended with the savages were but few in number, +for many of the men lay sick, and many had died; and they were mostly +unarmed, except with their agricultural implements. Rudolph and a few +others had short swords, or dirks, attached to their girdles, and with +these they dealt blows that told with deadly effect on the half-naked +bodies of their foes; and the good broad-sword that Brewster quickly +placed in Maitland's hand, was not long in discomfiting several of the +Indians, who had singled him out, at the command of their Chief, as the +special object of their attack. Meanwhile, many of the women, and such +of the invalids as had power to rise, had again left the huts, and +borne to their husbands and friends the arms which had been left in +their dwellings; and in spite of the arrows and darts of the Indians, +by which several of them were wounded, they continued to load the guns +for the combatants while the conflict lasted. Happily this was not +long. The _fire-breathing_ muskets struck terror into the ignorant +savages; and when two or three of their number had fallen, they turned +to fly; first, however, catching up the bodies of their comrades, which +they carried off to ensure their honorable burial, and to save them +from the indignities which they supposed the pale-faces would heap on +the dead. + +In vain their Chief endeavored to rally them, and compel them to +return to the conflict. In vain he waved his battle-axe on high, and +shouted his war-whoop, Woach! woach! ha, ha, hach, woach!' A panic had +seized his followers, and they fled precipitately into the forest from +they had issued, so suddenly and so fiercely, to the attack. One +warrior stood alone by the Chief. He was young and handsome, but his +countenance was dark and sinister and an expression of cunning was +strongly marked in his glittering deep-set eyes and overhanging brows. +He saw that it was hopeless to contend any longer with the powerful +strangers, and, by words and actions, he was evidently persuading the +Chief to retire. The settlers had ceased to fire the moment that their +enemies fled; and there was a deep silence, while every eye was fixed +on the striking figure of the enraged Chief, whose every feature was +distorted by excited passions. He stood with his tomahawk uplifted, +and his tall and muscular figure in an attitude of command and +defiance; while, in a loud and distinct voice, he uttered a vow of +vengeance, the words of which were unintelligible to the settlers, +though the meaning could easily be guessed from his looks and gestures. +Then he hung his battle-axe to his gaudy belt, and pointing his hand at +Rodolph, he retired slowly and majestically like a lion discomfited but +not subdued, to seek his people and to upbraid them with their +cowardice. + +This attack of the Indians effectually destroyed all feelings of +security in the minds of the settlers. Henceforth they were obliged, +like the Jews of old, to go to their labor every man with his sword +girded to his side, and continually to hold themselves in readiness for +a sudden assault. The pestilence continued to rage, and the scarcity of +food increased to such a degree, that for several weeks no bread was to +be been in the settlement. The governor, Mr. Carver, exerted himself +with zeal and benevolence to lesser the misery of his people; but with +so little effect, that when the spring at length set in, and the +captain of the Mayflower prepared to return to England, the little band +of settlers was found to be reduced to one half the original number; +and these were weakened by illness, and by want of proper nourishment. + +But great as were their difficulties and sufferings, their faith and +resolution never failed; and when the Mayflower again set sail for +England, not one of the fifty emigrants who remained expressed a desire +to return. + + + +CHAPTER III. + +'What men were they? Of dark-brown color, +With sunny redness; wild of eye; their tinged brows +So smooth, as never yet anxiety +Nor busy thought had made a furrow there. +. . . . . . . Soon the courteous guise +Of men, not purporting nor fearing ill, +Won confidence: their wild distrustful looks +Assumed a milder meaning. MADOC. + +We have said that the band of the exiles was reduced to half the number +that had, six months before, left the shores of Europe, so full of hope +and of holy resolution; and still, in spite of all their outward trials +and difficulties, the hope and the resolution of the survivors were as +high and as firm as ever. They trusted in the God whom they had served +so faithfully; and they knew that, in his own good time, he would give +them deliverance. But their days of darkness were not yet over. The +inclemency of the winter had indeed passed away, and the face of nature +began to smile upon them; yet sickness still prevailed, and the many +graves that rose on the spot which they had chosen for a burial ground, +daily reminded them of the losses that almost every family had already +sustained. The grief that had thus been brought upon them by death was +also greatly aggravated by the harassing attacks of the Indians, who +Were evidently still lurking in the neighboring woods; and who now +frequently came in small parties, and committed depredations of every +kind that lay in their power. Their real but concealed object was to +capture Rodolph, either alive or dead; for nothing short of his +destruction, or at least that of some member of his family, could +satisfy the bereaved Chief for the loss of his son. He, therefore, +left a party of his bravest and most subtle warriors in an encampment +about a day's journey from the Christian village, with orders to make +frequent visits to the settlement, and leave no means untried which +either force or cunning could suggest, that might lead to the full +gratification of his revenge. + +The old Chief himself returned to his wigwams, which lay some distance +from New Plymouth, near the burial ground where the 'first encounter +'had taken place. The detachment was left under the command end +guidance of Coubitant, the young warrior who had stood by him to the +last in the conflict at the village; and who was, since the death of +Tisquantum's son, regarded as the most distinguished of the young +braves of that part of the tribe over which the Sachem ruled. His +cunning, and his ferocious courage, well fitted him for the task +assigned to him; and as the young warrior who fell at 'the first +encounter' had been his chosen friend and companion in arms, his own +desire for vengeance was only second to that of the Chief; and the +malignant gaze which he had fixed on Rodolph when he led Tisquantum +from the field, well expressed the feelings and the determination of +his heart. + +That glance had been seen by Janet; who, on that occasion, had +displayed a courage and resolution hardly to be expected at her +advanced age. She had easily induced her trembling mistress to remain +in the house, whither they had both fled at the first attack of the +Indians; but she had herself returned to the place of conflict, bearing +Rodolph's musket and ammunition, and she bad remained by the side of +Brewster, to whose ready hand she transferred it, until all danger was +over. Then she had fixed her attention on the Chief and his companion; +and the fine form and handsome features of the young Indian warrior +appeared like a statue of bronze, while he stood motionless by +Tisquantum. But when he turned to follow his Chief, the expression +with which he looked at Rodolph transformed his countenance into that +of a demoniac. Janet never forgot that look. + +The state of continual watchfulness and suspense in which the emigrants +were kept by their wary and active foes, was extremely harassing to +their weakened force; so much so, that the President resolved to make +another attempt to establish a friendly intercourse with some other +native tribe, who might, possibly, assist them in driving of' the +Nausetts; and whose friendship would also be useful to them in various +ways. An opportunity for this attempt soon presented itself; for a +party of the settlers, in following the windings of a brook that flowed +through their new town into the sea, in pursuit of wild fowl, came upon +two large and beautiful lakes, about three miles inland. The shores of +these lakes were adorned with clumps of lofty and majestic trees, and +the grass was spangled with wild flowers, and studded with graceful +shrubs and underwood. Among the bushes they descried several fallow +deer, and the surface of the water was animated by flocks of water +fowl, among which the brilliant and graceful wood duck was conspicuous. + +But the objects that chiefly attracted the notice of the sportsmen, +were several wigwams that stood on the further side of the lake, +beneath the shade of some overhanging trees. In front of these huts the +hall-naked children were playing, while the women were pursuing their +domestic occupations. Some were weaving baskets and mats, and others +washing their fishing nets in the lake. But no men were to be seen; and +Rodolph, who, as usual, led the hunting party, determined to approach +the wigwams. In order to show his peaceful intentions, be gave his +musket to one of his companions; and inviting his friend Winslow to do +the same, and to accompany him, he proceeded round the lake. As soon as +the women perceived them, they uttered wild cries of fear; and, +snatching up their children, attempted to escape into the thicket +behind their huts. Rodolph and Winslow then started in pursuit, and +succeeded in capturing one little copper-colored fellow, who was +endeavoring to keep pace with his mother. She could not carry him, for +she had already an infant in her arms, and she knew not that he was in +the power of their dreaded pursuers until she reached the thicket, and +looked back for her boy. He was struggling violently in Maitland's +hands, but not a cry escaped his lips; and when he found all his +efforts to free himself were vain, he gave up the attempt, and stood +motionless, with a look of proud endurance that was highly +characteristic of his race. His mother had less fortitude. She uttered +a shriek that pierced the heart of Rodolph; and laying her infant on +the grass, she almost forgot her own fears, and, in an imploring +attitude, crept forward towards her imaginary foes while her eloquent +eyes pleaded for her child's release more than any words could have +done. Maitland could not resist that appeal. He only detained the boy +until he had hung round his neck several strings of gaily-colored +beads, with which the hunters were always provided, and then he set him +at liberty. + +In an instant the child was in his mother's arms; and when her +passionate caresses had expressed her joy, she waved with a graceful +salutation to the Englishman, and bent to the ground in token of +gratitude. Then she looked at the beads, and her white teeth glittered +as she smiled a sunny smile of delight and admiration at what seemed to +her such priceless treasures. Rodolph drew from the pouch which hung at +his leathern belt a string of beads more brilliant still, and held them +towards the woman. She gazed at them, and then at the frank and open +countenance of the stranger; and fear gave way to the desire of +possessing the offered gift. She slowly approached, holding her child +by the hand, and suffered Rodolph to suspend the gaudy necklace round +her graceful and slender throat. Then she motioned to him to remain, +and ran swiftly to the thicket to bring back her companions, who had +paused in their flight, and were now watching with eager eyes the +actions of the white man. + +Her persuasions, and the sight of her newly-acquired ornament, soon +overcame the remaining fears of her auditors, and all returned in a +body, smiling, and extending their hands, in the hope of receiving +similar gifts. Maitland and Winslow, who had now joined him, divided +all their store of trinkets among the eager applicants; and then, in +return, made signs requesting to be permitted to enter the wigwams. +This request was acceded to; and Apannow--for that was the name of the +female who had first approached the strangers--led the way to the hut +in the center of the village, which was larger and better appointed +than any one of the rest. It was evidently the dwelling of the chief of +the tribe; and the beautifully carved implements which hung to the +walls, and the skulls and scalps that adorned the roof, showed that its +possessor was a distinguished warrior. + +Apannow brought forth the best refreshment that her hut afforded, and +placed it with a native grace before her guests, inviting them to +partake of it, and first tasting of each article herself, to show that +it was harmless. Her gentle and intelligent manners greatly interested +Rudolph and his companion; and by degrees they succeeded in obtaining +from her, and the other women who crowded the wigwam, such information +as they chiefly desired. By expressive signs and gestures, they were +made to understand that all the red men were gone on a fishing +expedition to the head of the further lake, and would not return until +the morrow. They afterwards learnt, also, that the village had only been +occupied for a few days, as it was merely the summer residence of a part +of the tribe of the Wampanoge Indians, who, with their chief, annually +repaired to that beautiful station for the purpose of fishing in the +extensive lakes. The rest of the tribe were located in various places to +the west, occupying the district since known as the state of Rhode +Island. + +Maitland and Winslow took leave of their new friends, intimating that +they would return and seek an interview with the Chief in two days, and +bearing with them a supply of fish and dried maize, which they received +from Apannow as a pledge of amity, and which they knew would be most +welcome to the invalids who were still suffering from disease at the +settlement. They quickly rejoined the rest of their comrades, who had +remained at a distance, for fear of alarming the timid Indian females; +and all returned to New Plymouth. The intelligence they brought, and +the seasonable refreshment they bore to the sick, were joyfully +welcomed by the whole community; and the spirits of the settlers rose +at the prospect of securing Indian friends and allies, who might, under +their present distressing circumstances, afford them such essential +help and security. The necessity for such aid had lately become more +urgent than ever, for a party of their untiring enemies, the Nausetts, +had very recently invaded the enclosure within which lay the loved +remains of all who bad perished since their arrival in America. The +graves were sadly numerous; and the sorrowing survivors had reverently +decked the mounds that covered them with shrubs, and green boughs from +the evergreens that abounded in the neighboring woods, as emblems of +their abiding grief, and also of their immortal hopes. These marks of +affectionate regard the savages had rudely torn away; and not content +with this, they had even, in some instances, removed the fresh-laid +turf, and dug up the earth, so as to expose the coffins that lay +beneath. No other injury or outrage could have so deeply wounded the +feelings, or aroused the indignation, of the emigrants, as this +desecration of the homes of the dead and they earnestly desired to form +some alliance with another tribe, which might enable them to punish and +to prevent such gross and wanton indignities. In the meantime, in the +hope of avoiding a recurrence of so distressing a calamity, the +colonists ploughed over the whole surface of their cemetery, and sowed +it with corn; thus concealing what was to them so sacred from the eyes +of their wild and ruthless foes. + +The day after Maitland's visit to the wigwams, the emigrants were +astonished at the appearance of a fine athletic Indian, armed with a +bow and arrows, who walked up to the common hall, near the center of +the village, and saluted the Governor and those who were with him, in +the words 'Welcome Englishmen!' In reply to their eager inquiries, he +informed them that his name was Samoset, and that he was 'a Sagamore of +a northern tribe of Indians dwelling near the coast of Maine, where he +had acquired a slight knowledge of the English language from the +fishermen who frequented the island of Monhiggon near that shore. He +had been for several months residing among the Wampanoges; and on the +return of the Chief and his followers to the wigwams, he had heard from +the Squaw-Sachem, that two strangers, who, from her account, he +concluded to be Englishmen, had visited the encampment, and proposed to +do so again in two days. He had, therefore, by desire of the Chief, +Mooanam, come over to the British settlement, to assure the emigrants +of a friendly reception, and to conduct the embassy to the presence of +the Sagamore. His kind offices were gratefully and joyfully accepted by +the Governor; and Samoset remained that day as his guest. Although the +Indian's knowledge of English was very limited, the Pilgrim Fathers +learnt from him the name, and something of the history, of their +inveterate foes, the Nausetts; and also, that the commencement of their +enmity to the settlers arose not merely from their being intruders on +their domains, but from the remembrance of an injury which they had +received, some years previously, from an English captain of the name of +Hunt, who, when cruising on these shores, had allured a number of +natives on board his ship, and had then treacherously carried them off, +and sold the greater part of them at Malaga, as slaves. Two he took +with him to England, and they at length got back to Cape Cod Bay, in a +vessel belonging to the Plymouth Company. This scandalous action had +filled the Nausetts and Pokanokits,[*] who were the injured tribes, +with bitter hatred against the white men; and five years afterwards, +they would have sacrificed the life of Captain Dermer, when he was +skirting these shores, had he not been saved by Squanto, one of the +kidnapped Pokanokits, whom he had brought back in his vessel, and who +had become attached to the English. + +[Footnote: The Pokanokit, dwelt on the peninsula which forms the Bay of +Cape Cod, and on a small pert or Rhode Island; the rest being occupied +by the Wampanoge; of whom Masasoyt was Grand Sagamore.] + +The feeling of animosity thus engendered had been aggravated by the +slaughter of Tisquantum's only son; and little hope could be +entertained of establishing a friendly intercourse with a tribe who +felt that they had so much to revenge against the white race. + +In two days, according to the intimation of Rodolph to the Indian +women, a deputation of the settlers, headed by Captain Standish, and +accompanied by Maitland, repaired to the Indian village under the +guidance of Samoset. They were expected by the inhabitants; and, as +soon as they were perceived approaching round the margin of the lake, +two young men came forth to meet them, and accompany them to the tent +of the Chief. Mooanam was prepared for their reception, and attired in +his gala costume of furs and feathers, with his most elaborately worked +battle-axe hung to his side, and a long and slender spear, tipped with +bone, in his hand. He rose from his seat on the ground at the entrance +of the strangers, and greeted them courteously; while his wife, the +Squaw-Sachem Apannow, and his lively little son Nepea, stood by his +side, and smiled a welcome to Rodolph, pointing at the same time +significantly to the beads which adorned their necks and arms. + +Standish had now an interpreter, though a very imperfect one; and by +his means a sort of friendly compact was formed, and gifts were +exchanged as the pledges of its sincerity. An invitation was then given +to the young Chief and to his brother Quadequina--who was one of those +who had conducted the white men to their presence--to return the visit +of the settlers, by coming the following day to their town. The +invitation was accepted, and the deputation returned to their homes, +escorted a great part of the by many of their Indian allies. + +Great preparations were made at New Plymouth for the reception of the +red Chief and his attendants, in such a manner as to impress them with +the wealth and power of emigrants. The large wooden building which was +intended as a sort of council chamber and public hall, was hung inside +with cloth and linen of various colors, and ornamented with swords, and +muskets, and pistols that the colony could produce. An elevated seat +was placed for the Governor at the upper end of the apartment, and +tables composed of long planks were laid down on each side, on which +were arranged such viands as the settlers could produce. The repast was +humble; but Helen and her female friends arranged it with taste, and +the children gathered the bright wild flowers that so early enliven the +groves and meadows when an American winter has passed away, to deck the +tables, and form garlands along the walls. A strange contrast did these +buds and blossoms of spring form to the implements of war and death +with which they were mingled: but the effect of the whole was gay, and +appeared very imposing to the simple children of the wilderness, as +they entered the wide portal, and passed up the hall to meet the +Puritan Governor. + +John Carver and his attendants were clad in the dark-colored and sober +garments which were usually adopted by their sect; and their long +beards and grave countenances struck a feeling of awe and reverence +into their savage guests. But the red men betrayed no embarrassment or +timidity. They advanced with a step at once bold and graceful, and +even controlled their natural feeling of curiosity so far as to cast no +wandering glances at the novelties that surrounded them. They kept +their eyes steadily fixed on the Governor, and returned his salutation +with a courteous dignity that did credit to their native breeding; and +then the Chief and Quadequina seated themselves on the high-backed +chairs that were placed for them on each side of the seat of the +President. Such a mode of sitting was certainly altogether new to these +sons of the forest, and they found it both awkward and disagreeable; +yet they showed no discomposure or restraint, and not a smile betrayed +their surprise, either at this or any other of the strange customs of +their hosts. + +After a few rather amusing efforts to carry on a communication with his +guests, through the intervention of Samoset, Carver invited them to +table, and again had occasion to admire the readiness and the natural +grace with which they accommodated themselves to customs so new and so +wonderful as those of the white men. When the repast was concluded, the +President led Mooanam and his party round the village, and showed them +everything that was worthy of attention; and so intelligent did he find +them, that he had no difficulty in making them comprehend the use of +many European implements, and many of the inventions and contrivances +of civilized life. With much satisfaction the good pastor, Brewster, +marked the sparkling eyes and speaking countenances of these gentle +savages; for he there hoped he saw encouragement to his ardent hope of +ere long bringing them to a knowledge of the simple and saving truths +of the gospel. With the Governor's permission, he led them to the plain +and unadorned edifice which was the emigrants' place of worship, and +easily made them understand that it was dedicated to the service of the +one Great Spirit who reigns over all; and from thence they were +conducted to the cemetery, and shown, by expressive signs, the insult +that had been offered to the dead by men of their own race. Some war- +like implements that had been picked up after one of the recent +skirmishes were shown to Mooanam and his brother, when they instantly +exclaimed, 'Nausett!' and knitting their brows, and putting themselves +into an attitude of defiance, they plainly intimated that the tribe was +one with which they were at enmity. + +They pointed in the direction where the Nausetts dwelt, and seemed to +invite the settlers to join them in assaulting their encampment; but +ignorance of their language, and of their habits prevented the +President from assenting to what appeared to be their earnest wish. + +As the sickness that had so long raged in the colony had now nearly +disappeared, and the advance of the season promised soon to open +sources of plentiful provision in the and the fields and streams, +Brewster felt that he could be spared for a time from the settlement; +and he proposed to Mr. Carver that he should return with Mooanam to his +village, and endeavor to acquire such a knowledge of the native +language, as should enable hint to act as an interpreter, and also give +him the means of imparting to the red men the spiritual knowledge that +he so ardently desired to bestow. The Governor willingly consented to +this proposal; and when it was explained to the Indian Chief, he gave +the most cordial and ready assent. The mild yet dignified countenance +of the elder had won his respect and confidence; and he hoped to gain +as great advantages from a more intimate connection with the white men, +as they expected from his alliance and support. + +Henrich was now able to leave his couch, and again to join Edith and +his young companions out of doors; but he still looked delicate, and +his former strength and activity had not fully returned. He was, +however, able to walk with the assistance of a crutch that his father +had made for him; and he formed one of the group that followed the +Indians in their procession through the village, and also escorted them +as far as the confines of the wood in whose depths their village lay. +The Chief remarked the boy, and showed sympathy for his lameness, which +he was given to understand was owing to an aggression of the Nausetts; +and his eyes flashed, and his nostrils dilated, and his whole +countenance was changed from its habitual expression of gentle dignity, +to one of fierce hostility. It was evident that, in these Wampanoges, +the settlers had secured allies who would be zealous and persevering in +protecting them from the attacks of their harassing enemies, the +Nausetts; and who would, when the proper time should arrive, assist +them in fleeing the district of such troublesome inhabitants. + +The Indians returned to their wigwams, and the elder accompanied them, +and became an inmate of Mooanam's lodge. He soon began to acquire some +knowledge of the language of his host, and also to instruct him and his +wife in many English words and phrases, in which their aptitude to +learn astonished him. A constant communication was kept up between the +Indian village and that of the settlers, and a real regard and esteem +sprang up between them. As the spring advanced, Henrich was able to +throw aside his crutch, and to accompany his father and mother in their +frequent visits to the wigwams, and much of his leisure time was passed +in the company of the young Indians of his own age, whose activity and +address in all their sports and games he admired and emulated. The +presence of his friend Brewster in the Wampanoge village, also gave it +increased attractions in the eyes of Henrich. The good man was still +his friend and preceptor; and with his assistance, he made considerable +progress in the acquirement of the native language, as well as in every +other kind of knowledge that Brewster was able to impart. But all the +elder's instructions were made subservient to that best of all +knowledge--the knowledge of God, and of his revealed Word; and in this +his pupil advanced and grew in a manner that both surprised and +delighted him. The boy's naturally thoughtful character had become +matured during his long and painful illness; and he had learnt to feel +the value of heavenly things, and the comparative littleness of all +'those things which are seen, and are temporal.' He entered warmly +into all the elder's benevolent desires and intentions for the +conversion of the dark heathen among whom their lot was cast; and he +already looked forward to being his assistant in the holy work. +Brewster regarded him as destined to become both a pastor and a zealous +and successful missionary, when he should arrive at a proper age; and +he frequently spoke of him as his own appointed successor in the +spiritual direction of the congregation. + +This sacred office Henrich anticipated with pride and satisfaction; for +where could he find a more fitting exercise for his adventurous and +enterprising spirit, and also for his love of the truth, than in +seeking the wild men amid their forests and wildernesses, and winning +them to peace, and happiness, and civilization, by the knowledge of the +all-powerful doctrines of the gospel? + +With the Indians he soon became a great favorite; and the readiness +with which he acquired the use of the bow, and learnt to cast the dart, +and wield the light tomahawks that were used by the Indian boys to +practice their young hands, excited their warmest admiration, and made +them prophesy that he would one day become a distinguished Brave. His +skill in hunting and fishing also became considerable; and he learnt +from his copper-colored friends many of their songs and dances, with +which he delighted Edith and Ludovico at home. His new companions did +not draw away his affections from his sister. She was still the object +of his warmest love; and to give her pleasure was the strongest desire +of his heart. In his long rambles with his Indian play-fellows he never +forgot his Edith; and many a stream was crossed, and many a rock was +climbed, to procure flowering plants to deck her garden, and creepers +to clothe the bower which he had formed for her beneath a venerable +walnut-tree that stood within their father's little domain, and at no +great distance from their dwelling. + +An attempt had been made, at first, by the colonists to follow the +example of the primitive church at Jerusalem; and to hold the land of +which they had taken possession in common, to be worked by the whole +community, and the produce to be equally divided amongst their families +in due proportion. But this plan was soon abandoned, as quite unsuited +to the habits and manners of these men of Britain; and every family had +a small portion, consisting of an acre each, assigned to it for the +special use and maintenance of its members. The fields in every +allotment had been sown chiefly with grain procured from the friendly +Wampanoges; and for some time past the Nausetts had left them +unmolested. + +The knowledge which Brewster soon acquired of the soft and musical +language of the natives enabled him, with the assistance of Samoset, +who still resided among them, to transact all business between them and +his countrymen; and also to become acquainted with the history and +circumstances of these useful allies. He learnt that Mooanam was not +the great Sachem or Sagamore of the whole tribe, but that he was the +eldest son of Masasoyt, the king or chief of the Wampanoges, who +resided at Packanokick, their principal village, which was situated in +the state of Rhode Island, near a mountain called Montaup, at a +considerable distance from Patupet, the native name for New Plymouth. + +The means of a still more extended intercourse was about this time +opened to the settlers, by the arrival at New Plymouth of another +Indian, who was already acquainted with the English, and who was also a +much greater proficient in their language than their friend Samoset. +This was no other than Squanto, the man who had been taken prisoner by +Captain Hunt some years previous, and conveyed to England. During his +residence there, he had learnt to make himself understood in the white +man's tongue, and he had also learnt to admire and respect the white +man's character. When, therefore, he had found his way hack to his +native land in a fishing vessel, and was informed by the Wampanoge +Sagamore--whom he visited in his journey to rejoin his own tribe--that +an English settlement had been formed on the shores of Cape Cod Bay, he +determined to visit it. Masasoyt encouraged him in this intention, and +sent him to his son Mooanam, to be introduced to the strangers, and to +assist in forming a permanent alliance with them. + +These overtures were joyfully received by the Governor, Mr. Carver, and +he determined to take immediate advantage of this opportunity of adding +to the strength and security of the infant colony. The intended +departure of Samoset also made it very desirable to secure the +friendship and the services of the newcomer Squanto; as, +notwithstanding the progress which Winslow and some others were making +in the Wampanoge language, a native interpreter must long be required, +in order to carry on a mutual intercourse. + +An embassy to the great Sagamore was therefore resolved on, with a view +to confirm and strengthen the alliance that had been formed with his +sons: and again Rodolph was selected to accompany Captain Standish as +his aide-de-camp, while Samoset and Squanto were to act as interpreters. +The journey was long, and Maitland was obliged reluctantly to +refuse Henrich's request to attend him. He feared the fatigue of so +many days' travelling on foot would be too much for his son's strength, +and Helen strongly opposed his going. He therefore gave up the much +desired expedition, and endeavored to chase away his feeling of +disappointment by renewed exertions in ornamenting the garden, and +putting the grounds into a state of perfect order, to please his father +on his return. + +The expedition was accompanied by the Sagamore's younger son, +Quadequina, who was anxious to introduce the new allies of his tribe to +his father, and to ensure their friendly reception. They reached +Packanokick after a pleasant journey of about forty miles, and were +kindly welcomed by Masasoyt, to whom a messenger had been sent +beforehand to prepare him for their arrival. + +The Sagamore was a noble-looking old man, and was treated by his son, +and by all his subjects, with the most profound respect; nor did his +strange costume in any way destroy his kingly appearance. His limbs +were naked, and were curiously painted and oiled, and his neck and arms +were decorated with strings of large white beads composed of polished +bone; while a richly embroidered bag or pouch, containing tobacco, was +suspended at the back of his neck. His coronet of feathers was lofty, +and of the most brilliant colors, and the rest of his dress consisted +of a tunic and moccasins of dressed deer skin, exquisitely worked with +colored grass and porcupine's quills. He willingly and fully ratified +the treaty which had been made by his sons with the white strangers, +whose appearance and manners seemed to prepossess him much in their +favor; and after detaining them for some days in his lodge, and +entertaining him with the greatest hospitality and kindness, he +dismissed them with presents of native manufacture, in return for the +European arms and ornaments which they had offered to his acceptance. +Samoset here left the settlers, and Squanto became henceforth their +faithful friend and useful interpreter. + + + +CHAPTER IV + +'In your patience possess ye your souls.' LUKE, xxi 19. + +One evening, about the time that Helen began to expect the return of +the embassy from Packanokick, Henrich was unusually busy in the garden, +arranging the flower-beds, and beautifying Edith's bower, in which he +and his sister had planned a little fete to welcome their father home. +Their mother had learnt to feel, that while they were thus employed, +and within the precincts of their own domain, they were safe from every +danger. The Nausetts had not attempted any depredations for an unusual +length of time; and a feeling of security and peace had taken the place +of that constant watchfulness and anxiety, which had long proved so +harassing to the settlers. They began to flatter themselves that their +foes had retired from the neighborhood, and would no more return to +molest them, now that they knew the emigrants to be on such friendly +terms with their powerful rivals, the Wampanoges. But false was this +appearance of security; and vain was every hope that the Nausetts would +forego their designs of vengeance, or cease to devise schemes of +mischief against those by whom they thought themselves injured! They +did not, indeed, continue to attack the settlement openly, for they had +been taught to dread the British fire-arms and the British courage; but +they still continued to lurk in the neighboring forest, and to keep a +vigilant watch over all that took place at the settlement. Often were +the keen eyes of Coubitant and his most trusty followers fixed, with a +malignant gaze, on the dwelling of Rodolph and often were his +movements, and those of his family, carefully noted by these sagacious +savages, when no suspicion of their presence existed in the minds of +the settlers. They would climb by night to the summit of some lofty +tree that overlooked the village, and there remain all day unseen, to +obtain a knowledge of the habits and proceedings of their hated +enemies, and to devise plans for turning this knowledge to account. + +The departure of the embassy to Packanokick was, consequently, well +known to Coubitant, and he resolved to take advantage of the absence of +so considerable a part of the British force, to execute, if possible, +his schemes of vengeance. What they were, and how he attempted their +accomplishment, will be presently seen. + +Edith's bower looked gay with its spring blossoms and luxuriant +creepers, but Henrich was not quite satisfied with its appearance, and +he wished to place at its entrance a graceful climbing plant which he +had observed during his last walk to the Wampanoge village, and had +neglected to secure it on his return. It had been the desire of his +parents that he should not go into the forest which bordered their +grounds, except in the company of his father or some of his friends; +but the apparent departure of the Nausetts had caused this injunction +to be neglected of late, and he, and even his younger brother and +sister, had frequently strayed, unmolested, a short distance into the +wood, in search of flowers and fruits; and even Helen had ceased to +feel alarm. + +'Edith,' said Henrich, on the evening of which we are speaking; 'I +think my father will return tonight, or tomorrow at the farthest; and I +must complete my task before he arrives. Your bower still requires a +few plants to adorn the entrance, and the seats of moss are scarcely +finished. Let us go into the wood, and procure what we want before the +sun sets, and our mother comes out to see what progress we have made.' + +'No, Henrich,' replied his sister; 'do not go this evening. I know not +why, but the wood looks dark and gloomy; there is no sunlight on the +path, and the shadows are so deep, that I could fancy every low bush +was a crouching Indian. I cannot go into the wood tonight.' + +'You are timid, dear Edith. You never feared to go with me before; and +why should you fear this evening? See, the sun is still high in the +horizon, and the darkness is all in your own fancy. Come and see that +lovely creeper I told you of; and when you have admired it hanging from +the decayed trunk of the old tree that supports it, you shall help me +to remove it to your bower, where it will be the fairest flower that +grows, except the little fairy queen herself.' + +Henrich caught his sister's hand, and kissing her playfully, attempted +to draw her from the bower. But she looked sad and anxious, and +replied-- + +'O, Henrich! do not ask me; my bower is fair enough, and I would not go +as far as that old tree tonight, for all the flowers that grow in the +forest. Stay with me, Henrich, dear. Our mother will join us soon, and +she will be alarmed if you are not here.' + +The boy looked at his sister's pensive face with an affectionate smile: +but he was not to be diverted from his scheme. + +'Stay here, then, Edith,' he replied; 'and tell my mother that I shall +return in little more than ten minutes. Come, Ludovico,' he added, +calling his little brother, who was always ready to follow where +Henrich led. 'Come, Ludovico, you are not afraid of the shadows. Bring +your basket, and you shall gather moss while I dig up my creeper. When +Edith sees its drooping white flowers, she will forgive me for laughing +at her unusual fears.' + +Edith said no more. She was sure that Henrich knew best; and she +silently watched him leave the garden, and enter the shade of the thick +forest, accompanied by her joyous little brother. Were her fears, +indeed, the mere creation of her own young fancy I or were they +occasioned by one of those strange and unaccountable presentiments +which have been felt so frequently as to justify the old proverb, + +'Coming events cast their shadow, before them.' + +Edith sat on the mossy seat that Henrich had formed in her bower. It +looked towards the wood, and the commanding situation which it +occupied, on a rising ground towards the center of the garden, enabled +her to overlook the green fence that enclosed the grounds, and to watch +the receding forms of her brothers, until they were hidden from her +sight by the winding of the path through the underwood. Still she +gazed, and her heart grew sad; and tears, which she could not check, +rolled down her cheeks. Did she again fancy? and did her tearful eyes +now convert the bushes into the figures of two dark Indians, in the +costume of the dreaded Nausetts? Surely those were human forms that +moved so swiftly and so silently from the dark stem of a gigantic oak, +and crossing the forest path, were instantly again concealed. Edith +wiped her glistening eyes. She held her breath, and feared to move; +but the beating of her young heart was audible. No sound met her +listening ear--no movement again was detected by her straining eye--and +she began to think that her own fears had conjured up those terrible +forms. + +But what was that distant cry that sounded from the wood in the +direction in which her brothers had gone? And why does she now behold +Ludovico running wildly, and alone, down the path, with terror depicted +in his countenance? + +Edith flew to meet him; but ere she reached him, the dreadful truth was +made known to her by his agonized cry. + +'O, my brother! my brother! they have taken him, Edith; they are +dragging him away! They will kill him!' he shrieked aloud, as he threw +himself into Edith's arms, almost choked with the violence of his +feelings, and the speed with which he had fled. + +What could Edith do? She dared not leave him, to be carried off, +perhaps, by some other prowling savage, who might still be lingering +near; and she could not carry him home. Slowly she drew him on, while +every moment seemed an hour, that delayed her from giving the alarm, +and sending friends to the rescue of her darling brother. + +'O! why did he leave me?' she murmured. 'Why did he go, when I knew +that danger was near?' + +As soon as she had brought the panting and terrified Ludovico within +the precincts of the garden, she left him, and ran towards the house, +calling loudly on her mother, who rushed out on hearing her voice of +terror, and was instantly made acquainted with the appalling fact that +had occurred. Who shall tell the agony of her feelings, or describe the +sufferings of that mother's heart, when she knew that her child was in +the power of the savage and relentless enemies of the white men? She +was, indeed, ignorant of the peculiar vengeance that they desired to +wreak on her husband and all his race; but the malevolent character of +the Nausetts had been sufficiently manifested in their repeated and +destructive attacks on the settlement, and their willful desecration of +the graves of the exiles, to awaken the most poignant fears in her +breast. Rodolph, too, was absent, and Brewster was still at the +Wampanoge village; and where should she seek for succor or for counsel! + +Hastily calling Janet, who was the only domestic at home, she committed +Ludovico to her care; and taking Edith by the hand, she hurried from +the garden, scarcely knowing whither she bent her steps, but in the +vague hope of meeting some of the settlers returning from their labors +in the fields, and inducing them to go to the rescue of her boy. + +Onward she fled along the skirts of the forest, towards the fields of +her husband's friend Winslow, who, she well knew, would aid her with +all his power: but she found him not, and no human being appeared in +sight to listen to her appeal for succor. The sun was setting, and all +had returned to the village. What then could Helen do? To retrace her +steps, and seek her friends and neighbors in their homes, would be to +lose precious moments, on which the life and liberty of her Henrich +might depend. To strike into the depths of the forest, and cross the +belt of wood that divided the settlement from Mooanam's encampment +would be the quickest plan, and probably the most effectual, as her +Wampanoge friends would know far better than the settlers how to follow +in the train of the fugitives, and how either to persuade or to compel +them to release their prisoners. Helen had never dared to enter the +wood, except under the protection of her husband, even in the broad +light of day; and now the gloom of evening was gathering around her, +and the path that led into the wood was obscured by the shadows of the +thick foliage above. Bat where were all her fears and apprehensions? +She was unconscious of such feelings now. The timid woman's heart was +nerved to the occasion, and no danger could now make her shrink. + +She turned rapidly into the narrow path, and pursued her way with a +firmness and decision, of which, at any other time, when she was +trusting to the arm and guidance of Rodolph, she would have believed +herself incapable. She knew the direction in which the Indian village +lay, and the slanting rays of the declining sun occasionally penetrated +the thick wood, and cast bright streaks of light on the mossy ground, +and the boles of the giant trees around; but soon they faded away, and +a deep gloom overspread her path. + +'Mother,' said the trembling little Edith, as she clung to Helen's +hand, and exerted her utmost strength to keep up with her rapid steps; +'Mother, do you not fear to pass through this forest now? Shall we not +meet more of those dreadful savages who have taken away my brother? Oh, +Henrich! Henrich!' she cried--while tears burst afresh from her eyes at +the recollection of her brother's fate--'why did you venture into this +wood to seek plants for my bower?' and the child sobbed convulsively, +from mingled grief and fear. + +'Cease, Edith, cease!' replied the deeply distressed, but now firm and +courageous Helen: 'I fear nothing while I am seeking aid for Henrich. +God will protect us, my child!' she added: and she raised her glistening +eyes to heaven, and gazed, hopefully and trustingly, on one bright star +that shone upon her between the summits of the lofty trees. Her heart +was strengthened by her pious confidence in her heavenly Father. She +remembered also that Edith looked to her for protection; and all +personal fears were absorbed by that generous and elevating feeling of +self-devotion, which is shared even by the lower and weaker animals +when their offspring are in danger. So Helen forgot herself, and felt +strong to guard her child, and strong to seek and obtain aid for him +whose peril was more real and urgent. + +Onward she pressed in silence but her soul was pleading eloquently with +God. Soon Edith checked her suddenly, and exclaimed, as she stumbled +over something in the pathway, 'Oh mother, here are Henrich's tools; +and there I see Ludovico's basket full of moss! This is the spot to +which my brothers were coming; and yonder is the old tree, with the +white flowers hanging on it, that Henrich wished to plant by my bower. +It must have been here that the Indians seized him while he was at +work.' + +That part of the wood was more light and open than the rest of their +way had been; and Helen hastily surveyed it, that she might be able to +guide the Wampanoges thither, and point out to them where to commence +the pursuit. Again she resumed her way; and, regardless of fatigue, she +never paused again until she reached the border of the quiet and lonely +lake, on which the rising moon was now shining in all her silvery +splendor. The huts of the friendly natives stood out, clear and dark, +on the level shore of the lake, and Helen and her weary child soon +reached them, and hastened to Mooanam's lodge. There they found the +Chief, and his interesting young wife and children, sitting on the +matted floor, listening with deep attention to the words of life and +salvation which Brewster was reading and interpreting to them from the +Holy Scriptures. The hurried entrance of Helen startled and alarmed +them; for her countenance plainly told them, that some calamity had +occasioned her unlooked-for appearance at such an unwonted time. + +With breathless haste she told her sad errand, and Brewster quickly +explained her words to the Chief, Mooanam seized his arms, and rushed +from the lodge, calling, in a loud and commanding voice, on his people +to arm themselves and accompany him in the pursuit of the cruel and +vindictive Nausetts. All was hurry and excitement throughout the +village, and every swarthy warrior pressed forward, and desired to +share in the expedition to save their young English favorite. It was +necessary, however, to leave a strong party at the village, to guard it +from any act of treachery or violence on the part of their malicious +rivals, who, it was now evident, were still lurking in the +neighborhood; and, while Mooanam was selecting his party, and arranging +his plans, a clear shrill voice was heard from the margin of the lake, +crying, 'The canoes! the canoes! Quadequina is returning.' + +'The canoes, the canoes!' resounded through the crowd; and Helen's +heart hounded with joy and gratitude. Rodolph was near; and all would +yet be well. + +Little Nepea had led Edith to the shore while the warriors were +discussing their plans; and in a strange mixture of English and Indian +words, the children were conversing on the recent sad event. The quick +ear of the young savage had detected the splash of oars at the farther +side of the lake, and he instantly discovered the three canoes that +were leaving the opposite coast, and emerging from the deep shadow of +the overhanging trees. He had raised that joyful cry; and now all the +inhabitants of the village rushed down to the shore to welcome their +brethren, and to tell the startling news. + +Nearest to the brink stood Helen and her little girl, closely attended +by Mooanam and the Squaw-Sachem Apannow, who shared her impatient +anxiety for the return of the embassy, that they might have the benefit +of Maitland's counsel, and also obtain an addition to their forces. The +elder, Brewster, was deeply moved at the misfortune that had befallen +his young friend, Henrich. But he knew that not a moment was to be +lost! and, while all others were crowding down to the lake side, he +busied him self in arranging the volunteers for the pursuit, and seeing +that his own musket was in a proper state for active service. + +The canoes sped swiftly across the moonlit waters; and as they neared +the shore, Rodolph perceived the forms of his wife and daughter, +surrounded by the dark Indians, and ready to receive him. But he felt +only pleasure at this unexpected and welcome meeting. No feeling of +alarm crossed his breast, until he drew near enough to distinguish +Helen's countenance; and then he knew that she had come with evil +tidings. He sprang from the canoe, eager to hear the truth: but all +the firmness and courage which had so wonderfully sustained his wife +while she was obliged to act for herself, forsook her the moment she +felt herself supported by her Rodolph's arm; and faintly exclaiming, 'O +my son, my son!' she fainted; while little Edith burst into tears, and +sobbed out her brother's name. + +'Tell me, in the name of heaven, what all this means!' exclaimed +Maitland, turning a look of eager inquiry on Mooanam, who stood with +characteristic silence and apparent composure, waiting the proper +moment to speak. 'Tell me,' cried the distracted father again, 'what +dire calamity has befallen my boy?' + +'My heart is dark for you,' replied the Sachem, in a voice of perfect +calmness, though a tear glistened in his coal black eye, and his brow +was clouded by anxiety. 'My heart is very dark for you, and for your +young warrior--for, boy as he was, he was a brave at heart.' + +Mooanam spoke in his native tongue, intermixed with English words and +phrases, which he had learned from Brewster and the other settlers; but +the father's heart comprehended all he said, and needed no interpreter. + +'Is my son dead, then?' he exclaimed. 'Has accident or violence +quenched his young spirit?' + +'Worse than dead,' slowly replied the Sachem; and he looked pityingly +at Helen, who now began to recover her senses. 'Leave your wife to the +care of the squaws,' he added, 'and come with me to the wise man +yonder, and he will tell you all.' + +He led Rodolph to where Brewster was occupied in making preparations, +and soon the afflicted father was made acquainted with the fate of his +son. He felt indeed that death--a calm and peaceful death beneath his +own accustomed roof, and with those he dearly loved around him--would +have been a far happier lot for Henrich than that to which he now +feared he might be doomed--than that which, possibly, his darling boy +was at that moment enduring at the hands of his cruel and malignant +enemies. + +The thought was maddening. But there was still a hope of saving him by +speed and resolution; and he urged the Sachem to depart instantly. One +moment he gave to visit and endeavor to cheer his wife, who now lay +powerless and weeping in Apannow's lodge; and then he joined the Chief, +who, with Brewster and a band of picked men, were ready to accompany +him. The pastor had already learnt from Edith all that she could tell +relative to the spot where her brother had been captured; and to that +spot the pursuing party hurried, and soon discovered the basket and the +tools that told where the boys had been so rudely interrupted in their +work. Quickly the trodden grass, and the broken branches of the thick +underwood, showed in what direction the boy had been dragged by his +captors; and on the track the Wampanoge warriors followed, like hounds +in the chase. But, alas! the Nausetts had had a fearful start of them; +and little hope existed in the breast of Mooanam that they could +overtake them, in time to avert the dreadful fate that he had feared +for Henrich. + +The Sachem was himself an Indian, and he well knew the Indian desire +for retaliation and vengeance. He was, indeed, a man of a mild and +generous nature, and he belonged to a tribe less distinguished by +cruelty than the Nausetts. But still he felt that, according to the +savage code of the natives, blood must atone for blood, and he believed +that already the life of Henrich had probably been sacrificed in +expiation of his father's having slain the son of the Nausett Chief. +Still he led his warriors on, and neither paused nor spoke until the +party emerged from the thick wood, upon a little opening that was +lighted up brilliantly by the moon-beams. Here, where it was evident a +small temporary encampment had existed, and had only been very recently +and hastily removed, he stopped, and looked earnestly around. The poles +still stood erect which lied supported the tents of the Nausetts; the +fires were still burning; and many articles of domestic use lay +scattered about, which the hasty departure of the inhabitants had +probably prevented their removing. + +Rudolph hurried through the camp in search of some sign of his son; and +his eager eye fell on the well-known tunic that Henrich was accustomed +to wear. He snatched it up hastily; and then, with a deep groan, let it +fall again upon the ground. The breast of the tunic was pierced through +in several places, and the whole dress was stained with blood--blood +that was newly shed. + +Maitland pointed to this evidence of his son's death! and when the +Sachem had examined it, he set his teeth together, and drew in his +breath with an oppressed, hissing sound, as of severe pain. + +'It is over, my friend,' he said, in a low deep voice to Rodolph--'it +is over; and we are too late. Naught now remains but to take revenge-- +full, ample revenge. Let us follow the miscreants.' + +Rudolph turned, and looked at him. He fixed on him such a searching +gaze--a gaze so full of gentle reproof and of deep settled grief-that +the warm-hearted Chief stood silent, and almost abashed before his +Christian friend. + +'Is it thus you have learned of Brewster?' said the sorrowing father. +'Is it thus that you are taught in that book which the Great Spirit has +dictated? The Father of us all has declared, "vengeance is mine; I will +repay "; and since we are too late to save my son, we will not commit +deeds of blood which his now happy and ransomed spirit would abhor.' + +Mooanam was silenced, but not convinced. Inwardly he vowed vengeance +against those who had dealt so cruelly with the unoffending boy; +though, under similar circumstances, he would probably have acted with +the same spirit. But the Chief bad allied himself with the white men. +He loved and reverenced them; and he was resolved to avenge the wrongs +of Maitland, as if they had been his own. + +Sadly and silently the party returned to the Indian village, where they +arrived at the break of day. We will not attempt to describe the +mother's anguish when she was made acquainted with the dreaded fate of +her son; but Helen was a Christian, and while her heart was bowed down +with crushing grief, her spirit strove to hush its rebellious +questionings, and to submit itself to the will of God. + +'It is the Lord,' she meekly exclaimed: 'let Him do what seemeth Him +good!' + +That morning she returned with her husband and Edith to the settlement; +and they were accompanied by Brewster, whose pious exhortations and +sympathizing kindness were invaluable to the bereaved and afflicted +parents. The grief of Edith was less capable of being suppressed; and +it broke out afresh when little Ludovico came to meet them, and +inquired for his brother. From the child they learnt, that while he and +Henrich were busily engaged in their several occupations in the wood, +two Indians had suddenly rushed from the thick brushwood, and seized on +his brother before he had time to fly. Ludovico was gathering moss at +some distance, but he saw what passed, and uttered a cry that attracted +the attention of the savages; and one of them east a spear at him with +such violence, that, missing its intended mark, it stuck firmly in a +tree close behind him. Seeing this, his noble and courageous brother +called out to him to hide among the bushes, and make his way home as +quickly as possible; and the Indians, eager to secure the prize they +had so long been watching for, hurried away through the forest, +dragging Henrich with them. + +The murderous attempt made by these savages against the life of +Ludovico proved but too clearly that the destruction of Rodolph's +children was their object, and banished every hope that lingered in +Helen's breast; and this conviction of their cruel intentions was still +further confirmed by Janet's account of the look and gesture of the +warrior who attended his Chief when the Nausetts first assailed the +settlement. Rodolph had seen, and understood the action; and as he had +also learnt through his Wampanoge friends that Tekoa, the son of the +Nausett Chief, had fallen in the first encounter, he knew enough of +Indian customs to be aware that he, as the slayer, was a marked object +of their vengeance. He had, however, always concealed his suspicions +from Helen; and the only effect they had produced on him was causing +him, at that time, to prohibit his children from venturing unguarded +into the wood, more strictly than he would otherwise have done. + + + +CHAPTER V. + +'Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath +shalt thou restrain.' PSA. lxxvi,10. + +We will now, for a time, leave the settlement--where the sad news of +the capture and supposed death of Henrich had spread a general gloom +and consternation--and follow the subject of their pitying grief, from +the time that he was seized and made a prisoner in the hands of the +savages. They did not slay him; for the Lord had work and service in +store for the young missionary, and he suffered not a hair of his head +to be hurt. + +Coubitant--for he was one of those whose patient vigilance had, at +length, been crowned by success--and his companion had hurried him at +their greatest speed through the wood, to the spot where their +temporary camp was pitched, and where several others of their tribe +awaited their return. A few minutes sufficed to remove the matting +that formed their tents, and to collect their arms and utensils; but +Coubitant well knew that the child who had escaped his cruelty would +soon alarm the settlers, and that an instant pursuit would follow. He +therefore, devised plan to deceive, and, perhaps altogether to check +the white men, at least for a time, by making them believe that the +death of the captive had already taken place. He would have instantly +gratified the feelings of his cruel and revengeful heart, and have shed +the innocent blood of Rodolph's son to atone for the death of his +friend, but that he feared to disappoint his Chief, who so earnestly +desired to imbrue his own hands in the blood of the slayer. He, +therefore, resolved on the stratagem we have described. He stripped off +the captive's tunic, and, after piercing it several times with his +dagger, he opened a vein in his own arm with the same weapon, and let +the hot blood flow freely over the torn vesture. + +This done, he smiled a demon's smile, as he cast the tunic on the +ground, and thought with malignant pleasure of the anguish that its +discovery would occasion to his hated foe. + +Henrich gazed in trembling wonder at this act; and when Coubitant again +approached him to bind his hands, he believed that he was about to +plunge that blood-stained knife into his beating heart. He was young, +and life was new and precious to him; and for a moment he shrank back, +while the blood curdled in his veins. But, young as he was, he was also +a child of God; and he knew that all events are governed by His +Almighty power, and over-ruled by His wisdom and love. So he was +enabled to lift up his eyes and his trusting heart to heaven, and to +await his expected fate with calmness. Coubitant saw his firmness, and +he wondered and admired. He placed the dagger in his belt and hastily +tying the captive's hands behind his back, he motioned to his +companions to follow, and struck into a narrow and almost +undistinguishable path. + +Forcing Henrich to go before him, while he held the rope of twisted +grass that bound his hands he followed close behind, and placed his +foot in each print that the prisoner made, so as to destroy the +impression of the boy's European shoe. The other Indians did the same; +as exactly did they tread in one another's steps, that, when all had +passed, it seemed as if only one solitary traveler had left his track +on the soft ground. + + Thus, 'in Indian file,' they traversed a belt of wood, till they came +out on a dry and sun-burnt plain, where their steps left no impression. +Coubitant then advanced to the side of his prisoner, and, taking his +arm in his powerful grasp, he compelled him to advance, at an almost +breathless speed, across the plain. In the wood, on the other side, he +allowed a short pause, and gave Henrich some water from a bottle made +of a dried gourd, which hung about his neck; and thus they traveled on, +with slight refreshment and little rest, until the sun arose in all his +splendor, and displayed to Henrich's admiring gaze the wild and +magnificent woodland scenery through which he was travelling. Under +other circumstances, he would keenly have enjoyed the novelty and the +beauty of the objects that met his eyes, so different from the +luxuriant, but flat and monotonous fields, and gardens, and canals, +that he so well remembered in Holland. Here all was wild and varied; +and all was on a scale of grandeur that inspired him with a feeling of +awe and solemnity, heightened, no doubt, by the fearful uncertainty of +his fate, and the thought that, perhaps, this was the last time that he +should look upon these glorious hills, and ancient forests, and wide +rushing rivers--the handiworks, and the visible teachers of God's +power. Something of American scenery he had become acquainted with in +his rambles round the Indian village, but only enough to make him long +to see more; and had he now been travelling by the side of his father, +or his friend Brewster, the elastic morning air, and the splendid and +ever-varying views, would have made his young heart bound with joy and +health. + + As it was, the silent beauty of nature was not without its influence on +the captive boy. He seemed to feel more strongly the presence and the +goodness of his heavenly Father; and his young spirit was cheered to +endure his present desolate situation, and strengthened to meet +whatever future trials might await him. He had learnt from Brewster to +make himself understood in the Wampanoge language, and he resolved to +try whether his Nausett guide would reply to his questions in that +tongue. He therefore besought him to tell him whither he was leading +him, and for what purpose. But Coubitant deigned him no reply. He +understood him--for the Nausett language was but another dialect of the +Wampanoge--but he did not choose to inform the boy of his destination +at present, and he preserved a profound silence, and an expression of +sullen gravity. + +It was not until the evening of the fourth day that the party reached +the Nausett village, which, as we have already observed, was situate +near the site of the 'first encounter'; and to which Tisquantum, and +the greater part of his warriors had returned, when Coubitant and a few +picked associates were left to carry out his schemes of vengeance. +Henrich was instantly conducted to the lodge of the old Chief; and +brightly did Tisquantum's dark eyes glitter when he beheld the son of +his enemy in his power. He praised the skill and the perseverance by +which Coubitant had thus procured him the means of revenge; and, taking +off his own brilliant coronet of feathers, he placed it on the head of +the proud and successful warrior, as a distinguished mark of his +approbation. + +Coubitant was highly gratified; but his desire for vengeance was +stronger than his vanity, and forgetting the honor that had been +conferred upon him, he entreated the Chief to allow him instantly to +drive his spear into the boy's heart, or else with his own weapon to +take the life of the slayer's child. + +'Not yet!' replied Tisquantum--and Henrich comprehended the full +purport of his words--'not today, Coubitant. I would pour out the +blood of the white youth with pomp and ceremony, as an offering to the +spirit of my murdered son. Let the boy be fed and refreshed: tomorrow, +at break of day, he shall die. Go. I have said it.' + +'And will the Sachem give him into my charge until the morning dawns?' +inquired Coubitant. + +Tisquantum fixed his piercing eye on the savage, and read his +malevolent feelings; and he calmly answered, 'No: the victim shall +bleed because his father's blood flows in his veins. But he shall not +be tortured; for his was not the hand that deprived me of my son. The +boy shall remain in my own lodge, and sleep securely for this night +beneath the same roof that shelters my last remaining child--my lovely +Oriana.' + +Had the Chief observed Henrich's changing countenance, he would have +perceived that all he said was understood by the intended sufferer. But +he marked him not, and the boy commanded himself, and kept silence, +determined to await Coubitant's departure before he made one effort to +move the Chief to pity. He had, however, no opportunity of trying the +effect of his earnest appeal; for Tisquantum ordered one of his +attendants to remove him at once to the inner division of the lodge, +and to secure him there for the night: and then, motioning Coubitant to +retire, and resuming his pipe, he proceeded to 'drink smoke,' as +composedly as if his evening repose had not been interrupted. + +But, notwithstanding his outward composure, the Nausett chief was not +unmoved by the event that had just occurred. The sight of the son of +him whose hand had slain his young Tekoa brought back the image of his +brave young warrior, as he stood beside him at the fatal burial-ground, +full of youthful ardor, to combat the invaders of his land, and the +supposed enemies of his race. He recalled his daring look as he mounted +the palisade, and placed in his unerring bow the arrow that wounded the +English boy. And then he seemed to hear again the sharp report of the +white man's musket, and to behold once more the sudden fall of his son, +bleeding and expiring, to the ground. + +Tisquantum thought on that hour of anguish, when his duties as a chief +and a warrior had forbidden all expression of his grief; and he thought +of his return to his lodge, where only Oriana remained to welcome him-- +for the mother of his children, whom he had loved with unusual +affection, was dead--and tears gathered in the Sachem's eyes. Oriana +had deeply mourned her brother's death; for since she had lost her +mother, she had been permitted to enjoy much more of his society than +had previously been allowed her; and her father, also, had seemed to +transfer to her much of the love that be had borne towards his wife. +Now his daughter was his only domestic tie; and his chief object in +life was to give her in marriage to a warrior as brave as her young +brother, and who would supply to him the place of his departed son. + +At present, this prospect was not immediate, for Oriana was only in her +fourteenth year; but the Sachem was resolved that she should be worthy +of the hand of the greatest warriors of her tribe, and he took pains to +have her instructed in every art that was considered valuable or +ornamental to an Indian female. Already she could perform the most +elaborate patterns in native embroidery on her father's pouches and +moccasins; and her own garments were also delicately and fancifully +adorned in the same manner, with feathers, and shells, and colored +grasses. Besides this accomplishment, her skill in Indian cookery was +very great; and she could also use a bow and arrows, or cast a light +javelin, or swim across a rapid river, with a grace and activity that +delighted her proud father. + +Oriana, too, was gentle--as gentle as her mother, and her influence +over Tisquantum bade fair to equal that which his much-cherished and +deeply regretted wife had exercised over him. That influence had ever +been employed in the cause of mercy! and many an enemy, and many a +subject, had lived to bless the name of the Squaw-Sachem Oriana, when +she had quelled the wrath of the offended Chief, and turned aside his +intended vengeance. + +It was to the inner apartment of his spacious lodge, where his daughter +and her attendants were busily engaged in their domestic occupations, +that Henrich bad been led. His arms were still tied behind his back, +and the end of the rope that bound them was secured to a post in the +wall. The Indian who, at his chief's command, conducted him thither, +briefly informed Oriana that he was a prisoner, and desired her women +to look to his security: and then he left the captive to his strange +and inquisitive jailers. + +When Tisquantum had emptied his long pipe, he bethought himself of the +young captive's position, and proceeded to his daughter's apartment to +give orders for his hospitable entertainment that evening, and his safe +lodgment for the night--that night which he was resolved should be his +last. As he approached the thick curtain of deer-skins that hung over +the aperture between the two apartments, he thought he heard a strange +sweet voice speaking the Indian language with a foreign accent; and +hastily drawing aside the heavy drapery, he was astonished to see his +prisoner, and intended victim, liberated from the cord that had bound +him, and reclining on the furs and cushions that formed Oriana's usual +resting-place; while his gentle Indian child knelt beside him, and +offered him the food of which he was so much in need. Henrich was +gratefully thanking her; and as the Sachem entered, he heard him +exclaim in mournful accents-- + +'But why do you thus so kindly treat me? It were better to let me die +of hunger and fatigue; for I know that to-morrow my blood is to be +shed: the cold knife is to pierce my heart.' + +'It shall not be,' replied Oriana, fervently. 'I have said that I will +save you.' And then she raised her sparkling eyes as she heard her +father's entrance; and springing on her feet, she darted forward, and +caught his arm. + +'Father!' she cried--and now she spoke so rapidly and energetically, +that Henrich could only guess the purport of her words, and read it in +her sweet expressive countenance--'Father! do not slay the white boy. +He says that he is doomed to die because his father caused my brother's +death. But surely Tekoa's generous spirit does not ask the blood of a +child. My brother is now happy in the great hunting grounds where our +fathers dwell. He feels no wrath against his slayer's son: he never +would have sought revenge against an innocent boy. Give me the captive, +O my father! and let him grow up in our lodge, and be to me a +playfellow and a brother.' + +Tisquantum gazed at his child in wonder, and his countenance softened. +She saw that he was moved and hastily turning from him, she approached +Henrich, who had risen from the couch, and now stood an earnest +spectator of the scene, on the issue of which his life or death, +humanly speaking, depended. She took his band, and led him to her +father, and again pleaded earnestly and passionately for his life; +while the touching expression of his own deep blue eyes, and the beauty +of his fair young face, added greatly to the power of her appeal. + +I have a little sister at home,' said Henrich--and the soft Indian +language sounded sweetly from his foreign lips--'and she will weep for +me as Oriana has wept for her brother. Let me return to Patupet, and +she and my parents will bless you.' + +At the mention of his parents, Tisquantum's brow grew dark again. He +thought of Rodolph as the destroyer of his son; and he turned away from +the two youthful suppliants, whose silent eloquence he felt he could +not long resist. + +'Your father killed my young Tekoa,' he replied. 'His fire weapon +quenched the light of my lodge, and took from me the support of my old +age. Should I have pity on his son?' + +'But let him dwell in our lodge, and fill my brother's vacant place!' +exclaimed Oriana. 'Do not send him back to the white men; and his +father, and his mother, and his little sister will still weep for him, +and believe him dead.' + +The same idea had crossed Tisquantum's breast. He looked again at the +boy, and thought how much Oriana's life would be cheered by such a +companion. His desire of revenge on Rodolph would also be gratified by +detaining his child, and bringing him up as an Indian, so long as his +parents believed that he had met with a bloody death; and, possibly, he +felt a time might come when the possession of an English captive might +prove advantageous to himself and his tribe. All fear of the boy's +escaping to his friends was removed from his mind; for he was about to +retire from that part of the country to a wild district far to the +west, and to join his allies, the Pequodees, in a hunting expedition to +some distant prairies. The portion of his tribe over which he was +Sachem, or chief, was willing to accompany him; and he had no intention +of returning again to the neighborhood of the English intruders, who, +he clearly foresaw, would ere long make themselves masters of the soil; +and who had already secured to themselves such powerful allies in the +Wampanoges--the enemies and rivals of the Nausetts. + +Tisquantum weighed all these considerations in his mind; and he +resolved to spare the life of his young captive. But he would not at +once announce that he had relented from his bloody purpose, and yielded +to his child's solicitations. He therefore maintained the severe +gravity that usually marked his countenance, and replied-- + +'But what can the white boy do, that he should fill the place of an +Indian chieftain's son? Can he cast the spear, or draw the bow, or +wrestle with our brave youths?' + +Reviving hope had filled the heart of Henrich with courage, and he +looked boldly up into the Sachem's face, and merely answered, 'Try me.' + +The brevity and the calmness of the reply pleased the red Chief, and he +determined to take him at his word. + +'I will,' he said. 'To-morrow you shall show what skill you possess, +and your fate shall depend on your success. But how have you learned +anything of Indian sports, or of the Indian tongue?' + +'I have been much in Mooanam's lodge, and have played with the youths +of his village,' replied Henrich; 'and the Sachem was well pleased to +see me use a bow and arrow in his woods. And from him, and my young +companions, I learnt to speak their tongue.' + +'It is good,' said the old Chief, thoughtfully. Then, fixing his +penetrating eyes on Henrich again, he hastily inquired: 'And can you +use the fire-breathing weapons of your countrymen? and can you teach me +to make them? + +'I can use them,' answered the boy; 'but I cannot make them. They come +from my father's land, beyond the great sea. But,' he added--while a +stronger hope of life and liberty beamed in his bright blue eye and +flushing face--'send me back to my countrymen, and they will give you +muskets for my ransom.' + +'No, no!' said the Sachem: and the dark cloud again passed over his +countenance. 'Never will I restore you to your father, till he can give +me back my son. You shall live, if you can use our Indian weapons; but +you shall live and die as an Indian.' + +He turned and left the apartment; and the heart of Henrich sank within +him. Was he then taken for ever from his parents, and his brother, and +sister? Should he behold his friends, and his teacher, no more? And +must he dwell with savages, and lead a savage life? Death, he thought, +would be preferable to such a lot; and he half resolved to conceal his +skill and dexterity in Indian exercises, that Tisquantum might cast him +off and slay him, as unfit to dwell among his tribe. But hope soon +revived; and his trust in the providential mercy of God restored his +spirits, and enabled him even to look upon a lengthened captivity among +the red men with composure. Plans for escaping out of their hands, and +making his way back to the settlement, filled his mind; and a short +residence among the wild men even appeared to offer some attraction to +his enterprising spirit. So he turned to Oriana, who stood gazing on +his changing and expressive countenance with the deepest interest, and +again resumed the conversation which had been interrupted by the +entrance of the Chief. + +Many questions did those young strangers ask each other relative to +their respective homes, and native customs; and Henrich learnt, with +much dismay, that the Nausetts under Tisquantum's rule were so soon to +change their place of residence. His hopes of escape became less +strong, but they were not destroyed: and when he was summoned to pass +the night in the Sachem's apartment, he was able to lift up his heart +to God in prayer, and to lie down to sleep on the rude couch prepared +for him, with a calm trust in His Almighty power and goodness, and a +hope that He would see fit to shorten his trials, and restore him to +his friends. + +The Chief watched him as he knelt in prayer; and when he rose, and +prepared to lie down to sleep, he abruptly asked him why he had thus +remained on his knees so long? + +'I was praying to my God to protect me,' answered Henrich; and a tear +rose to his eye, as he remembered how he had knelt every evening with +his own beloved family; and thought how his absence, and their probable +belief in his death, would sadden the act of worship that would that +night be performed in his father's house. + +'Do you pray to the Great Spirit?' asked Tisquantum. + +'I do!' replied the young Christian. 'I pray to the Great Spirit, who +is the God and Father of all men; and I pray to his Son Jesus Christ, +who is the friend and Savior of all who love him.' + +'It is good!' said the Chief. 'We know the Great Spirit; but we know +nothing of the other gods of the white men. Sleep now; for your +strength and activity will be tried to-morrow.' And Henrich lay down, +and slept long and peacefully. + +He was awakened the next morning by the gentle voice of Oriana, who +stood beside him, and said, 'You must rise now, and eat with me, before +you go out to try your strength and skill. Come to my apartment.' + +Henrich opened his eyes, and gazed around him in wonder. But quickly +the whole sad reality of his situation came over him, and he felt that +he must nerve himself for the coming trial. Soon he followed Oriana to +her inner room, where a slight Indian repast of maize and fruits had +been prepared by the young Squaw-Sachem and her attendants. Tisquantum +had left the lodge, and was now occupied in preparing a spot for the +exercise of the white boy's skill. At his side stood Coubitant, silent +and gloomy. His indignation at the Chief's merciful intentions towards +the intended victim was great; and strongly had he urged him to the +immediate slaughter of the captive. But Tisquantum was not to be +lightly moved, either to good or evil. He had said that the boy should +live, if he proved himself worthy to bear Indian arms, and all the +cruel suggestions and arguments that Coubitant could bring forward only +made him more resolved to keep his word. + +The young savage then forbore to speak, for he saw that it was useless, +and he feared to displease his Chief, whose favor was the highest +object of his ambition. Since the untimely death of his son, Coubitant +had been constantly his companion and attendant, until he had been left +near the English settlement to carry out his schemes of revenge. His +success in this enterprise a raised him still higher in Tisquantum's +estimation; and visions of becoming the son-in-law of the Chief, and +eventually succeeding him in his office, already floated in the brain +of Coubitant. In a few years, Oriana's hand would be given to some +fortunate warrior; and who could have so strong a claim to it as the +man who had risked his own life to procure vengeance for her brother's +death? Therefore Coubitant held his peace, and checked the expression +of his deadly and malignant feelings towards the young prisoner. + +Soon Henrich was summoned to the ground where his fate was to be +decided, and he was directed to try his powers with several Indian boys +of his own age. In shooting with the bow and arrow, he could not, by +any means, rival their skill and accuracy of aim; but in casting the +spear, and wielding the tomahawk, he showed himself their equal; and +when he was made to wrestle with his swarthy and half-naked +competitors, the superior height and muscular powers of the British lad +enabled him to gain the victory in almost every instance. + +Tisquantum was satisfied. He pronounced him worthy to live; and, +notwithstanding the opposition of Coubitant, which was once more +cautiously manifested, he presented Henrich with the arms that he knew +so well how to use, and informed him that he should henceforth dwell in +his lodge among his braves, and should no more inhabit the apartments +of the women. To a young and generous mind success and approbation are +always grateful; and Henrich's eye kindled, and his cheek burned, as he +listened to the praises of the Chief, and felt that he owed his life, +under Providence, to his own efforts. And when his little friend Oriana +came bounding up to him, with joy and exultation in her intelligent +countenance, and playfully flung a wreath of flowers across his +shoulders in token of victory, he felt that even among these children +of the wilderness--these dreaded Nausett Indians--he could find +something to love. + +In Coubitant, he instinctively felt that he had also something to +dread; but the savage tried to conceal his feeling and even to please +the Chief and Oriana, by pretending an interest in their young +favorite, which for a long time deceived them as to his real +sentiments. The bustle of preparation for the intended removal of the +encampment began that day--for Tisquantum was now more eager than ever +to get beyond the reach of the settlers--and before sunset all was +ready. The next morning the march commenced at daybreak, and continued +for many days uninterruptedly, until the Chief and his followers +reached the residence of his Pequodee allies, when he considered +himself safe from pursuit, even if the settlers should attempt it. He +therefore halted his party, and took up his abode among his friends, to +wait until they were prepared to set out on their hunting expedition to +the western prairies. A period of repose was also very needful for the +women and children, for the march had been a most fatiguing one. Not +only had the Sachem dreaded the pursuit of the injured settlers, and +therefore hurried his party to their utmost speed; but the country +through which they had traveled was inhabited by the Narragansett +tribe, the ancient and hereditary foes of the Pequodees. It was, +consequently, desirable for the Nausetts, as allies of the latter, to +spend as little time as possible in the territories of their enemies; +and little rest ad been permitted to the travelers until they had +passed the boundary of the friendly Pequodees. + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +'The woods--oh! solemn are the boundless woods; + Of the great western world, when day declines, +And louder sounds the roll of distant floods, + More deep the rustling of the ancient pines; +When dimness gathers on the stilly air, + And mystery seems o'er every leaf to brood, +Awful is it for human heart to bear + The might and burden of the solitude!' HEMANS. + +Many weeks elapsed after the Nausett party had joined the friendly +Pequodees, ere any preparations were made for journeying to the west; +and these days were chiefly employed by Henrich in improving his +knowledge of the Indian language, and especially of the Nausett +dialect, by conversing with Oriana and her young companions, both male +and female. He also endeavored to learn as much as possible of the +habit and the ideas of the simple people among whom his lot was now +cast; for he hoped, at some future time, when he had succeeded in +returning to his own countrymen, that such a knowledge might prove +useful both to himself and them. + +He was treated with much kindness by Tisquantum; and his favor with the +Chief ensured the respect and attention of all his dependants and +followers. From the day that the white boy had been spared from a cruel +and violent death, and established as a regular inmate of Tisquantum's +dwelling, it seemed as if he had regarded him as a son, and had adopted +him to fill the place of him whose death he so deeply deplored; and +Oriana already looked on him as a brother, and took the greatest +delight in his society. No apprehensions were now felt of his escaping +to the settlement; for the distance which they had traveled through +woods, and over hills and plains, to reach the Pequodee encampment, was +so great, that it was utterly impossible for any one but an Indian, +well accustomed to the country, to traverse it alone. Henrich was, +therefore, allowed to enjoy perfect liberty, and to ramble unmolested +around the camp; and it was his greatest pleasure to climb to the +summit of a neighboring hill, which was crowned by a few ancient and +majestic pines, and there to look in wonder and admiration at the +scenery around him. To the west, a vast and trackless forest spread as +far as the eye could reach, unbroken save by some distant lakes, that +shone like clear mirrors in their dark green setting. Trees of gigantic +growth rose high above their brethren of the wood, but wild luxuriant +creepers, many of them bearing clusters of bright blossoms, had climbed +ambitiously to their summits, seeking the light of day, and the warmth +of the sunbeams, which could not penetrate the thick underwood that was +their birth-place. It was a sea of varied and undulating foliage, +beautiful and striking, but almost oppressive to the spirit; and +Henrich gazed sadly over the interminable forest, and thought of the +weeks, and months--and, possibly, the years that this wilderness was to +be his home. Escape, under present circumstances, he felt to be +impossible; and he endeavored to reconcile himself to his fate, and to +look forward with hope to a dim and uncertain future. Could his parents +and Edith but have been assured of his safety, he thought he could have +borne his captivity more cheerfully; but to feel that they were mourning +him as dead, and that, perhaps, they would never know that his blood had +not been cruelly shed by his captors, was hard for the affectionate boy +to endure. + +To Oriana, alone, could he tell his feelings, and pour out his griefs +and anxieties; and Edith herself could not have listened to him with +more attention and sympathy than was shown by the young Indian girl. +When her domestic duties were accomplished, she would accompany her new +friend to his favorite retreat on the hill-top; and there, seated by +his side beneath the tall pines, she would hold his hand, and gaze into +his sorrowful countenance, and listen to his fond regrets for his +distant home, and all its dearly-loved inmates, till tears would gather +in her soft black eyes, and she almost wished that she could restore +him to his countrymen. But this she was powerless to do, even if she +could have made up her mind to the sacrifice of her 'white brother,' as +she called him. She had, indeed, wrought upon her father so far as to +save his life, and have him adopted into their tribe and family; but she +well knew that nothing would ever induce him to give up his possession +of Rodolph's son, or suffer his parents to know that he lived. + +All this she told to Henrich; and his spirit, sanguine as it was, +sickened at the prospect of a lengthened captivity among uncivilized +and heathen beings. He gazed mournfully to the east; he looked over the +wide expanse of country that he had lately traversed, and his eye +seemed to pierce the rising hills, and lofty forests, that lay between +him and his cherished home; and in the words of the Psalmist he cried, +'Oh that I had wings as a dove, for then would I flee away and be at +rest!' + +Would you leave me, my brother?' said Oriana, in reply to this +unconscious utterance of his feelings; 'would you leave me again alone, +to mourn the brother I have lost?' The Sachem loves you, and I love +you, too; and you may be happy in our lodge, and become a brave like +our young men.' + +'Yes, Oriana, you and your father are kind to me; and I had never known +any other mode of life, I might be happy in your lodge. But I cannot +forget my parents, and me dear Edith who loved me so fondly, and my +little brother also. And then I had a friend--a kind friend, and full +of wisdom and goodness--who used to teach me all kinds of knowledge; +and, above all, the knowledge of the way to heaven. How can I think +that I may, perhaps, never see all these again, and not be sad?' And +Henrich buried his face in his hands and wept without restraint. + +Oriana gazed at him affectionately, and tears of sympathy filled her +large eyes also. But she drew away Henrich's hand, and kissed it, and +tried to cheer him in the best way that her simple mind could suggest. + +'My brother must not weep,' she said; 'for he is not a child, and our +Indian youths are ashamed of tears. Henrich will be a brave some day, +and he will delight in hunting, and in war, as our red warriors do; and +he will, I know, excel them all in strength and courage. What can he +desire more than to be a Nausett warrior?' + +'Oh, Oriana,' replied the boy--as he wiped away his tears, and almost +smiled at her attempts to console him by such a future prospect--' I +desire to return to my home, and my friends, and the worship of my God. +Among your people none know anything of the true God, and none believe +in His Son. I have no one to speak to me as my parents, and my +venerable teacher, used to do; and no one to kneel with me in prayer to +the Almighty.' + +'Do not you worship the Great Mahneto--the Mighty Spirit from whom +every good gift comes?' asked Oriana, with surprise. 'He is the one +true God, and all the red men know and worship him.' + +'Yes, Oriana, I do worship the one Great Spirit; the God and Father of +all men of every color and of every clime. But the Christian's God is +far more wise, and good, and merciful than the Indian's Mahneto: and He +has told his servants what He is, and how they ought to serve Him.' + +'Does your Mahneto speak to you?' asked the Indian girl. 'Could I hear +him speak?' + +'He has spoken to our fathers long ages ago,' replied Henrich; 'and we +have His words written in a book. Oh, that I had that blessed book with +me! How it would comfort me to read it now!' + +'And you would read it to me, my brother? But tell me some of your +Mahneto's words; and tell me why you say He is greater and better than +the Good Spirit who protects the red men.' + +'I will gladly tell you all I know of the God whom I have been taught +to love and worship ever since I was a little child. I wish I could +make you love Him too, Oriana, and teach you to pray to Him, and to +believe in His Son as your friend and Savior.' + +'I will believe all you tell me, dear Henrich,' answered the ingenuous +girl; 'for I am sure you would never say the thing that is not.[*] But +what do you mean by a Savior? Is it some one who will save you from the +power of the evil spirit Hobbamock--the enemy of the red men?' + +[Footnote: The Indian expression for speaking a falsehood.] + +Then Henrich told her of Jesus the Merciful--Him who came to save a +world that was lost and ruined through sin; and to die for those who +deserve nothing but wrath and condemnation. Long the youthful teacher +and his attentive pupil conversed; and many and strange were the +questions that Oriana asked, and that Henrich was enabled, by the help +of the Spirit, to answer. The dark searching eyes of the intelligent +young Indian were fixed on his, and her glossy black hair was thrown +back over her shoulders, while she listened in wonder and admiration to +every word that fell from the lips of her' white brother.' + +That evening, a new and awakening source of interest was opened to the +young captive, and the dreariness of his life seemed almost to have +passed away. The affection of Oriana had hitherto been his only solace +and comfort, and now the hope of repaying that affection by becoming +the humble means of leading her out of the darkness of heathenism, and +pointing out to her the way of eternal salvation, raised his spirits, +and almost reconciled him to his present banishment from home, and all +its cherished joys and comforts. + +More deeply than ever did he now regret that he was deprived of all +access to the Word of Life, from which he might have read and +translated the story of mercy to his young disciple, and have taught +her the gracious promises of God. But Henrich had been well taught at +home; his truly pious parents had early stored his mind with numerous +passages of Scripture; and the effort he now made to recall to his +memory all the most interesting stories, and most striking texts, that +he had learnt from the Word of God, was the means of fixing them +indelibly on his own heart. He never in after life forgot what he now +taught to Oriana. The instruction was, as is generally the case, quite +as much blessed to the teacher as to the learner; and Henrich was +himself surprised to find how readily he could call to mind the very +passage he wanted; and how easily he could convey its import to Oriana +in her own melodious language. + +Frequently were these interesting conversations renewed, and never +without Henrich's perceiving, with thankfulness, that Oriana was making +progress in spiritual knowledge, and also in quickness of understanding +and general intelligence; for it may truly be said, that no kind of +learning awakens the dormant powers of the intellect, or quickens the +growth of the mind so effectually, as the knowledge of the one true +God, who created the spirit, and of his Son who died to redeem it from +the ignominious and degrading bondage, of sin and Satan. Henrich had, +at first, imagined that it would be utterly impossible for him to find +an intelligent companion among the savage race into whose hands he bad +fallen and he had deeply felt that sense of loneliness which a +cultivated mind, however young, must experience in the society of those +whose ideas and feelings are altogether beneath its own, and who can in +no way sympathize with any of its hopes, and fears, and aspirations. +But now the well-informed English boy began to perceive that the +superiority of the white men over the dark aborigines of America might, +possibly, arise much more from difference of education, than from +difference of race and color. He remembered, also, how ardently he had +desired to share with the pious Brewster and Winslow, in their +projected plans for the conversion of the natives; and he hoped that, +young and comparatively ignorant as he knew himself to be, it might, +perhaps, please God to make him the instrument of bestowing spiritual +blessings on some, at least, of the heathen among whom he dwelt. He, +therefore, resolved to employ all 'his powers of argument and +persuasion to convince the mind, and touch the heart of the young +Squaw-Sachem; not only for the sake of her own immortal soul, but also +in the hope that her influence, if she became a sincere Christian, +might greatly tend to the conversion of her father and his tribe. + +Since the night when Tisquantum had seen his young captive kneel in +prayer, and had questioned him as to the object of his worship, he had +never spoken to him on the subject of his religion; and, Henrich had +feared to address the stern old Chief, or to introduce a theme which, +though constantly present to his own mind, and the source of all his +consolation, would, probably, he rejected with scorn and contempt by +the Sachem. + +The more the Christian boy became acquainted with the character of +Tisquantum, the stronger became this fear, and the more he despaired of +any influence proving sufficiently strong to break the chains of error +and superstition that bound him to heathenism. The Chief was a +distinguished Powow, or conjuror; and was regarded by his own people, +and even by many other tribes, as possessing great super natural +powers. His pretensions were great, and fully accredited by his +subjects, who believed that he could control the power of the +subordinate evil spirits, and even exercise a certain influence on +Hobbamock himself. He was called a Mahneto, or priest; as being the +servant or deputy of the Great Mahneto, and permitted by him to cure +diseases by a word or a charm, to bring down rain on the thirsty land, +and to foretell the issue of events, such as the results of wars or +negotiations. The influence which these acknowledged powers gave him +over other tribes besides his own was very gratifying to his pride and +ambition; and could Henrich hope that he, a young and inexperienced +boy, could have wisdom or eloquence sufficient to 'bring down the high +thoughts' that exalted him, and to persuade him to 'become a disciple +of the meek and lowly Jesus? No; he knew that such a hope was, humanly +speaking, vain: but he knew, also, that 'with God all things are +possible'; and he ceased not to pray that the Spirit of light and truth +might enter the soul of the heathen Chief, and banish the spirit of +evil that now reigned so triumphantly there. + +Henrich's desire to see the Sachem become a Christian was increased in +the same measure that his hope of its accomplishment became less; for +the more intimately he became acquainted with him, the more he found in +his natural character that was interesting, and even estimable. +Tisquantum was brave; and he was also generous and sincere, far beyond +the generality of his race. We have said that the influence of his +wife, whom he had, loved to an unusual degree for an Indian, had tended +to soften his temper and disposition; and his regret for her loss, and +his anxiety that his only daughter should resemble her, had made him +more domestic in his habits than most of his brother chiefs. He was +kind, also, when not roused to harshness and cruelty by either revenge +or superstition; and he was capable of strong attachments where he had +once taken a prepossession in favor of any individual. + +Such a prepossession he had formed for his English captive on the +evening when his child had pleaded for his life, and when his own +ingenuous and beautiful countenance had joined so eloquently in her +supplications. No insidious efforts of the wily Coubitant had availed +to change the Sachem's sentiments; and he continued to treat Henrich as +an adopted son, and to allow him all the privileges and indulgences +that had once been bestowed on his beloved Tekoa. The white boy was +permitted to enjoy full and unrestricted liberty, now that he was +beyond all possible reach of his countrymen. He was encouraged to hunt, +and sport, and practice all athletic games and exercises with the +Nausett and Pequodee youths; and he was presented with such of the arms +and ornaments of the lost Tekoa as were deemed suitable to his use, and +his unusually tall and muscular figure. + +Often when adorned with these strange and curious specimens of Indian +art and ingenuity, did Haunch smile to think how Edith and Ludovico +would wonder and admire if they could see him thus attired: and then he +would sigh as he remembered that months and years must probably +elapse--and possibly even his life might come to an end--ere he could +hope to see their loved countenances, or to excite their surprise and +interest by a relation of all his perils and adventures. To Oriana, +alone, could he unburden his mind on such subjects; and from her he +always met with deep attention and heartfelt sympathy; but every day +she felt his presence to be more necessary to her happiness, and her +dread of his escaping to his own people to become greater. Not only did +she shrink from the idea of parting with her 'white brother '--her +newly-found and delightful friend and companion--but daily, as she grew +in the knowledge of Henrich's religion, and learnt to know and love the +Christian's God and Savior more sincerely, did she fear the possibility +of losing her zealous young teacher, and being deprived of all +intercourse with the only civilized and enlightened being whom she had +ever known. + +She therefore rejoiced when the time arrived for leaving the Pequodee +village, and pursuing the intended route to the west; for in spite of +the distance and the many difficulties and obstacles that divided +Henrich from the British settlement, she had lived in continual fear +and expectation of either seeing a band of the mighty strangers come to +demand his restitution, or revenge his supposed death; or else of his +escaping from the camp, and braving every danger, in the attempt to +return to his happy Christian home. Henrich often assured her with +sincerity that he had no idea of venturing on so hopeless an attempt; +but whenever the Indian girl saw his eyes fixed sadly on the eastern +horizon, and dimmed, as they often were, by tears of sad remembrance, +she felt her fears again arise, and longed more earnestly to leave the +spot, and plunge into the trackless forest that lay between the +Pequodee encampment and she proposed hunting grounds. + +The summer had passed away and autumn was beginning to tinge the varied +foliage of the forest with all its gaudy hues of yellow, and scarlet, +and purple, when the Nausetts, and such of their Pequodee friends as +desired to share in their hunting expedition, set forth from the +village. Many women and girls accompanied the caravan, the greater part +on foot, and bearing on their shoulders either the younger children, or +a large pack of baggage; while their husbands, and fathers, and +brothers, marched before them, encumbered only with their arms and +hunting accoutrements. Such was, and still is, the custom among the +uncivilized tribes of America, where women have ever been regarded as +being very little more exulted than the beasts that perish, and have +been accustomed to meet with scarcely more attention and respect. But +there are exceptions to this, as to every other rule; and where women +have possessed unusual strength of mind, or powers of influence, their +condition has been proportionately better. Such had been the ease with +Tisquantum's wife: and he had ever treated her with gentleness and +respect, and had never imposed on her any of those servile duties that +commonly fall to the lot of Indian squaws, even though they may be the +wives and daughters of the most exalted chiefs. To his daughter the +Sachem was equally considerate, and none but the lightest toils of +domestic Indian life were ever required from her; nor was any burden +more weighty than her own bow and quiver ever laid upon her slender and +graceful shoulders, when she followed her father in his frequent +wanderings. + +On the present occasion, as the journey promised to be unusually long +and uninterrupted, Tisquantum obtained for her a small and active horse +of the wild breed, that abounds in the western woods and plains; and of +which valuable animals the Pequodees possessed a moderate number, which +they had procured by barter from the neighboring Cree Indians. The +purchase of this steed gave Henrich the first opportunity of remarking +the Indian mode of buying and selling, and the article that formed +their medium of commerce, and was employed as money. This consisted of +square and highly-polished pieces of a peculiar kind of a peculiar +muscle-shell, called quahock, in each of which a hole was bored, to +enable it to be strung on a slender cord. The general name for this +native money was wampum, or white, from the color of those shells most +esteemed; but a dark-colored species was called luki, or black; and +both were used, of various forms and sizes, as ornaments by the +warriors, and their copper-colored wives and children. + +Several strings of wampum, both white and purple, were silently offered +by the Sachem for the horse which he selected as most suitable for his +daughter's use, and, after a pause, were as silently rejected by the +possessor. Another pause ensued; and Tisquantum added a fresh string of +the precious shell to the small heap that lay before him; and the same +scene was repeated, until the owner of the horse was satisfied, when he +placed the halter in the hands of the purchaser, gathered up his +treasure, and, with a look of mournful affection at the faithful +creature whom he was resigning to the power of another master, hurried +away to his wigwam. + +The next day the march began; and proud and happy was Oriana as she +closely followed her father's steps, mounted on her new palfrey, and +led by her adopted brother; while by her side bounded a favorite young +dog, of the celebrated breed now called Newfoundland, which had been +given to her brother as a puppy just before his melancholy death, and +had been her only playfellow and loved companion, until Henrich had +arrived to rival the faithful creature in her affections. At his +request, the dog received the name of Rodolph, in memory of his father; +and Henrich was never tired of caressing him, and teaching him to fetch +and carry, and to plunge into his favorite element, and bring from the +foamy torrent, or the placid lake, any object which he directed him to +seize. He was a noble fellow, and returned the care and kindness of +his new friend with all the ardor and faithfulness of his nature. It +was his duty to accompany Henrich in all his expeditions in pursuit of +game, and to bring to his feet every bird, or small animal, that his +increasing skill in archery enabled him to pierce with his light and +bone-pointed arrows. + +During his residence in the Pequodee village, he had generally gone on +such expeditions in company with several other men and boys; and Oriana +had, consequently, enjoyed little opportunity of perceiving how much he +had improved in dexterity since he had made his first trial before his +captors. But now, as they traversed the woods together, he frequently +aimed, at her desire, at some brilliant bird, or bounding squirrel; and +the young maiden exulted at his success, and at the sagacity and +obedience of Rodolph in bringing her the game. + +The constant occupation, and the change of scene that Henrich enjoyed +during this journey, tended greatly to raise his spirits, and even to +reconcile him to his new mode of life. He did not forget his friends +and his home--he did not even cease to think of them with the same +regret and affection; but it was with softened feelings, and with a +settled hope of eventually returning to them after a certain period of +wandering and adventure. The kind of life which he had often longed to +try was now his lot, and he enjoyed it under, peculiarly favorable +circumstances; for he partook of its wildness and excitement, without +enduring any of its hardships. No wonder, then, that a high-spirited +and active-minded youth of Henrich's age, should often forget that his +wanderings were compulsory; and should feel cheerful, and even +exhilarated, as he roamed through the boundless primeval forests, or +crossed the summits of the ranges of lofty hills that occasionally +lifted their barren crags above the otherwise unbroken sea of foliage. + +Pitching the camp for the night was always a season of excitement and +pleasure to the young traveler, and his lively companion, Oriana. The +selection of an open glade, and the procuring wood and water, and +erecting temporary huts, were all delightful from their novelty. And, +then, when all was done, and fires were kindled, and the frugal evening +meal was finished, it was pleasant to sit with Oriana beneath the lofty +trees, whose smooth straight trunks rose like stately columns, and to +watch the glancing beams of the setting sun as they shone on the varied +foliage now tinted with all the hues of autumn, and listen to the +sighing of the evening breeze, that made solemn music while it swept +through the forest. These were happy and tranquil hours; for then +Henrich would resume the interesting topics to which his dusky pupil +was never weary of listening. He would tell her--but no longer with +tears--of his home, and all its occupations and joys; he would repeat +the holy instructions that he had himself received; and, when far +removed from the observation of other eyes and ears, he would teach her +to kneel by his side, as Edith used to do, and to join him in +supplications to 'the High and Lofty One that inhabiteth eternity'; but +who yet listens to the humblest prayers that are addressed to Him in +sincerity, and hears every petition that is offered up in the name of +His beloved Son. + +The heart of Oriana was touched; and with a beautiful child-like +simplicity, she received all the blessed truths that her 'white +brother' taught her. Her affections were strongly drawn towards the +character of Jesus the Merciful, as she always called the Savior; and +she became sensitively alive to the guilt of every sin, as showing +ingratitude to the Benefactor who had laid down His life for His +creatures. Oriana was, in fact, a Christian--a young and a weak one, it +is true: but she possessed that faith which alone can constitute any one +'a branch in the true vine'; and Henrich now felt that lie had found a +sister indeed. + +As the young Indian grew in grace, she grew also in sweetness of manner +and refinement of taste and behavior. She was no longer a savage, +either in mind or in conduct; and Henrich often looked at her in wonder +and admiration, when she had made her simple toilette by the side of a +clear stream, and had decked her glossy raven hair with one of the +magnificent water lilies that be had gathered for her on its brink: and +he wished that his mother and his fair young sister could behold his +little Indian beauty, for he knew that they would love her, and would +forget that she had a dusky skin, and was born of a savage and heathen +race. + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +'We saw thee, O stranger, and wept! +We looked for the youth of the sunny glance, +Whose step was the fleetest in chase or dance! +The light of his eye was a joy to see; +The path of his arrows a storm to flee! +But there came a voice from a distant shore; +He was call'd--he his found 'midst his tribe no more! +He is not in his place when the night fire, burn; +But we look for him still--he will yet return! +His brother sat with a drooping brow, +In the gloom of the shadowing cypress bough. +We roused him--we bade him no longer pine; +For we heard a step--but that step was thine.' HEMANS. + +'What was that cry of joy, Oriana?' exclaimed Henrich, as one evening +during their journey, he and his companion had strayed a little from +their party, who were seeking a resting-place for the night. 'What was +that cry of joy: and who is this Indian youth who has sprung from the +ground so eagerly, and is now hurrying towards us from that group of +overhanging trees? Is he a friend of yours?' + +'I know him not!' replied Oriana. 'I never passed through this forest +before: but I have heard that it is inhabited by the Crees. They are +friendly to our allies, the Pequodees, so we need not fear to meet +them.' + +As she spoke, the young stranger rapidly approached them, with an +expression of hope and expectation on his animated countenance; but +this changed as quickly to a look of deep despondence and grief, when +he had advanced within a few paces, and fixed his searching eyes en +Henrich's face. + +'No!' he murmured, in a low and mournful voice, and clasping his hands +in bitterness of disappointment.'No; it is not Uncas. It is not my +brother of the fleet foot, and the steady hand. Why does he yet tarry +so long? Four moons have come, and have waned away again, since he +began his journey to the land of spirits; and I have sat by his grave, +and supplied him with food and water, and watched and wept for his +return; and yet he does not come. O, Uncas, my brother! when shall I +hear thy step, and see thy bright glancing eye? I will go back, and +wait, and hope again.' + +And the young Indian turned away, too much absorbed in his own feelings +to take any further notice of Henrich and Oriana, who, both surprised +and affected at his words and manner, followed him silently. Several +other Indians of the Cree tribe now made their appearance among the +trees, and hastened towards the travelers. But a look of disappointment +was visible on every countenance: and the young travelers wondered +greatly.[1 and 2] + +[Footnote 1: 'J'ai passe moi-meme chez une peuplade Indienne, qui se +prenait a pleurer a la vue d'un voyageur, parce qu'il lui rappelait des +amis partis pour la contree des Ames, et depuis long-temps en voyage.' +--CHATEAUBRIAND.] + +[Footnote 2: 'They fancy their deceased friends and relatives to be +only gone on a journey; and, being in constant expectation of their +return, look for them vainly amongst foreign travelers.'--PICART.] + +But, though evidently grieved at not meeting the being they looked for +so earnestly, the elder Crees did not forget the duties of hospitality. +With simple courtesy they invited Henrich and his companion to +accompany them to their wigwams, which were situated in a beautiful +glade close by, and were only concealed by the luxuriant growth of +underwood, that formed a sort of verdant and flowering screen around +them. The invitation was gratefully accepted; for the countenances of +the Crees inspired confidence, and Oriana knew that her father intended +to visit a settlement of these friendly people, in the district they +were now traversing. She also felt her curiosity strongly excited by +what had just occurred, and she longed for an explanation of the +conduct of the interesting young savage who had first accosted them. + +She therefore requested one of their new acquaintances to go in search +of the main body of their party, and to inform the Sachem that she and +Henrich had preceded them to the wigwams; and then--with a dignity and +composure that were astonishing in one so young and accustomed to so +wild a life--she guided her palfrey into the narrow path that wound +through the undergrowth of evergreens, while Henrich walked by her +side, and Rodolph bounded before her. + +They came to the spot where the young Indian sat by a grave; and tears +were falling from his eyes as he gazed at the grass-covered mound, +around which wore arranged several highly-carved and ornamented +weapons, and articles of attire; and also a small quantity of firewood, +and food, and tobacco, intended for the use of the departed on his long +journey to the land of spirits. This is a well-known custom of most of +the North American tribes; but the Crees have several superstitions +peculiar to themselves, especially that melancholy one to which we have +just alluded, and which subjects them to such lengthened sorrow and +disappointment; for they watch and look for the return of their lost +and lamented friends, who can never come again to gladden their eyes on +earth. O that they were taught to place their hopes of a blessed +reunion with those they love on the only sure foundation for such +hopes--even on Him who is 'the Resurrection and the Life!' Then they +need never be disappointed. + +It was this strange expectation of the reappearance, in human form, of +the lately dead, that occasioned the incident we have just related. An +epidemic disease had been prevalent in the Cree village; and, among +those who had fallen victims to it, Uncas, the eldest orphan son of the +principal man of the village, was the most deeply regretted, and his +return was the most anxiously desired. + +Especially was this vain hope cherished by his younger brother +Jyanough, to whom he had been an object of the fondest love and most +unbounded admiration; and who daily, as the evening closed, took fresh +food and water to the grave, and sat there till night closed in, +calling on Uncas, and listening for his coming footsteps. Then he +retired sadly to his wigwam, to lament his brother's continued absence, +and to hope for better success the following evening. During each night +the dogs of the village, or the wild animals of the forest, devoured +the food designed for Uncas; but Jyanough believed it had been used by +his brother's spirit, and continued still to renew the store, and to +hope that, at length, the departed would show himself, and would return +to dwell in his wigwam. + +When Haunch approached the grave, leading Oriana's pony, the mourner +looked up, and gazed in his face again with that sad and inquiring +look. But now it did not change to disappointment, for he knew that the +stranger was not Uncas. There was even pleasure in his countenance as +the clear glance of the English boy's deep blue eye met his own; and he +rose from his seat at the head of the grave, and, going up to Henrich, +gently took his hand, and said-- + +'Will the white stranger be Jyanough's brother? His step is free, and +his eyes are bright, and his glance goes deep into Jyanough's heart. +Will the pale-face be the friend of him who has now no friend; for four +moons are guile and Uncas does not answer to my call?' + +Henrich and Jyanough were strangers: they were altogether different in +race, in education, and in their mode of thinking and feeling. Yet +there was one ground of sympathy between them, of which the young +Indian seemed instinctively conscious. Both had recently known deep +sorrow; and both had felt that sickening sense of loneliness that falls +on the young heart when suddenly divided from all it most dearly loves, +by death or other circumstances. Jyanough and his elder brother Uncas +had been deprived of both their parents, not many months before the +fatal disease broke out which had carried off so many victims amongst +the Crees. The orphan youths had then become all-in-all to each other, +and their mutual attachment had excited the respect and admiration of +the whole village, of which, at his father's death, Uncas became the +leading man. Had he lived his brother would have assisted him in the +government and direction of that portion of the tribe but when he fell +before the desolating pestilence, Jyanough was too young and +inexperienced to be made Sachem, and the title was conferred on a +warrior who was deemed more capable of supporting the dignity of the +community. Thenceforth the youth was alone in his wigwam. He had no +sister to under take its domestic duties, and no friend with whom it +pleased him to dwell. He saw something in Henrich's countenance that +promised sympathy, and he frankly demanded his friendship; and the +open-hearted English boy did not refuse to bestow it on the young +Indian. + +He spoke to him in his own tongue; and Jyanough's black eyes sparkled +with joy as he heard words of kindness from the lips of the pale-faced +stranger. Henrich's height and manly figure made him appear much older +than he really was; and as he and his new friend walked together +towards the village, he seemed to be Jyanough's equal in age and +strength, although the young savage was several years his senior. As +they entered the glade that was surrounded by lofty trees, and studded +with wigwams, Tisquantum and the rest of the party approached by a path +on the other side, and they all met in the center of the open space, +and were welcomed by the friendly Crees. Wigwams were appointed to the +Sachem and his daughter, and the most distinguished of the Nausetts and +their Pequodee allies; while the inferior Indians of both tribes were +directed to form huts for themselves beneath the neigh boring trees and +all were invited to partake freely of the hospitality of their hosts, +and to rest at the Cree settlement for several days, before they +resumed their journey. + +Jyanough conducted his English friend to his own wigwam, which was +neatly furnished, and adorned with native tools and weapons. He bade +him repose his tired limbs on Uncas' deserted couch; and while Henrich +lay on the bed of soft grass covered with deer skins, that occupied one +corner of the hut, the Indian youth busied himself in preparing an +evening repast for his guest. The chief article of this simple supper +consisted of _nokake,_ a kind of meal made of parched maize or Indian +corn, which Jyanough mixed with water in a calabash bowl, and, having +well kneaded it, made it into small cakes, and baked them on the embers +of his wood-fire. The nokake, in its raw state, constitutes the only +food of many Indian tribes when on a journey. They carry it in a bag, +or a hollow leathern girdle; and when they reach a brook or pond, they +take a spoonful of the dry meal, and then one of water, to prevent its +choking them. Three or four spoonfuls are sufficient for a meal for +these hardy and abstemious people; and, with a few dried shellfish, or +a morsel of deer's flesh, they will subsist on it for months. + +Such viands, with the addition of some wild fruits from the forest, +were all that Jyanough had to offer to his guest; but Henrich had known +privation at home, and he had become accustomed to Indian fare. The +kindness, also, and the courtesy of the untutored savage, as he warmly +expressed his pleasure at receiving him into has wigwam, were so +engaging, that the young traveler would cheerfully have put up with +worse accommodation. + +From Jyanough he now heard the story of his sorrows, which deeply +interested him; and, in return, he told his host all that he could +remember of his own past life, from his residence in Holland, and his +removal to America, even till the moment when he and Oriana had +approached the Cree village that evening The red man listened with +profound attention, and constantly interrupted the narrator with +intelligent questions on every subject that was interesting to him. But +especially was his curiosity awakened when Henrich, in speaking of his +grief at being torn from all his friends and relations, and his horror +when he had anticipated a sudden and violent death, alluded to his +trust in God as the only thing that had then supported him under his +trials and sufferings, and still enabled him to hope for the future. +The young Christian was not slow in answering all his inquiries as to +the nature of the white man's Mahneto, and explaining to him why the +true believer can endure, even with cheerfulness, afflictions and +bereavements that are most trying to flesh and blood, in the confident +hope that God will over-rule every event to his people's good, and will +eventually restore all that they have lost. + +'Then if I worship your _Keechee-Mahneto_[*] eagerly asked Jyanough, +will he give back to me my brother Uncas? I have called on my Mahneto +for four long moons in vain. I have offered him the best of my weapons, +and the chief of my prey in hunting; and I have promised to pour on +Uncas' grave the blood of the first prisoner I capture in war, or the +first of our enemies that I can take by subtlety. Still Mahneto does +not hear me. Tell me, then, pale-face, would your God hear me?' + +[Footnote: _Keechee-Mahneto_ or Great Master of Life, is the name given +by the Crees to their notion of the Supreme Being. Maatche-Mahneto is +the Great Spirit of Evil.] + +Henrich was much moved at the impassioned eagerness of the Indian, +whose naturally mild and pensive expression was now changed for one of +bitter disappointment, and even of ferocity, and then again animated +with a look of anxious hope and inquiry. + +'Yes, Jyanough,' he replied, with earnest solemnity; 'my God will hear +you; but he will not give you back your brother in this world. If you +learn to believe in Him; and to serve Him, and to pray to Him in +sincerity, He will guide you to that blessed land where, after death, +all His people meet together, and where there is neither sorrow nor +separation.' + +'But is Uncas there?' cried the young savage. 'Is my brother there? For +I will serve no Mahneto who will not restore me to him!' + +Our young theologian was disconcerted, for a moment, at this puzzling +question, which has excited doubts and difficulties in wiser heads than +his, end to which Scripture gives no direct reply. He paused awhile; +and then he remembered that passage in the second chapter of the +Epistle to the Romans, where the Apostle is speaking of the +requirements of the law, and goes on to say, 'When the Gentiles which +have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, +having not the law, are a law unto themselves: which show the work of +the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, +and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one +another.' 'If St. Paul could say this of the severe and uncompromising +law, surely,' thought Henrich 'the Gospel of love and mercy must hold +out equal hope for those heathen who perish in involuntary ignorance, +but who have acted up to that law of conscience which was their only +guide.' He also recollected that Jesus himself, when on earth, +declared, that 'He that _knew not,_ and did commit things worthy of +stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes': and, therefore, he felt +justified in permitting the young Indian to hope that, hereafter, he +might again behold that brother whose virtues and whose affection were +the object of his pride and his regret. + +'I believe,' he replied, 'that your brother--who you say was always +kind, and just, and upright while he lived on earth--is now, through +the mercy of God, in a state of happiness: and I believe that, if you +also act up to what you know to be right, you will join him there, and +dwell with him for ever. But I can tell you how to attain a more +perfect happiness, and to share the highest joys of heaven in the +kingdom that God has prepared for His own son. I can tell you what He +has declared to be His will with regard to all His human creatures; +even that they should love that Son, and look to Him as their Savior +and their King. O, Jyanough, ask Oriana if she is not happier since she +learnt to love and worship the God of the Christians!--the only God who +can be just, and yet most merciful!' + +In the vehemence of his feelings, Henrich bad rather outstripped his +companion's powers of following and comprehending him. He saw this in +Jyanough's wandering and incredulous eyes; and he carefully and +patiently proceeded to explain to him the first rudiments of religion, +as he had done to Oriana: and to reply to all his doubts and questions +according to the ability that God gave him. A willing learner is +generally a quick one; and Henrich was well pleased with his second +pupil. If he was not ready to relinquish his old ideas and +superstitions, he was, at least, well inclined to listen to the +doctrines of his new friend, and even to receive them in connection +with many of his heathen opinions. Time, and the grace of God, Henrich +knew, could only cause these to give place to a purer belief, and +entirely banish the _'unclean birds'_ that dwelt in the 'cage' of the +young Indian's mind. But the fallow ground had already been, in a +manner, broken up, and some good seed scattered on the surface: and +Henrich lay down to rest with a fervent prayer that the dew of the +Spirit might fall upon it, and cause it to grow, and to bring forth +fruit. + +From the time of Henrich's captivity, he bad endeavored to keep up in +his own mind a remembrance of the Sabbath, or the Lord's Day (as it was +always called by the Puritans); and, as far as it was in his power to +do so, he observed it as a day of rest from common occupations and +amusements. On that day, he invariably declined joining any hunting or +fishing parties; and he also selected it as the time for his longest +spiritual conversations with Oriana; as he desired that she, also, +should learn to attach a peculiar feeling of reverence to a day that +must be sacred to every Christian, but which was always observed with +remarkable strictness by the sect to which Henrich belonged. + +In this, as in all other customs that the young pale-face wished to +follow, he was unopposed by Tisquantum; who seemed entirely indifferent +as to the religious feelings or social habits of his adopted son, so +long as he acquired a skill in the arts of war and hunting: and, in +these respects, Henrich's progress fully answered his expectations. He + was, like most youths of his age, extremely fond of every kind of +sport; and his strength and activity--which had greatly increased since +he had adopted the wild life of the Indians--rendered every active +exercise easy and delightful to him. He consequently grew rapidly in +the Sachem's favor, and in that of all his companions, who learnt to +love his kind and courteous manners, as much as they admired his +courage and address. One only of the red men envied him the esteem that +he gained, and hated him for it. This was Coubitant--the aspirant for +the chief place in Tisquantum's favor, and for the honor of one day +becoming his son-in-law. From the moment that the captor's life had +been spared by the Sachem, and he had been disappointed of his expected +vengeance for the death of his friend Tekoa, the savage had harbored in +his breast a feeling of hatred towards the son of the slayer, and had +burned with a malicious desire for Henrich s destruction. This feeling +he was compelled, as we have observed, to conceal from Tisquantum; but +it only gained strength by the restraint imposed on its outward +expression, and many were the schemes that he devised for its +gratification. At present, however, he found it impossible to execute +any of them; and the object of his hate and jealousy was happily +unconscious that he had so deadly an enemy continually near him. An +instinctive feeling had, indeed, caused Henrich to shun the fierce young +Indian, and to be less at ease in his company than in that of the other +red warriors; but his own generous and forgiving nature forbade his +suspecting the real sentiments entertained towards him by Coubitant, or +even supposing that his expressions of approval and encouragement were +all feigned to suit his own evil purposes. + +Oriana had never liked him; and time only strengthened the prejudice +she felt against him. She knew that he hoped eventually to make her his +wife--or rather his slave--for Coubitant was not a man to relax from +any of the domestic tyranny of his race; and the more she saw of her +'white brother,' and the more she heard from him of the habits and +manners of his countrymen, and of their treatment of their women, the +more she felt the usual life of an Indian squaw to be intolerable. Even +the companionship of the young females of her own race became +distasteful to her; for their ignorance, and utter want of +civilization, struck painfully on her now partially cultivated and +awakened mind, and made her feel ashamed of the coarseness of taste and +manners occasionally displayed by her former friends and associates. In +the Christian captive alone had she found, since her mother's death, a +companion who could sympathize in her tastes and feelings, which had +ever been above the standard of any others with whom she was +acquainted. And Henrich could do more than sympathize in her +aspirations--he could instruct her how they might be fully realized in +the attainment of divine knowledge, and the experience of Christian +love. No wonder, then, that Henrich held already the first place in her +heart and imagination, and was endowed by her lively fancy with every +quality and every perfection, both of mind and body, that she could +conceive to herself. + +The simple-minded girl made no concealment of her preference for the +young stranger, whom she regarded as a brother--but a brother in every +way immeasurably her superior--and her father never checked her growing +attachment. The youth of both parties, the position that Henrich +occupied in his family as his adopted son, and the difference of race +and color, prevented him from even anticipating that a warmer sentiment +than fraternal affection could arise between them; and he fully +regarded his daughter as the future inmate and mistress of an Indian +warrior's lodge--whether that of Coubitant or of some other brave, +would, he considered, entirely depend on the comparative prowess in war +and hunting, and the value of the presents that would be the offering +of those who claimed her hand. That she should exercise any choice in +the matter never occurred to him; and, probably, had he foreseen that +such would be the case, and that the choice would fill on the son of a +stranger--on the pale-faced captive whose father had slain her only +brother--he would have removed her from such dangerous influence. But +he thought not of such consequences resulting from the intimacy of +Henrich and Oriana: he only saw that his child was happy, and that she +daily improved in grace and intelligence, and in the skilful and +punctual performance of all her domestic duties; and he was well +satisfied that he had not shed the blood of the Christian youth on the +grave of his lost Tekoa. His own esteem and affection for his adopted +son also continued to increase; and, young as Henrich was, the +influence of his superior cultivation of mind, and rectitude of +principle, was felt even by the aged Chief, and caused him to treat +him, at times, with a degree of respect that added bitterness to +Coubitant's malicious feelings. + +He saw how fondly Oriana regarded her adopted brother, and personal +jealousy made him more clear-sighted as to the possibility of her +affection ripening into love than her father had as yet become; and +gladly would the rival of the unsuspecting Henrich have blackened him +in the eyes of the Chieftain, and caused him to be banished from the +lodge, had he been able to find any accusation against him. But in this +he invariably failed; for the pale-face was brave, honest, and +truthful, to a degree that baffled the ingenuity of his wily foe: and +Coubitant found that, instead of lowering Henrich in the regard of the +Sachem, he only excited him to take his part still more, and also ran a +great risk of losing all the favor which he had himself attained in +Tisquantum's eyes. + +The sudden friendship that the young Jyanough had conceived for the +white stranger, and the consequent favor with which he was looked upon +by Oriana, tended still more to irritate the malignant savage; and +when, a few days after the arrival of Tisquantum's party at the Cree +village, he saw the three young friends seated amicably together +beneath a shadowing tree, and evidently engaged in earnest +conversation, he could not resist stealing silently behind them, and +lurking in the underwood that formed a thick background to their +position, in order to listen to the subject of their discourse. How +astonished and how indignant was he to find that Henrich was reasoning +eloquently against the cruel and ridiculous superstitions of the Indian +tribes, and pointing out to his attentive hearers the infinite +superiority of the Christian's belief and the Christian's practice! +The acquiescence that Oriana expressed to the simple but forcible +arguments of the pale-face added to his exasperation; and he was also +angry, as well as astonished, to perceive that the young Cree, although +he was yet unconvinced, was still a willing listener, and an anxious +inquirer as to the creed of his white friend. + +Maddened with rage, and excited also by the hope of at length arousing +the anger of the Sachem against the Christian youth, he forgot his +former caution, and hurried away, with quick and noiseless step, to the +wigwam occupied by Tisquantum, and broke unceremoniously upon his +repose as he sat, in a half-dreaming state, on the soft mat that +covered the floor, and 'drank smoke' from his long, clay pipe. + +With vehement gestures, Coubitant explained to the Sachem the cause of +his sudden interruption, and implored him to listen to the counsel of +his most faithful friend and subject, and to lose no time in banishing +from his favor and presence one who showed himself unworthy of all the +benefits he had heaped upon him, and who employed the life that had +been so unduly spared in perverting the mind of his benefactor's only +child. In vain his eloquence--in vain his wrath. Tisquantum regarded +him calmly until he had exhausted his torrent of passionate +expostulations, and then, quietly removing the pipe from his lips, he +replied, with his and decision-- + +'My brother is angry. His zeal for the honor of Mahneto has made him +forget his respect for the Sachem and the Sachem's adopted son. The +life of the white stranger was spared that he might bring joy to the +mournful eyes of Oriana. He has done so. My daughter smiles again, and +it is well. Coubitant may go.' + +He then resumed his pipe, and, closing his eyes again, gave himself up +to the drowsy contemplations, which the entrance of Coubitant had +interrupted; and the disappointed warrior retired with a scowl on his +dark brow, and aggravated malice in his still darker heart. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +'They proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the Lord' +JER. IX, 3. + +The indifference of Tisquantum on the subject of the religious opinions +that his daughter might imbibe from her Christian companion, may seem +strange. But the Sachem, though a heathen, was, in fact, no fanatic. He +believed--or professed to believe--that he was himself in the +possession of supernatural powers; and so long as these pretensions +were acknowledged, and he continued to enjoy the confidence and +veneration of his ignorant countrymen, he was perfectly satisfied. +Henrich had also, on their first acquaintance, distinctly professed his +faith in the existence and the power of the Great Mahneto, or _Master +of Life;_ and this was all the _religion_--properly so called--of which +Tisquantum had any idea. He did not, therefore, give himself any +concern as to the other objects of his adopted son's belief or worship; +neither did he care to prevent Oriana from listening to the doctrines +of the pale-face, so long as she continued obedient and gentle, and +neglected none of the duties of an Indian squaw. + +The feelings of Coubitant were different. Not only did he burn with an +eager desire to deprive his rival of the Sachem's love and esteem, but +he also entertained a strong abhorrence of the religion of the white +men, as he had seen it practiced, and knew it was disseminated, by the +Spanish settlers in Mexico, whither he had traveled in his early youth. +In his eyes, these Christians were base idolaters; for such was the +impression made on him by the images and crucifixes that he beheld, and +the marks of veneration that were paid to these idols of wood and +stone, by the superstitious and degenerate Spaniards of that district. +When, therefore, he heard Henrich endeavoring to inculcate the worship +of Jesus, as the Son of God, on Oriana and Jyanough, he not unnaturally +regarded him as a believer in all the deities whose images he had seen +associated with that of Jesus, and receiving equal homage. + +Such, unhappily, has too often been the impression made on the minds of +the heathen, in every quarter of the globe, by the vain and +superstitious observances of the Roman Church, when her ministers have +proposed to their acceptance so corrupt a form of Christianity, instead +of the pure and holy doctrines of unadulterated Scripture. To those +nations already given over to idolatry it has appeared that their +civilized teachers were only offering them another kind of image- +worship; but to the Indians of North America--who make use of no images +of their deity, and generally acknowledge but one Great Spirit of +universal power and beneficence, and one Spirit of evil--the carved and +painted figures of the Spanish invaders naturally gave the idea of a +multitude of gods; and, in some of them, excited unbounded indignation +and hatred. This was the case with Coubitant; who, though totally +uninfluenced by any love or fear of the Great Mahneto whom he professed +to worship, was yet--like many other bigots of various countries and +creeds--keenly jealous of any innovations in the religion of his +nation; and ready to oppose, and even to exterminate, all who attempted +to subvert it. + +He now regarded Henrich as such an aggressor on the national faith and +practice; and he consequently hated him with a redoubled hatred, and +ceased not to plot in secret his ultimate destruction. + +Meanwhile, his intended victim was passing his time in considerable +enjoyment, and with a sense of perfect security, among the Crees. This +tribe was at that time remarkable for hospitality, and likewise for +courage and integrity. These good qualities have sadly degenerated +since their intercourse with Europeans has enabled them to gratify the +passion of all savages for intoxicating liquors: but at the period of +which we are speaking, they were a singularly fine race of Indians, and +their renown as warriors enabled them to extend protection to such of +the neighboring tribes as entered into alliance with them. Disease had, +indeed, recently reduced their numbers in many of the villages that +were situated in the dense forest, and were thus deprived of a free +circulation of air; and the wigwams at which Tisquantum's party had +arrived were among those that had suffered most severely. Several of +the lodges had been altogether deserted, in consequence of the death of +the proprietors; in which case the Indians frequently strip off the +thick mats which form the outer covering of the wigwam, and leave the +bare poles a perishing monument of desolation! This is only done when +the head of the family dies. The property of which he has not +otherwise disposed during his life, is then buried with him; and his +friends continue, for a long period, to revisit the grave, and make +offerings of food, arms, and cooking utensils. These articles are +deemed sacred to the spirit of the departed, and no Indian would think +of taking them away unless he replaced them with something of equal +value. This is permitted; and the custom must often afford relief to +the hungry traveler through the forests, who comes unexpectedly upon +the burial grounds of some of his race, and finds the graves amply +supplied with maize and tobacco--more useful to the living than to the +dead. + +Many such graves, besides that of Uncas, were to be seen in the +vicinity of the Cree village: and it seemed likely that their numbers +would be still augmented; for the disease which had already proved so +fatal, had not left the wigwams, although its violence had considerably +abated. Old Terah, the uncle of Jyanough, and the chief of the present +Sachem's council, lay dangerously ill; and all the charms, and all the +barbarous remedies usually resorted to in such cases, had been employed +by the Cree Powows in vain. Terah was one of the Pinces, or Pnieses--a +dignity conferred only on men of approved courage and wisdom--and many +a successful incursion had he led into the great plains of +Saskatchawan, where dwelt the Stone Indians, with whom the Crees had +long been at enmity--and many a prisoner had he brought back to his +village, and slain as an offering to Maatche-Mahneto, while he hung the +scalp that he had torn from the quivering victim on the walls of his +lodge, as its proudest ornament. + +Terah was also as wise in counsel as he was valiant in war; and, +although his age prevented his assuming the office of Sachem, or ruler +of the village,[*] on the death of his brother, yet his wisdom and +experience gave him great influence with Chingook, the present Chief, +and caused his life to be regarded as of peculiar value by the whole +community. + +[Footnote: Almost every considerable village has its Sachem, or Chief, +who is subordinate to the great Sachem or Sagamore, of the whole +tribe.] + +The arrival of so celebrated a Powow as Tisquantum during a time of +sickness-and especially when the death of so important a personage as +Terah was apprehended--was hailed with great joy by the whole village; +and presents of food, clothing, and arms poured into the lodge that +formed his temporary abode, from such of the Crees as desired to secure +his medical and supernatural aid for the relief of their suffering +relatives. All day he was occupied in visiting the wigwams of the sick, +and employing charms or incantations to drive away the evil spirits +from his patients; sometimes also administering violent emetics, and +other drugs from his _obee-bag,_ or medicine-pouch; which contained a +multitude of heterogeneous articles, such as herbs, bones, shells, +serpents' teeth, and pebbles--all necessary to the arts and practices +of a Powow. On the venerable Terah his skill and patience were +principally exercised, and many were the torments that he inflicted on +the dying old savage, and which were borne by the Pince with all the +calm endurance that became his dignity and reputation. Terah, like all +others of his exalted rank, had attained to the honor of being a Pince +by serving a hard apprenticeship to suffering and privation in his +early youth. He had passed through the ordeal triumphantly--and he who +had run barefoot through sharp and tearing thorns--who had endured to +have his shins beaten with a hard and heavy mallet, and his flesh +burned with red hot spears--and had not even betrayed a sense of pain-- +in order to attain the rank of a great counselor, and the privilege of +attending the Sachem as one of his guard of honor--did not shrink when +his barbarous physician burned a blister on his chest with red-hot +ashes, and scarified the horny soles of his feet till the blood flowed +plentifully. Those, and strong emetic herbs, which he forced his +patient to repeat until he fainted away, constituted the medical +treatment of Tisquantum: but much greater benefit was expected--and, +such is the power of imagination in these ignorant savages, that it was +often attained--from the practice of his charms and conjurations. + +As soon as Tisquantum saw his noble patient reduced to a state of +unconsciousness by his physical treatment, he commenced a course of +spiritual incantations. In a fierce and unnatural voice, he called on +Hobbamock, or Satan, who he declared was visible to him in one of his +many forms of an eagle, a deer, a fawn, and sometimes a gigantic human +being. He then adjured the evil spirit, and commanded him to remove the +disease; promising, in return, to offer to him skins, and hatchets, and +even the scalps of his foes. If any signs of returning consciousness +appeared, the Powow speedily banished them by a repetition of his wild +howling, which he continued for hours, at the same time throwing +himself about with wild and unnatural gestures, and striking his hands +violently on his legs, until he became as much exhausted as his unlucky +patient. + +It was during one of these awful exhibitions of heathen cruelty and +superstition, that Henrich one evening drew nigh to the lodge of Terah, +accompanied by Oriana; and paused at the open entrance, in amazement +and horror at the scene he beheld. The dying man lay stretched on the +ground, in the center of the outer room of the hut, where he had been +placed that he might enjoy the full benefit of the great Powow's skill. +His eyes were closed and his gray hairs hung matted end disordered on +the ground, while his emaciated features appeared to be fixed in death. +A frightful wound was on his breast, and blood was trickling from his +lacerated feet; while the involuntary contractions of his limbs alone +denoted that he was yet alive, and sensible to suffering, which he was +now unable to make any effort to conceal. Around the walls of the hut +stood many of his relatives and dependants, whose countenances +expressed anxiety and hope, mingled with fear of the priestly Sachem. + +Among the bystanders, Henrich instantly recognized his friend Jyanough; +and he shuddered to see the ingenious and inquiring youth assisting at +such satanic rites. But the figure that chiefly attracted his +attention, and to which his eyes became riveted, was that of +Tisquantum--the father of his gentle and beloved Oriana! There stood +the Sachem: he whose countenance he had seldom seen disturbed from his +usual expression of gravity and composure, and whose dignity of manner +had hitherto always commanded his respect. There he now stood--a victim +to satanic influence! His tall figure was dilated to its utmost height +by excitement and violent muscular effort, as he stood by the side of +the sick man. His eyes were fixed with a fearful and unmeaning glare on +the darkest corner of the hut, and seemed to be starting from their +sockets; while his hands, stiff and motionless, were extended over the +body of Terah, as if to guard him from the assault of some demons +visible to the conjuror alone. In this statue-like posture he remained +for some moments, while his breast heaved convulsively, and foam +gathered on his parted lips. Then, suddenly, he uttered a yell--so loud +and so unearthly that Henrich started with surprise and terror: and +Oriana caught his hand, and tried to draw him away from a scene that +now filled her soul with shame and sorrow. + +But Henrich did not move: he did not heed the beseeching voice, and the +gentle violence of his companion, whose wishes were generally commands +to her white brother. + +That yell had recalled the patient to partial consciousness, and he +rolled his blood-shot eyes around him, as if endeavoring to collect his +wandering senses; and then his haggard countenance again resumed the +expression of imperturbable composure and firm endurance that an Indian +warrior thinks it a disgrace to lose, even in the extremity of +suffering. Then Tisquantum sank on one knee beside him, and burst forth +into a passionate address to his deities--the powers of good and evil-- +whom he regarded as almost equally mighty to decide the fate of the +patient. + +'O, Mahneto!' he exclaimed, in a hoarse and howling voice; 'O, +Richtan-Mahneto,[1] who created the first man and woman out of a stone, +and placed them in these forests to be the parents of thy red children; +is it thy will that Terah shall leave his brethren to mourn his +departed goodness and wisdom, and go on that long and toilsome journey +that leads to the hunting-grounds of our forefathers? Surely when his +spirit _knocks at the door,_ it will be opened to him, and the warriors +of our tribe will welcome him, while his foes will be driven away with +the awful sentence, _Quachet!_[2] Yes, Terah, the wise in counsel, and +the fearless in war, shall surely dwell in the fields of happiness, and +again strike the prey with the renewed strength and skill of his youth. +But not yet, Mahneto! O, not yet!...I see Hobbamock lurking there in the +gloom! I see his fiery eagle eyes, and I hear the flap of his heavy +wing; and I know that he hovers here to suck the blood of Terah, with +all his murderous Weettakos around him![3] But Tisquantum's charms are +too strong for him: he cannot approach the sick man now. Ha! Maatche- +Mahneto!' he cried--and again he fixed his glaring eyes on the dark +space in the far corner of the hut, from which the spectators had +shrunk trembling away--' Ha! spirit of evil! I behold thee--and I defy +thee! Terah is not thine; and my power has compelled thee to send the +_Ashkook,_[4] with his healing tongue, to lick my brother's wounds; and +_Wobsacuck,_ with eagle beak, to devour the venom that clogs his veins, +and makes his breath come short and thick. I feel them on my shoulders, +as they sit there, and stretch out their necks to do my bidding! Terah +shall live!' + +[Footnote 1: _'Richtan,'_ supposed to signify old--'Ancient of Days'-- +the Maker] + +[Footnote 2: _Quachet,_ begone, or _march off;_ supposed to be the +sentence of condemnation uttered against the souls of the wicked, when +they present themselves, and _'knock at the door'_ that leads to the +Indian Paradise.] + +[Footnote 3: _Weettako,_ a kind of vampire or devil, into which the +Crees and other tribes suppose all who have ever fed on human flesh to +be transformed after death.] + +[Footnote 4: _Ashkooke,_ a demon in the form of a snake, who, with his +brother-fiend, _Wobsacuck,_ are supposed to be sent by Hobbamock to +heal the sick, when forced, by the potent spells of the great Powow, to +work good instead of evil.] + +Tisquantum closed his wild oration with another loud and prolonged +yell, to which all the spectators, who crowded the sides of the hut, +replied by a short and yelping cry: and the Powow sank on the ground by +the side of his patient, faint and exhausted by the violent and +sustained exertions to which both his mind and body had been subjected +for several hours without intermission. The attendants, among whom +Jyanough was foremost, hastened to his assistance, and administered to +him some needful refreshment; and Henrich turned away, grieved and +disgusted, and fall of sympathy for his once heathen companion, who, he +now remembered, was standing by his side, and witnessing the wild and +degrading extravagances of a father whom she both loved and respected. + +He looked into her deep expressive eyes, and saw that they were filled +with tears of humiliation and mental agony. How could it be otherwise? +How could she--who had learned to love a God of mercy, and to believe +in a meek and lowly Savior--bear to see her father thus the slave of +Satan, and the minister of cruel and heathen superstition? Especially, +how could she bear that so degrading a scene should he witnessed by him +from whom she had derived all she knew of the gospel of joy and peace, +and whose esteem was more precious to her than the opinion of all the +world beside? + +Silently she walked by Henrich's side for neither of them were inclined +to speak the thoughts that filled their minds. And silently they would +have proceeded to Oriana's dwelling, where her white brother proposed +to leave her with her attendants, and then to return and seek his +deluded friend Jyanough; but ere they reached Tisquantum's lodge, they +were overtaken by the Indian youth. + +Jyanough had been too much engrossed by the exciting scene that took +place in Terah's dwelling--and too eagerly watching for some favorable +appearances that might encourage him to hope for the life of his only +surviving relative--to observe that Henrich was also a spectator of +these heathen rites, until all was concluded, and the patient and his +physician were alike overpowered by heat and exhaustion. Then he had +glanced towards the door, and had seen the saddened expression that +clouded the open features of the Christian youth, and the look of +anguish that Oriana cast on her degraded father; and then all the +truths that Henrich had endeavored so simply and so patiently to +impress upon his mind--all the arguments that his white friend had +employed to win him from heathen darkness, and guide him into Divine +truth--rushed at once upon his memory. He felt ashamed of the remaining +superstition that had led him to take part in such vain ceremonies, and +to deem that they could conduce to his uncle's recovery, after he had +heard, and even assented to, the holy belief of the Christians in the +universal power of Almighty God, and the victory of His Son Jesus +Christ over the devil and all his angels. And he was grieved, also, +that his kind and anxious young teacher should regard him as an +ungrateful, and, possibly, even as a deceitful hearer. + +He, therefore, hastened after Henrich and Oriana, and overtook them as +they approached the lodge appropriated to the Nausett Sachem. + +'Are you angry with your red brother?' he inquired earnestly, as he +laid his hand on Henrich's shoulder, and looked sadly in his face. 'Do +you think that Jyanough is a deceiver, and that he has listened to the +teaching of the white stranger only to gain his friendship, and then to +forsake him, and betray him, and return to the religion of his own +people? O, no! Jyanough's heart is open and clear before the eyes of +his friend; and he will gladly listen again to all the good things that +Henrich tells him, for his heart says that they are true. But his soul +is still very dark; and when he saw Terah ready to die, and felt that, +when he was gone, there would be none to love him among all his tribe, +the cloud grew thicker and thicker; and Maatche-Mahneto seemed to look +out of the midst of the deep gloom with wrathful eyes of fire, and +beckon him to follow to Terah's lodge, and join in the worship which +the great Powow was about to offer. Will your Mahneto forgive him, +Henrich? + +The heart of the Christian boy was penetrated with joy and thankfulness +at this frank confession of the young Indian. He clearly saw that the +struggle--the universal and enduring struggle--between the powers of +good and evil, had already commenced in the soul of the red man; and he +had full confidence in the blessed declaration, that 'He who hath begun +a good work of grace in the immortal spirit, will surely perfect it +unto the end.' Therefore, he replied without hesitation, 'He will +certainly forgive you, Jyanough; and if you desire His help to make +your soul light, and strong, and joyful, and ask for that help in +sincerity and truth, He will most assuredly give it to you. Let us +enter the lodge, and there unite our prayers to the Great Spirit, who +is the God and Father of all his creatures, that He will graciously +shed His light and His truth into all our hearts; and, especially, that +He will remove all the doubts and fears that still lie sadly and +heavily on our brother's spirit.' + +The three young friends did so: and in the deserted chamber of the +great heathen Powow, Tisquantum, the voice of Christian supplication +ascended to the throne of a prayer-answering God. Could it ascend +unheeded? or fail to bring down, in His own good time, an answer of +peace? + + + +CHAPTER IX + +'The dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.' +PSA. lxxiv, 20 + +The night that followed this conversation, Jyanough passed in Terah's +lodge, and he nursed his suffering relative with gentle patience. But +he saw no signs of recovery, although the women and the Cree Powows +assured him that the fatal disease was driven away by Tisquantum's +powerful incantations, and that, when the sun rose, he would see the +spirit of Terah revive. So had the conjuror declared; and so these +misguided heathens believed. But when the first beams of opening day +entered the door of the lodge, which was set open to receive them, and +fell on the dark and pallid features of the aged sufferer, Jyanough +could no longer be deceived into hope. He saw that his revered uncle +was dying, and he hastened to inform Henrich of the fact, and to +entreat him to return with him to Terah's wigwam, and to prey to the +Great Spirit in his behalf. + +Henrich readily complied: and he, too, was convinced, by the first +glance at the dying Indian, that no human aid, however skilful, could +long retain that once powerful spirit in its worn and wasted tenement +of clay. He knelt down by the side of Terah's couch, and Jyanough knelt +with him; and, regardless of the wondering gaze of the ignorant +attendants, he offered up a short and simple prayer to God for the +soul of the departing warrior. + +The Cree Powows who had watched the sick man during the night, had left +the lodge as soon as daylight set in, to collect materials for a great +burnt offering they deigned to make, as a last resource, in front of +the Pince's dwelling. As Henrich and Jyanough rose from their knees, +the heathen priest entered, bearing strings of wampum, articles of +furniture, of clothing, food, tobacco, and everything of any value that +they had been able to obtain from the friends of Terah. All these +various articles were displayed before the dim eyes of the invalid, for +whose benefit they were to be reduced to a heap of useless ashes; and a +faint smile of satisfaction passed over Terah's countenance: but he +spoke not. Jyanough then bent down, and pressed his lips to the cold +brow of his almost unconscious uncle, and hurried with Henrich from the +lodge; for he could not bear again to witness any repetition of the +heathen ceremonies that had caused him so much shame the preceding day: +neither could he endure to see his last relative leave the world, +surrounded by a spiritual darkness which it was not in his power to +dispel. + +The young friends took their way into the forest, that they might be +beyond the sight and the sound of those rites that were about to be +performed for the recovery of one who had already begun to travel +through 'the valley of the shadow of death.' They had not, however, +gone far in a westerly direction, before they chanced their intention, +and resolved to return to the village. The cause of this change of +purpose was their meeting with a band of Cree warriors, who had gone +out, some weeks previously, on an expedition against a settlement of +their enemies, the Stone Indians; and were now returning from the +plains of the Saskatchawan, laden with spoils. Many of the Crees bore +scalps suspended from their belts, as bloody trophies of victory; and +all had arms, and skins, and ornaments that they had carried away from +the pillaged wigwams of their foes. + +Henrich could not help gazing with admiration at the party of warriors +as they approached. The greater part of them were mounted on beautiful +and spirited horses of the wild breed of the western prairies, which +they rode with an ease and grace that astonished the young Englishman. +They wore no covering on their heads, and their black hair was cut +short, except one long scalp-lock hanging behind; so that their fine +countenances, which were rather of the Roman cast, were fully exposed +to view. Their dress consisted of a large blanket, wrapped gracefully +round the waist, and confined by a belt, so as to leave the bust and +arms bare; and so perfect and muscular were their figures, that they +had the appearance of noble bronze statues. Their native weapons, +consisting of spears and bows, with highly ornamented quivers suspended +from their shoulders, and battle-axes hung to their belts, added much +to their martial and picturesque effect. Behind the horsemen followed +a band on foot, who carried the stolen treasures of the wasted village; +and Henrich looked with curiosity at the various and beautifully +decorated articles of dress, and hunting equipments, that had formed +the pride and the wealth of the defeated Stone Indians. + +But the part of the spoil that interested and distressed both Henrich +and his companion more than all the rest, was a young Indian warrior, +who, with his wife and her infant, had been brought away as prisoners +to add to the triumph, and, probably, to glut the vengeance, of their +conquerors. There was an unextinguished fire in the eye of the captive, +and an expression of fearless indignation in the proud bearing with +which he strode by the side of his captors, that clearly told how +bravely he would sell his life but for the cords that tightly bound his +wrists behind him, and were held by a powerful Cree on each side. +Behind him walked his wife, with downcast features and faltering steps, +and at her back hung her little infant, suspended in a bag or pouch of +deer skin, half filled with the soft bog-moss, so much used by Indian +squaws to form the bed--and, indeed, the only covering--of their +children during the first year of their existence. The eyes of the +captive young mother were fixed tearfully on the majestic form of her +husband, who was too proud--perhaps, also, too sad--to turn and meet +her gaze, while the eyes of his foes were upon him to detect his +slightest weakness. Even the low wailing cry of her child was unheeded +by this broken hearted wife in that sad hour; for she well knew the +customs of Indian warfare, and she had no hope for the life of her +warrior, even if her own should be spared. + +Henrich gazed on the little group in pity; for be instinctively read +their story, and their coming fate, in their countenances, and in the +cruel glances that fell on them from their guards. He looked at +Jyanough; and in his expressive features he saw a fell confirmation of +his worst fears. + +'They will sacrifice them to Maatche-Mahneto in the vain hope of +lengthening Terah's life,' he softly whispered in Henrich's ear. 'Let +us go back and seek Oriana. Perhaps, for her sake, Tisquantum may ask +the lives of the squaw and her young child; and, as Chingook's honored +guest, they would be granted to him; but there is no hope for the +warrior. His blood will surely be shed to appease Maatche-Mahneto, and +to atone for the death of several of the Cree braves who have fallen +this year by the hands of the Stone tribe.' + +Hastily Henrich turned; and, followed by Jyanough, took a by-path well +known to them, and entered the village before the arrival of the +warriors and their unhappy prisoners. A brief explanation was +sufficient to enlist all the kindly feelings, and all the Christian +spirit, of Oriana in favor of their project; and she lost no time in +seeking her father, who had again repaired to Terah's hut, to +superintend the costly sacrifice that was being offered in his behalf. +She found him exulting in a partial improvement in his patient, whose +senses had again returned with a brief and deceitful brilliance, and +attributing what he called the aged Pince's recovery to the potency of +his own spells. + +This was no time for Oriana to argue with the elated Powow on the +fallacy of his pretensions. She therefore listened patiently to his +boastings; and then, with much feeling and natural eloquence, told him +the cause of her interrupting him at such a moment, and besought him to +exert all his great influence with the Crees, to induce them to spare +the lives of the Stone captives. + +Tisquantum listened with attention to her story and her petition, for +he was always gentle to Oriana; but he gave her little hope of that +fell success which her warm young heart desired, and anticipated. + +'My child,' he said, 'I will do what you ask, so far as to request that +the woman and child may be placed at your disposal. But the warrior's +life I cannot demand, for it would be an insult to the brave Crees to +suppose that they would suffer an enemy to escape, and tell his tribe +that they were woman-hearted. No, he must die; and, if the soul of his +ancestors dwells in him, he will exult in the opportunity of showing +how even a Stone Indian can meet death.' + +Oriana was repulsed, but not defeated, by this reply. +'Nay, my father,' she again began, 'either save all, or let all perish. +Do not take the brave young warrior from his wife and child, and leave +them in poverty and sorrow; but plead for mercy to be shown to him +also--and so may mercy be shown to his conquerors, and to you, his +deliverer, when--' + +'Peace, child,' interrupted the Sachem, with more asperity than he +usually showed to Oriana. 'These are the notions you have learned from +your white brother, and I desire not to hear them. Tisquantum knows his +duty. I will demand the lives of the woman and child of whom you speak; +but the warrior must abide his fate. And think you that he would not +scorn to live when honor is gone I Go'--he added more gently, as he saw +the sorrow that dimmed her eye--'go, and tell Jyanough to meet me at +the Sachem's lodge. Terah may yet be saved--this victim comes at s +happy moment, and surely Mahneto demands his life as at offering for +that of the venerable Pince.' + +Oriana shuddered at what she saw to be her father's meaning. Once she +would have felt as he did and have believed that their god could be +propitiated by blood and agony. But now she knew that all such cruel +sacrifices were worse than vain; and deeply she regretted her own +inability to bring her countrymen, and especially her own beloved +father, to a knowledge of the Gospel of mercy and peace; and thus save +them from imbruing their hands in the blood of their fellow men, and +thinking that they did good service to the Great Spirit. + +She hurried back to her companions, and, weeping, told them of her +partial success. It was all, and more than all, that Jyanough expected; +and he immediately went to meet Tisquantum at the lodge of the Cree +Sachem, Chingook, where he found the war party and their prisoners +assembled. After a few words to Jyanough, Tisquantum commenced a long +speech to his brother Sachem, in which he dilated on the friendship +that subsisted between them, and the joy that he had felt in exercising +his skill for the benefit of the brave and hospitable Crees. He then +spoke of Terah's perilous condition, and his fears that even his powers +had been baffled by the spirit of evil; and that the Pince would yet be +taken from them, unless some offering could be found more precious than +all that were now piled before his dwelling, and only waited for the +auspicious moment to be wrapped inflame, us a sacrifice to the offended +deity who had brought the pestilence. 'And have we not such an offering +here?' he added, pointing to the captive warrior, who stood, with head +erect, awaiting the sentence that he knew would be pronounced. 'Have we +not here a victim, sent by Mahneto himself, at the very moment when +Terah's life seems hanging on a breath? Lead him, then, to the sacred +pile; and as his soul goes forth, the soul of Terah shall revive. + +This speech was received with acclamations by the Crees; and already +the warriors were hurrying away their captive, while his wife followed, +as if mechanically, to share her husband's fate. Bat here Tisquantum +interposed, and, in his daughter's name, requested the life of the +woman and her child. His request was readily granted by Chingook; for +of what value was a squaw in the eyes of these Indian braves? + +The daughter of our friend and benefactor shall be denied nothing that +she asks,' replied the Cree Chief. 'Take the woman to Oriana's lodge, +and let her be her slave.' + +Jyanough approached to lead away the unhappy woman but she turned on +him a look of despairing misery, and, laying her band on her husband's +arm, said quickly, 'I will see my Lincoya die, and then I will follow +you where you will, for Mailah has no home.' + +Jyanough did not oppose her, for his heart was touched by her sorrow +and her fortitude; and the captive warrior turned his head, and bent on +her sad countenance one look of tenderness and approbation, that told +how deeply he was sensible of her devotion. + +He did not speak--perchance he could not trust his voice in that trying +moment--but he followed his guards, and his eye was again steadfast, +and his step was firm. + +Henrich and Oriana waited anxiously for the return of Jyanough: but he +came not; and they almost feared that Tisquantum's request had been too +coldly urged to prove successful. It was a calm autumnal day; and as +the sun rose high in the heavens, his beams were shrouded by heavy +thunder clouds, while a low and distant murmur foretold an approaching +storm, and added to the gloom that weighed heavily on Oriana's spirit. +All the sin and degradation of the faith of her countrymen seemed to +strike upon her mind with a force hitherto unknown, and to bow her down +in shame and sadness. Even to Henrich--to her loved Christian friend +and teacher--she could not now utter her feelings; and when, to divert +her thoughts, and remove her from the village where he knew so cruel a +scene would soon be enacted, he led her towards the forest, she +followed him silently. They seated themselves beneath an overshadowing +tree; and, for some time, no sound broke the oppressive silence save +the soft rustling of the leaves, that seemed to be moved by the spirits +of the air-for no wind was stirring. + +Presently a shriek--one single cry of agony--arose from the village: +and all was still again. + +'It was a woman's voice!' exclaimed Oriana, in a tone of deep +suffering. 'O, Henrich! they murder the helpless and the innocent; and +my father consents to the deed!' + +Henrich did not reply; he had no comfort to offer. But they both gazed +towards the village, as if hoping to discover, through the impervious +wood that surrounded it, some indications of what was going on in those +'habitations of cruelty.' + +Soon a dense cloud of smoke rose high in the still at; and flames shot +up above the intervening trees. And then burst forth a mingled din of +wild unearthly sounds, that told of sated vengeance, and malignant joy, +and demoniac worship. Fiercely the war cry of the Crees rang in the +air, while above it rose the shrill sound of clashing spears and +tomahawks; and Oriana knew that the savages were dancing round a death- +fire, and calling on Mahneto to accept their bloody offering. + +But now the threatening storm broke suddenly on that dark place of the +earth; and it seemed to Oriana's troubled spirit that the wrath of +heaven was poured upon her benighted race. Peal after peal resounded in +quick succession, and reverberated from the distant kills; while +flashes of forked lightning followed one another rapidly, and +dispelled, for a moment, the unnatural darkness. The young Indian clung +trembling and terrified to her companion, and hid her face on his +shoulder, to shut out the fearful scene, while Henrich spoke to her +words of comfort and encouragement, and at length succeeded in calming +her agitation. The rain poured down in torrents but so dense was the +foliage that hung over Oriana and her companion that it could not +penetrate their place of refuge; and they remained awaiting its +cessation, and watching the curling smoke, that seemed to die away as +the falling torrent extinguished the fire. But as it disappeared, +another cloud arose near the same spot; and wider and fiercer flames +sprang up, that defied the rain, and continued to burn with more and +more strength. Whence could they arise? Surely the wigwams were on +fire! + +Henrich communicated this fear to Oriana, and they arose and hurried +together towards the village, where an appalling scene met their eyes. +In front of Terah's dwelling were the smoldering remains of the +sacrificial fire, on which--still upheld by the stake to which he had +been bound--the burnt and, blackened form of a man was visible; while +close by the ashes lay a woman, so motionless that she seemed as +totally deprived of life as the wretched victim himself, and a child +was reclining on her shoulder, whose faint wailing cry showed that it +yet lived and suffered. + +None heeded the melancholy group; for the warriors, whose wild songs +and frantic dances had been interrupted by the sudden violence of the +storm, were all now engaged in fruitless efforts to extinguish the +flames that were rapidly consuming the lodge of Terah. The lightning +had struck it, and ignited its roof of reeds; and so rapidly had the +whole dwelling become a prey to the dreadful element, that even the +removal of the dying sage had been despaired of. But Jyanough, who had +been a silent spectator of all the previous scene of cruelty, was not +to be daunted by the smoke and flame that burst through the entrance, +and drove from the chamber of death all the attendants of the sufferer. +Boldly he rushed into Terah's dwelling; and, just as Henrich and Oriana +entered the open space in front of it, they beheld him issuing forth, +blackened with smoke and scorched with fire, and bending beneath the +weight of his uncle's corpse. + +Yes; Terah was already a corpse! All the charms and incantations of +the Powows bad failed to banish the disease that was sent to summon him +away. All the treasure that had been destroyed, and the precious life- +blood that had been spilled to propitiate false deities, could not for +one moment arrest the fiat of the true 'Master of life,' or detain the +spirit which was recalled by 'Him who gave it' That spirit had passed +away amidst the noise of the tempest; and when Henrich sprang forward, +and assisted his friend to lay the body gently on the earth, they saw +that the spark of life had fled! + +All further attempts at extinguishing the fire were now abandoned; and +the Crees gathered round their departed friend to condole with +Jyanough, who was his nearest relative, and to commence that dismal +howling by which they express their grief on such occasions. All the +property of the dead man was already consumed; but the best mats and +skins that Jyanough's wigwam contained were brought to wrap the corpse +in; and when the site of his former dwelling could be cleared of ashes +and rubbish, a grave was speedily dug in the center of it, and the, +body laid by the simple sepulchre, around which the friends of the +venerated Pince seated themselves, and howled, and wept, and detailed +the virtues and the wisdom of the dead. + +Jyanough was expected to act the part of chief mourner in these +ceremonies; and the real affection he had entertained for his uncle +induced him to comply, and to remain all that day, and all the +following night, at the grate. But he refused to cover his face with +soot--as is customary on such occasions of domestic sorrow--or to join +the Powows in their frantic cries and exorcisms, to drive off the +Weettakos from sucking the dead man's blood. The presence of Henrich +seemed to annoy and irritate these priests of Satan; and he was glad to +retire from a scene so repugnant to his better feelings, and to return +to Oriana, by whose care and direction the unhappy Mailah and her +infant had been promptly removed from the place of death and +desolation, and conveyed to her own apartment in Tisquantum's lodge. + +Her kind efforts had restored the poor young widow to consciousness; +and she now sat on the floor, with her child on her knee, listening +with a calmness that almost seemed apathy, to the words of comfort that +were uttered by the gentle Squaw-Sachem. + +Mailah was very young. Scarcely sixteen summers had passed over her +head; and yet--such is Indian life--she had already been a wife and a +mother; and now, alas! she was a widow. Her grief had been passionate +at the last, and had burst forth in that one wild cry that had startled +Oriana's ear in the forest. But that was over now, and she seemed +resigned to her hard fate, and willing to endure it. Perhaps this was +for her infant's sake; and, perhaps, her sensibilities were blunted by +the life she had led, in common with the rest of her race and sex--a +life in which the best feelings and sympathies of our nature are almost +unknown. It was not until Oriana led her to speak of her past life, and +the home of her youth--now desolate and in ruins--that tears of natural +grief flowed from her eyes. Then she seemed roused to a full sense of +all she had lost, end broke out into mournful lamentations for her +murdered Lincoya, whose noble qualities and high lineage she eloquently +extolled; while she sadly contrasted her present lonely and desolate +position with her happiness as the squaw of so distinguished a warrior, +and so successful a hunter. + +Oriana said all she could to console her; and assured her of her +protection and friendship, and of a home in her lodge when they +returned to their own country, where she should live as her sister, and +bring up her little Lincoya to emulate his father's courage and +virtues: and, ere long, the simple young savage again grew calm, said +lifted up her soft black eyes, and smiled gratefully at her new friend +and benefactor. She said she bad no wish to return to her own tribe, +for all her family and friends had been destroyed in the recent +massacre; and the village where she had spent such happy days was +reduced to ashes. She, therefore, was well content to remain with the +youthful Squaw-Sachem, to whose intercession she knew she owed her own +life and that of her child, and in whose service she professed her +willingness to live and die. + +Her manner and appearance greatly interested Henrich, for they were +marked by much greater refinement than he had seen in any of the Indian +females, except Oriana. This was to be accounted for by her noble +birth; for in those days the Indian chieftains prided themselves on the +purity and nobility of their lineage; and no member of a Sachem's +family was allowed to marry one of an inferior race. A certain air of +dignity generally distinguished the privileged class, even among the +females; although their lives were not exempt from much of hardship and +servitude, and they were regarded as altogether the inferiors of their +lords and masters. + +To Oriana the arrival of the young mother and her playful child was a +source of much pleasure and comfort; for she had begun to feel the want +of female society, and the women who accompanied Tisquantum's party, +and assisted her in the domestic duties of the family, were no +companions to her. In Mailah she saw that she could find a friend; and +her kindness and sympathy soon attached the lonely young squaw to her, +and even restored her to cheerfulness and activity. It was only when +she visited the grave in which Henrich and Jyanough had laid the +murdered Lincoya, and decked it with flowers and green boughs, that the +widow seemed to feel the greatness of her affliction. Then she would +weep bitterly, and, with passionate gestures, lament her brave warrior. +But, at other times, she was fully occupied with the care of her little +Lincoya, or in assisting Oriana in the light household duties that +devolved upon her. And her sweet voice was often heard singing to the +child, which generally hung at her back, nestled in its soft bed of +moss. + + + +CHAPTER X. + +'The noble courser broke away. + And bounded o'er the plain? +The desert echoed to his tread, + As high he toss'd his graceful head, +And shook his flowing name. + +King of the Western deserts! Thou + Art still untam'd and free! +Ne'er shall that crest he forced to bow +Beneath the yoke of drudgery low: +But still in freedom shalt thou roam +The boundless fields that form thy home + Thy native Prairie!' ANON. + +The camp of the Indian hunters looked cheerful and picturesque, as +Oriana and Mailah approached it one evening on their return from a +ramble in the forest, where they had been to seek the wild fruits that +now abounded there, and paused at the skirt of the wood, to admire the +scene before them. The proposed hunting-ground had been reached the +preceding day, and already the temporary huts were completed, and the +tents of the Sachem pitched beneath a grove of lofty oaks and walnuts, +free from underwood, and on the border of a clear and rippling stream. +The Nausett and Pequodee hunters had purchased a considerable number of +horses from their Cree friends; and, therefore, the journey from +Chingook's village to the prairie, in which the encampment now stood, +had been performed with much ease and expedition; and the hardy animals +were so little fatigued by their march through the forest, that several +of the younger Indians had mounted again the morning after their +arrival, and gone off on a reconnoitering expedition, to discover what +prospect there was of finding much game in that neighborhood. + +Henrich--proud and happy in the possession of a spirited horse, with +which Tisquantum had presented him--insisted on being one of the party; +end he was accompanied, also, by Jyanough, who had left his native +village, now rendered sad and gloomy in his eyes, to follow his white +friend, and share his society at least for a time. This arrangement +gave Henrich the greatest satisfaction for the young Cree was the only +Indian of his own sex in whom he had been able to find a companion, or +who had peculiarly attached himself to the stranger: and the more he +saw of Jyanough the more he found in him to win his esteem and +friendship. + +Oriana and Mailah seated themselves on the luxuriant grass to rest; and +the young Indian mother removed her child from the strange cradle in +which she always carried it, and laid it on her knees; and then, after +gazing at it for a few moments, she began to sing a wild, sweet song, +to hush it to sleep. In a soft, monotonous cadence, she sang the sad +story of its little life--its birth--its captivity--and the death of +its murdered father, whom she exhorted it to imitate, and live to equal +in courage and in skill. And thus she sang: + +'Child of the slain Lincoya, sleep In peace! Thy mother wakes to guard +thee. But where is he whose smile once fell on thee as sunshine--thy +father, Lincoya? He is gone to the far distant hunting-grounds and +there, again, he casts the spear; and there he draws the unerring bow; +and there he quaffs the cup of immortality, with the spirits of the +good and brave. O Lincoya! thy voice was to me as a sweet song, or as +the summer breeze among the tall cypress trees--why didst thou leave +me? Thy step was swift and graceful as the roe upon the mountains--why +didst thou leave me? But I will follow thee, my warrior, The death-bird +has called me, and I come to thee! Thy child shall live; for Mahneto +has given him friends and a home. He shall grow up like thee, and +Oriana shill be o mother to him when I am gone: and the blue-eyed +stranger, whom she loves as I loved thee, shall guide his hand in war, +and in the chase. Lincoya! I come to thee!' + +Oriana listened to the mournful chant of the young widow with much +interest and sympathy; but when she spoke of her love for her white +brother, in terms so new and strange, she almost felt offended. She +did not, however, remark on her friend's allusion to herself, but +turned the discourse to Mailah's sad prophecy of her own early death, +which she knew could only be grounded on one of the wild superstitions +of her race. + +'Why do you talk of dying, Mailah?' she asked. 'You are young and +strong; and you may again be happy. Why do you say you will leave your +child, and go to the land of spirits?' + +'The death-bird[*] called to me last night, as I sat at the open door +of the hut, and looked at the moon, and thought how its soft light was +guiding my Lincoya on long, long, journey, to the everlasting hunting +fields of his fathers. Cheepai-Peethees called me twice from the tree +that hung over the lodge; but when I called to it again, and whistled +clearly, it made no answer. I heard it the day before the Crees +destroyed our village. It called my husband then, and would not answer +him; and in two days he was slain. The death-bird is never mistaken.' + +[Footnote: A small owl called _Cheepai-Peethees,_ or the _death-bird,_ +which the Indians attach the superstition here alluded to, and believe, +if it does not answer to their whistle, it denotes their speedy death.] + +'O, Mailah!' replied the young Christian squaw, 'say not so. Surely it +is not thus that the great Mahneto calls His children to come to Him. +Once I believed all these Indian stories; but now I know that they are +false and vain. I know that our lives, and all things that befall us, +are in the hands of the wise and good God--the Mahneto of the +Christians and of the red men too. And now I have no fear of any of +those strange sounds that used to make me sad, and terrify me with +thoughts of coming evil. I most teach you to believe as I do now: or, +rather, my _white brother_ shall teach you; for he knows the words of +Mahneto himself. See, Mailah! There my brother comes--let us go to meet +him.' + +A flush of joy mounted to the clear olive cheek of Oriana as she said +these words, and she sprang to her feet with the lightness of a fawn. +Mailah rose more gently, and replacing her infant in the pouch, slung +it over her shoulder, and followed her friend, softly whispering in her +ear, 'The white stranger is your Lincoya.' + +The Indian beauty smiled, and blushed more deeply: but she did not +bound across the glade to meet Henrich as she had purposed doing. She +drew her slender figure to its full height, and stood still; and as +Henrich galloped across the green meadow, and alighted, full of +animation, to tell her of his success in his first essay at hunting the +elk, he wondered why she greeted him so coldly. + +The fact was that Oriana was beginning to find that the blue-eyed +stranger possessed even more interest in her eyes than she had ever +felt for her own dark brother, Tekon; and when Mailah had openly +alluded to this sentiment--which she thought unknown to all but +herself--her natural and instinctive delicacy was wounded. But the +feeling quickly wore away; and as Henrich and Jyanough detailed the +exciting sports of the day, she forgot all but the pleasure of +listening to his voice, and gazing at his fine countenance and bright +sweet smile. She was happy; and she though not of the future. + +And Henrich was happy, too. He had now found companions whom he could +love; and the life of the Indian hunters was all that he had ever +pictured to himself of freedom and adventure. The beauty of the +scenery--the clearness of the sky--and the glow of health and +excitement that animated his whole frame when he joined in the chase +with his savage friends, were all so entirely different to the life he +had led in damp and foggy Holland, that it was no wonder he enjoyed it, +and that his youthful spirits enabled him to subdue the oft-recurring +grief that he felt at each remembrance of his family and his home. Hope +was strong in his breast; and he trusted once again to meet all whom he +loved so dearly: and the present was so bright and inspiring that he +could not desire to change it yet. + +For many weeks the camp remained pitched in the same lovely situation; +and the time of the hunters was fully occupied in the discovery and +pursuit of the various wild animals that abounded in the uncultivated, +but richly verdant, prairie. Of these, the elk and the buffalo were the +most common victims to the spears and arrows of the Indians; and every +evening large quantities of meat were brought into the camp, and given +to the care of the squaws to dry and cure for winter consumption. These +larger animals were too heavy to be transported whole to the huts; end +therefore the hunters always skinned them and cut off the flesh where +they fell, and left the carcasses to the wolves and the birds of prey +that were ever ready at hand. But the smaller animals, and the wild +turkeys and other birds, that were killed in great numbers, were +brought in and thrown down by the blazing camp fires, that lighted up +the glade every night, and were speedily prepared and cooked for the +supper of the hungry hunters. + +As the leader of the expedition, Tisquantum was always presented with +the choicest of the game; and it was Oriana's task to superintend the +curing of the elk and buffalo meat, and the cooking that was required +for her father's lodge. In all these household cares she was greatly +assisted by Mailah, who was both active and skilful in all the duties +of an Indian squaw: and eager also to evince her gratitude for the +kindness and protection that were afforded to herself and her child by +the Nausett Chief, by doing all that she could to lighten Oriana's +labors. Time and occupation did not fail to have their usual effect on +one so young, and naturally so light-hearted as Mailah; and animated +cheerfulness took the place of the mournful expression that had +hitherto so frequently sat on her countenance. She did not forget +Lincoya; but she forgot the call of the death-bird: and when she sang +her child to sleep, it was no longer with the same sad cadence as at +first. Sorrow could not strike very deep, or abide very long in the +heart of a being so gay, and with a mind and feelings so utterly +uncultivated as those of the young Stone Indian. Neither could she live +so much in the society of the white stranger, and his two chosen +companions, without imbibing something of their intelligence, and +becoming sensible of their superiority of mind to all others with whom +she had ever associated: and she grew more and more attached to them, +and learnt to regret less the friends and companions among whom her +youth had been spent. + +She was a high-spirited and courageous creature: she would have +followed her husband unhesitatingly to death, had she been called on to +do so; or she would have died to save him, if her life could have +availed to purchase his. But now that he was gone, and she could not +even weep over his grave, and deck it with flowers and gifts, her +lively spirit rose again, and led her to seek amusement and occupation +in everything within her reach. + +The accounts which Henrich and Jyanough continually gave to her and +Oriana of their exciting adventures in the prairie, had aroused in both +of them a strong desire to be spectators of the sport; and they sought +and obtained Tisquantum's permission to accompany the hunters one +morning to the buffalo ground that lay nearest to the camp, and there +to witness the pursuit and capture of some of those magnificent +animals. + +A short ride through the forest brought the party out upon a vast and +glorious prairie, on which the rich autumnal sun was shining in all his +strength. On a rising ground that partially overlooked the plain, +Oriana and her companion took up their position, beneath the shade of a +grove of pines; and they watched the hunters as they examined the foot- +prints on the dewy turf, or followed the tracks of the elks and +buffaloes through the long prairie-grass, in order to make their +arrangements for enclosing the game and driving the animals into an +open and central situation. + +In the course of this examination, the recent tracks of a number of +wild horses were discovered, and fresh excitement was felt by the whole +party, for all were desirous to attempt the capture of these most +valuable animals; and they resolved, on this occasion, to make them the +chief objects of their pursuit. A ring was, therefore, formed by the +numerous company of horsemen, enclosing a very large space of the +beautiful park-like ground, which was studded with trees, either single +or in groups; while underneath them, in the distance, could be seen +many buffaloes lying down or grazing. The scene had the appearance of +a wide extent of finely-cultivated pasture, ornamented with timber of +every kind; end it forcibly recalled to Henrich's memory the fields and +the cattle that had surrounded his European home. But the size of the +trees, the extent of the natural meadow, and, above all, the wild +aspect of the red hunters with their spears, and bows, and tomahawks, +soon destroyed the fancied resemblance; while the eagerness and +excitement of the novel sport banished all the sad recollections to +which it had given rise. A desire also to distinguish himself in the +presence of Oriana, and show her that a pale-face could equal her own +dark race in courage and dexterity, inspired him with peculiar ardor; +and he galloped to the station appointed him by Tisquantum, with a +heart that bounded with pride and pleasure. + +The hunters were each provided with a long coil of grass rope, with a +noose at the end--now called a _lariat_ or _lasso_--used by the Indians +for casting over the horns of the elks and buffaloes, or the necks of +the wild horses, that they desired to capture. These they carried in +such a manner as to be ready to throw them off in an instant to their +whole length, if necessary; but much practice is required to do this +with precision, and Henrich did not yet hope for success in the +difficult art. His only chance of capturing a wild courser lay in his +skill in casting the spear, which might enable him to pierce the animal +through the upper part of the neck, and thus produce a temporary +insensibility, during which time he might be secured without any +permanent injury. This also requires great precision and address; but +Henrich had become an adept in the use of the light lance, and he felt +sanguine of success if the opportunity should he afforded him. + +The string of horsemen slowly and warily drew in towards the open spot +that was intended to be the scene of their operations, and of which +Oriana and Mailah had a good view from their safe and elevated +position; and soon a troop of wild horses were disturbed by one of the +hunters, and burst forth from a thick grove of trees that had +previously concealed them. They rushed madly over the plain, mingling +with the affrighted buffaloes and American deer, that had not hitherto +perceived the stealthy approach of their foes. At every point where +they attempted to escape from the enclosure they were met by a mounted +huntsman, and were driven back, with shouts and cries, towards the +center. All other game was now forgotten; and each hunter singled out, +for his own object of pursuit, the steed that pleased him best, and of +which he thought he could most easily gain possession. But one there +was--the leader of the troop--on which many eyes were fixed with eager +desire. He was a noble creature, of perfect form and proportions; and +as he pranced before his companions, with neck erect, and throwing his +head from side to side, as if to reconnoiter his assailants--while his +mane and tail floated in the breeze, and his glossy coal-black skin +gave back the rays of the morning sun--he looked like the King of the +Prairie, going forth in the pride of perfect freedom. + +The ring grew smaller and smaller; and every hand was steady, and every +eye was fixed for the moment of trial: and soon the headlong pursuit +commenced. At the first scattering of the wild troop, several of the +younger and more feeble horses were secured; and some of the hunters, +who despaired of nobler game, contented themselves with capturing or +slaying either elks or buffaloes. But the finest horses escaped the +first assault, and broke through the circling ring into the boundless +meadow, where they were followed at mad speed by the hunters, poising +their spears, and swinging their nooses round their heads, ready for a +cast. Henrich and Jyanough, and several others of the best mounted +Indians, had joined in the chase of the black leader, and dashed +furiously after him over the plain. The horse that the English boy rode +was strong and fleet, and the light weight of his rider enabled him to +keep with the foremost of the red hunters' steeds, and, at length, to +come almost alongside the noble courser. The spear was poised in +Henrich's hand, and was just about to fly, when suddenly his horse fell +to the ground, and rolled over on the turf, leaving his rider +prostrate, but uninjured, except being stunned for a moment by the +shock. + +When he opened his eyes, and sprang to his feet, he saw the king of the +desert galloping up a rising ground, over which he quickly disappeared, +still hotly pursued by Coubitant and several of the hunters. Jyanough +and the rest of his companions, had dismounted to assist their fallen +friend, and to form conjectures as to the probable cause of the unlucky +accident. For some time none could be perceived; but on carefully +examining his horse, Henrich at length discovered a small wound in the +hind leg, and found that the creature was lame. How, or by whom, the +wound had been given, he could not even surmise; for in the eagerness +of the chase he had not observed that Coubitant rode close behind him: +and that he had passed him at full speed the moment his horse stumbled +and fell. But Jyanough had remarked it; and from what he had already +seen of the wily Indian, he felt convinced that, prompted by malicious +jealousy, he had thus sought to deprive his rival of his hoped-for +success, and, perhaps, even to inflict on him some grievous personal +injury. + +The young Indian had, however, the good sense to conceal his suspicions +from Henrich at present, and to allow him to regard the whole affair as +accidental; but he determined to keep a strict watch over the conduct +of Coubitant for the future, and, if possible, to guard his friend from +all his evil machinations. + +Soon the Nausett and the rest of the hunters returned from their +fruitless chase, and reported the escape of the noble wild coursers and +when Jyanough heard the regrets that Coubitant expressed for the +accident that had befallen Henrich, and the condolences he offered on +his having thus missed the object which otherwise his skill most surely +have attained, he could scarcely contain his indignation at such +hypocrisy, or refrain from opening the eyes of the unsuspicious young +Englishman. + +They all returned together, at a slow pace, to the main body of the +hunters, for Henrich's horse was too lame to be mounted; and, as soon +as the adventure was made known, much sympathy and interest were shown +for the disappointment of the pale-face, in which Oriana's countenance +and manner showed she partook so warmly, that Coubitant turned aside to +conceal his anger and vexation, and heartily wished that his well-aimed +blow had not only deprived Henrich of the glory of that day's hunting, +but had also put a stop for ever to the success for which he both hated +and envied him. + +The sport continued, after this interruption, as actively as before, +but neither Henrich nor his horse could take any further share in it; +and he remained with Oriana and Mailah, enjoying the beauty of the +scenery, and gathering flowers and fruit for his companions, and for +the little. Lincoya, who, freed from the restraint of his moss-lined +bed, now rolled on the turf with Rodolph, and played with the gentle +and intelligent animal. + +How happy was Oriana that day! She was proud of the gallant bearing of +her 'white brother' among the red warriors of her own wild race, and +she had exulted at the praises which she had heard bestowed on his +address as a hunter, and his shill in horsemanship, by Tisquantum and +the elder Indians; and now, though she regretted his accident, and the +disappointment which it had caused him, she did not suspect that it had +been effected by the malice of a deadly enemy, and she rejoiced that it +had given her the pleasure of his society for the rest of the day--a +pleasure which she had but seldom enjoyed since their arrival in the +prairie. + +At the close of the day the game was collected, and, after due +preparation, was carried back to the camp, where the squaws had already +lighted the evening fires, and made every necessary arrangement for +cooking the expected supper. Around these fires the hunters sat in +groups, and discussed the events of the day, among which the accident +that had befallen the pale-face excited much interest and conjecture. +Jyanough listened to the probable and improbable causes that were +assigned by all the speakers, especially by Coubitant, to account for +so strange a circumstance; but he held his peace, for in his inmost +soul he was only more and more convinced that the subtle and dark- +brewed savage was the perpetrator of the malicious deed. + +In this suspicion, he was the more strongly confirmed by an event that +occurred a few days afterwards. It had been discovered that the stream +that ran so gently by the side of the encampment fell, at some distance +to the west, into a river of considerable size and depth, which then +ran on over a descending and rocky bed, forming alternately smooth +broad sheets of water and noisy broken falls, until it precipitated +itself over a sudden precipice of great depth, and fell dashing and +foaming into the basin which its continual fall had worn in the rocks +below. The distant roar of this cataract had frequently been heard in +the camp, when the wind came from that direction, and when the +stillness of the night--broken only by the occasional howl of wild +beasts seeking their prey, or the melancholy cry of the goat-sucker[*]-- +succeeded to the sounds of labor or idleness that generally kept the +temporary village alive by day. But, hitherto, no one had had leisure +or inclination to leave the excitement and novelty of hunting to +explore the river, or ascertain its capabilities for fishing. + +[Footnote: This mournful sound is believed by the Indians to be the +moaning of the departed spirits of women who have committed +infanticide; and who are, consequently, excluded by Mahneto from the +happy mountains which are the abode of the blessed.] + +Now, however, Coubitant brought in a report one evening that the great +stream abounded in fish; and proposed in to Henrich that, as he was for +the present unable to join in the more active business of the chase, he +should assist him in forming a light canoe, in which they could go out +and spear the game that lay beneath the clear blue water in the smooth +reaches of the river. + +To this proposal Henrich readily assented; for the sport was one of +which he had beard his Indian friends speak with great pleasure, and he +greatly wished to enjoy it. The canoe was immediately commenced; and as +it merely consisted of the trunk of a straight tulip-tree, hollowed out +by means of fire, and shaped with a hatchet, it was completed in a +couple of days. + +The light spears that were to pierce the fish were prepared, and long +slender lines of twisted grass were fastened to their shafts for the +purpose of drawing in their prey; and the following morning, when the +hunters were ready to set out on their usual expedition, Coubitant +desired Henrich to accompany him to the river side, where their little +bark lay ready to receive them. Why, on hearing this proposal, did +Jyanough still linger when all the rest of the hunters were mounted, +and his own steed was pawing the ground, impatient of his master's +delay? And why, after gazing a few moments at Coubitant's dark +countenance, did he declare his wish to join the fishing party, and +requested the Nausett to allow him to take a place in the canoe? Did he +see treachery in that eye of fire? Jyanough could lend his horse to the +pale-face, if he should happen to wish to hunt. + +His request was, however, negatived decidedly by Coubitant; who assured +him, with assumed courtesy, that he regretted the size of the boat was +too small to admit of its carrying a third sportsman with safety; but +invited him to join him in the same sport the following day, when, he +added--with that smile that Oriana hated--Jyanough could lend his horse +to the pale-face, if he should happen to wish to hunt. + +The young Cree was baffled. He would gladly have pre vented his friend +from accompanying Coubitant on the expedition; but be had no means of +doing so, or even of putting him on his guard against any possible evil +designs on the part of his companion. So he sprang upon his eager +horse, and galloped after the hunters, hoping that his fears and +suspicions were unfounded. + +Oriana and Mailah, attended by their faithful companion Rodolph, walked +down to the edge of the river, to see the fishermen embark in their +frail vessel; and, for some time, they watched the sport with +considerable interest, and admired the skill with which Coubitant +pierced and brought up several large fish. These he attracted towards +the canoe by means of some preparation that he scattered on the surface +of the water; and when the fish appeared within reach of his spear, he +darted it with unerring aim, and drew in his struggling victim with the +line that was attached to it. Henrich was also provided with weapons; +but as the sport was entirely new to him, he found it difficult to take +a steady aim, and his success was slight. + +Coubitant, however, had soon secured a considerable stock of fish, and +he rowed to the shore, and requested Oriana and her companion to convey +them to the Sachem's lodge; adding, in a careless tone, that it would +not be worth their while to return to the river, as he was going to a +reach at some distance down the stream, towards the head of the +cataract, where he expected to show Henrich excellent sport. + +The two young women returned to the camp; and, having committed the +fine fish to the care of the inferior squaws, they agreed to go again +towards the river, and take this opportunity of visiting the falls, +which they much desired to see, and near which they should probably +again meet the fishermen. They rambled through the wood, taking a +direct course towards the cataract, the sound of whose waters soon +became sufficiently audible to guide them in their unknown way. +Sometimes they came in sight of the river; and again they saw the +little canoe, either standing motionless on the smooth surface of the +water where the stream was wide and unbroken, or else passing, under +the skilful guidance of Coubitant, between the rocks that occasionally +disturbed its course, and formed foaming rapids, down which the little +bark darted with fearful velocity. + +The last reach of the broad river was as calm and smooth as a lake. It +seemed as if the collected mass of water, which had gathered there from +many a broken and troubled stream, and had struggled through many +windings and many difficulties, was reposing there, and gaining +strength for its last great leap over the dark precipice. As Oriana and +Mailah approached the verge of the scattered forest, and stood to gaze +on the magnificent scene before them, they perceived the canoe descend +a narrow rapid, and then take up a position below an elevated mass of +rock, where the water was perfectly still, and where the fishermen +could quietly pursue their occupation. They evidently did not perceive +their female friends, and the roar of the cataract was now so loud as +to prevent all possibility of their hearing their voices. For a short +time Oriana and her friend watched their movements, and saw several +fish captured; and then proceeded along the steep and rocky bank, in +order to obtain a still better view of the waterfall. + +It was a beautiful scene on which those two young Indians looked; and +they felt its power and grandeur, and stood silent and motionless. The +cataract was beneath them; and its roar came up like thunder from the +dark deep basin into which its weight of waters fell, and threw up a +cloud of foam and spray; and then it rushed away again, as if in +gladness at its safe descent and free course, until the shining stream +was hidden by the rocks and overhanging trees that marked its winding +course. The natural platform on which Oriana and Mailah stood, +commanded a view not only of the wild cataract and the lower stretch of +the river, but also of the bold steep rocks on the opposite side, and +the dark forest that stretched away to the distant mountains that +bounded the horizon. It likewise enabled them to perceive the small +canoe, lying motionless on the water, in the shadow of the projecting +rock. + +By and by the boat was rowed into the center of the river, and +Coubitant appeared to be seeking for a good fishing spot, as he pointed +in different directions, and once or twice darted his spear into the +water, and drew it out again without any success. Meanwhile, the canoe +floated slowly down the stream, but its motion gradually increased as +it approached the fall; and Oriana gazed at it, expecting every moment +that Coubitant, who had now taken the oar in his powerful grasp, would +turn its course, and either draw towards the shore; or else row back +again up the river, and land below the first rapids. To her surprise, +and somewhat to her anxiety, he still continued, however, to allow the +canoe to proceed; and she saw Henrich take a dart in his hand, and +stand erect as if to strike at something beneath the surface, to which +Coubitant pointed with the paddle. Another instant, and her white +brother was in the water, and struggling to catch the side of the +canoe! Breathlessly she gazed; and she distinctly saw the paddle which +Coubitant held, extended towards the uplifted hand of Henrich. Still he +did not grasp it! O! why was this? And then the boat, which bad already +floated perilously near to the fall, was Suddenly turned, and she +beheld Coubitant making violent efforts to overcome the force of the +current, and row to the opposite and nearest shore. He was alone! + +And where was Henrich? Where was the brave young stranger? Battling +desperately with the rapid stream which was carrying him onward to +destruction. He rose and sank, rose again, and the current bore him on +with resistless force. For a moment, Oriana clasped her hands over her +eyes, to shut out the dreadful sight; and then, as if inspired by a +gleam of supernatural hope, she darted forward, calling Rodolph, and +pointing to the stream. The intelligent creature had seen the form of +Henrich in the water, and only waited his mistress's command to risk +his life in the attempt to save him. But his sagacity taught him that +it was useless to enter the river above the fall; and he bounded down +the steep bank that led to its foot, and stood eager, and panting, on a +point of rock that overhung the basin. Oriana was quickly on the same +spot, followed by Mailah; but ere they reached it, the dog had plunged +into the foaming waters, and now appeared, upholding the inanimate form +of Henrich, and struggling fearfully to drag him from the whirlpool. + +O, it was a sickening sight! and Oriana's heart stood still in the +agony of suspense She could not aid her brother! She could not cope +with that mad whirl of water! But she leaped down the steep rocks, and +stood on the narrow ledge of shore below, to wait the moment for +action. At length--after what appeared almost a hopeless conflict with +the dashing waters--Rodolph appeared through the cloud of foam and +slowly and feebly swam towards the shore, still supporting the lifeless +burden that seemed almost to drag him beneath the surface. + +Now was the time for the Indian girl to prove her skill and courage. +Lightly she sprang into the water, and in a moment she was at Rodolph's +side; and, with one arm sustaining the drooping head of Henrich, while, +with the other, she dexterously swam back to the spot where Mailah +stood ready to assist her. With much difficulty they lifted the +senseless form of Henrich on the shore, and proceeded to adopt every +means in their power to restore suspended animation; while Rodolph--the +faithful devoted Rodolph--lay down panting and exhausted, but still +keeping a watchful eye on him whom he had so daringly rescued. Long the +two young Indians labored in silence, and almost in despair; for no +color returned to those pallid lips, and no warmth was perceptible in +the chilled and stiffened hands, that fell powerless by his side. +Still they persevered: and no tear, no lamentation, betrayed the +anguish that wrung the heart of Oriana, while she believed that all was +in vain. But her soul was lifted up in prayer to the One True God, in +whom she had been taught to put her trust by her beloved 'white +brother': and in His mercy was her only hope. + +Nor was that hope in vain. The warm beams of the mid-day sun fell +powerfully on that sheltered spot where the little group were gathered, +and, combined with the continued friction that Oriana and Mailah +employed, at length brought back the life-blood to Henrich's cheeks and +lips, and his anxious nurses had the joy of perceiving that he +breathed. A few minutes more, and he opened his deep blue eyes, and +looked wildly around him, and spoke some English words that Oriana +heard amid the din of the falling waters, and knew were of his home and +his kindred. And then he uttered her own name, and attempted to rise, +but fell back again into her arms, and smiled sweetly and gratefully +when her eyes met his, and he saw that she was watching over him. +There was joy--deep joy and gratitude--in those young hearts at that +moment; but Henrich's weakness, and the noise of, the roaring cataract, +prevented them from communicating their feelings in words, and Oriana +forbore to ask any questions of Henrich relative to the cause of his +perilous adventure. + +After some time he seemed greatly to recover, and, rising from the +ground, he slowly mounted the bank, supported by Oriana and her friend. +But it was evident that he was quite unable to proceed on foot to the +camp, and it was agreed that Mailah should return as quickly as +possible and bring such assistance as she could procure from thence, +while Henrich and Oriana should advance as far as his enfeebled state +would admit of. + +Mailah's light form soon disappeared in the wood, and it was not long +ere she reached the camp, and hastened to the tent of Tisquantum, who, +on that day, had not joined the hunting party. She told her story, in +which the old Chief showed the deepest interest; and she observed a +dark frown on his brow while she related the unsuccessful attempts of +Coubitant to draw Henrich from the water with his paddle; but he made +no remark. + +The hunters were still absent, and few men remained in the camp. These +were all engaged in felling wood and other laborious employments, and +Tisquantum prepared to lead his own horse out to meet his adopted son. +But, just as he and Mailah were leaving the camp for this purpose, +Coubitant came rapidly up from the river's brink, and, hurrying towards +them, began to relate, with expressions of grief and consternation, the +sad fate which he believed to have befallen the young stranger, and the +exertions that he had made to save his life, but which had, unhappily, +proved unavailing to avert the calamity. The sorrow of the Nausett +Indian seemed excessive; and Tisquantum probably considered it so, for +he listened with perfect calmness to his recital, and then merely +replied, 'Happily, the youth is safe. Mahneto has succored him, and I +go to bring him back to the camp.' + +Coubitant started: and he looked embarrassed for a moment, when he +caught the penetrating eye of Mailah fixed on his countenance. But he +quickly recovered his self-possession, and manifested such joy at the +escape of the white stranger from a watery grave, that Mailah almost +chid herself for her dreadful suspicions. + +Coubitant accompanied her and the Sachem on their way through the +forest, and when they met Henrich and Oriana, he again assumed such an +appearance of pleasure, and so warmly congratulated the former on his +miraculous deliverance, that the generous English youth strove to +banish from his mind the fearful thoughts that had arisen there while +he struggled for life close to the canoe, and wondered at the want of +skill and strength displayed by his companion in his abortive attempts +to save him. Oriana coldly received his greeting. She had long +suspected that he regarded Henrich with hatred and jealousy; and her +worst suspicions had that day received a strong confirmation. Still she +resolved to conceal them--at least at present--from all but Jyanough, +whose friendship for Henrich would, she knew, render him peculiarly +alive to all that concerned his safety. + +She had not long to wait, for the hunters soon returned; and she +observed that, when Jyanough heard the story of the day's adventure, +he cast a glance on Coubitant that made the conscious savage quail. +But when she related to the young Cree all that she and Mailah had +observed, he could restrain his feelings no longer, and plainly told +her that he was convinced that Coubitant was the author of the +calamity, and that it was not the first attempt he had made at +Henrich's life. + +They resolved that he should communicate all his suspicions to the +Sachem the following morning, and urge him to take measures for the +safety of his adopted son: but what was Jyanough's surprise, when he +opened the subject to Tisquantum, at being informed that Coubitant had +already left the camp with the Pequodees! Jyanough knew that it was +their intention that morning, at day-break, to set off on their return +to their own woods and plains, and he found that the wily Nausett had +expressed a desire to accompany them, and join in the war that was +going on between their tribe and some of their neighbors, in order to +distinguish himself as a warrior. It was not the Sachem's intention to +rejoin his tribe for a considerable time. He was fond of wandering, and +proposed to travel towards the north when the hunting season should be +over; and he also felt a reluctance to take his now greatly beloved +captive back to that part of the country where it was possible he might +gain intelligence of his friends, or, perhaps, even make his escape to +them. He had, therefore, consented to Coubitant's request, and +evidently felt an undefined satisfaction in his absence. + +This being the case, and the departure of Coubitant having removed all +present danger to Henrich from his malicious schemes, Jyanough forbore +to express all he felt to the old Sachem; and he returned to Oriana +with the pleasant intelligence that the enemy of her white brother had +departed. + +To the young Squaw-Sachem this news imparted infinite relief; and even +Henrich could not regret it, although he found it difficult to believe +that all the suspicions of his friends were well-founded. Still the +events of the preceding day were quite sufficient to make him doubt +more than ever the sincerity of Coubitant's professed regard; and he +felt that he should be happier now that the dark-browed savage was +gone. To his pleasant life of freedom we will now leave him, and return +to New Plymouth, where many events--deeply interesting to the +settlers--had occurred since his involuntary departure, and supposed +death. + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +'There went a dirge through the forest's gloom. +...An exile was borne to a lonely tomb, +"Brother;"--so the chant was sung +In the slumberer's native tongue-- +"Friend and brother! not for thee +Shall the sound of weeping be."' HEMANS. + +Sadly and slowly the Pilgrim Fathers passed along the scattered village +of log huts which was their home in their voluntary exile, and wound up +the pathway that led towards the summit of the mount, afterwards called +'the Burying Hill,' on which they had constructed a rude fort or +storehouse, and whither they were now bearing to his last earthly home +the chief and the most respected of their community. The Governor +Carver--he who had presided over their councils, and directed all their +movements since the memorable day of their landing, and had been the +friend, the physician, the comforter of his little flock, through all +their trials and all their sufferings--had fallen a victim to disease +and over-exertion, just as spring, with all its brighter hopes for the +future, had set in. + +It was but a few days after Henrich's capture that this heavy +affliction befell the colony, and added greatly to the gloom which the +loss of young Maitland had already cast over the whole village. The +departure, also, of the vessel in which the Pilgrims had come out to +America, occurred at the same time; and, although not one of the exiles +desired to return to the land of their birth, and to abandon the +enterprise on which they had entered so devotedly, yet it was a +melancholy hour when they bade adieu to the captain and his crew, and +saw the Mayflower sail away towards their still much-loved, country. + +The scurvy and other diseases--combined with the hardships and +privations to which they had been exposed during the winter and early +spring--had fearfully reduced the number of the ship's company; and of +those who remained, the greater part were weakened by illness, and +dispirited by the loss of so many of their brave comrades, whose graves +they had dug on the bleak shores of New England. The return of spring, +and the supply of provisions that the settlers were able to obtain from +the friendly Indians, had checked the progress of the fatal complaints +that had so fearfully ravaged the colony during the severity of winter; +and had restored the survivors of the ship's crew to comparative health +and strength. The captain was, therefore, glad to seize the first +opportunity of abandoning a shore which had presented to him so +cheerless and melancholy an aspect, and of leaving the steadfast and +devoted exiles to the fate which they had chosen, and which they were +resolved to abide in faith and hope. + +On the very day that the Mayflower set sail, and while its white sails +could still be distinguished in the eastern horizon, the Governor--who +took an active part in every occupation, and even every labor that +engaged the settlers--was busily employed in sowing corn in the fields +that were considered as the common property of the colony. In directing +and superintending this work, he was greatly assisted by the skill and +experience of Squanto, the native who, as we have already related, had +been so treacherously carried off to England by Hunt, and had, on his +return to America, sought out, and attached himself to, the settlers. +By them he was greatly regarded, and his knowledge of the English +language rendered his services of inestimable value in all their +intercourse with the Indian tribes; while his acquaintance with the +soil on which they had established themselves, and the native modes of +cultivating grain and other vegetable produce, was of the greatest use +to men who were only accustomed to European agriculture. + +The maize and other grain were sown in the fields that had been richly +manured with fish, to ensure an abundant crop;[*] and the laborers +returned in a body to the village, led by their venerable and respected +President; but no sooner had Carver re-entered his dwelling than he +swooned away and never recovered his consciousness. In a few days he +breathed his last, to the unutterable grief of his widow, and the deep +regret of all the settlers, whose love and confidence he had won during +his brief government, by his clear-sighted wisdom and his universal +kindness. + +[Footnote: It was the custom of the Indians to manure their fields with +_shads_ or _allezes,_ a small fish that comes up the rivers in vast +numbers at the spawning season. About a thousand fish were used for +every acre of land; and a single alleze was usually put into every +corn-hill, when they buried their grain for winter consumption; +probably as a charm to keep off the evil demons and hostile wandering +spirits.] + +As his funeral procession wound up the hill, tears might be seen on the +cheek of many a sturdy Pilgrim; and sobs and lamentations broke forth +from the women and children. After his remains were laid in their +resting-place, a fervent prayer was offered up by Brewster (whose age +and character caused him to be regarded as the pastor of the colony, +although he had never been called to the ministry after the custom of +the Puritans); and then a hymn was sung by the united voices of the +whole congregation. + +When this simple ceremony was over, and the grave of the departed +President was closed, and laid level with the surrounding ground--in +order to conceal it from the prowling Indians--the assembly repaired to +the fort, or store-house, that stood on the summit of the hill, and +which also served the purpose of a meeting-house or chapel. Its rude +end unadorned simplicity suited, the peculiar ideas of the Puritans, +who, in their zeal to escape from the elaborate ornaments and pompous +ceremonial employed by the Papists, had rushed into the opposite +extreme, and desired that both their place of worship, and their mode +of performing it, should be divested of every external decoration and +every prescribed form. The more their place of meeting for prayer +resembled an ordinary habitation, the better they considered it suited +to the sacred purpose; and they were, therefore, perfectly satisfied to +possess no other church than the rude fort, built of logs and posts, +and used indifferently as a granary for the public stores, and as a +fortress for the defense of the colony from any incursions of the +hostile tribes. + +In this primitive chapel, Brewster was accustomed to lead the devotions +of the Pilgrims and their families, every 'Lord's Day' morning and +afternoon;[*] and also on any other occasion of their assembling +together. But as they were in continual expectation of the arrival of +the venerated John Robinson, to resume his office of regular pastor of +the flock, they had not taken any measures to gratify their ardent +desire of hearing the _'blessed sermon'_ three times en every Lord's +Day, from some holy man entirely devoted to the service of God. The +addresses occasionally delivered to the congregation by Brewster, or by +any other of the ruling elders who might preside at a meeting, were +called _'discourses'_ not sermons; and the interpretation of certain +portions of Scripture, which was sometimes undertaken by any member of +the congregation who felt equal to it, was called _'prophesying.'_ +These were the only modes of spiritual instruction employed by the +first settlers, until they procured clergymen from England, or +appointed ministers from among their own elders; and these means were +highly valued by the settlers, who had abandoned home, and kindred, and +the comforts of civilized life, for no other motive than to secure to +themselves the privilege of worshipping God according to their own +ideas of what was good and profitable to their souls. The talents and +the elevated piety of William Brewster rendered him both a very +valuable teacher, and also, in the eyes of the Puritans, an efficient +substitute for their expected pastor. + +[Footnote: The Puritans never used the names _Sunday_ or _Sabbath._ +They objected is the first as savoring of Paganism and to the second as +pertaining to Judaism; and yet they enforced the observance of the +Christian's day of rest with almost Mosaic strictness.] + +On the present mournful occasion he addressed the congregation, in a +very impressive manner, on the heavy loss they had sustained in the +death of their valued President; and exhorted them to remember and to +imitate his piety, his charity, and his exemplary patience and self- +denial, under the trying circumstances that had marked the period of +his brief government. These circumstances had become less painful, it +is true, since their friendly intercourse with the Wampanoges, and the +genial change in the weather; but still the trials of the Pilgrims were +by no means over, and their need of faith in the good providence of +God, and of persevering resolution in the path which they had chosen +for themselves, remained as great as ever. + +Deeply was the less of their first President felt by the colony, for +every individual mourned him as a private friend, as well as a wise end +benevolent ruler. But the blow fell with more crushing power on her who +had shared his checkered life of joy and sorrow for many years in +Europe, and had accompanied him into exile, with the devoted feeling +that his presence would make the wilderness a home. His sudden removal, +and the cheerless blank that succeeded, were more than the strength of +his afflicted widow could endure; and in six weeks she followed him +the grave. From that time, it appeared as if the severity of the +scourge that had ravaged the infant settlement was exhausted, for +scarcely any more deaths occurred during that year; and many who had +hitherto suffered from the effects of disease, regained their usual +strength, and lived to a remarkably advanced age. + +William Bradford was the individual selected by the community to fill +the arduous and responsible office that had been held so few months by +Carver; and the choice was a most judicious one, for he was a man well +suited to be the leader of a colony exposed to the peculiar +difficulties that surrounded the Puritan exiles. His uncommon sagacity +and penetration of character, and his undaunted resolution in times of +danger, caused him to be regarded as the very prop and support of the +settlement; and his worth was so generally acknowledged, and so highly +appreciated, that he continued to be annually elected Governor for +twelve succeeding years: and never did he disappoint the confidence +thus reposed in him. His treatment of the Indians was one point on +which he showed both the correctness of his judgement, and the right +feelings of his heart. He ever acted towards them with true Christian +benevolence and equity; and, at the same, he preserved that authority +and superiority over them which were necessary to the safety and well- +being of the colony; and he also carefully kept from them those +European weapons, the possession of which might render them dangerous +to the settlers, and aggravate the frequent hostilities among their own +rival tribes. Unhappily, a different course was afterwards pursued by +the leaders of the colony of Massachusetts; and the evil con sequences +of such short-sighted policy were soon but too apparent, and tended to +involve not only the new settlers, but also the original colony of New +Plymouth, in quarrels and disturbances with the natives. This however, +did not occur for some time after the period of which we are now +speaking; and, for the present, Bradford succeeded in maintaining the +best possible relations with the already friendly Wampanoges. + +William Bradford had been originally brought up as a husbandman; and +although he had abandoned this calling to devote himself to the study +of the Scriptures, and the writings of the Fathers--for which purpose +he had acquired the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew languages--he still +retained such a, know ledge of agriculture as proved extremely useful +to him as the leader of a young colony, whose support was to be mainly +derived from the land of which they had taken possession. He also +spoke French and Dutch fluently; and the diary and letters that he has +left to posterity show him to have been both a well informed and a +truly pious man. When the Puritans left Amsterdam under their pastor, +John Robinson, and settled at Leyden, Bradford was scarcely twenty +years of age. He there learnt the art of dyeing silk, in order to +support himself while he pursued his theological studies, and also +performed the part of historian to the community of which he had become +a member; and he remained with the congregation during all the years of +their residence in Holland, and attached himself with the most +affectionate reverence to their generally beloved and respected +minister. + +One of the first acts of his administration, as Governor of New +Plymouth, was to send another embassy to Masasoyt, the Great Sagamore +of the whole Wampanoge tribe, in order to strengthen and confirm his +present amicable feelings towards the white men, by means of presents, +and other marks of friendship. Squanto, as usual, accompanied the +party as interpreter; and nothing could be more satisfactory than the +interview proved to all parties, especially to the Indian Chief, who +was made both proud and happy by the gift of a red military coat, +adorned with silver lace. This he immediately put on, over the paint +and other savage ornaments in which he was decorated for the state +occasion; and he greatly diverted the members of the embassy by the +increased air of dignity that he assumed, and the grandiloquous manner +in which he began to extol his own power and glory. + +'Am I not,' he exclaimed, in a loud voice, 'Masasoyt, the great king? +Am I not lord of all the people of the Lowsons; and of such and such +places? And he enumerated nearly thirty uncouth Indian names of places +over which he claimed sovereignty, his wild subjects uttering a yell of +joy and exultation in answer to each word he uttered. The savage +monarch then proceeded to ratify and augment the agreement into which +he had already catered with Edward Winslow, and promised to guarantee +to the English settlers an exclusive trade with his tribe; at the same +time entreating them to prevent his powerful enemies, the +Narragansetts, from carrying on a commercial intercourse with the +French colonists. + +Notwithstanding the boasted power of this 'Chief of chiefs,' the +scarcity of provisions was so great in his village of Packanokick at +the time of this embassy, that he was only able to offer his white +friends one meal during their visit to him, which lasted a day and two +nights; and this solitary display of regal hospitality consisted of two +large fishes just caught in a neighboring lake, and which were divided +amongst forty hungry persons. In spite of this temporary distress, he +pressed the deputation to remain longer with him; but the object of +their mission having been attained, they were glad to leave the +residence of the Sagamore, which possessed far less of comfort and +civilization than were to be found in the picturesque summer camp of +his son and inferior Sachem, Mooanam. + +This lovely spot continued to be much frequented by the settlers, +between whom and their copper-colored neighbors a strong feeling of +mutual regard became established; and this friendship proved a great +advantage to both parties, in a social as well as a political point of +view. The Wampanoges found the benefit of their alliance with the +mighty English during the autumn of that year, when the dread which +their name and power had inspired proved a safeguard to the friendly +Indian tribe, and preserved them from a combined attack of several +other tribes who had, by some mysterious means, been instigated to +unite for their destruction. + +The intelligence of this conspiracy reached the settlers when a party +of them were on the peninsula of Cape Cod, whither they had gone to +bring back a young English boy, named Francis Billington, who had lost +himself in the forest some time previously, and, after having subsisted +for several days on wild fruits and berries, had reached a camp of the +Nausett Indians, hitherto so adverse to the Pilgrims. This seemed a +good opportunity for endeavoring to establish more friendly relations +with the tribe, and Bradford sent off ten men in the shallop to +negotiate for the boy's restoration, and to offer gifts to the +Nausetts, who, happily, were not so cruel and blood-thirsty a party as +those who had kidnapped Henrich Maitland. The overtures of the settlers +were well received, and they presented the Chief of the village with a +pair of knives, and also returned to the natives a quantity of corn, +more than equal to that which they had taken from the graves and huts +that they had discovered on their first landing, and which belonged to +the Nausetts. This act of justice gained for the settlers the esteem +and confidence of the Indians; and as these original possessors of the +soil did not dispute the title of the newcomers to the portion of the +American soil on which they had established themselves, they considered +henceforth that their claim was valid, and that they could stand before +the natives on terms of equality. + +The lost child was safely restored to Rodolph, who, as usual, shared +the conduct of the expedition with Edward Winslow. The joy and +gratitude of the boy's father, at being permitted to convey him home +uninjured, may be better imagined than described; and while Maitland +sympathized in his feelings, he could not help sadly contrasting the +fate of his own lost Henrich with that of the more fortunate Francis +Billington. But he believed that his son's earthly career had closed +for ever; and both he and Helen had submitted to the bereavement with +Christian piety and resignation, and had taught their wounded hearts to +restrain every impulse to repine, and even to feel thankful that their +beloved boy had been spared any protracted sufferings and trials, and +had been permitted so speedily to enter into his rest. Had they known +his actual late and condition, how much of painful anxiety would have +mingled with the sorrow of separation, from which they were now exempt! + +The restoration of the little wanderer having been effected, and a good +understanding having been established with the Nausetts of Cape Cod, +the negotiating party lost no time in returning to New Plymouth, and +communicating to Governor Bradford the intelligence of the conspiracy +against Masasoyt, to which allusion has already been made, and of which +they had been informed by the Nausett Sachem. The news was startling to +Bradford and to his council, who all felt the imperative necessity of +using immediate efforts for the assistance of the friendly Wampanoges. +They were impelled to this resolution, not only in consideration of the +alliance that had been formed between themselves and the Sagamore +Masasoyt, but also from a conviction that the safety and welfare of the +infant colony depended essentially upon their possessing the friendship +and the protection of some powerful tribe, like the Wampanoges, whose +numbers and warlike character caused them to be both feared and +respected by their weaker neighbors. It could only be by a combination +of several tribes that any important defeat Of the Wampanoges could +possibly be effected: and such a combination the Nausetts declared they +knew to have been already formed; though by what means, and with what +motive, remained at present a mystery. + +The Indian interpreter, Squanto, was therefore sent off to Masasoyt's +residence at Lowams, in order to ascertain the grounds of the quarrel, +and to effect, if possible, a reconciliation, without the necessity of +the Pilgrims having recourse to arms in defense of their allies. The +interpreter was also accompanied by Hobomak, a subject of the Wampanoge +chieftain's, who had lately left his own wigwams and settled among the +English, and who had already attached himself to the white men with an +uncommon degree of devotion. But ere the swarthy ambassadors reached +the village of Packanokick, they were suddenly attacked by a small +party of Narragansett warriors, who lay in ambush near their path +through the forest, and were conveyed away captives to the presence of +a fierce looking Indian, who appeared to be a man of power and +authority, and who was evidently awaiting their arrival in a small +temporary encampment at a little distance. + +No sooner had Hobomak glanced at this dark chieftain, than he +recognized Coubitant, the bitter foe of the settlers, and the captor of +Henrich Maitland. Coubitant had originally been a subject of the +Sachem Masasoyt; but some offence, either real or imaginary, had +converted him from a friend into a bitter foe; and then it was that he +had wandered towards the Spanish settlements, and obtained that +prejudiced notion of Christianity to which we have formerly alluded. +When tired of his wild roaming life, he had united himself to that +portion of the Nausett tribe which was under the guidance of +Tisquantum; and his attachment to the Sachem's son, Tekoa, had induced +him to remain a member of the tribe during his life, and to devote +himself to the object of revenging his death, after that event had +occurred at the first encounter with the white settlers. + +Hitherto that object had been frustrated by what appeared to him +Tisquantum's incomprehensible partiality fur Henrich, which had so +entirely prevented his wreaking his vengeance on the innocent son of +the slayer. But his was not a revenge that could expire unsatiated, or +change to friendship, and expend itself in acts of kindness, as that of +Tisquantum had done. No: the thirst for blood remained as strong in the +breast of Coubitant as it was on that very hour when he beheld his +brother-in-arms fall, bleeding and dying, beneath the mysterious +firearms of the white men; and he hoped still to pour forth the white +man's blood, as an oblation to the spirit of his friend. Therefore it +was that, when he found himself foiled in all his malicious schemes for +Henrich's destruction, and also perceived that he was himself becoming +an object of suspicion to Jyanough and to the Sachem, he had resolved on +quitting the Nausetts, and returning with the Pequodees into the +neighborhood of the English settlement. He hoped to stir up several +smaller tribes to join with the Narragansetts, and to make war against +the Wampanoges--the allies of the Pilgrims--and thus to deprive the +hated whites of their aid and protection, and, possibly, also to engage +the settlers in the quarrel, and then to find an opportunity of taking +one or more of them captive, and slaking the desires of his vindictive +spirit in the agonies that he would inflict on his victims. Truly, 'the +dark places' of his heart were 'full of the habitations of cruelty.' + +These deep-laid schemes of the wily savage had hitherto met with full +success; and by means of deceit and misrepresentation, he had roused up +and irritated the feelings of several Sachems and their dependants, and +induced them to agree to coalesce for the destruction of the +Wampanoges, and then to turn their arms against the settlers, with the +view of expelling them altogether from the country. His spies had +discovered the intended embassy of Squanto and Hobomak to the village +of the great Sagamore of Lowams; and he had, consequently, taken +effectual means to intercept it, as he feared its having a favorable +aspect. + +On the captives being brought before him, he scornfully reproached them +as the dastardly tools of the white men, and as traitors to their own +nation; and he declared his intention of detaining Squanto as a +prisoner, and as a hostage also, in order to ensure the return of +Hobomak to New Plymouth, with the message that be designed for the +Governor. This message consisted of a threat--which Hobomak well knew +he would execute--that if, on being liberated, he proceeded to +Packanokick, instead of returning to the settlement, he would flay the +unhappy Squanto alive, and send his skin and scalp to the white-hearted +English, to show them that the red men scorned their interference, and +knew how to punish it. + +Hobomak departed, and reluctantly left his companion in the hands of +the cruel Coubitant. But he had no power to liberate him, and his only +hope of obtaining any effectual succor for him, was in hastening to New +Plymouth, and persuading the Governor to send a well-armed force to cut +off the retreat of the Narragansetts and their leader, and attempt the +rescue of their caked interpreter. Hobomak was fleet of foot, and he +rested not until he had arrived in Bradford's presence, and told him of +the fate that had befallen Squanto. Weak as the colonists were, and +sincerely desirous as they also felt to preserve peace with the +natives, they yet deemed it incumbent on them to show the Indians that +they would not tamely submit to any insult or injury. Captain Standish +was, therefore, immediately dispatched with a body of fourteen men, +well armed and disciplined, who were at that time nearly all the men +capable of bearing arms of whom the colony could boast. Led by Hobomak, +they rapidly traversed the forest, and came upon Coubitant's party soon +after they had left their encampment. The Indian leader had +anticipated, and desired, this result of his conduct; and his heart +swelled with malignant joy when he beheld the hated Rodolph among the +foremost of the assailants. Now he deemed the evil spirit whom he +worshipped was about to repay him for all his abortive schemes and +disappointed efforts, by throwing the very object of his vengeful +hatred into his power. + +Forward he sprang, whirling his heavy tomahawk round his head, as if it +had been a child's toy, and preparing to bring it down on the white +man's skull with a force that must have cloven it in two. But Standish +saw the impending blow, and, quick as thought, he drew a pistol from +his belt, and fired it at the savage. The ball passed through his arm, +and the tomahawk fell bloodless to the ground. Had it but drunk the +life-blood of Rodolph, Coubitant would have been content to die. But +his foe still lived unharmed; and quickly he saw that three of his own +followers were also severely wounded, and that his party of naked +warriors were altogether incapable of resisting the fierce and well- +sustained attack of their civilized assailants. His only chance of +safety, and of future vengeance, lay in flight; and to that last +resource of a brave spirit he betook himself. He was quickly followed +by all his band, who were dismayed at the sound and the fatal effects +of the British fire-arms and, leaving Squanto behind them, they were +soon concealed from view by the thick underwood of the forest. The +object of the expedition having been attained, Standish did not pursue +the fugitives, but returned in triumph to the settlement, well +satisfied that he had given the Indians a salutary impression of the +decisive conduct, and the powerful measures, that would ever be adopted +by the white men, when their honor was insulted in the slightest +degree. + +That such an impression had been made on the red men was soon evident, +from the anxiety which was manifested by several of the neighboring +tribes to be admitted into the semblance, at least, of an alliance with +the mighty strangers. Nine Sachems intimated their desire to +acknowledge themselves the subjects of the white men's king, who dwelt +on the other side of 'the great water'; and a paper was accordingly +drawn up by Captain Standish to that effect, and subscribed with the +uncouth autographs of the copper-colored chieftains. Among these-- +strange to say--the mark of Coubitant, who had been raised to the rank +of Sachem by the Narragansetts, was to be seen; but the sincerity of +his friendly professions will be shown hereafter. At present, it suited +him to unite with the other chiefs in their pledge of allegiance to +King James, and of amity towards his British subjects; but he never +openly approached their settlement, or made the slightest advance +towards becoming better acquainted with them. His evil designs slept, +indeed, but they had not expired. They only waited the fitting +opportunity to be as actively pursued as ever. + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +'Calm on the bosom of thy God, + Young spirit! rest thee now! +E'en while with us thy footsteps trod + His seat was on thy brow. + +Dust to its narrow house beneath! + Soul to its place on high! +They that have seen thy look in death, + No more may fear to die. + +Lone are the paths, and sad the bowers, + Whence thy meek smile is gone +But oh! a brighter borne than ours, + In Heaven, is now thine own.' HEMANS. + +We have observed that very few deaths took place in the colony of New +Plymouth during the second year of their exile, and after the fatal +stroke that deprived them of their President; but among those few, +there was one that carried grief and desolation into the hearts of the +family with whom our story is chiefly connected, and who were already +deeply afflicted by the loss of the first-born. Ludovico Maitland had +always been a delicate child, and on him, consequently, the care and +attention of his mother had been principally bestowed. Helen had +watched and tended him through all the severities of the first winters +in the New World, and many had been the privations that she had +voluntarily endured, unknown even to Rodolph, who would not have +suffered her thus to risk her own health, in order to add to the +comforts of her youngest and most helpless child. When the blessed +springtime came, and all nature began again to smile, she hoped that +Ludovico would also be renovated, and bloom again like the flowers he +loved so well. And her hopes appeared to be realized: for the sweet +playful child resumed his sports, and the bright color again glowed on +his soft cheek; and his parents deemed it the hue of health. + +At the time when Henrich was stolen away, the little fellow had been +remarkably well, and even Helen's fears for him had almost subsided; +but, whether it was the effect of the shock that he sustained when he +saw his brother seized by the fierce savages, and torn away from him, +and when he fled so breathlessly to tell the fearful tidings; or +whether it was merely the result of his own delicate constitution, +which could no longer bear up against the change of climate and food-- +from that time, he visibly declined. It is true he never complained, +and his cheerful spirits were unaltered; but the watchful eye of +affection could trace the insidious steps of disease in the changing +color, and the too frequently brilliant eye. + +Since Edith had lost her constant friend and companion, Henrich, she +naturally devoted herself more to her younger brother, and little +Ludovico became not only her lively play-fellow, but also her +intelligent pupil; and the occupation which she found in the care of +the engaging child served to divert her mind from the first real grief +she had ever known. Her mother's sorrow, though borne with the most +perfect resignation, had greatly affected her health; and as she had +entire confidence in Edith's steadiness, she was glad to leave the care +of Ludovico principally to her, especially when she observed the good +effect which the new responsibility had on her spirits. The two +children were, therefore, left much to themselves; and, with their +mother's sanction they passed a great portion of their time at the camp +of Mooanam, where they were always most kindly received, and where they +made rapid progress in acquiring the language, and also many of the +useful and ingenious arts, of their swarthy friends. + +The departure of Coubitant and his savage band, after their cruel +design against the peace of Rodolph's family had been accomplished, +removed all fears of injury or molestation from the minds of the +settlers; for no hostile Indians now remained in their immediate +neighborhood, and the path from New Plymouth to the village of the +friendly Wampanoges became a beaten and frequented track; so that Edith +and her little charge could go to and fro in safety, under the +protection of Fingal, a magnificent dog belonging to their father, and +their constant companion and playfellow; and frequently they were +accompanied, on their return to the British village, by the Chieftain's +wife, Apannow, and her little boy, Nepea, who was the darling of both +Edith and Ludovico. + +A strong attachment also sprang up between Apannow and Helen; for the +Squaw-Sachem was possessed of much natural gentleness of disposition, +and was most ready to adopt all those habits of civilized life that she +saw practiced among her English friends, and that it was possible for +her to transplant to her Indian home. She was, likewise, willing to +listen to the doctrines and precepts of the Gospel, and to admit their +beauty and their holiness, although it was long--very long--ere she, or +any of the adults of her tribe, were so far converted to the Christian +truth as to be either desirous or fit to be baptized. But there was no +bigotry or opposition in the mind of Apannow; and she became a kind and +sympathizing friend to Helen and to her children. + +Rodolph was necessarily much engaged in agricultural occupations, and +also in the business of the government, as he was one of the council +who were appointed to assist the President, and to share the labors and +responsibilities of his frequently very difficult office. The gradual +change in little Ludovico's health was, therefore, not so soon observed +by his father as by Helen and Edith; and when he returned to his much- +loved home after the toils and cares of the day, his wife forbore to +arouse fresh anxiety in his breast, by telling him of her own fears. +On the contrary, she rejoiced to see the pleasure and animation that +lighted up the sweet child's expressive countenance, as he ran to meet +his father, and the happiness of both as they played under the wide- +spreading trees that shaded their now luxuriant garden. At such times, +while listening to Ludovico's ringing laugh, and watching his light +footsteps as he chased his father and Edith from tree to tree, she +flattered herself that all must be well with the joyous child, and that +her apprehensions were unfounded. But, again, when the following day +found him pale and exhausted, and all the more so for the excitement +and exercise of the previous evening, these foreboding fears would +return, and her heart would sink heavily at the prospect of the coming +woe. + +The short summer of North America attained its height; and, as the heat +increased, so did Ludovico's young life wane away, and his strength +become daily less. Rudolph now saw, as plainly as his afflicted wife, +that their only remaining son was soon to be taken from them; and he +strove to arm both himself and her with the only power that could +support them under such an aggravated calamity. He constantly led her +to look only to Him who 'gave,' and who also 'takes away,' and without +whom 'not a sparrow falleth to the ground'; and to trust Him even in +the depth of sorrow: and he had the satisfaction of seeing her become +more and more resigned, and more and more strong in faith to meet the +coming trial. + +Slowly and gently it came; but it came at last: and though his parents +and his sister had long given up all hope of retaining their loved +Ludovico on earth, and had endeavored to resign him into the hands of +his Heavenly Father, yet, when the blow came, they felt it sudden, and +found how little they were prepared for it. One warm summer evening +the sweet child was carried by Rodolph to Edith's bower, that he might +look once more at the flowers he had helped to plant and to tend; and +his soft eyes seemed to take a last farewell of every cherished object, +and to follow the setting sun with a fixed gaze, that said those eyes +would never see it set again. But there was no sadness--no regret--in +the gentle countenance; and the infantine lips still smiled, as they +whispered the evening prayer that he had so often repeated with Edith. +Young as he was, Ludovico had learnt to love his Redeemer, and to feel +that to 'depart, and be with Christ, was far better than to abide on +earth; and the 'valley of the shadow or death,' which the Lord so +mercifully made easy to his flesh, had no terrors for his young spirit. + +Could his parents, then--could even his broken-hearted sister--bear to +disturb his angelic calmness by any display of their own grief? No: +they restrained it; and even tried to smile again as they replied to +his touching remarks, and spoke of the happy day when they should all +meet again in heaven, and dwell for ever in the presence of that +gracious Savior, who was new taking him, as they believed, to join his +dear brother Henrich. + +As twilight came on, his father bore him back to the house, and laid +him again on his little couch; and ere the glorious sun arose to +lighten the earth once more, his spirit had passed away into that realm +of perfect light where they 'have no need of the sun, neither of the +moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God does lighten it, and the +Lamb is the light thereof.' And many tears were shed for him, when the +sight of the grief of those he loved so dearly could no longer disturb +his peace, or check the willing spirit in its heavenward flight. + +The sorrows of the Maitlands--thus renewed and aggravated--excited the +warmest sympathy throughout the colony; for they were universally +respected and beloved, and their calm and pious resignation drew forth +the admiration of the whole community of Puritans, who deemed any +strong expressions of grief to be altogether unsuitable to Christians. +But Rodolph and Helen did not the less feel their chastisement, because +they forbore to express their feelings to any other than to God, and to +their revered friend and minister, Brewster. On Edith, this second +blow fell even more heavily than the first; for, since Henrich's loss, +she had devoted herself to her younger brother, and felt for him almost +a mother's love: and now her pupil, her playfellow--the sunshine of her +life--was taken away from her! Truly, the Lord was preparing her in the +furnace of affliction for the future lot to which He had appointed her; +and sorrow did net visit her in vain. Her character was strengthened +and matured, and her mind was taught to find resources in itself that +proved hereafter of inestimable value to her, and to those most nearly +connected with her. + +The thoughts and attention of her parents--and indeed of the whole +colony--were at this time diverted greatly from their own private cares +and interests, by an event of much importance to the settlement. This +was the arrival of a vessel, called the Fortune, from the mother- +country, bringing out to the colony a new and more comprehensive +charter, obtained for them by the Society of Plymouth, and also twenty- +five fresh settlers, who were chiefly friends and relatives of those +already established in New England. How welcome these familiar +countenances, that recalled days of happiness long passed but not +forgotten, were to the hearts and memories of their brethren, none but +exiles can tell! The new comers were indeed joyfully received, and +hospitably entertained by the Pilgrim Fathers; who invited them to take +up their quarters in their rude but comfortable dwellings, and to share +their scanty stores. Unfortunately, the new settlers were unable to +contribute any thing to these stores; for all their own provisions were +already consumed on the voyage. This accession to their numbers, +therefore, added greatly to the inconvenience of the colony, and +occasioned such a scarcity of food, that the Governor was obliged to +put the whole community upon a daily allowance; an arrangement to which +they all submitted without a murmur. And not only did the original +settlers thus consent to endure privation for the sake of their newly- +arrived friends and relatives, but they also contributed more liberally +than their narrow means could well afford, to provision the Fortune for +her voyage home. This was the occasion of the first mercantile +adventure of the Pilgrims, who took the opportunity of the return of +the ship to England, to send to the Society with which they were +connected a quantity of furs and timber to the value of five hundred +pounds. But success did not attend their speculation; for the vessel +fell into the hands of the French, and all their hopes of profit were, +for the present, blasted. + +It is needless to dwell on all the continued and various hardships that +these brave men, and their families, had to endure for several ensuing +winters. A few circumstances that more especially exemplify their +manners and mode of life, will be sufficient for the purposes of our +narrative, the course of which must necessarily be somewhat interrupted +by these details. Some knowledge of the habits of the adventurers, and +of the events that befell them at this early period of their history, +is however needful for the illustration of the story; and they shall be +briefly given, before we take up the thread of the narrative a few +years subsequent to the period of which we are now speaking. + +For some time the friendly relations with the Wampanoges, which had +been established by Carver and further cemented by Bradford, remained +undisturbed, and no signs of hostility were shown by any other of the +neighboring Indian tribes. This was probably owing, in a great degree, +to the wholesome example of decided measures that had been given to the +natives on the occasion of the capture of Hobomak and Squanto, and also +to the efficient means of defense that were now adopted by the +settlers. On their first arrival in New England, they had planted their +guns on the hill which commanded the rising city of New Plymouth, and +which afterwards received the name of 'the Burying Hill.' There, as we +have seen, the remains of the venerable Carver were deposited; and +there the infant form of Ludovico Maitland was laid in its last narrow +resting-place, and shaded by shrubs and plants that Edith, and the +faithful servant Janet, delighted to place there, and to tend and water +with untiring care and watchfulness. + +This hill was converted, during the first year of the Pilgrim's +residence in New England, into a kind of irregular fortification. The +storehouse--which was also the chapel and the council hall--stood on +the summit, and this was surrounded by a strong wall of timber, well +furnished with batteries, on which a watch was kept night and day, to +look out for the approach of any hostile parties of Indians. At a +considerable distance from this building ran a strong wooden palisade, +that enclosed the height entirely, and was divided into four portions, +the entrance to which was securely fastened every night; and the able- +bodied men of the colony, under the command of Miles Standish, were +arranged in four squadrons, to the care of each of which one quarter +was entrusted. The occupation which this charge entailed on the +limited number of men who were capable of undertaking it, in addition +to their necessary labors and employments in building their dwellings, +cultivating their fields, and procuring provisions by hunting and +fishing was both heavy and incessant; but disease had nearly left the +colony, and want, though occasionally felt to a painful degree, was not +always their portion; and the Pilgrim Fathers were cheerfully contented +with their lot. + +Still, it was a lot that involved much of hardship and personal +privation, as a drawback to the liberty, both religious and political, +that had been obtained by emigration. The harvests were scanty, and not +nearly sufficient to provide bread for the increasing community, and +also seed for the following year, and the supplies that were +occasionally procured from the Wampanoges, and their allies, were very +uncertain. At one time, every species of grain became so scarce that +the settlers had recourse to pig-nuts as a substitute for bread; and +the last pint of corn that remained to the colony, after the fields +were sown, was counted out among the whole community, when _five +grains_ fell to the share of each person, and these were looked upon as +a rare treat, and eaten as a particular dainty. Cattle were, as yet, +unknown in the colony; and their chief subsistence consisted of game, +wild fowl, and fish, of which the supply was frequently both scanty and +precarious. 'Often,' we are told in the diary of the Governor Bradford, +'we do not know in the evening where we shall get a meal next morning; +but yet we bear our want with joy, and trust in Providence.' And +strong, indeed, must have been the faith and patience of these Pilgrim +Fathers, which sustained their spirits amidst such long-continued +trials, and enabled them to meet and overcome such complicated +difficulties without hesitation and without a murmur! + +At one period their only food was fish, and occasionally merely +shellfish; but never was this miserable fare partaken of by the +emigrants, who assembled to receive their respective portions, without a +blessing being asked, and thanks being offered by the pious Brewster, +who, with a spirit of gratitude too often unknown to those who revel in +abundance, praised God for having permitted them 'to suck out of the +fullness of the sea, and for the treasures sunk in the sand.' While such +an example of holy trust, and patient submission to the will of God, was +set by the leading men of this suffering colony--men who were both loved +and respected--not a complaining word was uttered by the rest. All felt +that they were bound to emulate the faith and piety of their high-souled +Governor, and their venerated elder. + +And, truly, they had need of every motive, and of every aid--both human +and divine--that could keep their souls in peace, when actual famine at +length stared them in the face. The second winter had been endured; +and, in spite of cold and privation, the health of the colony had +improved; and spring again brought brighter hopes, and better prospects +of the summer's harvest. But before the grain was well grown up, a +drought came on, that threatened the utter destruction of the crops. +For six long weeks not one drop of rain fell on the thirsty land. 'The +sky was as brass' to the fainting emigrants, and 'the earth was as +iron' to them. Yet these men of God did not despair. They were +accustomed to regard every dispensation of Providence, whether +prosperous or afflictive, either as a special blessing from the hand of +God, to support and encourage His believing people, or as a Fatherly +chastisement, to punish their iniquities, and excite them to greater +piety and watchfulness. 'It pleased God,' said Edward Winslow, in +speaking of this inflict ion, 'to send a great dearth for our further +punishment.' Under this conviction, the congregation were called on by +the Governor and the elders to set apart a day for special humiliation +and prayer, in order to entreat the Lord to remove from them his +chastening hand, and to 'send a gracious rain upon His inheritance.' + +The call was universally obeyed; and men, women, and children assembled +themselves together, fasting, on 'the Burying Hill,' to listen to the +solemn address delivered by Brewster, and to unite in fervent prayers +and humble confessions to their God and Father. The sky that morning +was clear and bright as ever; and the sun walked in unclouded +brilliance and majesty through the deep blue vault of heaven. For +eight hours, the devotions of the assembly continued almost without +interruption; and it seemed as if 'none regarded, neither was there any +that answered.' But as the sun was sinking towards the western horizon, +a cloud, 'as it were a man's hand,' was seen to rise as if to meet the +glowing orb; and, ere he sank, his rays were obscured by a heavy bank +of clouds. Joy and gratitude now filled the breasts of the suppliants, +and the dim and anxious eye of many a mother, who had watched the +declining forms of her little ones in silent anguish, was lighted up +with hope, and glistened with a tear of thankfulness. Such, indeed, +had been the sufferings of the younger children, although the greatest +sacrifices had been made by their parents in order to provide them with +the food so necessary to their existence, that Helen had frequently +poured forth her heartfelt thanksgivings to her Heavenly Father, that +He had seen fit to remove her gentle and idolized Ludovico from a scene +of so much distress; and had called him away to a land where want, as +well as sorrow, is unknown, in a manner, and at a time, which allowed +her to ensure his ease and comfort to the last. To have seen her +darling pine for food, which she could not procure for him--to have +watched that fondly-cherished child sinking into his grave from the +actual want of proper nourishment, and to know that in the land they +had abandoned all that was needed to prolong his precious life was +teeming in profusion--would, she weakly thought, have been more than +her faith could have endured. But Helen erred in that doubting thought. +She was a _Christian:_ and had her Lord and Savior seen fit thus to try +her, He would also have given her grace to meet the trial as a +_Christian;_ for His promise to each one of His people is sure: 'As thy +day is, so shall thy strength be.' + +Edith, her only remaining child, was strong and energetic in mind and +body; and she was no burden to her mother. Cheerfully she had borne her +share of privation; and, uncomplainingly, she had assisted Helen and +Janet in seeking for roots and berries hour after hour in the forest, +when no other food was to be obtained. Now, on this day of fasting and +prayer, she stood beside her mother and Rodolph, and lifted up her +young voice in prayer for heavenly succor, and in praise, when the +first signal of coming aid was seen in the crimson west. + +The whole congregation had risen from their posture of supplication, +and were gazing with deep interest and emotion at the gathering clouds, +when they were startled at observing a large party of Indians emerging +from the thicket below, and advancing towards the palisade that formed +their outer fortification. At first they imagined them to be a hostile +body of Narragansetts, or Pequodees, who had discovered the manner in +which that day was being spent among the pale-faces, and had resolved +upon breaking the recently-formed treaty, and attempting their +destruction while they were thus assembled together and unarmed. But +these apprehensions were soon removed by the appearance of their friend +Mooanam, who advanced from the rest of his party, and hurried forward, +holding in his hands a fine fish, and calling on his allies to open +their gates and admit him and his followers into the fortress, for that +he had brought them food. + +Joyfully his summons was answered, and the generous red men entered the +enclosure, and laid before the Governor a quantity of, fish, sufficient +to supply the whole community with several wholesome and acceptable +meals. The kindness of this offering was highly estimated by the +settlers; for they well knew that their Indian friends had long been +suffering privations little less than what they had themselves endured, +and that their prospects for the future were hardly more cheering than +their own. The native and untaught courtesy, also, with which the +seasonable gift was offered, added not a little to its value. + +'Behold!' said Mooanam to the President, when he and his attendants had +placed the fresh spoils of their lake in order before him--'Behold what +the good Mahneto has given to his children in their day of distress! +And the red men could not eat and be in plenty, while they knew that +the faces of their white brethren were pale with want, and their little +children were crying for food. Take this, my brother, and let the +hearts of your people be glad, and bless Mahneto while they eat. I and +my young men will return to the supper that our squaws are preparing.' + +'We do bless Mahneto, who is the God and father both of the red and +white men!' replied Bradford with solemnity; for he was deeply +impressed by the pious feelings of the Sachem, and touched by his +considerate kindness. 'We do bless Mahneto; and we bless you also, our +faithful and generous friends, who have thus so promptly shared with us +the produce of your labors, instead of reserving it for your own future +wants. But here is enough for you and us; and you and your young men +must abide tonight in our village, and partake with us of the abundance +that you have provided. We leave the future in the bountiful hands of +Him who has thus made you His instruments to provide for us a table in +the wilderness.' + +'We will remain,' said Mooanam, 'and to-morrow some of your people +shall go with us to our lakes, and fish in our canoes. The clouds are +rising, and we shall, perhaps, have even better success than we have +met with today. But tell me, my white brother,' he continued--while he +looked inquiringly at Bradford--'tell me why your village is deserted +this evening, and why no sounds of labor met our ears as we passed +through the silent street? This is not the white men's day of rest; and +the white men do not leave their work to sleep or dance, as the red men +too often do. Why, then, are you and your people--even your squaws and +your little ones--assembled here today, and what caused that joyful +song that died away as we came to the foot hill?' + +'We have spent the day in fasting and prayer,' replied the President. +'We know that our Great Father has sent this long drought upon us, to +chasten us for our sins: and we have met to humble ourselves before +Him, and implore Him to send us the fruitful showers from heaven, +before our crops are altogether withered in the ground. He alone can +command the clouds to drop fatness; and when He sees that His +punishment has done its appointed work, He surely will take it away. +Even now, while we were making our prayers and supplications unto Him, +and confessing our sins, He has sent a token that He has heard our cry, +and will grant our request. Look at those clouds that are rising over +the western hills, and gradually spreading like a curtain across the +sky. For six weary weeks those clouds have been withheld, and we have +been humbled; and, at times, our faith has well nigh failed. But the +faithfulness of our God never fails; and now we are confident that, ere +long, His blessing will descend upon us.' + +Mooanam made no reply; but he gazed intently on the gathering clouds, +and then looked searchingly into Bradford's fine expressive +countenance, as if to be assured that he had heard and understood +aright. Squanto stood beside him; and his aid had been several times +required by both parties, in order to the carrying out the above +discourse: and now the Sachem drew him aside, and conversed earnestly +with him in a low voice. He was making him repeat, in his own tongue, +the words of the white man; and Bradford heard him say to the +interpreter, as he turned away to rejoin him, 'Now we shall see whether +the Great Spirit really hears the prayers of the white men.' + +The President understood this remark, and fervently he lifted up his +own heart to the Lord, and prayed that the hopes of His suffering and +trusting people might now be fulfilled; not only for their own relief, +but also that the minds of the dark heathen might be impressed, and +that they might see and feel the power and the goodness of the +Christians' covenant God. + +While Mooanam and the Governor were engaged in conversation, the +assembly had dispersed to their own homes; each family carrying with +them their respective portion of the food so liberally offered by their +Indian friends, and eager to partake of the first plentiful meal that +they had enjoyed for several weeks; The hope of coming rain also +cheered the hearts of the Pilgrims; and there was joy and gratitude +throughout the village that evening. + +The Sachem and his people were gladly received and entertained in the +dwellings of the Governor and principal inhabitants; and when Mooanam +lay down to rest, he long gazed through the opening in the wooden wall +of the chamber that formed its only window, and watched the heavy +clouds as they sped across the sky, and observed the face of the +glimmering moon, that looked out so calmly and brightly between their +dark moving masses. The soul of the Sachem was deeply impressed; and he +thought of all that Bradford had said to him, and wondered whether the +God of the white men was indeed the God of the Indians also. + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +'It shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while +they are yet speaking, I will hear.' ISA. lxv, 24. + +Mooanam awoke from his sleep soon after the dawn of day appeared. He +looked up at the open window, and a strange feeling of awe came over +his soul, as he beheld the rain falling gently and steadily from the +dull grey sky. He sprang to his feet, and hurried into the next +apartment, where he found the President and his family already +assembled, and gazing at the descending shower in silent admiration. + +The Sachem caught the hands of Bradford in both his own; and while a +tear of deep emotion glistened in his dark eye he exclaimed-- + +'Now I see that your God loves you. When the red men ask for rain, and +use their conjuring arts to induce the Great Spirit to hear their wild +cries, he gives it, it is true; but he gives it with hail and thunder, +which makes the evil still greater. Your rain is of the right kind; it +will restore the drooping corn. Now we see that your God hears you, and +cares for you.' + +The same impression, to a certain degree, was made on all the Indians, +who were taught to regard this seasonable rain as the settlers +themselves regarded it--as a special interposition of Providence for +their relief. And were they wrong in thus looking upon it as an answer +to their prayers, from a prayer-hearing God? And was it vain +superstition that led them to rejoice as much in this proof of the +goodness and benevolence of the God whom they served, and of His +guiding and protecting hand being outstretched for their succor, as in +the prospect of coming plenty that was thus afforded to them? Surely +not. Their faith, and love, and confidence in God were all animated and +strengthened by their conviction that the relief thus seasonably +received came directly from Him who has promised in his faithful Word, +that _'all things,'_ whether joyous or grievous, 'shall work together +for good to them that love Him; to them that are called according to +His purpose.' + +So deeply was Hobomak, the Wampanoge interpreter, impressed by this +instance of the pious trust of his white friends in the providence of +their God, and of the protection they enjoyed under His guidance and +government, that he gave himself up to a serious consideration of their +religion and so sincere was his desire for spiritual knowledge, and so +humble and teachable did he show himself, that, after a time, he was +judged fit to be admitted into the pale of the Christian church. He was +baptized as the first fruits of the settlers' efforts to evangelize the +heathen among whom they had cast their lot: and he lived a firm friend +of the white men, and died, after residing many years among them, +'leaving a good-hope that his soul went to rest.' + +The welcome rain continued to fall for several hours without +intermission, on the morning that succeeded the Pilgrim's day of prayer +and humiliation; and Mooanam sent his young men home to fish in the +lake, while he remained with his white friends, intending to follow +them in the afternoon, with a party of the settlers, to share their +sport. As the day advanced, the clouds broke, and warm sunshine, +interrupted by frequent refreshing showers, succeeded to the settled +rain of the morning. So favorable, altogether, was the change, that +Winslow gratefully remarks: 'It is difficult to say whether our +withered corn, or our depressed spirits, were most refreshed and +quickened. So great was the benevolence and goodness of our God!' + +The Pilgrims had prayed for rain; and when their prayers were granted, +they did not neglect the equally incumbent Christian duty of +thanksgiving. Again the congregation ascended 'the Burying Hill'; and +again their united voices rose to heaven in prayers and songs of +praise. Mooanam formed one of the assembly; and he listened with deep +and reverent attention to the devotions of his friends, frequently +applying to Hobomak, who stood at his side, to explain to him the words +and sentences that he did not comprehend. + +The service concluded, and the women and children were descending the +hill by the path that led to the village, leaving the Governor and his +council to discuss some public business, and the other men to arrange +themselves as usual into companies, for the manning of their +fortification and other necessary employments. Just at that moment a +native, attired in the costume and equipments of a Narragansett, was +seen to approach the foot of the hill, bearing a bundle of strange +appearance in his hands. With a quick and decided step he mounted the +height, and glanced fiercely at the females and their children, whom he +passed in the winding path, and who all involuntarily shrank from the +gaze of his piercing and singularly expressive eye. In the breast of +Janet that glance struck a chill of horror; for she had once before +encountered it, and never could she forget or mistake it again. It +seemed that Fingal recognized it also, and knew the evil that it +foreboded. He was bounding down the hill by Edith's side, and, with +expressive looks and actions, inviting the pensive child to join in his +gambols, when the savage approached. Instantly he paused, and took his +stand close to his young mistress, as if to guard her from some +apprehended danger; and, as the red warrior passed, and bent his eye on +Edith, the sagacious creature uttered a low deep growl, and seemed +ready to spring at his throat, if the hand and voice of his young +companion had not restrained him. Fingal was a noble specimen of the +St. Bernard breed of dogs, whose sagacity is such as frequently to +appear like human reason, and his intelligence was not inferior to that +of the best of his race. In this instance it did not mislead him. + +The dark warrior strode on without one sign of courtesy, and paused not +until he had entered the group of elders and councilors who stood +around the President, prepared to attend him to the public hall. The +white men made way for him to approach the Governor; and, as he did so, +his keen eye met that of Rodolph Maitland, and instantly kindled with a +deeper fire, and gleamed with an expression of almost diabolical +vengeance, which was seen by Rodolph, and understood by him for he, +too, could not fail to recognize in the Narragansett warrior that same +Coubitant who had fought so well at 'the first encounter,' and who had +afterwards attended the Nausett Chief, Tisquantum, when he and his +people were repulsed in their attack on New Plymouth. It was evident +to Maitland that this savage entertained towards him and his race a +peculiar sentiment of hatred; but the cause of this feeling was unknown +to him. + +The idea, however, that Henrich's loss was in some way connected with +this man--or that he could give him some information respecting the +nature of his son's death, and the place where his remains had been +deposited--came forcibly to his mind; and, regardless of the cold +malignant gaze that Coubitant fixed on him, he hastily approached him, +and exclaimed in the Indian tongue--'Surely you are the Nausett warrior +whom I saw with the Sachem of that tribe. If so, you can tell me the +fate of my son--the boy who was carried off, and, I fear, cruelly slain +when Tisquantum and his people retired from these woods. O, tell me how +my boy was murdered, and where his dear remains were laid!' + +Rodolph's fine countenance was lighted up with eager animation. A tear +of fond regret and affection glistened in his eye, and he could have +grasped the hand of the swarthy savage, and almost have blessed him, if +he would have told him that his darling Henrich had died by a single +blow, and that his body had been laid unmolested to rest. But Coubitant +drew back, and with a smile of fierce mockery and infernal triumph, +replied briefly-- + +'Ha! you found his bloody coat then. May your heart's blood soon flow +forth as his did; and may my eyes see your body equally mangled and +defaced!' + +At the same moment, he placed the bundle that he carried on the ground +before the President, saying, 'This comes from the Chief of the +Narragansetts!' and, turning away, hastily descended the hill, and was +lost to view among the trees of the skirting wood, before the council +had time to resolve on the course they should pursue respecting his +detention, or Rodolph had recovered the shock that his cruel words had +inflicted. + +The curiosity of the Governor and his friends was now directed to the +strange-looking package that lay on the ground. On examination, they +found the envelope to be composed of a dried snakeskin, which was +quickly opened, and disclosed several Indian arrows. Squanto gazed on +these with a significant look; and on being questioned by Bradford as +to the meaning of so singular an offering, he informed him that it was +the native mode of declaring war. + +The well-known enmity of the Narragansetts towards the Wampanoges--the +friends and allies of the settlers--rendered this hostile declaration +no surprise to the Governor and his council. But the fact of its being +conveyed by Coubitant, who had so lately, in the character of a +subordinate Narragansett chieftain, subscribed the written +acknowledgement of King James's supremacy, excited no small +astonishment. It was a source, also, of regret, as it proved how little +dependence could be placed in the professions of the natives. To enter +on a war with the numerous and powerful tribe of the Narragansetts, was +likewise far from being desirable in any point of view; for the +Pilgrims were little prepared either to meet such formidable +antagonist's in the field, or to resist the continual attacks and +aggression's that constitute the greatest share of Indian warfare. + +A consultation was therefore held as to the best method of replying to +the challenge of the Narragansett Sachem; and it was finally determined +that the most prudent and effectual course would be to show a resolute +appearance, and give no cause to the native's to suppose that they +dreaded their enmity. A bold acceptance of the challenge might, it was +urged both by Squanto and Hobomak, strike terror into the savages, and +deter them from prosecuting their present hostile intentions. + +Bradford, therefore, adopted the Indian method of communicating this +reply by expressive signs; and, taking the arrows--which appeared to be +poisoned--from the snakeskin, he placed some gunpowder and balls in the +significant wrapper. He then inquired who among his trusty warrior's +would volunteer to take the packet to the dwelling of Cundincus,[*] the +Chief of the Narragansetts. Several offered their services; and, among +those, none was so eager to be employed as Rodolph Maitland. He felt an +earnest desire to see and speak with Coubitant once more: and no fear +of the personal risk that he might incur in the expedition could deter +him from thus making another attempt to obtain some certain information +respecting his lost son. + +[Footnote: Afterwards called by the settlers, 'Canonicus.'] + +Had the President known how much reason there was to fear that +treachery might be exercised towards Maitland, he would surely not have +suffered him thus to risk his valuable life. Rut he was ignorant of all +the peculiar circumstances that had occurred to show that he was a +special mark for the vengeance of Coubitant: and the confidence he felt +in his courage and ability led him--on this occasion, as on many +others--to select him as his ambassador. Two companions were assigned +to him, and Squanto was desired to attend the party as interpreter. + +When Helen heard that her husband was appointed to convey a reply to +the war-like message of the dark savage whom she had met on the hill, +and whose aspect had filled her with terror, she felt an involuntary +dread; and gladly would she have dissuaded him from accepting the +office of ambassador--which she knew not he had so earnestly +solicited--had she not been well aware that all such attempts would be +useless. Rodolph was not a man to shrink from any service that was +required of him for the public good; and least of all from any service +that involved danger and difficulty. He, however, concealed from his +anxious wife the fact that he had recognized in the Narragansett +messenger a deadly and determined foe, knowing how greatly--and perhaps +how justly--her fears would be increased, if she suspected that the +Indian champion was one of those who had planned and executed the +capture of her eldest son. + +But Janet had, as we have seen, remembered the swarthy savage, and the +scene with which his countenance was associated in her mind; and when +she had an opportunity of speaking to her master in private, she +implored him to resign the embassy into other hands, and not thus +rashly to encounter a foe, whose public conduct had proved him to be +unworthy of confidence, and whose expression of countenance betokened +both cruelty and treachery. But all her arguments were unavailing. +Maitland had undertaken the charge of the expedition at his own +request; and he would have felt himself dishonored in now declining it +from any personal motives, even had he been, in the least degree, +inclined to do so. On the contrary, his spirit was roused and excited +by the very perils he was conscious he might have to encounter; and his +desire to obtain, and convey to Helen, some intelligence of Henrich-- +even if that intelligence should still for ever the doubts end hopes, +that, in spite of every past circumstance, would sometimes arise in his +own heart, and that of his own wife--was so great that nothing could +have turned him from his purpose. He, therefore, desired the faithful +Janet to preserve the same silence on the subject of Coubitant that she +had already so judiciously adopted towards her mistress; and assured +her that he would neglect no precaution that might preserve him from +the treacherous intentions of the Indian, should any such be actually +entertained by him. + +The next morning Rodolph started at break of day, to convey the reply +of the Governor to the Narragansett Sachem, whose tribe inhabited the +district now called Rhode Island, lying to the south-west of New +Plymouth. He was accompanied by two friends, and likewise by the +interpreter, Squanto. His faithful dog, Fingal, also showed such a +strong desire to follow his master, that, although it was Maitland's +usual custom to leave him at home as a guard, during any of his +occasional absences, when his services in hunting were not required, he +could not, in this instance, resist his eager pleadings. Helen, also, +assured him that she should feel no apprehension at being deprived of +her usual protector, as no danger was likely to menace her dwelling; +and the increase in the population of the village, from the arrival of +the new settlers, had added an inmate to the family, in the person of +Claude Felton, a stout young laboring man, who had become the useful +assistant of Maitland in his agricultural occupations, and proved a +good and faithful servant. + +To his protection and watchful care Rodolph Maitland committed his +little family; and, taking a cheerful farewell of his wife and Edith, +he commenced his journey through the wild and almost trackless woods. +Guided by Squanto, the party reached the village of Cundineus, and were +received into the presence of the Sachem and his nephew Miantonomo, who +shared with him the cares and the dignity of his chieftainship. + +With the assistance of the interpreter, Rodolph informed the Chiefs +that he was the bearer of the reply of the mighty strangers to the bold +challenge that had been sent to them on the part of Cundineus and +Miantonomo; and he invited them to open the packet which he laid before +them, in order that they might fully understand the nature of that +reply, and judge whether the subjects of the powerful king of Great +Britain were terrified at the audacity of the red men. Probably Squanto +made some additions of his own to the harangue of the ambassador; for a +very ludicrous change of expression appeared on the countenances of the +savage Chieftains. The looks of fierce defiance with which they had +received the embassy gave way to anxious and timid glances, which they +hastily cast at the ominous snake-skin, while they involuntarily drew +back, as if they feared it would explode, and punish their rash +temerity. + +Rodolph saw the effect of Squanto's version of his speech, and resolved +to increase it. He understood enough of the native tongue to perceive +that the interpreter had alluded to the potent and deadly properties of +the contents of the snake-skin, and he desired him to inform the Chiefs +that the musket which he carried in his hand contained a very small +portion of the same substance, and he would give them proof of its +power. He then glanced for a moment into the lofty trees that +surrounded the place of audience, and perceiving a monkey that was +clinging to one of the wide-spreading branches, nod chattering angrily +at the intrusive foreigners, he took a deliberate aim, and in another +instant the creature lay lifeless and motionless on the ground. The +Indians were startled at the report, and amazed at the effect of the +invisible messenger of death. They hastened to examine the dead animal +but one drop of blood issuing from its skull was the only indication +that some missile had pierced its brain; and the veneration of the +Narragansetts and their Chiefs for the prowess of the white men +evidently rose in a great degree. + +But there was one among them who did not share the wonder or the awe of +the assembly. He stood silent and motionless, at a little distance from +the group, with his eyes intently fixed on Rodolph's countenance, and a +smile of malignant scorn and triumph on his own dark features. His arms +were folded across his scarred and painted breast, and his right hand +grasped the handle of a long knife that was stuck into his deerskin +belt. The action seemed to be involuntary, and without any present +purpose; for he remained in the same position, unobserved by Rodolph, +until he and his attendants had retired to the hut appointed them by +Cundineus, to rest and refresh themselves, end await the reply of the +Chief. + +Rodolph then desired Squanto to make inquiries for Coubitant, and, if +possible, to bring him to the hut. But the sagacious interpreter had +seen and recognized the white man's face; and he earnestly entreated +Maitland not to give him any opportunity of executing the vengeance +which was evidently burning at his heart, and ready to break forth in +some deed of fatal violence. Rodolph's English friends also joined so +warmly in these entreaties that he at length consented that Squanto +should seek the savage, and endeavor to draw from him all the +information that he could give respecting Henrich's death. He did so, +and a long conversation took place that evening, the result of which +was that he assured Rodolph that his son had indeed been murdered in +the wood, as he had always supposed, and that his scalp had been torn +off even before life was extinct, whilst his body had been conveyed to +the next encampment, and burned with many heathen rites, to appease the +troubled spirit of Tisquantum's son Tekoa. + +The father shuddered, and turned away to hide the rising tear, as he +listened to this harrowing but false account. He, however, fully +believed it; and felt that, henceforth, it would be vain to cherish any +hope concerning his son, except that blessed hope which is the +privilege of the Christian--the sure and certain hope of meeting +hereafter, in the presence of the God and Savior in whom he had taught +his child to place his trust. He said no more; he did not even question +Squanto as to the cause of his having spent so long a time in +conferring with Coubitant, when all the information he had obtained +amounted merely to the sad assurance that his son had suffered a +dreadful death. Had he done so, the interpreter might have found it +difficult to account for his conduct, as he had professed a strong +dislike to Coubitant, and a distrust of all his motives and actions. +The fact was, that the wily savage had discovered Squanto's love of +importance, and his desire to be supposed to possess the confidence of +the white men, and by flattering his vanity, he had drawn from him all +the information he could give with respect to the strength of the +settlers, and their capability of resisting an attack of the natives. +Squanto took care to exaggerate the numbers and the power of his +employers; but still it appeared to Coubitant, that if he could once +more induce the neighboring tribes to combine and invade their +territory, there was every probability of their being utterly +exterminated and nothing short of this could satisfy the feeling of +hatred that he entertained towards the whole race of the strangers. By +way of exalting the might of the settlers in the minds of the native, +Squanto assured Coubitant that the white men kept the plague, of which +the Indians well knew the desolating effects, imprisoned in a cellar, +where they also stowed, their gunpowder, and that they could let it +loose upon their foes at their pleasure. This strange evidence was +heard also by Miantonomo, whom Coubitant called to join the conference, +as he, knew that he already hated the English; and he desired to +strengthen that feeling to the utmost, for the furtherance of his own +plans. + +From Coubitant, Squanto also received some intelligence, which, in the +minds both of the superstitious interpreter and his heathen informant, +was of vital importance to the settlers, and calculated to inspire them +with dread. This was the awful fact that, a short time previous, +several of the neighboring tribes had met in the adjacent forest, and +that the Powows of the whole district had passed three days and nights +in cursing the strangers, and uttering against them the most horrible +imprecations. The effect of this diabolical proceeding, in causing the +defeat of their foes, Coubitant did not do not; and, in spite of his +veneration for the English, and his conviction that their deities were +more powerful than the Indian demons, Squanto was filled with +apprehensions on their account. He communicated the circumstance to +Rodolph, and was surprised and almost offended at the smile of +indifference and contempt with which the Christian listened to him. But +he found it impossible to make him attach any importance to what seemed +to him so serious a calamity; and, by degrees, his own fears subsided +and his mind was reassured by the arguments and the cool composure of +Maitland. + +Rodolph and his companions lay down to rest for the night in the Indian +hut, across the entrance of which Squanto placed several strong boughs, +and spread a cloak of deer-skin over them. This was done ostensibly for +the purpose of keeping out the cold night wind, but really to serve as +a screen from the prying eyes of Coubitant, whose intentions he much +mistrusted, and also as an obstacle to any attempt he might possibly +make to violate the laws of honor and hospitality, by a secret attack +on the person of the ambassador. Whether the savage actually meditated +any such act of treachery, was not known; but if he approached the hut +with a murderous purpose, he was probably deterred more by the fierce +growlings of Fingal--who lay at the entrance, but scarcely slept that +night--than by the barrier of boughs and deerskin. + +Several times were the party awakened by the trusty watch-dog's angry +bark; and once, when Rodolph hastened to the entrance, and drew aside +the curtain, he thought he could descry more than one retreating figure +in the uncertain darkness. The continued uneasiness of Fingal prevented +his master from again giving way to sleep until after day had dawned, +when his faithful guard became tranquil, and he likewise sought the +repose which he greatly needed before recommencing his fatiguing +journey. + +Ere he set out on his homeward way, Rodolph again repaired, with +Squanto, to the presence of the Chief; to demand his message to the +British Governor; and he was informed by Cundincus, that he had already +dispatched a messenger to restore the dreaded packet, and to deprecate +the wrath of the pale-faced Chieftain. This was all the ambassador +could desire; and, taking a courteous leave of the Sachem, he and his +attendants resumed their journey without further delay. + +For a considerable distance their path lay through the forest; and the +underwood was so close and thick that the road consisted of a narrow +track, scarcely wider than would admit of two persons passing one +another along it, and only calculated for travelling in 'Indian file,' +which is so much practiced by the natives. In this manner our party +proceeded, Rodolph leading the way, and his attendants following +singly; while Fingal, who seemed rejoiced to have left the village, +bounded along at his master's side, ever and anon leaping up to express +his joy by licking his face and hands. + +'Down, Fingal!' said his master, kindly patting his favorite's head, +and stroking his thick shaggy mane. 'Down, my good fellow; your joy is +too boisterous for this narrow, thorny path. You shall expend your +superfluous strength and spirits on the plain yonder; for I think I +detect some game scudding across the green meadow before us.' + +Rodolph paused to adjust his gun; and the sagacious dog ceased his wild +demonstrations, end paused also until the task was completed. Then as +his master rose to proceed, he once more sprang up to his shoulder, end +his intelligent eyes asked leave to dash through the covert, and drive +out the expected game. + +But why did that bound of pleasure change instantaneously into a +convulsion of agony? and why did the noble creature fall by his +master's side and look so earnestly up into his face? Surely, in the +midst of his own death struggle, he sought to tell him, with that mute +eloquence of love, that danger was near. Rodolph knew that it was so; +but no danger could then have compelled him to leave his dying friend-- +the friend whose life was now ebbing away as a sacrifice for his own. +Yes! the shaft that had pierced through the neck of Fingal was designed +for Rodolph's breast; and he who cast it deemed that it had found its +intended mark, when, through the bushes, he saw the white man's form +bend quickly and suddenly to the ground. Then Coubitant fled +exultingly, and his savage heart beat high with joy and triumph. + +But Rodolph thought not of him, or of his malice. He only saw his +faithful dog expiring at his side, and knew that he had no power to aid +him. It was evident that the arrow was poisoned, for the wound, +otherwise, appeared too slight to be mortal; and the foam that gathered +on Fingal's jaws, and the convulsive struggle that shook his form, +showed too plainly that his sufferings would soon be over. The +companions of Rodolph urged him to join them in instant flight; for +they felt the peril of their present situation, where the surrounding +thicket gave such ample opportunity to their lurking foes to take a +deadly aim, while, at the same time, it prevented them from either +discovering or pursuing their assailants. But all their arguments, and +all their entreaties, were unavailing so long as Fingal continued to +lick his master's caressing hand, and to reply to his well-known voice, +by looks of intelligent affection. + +Soon, however, his head sank powerless on Rodolph's knee, and the +bright glance of his eye faded away, and life and motion ceased. Was it +unmanly in his master to brush a tear from his eye, as he rose from the +ground, and turned away one moment from the lifeless form of his +favorite? + +'I will not leave him here,' he said. 'The savages shall not mangle his +body, as they would gladly have mangled mine. His death has saved my +life; and all that remains of him shall be carried to a place of +safety, and buried beyond the reach of those who slew him.' + +'Yes,' replied Squanto readily--for he desired the removal of the dog +from that spot, for other reasons beside the gratification of +Maitland's feelings--' Yes; we will carry him away, and hide him from +Coubitant's eyes. Doubtless he will return here, as soon as all is +quiet, to see the success of his murderous attempt; and when he finds +the path thus stained with blood, he will be satisfied, and pursue us +no further than to see whether we bury our dead companion in the +forest, or bear him to his home. We must, therefore, carry Fingal all +the way to New Plymouth, lest he should follow on our trail, and +discover that he has only slain a dog.' + +Rodolph's English companions concurred in this view, and willingly lent +their aid to convey the body of Fingal from the place of his death. A +couple of poles were cut hastily, and a rude light litter was formed; +for Squanto wished that Coubitant should find traces of such +preparations, as they would help to convince him that they had thus +borne away the wounded or dead form of the ambassador. + +'Now,' said he, when all was ready, 'not another moment must be lost. +Even now the keen eye of the foe may be upon us, and our stratagem may +be in vain. Two of you must bear the litter, and must carefully place +your feet in the same spot, so as to form but one track; and lead our +pursuers to believe that only three men have passed along. And there, +throw that bloody handkerchief on the path, and Coubitant will take it +as a trophy of success. 'Stay,' he exclaimed, as Rodolph and one of his +friends were about to raise the lifeless form of Fingal from the ground +'stay one moment, and I will completely deceive that deceiver.' + +He smiled as he spoke, for he felt it a pleasure and a triumph to +outwit the wily Coubitant. Then, while the body of the dog was +supported, he carefully pressed his feet on the soft path, so as to +leave a distinct impression, and convince any who should examine the +trail that it was not the dog who had been wounded. This cunning device +he practiced again and again until they had passed through the wood, +and entered the grassy meadow, where such precautions were no longer +needed. Then the party quickened their steps, and paused not again +until they had struck deeply into the forest that succeeded to the +undulating reach of meadowland. + +The way seemed long to Rodolph. He desired to reach his cherished home; +and yet he dreaded to return and sadden the heart of his little Edith +with the story of Fingal's death, and the sight of the inanimate form +of her last and much-loved playfellow. Had it not been for this +catastrophe, he would have kept from his wife and child the knowledge +of the cruel attempt that had been made on his life as such knowledge +could only distress them, and cause them needless anxiety and alarm in +future. But the death of Fingal must be accounted for; and, let the +consequence be what it might, it must be accounted for truly, and +without prevarication. Therefore it was that Rodolph dreaded meeting +those whose presence was the joy and the sunlight of his life. + +He reached his home, and silently entered his blooming garden; and, +with Squanto's assistance, laid the body of Fingal, now cold and stiff, +beneath the venerable tree that shaded Edith's bower. Then he entered +his dwelling, and found its inmates busily employed at their usual +domestic occupations, and overjoyed at his sudden and unexpected +arrival. But, in spite of his own pleasure, a shade of sadness and +anxiety was on his brow, which he could not hide from the quick eye of +Helen; and she eagerly inquired the cause. + +Sadly Rodolph told his story; and joy and deep gratitude for the +preservation of her beloved husband so filled and engrossed the heart +of Helen, as, for a time, to overpower every feeling of regret for the +loss of the faithful animal, who seemed to have been providentially +directed to accompany his master, and save his life at the sacrifice of +his own. + +But Edith keenly felt the loss she had sustained. She was thankful-- +very thankful--that her father had been restored to their home in +safety; but she did not the less deplore the death of her dear +companion: and, unable to restrain her tears, she hurried from the +house, and ran to hide her grief in her lonely bower. For some time her +parents did not perceive her absence, for they were occupied with their +own feelings of pious gratitude; but presently Rodolph remarked that +she had left the room, and remembered where he had deposited the body +of her favorite. He rose, and went towards the spot, accompanied by +Helen; and tears of sorrowful sympathy arose in the eyes of both, as +they beheld the desolate child lying on the ground by Fingal's side, +with her arms around his neck, and her long waving hair hanging over +his inanimate face, that had never before met her gaze without an +answering look of intelligence and affection. + +Gently they raised her, and spoke to her words of love and comfort; but +she long refused to be comforted. And though, at length, she became +calm and resigned, and never was heard to utter one murmur at this +fresh stroke of sorrow, yet her pensive sadness became more confirmed, +and plainly showed that she mourned for Fingal, not only as her lost +companion, but also as a connecting link between her own heart and the +memory of her lamented brother. Poor Edith! her early life was one of +trial and disappointment; but 'it was good for her to be afflicted.' + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +'O Christian warriors! wherefore did you thus +Forget the precepts of your Lord and Chief, +And lend yourselves to deeds of guilt and blood! +Did ye not know--or, knowing, did not heed-- +Those solemn words of His, when death was nigh, +And He bequeathed a _legacy of "peace"_ +To His disciples? "They that take the sword +Shall perish with the sword." O, well it were +If ye who left your native land, and sought +A desert for the liberty of faith, +Had acted more according to that faith, +And sought to win the souls you rashly sent +To meet their God and yours!' ANON. + +Yes, well, indeed, lied it been if the settlers had been able and +willing to preserve, unbroken, the friendly relations with the Indians, +which, after the first natural distrust felt by the natives towards the +white strangers had subsided, they were, in several instances, able to +establish. But such was not the case. They received many provocations +from the natives, even from those who professed to be most friendly +towards them, and also from the settlers who followed them from the +mother-country; and they did not always meet these provocations in the +truly Christian spirit which, it must be allowed, generally pervaded +their councils, and actuated their public and private proceedings with +the wild tribes by whom they were surrounded. + +Even Masasoyt--their friend and ally--was about this time nearly +estranged from them, and on the point of joining the Narragansetts in a +project for their destruction. This change in his sentiments was the +result of the machinations of Coubitant, assisted by the foolish +pretensions and love of interference which rendered Squanto almost as +dangerous as he was useful to his employers. His boasting tales about +the power of the English settlers to imprison and to let loose the +desolating plague at their will and pleasure, had been told to the +Sagamore of the Wampanoges, as well as to Coubitant and Miantonomo; and +suspicions had arisen in the breast of Masasoyt, which he vainly strove +to infuse into his more enlightened and trustworthy son, Mooanam. +Nothing that his father could say had any effect in weakening the +friendship entertained by the young Sachem, and his brother Quadequina, +towards the emigrants; and it was owing to this steady friendship that +they were made acquainted with the altered feelings of the Sagamore in +time to prevent their ripening into open hostility. + +Mooanam communicated to the President the doubts and suspicions that +had taken possession of his father's mind, and advised him immediately +to send the faithful and devoted Hobomak to Packanokick, to endeavor to +remove the evil impression, and restore his confidence in the Pilgrim +Fathers. He also convinced both Bradford and his council that the +conspiracy which Squanto had represented as already formed, and only +waiting the concurrence of Masasoyt to be carried into deadly effect, +was as yet in its infancy, and might, by judicious management, be +altogether broken up. The Pokanokit interpreter had greatly +exaggerated, in his report to the Governor, all that he had heard from +Coubitant while at the Narragansett village; and had persuaded him, in +spite of the opinion expressed by Rodolph, to believe not only that he +and his people had been cursed by the Powows, but also that the tribes +to which these satanic conjurors belonged were uniting for the common +purpose of attacking and destroying the British settlement. + +All this was done by Squanto, with no serious intention of injuring his +new friends, but from a vain desire to make himself important, and show +the extent of his knowledge and sagacity. His vanity was, however, very +near proving fatal to him: for when the trusty Hobomak had explained to +the Sagamore the real motives and intentions of the settlers towards +the natives, and had convinced him that all the strange and mysterious +stories that Squanto delighted to tell were either pure inventions or +gross exaggerations, a second change was effected in the old Chief's +feelings, and he sent to demand that the faithless interpreter should +be immediately delivered up to him. + +The Governor was extremely reluctant to comply with this demand, as he +well knew how cruel and how summary were the judgements of the native +Chiefs; and he, as well as the whole of the colony, felt a regard for +Squanto, notwithstanding his folly and his errors. Nevertheless, the +Pokanokit was a subject of the Sagamore, who had made an express +stipulation in his treaty with the settlers that any of his people, who +might take up their abode in the colony, should be given up to him +whenever he required it; and therefore Bradford felt himself compelled +to abandon Squanto to his fate. + +The messengers who accompanied Hobomak on his return to New Plymouth +were loaded with a quantity of valuable beaver-skins, which they laid +in a pile at the Governor's feet, as a bribe to induce him to comply +with Masasoyt's demand. These the Governor rejected with indignant +scorn, observing that no man's life could be purchased from the +English; and that if he resigned the interpreter into the power of his +native sovereign, it was only because truth and justice required it, +and not from any base motives either of fear or advantage. + +Then the messengers approached the wretched man, who stood calmly +awaiting the decision of the Governor; and he saw one of them draw from +his belt the knife that Masasoyt had commanded him to plunge into the +culprit's heart. But Squanto did not tremble. All the native +fortitude, so characteristic of his race, was manifested in this awful +moment; and the bystanders felt a respect for the Pokanokit that he had +never before inspired. + +Gladly would each individual have interposed to save him; and +breathlessly they watched the movements of the President, whose signal +was to fix the moment of Squanto's death. Bradford hesitated: the word +trembled on his lips, when suddenly looking towards the sea from the +summit of 'the Burying Hill,' on which the assembly stood, he espied a +shallop bounding over the waves, and advancing directly towards the +shore beneath. + +He made this a pretext--certainly, not a very well grounded one--for +delaying the execution of Squanto's sentence; and declared that he +would not give the fatal signal until he had ascertained the object and +the contents of the approaching vessel. This faltering on the part of +the Governor excited great wrath in the messengers of Masasoyt; and, +without any farther parley, they took up their beaver skins, and +departed to their home. Squanto's forfeited life was thus +providentially spared; and the conduct of Bradford was, through +Mooanam's good offices, overlooked b the Sagamore. But that life was +not greatly prolonged. Very soon after this event he was seized with +I virulent fever, while on a short journey with the Governor, and, in +spite of all the care and attention that were bestowed on him, he died, +much regretted by the whole colony. + +The boat, whose seasonable approach had been the means of arresting the +fatal stroke, was found to have been sent from some English fishing +vessels, many of which now constantly frequented the shores of New +England. It conveyed to the colony an addition of several able-bodied +men, who were joyfully welcomed by the settlers, as laborers were just +then much wanted, both in the fields and in the increasing town. These +men were sent out by an English merchant named Weston, who had long +endeavored to encourage the colonization of New England; but from very +different motives to those which had actuated the Pilgrim Fathers, and +led them to forsake the comforts of a European home for the toils and +uncertainties of an American wilderness. A desire for profit appears to +have been the ruling principle in Weston's mind. He was, therefore, +very indifferent as to the moral character of the men whom he sent out +to join the emigrants, and was only solicitous to secure a quick return +of the money that he had expended: and, finding that the prospect of +gain from a connection with the New Plymouthers was doubtful and tardy, +he had resolved to found a colony himself. + +For this purpose he had, some time previously, obtained a grant of a +portion of land in Massachusetts, and sent over sixty men to cultivate +it, in two ships, which he placed under the command of his brother-in- +law. The arrival of this fresh band of emigrants had proved a fruitful +source of trouble and annoyance to the first settlers, for they were +chiefly idle and profligate vagabonds, who had no settled occupation at +home, and no characters to sustain. Weston himself described them in a +letter to Bradford, as 'tolerably rude and profane.' And a friend of +the Pilgrims wrote from England to warn them against having any +connection with the new colony: and recommended them to have it +distinctly explained to the Indians, that they were a new and +independent society, for whose conduct and good faith they could in no +way be responsible. + +Notwithstanding all these warnings, and the very unprepossessing +appearance of the new emigrants, the Plymouthers had shown more +kindness and hospitality than they had prudence and caution: and had +received their countrymen into their own settlement on their arrival in +America. They had even permitted on half of their number to reside at +New Plymouth during the whole summer, while the strongest and +healthiest had proceeded to Massachusetts to fix on a spot for their +settlement, and prepare habitations. They had decided on a place called +Wessagussett,[*] a little to the south of Boston; and thither they were +afterwards followed by their companions from New Plymouth. The long +residence of these men among the pious and high-minded Pilgrims had +not, however, made any salutary impression on their minds: and all the +kindness and hospitality they had received were most ungratefully +forgotten. + +[Footnote: New Weymouth] + +In various ways the new colony vexed and annoyed the men of Plymouth; +but in no way more seriously than by their conduct towards the natives, +which was so different to the just and upright dealings of the +Pilgrims, that the Indians began to lose their confidence in the white +men, and to suspect deceit and imposition where hitherto they had only +found truth and justice. Weston's colony was, indeed, scarcely settled +at Wessagussett, before complaints were sent by the Indians to their +friends at Plymouth, of the repeated depredations that were committed +by the new settlers, who were continually carrying off their stores of +corn, and other property: and these accusations were by no means +surprising to Bradford and his council, as they had already detected +them in many acts of theft during their stay at New Plymouth. + +The harvest of this year was poor and scanty; and the great accession +to their numbers, caused by the visit of Weston's settlers, had +entirely consumed the stores of the Plymouthers, and reduced them again +to actual want. Joyfully, therefore, they hailed the arrival of two +ships from the mother country, laden with knives, beads, and various +other articles, that would be acceptable to the Indians in the way of +barter, and enable the settlers to purchase from them the necessary +supply of provisions, for which they had hitherto been compelled to pay +very dear in skins and furs. Meanwhile, the colony of Wessagussett was + in a still worse condition. They had quickly consumed all the food with +which the generous Plymouthers had supplied them, and had then stolen +everything on which they could lay their hands. They had also sold +almost all their clothes and bedding, and even their weapons; and were +brought to such extreme necessity that they did not refuse to do the +meanest services for the Indians who dwelt near their settlement, in +return for such means of subsistence as the red men were able to +furnish them with. For this condescension--so unlike the dignified yet +kind deportment of the Plymouthers--the natives despised them, and +treated them with contempt, and even violence. Thus early was the +British name brought into disrepute with the Indians, when men bearing +that name came among them for mere purposes of speculation and profit, +and ware not governed by the Christian principles of humanity and +justice that distinguished the earliest settlers in New England from +all those who followed them. Nor did the evil consequences of their ill +conduct rest with themselves. They fell also on the peaceably-disposed +colony of Plymouth, and were the means of involving them in hostilities +with the natives, which had hitherto been warded off by the kind and +judicious management of the Governor and his assistants. + +The general state of peace which had, up to this period, been +maintained with the Indians, was greatly to be attributed to the bold +and decisive measures that were always adopted by Miles Standish, the +military chief of the little community, and the leader of every warlike +expedition. He well knew how to impress the natives with a due respect, +for he never tolerated the slightest injury or insult, and yet he never +permitted his men to be guilty of any act of injustice or oppression +towards the red men. + +Since the arrival of Weston's disorderly colony, Captain Standish had +shown himself even more decided in maintaining the rights and the +dignity of the Plymouthers, and had endeavored to show the natives that +they were not to identify the new comers with those whom they had +already learnt to know and to respect. But at length, in spite of all +these judicious measures, the Pilgrims were drawn into the quarrel that +subsisted between their countrymen of Wessagussett and the natives; +and, having drawn the sword, they certainly forgot the principles of +mercy and humanity that had hitherto guided them. Active measures +were, undoubtedly, called for; but cruelty and stratagem were unworthy +of these Christian warriors. + +The continued marauding expeditions of the men of Wessagussett had +exasperated the neighboring tribes to the last degree; and the state of +weakness to which they were reduced by their own thoughtless and +improvident conduct, led the natives to suppose that they would fall an +easy prey to their combined force. They, therefore, again formed a +combination to attack and utterly destroy these oppressive intruders +into their country. Probably the council of Chiefs, who met in the +depths of the forest to arrange their plan of operations, would have +contented themselves with contriving the destruction of the new and +offending colony, which they might easily have effected had they +confined their projected operations to that object alone. But there was +one in the council who could not rest satisfied with such a partial +vengeance on the white strangers; and his fiery eloquence, and false +assertions and insinuations, prevailed over the rest of the Chiefs to +disregard every treaty, and every obligation that ought to have bound +them to the settlers of New Plymouth, and to include them also in their +savage scheme of massacre and plunder. + +The argument by which he finally overcame the scruples of those Chiefs +who had allied themselves with the first emigrants, and had acquired a +regard and respect for them, was one of self-preservation. He boldly +asserted that the men of New Plymouth would never either pardon or +forget the destruction of their countrymen of Wessagussett, but would +immediately lay aside the mask of kindness and forbearance with which +they had hitherto concealed their undoubted project of acquiring the +dominion of the whole country, and gradually destroying the red men; +and would call forth all their supernatural powers, and blast them with +fire and plague, unless they were taken by surprise, and annihilated at +one fell swoop. All the superstitious fears of the ignorant natives +were thus aroused, and if there were any in the assembly who were too +well acquainted with the white men to credit all that Coubitant +asserted, they thought it either unsafe or unwise to express their +opinions any further. + +Happily for the settlers, one such faithful and friendly spirit was +there to watch for their interests, and provide for their preservation. +Masasoyt had resumed all his kindly feelings towards his English +allies, since the misunderstanding occasioned by Squanto's meddling +propensities had been explained away by the trusty Hobomak. He had also +recently been visited by Edward Winslow, when he was afflicted with a +severe illness, and the Christian soldier had ministered to his relief +in a way that had excited both the wonder and the lively gratitude of +the Sagamore. When, therefore, he obeyed the summons of Coubitant to +join the general council of Chiefs, he had no intention of consenting +to any hostile measures being undertaken against his powerful and +beneficent friends. Weston's wild and disorderly crew had excited his +anger in common with that of all the other neighboring Sachems; and he +was quite willing to combine with his red brethren for their +chastisement--perhaps, even for their utter destruction: but he did not +confound the Pilgrim Fathers, who had never failed in truth and +honesty, with the deceitful and marauding vagabonds who wore white +faces, and called themselves Christian subjects of King James, while +they acted like heathen savages. + +At first, Masasoyt met the malignant arguments and false assertions of +Coubitant with an open and generous statement of the upright conduct of +the strangers towards himself and his tribe, during the three years of +their residence in New England; and urged the assembled Chiefs to +beware how they attempted to molest men whose power to resist and +punish any such attempt was only equaled by their willingness and +ability to benefit those who treated them with confidence and +integrity. But he soon perceived that his arguments in favor of mercy +and justice were powerless, when opposed to the fierce and crafty +harangues of Coubitant; and he, therefore, forbore to make any further +reply, and even appeared to acquiesce in the decision of the council, +that the only means of securing the safety and independence of the +Indian tribes was utterly to exterminate the invaders. + +The proposed plan for accomplishing this barbarous project, was first +to surround and fall on the miserable and sickly colony of +Wessagussett; and then, before the news of the massacre could reach New +Plymouth, to hasten thither, and wreak on its unsuspecting and +unprepared inhabitants the same fierce vengeance. + +The day and hour were fixed, and every necessary preliminary was +minutely arranged; and then the council broke up, and the Chiefs +returned to their respective dwellings, to collect and fully arm their +followers, and prepare to meet again at the appointed time and place, +with both hands and hearts read to execute the bloody deed. + +Masasoyt retired like the rest; and, attended by the little band of +warriors who formed his bodyguard, be took the forest path that led to +his dwelling at Packanokick. But he did not long pursue that path. When +he had proceeded such a distance through the forest as to feel sure +that he should not, by turning to the right, cross the route of any of +the other Chiefs, he dismissed all his followers, except two of the +most trusty and confidential. The rest he desired to proceed +immediately to Packanokick, and inform his people that they must +prepare for a warlike expedition, and that he was going to visit his +son, Mooanam, in order to give him directions to join in the enterprise +with that portion of the tribe that was under his authority. + +This was very far from being the truth; but the Indian Sagamore +considered that every falsehood and stratagem was allowable, and even +meritorious, that could further a desired object, especially if that +object was so undoubtedly good in itself as that which now engrossed +his thoughts and wishes. He did not know that it is sin to 'do evil +that good may come'; and therefore we must judge him by his generous +motives, and not by his heathen practice. + +Having thus freed himself from those on whose discretion and fidelity +he could not fully rely, he changed his course, and traveled straight +towards New Plymouth. There was no beaten track through the tangled +woods in that direction; but the position of the sun, and the +appearance of the trees, were sufficient guides for the sagacious +Indian Chief, and, in spite of his advanced age, he pursued his way +with vigor and activity. Frequently his path was obstructed by the +luxuriant growth of underwood, or by the cable-like creepers that hung +in every direction, crossing each other like the rigging of a ship, and +presenting obstacles that nothing but the tomahawks that hung from the +girdles of the natives enabled them to overcome. With these weapons-- +ever ready, in the hand of an Indian, either to cut his way through the +forest, to fell the timbers for his wigwam or his canoe, to slay the +game that his arrows have brought to the ground, or to cleave the skull +of his enemy--did old Masasoyt and his devoted followers divide the +large tough climbing plants that obstructed their passage. Sometimes, +also, when the sun was totally obscured and the necessary windings in +their course would hive rendered them uncertain whether they were +following the right direction, these useful tomahawks enabled them to +consult the Indian compass. + +The manner in which these children of the wilderness supply to +themselves the want of that invaluable instrument is both curious and +ingenious, and it proved of essential use to the Wampanoge Chief on +this occasion. Whenever he found himself at fault from the absence of +the sun, or any other direct indication of the proper course, he raised +his battle-axe, and struck a heavy blow at some neighboring pine or +birch tree, on each side of which he cut a deep notch, and then, by +examining the grain of the wood, he could tell which was the north, and +which the south side--the former being easily ascertained by the +greater closeness of the concentric rings, and consequent hardness of +the fiber. The sap being more drawn to the south side by the action of +the sun, causes the rings on that side to swell more; and this +operation of nature has been observed by nature's children, and +employed by them as a sure guide in their long wanderings through the +pathless forests where they find a home. + +The journey to New Plymouth was rather a long one; but the Sagamore and +his companions were each provided with a small quantity of their usual +travelling food, _nokake_--or meal made of parched maize--which they +carried, in true Indian fashion, in their hollow leathern girdles. When +they came to a pond, or brook, they paused to eat a few handsful of +this simple provision, which is so dry that it can only be swallowed +when either water or snow is at hand, ready to wash down each mouthful; +and, consequently, in summer the natives have sometimes to travel long +distances before they can avail themselves of the food that is already +in their hands. + +Immediately on his arrival at New Plymouth, the Sagamore repaired to +the dwelling of Bradford; and, requesting a private interview--at which +no one was allowed to be present except the Wampanoge interpreter +Hobomak--he informed him of the conspiracy of the natives, and warned +him to be well prepared for the intended attack. Could he have given +this warning, and ensured the safety of his allies, without betraying +the whole of the conspirators' projects, he would gladly have done so; +for he both despised and hated the men of Wessagussett, and he was +willing that they should he treated as they seemed disposed to treat +such of his race as they could get into their power. He even made an +attempt to persuade Bradford to leave them to the fate they so well +deserved, and to connive at their destruction, which would remove an +increasing evil from the first colony. + +But the President soon convinced him that such a course would be +altogether at variance with the precepts and principles of that +religion in which he gloried, and which it was his chief aim, and that +of all his Christian brethren, to exalt and make honorable in the eyes +of the natives: and that, therefore, no selfish considerations could +induce them to abandon their countrymen to destruction, notwithstanding +their ingratitude towards themselves, and their ill conduct towards the +Indians. + +With this decision Masasoyt was extremely dissatisfied: but he could +not now withdraw the information he had imparted, even if he desired +it; and he also felt it to be most politic to secure the friendship of +the white men, even if it should involve the sacrifice of the lives of +some of his own countrymen, and interfere with their projects of +vengeance on their foes. This was most likely to be the case in the +present instance; for the Governor was excited to great indignation by +the intelligence f this second conspiracy, in which several of the +Chiefs who had signed the treaty with Captain Standish were concerned; +and he immediately summoned the gallant soldier, and the rest of his +council, to deliberate on the best means of defeating it. + +It now only wanted three days of the time appointed for the gathering +of the red warriors, and the attack on Wessagussett. No time was, +therefore, to be lost; and it was soon determined that Standish, with a +band of eight men, should march the following morning at day-break, and +come stealthily upon the savages before they could he fully prepared +for the assault. It was a bold--perhaps a rash--measure, for so small a +party to go forth, and encounter the native forces thus combined. But +Standish, though a man of prudence and discretion, was a stranger to +fear; and he and his followers had already learnt the power of order +and discipline, in compensating for any disadvantage of numbers. It +was, therefore, with cheerful confidence that the military force of the +settlement prepared for their march and they plainly showed on what +that confidence was founded, by requesting the prayers of the +congregation for their success. + +A great part of the night was, accordingly, spent in prayer; and the +blessing of the God of truth and mercy was solemnly asked upon an +enterprise that the leaders well knew was about to be carried out by +fraud and cruelty. + +At sunrise, the soldiers met on 'the Burying Hill,' and the staff of +office was given, with much solemnity, to Captain Standish, by the +pious and venerable Brewster. They had already taken leave of their +wives and families, who did not altogether share the cheerful +exultation displayed by the Puritan warriors; and who were not +permitted to be present at this final ceremony, lest their anxious +fears should disturb the composure of their husbands and fathers. +Notwithstanding this characteristic prohibition, Helen, and her younger +daughter Edith, had ventured to station themselves in the path that led +down 'the Burying Hill,' in the direction in which Standish and his men +were to march, that they might take one more farewell of Rodolph before +he left them on an expedition which, to their minds, seemed fraught +with danger and uncertainty; and where they feared he might again be +exposed to the vengeance of his untiring foe. + +The gallant little band marched down the hill, and came where Edith and +her child stood waiting, beneath a tree, for what might be their last +look on one most dearly loved; and when Rodolph saw them he forgot the +strictness of discipline and order required by his commander, and left +the ranks to indulge the feelings of his heart, by again embracing his +weeping wife and child. + +The stern captain instantly recalled him; and when he saw a tear +glistening in the eye of the husband and father, a slight expression of +wonder and contempt passed over his countenance. He marveled that so +brave a soldier and so strict a Puritan as Rodolph Maitland should +still remain subject to so much worldly weakness. But Standish was not, +at that time, a married man; and he was very deeply imbued with all the +severe and unbending principles of his sect, which even went so far as +to demand the suppression of all natural feelings--making it a fault +for a mother to kiss her children on the Lord's day--and inflicting +actual punishment on the captain of a ship for having embraced his wife +on 5 Sunday, when, after a long separation, she hurried to meet him, as +he landed from the vessel! To such puerile littlenesses will even great +minds descend. + +Rodolph was unmoved by the commander's contemptuous glance. He knew his +own unflinching Puritan principles, and his own undaunted courage; and +he knew his value in the eyes of Standish. The captain knew it also, +for he never liked to go on any enterprise that required bravery and +cool judgement without securing the aid of Maitland; and although the +tenderness of his friend's feelings, and the warmth of his domestic +attachments--so different to the coolness and apathy which was so +prevalent in the community--were a continual subject of surprise and +pity to the iron-hearted leader, yet he highly respected him, and even +loved him, as much as such a gentle feeling as love of any kind could +find admittance to his breast. + +They journeyed on then--that stern captain, who had no tie to life, and +deemed it a privilege to die with 'the sword of the Lord and of Gideon' +in his hand, fighting for the cause of his own peculiar sect, in which +alone he thought salvation could be found; and that warm-hearted +husband and father, who felt that he had left behind him what was far +dearer than life itself--those who alone made life precious to him-and +who yet was willing to sacrifice all, if honor and duty demanded it. +Which was the braver man of the two? + +Both were brave; but Standish was the most unscrupulous. He considered +that any stratagem was lawful which could place his heathen enemies in +his power; and no arguments of the high-minded and truthful Maitland +could convince him that deceit and treachery, even towards their +infidel foes, were unworthy of Christian warriors. Miles Standish was +resolved to use some device to get the chiefs of the conspiracy off +their guard, and, by destroying them, to break up the hostile +confederacy altogether: and as Maitland was bound to obey his orders, +and also knew the utter impossibility either of changing the resolves +of his captain or of deserting the enterprise, he was compelled to join +in proceedings that he could not approve. + +When the little band had arrived at the spot indicated by Masasoyt, and +within a short distance of the Indian place of rendezvous, Standish +commanded his men to halt for rest and refreshment for the last time +before the expected encounter with the army of savages who were +assembling for their destruction. This halting-place was situated on +the summit of a considerable elevation, well covered with trees and +bushes, and overlooking a plain, on the further side of which the +Indian camp was formed. The advantageous position in which the +emigrants were posted enabled them to obtain a full view of their +enemies without being perceived by them; and Captain Standish resolved +to remain there quietly that night, in order to recruit the strength of +his men after their rapid and toilsome journey, and to mature his plans +for subduing the horde of natives before him with so small a band as +now surrounded him, and who waited but his orders to rush on to the +most desperate enterprise. + +The Wampanoge interpreter, Hobomak, accompanied the party at his own +desire, and that, also, of his sovereign, Masasoyt. Standish was glad +of his assistance in his capacity of interpreter: he had already shown +such devoted attachment to the English, that they entertained no fears +of his either betraying or deserting their cause; and, on this +occasion, he fully justified their confidence. + +Early in the morning, the leader announced his intention of going +himself to the Indian camp, to make overtures of peace, and to invite +the Chiefs to a conference; and he desired his men to construct a +strong and spacious wigwam for their reception, and to make a door to +it, which could be closed and fastened securely. He did not then +explain his project more clearly; but Rudolph understood it, and his +soul revolted from the treachery he suspected. 'Now,' said the +captain, having finished his directions to his well-disciplined +followers, 'who will volunteer to go down with me and Hobomak to the +heathen camp, and to carry the flag of truce before me? It may be a +service of danger to enter that hornet's nest; and no one who has left +his soldier's heart at home with his wife or his children, had better +attempt it.' + +Rudolph felt the sarcasm, though it was uttered good humoredly, and he +instantly replied-- + +'I am ready, my chief, to attend you wherever you may go; and if I have +left my heart's affections at New Plymouth, you shall see that I have +brought with me none the less of courage and fidelity to my leaders and +my countrymen. The dearer my home, the more energetic shall be my +efforts to preserve it from desolation. Besides,' he added, In an +undertone, so that only Standish should hear: 'I much prefer going +boldly into the midst of the enemy, even at the risk of my life, to +remaining here to assist in constructing a trap for their destruction.' + +'You are a brave fellow, Maitland,' said the captain, grasping his hand +with warmth and energy, 'but you have brought some peculiar prejudices +over from Europe with you, and do not yet perceive the difference of +warring on equal terms with civilized troops--as you were accustomed to +do in your youth--and contending with a horde of savages, who know +nothing of the laws of honor, and who are even now combined to destroy +us all, without either challenge or preparation. Come along with me, +and leave the rest to do as I have directed. Necessity has no law; and +if we do not meet those cunning natives with equal cunning, we shall +have no chance against them.' + +'Truth and sincerity appear to me the strongest necessity; and the God +of truth will order the results as he pleases,' answered Rodolph. 'But +I have sworn to obey your orders, and you need not fear the constancy +of either my heart or hand. I know my duty as a soldier, and I will do +it.' + +'I know you will, Maitland,' replied his commander; and his respect for +his conscientious friend rose higher than ever, while a slight +misgiving as to the righteousness of his own projected plan passed +through his breast. It did not abide there, however, for he was really +satisfied that he was acting in conformity to the will of God, and that +he was fully justified in asking for His blessing to crown his +murderous schemes with success. + +Maitland took the flag of truce, which consisted of a long spear, with +a white handkerchief attached to the summit, and preceded the captain, +who followed in full uniform, attended by his swarthy interpreter. As +soon as they emerged from the wood that covered the halting-place, and +entered the open plain, they were espied by the keen and watchful eyes +of the natives; and a messenger was dispatched to meet them, and bring +them to the presence of the Indian leader, Wattawamat, who was regarded +as the chief of the conspirators. + +Captain Standish assumed a pacific air, and desired Hobomak to advance +before him, and inform the Chiefs that he came to propose terms of +reconciliation and peace. He then himself approached them; and, with +the aid of the interpreter, made to them a rather lengthy harangue on +the benefits that would accrue to them from preserving peace with +the white men; and his sorrow, and that of his employers, on having +accidentally discovered that the tribes of Massachusetts entertained +feelings of enmity towards the British settlers at Wessagussett. + +Ever and anon, during the translations of the various paragraphs of +this speech, Rodolph observed the keen eyes of the captain, as they +carefully surveyed the surrounding force, and examined the individuals +who appeared to be their leaders. And once, when his own eye followed +the direction of his commander's, his glance encountered one that +instantly riveted it, and excited in his breast some sensations--not of +_fear,_ for Rodolph knew not the feeling--but of inquietude and +distrust. Yes; Coubitant was there, gazing at his supposed victim with +amazement and hatred; and half inclined to believe that some +supernatural power must belong to the man who could have been wounded +with his deadly arrow, and yet survive to confront him once more. There +he stood--with disappointed vengeance in his heart, and fury flashing +from that eye of fire. + +But while he kept a continual watch on every movement of Rodolph's, his +quick ear lost not one word of the speech that Hobomak was rendering +into his native tongue. He heard when, in Standish's name, he invited +the Chiefs to meet him in the wigwam that his men were constructing on +the border of the thicket, and where, he said, he would smoke with them +the pipe of peace, and give to them the presents that the Governor had +sent, as pledges of his friendly intentions. + +The moment this invitation had been delivered, Coubitant approached +Wattawamat, and whispered a few words in his ear, to which the +Chieftain gave a sign of acquiescence; and then the Nansett left the +assembly, and disappeared among the trees and bushes that bounded the +plain on every side. + +Wattawamat gave no immediate reply to the proposal of the English +Chief; but, as is not unusual with the Indians, kept up a long +discourse, and contrived to lengthen the audience for a considerable +time. Another Indian then approached the Sachem, and again whispered +to him some words that gave him evident satisfaction, for he smiled +grimly, and displayed his fine row of ivory teeth for a moment, as he +nodded approbation to the messenger. Then, resuming his wonted gravity +of demeanor, he replied to Captain Standish that he was satisfied, by +his assurances, of the good faith of the white men, and that he and his +brother Chiefs would avail themselves of his invitation, and meet in +the wigwam a little before sunset; where he hoped so to arrange all the +little disagreements that had occurred between the red men and the +mighty strangers, as to be able to establish between them and all his +countrymen the same friendship and alliance that appeared to exist with +the Wampanoge tribe, whose Chief, he observed, with a slight curl of +his lip, had failed in his promise to attend their meeting that day. + +The cause of this favorable decision on the part of Wattawamat was the +report that Coubitant had just sent him of the insignificant force of +the English, which that crafty and swift-footed warrior had contrived +to ascertain, by running round the border of the weed to the place +where Standish's men were at work, and taking an accurate and +unobserved survey of their numbers. + +He felt convinced that it would be easy for the Chiefs, and such of +their attendants as might be allowed to follow them to the place of +conference, to overpower and destroy every one of the little band of +whites, and then to prosecute their original intention of carrying fire +and slaughter into both the British settlements. In all this scheme +there was nothing so grateful to the ruthless heart of Coubitant as the +idea of Rodolph's death; and that too, as he trusted, by his own hand. +O, how he panted for the devilish joy of tearing off his scalp, and +carrying it back to throw it triumphantly at Henrich's feet! We shall +see whether such joy was accorded to him. + +Standish and his companions took their leave, and returned to the hill, +where they found great progress had been made in building the wigwam; +and two hours before sunset it was completely wattled round, leaving +only a small aperture near the top to admit light, and a narrow place +of entrance, to which a strong door was affixed. + +The captain then explained his plan, which was approved by all but +Maitland; and he forbore to urge any further opposition, which, he +felt, would now be useless. A temperate meal was partaken of, and a +hymn sung by the undaunted little company; and pipes and tobacco having +been plentifully placed in the hut, the sides of which were decorated +with pieces of gay colored calico, and a few knives and trinkets, as +pretended gifts to the Chiefs, nothing remained but to await the +arrival of the victims. + +Soon the Indian Chiefs, decked in all their bravery of feathers and +embroidered skins, came marching a cross the plain, followed by a few +attendants less richly adorned. Standish and his party went to meet +them, and conducted them with much courtesy to the wigwam, which was +soon obscured by the clouds of smoke that issued from the pipes of the +grave and silent assembly. But this silent gravity did not long +continue. Captain Standish addressed the Chiefs, and strove to speak +kindly to men whose deaths he was compassing all the while: but, +whether his resolution somewhat failed as the moment for the execution +of his bloody purpose drew on, or whether he was disconcerted by the +absence of Rodolph, who refused to enter the wigwam, and assist at the +slaughter, so it was that he manifested evident signs of weakness and +indecision. + +The Chiefs were emboldened by this, and they were troubled by no qualms +of conscience on the subject of shedding the white men's blood. They +rose from their seats on the ground, and began to taunt the captain +with his want of eloquence, and also with the smallness of his stature, +which was despicable in their eyes. Then, growing still bolder as they +became excited, they drew their knives, and whetted them before the +eyes of their hosts: flourishing them round their heads, and boasting +how they had already shed the blood of many white men in the distant +European settlements. + +It was a fearful scene: but the real peril of his situation instantly +restored the commander to his wonted resolution and firmness. He called +on his men to be ready, and not to allow one of the Chiefs to escape +from the wigwam, and with his hand on his pistols, he waited the proper +moment for action. The Indians continued to pour forth the most abusive +epithets: but they did not begin the expected attack, and it was +evident that they were a little intimidated by the undaunted bearing of +the white men. One of them, however, seemed actuated by some desperate +purpose, and to be regardless of aught else. From the moment of his +entrance into the wigwam, his eyes had sought some object that they did +not find: and now, in all the excitement of the approaching conflict, +his only aim seemed to be to make his way through the entrance in +search of some person on whom he desired to wreak his fury. It was +Rodolph whom Coubitant sought, and who was now, providentially, out of +his reach, and waiting the result of the deed against which he had +vainly protested. + +At length the wrath of Standish broke loose. He gave the appointed +signal, and the door was closed--shutting in friends and foes in one +small field of battle, or, rather, of carnage. The scene in the dimly- +lighted wigwam was terrific; and the yells of the infuriated natives +broke, with a sickening effect, on the ears of Rodolph Maitland, who +could not consent to share in what he considered a murderous conflict, +and not an honorable war; and who yet felt as if he was deserting his +countrymen, by thus remaining inactive. + +But if he felt undecided as to his proper course of action, that +indecision did not last long. In a few moments the door of the wigwam +was violently burst open, and the combatants rushed out, struggling and +bleeding, from the den of slaughter. All the white men came forth, for, +though many of them were wounded, not one had fallen. But three of the +Indians lay dead and dying on the floor of the hut; one of them being +the mangled body of Wattawamat, who was slain by Standish with his own +knife--that very knife which the savage had sharpened for the purpose +of plunging it into the heart of the white chief! + +Where was Rodolph now? In the midst of the fray, fighting desperately +and successfully. The moment he saw the battle raging in open field, +and beheld the blood flowing from the wounds of his countrymen, he +forgot all else except that his strong right arm wielded a trusty +blade; and its skilful stroke soon brought another of the red warriors +to the ground, and chased away those who sought to secure their wounded +comrade. The Indians saw that they were overmatched, and that nothing +but flight could save the remainder of their party; they therefore +uttered their wild war-cry once more, and commenced a rapid retreat +down the hill, pausing several times to send back a volley of arrows on +their victorious foes; which, however, fell harmless to the earth, +though more than one was aimed at Rodolph, by the strong and skilful +hand of Coubitant. + +But rest was not to be afforded to the little conquering band. While +they were securing the wounded Indian, and binding up their own wounds, +they discovered a movement in the body of savages on the other side of +the plain, and truly surmised that they were preparing to attack them +in greater numbers. Standish instantly gave orders that the Indian whom +Rodolph had brought to the ground should be hung to a neighboring tree, +which was as instantly executed; and he re-entered the tent, to make +sure that no life remained in those three who lay on its bloody floor. +All were dead: and Standish, approaching the body of the Chieftain +Wattawamat, raised his good broad sword, and at one blow severed the +head from the trunk. Then seizing the gory head by the long scalp-lock, +he carried it forth as a trophy, and desired one of his men to secure +it, and carry it back to New Plymouth. + +No time remained for further parley. A band of Indians were approaching +across the plain; and Standish disdained to fly, even before such +superior numbers. Every musket and pistol was hastily loaded, and the +undaunted party marched down the hill to meet the coming foe. They met: +and in spite of the furious onset of the savages, they were again made +to feel that their undisciplined hordes were no match for the well- +aimed fire-arms of the white men, and had no power to break the order +of their steady ranks. Once more they fled, leaving another of their +number dead on the field, and they returned no more to the charge. +During all this affair, Hobomak had remained a quiet spectator of the +combat, and of the defeat of his countrymen; and now he approached the +English captain, and complacently praised his bravery and military +prowess; and he remained as devoted as ever to his Christian friends. + +The triumphant soldiers returned to New Plymouth, and were received +with joyful exultation by the Governor and the inhabitants, who felt +deeply grateful for the deliverance that had been accorded to them, and +the safety of the brave men who had fought in their defense. All the +little band had been preserved from serious personal injury; but +Rodolph Maitland had also been preserved from blood-guiltiness, and +that was more to him than life and safety, and to his Christian and +devoted wife also. + +The head of Wattawamat was brought to New Plymouth, and the dreadful +trophy was conspicuously placed over the entrance to the fortress, as a +warning to the natives against any future conspiracies for the +destruction of the white men. So great, indeed, was the terror inspired +by the power and the severity of the settlers, that many of the +natives--who were conscious of having been engaged in the conspiracy, +though undiscovered--left their wigwams, and fled into the woods, or +concealed themselves in reedy morasses, where a great number of them +perished from hunger and disease. The settlers were much distressed at +this result of their proceedings, which, at the same time, they +considered to have been perfectly justified by the necessity of self- +preservation. But when their venerated pastor Robinson--to whom they +had, ever since their emigration, looked for guidance and sympathy-- +heard of these sad events, he expressed the deepest sorrow, and begged +them never again to be led away by the fiery temper of their leader; +adding these touching and impressive words--' How happy a thing had it +been, if you had _converted some_ before you had killed any!' + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +'A change came o'er the spirit of my dream: +The boy was sprung to manhood; to the wilds +Of distant climes he made himself a home. +And his soul drank their beauties; he was girt +With strange and dusky aspects; he was not +Himself like what he had been:--on the sea, +And on the shore, he was a wanderer.' BYRON. + +On the border of a green meadow, watered by a narrow stream, the +wigwams of a large Indian settlement were lighted up by the slanting +beams of the setting sun, as they shone, soft and bright, through the +tall dark pines and gently-waving birch trees beneath which the village +was erected. The deep red trunks of the ancient fir trees contrasted +beautifully with the silvery bark of the birch; and between the shadows +which were cast by the gigantic boles of these, and many other +varieties of timber, the sunbeams played on the smooth soft turf, and +illuminated a scene of peaceful joy and contentment. + +Towards the center of the broken and irregular semi-circle in which the +huts were arranged, rose two wigwams, of a size and construction +superior to the rest; and around them were planted many flowering +shrubs and fruit-bearing plants, that clearly showed the habitations to +have been permanently fixed for some seasons, and to have been occupied +by persons who possessed more of good taste and forethought than are +commonly displayed by the improvident natives. Many climbing plants +also threw their luxuriant branches over the sides and roof of these +rude, but picturesque dwellings, and the brilliant blossoms hung +gracefully around the eaves and the doorway, and moved gently in the +evening breeze. + +On a neatly-carved bench, in front of one of these wigwams, sat an aged +Indian Chief, and by his side a young woman, who seemed to possess all +the ease of manner and refinement of a European, but whose clear brown +skin, and glossy jet-black hair and eyes, at once showed her to be of +the same race as her venerable companion. Her dress was also Indian, +but arranged with a taste and delicacy that rendered it eminently +becoming to her graceful figure; while her hair, instead of being +either drawn up to knot on the crown of the head, or left loose and +disheveled in native fashion, was braided into a truly classical form, +and simply adorned with a beautiful white water-lily--a flower that +Oriana always loved. + +Two other figures completed the group that was formed near the wigwam +door. One of them was a young man of tall end muscular form, whose +dress and richly-carved weapons would have proclaimed him to be an +Indian warrior and chieftain, had not his curling brown hair, and deep +blue eyes, spoken of a Saxon lineage. Courage and intelligence gleamed +in those fearless eyes, but no Indian fierceness or cunning were there; +and as the tall warrior stooped towards the ground, and lifted up in +his arms a laughing little child that was reclining on the mossy turf, +and tearing to pieces a handful of bright-colored flowers that his +father had gathered for him, the smile of affection and happiness that +lighted up those clear blue eyes, showed that a warm and manly heart +was there. + +'Ah! Ludovico!' said the happy young father, as he fondly kissed the +child, whose azure eyes, and long black eyelashes and curling raven +hair, showed his descent both from the fair race of Britain, and +America's wild wandering children. 'Ah, Ludovico! how well I remember +your uncle, when he was a merry infant like you, and used to roll on +the grass in my sweet sister Edith's garden, and tear its gaudy +blossoms, as you do these flowers of the forest. Those were happy +days,' he added--and the bright smile of careless mirth changed to one +of pensive sadness--'yes; those were happy days that never can return. +If my sisters, and my playful little brother, yet live, they must be +changed indeed from what they were when last I saw their sweet faces on +that eventful evening, that fixed the course of my destiny. Edith must +now be a woman--a lovely woman, too; and little Ludovico a fine open- +hearted boy. And my beloved parents, too: O, that I knew they were +alive and well and that ere long they would see and bless my Oriana and +my child!' + +And Henrich seated himself by the side of his young Indian wife, and +gazed in the face of his laughing boy, with an expression at once so +sad and sweet, that the child became silent and thoughtful too; and, +dropping the flowers that filled his little hands, he gently clasped +them as if in prayer, and looked long and searchingly into his father's +eyes. + +'There, now you look exactly as my brother used to do when he knelt at +my mother's knee, and she taught him to lisp his evening prayer,' +exclaimed Henrich and his eyes glistened with emotion, as home, and all +its loved associations, rushed into his mind. + +Oriana saw his sadness; and felt--as she often had done before on +similar occasions--a pang of painful regret, and even of jealousy, +towards those much-loved relatives whom her husband still so deeply +regretted. She laid her hand on his, and raising her large expressive +eyes to his now melancholy countenance, she gently said-- + +'Does Henrich still grieve that the red men stole him away from the +home of his childhood, and brought him to dwell among the forests? Is +not Oriana better to him than a sister, and are not the smiles of his +own Ludovico sweeter to his heart than even those of his little brother +used to be? And is not my father his father also? O Henrich--my own +Henrich'--she added, while she leaned her head on his shoulder, and +tears burst from her eyes, and chased each other down her clear olive +checks, to which deep emotion now gave a richer glow--'tell me, do you +wish to be set free from all the ties that bind you to our race, and +return to your own people, to dwell again with them; and, perhaps, to +lift the tomahawk, and east the spear against those who have loved you, +and cherished you so fondly? Often have you told me that your Indian +wife and child are dearer to you than all that you have left behind you +at New Plymouth. But tell it to me again! Let me hear you say again +that you are happy here, and will never desert us; for when I see that +sorrowful look in your dear eyes, and remember all you have lost, and +still are losing, to live in a wilderness with wild and savage men, my +heart misgives me; and I feel that you were never made for such a life, +and that your love is far too precious to be given for ever to an +Indian girl.' + +The smile returned to Henrich's eyes, as he listened to this fond +appeal; and he almost reproached himself for ever suffering regret for +the blessings he had lost to arise in his mind, when those he still +possessed were so many and so great. + +'Dear Oriana, you need not fear,' he replied, affectionately; 'I speak +the truth of my heart when I tell you that I would not exchange my +Indian home, and sacrifice my Indian squaw, and my little half-bred +son, for all the comforts and pleasures of civilized life--no, not even +to be restored to the parents I still love so dearly, and the brother +and sister who played with me in childhood. But still I yearn to look +upon their faces again, and to hear once more their words of love. I +well know how they have all mourned for me: and I know how, even after +so many years have passed, they would rejoice at finding me again!' + +'Yes; they must indeed have mourned for you, Henrich. That must have +been a sad night to them when Coubitant bore you away. But I owe all +the happiness of my life to that cruel deed--and can I regret it? If my +"white brother" had not come to our camp, I should have lived and died +an ignorant Indian squaw--I should have known no thing of true +religion, or of the Christian's God--and,' continued Oriana, smiling at +her husband with a sweetness and archness of expression that made her +countenance really beautiful, 'I should never have known my Henrich.' + +'Child!' said old Tisquantum, rousing himself from the half-dreamy +reverie in which he had been sitting, and enjoying the warm sunbeams as +they fell on his now feeble limbs, and long white hair. 'Child, are you +talking again of Henrich leaving us? It is wrong of you to doubt him. +My son has given me his word that he will never take you from me until +Mahneto recalls my spirit to himself, and I dwell again with my +fathers. Has he not also said that he will never leave or forsake you +and his boy? Why, then, do you make your heart sad? Henrich has never +deceived us--he has never, in all the years that he has lived in our +wigwam, and shared our wanderings, said the thing that was not: and +shall we suspect him now? No, Oriana; I trust him as I would have +trusted my own Tekoa: and had my brave boy lived he could not have been +dearer to me than Henrich is. He could not have surpassed him in +hunting or in war: he could not have guided and governed my people with +more wisdom, now that I am too old and feeble to be their leader: and +he could not have watched over my declining years with more of +gentleness and love. Henrich will never desert us: no, not if we return +to the head-quarters of our tribe near Paomet,[*] as I hope to do ere I +close my eyes in death. So long as I feared my white son would leave +us, and return to his own people, I never turned my feet towards +Paomet; for he had wound himself into my heart, and had taken Tekoa's +place there: and I saw that he had wound himself into your heart too, +my child; and I knew that he was more to us than the land of our birth. +Therefore I have kept my hunters wandering from north to south, and +from east to west, and have visited the mountains, and the prairies, +and the mighty rivers, and the great lakes; and have found a home in +all. But now our Henrich is one of us, and never will forsake us for +any others. Is he not Sachem of my warriors, and do they not look to +him as their leader and their father? No; Henrich will never leave us +now!' + +[Footnote: The native name for Cape Cod, near which the main body of +the Nausetts resided.] + +And the old man, who had become excited during this long harangue, +smiled at his children with love and confidence, and again leaned back +and closed his eyes, relapsing into that quiet dreamy state in which +the Indians, especially the more aged among them, are so fond of +indulging. + +Tisquantum was now a very old man; and the great changes and +vicissitudes of climate and mode of life, and the severe bodily +exertions in warfare and hunting, to which he had been all his life +exposed, made him appear more advanced in years than he actually was. +Since the marriage of his daughter to the white stranger--which +occurred about three years previous to the time at which our narrative +has now arrived--he had indulged himself in an almost total cessation +from business, and from every active employment, and had resigned the +government of his followers into the able and energetic hands of his +son-in-law. Henrich was now regarded as Chieftain of that branch of the +Nausett tribe over which Tisquantum held authority; and so much had he. +made himself both loved and respected during his residence among the +red men, that all jealousy of his English origin and foreign complexion +had gradually died away, and his guidance in war or in council was +always promptly and implicitly followed. + +And Henrich was happy--very happy--in his wild and wandering life. He +had passed from boyhood to manhood amid the scenery and the inhabitants +of the wilderness; and though his heart and his memory would still +frequently revert to the home of his parents, and all that he had loved +and prized of the connections and the habits of civilized life, yet he +now hardly wished to resume those habits. Indeed, had such a resumption +implied the abandoning his wife and child, and his venerable father-in- +law, no consideration would ever have induced him to think of it. He +had likewise, as Tisquantum said, on obtaining his consent to his +marriage with Oriana, solemnly promised never to take her away from him +while he lived; therefore, at present he entertained no intention of +again rejoining his countrymen, and renouncing his Indian mode of life. + +Still 'the voices of his home' were often ringing in his ear by day and +by night; and the desire to know the fate of his beloved family, and +once more to behold each fondly-cherished member of it, would sometimes +come over him with an intensity that seemed to absorb every other +feeling. Then he would devise plan after plan, by which he might hope +to obtain some intelligence of the settlement, or convey to his +relatives the knowledge of his safety. But never had he yet succeeded. +Tisquantum had taken watchful care, for several years, to prevent any +such communication being effected; and it was, as we have seen mainly +with this object that he had absented himself from the rest of his +tribe, and his own former place of abode. + +He had led his warriors and their families far to the north, and there +he had resided for several years; only returning occasionally to the +south-western prairies for the hunting season, and again travelling +northward when the buffalo and the elk were no longer abundant in the +plains. In all these wanderings Henrich had rejoiced; and his whole +soul had been elevated by such constant communion with the grandest +works of nature--or rather, of nature's God. He had gazed on the +stupendous cataract of Niagara, and listened to its thunders,[*] till +he felt himself in the immediate presence of Deity in all its +omnipotence. + +[Footnote: O-ni-ga-rah, 'the Thunder of Waters,' is the Indian name for +these magnificent falls.] + +He had crossed the mighty rivers of America, that seemed to European +eyes to be arms of the sea; and had passed in light and frail canoes +over those vast lakes that are themselves like inland oceans. And, in +the high latitudes to which the restless and apprehensive spirit of +Tisquantum had led him, he had traveled over boundless fields of snow +in the sledges of the diminutive Esquimaux, and lodged in their strange +winter-dwellings of frozen snow, that look as if they were built of the +purest alabaster, with windows of ice as clear as crystal. And +marvelously beautiful those dwellings were in Henrich's eyes, as be +passed along the many rooms, with their cold walls glittering with the +lamp-light, or glowing from the reflection of the fire of pine +branches, that burnt so brightly in the center on a hearth of stone. +Well and warmly, too, had he slept on the bedsteads of snow, that these +small northern men find so comfortable, when they have strewn them with +a thick layer of pine boughs, and covered them with an abundant supply +of deerskins. And then the lights of the north--the lovely Aurora, with +its glowing hues of crimson and yellow and violet! When this beauteous +phenomena was gleaming in the horizon, and shooting up its spires of +colored light far into the deep blue sky, bow ardently did Henrich +desire the presence of his sister--of his Edith who used to share his +every feeling, and sympathize in all him love and reverence for the +works of God! But in all those days and months and years that elapsed +between the time when we left Henrich in the hunting-grounds of the +west, and the time to which we have now carried him, Oriana had been a +sister--yes, more than a sister-to him; and she had learnt to think as +he thought, and to feel as he felt, till he used to tell her that he +almost fancied the spirit of Edith had passed into her form, and had +come to share his exile. + +Certainly, the mind and feelings of the Indian girl did ripen and +expand with wonderful rapidity; and, as she grew to womanhood, her +gentle gracefulness of manner, and her devoted affection towards +Henrich, confirmed the attachment that had been gradually forming in +his heart ever since he had been her adopted brother, and made him +resolve to ask her of the Sachem as his wife. + +Since the conduct of Coubitant had excited--as we saw in a former +chapter--the suspicions of Tisquantum, and had so evidently increased +the dislike of Oriana, the Chieftain had abandoned all idea of +bestowing his daughter's hand on him or of making him his successor in +his official situation; and the departure of the cruel and wily savage +had been to him, as well as to Oriana and Henrich, a great satisfaction +and relief. None of them wished to see his dark countenance again, or +to be exposed to his evil machinations; and all were fully aware that +the marriage of the white stranger to the Sachem's lovely daughter was +a circumstance that would arouse all his jealousy and all his +vengeance. Nevertheless, this apprehension did not deter the old Chief +from giving a joyful consent to the proposal of Henrich to become his +son in fact, as he had long been in name and affection; and the summer +of the year 1627 had seen the nuptials celebrated in Indian fashion. On +the same day, also, the young widow, Mailah, became the wife of +Henrich's chosen friend and companion, Jyanough, who had never left the +Nausetts since first he joined them, but had followed his brother-in- +arms in all his various wanderings. + +It was a joyful day to the tribe when this double marriage took place; +and great was the feasting beneath the trees on the shores of the +mighty lake Ontario, where their camp was pitched. Game was roasted in +abundance, and much tobacco was consumed in honor of the happy couples, +who were all beloved by their simple followers; and for whom fresh +wigwams were built, and strewed with sweet sprays of pine and fir, and +furnished with all that Indian wants demanded, and Indian art could +furnish. With some difficulty, Henrich prevailed on the Sachem to +permit his daughter to forego the native custom of cutting off her hair +on the day of her marriage, and wearing an uncouth head-dress until it +grew again; but at length he was successful, on the plea that Oriana, +being a Christian, and about to unite herself to a Christian also, +could not be bound to observe the superstitious and barbarous +ceremonies of her race. Her fine black locks were, therefore, spared; +but Mailah was a second time robbed of hers, and appeared for many +months afterwards with her head closely shrouded in the prescribed +covering. + +Much did Henrich wish that he and his bride could have received the +blessing of a minister of the Gospel, as a sacred sanction of their +union. But this could not be: and he endeavored to supply the +deficiency, and to give a holy and Christian character to what he felt +to be the most solemn act of his life, by uniting in earnest prayer +with Oriana, Mailah, and Jyanough, that the blessing of God might rest +upon them all, and enable them to fulfil their new and relative duties +faithfully and affectionately and 'as unto the Lord.' + +Three years had elapsed since that day, and no event had occurred to +interrupt the domestic happiness of those young couples, or to disturb +the perfect friendship and unanimity that reigned between them. They +were a little Christian community--small indeed, but faithful and +sincere, and likely to increase in time; for little Lincoya was +carefully instructed in the blessed doctrines which his mother and his +step-father had received, and when Henrich's own son was born, he +baptized him in the name of the Holy Trinity, and gave him the +Christian name of his own loved brother Ludovico; and earnestly he +asked a blessing on his child, and prayed that he might be enabled to +bring him up a Christian, not in name only, but in deed and in truth. + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +'Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand +before envy? +'Open rebuke is better than secret love. +'Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are +deceitful.' +PROV. xxii, 4--6 + +Tisquantum still sat dozing on his favorite seat before his dwelling, +and Henrich and Oriana remained beside him, silently watching the +peaceful slumbers of their venerable parent, and the playful sports of +their child, who was again roiling on the soft green turf at their +feet, and busily engaged in decking the shaggy head and neck of a +magnificent dog with the gay flowers that were scattered around him. + +It was Rodolph--the faithful Rodolph--who had once saved Henrich's life +from the treacherous designs of Coubitant, and who had often since +proved his guard and his, watchful protector in many seasons of peril +and difficulty. His devotion to his master was as strong as ever; and +his strength and swiftness were still unabated, whether in the flood or +the field. But years had somewhat subdued the former restless activity +of his spirits, and, now that he had dwelt so long in a settled home, +his manners had become so domestic, that he seemed to think his chief +duty consisted in amusing the little Ludovico, and carrying him about +on his bread shaggy shoulders, where he looked like the infant Hercules +mounted on his lion. They were, indeed, a picturesque pair, and no +wonder that the young parents of the beautiful child smiled as they +watched him wreathing his little hands in the long curling mane of the +good-tempered animal, and laying his soft rosy cheek on his back. + +Such was the group that occupied the small cultivated spot in front of +the chief, lodges of the village: and thus happy and tranquil might +they have remained, until the fading light had warned Oriana that it +was time to lay her child to rest in his mossy bed, and to prepare the +usual meal for her husband and her father. But they were interrupted by +the approach of Jyanough and Mailah, accompanied by the young Lincoya; +and also by a stranger, whose form seemed familiar to them, but whose +features the shadow of the over-hanging trees prevented them at first +from recognizing. + +But, as the party approached, a chill struck into the heart of Oriana, +and she instinctively clung closer to her husband's arm, as if she felt +that some danger threatened him; while the open, manly brow of Henrich +contracted for an instant, and was crossed by a look of doubt and +suspicion that was seldom seen to darken it, and could not rest there +long. In a moment that cloud had passed away, and he rose to greet the +stranger with a frank and dignified courtesy, that showed he felt +suspicion and distrust to be unworthy of him. Rodolph, also, seemed to +be affected by the same kind of unpleasant sensations that were felt by +his more intellectual, but not more sagacious fellow-creatures. No +sooner did the stranger advance beyond the shadow of trees, and thus +afford the dog a full view of his very peculiar and striking +countenance, than he uttered a low deep growl of anger; and, slowly +rising from the ground, placed himself between his little charge and +the supposed enemy, on whom he kept his keen eye immovably fixed, while +his strong white teeth were displayed in a very formidable row. + +Coubitant--for it could be no other than he--saw clearly the impression +that his appearance had excited on the assembled party of his old +acquaintances; but he was an adept in dissimulation, and he entirely +concealed his feelings under the garb of pleasure at this reunion after +so long a separation. The candid disposition of Henrich rendered him +liable to be deceived by these false professions of his former rival; +and he readily believed that Coubitant had, during his absence of so +many years, forgotten and laid aside all those feelings of envy and +jealousy that once appeared to fill his breast, and to actuate him to +deeds of enmity towards the white stranger, whose father had slain his +chosen friend and companion. + +But was it so? Had the cruel and wily savage indeed become the friend +of him who had, he deemed, supplanted him--not only in the favor of his +Chief, but also in the good graces of his intended bride--and who was +now, as he had learnt from Jyanough, the husband of Oriana, and the +virtual Sachem of Tisquantum's subject warriors? No: 'jealousy is cruel +as the grave; the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most +vehement flame'; and in the soul of Coubitant there dwelt no gentle +principles of mercy and forgiveness to quench this fiery flame. He was +a heathen: and, in his eyes, revenge was a virtue, and the +gratification of it a deep joy: and in the hope of attaining this joy, +he was willing to endure years of difficulty and disappointment, and to +forego all that he knew of home and of comfort. Therefore had he left +the tribe of his adoption, and the friends of his choice, and dwelt for +so many winters and summers among the Narragansetts, until he had +acquired influence in their councils, and won for himself rank in their +tribe. And all this rank and influence he had, as we have seen, exerted +to procure the destruction of the white men, because one of their +number had caused the death of his friend, and he had vowed to be +revenged on the race. He hated the pale-faces, and he hated their +religion and their peaceable disposition, which he considered to be +merely superstition and cowardice; and now that he had failed in all +his deep-laid schemes for their annihilation, all his hatred was +concentrated against Henrich, and he resolved once more to seek him +out, and, by again uniting himself to the band of Nausetts under +Tisquantum, to find an opportunity of ridding himself of one who seemed +born to cross his path, and blight his prospects in life. + +Until Coubitant had traced his old associates through many forests, and +over many plains, and had, at length, found the place of their present +abode, he knew not that all his former hopes of becoming the Sachem's +son-in law, and succeeding to his dignity, were already blasted by the +marriage of Oriana to Henrich, and the association of the latter in the +cares and the honors of the chieftainship. For some years after his +abrupt departure from the Nausetts--and while he was striving for +distinction, as well as for revenge, among the Narragansetts--he had +contrived, from time to time, to obtain information of the proceedings +of those whom he had thought it politic to leave for a time; and, as he +found that no steps were taken towards connecting the pale-faced +stranger with the family of the Sachem by marriage, after he had +attained the age at which Indian youths generally take wives; and it +was even reported that Tisquantum designed to unite him to the widow of +Lincoya--his jealous fears were hushed to sleep, and he still hoped to +succeed, ultimately, in his long-cherished plans. + +It was not that he loved Oriana. His heart was incapable of that +sentiment which alone is worthy of the name. But he had set his mind on +obtaining her, because she was, in every way, superior to the rest of +her young companions; and because such a union would aggrandize him in +the estimation of the tribe, and tend to further his views of becoming +their chief. + +After the failure of his schemes for the utter destruction of the +British settlements, and all his malicious designs against Rodolph in +particular, his personal views with regard to Oriana and Henrich, and +his desire to rule in Tisquantum's stead, returned to his mind with +unabated force, and he resolved again to join the Sachem, and endeavor +to regain his former influence over him, and the consideration in which +he had once been held by his subject-warriors. But the removal of the +tribe to the north, and their frequent journeyings from place to place, +had, for a great length of time, baffled his search; and when, at last, +he was successful, and a Nausett hunter--who had been dispatched from +Paomet on an errand to Tisquantum--met him, and guided him to the +encampment, it was only to have all his hopes dashed for ever to the +ground, and his soul more inflamed with wrath and malice than ever. + +On reaching the Nausett village Coubitant had met Jyanough, and been +conducted by him to his hut, where he learnt from him and Mailah all +that had happened to themselves and their friends since he had lost +sight of them; and it had required all the red-man's habitual self- +command and habit of dissimulation to enable him to conceal his fury +and disappointment. He did conceal them, however; and so effectually, +that both the Cree and his wife were deceived, and though that the +narrative excited in him no deeper interest than former intimacy would +naturally create. But this was far from being the case. Oriana and the +chieftainship were lost to him at present, it is true; but revenge +might still be his--that prize that Satan holds out to his slaves to +tempt them on to further guilt and ruin. To win that prize--and, +possibly, even more than that--was worth some further effort: and +deceit was no great effort to Coubitant. + +So he smiled in return to Henrich's greeting, and tried to draw Oriana +into friendly conversation, by noticing her lovely boy; who, however, +received his advances with a very bad grace. He also addressed +Tisquantum with all that respectful deference that is expected by an +aged Indian--more especially a Sachem--from the younger members of his +race; and, at length, he succeeded in banishing from the minds of +almost all his former acquaintances those doubts and suspicions that +his conduct had once aroused; and he was again admitted to the same +terms of intimacy with the Chief and his family that he had enjoyed in +years long gone by. + +Still, there was one who could not put confidence in Coubitant's +friendly manner, or believe that the feelings of enmity he once so +evidently entertained towards Henrich were altogether banished from his +mind. This was Jyanough, whose devoted attachment to the white +stranger had first led him to mistrust his rival; and who still +resolved to watch his movements with jealous care, and, if possible, to +guard his friend from any evil that might be designed against him. + +For some time, he could detect nothing in Coubitant's manner or actions +that could, in any way, confirm his suspicions, which he did not +communicate to any one but Mailah; for he felt it would be ungenerous +to fill the minds of others with the doubts that he could not banish +from his own. + +The summer advanced, and became one of extreme heat. The winding stream +that flowed through the meadow--on the skirts of which the Nausett +encampment was formed--gradually decreased, from the failure of the +springs that supplied it, until, at length, its shallow waters were +reduced to a rippling brook--so narrow, that young Lincoya could leap +over it, and Rodolph could carry his little charge across without any +risk of wetting his feet. The long grass and beautiful lilies, and +other wild flowers, that had grown so luxuriantly along the river's +brink, now faded for want of moisture; and the fresh verdure of the +meadow was changed to a dry and dusky yellow. Day by day the brook +dried up, and it became necessary for the camp to be removed to some +more favored spot, where the inhabitants and their cattle could still +find a sufficient supply of water. + +For this purpose, it was resolved to migrate southwards, to the banks +of the broad Missouri, which no drought could sensibly affect; and +there to remain until the summer heat had passed away, and the season +for travelling had arrived. Then Tisquantum purposed to bend his steps +once more towards the land of his birth, that he might end his days in +his native Paomet, and behold the home of his fathers before his death. +To this plan Henrich gave a glad assent; for he surely hoped that, when +he reached a district that bordered so nearly on the British +territories, he should be able to obtain some information respecting +his relatives, and, perhaps, even to see them. And Oriana no longer +dreaded returning to the dwellings of her childhood, for she felt +assured--notwithstanding the occasional misgivings that troubled her +anxious heart--that Henrich loved her far too well ever to desert her; +and that he loved truth too well ever to take her from her aged father, +let the temptation be never so great. + +All, therefore, looked forward with satisfaction to the autumn, when +the long journey towards the east was to commence: but they well knew +that its accomplishment would occupy several seasons; for the movement +of so large a party, of every age and sex, and the transport of all +their baggage across a district of many hundreds of miles in extent, +must, necessarily, be extremely slow, and interrupted by many pauses +for rest, as well as by the heat or the inclemency of the weather. + +Coubitant also expressed his pleasure at the proposed change, which +would afford occupation and excitement to his restless spirit, and +which, likewise, promised him better opportunities for carrying out his +ultimate schemes than he could hope for in his present tranquil mode of +life. His constant attention to Tisquantum, and his assiduous care to +consult his every wish and desire, had won upon the old man's feelings, +and he again regarded him rather as the proved friend of his lost +Tekoa, than as the suspected foe of his adopted son Henrich. He +frequently employed him in executing any affairs in which he still took +an active interest, and he soon came to be looked upon by the tribe as +a sort of coadjutor to their white Sachem, and the confidential friend +of the old Chieftain. This was just what Coubitant desired; and he lost +no opportunity of strengthening his influence over the Nausett +warriors, and making his presence agreeable and necessary to +Tisquantum. + +The time appointed for the breaking up of the encampment drew near, and +both Henrich and Oriana felt much regret at the prospect of leaving the +peaceful home where they had spent so many happy days, and where their +little Ludovico had been born. Their comfortable and substantial lodge, +shaded with the plants that decorated it so profusely and so gaily, had +been the most permanent dwelling that they had ever known since their +childhood: and though they hoped eventually to enjoy a still more +settled home, they could not look on this work of their own labor and +taste without affection, or leave it for ever without sorrow. + +In order to lessen the fatigue of Tisquantum it was arranged, at the +suggestion of Coubitant, that he should precede the old Sachem, and his +immediate family and attendants, to the place of their intended +encampment; and should select a suitable situation on the banks of the +Missouri, where he and the Nansett warriors could fell timber, and +prepare temporary huts for their reception. This part of the country +was familiar to him, as he had traveled through it, and dwelt among its +plains and its woods in the days of his wandering youth: and he gave +Henrich minute directions as to the route he must take, in order to +follow him to the river, which, he said, lay about three days' journey +to the southward. + +To the south of the present encampment arose a considerable eminence, +that was thickly wooded to the summit on the side that overlooked the +Nausett village, and partially sheltered it from the heat of the summer +sun. On the other side it was broken into steep precipices, and its +banks were scantily clothed with shrubs and grass, which the unusual +drought had now rendered dry and withered. A winding and narrow path +round the foot of this hill was the only road that led immediately into +the plain below; and by this path Coubitant proposed to conduct the +tribe, in order to avoid a long detour to the west, where a more easy +road would have been found. He described it to Henrich, who had often +been to the summit of the range of hills that overlooked it in pursuit +of game, but who was ignorant of the proposed route into the Missouri +district; and, after some conversation on the subject, he proposed that +the young Sachem should accompany him the following morning to the brow +of the mountain, from whence he could point out to him the road he must +take through the broken and undulating ground that lay at the bottom of +the hill; and the exact direction he must follow, after he reached the +wide and trackless prairie that intervened between that range and the +hills that bordered the Missouri. + +At break of day the march of the tribe was to commence; but as several +of the Nausetts were acquainted with the intricate path round the base +of the hills, it was not necessary for Coubitant to lead them that part +of their journey in person. He therefore proposed, after pointing out +to Henrich all the necessary land-marks which could be so well observed +from the summit, to find his own way down the steep side of the rugged +precipice, and rejoin the party in the plain. + +This plan was agreed to; and Coubitant invited Oriana to accompany her +husband, that she also might see and admire the extensive view that was +visible from the heights, and observe the track that her countrymen +would follow through the valley beneath. + +Oriana readily acceded to this proposal, not only because she loved to +go by Henrich's side wherever she could be his companion, but also +because--in spite of the present friendly terms to which Coubitant was +admitted by her father and Henrich--she never felt quite easy when the +latter was alone with the dark-browed warrior. + +The morning was clear and bright; and before the sun had risen far +above the horizon, and ere the sultry heat of the day had commenced, +Coubitant came to Henrich's lodge, and summoned him and his wife to +their early walk up the mountain. With light and active steps they took +their way through the wood, and Rodolph followed close behind them--not +now bounding and harking with joy, but at a measured pace, and with his +keen bright eye ever fixed on Coubitant. + +In passing through the scattered village of huts, the dwelling of +Jyanough lay near the path. Coubitant ceased to speak as he and his +companions approached it; and Oriana thought he quickened his pace, and +glanced anxiously at the dwelling, as if desirous to pass it unobserved +by its inmates. If such was his wish, he was, however, disappointed; +for, just as the party were leaving it behind them, they heard the +short sharp bark of Rodolph at the wigwam door, and immediately +afterwards the answering voice of Jyanough. + +'Rodolph, my old fellow, is it you?' exclaimed the Cree, as he came +forth from his hut, and looked anxiously at his friends, who now, to +Coubitant's inward vexation, stood to greet him. + +'Where are you off to so early?' he inquired of Henrich; and why is +Coubitant not leading our warriors on their way?' + +'We are but going to the brow of the hill,' replied Henrich, 'that +Coubitant may point out to me the path by which we are to follow him. +He will then join his party in the plain, and I will quickly return to +accompany you on our projected hunting scheme. We must add to our stock +of provisions before we commence our journey.' + +'I will ascend the hill with you,' said Jyanough; and Coubitant saw +that he took a spear in his hand from the door of the wigwam. Forcing a +smile, he observed, as if carelessly-- + +'It is needless, my friend. Henrich's eye is so good that he will +readily understand all the directions that I shall give him. Do you +doubt the skill of our young Sachem to lead his people through the +woods and the savannas, being as great as his prowess in war and his +dexterity in hunting? Let him show that he is an Indian indeed, and +wants no aid in performing an Indian's duties.' + +'Be it so,' answered Jyanough; and he laid aside the spear, and +reentered the hut, rather to Henrich's surprise, and Oriana's +disappointment, but much to the satisfaction of Coubitant. + +Rodolph seemed displeased at this change in the apparent intentions of +his friend; and he lingered a few moments at the door of the lodge, +looking wistfully at its master. But Jyanough bade him go; and a call +from Henrich soon brought him again to his former position, and his +watchful observation of every movement of Coubitant. + +The brow of the hill was gained: and so grand and extensive was the +view to the south and west, that Oriana stood for some time +contemplating it with a refined pleasure, and forgot every feeling that +could interrupt the pure and lofty enjoyment. Beneath the precipitous +hill on which she stood, a plain, or wide savanna, stretched away for +many miles, covered with the tall prairie-grass, now dry and yellow, +and waving gracefully in the morning breeze. Its flat monotony was only +broken by a few clumps of trees and shrubs, that almost looked like +distant vessels crossing the wide trackless sea. But to the west this +plain was bounded by a range of hills, on which the rising sun shed a +brilliant glow, marking their clear outline against the deep blue sky +behind. And nearer to the hill from which she looked, the character of +the view was different, but not less interesting. It seemed as if some +mighty convulsion of nature had torn away the side of the hill, and +strewed the fragments in huge end broken masses in the valley beneath. +Over these crags the hand of nature had spread a partial covering of +moss and creeping plants; and many trees had grown up amongst them, +striking their roots deeply into the crevices, and adorning their rough +surfaces by their waving and pendant boughs. Through the rock-strewn +valley, a narrow and intricate path had been worn by the feet of the +wandering natives, and by the constant migrations of the herds of wild +animals that inhabited the prairie, in search of water or of fresher +herbage during the parching heat of an Indian summer. + +Along this difficult path the Nausett warriors and their families were +now slowly winding their way, many of them on horseback, followed by +their squaws and their children on foot; and others, less barbarous, +leading the steeds on which the women and infants were placed on the +summit of a pile of baggage, and carrying their own bows and quivers, +and long and slender spears. + +It was a picturesque scene: and the low chanting song of the distant +Indians--to which their march kept time--sounded sweetly, though +mournfully, as it rose on the breeze to the elevated position occupied +by Oriana and her two companions. The latter seemed fully occupied--the +one in pointing out, and the other in observing the route of the +travelers. But the eye of Henrich was not unobservant of the beauties +of the prospect; and that of Coubitant was restlessly roving to and fro +with quick and furtive glances, that seemed to indicate some secret +purpose, and to be watching for the moment to effect it. + +Some of the Nausetts in the path below looked upwards; and, observing +their young Sachem and his companions, they raised a shout of +recognition, that caused the rocks to echo, and also made the brows of +Coubitant to contract. He saw that he must delay his purpose until the +travelers were out of sight: and this chafed his spirit: but he +controlled it, and proposed to Henrich and Oriana to seat themselves on +the verge of the precipice, and watch the course of the travelers, +while he went to reconnoiter the steep path by which he designed to +join them. They did so, and the hushes that grew to the edge of the +steep declivity shaded the spot, and hid them from the retreating form +of Coubitant. + +For some time they sat together, admiring the beauty of the scene +before them, and watching the long procession in the defile below, as +it wound, 'in Indian file,' between the rocks and tangled bushes that +cumbered the vale, until it was almost out of sight. Rudolph lay +beside them, apparently asleep; but the slumber of a faithful watch-dog +is always light, and Rodolph was one of the most vigilant of his race. +Why did he now utter a low uneasy moan, as if he dreamt of danger? It +was so low that, if Henrich heard it, he did not pay any heed to it, +and continued talking to Oriana of their approaching journey, and of +their plans for the future, in perfect security. + +But their conversation was suddenly and painfully interrupted. A +fierce bark from Rodolph, as he sprang on some one in the bush close +beside Henrich, and the grasp of a powerful hand upon his shoulder at +the same instant, caused the young Sachem to glance round. He found +himself held to the ground by Coubitant, who was endeavoring to force +him over the precipice; and would, from the suddenness and strength of +the attack, have undoubtedly succeeded, but for the timely aid of +Rodolph, who had seized on his left arm, and held it back in his +powerful jaws. He was, however, unable to displace the savage, or +release his master from the perilous situation in which he was placed; +and, owing to the manner in which Henrich had seated himself on the +extreme verge of the rock that overhung the precipice, it was out of +his power to spring to his feet, or offer any effectual resistance. The +slender but not feeble arm of Oriana, as she clung frantically to her +husband, and strove to draw him back to safety, was, apparently, the +only human power that now preserved him from instant destruction. Not +a sound was uttered by one of the struggling group; scarcely a breath +was drawn--so intense was the mental emotion, and the muscular effort +that nerved every fiber during these awfully protracted moments. + +But help was nigh! He, in whose hands are the lives of His creatures, +sent aid when aid was so needful. A loud cry was heard in the thicket; +and, as Coubitant made one more desperate effort to hurl his detested +rival from the rock, and almost succeeded in flinging the whole group +together into the depths below--he felt himself encircled by arms as +muscular as his own, and suddenly dragged backwards. + +Henrich sprang on the firm ground, and beheld his faithful friend +Jyanough in fierce conflict with the treacherous Coubitant, and +powerfully assisted by Rodolph, who had loosed the murderer's arm, but +continued to assail and wound him as he struggled to draw his new +antagonist to the brink, and seemed resolved to have one victim, even +if he shared the same dreadful fate himself. Henrich flew to the aid of +his friend, leaving Oriana motionless, and almost breathless, on the +spot where she had endured such agony of mind, and such violent bodily +exertion. For once, her strength and spirit failed her; for the trial +had been too great, and faintness overcame her as she saw her husband +again approach his deadly and now undisguised foe. + +Coubitant saw her sink to the ground, and, with a mighty effort, he +shook off the grasp of Jyanough, and darted towards Oriana. He had +thought to carry her off, a living prize, after the murder of her +husband; but now his only hope was vengeance and her destruction would +be vengeance, indeed, on Henrich. + +But love is stronger even than hate. The arms of Henrich snatched his +unconscious wife from the threatened peril; and, as he bore her away +from the scene of conflict, Jyanough again closed on the villain, and +the deadly struggle was resumed. It was brief, but awful. The +strength of Coubitant was becoming exhausted--his grasp began to +loosen, and his foot to falter. + +'Spare him!' cried Henrich, as he saw the combatants on the verge of +the craggy platform, and feared they would fall together on the rocks +beneath. 'Spare him; and secure him for the judgement of Tisquantum.' +And again he laid Oriana on the ground, and rushed to save alike his +friend and foe. + +'He dies!' exclaimed Jyanough. 'Let him meet the fate he merits!' And +springing backwards himself, he dashed his antagonist over the rock. +One moment Henrich saw his falling form, and met the still fiery glance +of that matchless eye--the next, he heard the crash of breaking +branches, and listened for the last fatal sound of the expiring body on +the rocks below. But the depth was too great: an awful stillness +followed; and, though Henrich strove to look downwards, and ascertain +the fate of his departed foe, the boughs and creepers that clothed the +perpendicular face of the rock, entirely prevented his doing so. + +'He is gone!' he exclaimed; and not in a voice of either joy or +triumph, for his soul was moved within him at the appalling fate of +such a man as Coubitant and at such a moment! 'He is gone to his last +account: and O! what fearful passions were in his heart! Thank God, he +did not drag you with him to death, my faithful Jyanough! But tell me,' +he added--as they returned together to where Oriana lay, still +unconscious of the dreadful tragedy that had just been enacted so near +her--' tell me, my friend, how it was that you were so near at hand, +when danger, which I could not repel, hung over me, and your hand was +interposed to save me?' + +'My mind misgave me that some treachery was intended,' replied +Jyanough, 'when I saw that wily serpent leading you to the mountain's +brow; and my suspicions were confirmed by his evident reluctance to my +joining the party. Rodolph's expressive countenance told me, too, that +there was danger to be feared; and no red man can excel Rodolph in +sagacity. So I resolved to be at hand if succor should be needed; and, +having waited till you were all fairly out of sight and hearing, I +followed slowly and stealthily, and reached the verge of the thicket +just in time to hear the warning cry of your noble dog, and see that +dastardly villain spring upon you from the bush. The rest you know: and +now you will believe me, when I own my conviction that your destruction +has been his object since the time I joined your camp: and that, to +accomplish it, and obtain possession of Oriana, he returned to +Tisquantum's tribe, and has worn the mask of friendship for so many +months. My soul is relieved of a burden by his death; and forgive me, +Henrich, if I own that I glory in having executed on him the vengeance +he deserved, and having devoted him to the fate he designed for you.' + +Henrich could not regret the death, however dreadful, of one who seemed +to have been so bent on the destruction of his happiness and his life; +but the thought of all the guilt that lay on Coubitant's soul, +unrepented of and unatoned, saddened and solemnized his spirit; and he +only replied to Jyanough's exulting words by a kindly pressure of his +friend's hand, as they approached Oriana. + +Her senses bad returned, and, with them, a painful sense of danger and +of dread, and she looked anxiously, and almost wildly, around her, as +Henrich knelt beside her, and gently raised her from the ground. + +'Where is he?' she exclaimed. 'Where is that fearful form, and those +eyes of unearthly fire that glared on me just now? You are safe, my +Henrich,' she added; and, as she looked up in his face, tears of joy +and gratitude burst from her large expressive eyes, and relieved her +bursting heart. You are safe, my Henrich: and oh that that dark form of +dread and evil might never, never, cross my path again!' + +'Fear not, Oriana,' replied Jyanough, 'he never more will darken your +way through life. He has met the death he designed for Henrich, and let +us think of him no more. It is time to return to the camp; and your +husband and I will support you down the hill.' + +'I am well, quite well, now !' cried Oriana, and she rose from the +ground, and clung to Henrich's arm, as if to assure herself of his +presence and safety. 'I could walk through the world thus supported, +and thus guarded, too,' she added, as she stroked the head of the +joyous Rodolph, who now bounded round her and Henrich with all his +wonted spirit. 'I owe much to my two trusty friends; for, but for +their care and watchfulness, what would now have been my dreadful fate! +Let us leave this spot--so beautiful, but now so full of fearful +images!' + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +'Hither and thither; hither and thither! +Madly they fly! +Whither, O, whither! Whither, O, whither? - +'Tis but to die! +Fire is behind them: fire is, around them: +Black is the sky? +Horror pursues them; anguish has found them: +Destruction is nigh! +And where is refuge? where is safety now? +Father of mercy! None can Save but Thou?' ANON. + +'What is that distant cloud, Henrich?' inquired Oriana, as they rode by +Tisquantum's side on the evening of the day of their journey towards the +Missouri. 'It seems like the smoke of an encampment, as I see it over +the tall waving grass: but it must be too near to be the camp of our +people; unless, indeed, they have tarried there, waiting the arrival of +Coubitant, who never will rejoin them more.' + +'I see the cloud you speak of, Oriana; and I have been watching it with +some anxiety for several minutes. It cannot be what you suggest, for +you know your father received a message from the trusty Salon--next in +command to Coubitant--to tell him that their leader not having joined +the party as he promised, a search had been made, and his mangled body +found at the foot of the rock, where, it was supposed, he must have +fallen in attempting the sleep descent. Salon's messenger further +stated that, having buried the corpse where it lay, he had led the +people on, and should pursue the path pointed out by Coubitant, and +hasten to prepare the necessary huts for our reception. I dispatched +the messenger again with further directions to Salon; and ere this, no +doubt, the encampment is formed on the shores of the great river to +which we are journeying. 'Father,' he added, as he turned towards +Tisquantum, 'your eye is dim, but your sagacity is as keen as ever. +Can you discern that rising smoke, and tell us its cause?' + +The aged Sachem had been riding silently and abstractedly along. The +tall dry grass--now ripe, and shedding its seeds on every side--rose +frequently above his head; for he was mounted on a low strong horse, +and he had not observed the cloud that had attracted the attention of +the younger travelers. He now paused, and looked earnestly to the +south, in which direction the smoke appeared right before the advancing +party, and from whence a strong and sultry wind was blowing. As the +prairie grass rose and fell in undulating waves, the old man obtained a +distinct view of the smoke, which now seemed to have spread +considerably to the right and left, and also to be approaching towards +the travelers. + +The narrow, zigzag track of the deer and the buffaloes was the only +beaten path through the prairie; and this could only be traveled by two +or three horsemen abreast. The old Sachem, and Henrich, and Oriana, led +the party; and Jyanough, and Mailah, and young Lincoya, all well +mounted, rode immediately in the rear. The attendants of the two +families, and a few experienced warriors, some on foot and some on +horseback, followed in the winding path. + +On the halt of the foremost rank, the rest rode up, and were +immediately made aware of the ominous signs which hitherto they had not +noticed. Instantly terror was depicted in every countenance; and the +deep low voice of Tisquantum sank into every heart, as he exclaimed, +'The prairie is on fire!' + +'Turn!' cried Henrich, 'and fly! Let each horseman take one of those on +foot behind, and fly for your lives. Cast the baggage on the ground-- +stay for nothing, but our people's lives.' + +He was obeyed: men and women were all mounted; and Henrich snatched his +boy from the arms of the woman who carried him, and, giving the child +to Oriana, took up the terrified attendant on his own powerful steed. + +The wind rose higher: and now the roar of the pursuing flames came +fearfully on the fugitives, growing louder and louder, while volumes of +dense smoke were driven over their heads, and darkened the sky that had +so lately shone in all its summer brightness. + +Headlong the party dashed along the winding path, and sometimes the +terrified horses leaped into the tall grass, seeking a straighter +course, or eager to pass by those who had fled before them. But this +was a vain attempt. The wild pea-vines, and other creeping plants that +stretched among the grass, offered such impediments to rapid flight, as +forced them again into the path. + +And now the wild inhabitants of the broad savanna came rushing on, and +joined the furious flight, adding difficulty and confusion to the +horror of the scene. Buffaloes, elks, and antelopes, tore madly through +the grass, jostling the horses and their riders, and leaving them far +in the rear. The screaming eagle rode high above among the clouds of +smoke, and many smaller birds fell suffocated to the ground; while all +the insect tribe took wing, and everything that had life strove to +escape the dread pursuer. + +It was a desperate race! The strength of the fugitives began to fail, +and no refuge, no hope, seemed near. Alas! to some the race was lost. +The blinding effect of the dense smoke that filled the atmosphere, the +suffocating smell of the burning mass of vegetable matter, and the +lurid glare of the red flames that came on so rapidly, overpowered +alike the horses and their riders: while the roaring of the fire--which +sounded like a mighty rushing cataract--and the oppressive heat, seemed +to confuse the senses, and destroy the vital powers of the more feeble +and ill-mounted of the fugitives. Several of the horses fell, and +their devoted riders sank to the ground, unable any longer to sustain +the effort for life; and Henrich had the agony of passing by the +wretched victims, and leaving them to their fate, for he knew that he +had no power to save them. + +Many miles were traversed--and still the unbroken level of the prairie +spread out before them--and still the roaring and destructive flames +came borne on the mighty winds behind them. A few scattered trees were +the only objects that broke the monotony of the plains; and the hills, +at the foot of which they had traveled that morning, and where alone +they could lock for safety, were still at a great distance. At length, +the aged Tisquantum's powers of endurance began to give way. The reins +almost fell from his hands; and, in trembling accents, he declared his +total inability to proceed any further. + +Leave me, my children!' he exclaimed, 'to perish here; for my strength +is gone; and what matters it where the old Tisquantum breathes his +last. Mahneto is here, even in this awful hour, to receive my spirit; +and I shall but lose a few short months or years of age and infirmity.' + +'Never, my father!' cried H enrich, as he caught the reins of the +Sachem's horse; and while he still urged his own overloaded steed to +fresh exertions, endeavored also to support the failing form of his +father-in-law. 'Never will we leave you to die alone in this fiery +desert. Hold on, my father! hold on yet a little longer till we gain +the defile, where the flames cannot follow as, and all will yet be +well!' + +'I cannot, my son!' replied the old man. 'Farewell, my dear, my noble +boy!--farewell, my Oriana!' And his head sank down upon the neck of his +horse. + +He would have fallen to the ground but for Henrich, who now checked the +panting steeds, and sprang down to his feet in time to receive him in +his arms. + +Fly, Oriana!' he exclaimed, as his wife also drew the bridle of her +foaming horse by his side. 'Fly, Oriana, my beloved! save your own +life, and that of our child! If possible, I will preserve your father-- +but if not, farewell! and God be with you!' + +One moment Oriana urged her horse again to its swiftest pace, as if in +obedience to her husband's command--the next, she was at Mailah's side, +holding her infant in one arm, white with the other she guided and +controlled the terrified animal on which she rode. + +'Here, Mailah!' she cried--and she clasped the child to her breast, and +imprinted one passionate kiss on its cheek--' Take my Ludovico, and +save his life, and I will return to my husband and father. If we follow +you, well. If not, be a mother to my child, and may the blessing of God +be on you!' + +She almost flung the infant into the extended arms of Mailah; and then, +having with difficulty turned her horse, and forced him to retrace his +steps, she again rejoined those with whom she was resolved to live or +die. + +One glance of affectionate reproach she met from her Henrich's eyes: +but he did not speak. With the assistance of Ludovico's nurse, who rode +behind him, he had just lifted Tisquantum to his own saddle, and was +preparing to mount himself, and endeavor to support the unconscious old +man, and again commence the race far life or death. But it seemed a +hopeless attempt--so utterly helpless was the Sachem, and so unable to +retain his seat. Quick as thought Oriana unbound her long twisted +girdle of many colors; and, flinging it to Henrich, desired him to bind +the failing form of her father to his own. He did so: and the nurse +having mounted behind Oriana, again the now furious steeds started +forward. All these actions had taken less time to perform than they +have to relate; but yet the pursuing flames had gained much way, and +the flight became more desperate, and more hazardous. Again the +prostrate forms of horses and their riders met the eyes of Henrich and +Oriana; but in the thickness of the air, and the wild speed at which +they were compelled to pass, it was impossible to distinguish who were +the unhappy victims. + +'Heaven be praised!' at length Henrich exclaimed--and they were the +first words he had uttered since the flight had been resumed--' Heaven +be praised! I see the rocks dimly through the clouds of smoke. Yet a +few moments, and we shall be safe. Already the grass around us is +shorter and thinner: we are leaving the savanna, and shall soon reach +the barren defile, where the flames will find no fuel' + +The horses seemed to know that safety was near at hand, for they +bounded forward with fresh vigor, and quickly joined the group of +breathless fugitives, who, having reached the extremity of the prairie, +had paused to rest from their desperate exertions, and to look out for +those of their companions who were missing, but who they hoped would +soon overtake them. + +Oriana snatched her now smiling boy from Mailah's arms, and embraced +him with a fervency and emotion that showed how little she had hoped to +see his face again. But her own happy and grateful feelings were +painfully interrupted by her friend's exclamation of agony-- + +'Where is my Lincoya?' she cried. 'Did he not follow with you? I saw +him close to me when I paused to take your child: and he is not here! +O, my Lincoya! my brave, my beautiful boy! Have you perished in the +flames, with none to help you?' And she broke forth into cries and +lamentations that wrung the heart of Oriana. + +She could give her no tidings of the lost youth, for she knew not whose +fainting forms she had passed in the narrow shrouded path; and it was +utterly impossible now to go and seek him, for the flames had followed +hard upon their flight, and were still raging over the mass of dry +herbage, and consuming even the scattered tufts that grew among the +stones at the entrance to the ravine. So intense was the heat of the +glowing surface, even after the blaze had died away, that it would not +be practicable to pass over it for many hours; and the party, who had +reached a place of safety, were compelled to make arrangements for +passing the night where they were, not only that they might be ready to +seek the remains of their lost friends the next morning, but also +because their own weary limbs, and those of their trembling horses, +refused to carry them any further. All the provisions and other +baggage, which they had carried for their journey, had been abandoned +in the flight, end had become a rapid prey to the devouring flames. But +several of the scorched and affrighted prairie fowls, and a few hares-- +exhausted with their long race--were easily secured by the young +hunters, end afforded a supper to the weary company. + +The horses were then turned loose to find fodder for themselves, and to +drink at the little brook that still trickled among the rocks; and +large fires having been lighted to scare the wild beasts that, like our +travelers, had been driven for refuge to the ravine, all lay down to +sleep, thankful to the deities in whom they respectively trusted, for +their preservation in such imminent peril. + +Fervent were the prayers and praises that were offered up that night by +the little band of Christians, among whom Henrich always officiated as +minister: and even the distressed spirit of Mailah was comforted and +calmed as she joined in his words of thanksgiving, and in his heartfelt +petitions that the lost Lincoya might yet be restored to his parents; +or that, if his spirit had already passed away from earth, it might +have been purified by faith, and received into the presence of its God +and Savior. + +Mailah was tranquilized; but her grief and anxiety were not removed: +and she passed that sad night in sleepless reflection on the dreadful +fate of her only child, and in sincere endeavors so to realize and +apply all the blessed truths she had learnt from Henrich, as to derive +from them that comfort to her own soul, and that perfect resignation to +the will of God, that she well knew they were designed to afford to the +Christian believer. And that night of watchfulness did not pass +unprofitably to Mailah's spirit. + +But where was Lincoya? Where was the youth whose mother mourned him as +dead? He was safe amid the top most boughs of a lonely tree, that now +stood scorched and leafless in the midst of the smoldering plain, +several miles from the safe retreat that had been gained by his +friends. + +The horse on which he rode that day, though fleet and active, was +young, and uninured to long continued and violent exertion; and, at +length, its foot getting entangled in some creeping plant that had +grown across the pathway, it had fallen violently to the ground, and +thrown its young rider among the prairie-grass, where he lay, stunned, +and unable to rise, until all his companions had passed by. Then he +regained the path, and attempted to raise the exhausted creature from +the earth: but all in vain. Its trembling limbs were unable to support +it; and Lincoya saw that he could no longer look to his favorite steed +for the safety of his own life, and must abandon it to perish in the +flames. + +But the boy was an Indian, and accustomed to Indian difficulties and +Indian expedients. He glanced rapidly around for some means of +preservation; and, seeing a tree of some magnitude, and at no great +distance, he resolved to try to reach it ere the coming fire had seized +on the surrounding herbage, and seek for a refuge in its summit. With +much difficulty, he forced his way through the tall rank grass that +waved above his head, and the wild vines that were entangled with it in +every direction; and he reached the foot of the tree just as the flames +were beginning to scorch its outmost branches. He sprang upward; and, +climbing with the agility of a squirrel, he was soon in the highest +fork of the tree, and enabled to look down in security on the +devastating fire beneath him. All around was one wide sea of ruddy +flames, that shot up in forked and waving tongues high amid the heavy +clouds of smoke. Happily for Lincoya, the herbage beneath his tree of +refuge grew thin and scanty, and did not afford much food for the +devouring elements; otherwise it must have consumed his retreat, and +suffocated him even in its topmost boughs. As it was, the lower +branches only were destroyed, and the boy was able to endure the heat +and smoke until the roaring flames had passed beneath him, and he +watched them driving onward in the wake of his flying friends. + +To follow his companions that night was hopeless, for how could he +traverse that red-hot plain? He, therefore, settled himself firmly +among the sheltering branches, to one of which he bound himself with +his belt of deer skin, and prepared to pass the night in that position, +as he had passed many similar ones when he had been out on hunting +expeditions with his father-in-law Jyanough. + +Long he gazed on the strange aspect of the wide savanna, as it glowed +in the darkness of night, with a lurid and fearful glare, that only +made the gloom more visible. But weariness and exhaustion at length +overcame him, and he fell asleep, and did not awake until the sun was +high in the heavens. The prospect around him was changed, but the plain +looked even more dreary and desolate than it appeared while the fire +was at work on its clothing of grass. Now all was laid low, and smoking +ashes alone covered the nakedness of the savanna. Lincoya gazed +earnestly in every direction, that he might make sure of the route he +must follow in order to rejoin his friends; and his attention was +attracted by the figures of two men approaching towards the tree in +which he sat, and apparently engage d in earnest conversation. For a +moment his hopes led him to believe that they were Jyanough and +Henrich, who had returned, probably, in search of him; and he was about +to hail them with a loud and joyful cry. But the caution so early +instilled into the mind of an Indian restrained him: and well it was +for him that he had not thus given vent to his feelings. The men drew +nearer, and he saw, to his amazement, that they were Coubitant--he +whose death and burial had been so confidently reported, and Salon--the +trusty Salon--to whom the conduct of the tribe had been deputed after +the supposed death of the appointed leader. + +They came beneath the tree; and, seating themselves at its foot, +proceeded to refresh themselves with food and water, that looked +tempting to the eyes of the fasting and parched Lincoya, as he gazed +noiselessly and attentively at their proceedings, and listened to their +discourse. + +'At last I have been successful, Salon,' said Coubitant to his +companion. 'At last I may rejoice in the destruction of those I hate +with so bitter a hatred. Those burnt and broken weapons were Henrich's, +end this ornament belonged to Oriana.' As he said this he displayed in +his hand a girdle clasp, that Lincoya recognized as having been worn by +the Squaw-Sachem on the previous day. It had fallen to the ground when +she gave the girdle to Henrich: and many of his personal accoutrements +had also been cast there, unheeded, in his anxiety to save Tisquantum. + +'I would I could have been more sure of all the bodies that lay just +beyond,' continued the savage; 'but I think I could not be mistaken in +those I most wished to find, burnt and disfigured as they were. And +the horses, too, were surely those they rode; for I knew the fragments +of Tisquantum's trappings, and recognized the form of Lincoya's pony. +Yes! they are all destroyed; I know it, and I exult in it! Now, who +shall prevent my being Sachem of the tribe, and leading my warriors to +the destruction of the detested white invaders of our land? + +'Truly,' replied Salon, 'your last scheme has succeeded better than any +of the others you have tried; and I now gladly hail you as Sachem of +our tribe. I have made sure of the fidelity of many of our bravest +warriors; and when those who would have taken the white man's part, and +followed him in obedience to Tisquantum's wishes, find that he is dead, +they will readily take you for their leader, as the bravest of our +tribe, and the most determined foe of the pale-faces. But it is +possible that Henrich has even yet escaped us. The bodies that lie +scorched on the ashes are fewer than the number that were to follow us. +We must, therefore, take measures to seize and destroy those who yet +live, if they are likely to disturb our scheme. Of course, they will +again set out on the same track, as being that which will most quickly +bring them where food and water are to be found. We have only to lie in +wait at the other side of the savanna, where the narrow mountain pass +leads to the river, and our arrows and spears will be sufficient to +silence every tongue that could speak against your claims.' + +'You are right, nay faithful Salon,' answered Coubitant, with a sign of +warns approbation of the forethought of his accomplice. 'Let us lose no +time in crossing the plain; for, doubtless, the survivors of this +glorious fire will be early on their march, and it would not do for +them to overtake us in the midst of the ruin we have wrought. We will +set all inquiries to rest, and then we will report to our tribe that +the dreadful conflagration has deprived them of both their Chiefs, and +that it rests with themselves to choose another. O, Salon! my soul +burns to lead them to Paomet, that stronghold of our country's foes!' + +The murderers arose, and took their way directly across the prairie: +for all the rank herbage being now reduced to ashes, they were no +longer obliged to follow the winding course of the buffalo track. They +proceeded at a rapid pace; but it was some time ere Lincoya ventured to +descend from his hiding-place, as he feared being observed on the level +plain, if either of those ruthless villains should east a glance behind +them. At length their retreating forms appeared to him like specks in +the distance; and he came down from his watch-tower, and fled as fast +as his active young limbs could carry him, towards the spot where he +hoped to rejoin his friends. He had not very long continued his flight, +when he perceived several persons on horseback approaching towards him; +and soon he found himself in the arms of his joyful mother, and was +affectionately greeted by Jyanough and Henrich, who, with several +others, had come out to look if any of their missing companions were +still within reach of human aid. + +All but Lincoya had perished! The fire and the smoke had not only +destroyed their lives, but had so blackened and disfigured them that it +was impossible to identify a single individual. A grave was dug in the +yet warm earth; and all the victims were buried sufficiently deep to +preserve their remains from the ravages of wild beasts; and then the +party returned in all haste to those who anxiously awaited them at +their place of refuge. + +On the way, Lincoya related to his father-in-law and Henrich the whole +of the conversation which he had heard between Coubitant and Salon, +while he was in his safe retreat; and their surprise at finding that +the former had survived his desperate fall from the brow of the +precipice, and still lived to plan and work out schemes of cruelty and +malice, was only equaled by their indignation at thus discovering the +treachery and deceit of Salon. They had hitherto put the most entire +confidence in the fidelity of this man: and if they had still +entertained any doubts or suspicions as to the honesty of Coubitant's +intentions, they had relied on Salon to discover his plans, and prevent +any mischief being accomplished. + +The whole story was told to Tisquantum; and his counsel was asked as to +the best mode of now counteracting the further schemes of the traitors, +and escaping the snare which they found was yet to be laid for their +destruction. It would be impossible for them to reach the camp on the +banks of the Missouri, by the path which Coubitant had pointed out, +without passing through the defile where the villain and his +confederate now proposed to lie in wait for them, and where, in spite +of their superior numbers, many of their party would probably be +wounded by the arrows and darts of their hidden foes, without having +any opportunity of defending themselves. That route was therefore +abandoned. But the old Sachem remembered having traversed this part of +the continent many years ago, and he knew of a track to the west, by +which the mountains that skirted the course of the Missouri might be +avoided, and the rivers reached at a considerable distance above the +place at which the encampment was appointed to be formed. This road +was, indeed, much longer than that across the prairie, and would occupy +several days to traverse; so that it was doubtful whether Coubitant +would wait so long in his lurking-place, or whether he would conclude +that the Chiefs were dead, and return to take the command of the tribe. + +Nevertheless, no other course was open; and, with as little delay as +possible, the journey was commenced. A scanty supply of food was +obtained by the bows and arrows of the hunters, and water was +occasionally met with in the small rivulets that flowed from the hills, +and wandered on until they eventually lost themselves in the broad +Missouri. + +Inured to privations and to toilsome journeys, the Indian party heeded +them not, but cheerfully proceeded on their way until, at length, they +beheld the wigwams of their tribe standing on a green meadow near the +river's side. They hastened on, and were received with joyful +acclamations by the inhabitants, who had almost despaired of ever seeing +them again. The conflagration of the prairie was known to them; but +almost all of them were ignorant of the true cause of the awful +calamity, and attributed it entirely to accident. Nor were any +suspicions aroused in their minds by the conduct of Coubitant and Salon, +who had pretended the greatest alarm and anxiety for the fate of the +Chiefs and their party, and had set out as soon as it was possible to +traverse the savanna, in the hope, as they declared, of rendering +assistance to any of the Sachem's company who might have survived the +catastrophe. + +Much to the relief of all the party, they found that neither Coubitant +nor his accomplice had yet returned to the camp; and their prolonged +absence was becoming a source of uneasiness to the rest of the tribe, +who were preparing to send out a party of men to search for them, the +very day that Henrich led his detachment into the village. + +It was agreed by the Sachems and Jyanough, that they would not +communicate to the rest of their people all they had discovered of the +treachery of Coubitant and Salon; as they knew not yet how many of the +warriors might have been induced to join in the conspiracy, and connive +at their crimes. They, therefore, accounted for having traveled by so +circuitous a route, on the plea of their inability to cross the prairie +without any supply of either provisions or water; and they commanded +the party who were about to search for Coubitant and. Salon, to set out +immediately, and to use every possible exertion to find them, and bring +them in safety to the camp. They could have told their messengers +exactly where the villains were to be found; but that would have +betrayed a greater knowledge of their movements than it would have been +prudent to disclose; and they only directed the men to shout aloud +every now and then, as they traversed the mountain passes, that the +lost travelers might know of their approach; and also to carry with +them a supply of food sufficient to last several days. + +The messengers departed: and then Jyanough set himself to work, with +all an Indian's sagacity, to find out the extent to which the +conspiracy had been carried among the warriors of the tribe. He +succeeded in convicting four men of the design to elevate Coubitant to +the chieftainship, and of a knowledge and participation in his last +desperate scheme for the destruction of the Sachem and all his family. +Summary justice was, therefore, executed on the culprits, who scorned +to deny their crimes when once they were charged with them; and +submitted to the sentence of their Chief with a fortitude that almost +seemed to expiate their offence. The most daring of the four openly +exulted in his rebellious projects, and boasted of his long-concealed +hatred towards the pale-faced stranger, who presumed to exercise +authority over the free red men; and Tisquantum deemed it politic to +inflict on him a capital punishment. He was, therefore, directed to +kneel down before him, which he did with the greatest composure; and +the aged Chief then drew his long sharp knife, and, with a steady hand +and unflinching eye, plunged it into the heart of the criminal. He +expired without a groan or a struggle; and then the other three +wretches were led up together, and placed in the same humble posture +before the offended Sachem. At Henrich's request, the capital sentence +was remitted; but one of agony and shame was inflicted in its stead-- +one that is commonly reserved for the punishment of repeated cases of +theft. The Sachem's knife again was lifted, and, with a dexterous +movement of his hand, he slit the noses of each of the culprits from +top to bottom, and dismissed them, to carry for life the marks of their +disgrace. No cry was uttered by any one of the victims, nor the +slightest resistance offered to their venerable judge and executioner; +for such cowardice would, in the estimation of the Indians, have been +far more contemptible than the crime of which they had been convicted. +Silently they withdrew; nor did they, even by the expression of their +countenances, seem to question the justice of their chastisement. + +The next step to be pursued, was to prepare for securing Coubitant and +Salon the moment they should make their appearance in the camp, and +before they could be made aware of the discovery at their treason. For +this purpose, very effectual steps were taken; and Jyanough--the +faithful and energetic Jyanough--took the command of the band of trusty +warriors who were appointed to seize the leaders of the conspiracy, and +to bring them into the presence of the Chiefs. + +That evening, soon after sunset, the searching party returned; and, no +sooner did Jyanough perceive, from the spot where he had posted his men +among the rocks and bushes that commanded the pathway, that Coubitant +and his fellow-criminal were with them, than he gave the concerted +signal, and rushed upon them. In an instant, they were seized by the +arms, and dragged forcibly forward to the village. They asked no +questions of their captors--for conscience told them that their sin had +found them out, and that they were about to expiate their crimes by a +death, probably both lingering and agonizing. + +Doggedly they walked on, and were led to the spot where Tisquantum and +his son-in-law awaited their arrival. This was beneath a spreading tree +that grew near the banks of the river, which in that part were rather +high and precipitous. The shades of evening were deepening; and the +dark visage of Coubitant looked darker than ever, while the lurid light +of his deep-set eyes seemed to glow with even unwonted luster from +beneath his shaggy and overhanging brows. + +The greatest part of the tribe were gathered together in that place, +and stood silently around to view the criminals, and to witness their +expected fate; for now all were acquainted with their guilt and all who +were assembled here were indignant at their treachery against their +venerable and beloved Sachem, and their scarcely less respected white +Chieftain. + +The voice of Tisquantum broke the ominous silence. + +'Coubitant,' he solemnly began, 'you have deceived your Chief. You have +spoken to him words of peace, when death was in your heart. Is it not +so?' + +'I would be Chief myself,' replied the savage, in a deep, undaunted +voice. 'I was taught to believe that I should succeed you; and a pale- +faced stranger has taken my place. I have lived but to obtain +vengeance--vengeance that you, Tisquantum, who were bound to wreak it +on the slayer of your son, refused to take. A mighty vengeance was in +my soul; and to possess it, I would have sacrificed the whole tribe. +Now do to me as I would have done to Henrich.' And he glared on his +hated rival with the eye of a beast of prey. Tisquantum regarded him +calmly, and gravely continued his examination. + +'And you have also drawn some of my people into rebel lion, and +persuaded them to consent to the murder of their Chief. One of them has +already shed his life-blood in punishment of his sin; and the rest will +bear the marks of shame to their graves. All this is your work.' + +'If more of your people had the courage to join me in resisting the +pretensions of the proud stranger, you and Henrich would now have been +lying dead at my feet. You would never again have been obeyed as +Sachems by the Nausetts. But they loved their slavery--and let them +keep it. My soul is free. You may send it forth in agony, if you will: +for I am in your power, and I ask no mercy from those to whom I would +have shown none. Do your worst. Coubitant's heart is strong; and I +shall soon be with the spirits of my fathers, where no white men can +enter. + +The wrath of Tisquantum was stirred by the taunts and the bold defiance +of his prisoner; and he resolved to execute on him a sentence that +should strike terror into any others of the tribe who might have +harbored thoughts of rebellion. + +'The death that you intended should be my portion, and that of all my +family, shall be your own!' he exclaimed. The torments of fire shall +put a stop to your boasting. My children,' he added--turning to the +warriors who stood around him--' I call on you to do justice on this +villain. Form a pile of wood here on the river's brink; end when his +body is consumed, his ashes shall he cast on the stream, and go to +tell, in other lands, how Tisquantum punishes treachery.' + +A smile of scorn curled the lip of Coubitant, but he spoke not; and no +quivering feature betrayed any inward fear of the approaching agony. + +'Hear me yet, Coubitant,' resumed the old Chieftain; and, as he spoke, +the strokes of his warriors' hatchets among the neighboring trees fell +on the victim's ear, but did not seem to move him. 'Hear me yet, and +answer me. Was it by your arts that Salon's soul was turned away from +his lawful Chief, and filled with thoughts of murder? Was he true to me +and mine until you returned to put evil thoughts into his heart? or had +pride and jealousy already crept in there, which you have only +fostered?' + +'Salon hugged his chains till I showed him that they were unworthy of a +true-born Indian. The smooth tongue of the pale-face had beguiled him, +till I told him that it would lead him to ruin and subjection. Yes: I +taught Salon to long for freedom for himself, and freedom for his race. +And now he will die for it, as a red man ought to die. Let the same +pile consume us both!' + +'No!' interrupted Henrich, eagerly. 'His guilt is far less than yours, +and mercy may be extended to him. By every law of God and man your +life, Coubitant, is forfeited; and justice requires that you should +die. But I would desire your death to be speedy, and I would spare you +all needless agony. My father,' he continued, addressing Tisquantum, +'let my request be heard in favor of Salon, that he may live to become +our trusty friend again; and since Coubitant must die, let it be by the +quick stroke of the knife, and not in the lingering horrors of the +stake.' + +'Cease to urge me, my son,' replied the Chief, in a tone of firm +determination, that forbad all hope of success. 'I have said that +Coubitant shall die the death he intended for us; and his funeral pile +shall light up this spot ere I retire to my lodge. Salon, also, shall +die: but, as he was deceived by the greater villain, he shall die a +warriors death.' + +The Sachem rose from his seat, and took a spear that leaned against the +trunk of the tree beside him. + +'Now meet the stroke like a man!' he cried; and gathering his somewhat +failing strength, he bore with all his force against the naked breast +of Salon. The life-blood gushed forth, and he fell a corpse upon the +earth. + +'Now drive in the stake, and heap the pile!' exclaimed the aged +Chieftain in a clear, loud voice of command, as he withdrew the bloody +lance, and waved it high above his head. He was excited by the scene he +was enacting, and the feelings of his race were aroused within him with +a violence that had been long unknown to him. He felt the joy that +savage natures feel in revenging themselves on their foes; and he +forgot the influence that Henrich's example and precepts of forbearance +had so lung exerted over his conduct, though they had not yet succeeded +in changing his heart. + +'Heap the pile high!' he cried; 'and let the flames bring back the +light of day, and show me the death struggles of him who would have +slain me, and all I love on earth. Drag the wretch forward, and bind +him strongly. The searching flames may yet have power to conquer his +calm indifference.' + +The lighted brand was ready, and the victim was led to the foot of the +pile. A rope was passed around his arms, and the noose was about to be +drawn tight, when, quick as lightning, the devoted victim saw that +there was yet one chance for life. The river was rolling beneath his +feet. Could he but reach it! His arms were snatched from those who held +them with a sudden violence, for which they were unprepared; and, with +one desperate bound, the prisoner gained the steep bank of the broad +dark stream. Another moment, and a heavy plash was heard in the waters. + +Darkness was gathering around the scene; and those who looked into the +river could distinguish no human form on its surface. + +'Fire the pile!' cried Tisquantum; and the flames burst up from the dry +crackling wood, and threw a broad sheet of light on the dark stream +below. + +'He is there!' again shouted the infuriated Chieftain. 'I see the white +foam that his rapid strokes leave behind him. Send your arrows after +him, my brave warriors, and suffer him not to escape. Ha! will Mahneto +let him thus avoid my vengeance?' + +The bow-strings twanged, and the arrows flew over the water. Where did +they fall? Not on Coubitant's struggling form; for he had heard the +Sachem's command, and had dived deeply beneath the surface of the +water, and changed his course down the stream. When he rose again, it +was in a part of the river that the flames did not illuminate; and +those who sought his life saw him no more. + +'Surely he was wounded, and has sunk, never to rise again!' exclaimed +Henrich. 'His doom has followed him!' + +'Mahneto be praised!' cried Tisquantum; 'but I would I had seen him +writhing in those flames!' And he turned and left the spot. + +Coubitant gained the western shore of the river; and he smiled a +strange and ominous smile, as he looked across the waters, and saw the +forms of his enemies by the light of that fire which had been intended +to consume his quivering flesh, and dismiss from earth his undaunted +and cruel spirit. + +'I will have vengeance yet!' ha muttered: and then he turned his steps +towards the south, and paused not until he had traveled many miles down +the river, when he lay down on its margin, and slept as soundly as if +no guilt lay on his soul. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +'Out of small beginnings great things have arisen,...and as one small +candle may light a thousand. So the light here kindled hath shone on +many.' +GOVERNOR BRADFORD'S JOURNAL. + +Once more we must leave our Indian friends, and return to New Plymouth, +and to comparatively civilized life, with all its cares and anxieties, +from so many of which the wild tenants of the woods are free. + +Cares and anxieties had, indeed, continued to be the portion of the +Pilgrim Fathers and their families, though mingled with many blessings. +Their numbers had considerably increased during the years that elapsed +since last we took a view of their condition; and their town bad +assumed a much more comfortable and imposing appearance. Many trading +vessels had also visited the rising colony from the mother-country, and +had brought out to the settlers useful supplies of clothing, and other +articles of great value. Among these, none were more acceptable to the +emigrants than the first specimens of horned cattle, consisting of +three cows and a bull, that reached the settlement about the third year +after its establishment. They were hailed with universal joy by all the +inhabitants of New Plymouth, who seemed to feel as if the presence of +such old accustomed objects, brought back to them a something of home +that they had never felt before in the land of their exile. These +precious cattle were a common possession of the whole colony, and were +not divided until the year 1627, when their numbers had greatly +increased, and when a regular division of the houses and lands also +took place. + +The trade of the colony had, likewise, been considerably augmented, +both with the Indians and with the English, whose fishing vessels +frequented the coast, and were the means of their carrying on a +constant intercourse and traffic with their friends at home. One of +these vessels brought out to the emigrants the sad intelligence of the +death of their beloved pastor, John Robinson--he who had been honored +and respected by every Puritan community, whether in Europe or America, +and for whose arrival the Pilgrims had looked, with anxious hope, ever +since the day of their sorrowful parting in Holland. 'Surely'--as a +friend of Bradford's wrote to him from Leyden--our pastor would never +have gone from hence, if prayers, tears or means of aid could have +saved him.' The consternation of the settlers was great indeed. Year +after year they had gone on, expecting and waiting for his coming to +resume his official duties among them; and, therefore, they had never +taken any measures to provide themselves with regular pastors, who +might preach the gospel to them three times every Lord's day, according +to their custom in Europe and also administer to them the sacrament, +which, previous to their exile, all the grown-up members of the +community had habitually received every Sunday. + +The death of their spiritual leader and counselor had destroyed all +their hopes of being again united to him on earth; and the blow fell +heavily on all, and cast a gloom over the settlement that was not soon +dispersed; but still the Pilgrims did not immediately proceed to choose +another minister. The belief that the divine service could receive no +part of its sanctity from either time, place, or person, but only from +the Holy Spirit of God, which hallows it--was then, as it is now, a +leading feature of the Independent and Presbyterian churches of +America, and, therefore, the Puritans of New Plymouth did not feel it a +necessity--although they deemed it a _privilege_--to enjoy the +spiritual ministrations of ordained clergymen. + +Hitherto the venerable Brewster, with the occasional aid of Bradford, +Winslow, and a few others distinguished for piety and eloquence, had +delivered the customary addresses and prayers, and had performed the +rite of baptism. At length, in the year 1628, Allerton, the assistant +of Bradford, after he had been on a mission to England, brought back +with him a young preacher of the name of Rogers, who very shortly gave +such evident signs of insanity, that the settlers were obliged to send +him back to his native land, at a considerable expense and trouble. + +In the meantime, the number of settlers on other parts of the coast of +New England had augmented to a great extent; and in Salem alone there +were four ministers who had come out with the English emigrants, of +whom only two could find adequate employment. One of the others, +therefore, named Ralph Smith, who was a man of much piety, and judged +orthodox by the Puritans, went to Plymouth, and offered himself as +pastor to the inhabitants. He was chosen by the people to be their +spiritual leader, and became the first regularly-appointed preacher who +officiated among these, the earliest settlers in New England. + +Two or three small vessels were, about this time, built by the men of +Plymouth for their own use, and proved of great service to them, as +their connection with other colonies of Europeans on the American coast +became more extensive and profitable. A friendly intercourse with the +Dutch settlers at the mouth of the great river Hudson had also lately +been established, to the great satisfaction of the Plymouthers, and to +the mutual advantage and comfort of both parties. It was commenced by +the men of Holland soon after their formal settlement near the Hudson, +where they erected a village, and a fortress called Fort Amsterdam. +From thence they addressed a courteous letter to their old connections, +the English exiles from Leyden; and invited them to an occasional +barter of their respective goods and productions, and also offered them +their services in any other way that could be useful. + +Governor Bradford--who still by annual election retained his important +office--returned an equally friendly reply to these overtures: and at +the same time tendered his own and his people's grateful +acknowledgements of all the kindness and hospitality that they had +received during their residence in Holland, in years gone by. The +following year they were surprised and gratified by a visit from De +Brazier, the Secretary of the Dutch colony, who anchored at Manomet, a +place twenty miles to the south of New Plymouth, and from thence sent +to request the Pilgrims to send a boat for him. His ship was well +stocked with such wares as were likely to be acceptable to the English; +and, according to the custom of the times, he was attended by several +gaily dressed trumpeters, and a numerous retinue of servants. The new +pinnace, which had recently been built at Manomet, was immediately +dispatched for the welcome visitors, and he was hospitably entertained +by his new friends for three days; after which the Governor, attended +by Rodolph and some others, returned with him to his vessel, to make +their purchases, and to give in exchange for their European goods, such +furs, and skins, and tobacco, as they had been able to collect in their +general storehouse on 'the Burying Hill.' + +From this period, an active trade was carried on between the two +settlements, which proved highly advantageous to both--the Dutch +supplying the men of Plymouth with sugar, linen, and other stuffs, in +return for their skins, timber, and tobacco. + +During all this time, an almost perfect peace was maintained with the +neighboring Indian tribes; and the friendship that had so early been +established between the English settlers and the Wampanoges became more +confirmed and strengthened. All external matters now wore a far more +prosperous aspect than they had hitherto done; and the Pilgrims felt +that they had both the means and the leisure to add to the comforts of +their social and domestic life. Some years previously, a small portion +of land had been assigned to each family for its own particular use: +but the possession of this land had not been made hereditary; and +although the fact of its being appropriated to one household had +considerably increased the zeal and industry of the cultivators, yet +they still desired that feeling of inalienable property which so +greatly adds to the value of every possession. + +To gratify this natural desire, the Governor and his council had deemed +it advisable to depart so far from the terms of the original treaty as +to allot to each colonist an acre of land, as near the town as +possible, in order that, if any danger threatened, they might be able +to unite speedily for the general defense. This arrangement gave much +satisfaction to the settlers; but in the year 1627 they were placed in +a still more comfortable and independent position. They were, by their +charter, lords of all the neighboring land for a circle of more than +one hundred miles. That portion of their territory, therefore, which +was most contiguous to the town, was divided into portions of twenty +acres, five long on the side next the coast, and four broad; and to +each citizen one of these portions was assigned, with the liberty of +purchasing another for his wife, and also one for every child who +resided with him. To every six of these pieces were allotted a cow, two +goats, and a few pigs; so that each settler became possessed of a +little farm of his own, and a small herd of cattle to stock it with: +and peace and plenty at length seemed to smile on the hardy and long- +enduring settlers. + +Meanwhile, the colony of Massachusetts, which had been founded in the +year 1624, increased rapidly. It was first planted at Nantasket, a +deserted village of the Indians, at the entrance of the Bay of +Massachusetts, where the Plymouth settlers had previously erected a few +houses, for the convenience of carrying on their trade with the +neighboring tribes. Another settlement had been formed, two years +later, at Naumkeak, a tongue of land of remarkable fertility, where +also a deserted Indian village was found, which formed the commencement +of the town afterwards called Salem; and which had become--at the +period we have now arrived at in our story--a place of some importance. +It was founded by a man of much zeal end enthusiasm, of the name of +Endicott; who was one of the original possessors of the patent granted +to several gentlemen of Dorsetshire, for the land in Massachusetts Bay, +extending from the Merrimak to the Charles River, from north to south; +but stretching to an indefinite distance westward, even over the +unexplored regions between the boisterous Atlantic, and the 'Silent +Sea,' as the Pacific has been very aptly and beautifully designated. + +Endicott had been invested, by the society to which he belonged in +England, with the government of the whole district of Massachusetts; +and he soon found himself called on to exercise his authority for the +suppression of the disturbances excited by the settlers of Quincy. This +place was inhabited by a set of low and immoral men, one of whom, named +Thomas Morton, had come over in the wild and dissolute train sent out +by Weston several years previously. He was a man of some talent, but of +very contemptible character: and had attached himself to the retinue of +Captain Wollaston and his companions, who first settled at Quincy, and +gave it the name of Mount Wollaston. He afterwards, with his friends, +removed to Virginia, leaving some of his servants and an overseer to +manage the plantation during his absence. But, no sooner was Morton +relieved of the presence of those who had hitherto kept him in some +restraint, than he roused the servants to a complete mutiny, which +ended in their driving the overseer from the plantation, and indulging +in every kind of excess. They even had the boldness and the dishonesty +to sell the land which had been left in their charge by the lawful +possessors, to the Indians; and to obtain fresh estates, which they +claimed as their own. And, having thus established a sort of lawless +independence, they passed their time in drinking and wild revelry. On +the first of May, they erected a may-pole, in old-English fashion; but, +not contented with celebrating that day of spring-time and flowers with +innocent pastimes, they hung the pole with verses of an immoral and +impious character, and, inviting the ignorant heathen to share in their +festivities, they abandoned themselves to drunkenness and profligacy. + +The horror and indignation of the severe Puritans of New Plymouth at +this outbreak of licentiousness, was great indeed. In their eyes almost +every amusement was looked upon as a sin; and the most innocent village +dance round a maypole was regarded as nearly allied to the heathenish +games in honor of the Goddess Flora. The conduct, therefore, of the +disorderly settlers of Quincy filled them with shame and grief; and +they felt humbled, as well as indignant, when they reflected on the +discredit which such proceedings must necessarily bring on the +Christian profession, and the British name. Nor was this all: it was +not merely discredit that they had to fear. The insane and profligate +conduct of Morton threatened to bring on them eventually, as well as on +all the emigrants, evils of a more personal kind. For, when Morton and +his wild associates found their means of self-gratification again +running short, they had the folly to part with arms and ammunition to +the Indians, and to teach them how to use them; thus giving them the +power of not only resisting the authority of the English, but also of +effectually attacking them whenever any subjects of dispute should +arise between them and the pale-faced invaders. + +Most joyfully the natives took advantage of this impolitic weakness; +and so eagerly did they purchase the coveted firearms of their rivals, +that Morton sent to England for a fresh supply of the dangerous +merchandise. Such conduct was quite sufficient to arouse the fears and +the vigilance of every other colony of New England; and the chief +inhabitants of the various plantations agreed to request the +interference of their brethren of New Plymouth, as being the oldest and +most powerful settlement, in order to bring the offenders to their +senses. Bradford willingly listened to their petition; for he desired +nothing more earnestly than to have an opportunity of openly +manifesting to his countrymen, and to the Indians, how greatly opposed +he and his people were to the proceedings of Morton's gang. He had +also a very sufficient pretext for such interference, as he could bring +forward the positive command of his sovereign, that no arms of any kind +should be given or sold to the natives. + +He resolved, however, before he had recourse to harsher measures, to +try and bring Morton and his wild crew to a better mode of life, by +friendly and persuasive messages. But these only excited the contempt +and derision of the ruffian; and the doughty warrior, Miles Standish, +was therefore dispatched, with a band of his veteran followers, to +seize on the desperadoes. They came upon them when they were in the +midst of their drunken revelry, and, after a fierce struggle, succeeded +in making them all prisoners, and conveying them safely to Plymouth. +From thence Morton was sent, by the first opportunity, to England, to +be tried by the High Council, who, however, did not take any active +measures against him or his followers. Many of the latter escaped, and +continued their disorderly life, until they were checked by the +vigorous proceedings of Endicott, who severely reprimanded them, and +cut down the may-pole which had given rise to so much offence, and he +named the hill on which the notorious plantation was situated, 'Mount +Dagon,' in memory of the profane doings of its inhabitants. + +The coast of Massachusetts Bay was now studded with plantations, and +with rising towns and villages. The stream of emigration continued to +increase; and the wealth and prosperity of the colonies in general kept +pace with the addition to their numbers, and with their extended trade +with foreign colonies and with the mother-country. Boston had become a +place of some note, and seemed to be regarded as the seat of commerce +for the Massachusetts district, as well as the center of the civil +government. Most of the families of the neighboring plantations, +especially of Charlestown, removed to Boston; and ere long it was +deemed expedient to found a regular church there, and the building of a +house of God was commenced. Winthrop, the governor, also exerted +himself in the erection of a fortress, to repel the dreaded attacks of +the Indians; but he soon perceived that this was a needless precaution, +for all the neighboring tribes readily offered their friendship, and +even their submission; and, as the strength of the colony daily +increased, he found that he had less and less to fear from the Indians. +The Sagamore of Sawgus, in the vicinity of Boston, remained the steady +friend of the English until his death; and Chickatabot, Sachem of +Neponset, one of the neighboring Chiefs of the Massachusetts, +frequently visited the rising town of Boston. On one of these occasions +he excited the mirth of the Governor and his suite, by requesting to be +allowed to purchase his fall-dress coat, to which he had taken a great +fancy. + +To this strange and original request, the Governor courteously replied +that it was not the custom of the English Sagamores to dispose of their +raiment in that manner; but he consoled the disappointed Chieftain by +sending for his tailor, and ordering him to measure Chickatabot for a +full suit. This treasure the Sachem carried away with him three days +afterwards, to astonish the eyes of his subjects in his native wilds; +and his loyalty towards the English was greatly strengthened by so +handsome and judicious a present. + +Cundincus, also, the Chief of the powerful and much dreaded +Narragansetts, sent his son with a friendly greeting to the new +settlers of Boston; and, in the following year, his nephew and +co-ruler, Miantonomo, came on a visit to the Governor. He was for some +days an inmate of Winthrop's house; and it is recorded that he not only +conducted himself with the greatest decorum, but that be also sat +patiently to listen to a sermon of an hour and a half's duration, of +which, of course, he scarcely comprehended one word. + +Governor Winthrop followed the good example that had already been set +by both Carver and Bradford at New Plymouth, in regard to all dealings +with the natives. He always maintained their rights with the most +strict and impartial justice; and if any Englishman committed an injury +against the property of an Indian, he compelled him to replace it--in +some cases even to twice the value of the article in question. + +The new settlers had always been on very friendly terms with the elder +colony of Plymouth; and visits were frequently exchanged between the +Governors and others of the inhabitants, which, though performed with +much difficulty and even danger, were a source of mutual pleasure to +the two bands of British emigrants. If the men of Plymouth regarded +with some feeling of jealous anxiety the growing power and greatness of +their rival, it was but natural. Nevertheless, no differences of any +importance arose between the colonies on the subject of civil +superiority. It was on spiritual matters that they sometimes disagreed; +and on these points the Plymouthers watched the newcomers with +suspicious sensitiveness, and resolved to maintain their dearly- +purchased based rights to religious freedom, against any pretensions +that might be made by the church of Boston. + +This latter community was frequently subject to divisions and disputes, +on those points of faith and discipline that each party regarded as +all-important, but on the carrying out of which they could not agree; +and a certain spirit of intolerance had already begun to show itself +among them, which, in later times, ripened into actual cruelty and +persecution. + +The first instance of any display of this unchristian spirit with which +our narrative is concerned, was the treatment of a young clergyman, +named Roger Williams, who came over to New England several years after +the emigration of the Pilgrim Fathers, when the renewed oppression of +the Puritan ministers, by the English bishops, drove many of their +number to seek a refuge in America. In the same year also arrived John +Elliott, a man whose name is deservedly remembered and respected in New +England, as standing conspicuous for zeal and virtue. So great and so +successful were his labors among the native heathen, and so eminent +were his piety and his self-denying charity, that he has been well +named the _'Prince of Missionaries'_ and 'the Great Apostle of the +Indians.' + +The arrival of these holy and zealous--though somewhat eccentric--men, +and of several others equally resolved to maintain the freedom of their +religious views and practices, tended greatly to strengthen and +establish the emigrants; and also added considerably to their comfort, +as every settlement became provided with regular and authorized +ministers of the gospel, and could enjoy all those religious privileges +from which they had been so long debarred. But it must also be +confessed that it became the source of much dissension and party +feeling, and led to that display of bigotry and intolerance that +eventually disgraced the Christian profession of the men of +Massachusetts.[*] + +[Footnote: The cruel fate of Mary Dyer, the Quaker, who was condemned +to death by Governor Endicott, at Boston, is a lamentable instance of +the narrow-minded and cruel policy of the rulers of that community. +She was banished from the state, but 'felt a call' to return and rebuke +the austerity of the men of Boston, and reprove them for their +spiritual pride. She was accompanied by two friends, William Robinson +and Marmaduke Stevenson, and all three were seized, imprisoned, and, +after a summary trial, were sent to the gallows. The two men were +executed; but at the moment when Mary Dyer was standing, calm and +resigned, with the rope around her neck, expecting to be launched into +eternity, a reprieve arrived, and the victim was released. But it was +only for a little time. She was again banished; and again returned, as +if to seek her fate. A second trial took place, and she was again +condemned. Her husband, who knew not of her return to Boston until it +was too late, appeared before the magistrates, and pleaded with all the +eloquence of affection and anguish. But he wept and prayed in vain. His +young and lovely wife was led to the scaffold, where she met her fate +with a pious and even cheerful resignation; but her blood has left a +dark stain on the history of the Church of Boston, that no time will +ever efface. This dreadful event occurred about forty years after that +period of which we are now treating.] + +Roger Williams was a man comparatively unknown in his own country, but +he was destined to exercise considerable influence in the land of his +adoption, by his peculiar views of religious freedom which went far +beyond those of the generality of his fellow Puritans. He desired to +extend to others that liberty of conscience which he claimed as his own +privilege, and for the attainment of which he had become a wanderer and +an exile. But he soon found that many of his countrymen had forgotten +in America the principles of spiritual freedom, for which they had so +nobly contended in England, and were ready to employ against those who +differed from them, the same 'carnal weapons' that had already driven +them from their mother-country. His sufferings were indeed light, in +comparison of those which were afterwards inflicted on the miserable +Quakers by the government of Massachusetts; but still they were hard +for flesh and blood to bear, and galling to a free spirit to receive +from those who boasted of their own love of freedom. + +Roger Williams was not more than thirty-two years of age when he +arrived in New England. He had boldly separated himself from all +communion with the high church of his native country; and, before he +would attach himself to the Church of Boston, he demanded from its +members a similar declaration of independence. The fathers of the +colony were, however, by no means prepared to take so decided a step, +which would lay them open to the attacks of the English hierarchy; and +although a few years afterwards, when they could do it with less risk +of punishment, they abjured all connection with the Church of England, +yet they dared not at present give any countenance to such individual +boldness as that which Williams had manifested. His uncompromising +principles were, however, in unison with those of the Church of Salem; +and he was invited by that community to be their teacher, as an +assistant to their pastor, Skelton, whose health was then declining. +The rulers of Boston were extremely indignant at this act of +independence on the part of the Salemers; and they addressed to them a +remonstrance, desiring them to take no such steps without the +concurrence of the government of the state of Massachusetts. But the +men of Salem did not withdraw their invitation, which was accepted by +Roger Williams; and in a short time his piety, his eloquence, and the +kind courtesy of his manners, gained for him the esteem and affection +of the whole community. + +He was not, however, permitted to remain in peace in his new home. The +suspicion and ill-will of the Boston government followed him to Salem, +and so greatly embittered his life, and interrupted his labors, that he +found it expedient to withdraw to Plymouth, where he found employment +as assistant to the regular pastor, Ralph Smith. His preaching caused +great excitement in New Plymouth, from the fervor of his eloquence, and +the freedom of his opinions, which aroused the sympathy of many of the +Pilgrim Fathers. Governor Bradford was much interested by the young +and enthusiastic minister; and he described him in his journal as 'a +man full of the fear of God, and of zeal, but very unsettled in +judgement.' Certainly, his opinions were peculiar, and his spirit bold +and defying, to a degree that rather shocked and astonished the sober, +severe, and exclusive men of Plymouth; but his sincere piety caused him +to be respected, even by those who shrank from going such lengths as he +did; and his engaging manners won the affection of all who were +admitted to his intimacy. + +One cause of the anger of the rulers of Boston against this energetic +young man was an essay which he wrote and addressed to the Governor of +Plymouth, in which he stated his conviction that 'the King of England +had no right whatever to give away these lands on which they had +settled; but that they belonged exclusively to the natives, and must be +bought in by auction from them.' No one who entertains a sense of +justice will now be disposed to object to this opinion; but it gave +great offence to the government of Boston, and he was summoned before +the general court, to answer to Governor Winthrop for having +promulgated such notions. He did not, however, attempt to defend them, +but good-humoredly declared that they were privately addressed to +Bradford, who, with tin chief men of Plymouth, agreed with him in all +the material points of his essay, and he offend to burn it if it had +given offence at Boston. The subject was then dropped, and Williams +returned to Plymouth, where he continued to reside for a considerable +time. + +During that period, he not only gained many friends among the +inhabitants, but he also, by a constant intercourse with the Wampanoges +and other neighboring tribes, obtained a considerable knowledge of +their language and manners, and secured their veneration and love. +This, as we shall have occasion to observe, proved afterwards of the +greatest advantage to him. + +But his own restless spirit was not satisfied with quietly discharging +the duties of his office, and enjoying the society of his own +countrymen and their Indian allies. Again he drew upon himself the +wrath of the Boston Church, by openly stating his conviction that no +civil government had a right to punish any individual for a breach of +the Sabbath, or for any offence against either of the four +commandments, or the first table. He maintained that these points +should be left to the conscience alone; or, in the case of those who +had agreed to a church covenant, to the authorities of the church. The +civil magistrates he considered as only empowered to punish such +violations of the law as interfered with the public peace. This +unheard-of heresy against the principles by which the Bostoners were +governed, was received with amazement and indignation: and, although +they could not take any immediate measures to testify their +displeasure, and to punish the offender, yet he thenceforth became the +object of hatred and suspicion to the rulers, and they only waited for +a fitting opportunity of openly manifesting it. + +Williams was aware of the feeling entertained towards him by the +government of Massachusetts, but he was not thereby deterred from +expressing his opinions in New Plymouth; and so great was his +attachment to the people of Salem, who had first afforded him a home, +that he would again have ventured thither, had he not been detained by +his new friends. They were both numerous and sincere: and, among them, +none were more attached to him than the Maitland family, who agreed +with him in most of his religious and political opinions, and valued +his society on account of his unaffected piety, and the various powers +and accomplishments of his mind. Possibly, it was the attraction that +Roger Williams found in this family that caused him so long to turn a +deaf ear to the repeated solicitations of his old friends at Salem, +that he would again take up his abode among them. Certainly, it was not +fear of the rulers of Boston that kept his undaunted spirit in a +district over which they had no authority; neither was it altogether +the harmony that subsisted between his views and those of the +hospitable Plymouthers. On many points they agreed, but not on all; +and those who differed from him feared that his continued residence +among them might excite a party spirit, and mar that peace which had +hitherto reigned in their community. + +Still Roger Williams did continue to dwell at New Plymouth; and still +his visits to the house of Maitland became more and more frequent.[*] + +[Footnote: A few liberties are taken with the private life of this +interesting character, in order to connect him more closely with the +events of the narrative. But all the incidents which can be regarded as +important are strictly historical, although the date and order of them +may be slightly altered.] + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +My child, my child, thou leav'st me!--I shall hear +The gentle voice no more that blest mine ear +With its first utterance I shall miss the sound +Of thy light step, amidst the flowers around; +And thy soft breathing hymn at twilight's close; +And thy "good night," at parting for repose! +----Yet blessings with thee go! +Love guard thee, gentlest! and the exile's woe +From thy young heart be far!' HEMANS. + +At the period when Roger Williams was induced to seek a home among the +Pilgrim Fathers of New Plymouth, Edith Maitland had attained to +womanhood. She was not beautiful, strictly speaking, but she was +possessed of that 'something than beauty dearer,'--that nameless and +indescribable charm that is sometimes seen to surround a person whose +form and features would not satisfy the critical eye of an artist. It +was Edith's character which looked out from her clear hazel eye, and +won the interest and the affection of all who knew her. Gentle and +affectionate in disposition, but at the same time, firm, enduring, and +fall of energy, she combined the characteristic qualities of both her +parents, and added to them an originality all her own. Her education, +in the common acceptation of the term, had necessarily been both +desultory and imperfect; and yet, under its influence, the mind and +character of Edith had strengthened and matured in no common degree. +The very circumstances by which she was surrounded had educated her; +and sorrow--deep, abiding sorrow, for the loss of both her much-loved +brothers--had taught her to look on life in a different point of view, +and with different expectations from those with which it is usually +regarded by the young. Her mother had watched her opening mind and +disposition with much care and anxiety: but she had not sought to check +its interesting peculiarity, or to control the wild exuberance of +thought and feeling that were occasionally manifested by her +intelligent and engaging child. As she grew older, she became more and +more the companion of Helen, who studied her character attentively: +and, if we be allowed such a figure of speech, wisely endeavored to +train it in a right direction, rather than to prune it to any +conventional form. Thus a perfect confidence was established, and ever +subsisted between the mother and daughter; and the natural +thoughtfulness of spirit, and energy of purpose, that belonged to Edith, +were unchecked, and she was allowed to possess an individuality of +character that is, unhappily, too often repressed and destroyed in these +present days of high civilization and uniformity of education. + +The courteous manners which both Helen and her husband had acquired in +early life--when they dwelt in comparative affluence in England--were +inherited by their daughter in full measure; and her whole manner and +conduct were marked by a refinement and elegance that seemed little in +keeping with the life of extreme simplicity, and even of hardship, that +she had experienced from her early childhood. While her brothers were +spared to her, she was their constant companion and playfellow; and +except when her mother required her attendance, either as her pupil or +her assistant in domestic occupations, she spent the greatest part of +the day in rambling with them on the sea-shore, or through the adjacent +woods, or else in the active and tasteful cultivation of their garden. +And when successive calamities deprived her of these cherished objects +of her early affection, she still continued to wander to the spots +where they had played and conversed together, under the guardianship of +the faithful Fingal; and, with no companion but the powerful and +sagacious animal, she was even permitted to ramble through the woods as +far as the Wampanoge village, and divert her sorrowful thoughts in the +society of Apannow, and her lively little son Nepea. + +But after the sad day when Edith wept on the lifeless body of her +favorite Fingal, and saw him laid in the grave that was dug for him +beneath the great tulip-tree, she seemed to concentrate her affections +on the bower that Henrich had erected, and the plants that he and +Ludovico had transplanted from the forest to cover its trellised walls, +and to decorate the garden that surrounded it. Many of these were again +removed, and planted on Fingal's grave; and there--on a seat that her +brother had constructed--would Edith sit, hour after hour, either buried +in contemplations of the past and the future, or else devouring with +avidity the few books that her parents possessed, or that she could +procure from their friends and neighbors. She formed no intimacy with +any of her own young countrywomen. They were too unlike herself--they +had generally known no sorrow: or, if it had fallen on them, its +strokes had not made a like impression on their characters; and Edith +could find no consolation or pleasure in their society. So she lived +alone with her own spirit, and indulged her own high aspirations; and +none but Helen was the confidant of any of her thoughts and imaginings. +Many of them she kept within her own breast, for she felt that it would +distress her mother to know how little charm remained to her in life, +and how often she looked up into the blue depths of heaven, and wished +that she had 'the wings of a dove, and could flee away' from this cold +world, 'and be at rest' where Henrich and Ludovico dwelt. + +And yet Edith was not unhappy. As she grew up, and became a more equal +and rational companion to her parents, the cares and business of life +necessarily occupied more of her time and thoughts, and gave her less +leisure for solitary meditation; and her daily increasing sense of the +duties and responsibilities of a Christian, led her to regard as +selfishness that indulgence of her own thoughts and feelings in which +she had so much delighted. She was therefore cheerful, and even gay, at +home; but she desired no pleasures beyond those that her home afforded, +and that were perfectly consistent with the self denying views and +principles of her Puritan fellow-countrymen. + +In all the doctrines of her sect; Edith was thoroughly well-informed; +and to all those that were really scriptural, she gave a sincere and +heart-felt assent. But the stern severity of Puritan principles and +Puritan bigotry found no response in her gentle nature, and the narrow- +minded intolerance of the Boston Church aroused both her contempt and +indignation. She was, therefore, quite prepared to regard with +interest and favor the free-minded young minister who had made himself +obnoxious to their laws end customs, and had sought a refuge among the +more liberal and kindly Pilgrims of New Plymouth. + +The acquaintance of Roger Williams was soon made by the Maitlands; and, +once begun, it quickly ripened into intimacy and friendship. In +Rodolph he found a sound and able adviser; in Helen, a kind friend and +a well-informed companion; but in Edith he found a kindred spirit to +his own--one who could understand and sympathize in his yearnings for +freedom of thought and action, and in his strong sense of the injustice +of his oppressors. In all their tastes and pursuits they were, +likewise, as well agreed as in their religious and social opinions. +Edith's passionate love of natural beauty was fully shared by the young +refugee; and many an hour passed swiftly away while he instructed his +quick and willing scholar in the mysteries of sketching, in which +pleasant art he was himself a proficient. Edith loved music also, and +frequently accompanied her own rich voice with the simple notes of the +mandolin, while she sang the old songs of her fatherland. + +Hitherto, her mother had been her only instructor in this most refined +and refining of all human pleasures; but now she found an able and very +ready teacher in Roger Williams: and it was a matter of astonishment to +her father when he observed the rapid progress she made both in the +science and the practice of music, from the time the interesting +stranger undertook to give her lessons. His deep, manly voice +harmonized perfectly with her sweet tones; and they often brought tears +to the eyes of Helen, and called forth a sigh from the breast of +Rodolph, as they sang together some ancient English ballad, or united +their voices in the chants and anthems that were dear to the hearts of +the exiles, and recalled days of youth and happiness long passed away, +and never to return. + +Edith's bower was the usual scene of these domestic concerts; and there +the long, sweet summer evenings glided away in happiness, that the +'queen of that bower '--as Henrich had named her--had never known since +the last evening that she spent there with her brother. She began to +wonder why she had hitherto associated none but melancholy ideas with +the lovely spot; and to find that it was possible to feel even gay and +light-hearted while surrounded by Henrich's flowers, and looking on +Fingal's grave. How strange it seemed--and yet, how pleasant! A new +existence seemed opening before Edith's soul; and life no longer +appeared a dreary pilgrimage, which duty alone could render +interesting. The powers of her mind also received a fresh impulse from +the society of the cultivated Englishman, and was drawn out in a manner +as agreeable as it was new. Roger had brought from his native land a +collection of books, which, though small in number, seemed to Edith a +perfect library; and all were offered for her perusal. Several of them +were, of course, on controversial and doctrinal subjects; and these she +was able to understand and to appreciate: but among these graver and +more abstruse treatises, were some of a more attractive nature--some +volumes of foreign travel, and ancient legends, and heart-stirring +poetry, in which the soul of Edith reveled, as in a garden of new and +fragrant flowers. + +It was a fresh, and a very rich enjoyment to one who had known so few +literary pleasures, to pore over these volumes, and find her own vivid +thoughts and wild imaginings set before her in all the captivating +colors of poetry and fiction; or to follow the wanderings of travelers +through the civilized and enlightened countries of the old continent, +and learn from books those manners and customs of refined life, which, +in all human probability, it would never be her lot to witness. But +this enjoyment was more than doubled when Roger took the book, and--as +he often did--read to her and her mother while they sat at their work +in Edith's bower in the heat of the day; and if the younger listener +did occasionally pause in her occupation, and forget to ply her needle +while she looked up at the fine expressive countenance of the reader, +she may be pardoned; for the voice and the expression were in such +perfect unison, that the one added greatly to the effect of the other. + +Perhaps these days of peaceful intercourse, and growing, but +unacknowledged, affection, were among the happiest of Edith's checkered +life: certain it is that, in after days of trial and difficulty, she +looked back upon them as on some green and sunny spot in the varied +field of memory. + +But they could not last for ever. Days and weeks passed by, and Edith +was too happy in the present to occupy herself much about the future. +But her parents thought of it for her; and Roger thought of it for her, +and for himself. Her graceful manners and appearance had attracted him +on his first acquaintance with her, and the favorable impression had +been strengthened from day to day, as he acquired a more intimate +knowledge of her thoughtful character and amiable temper: and it was +not long ere he felt that his future happiness in life depended on her +returning those sentiments with which she had inspired him. + +Had he been possessed of much vanity, he would not long have +entertained any doubt on this interesting point; for Edith was too open +and ingenuous, and too little in the habit of disguising her feelings, +to pretend an indifference that her heart soon denied. But the very +admiration and respect with which she inspired Roger prevented him from +'laying the flattering unction to his soul'; and caused him, for some +time, to suppose that the very evident pleasure she felt in his society +arose from the solitary life she had hitherto led, and the natural +enjoyment of an intelligent mind in conversing with one who could enter +into her feelings and tastes, and impart some fresh ideas to give food +to her thoughts and imagination. + +Helen, however, was not under this misconception with regard to her +daughter's feelings, and she felt much anxiety as to the result of her +acquaintance with the young clergyman. The remarkable transparency of +Edith's character rendered it easy for a parent's eye to discover the +deep impression that Roger's fascinating manners, and rare +accomplishments, had made both on her fancy and her heart; and it was +equally easy to perceive that his affections were entirely gained, and +that he was not a man to draw back in this, or any other pursuit in +which his feelings were deeply engaged. There was a simple earnestness +of manner in every thing that he said or did that irresistibly won both +confidence and love; and Helen and her husband entertained not the +slightest doubt of the sincerity of his attachment to their child, or +of his full intention to offer his hand to her, as soon as he could +feel any certainty of its being accepted. Neither did they doubt his +power to make her happy; for it was evident that their tastes and +dispositions were admirably suited, and their characters marked to a +great degree by the same peculiarities. But it was these very +peculiarities in which they so well agreed, and which each would +probably strengthen and confirm in the other, that gave rise to the +anxious thoughts that dwelt in Helen's mind, and which she communicated +to Rudolph. + +Roger Williams was already a marked man, and an object of suspicion and +displeasure to the rising power of Boston. Already he had been +compelled to retire before the persecuting spirit of the Boston Church, +and to seek shelter in the rival and more charitable colony, where his +peculiar opinions were tolerated, even if they were not approved. But +the Maitlands knew that his position at New Plymouth did not satisfy +the yearnings of his earnest and aspiring soul, and that he felt a +strong desire to return to Salem, and minister among those who had been +his first friends, and his first congregation. His reason for so bag +delaying this measure was very evident; and Edith's parents justly +feared that, as soon as the object which now engrossed his whole mind +was attained, and he had won their daughter's heart and band, be would +take her from her present safe and peaceful home, to share with him the +trials and difficulties, and even dangers, which might await him on his +return to the state of Massachusetts, where they felt sure he would +again proclaim the opinions that had already given so much offence. + +This was a reasonable cause for anxiety; but it was not a sufficient +ground on which to refuse a connection with such a man as Roger +Williams--a man who might, indeed, by his daring freedom of spirit and +uncompromising opinions, bring earthly trial on himself and any one +whose fate was united to his; but whose lofty piety and steadfast faith +must carry with them a spiritual blessing, and gild and cheer the path, +however dark and thorny, in which he and his partner should be called +to tread. + +It was, therefore, with mingled feelings of pain and pleasure that +Helen heard from Edith that Roger had, at length, taken courage to +declare to her his own feelings, and to ask whether she could return +them. Her glowing cheek and glistening eye, as she revealed the +interesting fact, would have left her mother in no doubt as to the + answer she had returned, even if she had not already guessed her +sentiments; and she and Rodolph could but give their consent to her +wishes, and ask a blessing on her choice. The joy and gratitude of +Roger knew no bounds. Now he felt that life lay all bright and clear +before him, and that no outward trials could have power to cloud his +path, so long as Edith walked by his side, to divide his sorrows and +double his joys. + +He employed all his eloquence to persuade Rodolph and Helen to consent +to his speedy marriage; for, now that his object in lingering at +Plymouth was attained, all his love for his flock at Salem, and his +desire once more to dwell among them, returned with added force. He was +impatient to resume his spiritual duties where first he had commenced +them in New England; and he was eager, also, to present Edith as his +bride to the friends who had once so kindly received him, and who now +so pressingly invited him to return. + +The aspect of affairs in the State of Massachusetts was then peaceable, +and no demonstration of enmity towards Roger had lately been made by +the Boston rulers; so that Rodolph and Helen had no well-grounded +pretext for delaying their daughter's marriage, and her removal to +Salem with her husband. The letter of invitation to Roger Williams from +that community, also contained such alarming accounts of the rapidly +declining health of their pastor, Skelton, that the necessity for the +presence of his intended successor could not be denied. With some +reluctance the Maitlands, therefore, agreed to an early day for the +performance of the simple ceremony that would unite their beloved and +only remaining child to one whom they loved and respected, but whose +fiery zeal inspired them with doubt and anxiety. + +No sooner was the happy day fixed, than Roger hastened to dispatch a +trusty messenger to Roxburgh, with a letter to his valued friend and +brother minister, Elliot--who was appointed preacher in that town--to +entreat him to be present at his marriage, and to honor the ceremony by +giving the customary address at its conclusion. + +Much to his satisfaction--and that of all the Maitland family--this +request was acceded to, and the 'Prince of Missionaries' arrived at New +Plymouth, accompanied also by his bride. He was betrothed when he left +England, but circumstances had then prevented his intended wife from +accompanying him. But as soon as he was settled at Roxburgh, she +followed him to the land of his exile, and became his faithful and +devoted companion through a long and toilsome life, and his able and +efficient helpmate in all his difficulties. + +The chief object of this excellent man, in leaving his own country, was +not so much to escape the persecution that then awaited the ministers +of his sect, as to attempt the conversion of the native heathen. For +this pious and disinterested purpose, he abandoned home and kindred, +and all that was dear to him, and, at the age of twenty-seven, entered +that land of distant promise, to the evangelization of which he had +resolved to devote all the powers of his life, and the faculties of his +energetic mind. So abstemious and self-denying was he, that his mode of +life resembled that of a hermit; and, at the same time, so liberal was +he in relieving the wants of others--whether his own countrymen or the +red Indians--that, if his wife had not been a careful and clever +manager, they must often have been reduced to absolute want. There is +an anecdote recorded of him, so characteristic of the self-forgetting +spirit of the 'Great Apostle of the Indians,' that it ought not to be +omitted here, where we are endeavoring to give a faithful picture of +the manners and the principles of the Pilgrim Fathers, and their +immediate followers. + +The society in England, under whose auspices he had emigrated, allowed +him a salary of L50 a year, a great portion of which, as well as of his +small private resources, was always dedicated to charitable purposes. +It was his custom, when he received his quarterly payment from the +treasurer of the colony, to give away a considerable part of it before +he reached his home, so that _Dame_ Elliot--as she was called--only +received a very small sum, inadequate to the necessary expenses of her +frugal housekeeping. The paymaster knew the good man's peculiarities, +and was aware of the domestic embarrassments that his too-liberal +bounty often occasioned. He therefore tied the money up in a +handkerchief with so many knots, that he was sure the pastor could +never untie them; and gave it to him, saying in jest, 'Now really, +reverend sir, you must this time give it all to your worthy spouse.' +Elliot smiled, and departed: but, before he reached his dwelling, he +remembered an afflicted family who stood in need of his assistance and +consolation; and, on going to visit them, he found them overwhelmed with +unexpected distress. He immediately attempted to open his handkerchief, +but all his efforts were unavailing to loosen the complicated knots. +'Well, well,' he said, at last, 'I see it is the will of the Lord that +you should have the whole.' And, giving them all his wealth, he returned +home penniless. + +Dame Elliot never showed any displeasure at these improvident acts of +her husband. She admired and respected his pious motives, and his +beautiful spirit of self-denial: and she only strove the more to limit +her expenses, and to make their home cheerful and comfortable with the +scanty means she possessed, while she willingly conformed to the life +of extreme simplicity which he felt it right to adopt. More than one +dish was never allowed to appear on his table, and water was his only +beverage. If wine was offered him at the house of a friend, he +courteously declined, but never blamed in others the indulgence which +he denied to himself. He used to say, 'Wine is a precious, noble thing, +and we should thank the Lord for it; but to suit me aright, water +should rather be there.' + +Such were the Christian pair who came to attend the wedding of Edith +and Roger; and to offer their congratulations on the event, and their +prayers that it might tend to the present and the eternal happiness of +their valued friend and his interesting bride. It could not be +otherwise than that Dame Elliot and Edith should form a speedy and a +lasting friendship. There was a similarity of feeling, and a difference +of character, that rendered them peculiarly agreeable to each other; +and made them mutually rejoice in the prospect of future intercourse +which the strong regard that subsisted between Elliot and Williams, and +the nearness of Salem to Roxburgh, promised to afford them. The young +matron was of a much more calm and subdued temperament than her new +friend. Her early life and education had been very different from +Edith's; and the man on whom she had fixed her affections, and the mode +of life to which her marriage had conducted her, had alike tended to +promote a quiet composure, and steady regulation of mind, rather than +to arouse the enthusiastic feelings and the lively fancies that +distinguished Edith's character, and which had proved so irresistible a +charm to the fervid soul of Williams. But each of the young women was +well adapted to the lot which Providence had assigned them; and each +proved a blessing, and a support through life, to their respective +partners. + +But little preparation was required for the Puritan nuptials that were +now about to be celebrated: and little gaiety or display was manifested +on the occasion. According to the custom of the sect, the marriage +ceremony was performed by Bradford, as the chief civil magistrate, and +the personal friend of the family. At that period, marriage was +regarded as a mere civil act; and either the magistrate of the place, +or a commissary appointed for the purpose, was alone required by law to +officiate. If a clergyman chanced to be present, he was generally +requested to offer up a prayer, or even to deliver a suitable discourse +to the, parties; but this was a matter of choice, and not of necessity, +and had no share in the validity of the ceremony. Even the wedding ring +had already begun to be regarded by the Plymouthers as a relic of +Popish corruption and superstition, and was, in many cases, dispensed +with, and some time afterwards formally forbidden. But on this +occasion it was retained, at the wish of both Edith and her mother; who +were accustomed to regard it as a beautiful, and almost a sacred, +symbol of the purity and the duration of the holy tie of marriage. + +On the appointed day, the civil rite was duly and solemnly performed by +the Governor, in the presence of a few chosen friends, among whom none +felt more interest in the future welfare of the young bride than the +venerable William Brewster. Although he was not a regular minister, he +was invited by Rodolph and Helen to offer up a prayer for the temporal +and eternal happiness of their beloved child, and fervently and +eloquently the old man complied with their request: and tears of +affection and anxiety glistened in his eyes as he concluded his prayer, +and added his own heartfelt blessing to that which he had asked from +Heaven. + +Elliot then delivered a powerful and impressive address to the young +married couple, on their social and domestic, as well as their +spiritual duties; and a simple, but well-arranged repast at Rodolph's +house completed the ceremonies of the day. + +It was about this time that the marriage of Henrich and Oriana was +celebrated in the distant wilderness, where all the outward +circumstances were so different, and where no prescribed forms could be +observed, to render the simple ceremony legal or impressive. And, yet, +surely it was as sacred and as binding to those who then plighted their +faith to each other as if it had been performed with all the rites of +civilized life. The vows of Henrich and his Christian bride were made +in the presence of that God who instituted marriage, and hollowed it; +and they were sanctified by the 'prayer of faith,' which rises as +freely, and as acceptably, from the wilderness as from the stately +cathedral. Had Edith and her much-loved brother known that their +earthly fate was thus being decided so nearly at the same period, how +would the supplications which they offered for themselves have been +mingled with prayers for the happiness of one another! + +A brief sojourn in her much-loved home was allowed to Edith after her +marriage; and then she gladly, but tearfully, left her parents, to +share the fortunes of him who would be more to her than father, or +mother, or brother, or sister, could be. The pinnace that belonged to +the colony was appointed by the Governor to convey Roger and his bride +to Massachusetts Bay, and land them as near as possible to their new +home in Salem; and thus Edith was spared the fatigue and difficulty of +a long and toilsome journey through the woods and the wilderness by +land. She was kindly and joyfully welcomed by her husband's friends and +admirers, who were already disposed to regard her with favor, and who +soon learnt both to love and respect her for her own many amiable and +estimable qualities. + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +'She was a woman of a steadfast mind, +Tender and deep in her excess of love.' + +The life of peace and tranquillity which Roger and his young bride +enjoyed in their new home, was not long permitted to be their happy +lot. The apprehensions that had been felt by Edith's anxious parents, +were but too soon realized; and, notwithstanding all the good advice +that he received at Plymouth, and all his own sincere resolutions to +avoid, if possible, all future disputes with the elders or the Boston +Church, Roger Williams again became the object of their persecuting +intolerance. + +The fact of his being again invited to Salem to assist the pastor, was +regarded as extremely offensive to the government of Boston: but when +Shelton died very shortly after Roger's arrival, and he was elected to +be the regular minister of the congregation, it was looked upon as a +sinful defiance of lawful authority, and one which demanded exemplary +punishment. An opportunity for this exercise of power soon occurred. +The township of Salem lain claim to a certain disputed piece of land, +and addressed a petition to the government of Massachusetts, in which +they demanded to be put in possession of it. But in consequence of the +recent act of the community with regard to Roger Williams's election, +the claim was unjustly rejected. The Salemers then, by the advice of +their pastor, wrote to all the other churches in the Bay, and requested +them to unite in a remonstrance to the government. This act was in +perfect accordance with the spirit of the puritanical principles, which +distinctly separated the church from the state; and it ought not, +therefore, to have given offence to any one. But their practice +differed greatly from their theory; and the feeling against Williams +was so strong that all the churches--the elders of which were opposed +to his opinions--now took part with the government of Boston against +him. + +This treatment so irritated the warm feelings of Williams, and so +keenly wounded his sense of justice and love of liberty, that he +required the Church of Salem to renounce all connection with the other +congregations; and even went so far as to refuse all intercourse with +his own church until this separation was agreed to. But strongly as the +Salemers were attached to their pastor, they could not consent to so +decisive a measure as he demanded; and, being vexed and dispirited by +the general disapprobation which their conduct had excited in the rest +of the colony, the greatest part of the congregation fell away from +him. + +This desertion grieved the heart of the zealous minister but it did not +discourage him, or subdue his determined spirit. He began to hold +spiritual meetings at his own house, which were attended by those +members of the church who fully concurred in his views, and who +considered that he had been treated with injustice. This proceeding +naturally aroused a strong party spirit in the town, and even +threatened to produce a permanent division in the church, as the +followers of Williams held themselves entirely aloof from the rest of +the congregation. + +Deeply did Edith lament this unhappy state of affairs. Her devotion to +her noble-minded husband, and the natural tendency of her own mind, led +her to sympathize entirely in his opinions and feelings; and her strong +sense of right and wrong caused her to condemn the injustice of the +government, and the weak, truckling spirit of the sister-churches. But +her judgement was more calm and dispassionate than that of Roger, and +her temper far less excitable. She therefore saw the impropriety, as +well as the danger, of, causing a schism in the church; and she used +all her powerful influence to induce her husband to give up these +irregular assemblies; and, without compromising his own opinions, to +endeavor to ward off the enmity of the men of Boston. + +She earnestly besought him again to leave the Congregation of Salem-- +the greater portion of which had already deserted him and his cause-- +and to return to Plymouth, where a safe and a happy home might yet be +afforded to them, and where no persecution for conscience' sake, need +be feared. But all her arguments and her persuasions were alike +ineffectual. On this one point she found her Roger firm and +inflexible--for on this point he felt that his honor and his conscience +were both concerned; and, even for Edith's sake; he could not act +contrary to their dictates. He knew that danger hung over his head; +and, though he would not shrink from it himself, he besought her to +seek a temporary refuge with her parents, and remain at Plymouth until +the threatened storm had blown over. But it was now Edith's turn to +show herself firm and decided; and so clearly did Roger perceive that +separation would be to her a far greater trial than any other that +could befall her in his company, that he forbore to urge a measure that +it wrung his own heart to propose. + +At length the boding storm began to break over his head. For all his +supposed offences he was again summoned before the General Assembly at +Boston; and, in fear and anxiety, Edith saw him depart. She knew full +well that he would never renounce, or even soften down, his opinions, +through any fear of man; and she did not, for a moment, desire that he +should thus lower himself in her estimation and his own. But she also +knew the bitterness of the enmity felt towards him by the authorities +at Boston, and she could not repress her apprehensions of its +consequences. + +As she anticipated, Roger refused to acknowledge himself guilty of an +offence against the church or state; nor would he even yield one point +of his religious or political opinions, during a long disputation with +the celebrated pastor Hooker. He was, therefore, declared contumacious +by the government: and, with the assent of all the assembled clergy, +except his friend Elliot, he was banished from the territory of +Massachusetts. + +Six weeks were allowed him by the General Assembly to make his +preparations, and remove beyond the boundary of their dominions: but as +this term would have brought the time of his banishment to the winter +season, when such a journey would have been impracticable, he was +afterwards permitted to remain at Salem until the spring. + +With great apparent unconcern he returned to his home, where his fond +and admiring wife welcomed him with joy, and strengthened his spirit by +the cheerful manner in which she received the news of their sentence of +banishment. She had felt an undefined dread of something much more hard +to bear--of something which might possibly separate her husband from +her: but banishment _with him_ was only a change of home, and, let +their lot be cast where it might, she could be happy. Indeed, she +entertained a hope that. Roger would consent to remove to Plymouth, and +take up his abode there, which would have, given her extreme +satisfaction. But she soon found that this hope could not be +accomplished; for her enthusiastic husband had formed a design of +founding a church of his own, and of being entirely independent of all +government in spiritual matters. In order to carry out this purpose, he +daringly continued to hold the obnoxious assemblies in his own house, +and to instill his opinions into the minds of the many young and +zealous friends who gathered around him. These meetings were even more +numerously attended after his return from Boston than they were before +he was summoned to the bar of the General Assembly; for persecution and +injustice naturally recoil on the perpetrators of it, and the victim of +such harsh measures is sure to gain friends and supporters among the +warm-hearted and the generous. + +A report of these proceedings was carried to Boston, and also a rumor +of Williams's supposed plan for founding an independent church and +settlement in Narragansett Bay. It was even declared that some of his +friends had already gone off to the south, and were seeking, a fitting +spot on which to commence building. + +This information roused the fears, as well as the wrath, of the +government. The eloquence and abilities of Williams were well known to +the rulers, and they dreaded the influence that he would inevitably +exercise over the neighboring churches, if he established himself and +his followers in a district so contiguous to their own. They, +therefore, resolved to employ still more harsh and stringent measures +than had yet been attempted, in order to put a stop to his disorderly +proceedings, and prevent the further dissemination of his opinions. He +was, accordingly, once more summoned to the chief town; and, had he +obeyed the summons, he was to have been forcibly conveyed on board a +vessel then in the harbor, and sent off to England as a rebel and +schismatic, unworthy to dwell in the new settlement. + +When the summons arrived at Salem, Roger was ill, having caught a fever +from some members of his flock on whom he had been attending; and he +therefore replied, with truth, that it would endanger his life to +attempt the journey to Boston. His serious indisposition had occasioned +to Edith much anxiety and alarm; but now she was made to feel how often +those events which we regard as misfortunes are really 'blessings in +disguise'; and how frequently our merciful and all-seeing Father +renders them the means of our preservation from far greater evils. It +would be well if the conviction of this blessed truth were constantly +present to our minds. How many anxious cares would it disperse or +soothe, and how many thanksgivings would it call forth. + +Edith felt its truth, and its consolation, as she sat by the side of +her husband's couch, and wrote, from his dictation, the reply that +saved him from immediate compliance with the dreaded summons. Nothing +would have induced Roger to plead illness as an excuse for disobedience +unless it had actually existed: and his fearless spirit would probably +have led him into the snare that was laid for him. Edith knew this +secret danger; for Governor Winthrop, who had seen and admired her on +one of his visits to Plymouth, and who now kindly sympathized in her +feelings, had sent her a private note by the messenger, in which he +warned her of the danger that waited Williams at Boston, and desired +her, by some means, to prevent his appearing before the General +Assembly. Winthrop highly disapproved of the young minister's bold and +independent conduct; but he shrunk from so cruel an act as was resolved +on by his council. He did not, however, choose to declare his more +lenient judgement; and he adopted the plan of informing Roger's wife of +the fate that was designed for him, and leaving it to her judgement and +affection to take the proper measures to avert it. + +It was not until after the departure of the messenger, that Edith told +her husband of Winthrop's kind interference, and showed him his note. +The indignation of Williams at such a flagrant disregard of all common +justice was so great, that Edith feared it would bring on an accession +of the fever. It, however, acted in a perfectly contrary manner. He +slept well that night, and the following morning declared his intention +of setting off immediately to Boston, and there accusing the General +Assembly of their unlawful intention, and daring them to put it into +execution. + +'I will upbraid them with their injustice, and charge them with their +purposed crime!' he exclaimed; and his fine eyes flashed with +excitement, that almost made Edith fear that the fever had affected his +mind. 'I will appeal to God and man against their lawless cruelty,' he +continued; 'and rouse the whole colony to defend my right to liberty of +thought and action.' + +Oh, Roger!' cried his wife--and she caught his burning hand, and +pressed it to her throbbing heart--'cease such wild and desperate +words! Would you drive me to distraction, by thus throwing yourself +into the power of your bitter and relentless enemies? Who in Boston +would stand up to defend your cause? Who could deliver you from the +evil intentions of these cruel men? It is true that the Governor has +shown himself your friend--I should rather say, my friend--by giving me +this secret information; but he would not openly espouse your cause, or +resist the will of the Assembly. Why, then, should you spurn from you +the means of safety that have been so mercifully afforded, and tempt +Providence to leave you to your fate'? + +'Edith,' he replied--and the bright flush faded from his cheek, and the +fire in his eye died away, and he sank again upon his couch--'Edith, +you have subdued my spirit; or perhaps,' he added, smiling up in her +face, 'weakness has subdued it. I feel that I have no strength to +accomplish what I desire, and to show my persecutors that liberty of +thought and feeling is my birthright, and that I will never relinquish +the privilege. I must, therefore, submit to the will of One who is +wiser and mightier than I am; and believe me, my Edith,' he continued-- +as he saw the tears falling from her gentle eyes--'believe me, I do to +with perfect contentment now. The passion--the sinful passion--that +stirred me so mightily just now, is gone; and I feel the goodness of my +God in holding me back from the rash act I contemplated, and from +rushing upon dangers that I might indeed defy, but could not hope to +conquer. I will be calm, my love; and you shall devise some means for +my escape. I feel assured that still more violent measures will be +adopted by the Assembly to get me into their power; and now that I can +quietly reflect on the consequences of such an event, I am aware that +they would, probably, be our violent and indefinite separation. I could +not bear that, Edith; though I believe that I could bear much to +vindicate my honor.' + +How changed was Roger's countenance now! All passion--all excitement-- +was gone; and the natural sweetness of his disposition, and tenderness +of his heart, resumed their interrupted influence over his whole manner +and expression. Edith thought she had never either admired or loved him +so much as at this moment, when he had conquered his impetuous +feelings, and yielded his fiery impulse to show a bold resentment of +injury, to her influence and persuasions. + +'Heaven bless you, my own Roger!' she exclaimed, 'and reward your +better resolution, by granting us many future years of united +happiness. But now we must think of the present, and provide for its +emergencies. I see clearly that there is now no safety for you in +Salem, and that a speedy flight can alone ensure your liberty. You have +made a great sacrifice for my sake; and I will also make one for yours. +I will not even ask to fly with you, for I could only be an encumbrance +to you at this inclement season of the year, and my presence here may +be of use to you. My heart rebels while I say it, Roger; but you must +go alone, and use every exertion to reach Plymouth as speedily as +possible. When you are safe beneath my father's roof, then will be time +enough to think of me. I feel no doubt that Governor Bradford will +afford you every assistance in his power; and, probably, will again +allow the vessel that brought us here in brighter days, to convey me +once more to you and to happiness.' + +Edith had tried to speak with steadiness and composure; and, so far, +she had succeeded tolerably well. But when she realized to herself the +time that must elapse before she could rejoin her husband, and all the +dangers and privations that might await him in the interval, her +calmness quite gave way, and she burst into tears of uncontrollable +agony. + +Roger strove to cheer her, and to point to the happy future that he +trusted was in store for them--if not on earth, yet assuredly in a +better world, where faithful hearts will never know the misery of +parting. But it was not until he had knelt with her in prayer, and had +humbly asked to meet the coming trial, and to be sanctified by it, that +her tears ceased to flow, and a smile of hope and resignation illumined +her interesting countenance. + +'I must act now, Roger,' she said, in a cheerful voice, as she rose +from her knees. 'Our time is short; and I must make such arrangements +for your comfort during your journey as are in my power. All other +things that are needful to you I will endeavor to send by sea to +Plymouth; or, if no opportunity occurs during the winter, you must have +patience until I can convey them myself.' + +Her voice again trembled; and unbidden tears again rose to her eyes. +But she sought relief in occupation; and on the day after the morrow, +when Roger was to commence his toilsome journey at break of day, his +knapsack was ready, and stored with everything that would be most +requisite to his comfort. + +The moment of parting came; but we will not describe it. It was borne +by Edith as a devoted Christian wife can bear anything that is +necessary for the safety and welfare of her husband. But when he was +gone, and her swimming eyes could no longer see his beloved form, or +catch his last signal of farewell, the whole desolation of her own +position burst upon her: and Edith was, for a time, bowed down with +grief. She felt herself alone in the world, and she shrank from seeking +comfort or sympathy from any human being who was then near her. But +friends whom she could not then expect to see were near, and the +wounded heart found a balm and a consolation beyond its hopes. + +The very evening after Roger's departure, Edith's spirit was cheered by +the arrival of Elliot and his wife at her now dreary home. O, how she +welcomed them! and how deeply they sympathized in her distress and +anxiety! They had heard of the last summons that had been sent from the +General Assembly; and had hastened to Salem, in spite of the severity +of the weather to offer any assistance or counsel that might be needed +by either Roger or Edith. They rejoiced, with much thankfulness, when +they heard of his having escaped the cruel vengeance of his +adversaries; but their minds were filled with fear and anxiety, when +they reflected on the many perils that he might encounter on his long +journey, and the sufferings from cold, and hunger, and fatigue, that he +must endure in his present debilitated state of health. They did not, +however, add to Edith's anxiety by telling of their own, but exerted +themselves to cheer and rouse her, and lead her to place a perfect +trust in the over-ruling care of Him, without whose permission not even +a sparrow can fall to the ground. + +The wisdom of the plan that Edith had persuaded her husband to adopt +was soon but too apparent; for, in a few days, a pinnace arrived at +Salem, bringing an officer and attendants, who were commissioned by the +General Assembly to seize on the offending pastor, and convey him on +board a vessel that was lying at Nantasket, ready for sea. But this +cruel and arbitrary intention was happily frustrated. The officer came +to the dwelling of Williams, and had the mortification of finding that +he had been gone three days; nor could all his threats or persuasions +obtain from any of the inmates the least information concerning his +flight. He also sought out, and strictly interrogated, several of the +inhabitants of Salem, who were known to be the partisans of this +persecuted friend of liberty. But, although they were well acquainted +with his sudden departure and his destination, and some of the younger +men were even preparing to follow him, not one of them betrayed their +respected leader. + +The officer therefore returned to Boston, to report the ill-success of +his errand, which excited much wrath and vexation in the members of the +Assembly, but afforded secret satisfaction to the amiable Governor +Winthrop, who had unwillingly submitted to the decision of a large +majority of the government, and who had kindly exerted himself to +rescue from a cruel and unjust fate the man whose only fault consisted +in a determination to think for himself. + +Meanwhile, the fugitive was pursuing his slow and difficult way through +the woods and wilds to the south of Salem. But whither should he direct +his steps? Every road out of the district must lead him through the +territory of his foes and persecutors; and he dared not show in any of +the hamlets or villages, where his person and reputation were well +known, lest he should be seized and given up to the magistrates of +Boston. He, therefore, traveled chiefly by night, guided by the moon +and stars, and lay concealed in some damp covert, or rocky ravine, +during the day. The small stock of provisions that Edith had placed in +his knapsack was soon expended, and for some days he subsisted on the +nuts and berries that still remained on the trees. + +At length he felt himself safe from immediate pursuit, and changed his +course suddenly to the east. He emerged from the shelter of the woods, +and, hurrying across the open plain that skirted the bay, he found +himself at the spot which he desired to reach. This was a little cove +on the shore, surrounded on the land side by rocks, and only capable of +receiving a small boat into its tranquil harbor. As Roger approached +the water's edge, and stepped round the last point of rock that +concealed the inlet, he made a signal, which, to his great joy, was +instantly replied to from within. Day was just dawning over the far +horizon, and a dim twilight shone on the smooth and boundless ocean +that spread to the east. A few light strokes of an oar fell on Roger's +ear, and then he saw the white spray, and the dark form of a boat +emerging from the gloomy cavern that was formed by the overhanging +rocks. In a moment his hand was grasped in that of a friend, and all +his sense of loneliness vanished away. + +Seaton entreated him to lose no time in entering the boat, and leaving +the inhospitable shores of Massachusetts; and Williams gladly obeyed +him. The little shallop, which his friends at Salem had secretly +purchased, and sent by one of the most devoted of their number to meet +him at the appointed place, was well supplied with provisions and warm +clothing, which proved a most seasonable relief to Roger; but the most +acceptable part of its contents was a letter from Edith, informing him +of the welcome arrival of their friends, the Elliots, at Salem, and of +the futile efforts of the men of Boston to make him a prisoner. Edith +wrote more cheerfully than she felt; and she spoke of the happy time +when they would be reunited, and of her hopes that it was not far +distant, assuring him that she was willing--and trusted, ere long, to +be able--to follow him to any spot where he might fix his home. + +This letter, and the refreshment with which Seaton furnished him, +raised his drooping and exhausted spirits; and, at his friend's +request, he wrapped himself in the large boat-cloak that his provident +wife had sent for him and lay down to enjoy the first calm and +undisturbed repose that had been permitted to him since he left his +beloved home. + +Silently and rapidly the little boat glided over the calm surface of +the bay; and, ere long, it was opposite to the harbor of Boston, and +might be espied by some of the vessels lying there, Roger still slept +the deep sleep of exhaustion and security; but Seaton now required his +aid, and reluctantly aroused him to take a second oar, and speed the +shallop past the region of danger. Roger sprang to his feet, and seized +the oar, and the boat darted forward from the impulse of his now fresh +and powerful arm. It passed near several boats belonging to the +Bostoners; but the fugitive drew his large Spanish hat over his brows, +and hid his well-known form and dress beneath the folds of the ample +cloak, and thus escaped detection or observation. + +It was his intention to row down the bay as far as New Plymouth, where +he designed to visit Edith's parents and apprise them of all that had +befallen him; and also endeavor to prevail on Bradford to send a +vessel, as soon as the inclemency of the weather had subsided, to bring +his wife to her paternal home. He then proposed to go on with Seaton, +and any of the Plymouthers who would accompany him, and seek a +settlement further to the south, in some part of Narragansett Bay. But +this scheme was not permitted to be carried out. + +Towards evening, a fresh breeze sprang up from the east; and before +sun-set it blew so violently, that Roger and his companion had the +greatest difficulty in keeping their little vessel out at sea, and +preventing its being dashed on the coral reefs that girt that 'stern +and rock-bound coast.' Manfully they wrought at the oars; but their +strength was almost exhausted, and no creek or inlet offered them a +secure refuge. Still they persevered--for it was a struggle for life! +The least remission of their toil would have placed them at the mercy +of the wind, and they must have been driven violently against the +sunken rocks. + +At length, when the light of day was failing them, and they began to +give themselves up as lost, the keen eye of Roger espied an opening +through the foam-covered reef; and though it was narrow, and evidently +dangerous, he and Seaton resolved to make a desperate effort to pass +through it, and gain the smooth still waters that they knew must lie +between the rock and the shore. + +They breathed a fervent and heart-felt prayer for help from above, and +then commenced the fearful contest. The moment they turned the prow of +their shallop towards the shore, the light and buoyant little vessel +darted forward, impelled by both wind and tide, and mounted like a +seabird on the rolling waves. The dashing spray fell ever it, almost +blinding its crew, and the helm no longer had power to divert its +headlong course. + +'Now may He who rules the storm have pity on my Edith!' exclaimed +Roger, as he saw the fail extent of their peril, and not a fear for +himself crossed his steadfast soul. 'May the Lord of the winds and the +waves be our guide and protector, or the next minute will be our last!' + +He clasped his hands in prayer, and raised his kindling eye to the +frowning heavens above him. But his eye of faith could look through +those dark clouds, and see a Father's hand of love and mercy governing +and controlling the elements: and his spirit was at peace. + +'Now God be praised!' cried Seaton, as he drew a long shivering breath; +and snatching up both the oars, projected them on each side of the boat +to protect it from the rocks that bounded the narrow channel. 'We have +entered the passage; and, with Heaven's help, we shall yet be saved.' + +They had, indeed, dashed straight into the opening that divided the +reef, and through which the waves were rushing at a terrific rate; and +their only apparent chance of safety lay in the possibility of guiding +the little bark through the channel, without its being impelled against +the rugged sides. Williams caught one of the oars from his friend, and +both directed their whole strength to this object. There was a brief +interval of breathless suspense; and then the boat struck on a hidden +coral rock. It was but for a moment--another swelling wave lifted it +again, and rolled forward, bearing the little vessel on its summit into +the smooth water that lay, like a narrow lake, between the dangerous +reef and the flat sandy shore. + +But the peril was not yet over. The blow-on the rock, though momentary, +had been so violent as to spring a leak in the bottom of the boat; and +through this the water gushed up with fearful rapidity, threatening to +sink it before the shore could be reached. Again the oars were pulled +with the strength of desperation; and again the danger was averted. But +Roger Williams and his friend found themselves on a desert and +uninhabited coast, with a useless vessel, and no means of proceeding to +Plymouth. + +Still their lives had been providentially preserved, and they were +deeply grateful to the Divine power which had been exerted for their +rescue. And faith and courage, and bodily strength were their portion +likewise: and they did not despair. They slept long and soundly; and +the following morning, having ascertained that the boat was too +seriously injured to be repaired by any means at their command, they +resolved on abandoning it, and recommenced their journey on foot. + +The extreme difficulty of reaching Plymouth by land, and the wide +circuit from the course that he wished ultimately to pursue that must +be traveled in order to reach the settlement of the Pilgrim Fathers, +caused Williams to relinquish that part of his plan, and decide on +striking at once into the forest, and pursuing a south-westerly course +until he should arrive at Narragansett Bay. This would lead him through +the trackless woods, and the dreary wilds, inhabited only by the +barbarous and untutored red men. But from them he hoped to meet with +that hospitality and succor which was denied him by his fellow- +countrymen and fellow-Christians. + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +'...Alas! to see the strength that clings +Round woman in such hours!...A mournful sight, +Though lovely! an o'erflowing of the springs, +The full springs of affection, deep and bright! +And she, because her life is ever twined +With other lives, and by no stormy wind +May thence be shaken; and because the light +Of tenderness is round her, and her eye +Doth weep such passionate tears--therefore, +She thus endures.' HEMANS. + +Without any guide, Roger and his faithful friend Seaton wandered +through the wilderness. They took from the stranded boat as much of +food and other useful articles as they could carry; but the provision +did not last long, and before they reached any Indian encampment they +were seduced to extreme want and suffering. Their clothes were drenched +by the frequent heavy rain, which so completely saturated the ground +and the dead branches that lay strewed upon it, as often to preclude +all possibility of lighting a fire. Their nights were passed on the +damp ground, or beneath any sheltering rock that they could find and +once a hollow tree afforded them a refuge from the storm that raged +around them, when no other was at hand. + +At length, after fourteen weeks of trial and hardship, they reached the +village of Packanokick, where dwelt Masasoyt, the aged Sagamore of the +Wampanoges. During the time that Williams had resided at Plymouth, he +had learnt the language of the natives; and on some of his visits to +the village of Mooanam, he had become acquainted with his father, +Masasoyt, the chief Sachem of the divided tribe. The regard and respect +with which his eloquence and his attractive manners had inspired the +younger Chieftain were fully shared by the Sagamore; and both prince +and people learnt to love and reverence the man who honored their +rights, respected their prejudices, and prayed to his God for their +welfare. + +His appearance in the village of Masasoyt was hailed with joy, and +regarded as a privilege by all the inhabitants. The Sachem received +both him and is way-worn companion with kindness and hospitality, and +gave them a chamber in his own lodge; which, if not remarkable either +for cleanliness or comfort, yet seemed a luxurious abode to men who had +passed so many days and nights in the unsheltered depths of the forest. + +On the following morning, when food and rest had somewhat restored the +exhausted strength of the travelers, Masasoyt invited Williams to a +private conference, in which he informed him that a serious quarrel had +again arisen between his tribe and that of Cundineus, the Chief of the +Narragansetts; and he entreated him to use all his powerful influence +with the latter to heal the present dissension, and prevent the dispute +from ending in open hostilities. Williams undertook this negotiation +with much satisfaction; for peace-making was not only in accordance +with his feelings, and with the duty of his profession, but he also +desired to secure the favor and protection of the Narragansett Chief, +on the borders of whose dominions he designed to fix his future home. +He, therefore, made no delay in setting out, with a few Indian +attendants, on the proposed expedition and in a few days, returned to +Packanokick with the welcome intelligence that the wrath of Cundincus +was appeased, and that he had listened favorably to the explanation of +his rival Chieftain. + +The old Narragansett Chief also was so captivated by the English +stranger, and so won by his peculiar eloquence, that we are told that +'the barbarous heart of the old prince loved him like a son to his +latest breath'; and his nephew and co-ruler, the young Miantonomo, also +regarded him as a friend, and placed in him a perfect confidence. + +'Let no one,' thankfully exclaimed Williams in his diary, 'mistrust +Providence--these ravens fed me in the wilderness!' + +But inactive repose was neither the wish nor the lot of Roger Williams; +and he earnestly desired to reach the spot where he proposed to found +his new settlement, and prepare a home for his beloved Edith; and from +whence, also, he hoped to be able to send a letter to Salem or to +Plymouth, which might allay the anxious fears that he well knew she had +so long been enduring. Since he had received the letter that Seaton +brought him from his high-minded wife, he had not had any opportunity +of conveying to her the intelligence of his own safety; or of hearing +from her whether her strength and spirits were supported under the +protracted trial of absence and anxiety. He knew, also, that ere this +time he had reason to believe himself a father; and his heart yearned +to be assured of the welfare of his wife and child, and to see them +safely lodged beneath the shelter of his own roof. It was a source of +extreme consolation to him, under all his feelings of anxiety, to +believe that his Edith had been cheered and supported by the presence +of Dame Elliot and her excellent husband, who, he felt assured, would +not leave her until she could be removed either to Plymouth or to her +husband's new abode: and to their kind care, and the protection of his +heavenly Father, he was contented to leave her, while he used every +effort to procure for her a safe and happy home, in which he could +hope, ere long, to welcome her. + +He, therefore, lost no time in concluding a bargain with Masasoyt for a +piece of land in the district called Seacomb[*], not far from the east +arm of Narragansett Bay; and thither he proceeded with Seaton, and +commenced building and planting. From this place, he found means to +convey intelligence, both to Salem and Plymouth, of the safe +termination of his perilous journey, and his intention to fix his +settlement on the piece of ground that he had purchased. His messengers +returned, after a considerable interval, and brought him a letter from +his now joyful wife, which gladdened his heart with the welcome news of +her health and safety; and that also of his little daughter Edith. This +name, she told him, had been given to the infant in accordance with +what she knew to be his wish; and his friend John Elliot--who, with his +wife, had resided chiefly at Salem since his departure--had performed +the rite of baptism. She further informed him that Governor Bradford, +on hearing of her lonely position, had kindly promised to send a vessel +for her; and, as the severity of winter had already partially subsided, +she was in daily expectation of the arrival of the pinnace, which would +carry her back to the happy home of her youth; and then she hoped the +time would not be long until she could rejoin her husband, and once +more be at peace. + +[Footnote: Now Reheboth] + +This letter called forth the lively joy and gratitude of Roger, and +animated him to fresh zeal and activity in all his proceedings at +Seacomb. He was also encouraged greatly by the arrival, at the same +time, of five of his most devoted adherents from Salem, who had no +sooner learnt from his Indian messenger, of his arrival at the place of +his destination, than they determined to accompany the friendly savage +on his return to Seacomb, and assist their friend and teacher in all +his labors for the formation of an independent settlement. + +All this visa cheering and satisfactory; but the trials of this +undaunted man were not over yet. His trusty messenger had brought him +another dispatch, which he had not yet attended to. He now opened it, +and found that it came from the Governor of Plymouth; and contained an +earnest injunction to him to abandon Seacomb, which, he informed him; +was included in their patent, and to remove to the other side of the +river that formed their boundary, where he could be free and +independent, like themselves. 'I accepted his wise counsel as a voice +from God,' wrote Williams: and he' immediately resolved to be guided by +it, and again commence his wanderings. + +In a frail Indian canoe, he and his companions rowed up the arm of the +sea, now called the river Seacock. They knew not where to land, or +where again to pitch their tent in the wilderness; but they were soon +guided by the friendly voices of a party of Narragansetts on the +opposite shore. These natives had recognized their friend Williams, and +now shouted out, in broken English, the welcome words, 'What cheer?' +The sound fell like music on the ears of the desolate exiles; and, in +remembrance of the event, the spot of ground where they first landed on +the Narragansett territory received the name of _'What Cheer?'_ which +it still retains. A spring, called _'Williams's Spring,'_ is also +shown by the present inhabitants of this district, in proud and +grateful memory of the spot where the founder of a future free state +first set foot on shore. + +The place where the wanderer landed was called by the Indians +Maushasuck; and it was made over to him by the generous Cundincus, as a +free and absolute possession, and also all the land included between +the rivers Pawtucket and Maushasuck.[*] This property he shared equally +with his present comrades, and also with some others who shortly after +joined him from Salem, and made their whole number amount to thirteen. +He did not reserve any advantage to himself, although the land actually +belonged to him alone; but divided it into thirteen equal portions, on +each of which a rude hut was immediately erected. These were soon +improved, and became a rising village, to which Williams gave the name +of Providence, in grateful remembrance of the Divine guidance and +protection which had brought him at length to 'the haven where he would +be.' + +[Footnote: Now called the Providence River.] + +He and his associates united themselves into a sort of 'town- +fellowship,' and independent church; and one of the first rules which +they laid down, for their future guidance and government, was that no +one should ever suffer, in that settlement, for conscience' sake. + +It was summer when the little village began to be built; and, before +the land could be cleared and prepared for cultivation, the season was +too far advanced to allow any hope of a corn-harvest. The new settlers +had, therefore, to endure the same poverty and privation that had been +the lot of the earlier planters in New England. They had no means of +obtaining any of the comforts of civilized life, except from Boston or +Plymouth: and as they possessed no vessel besides an Indian canoe, this +was a service of toil and much hazard. Still they did not repine, for +liberty was here their precious portion; and hope for the future +sustained them through the trials of the present time. + +But where was Edith? Where was that true-hearted woman while her +husband was thus struggling with difficulties and privations? She was +where both inclination and duty had led her--by his side; and smiling +at trials that she was permitted to share with him, and to lighten by +her presence. + +We must here revert to the time before Edith had been blessed by +receiving intelligence of her husband from Seacomb, and had so +cheerfully replied to the note which he wrote to her on a scrap of +paper torn from his pocket book. In order not to interrupt the history +of Roger's difficulties and their successful issue, we have not yet +narrated the trials that his exemplary wife had endured--and endured +with a resolution and fortitude equal to his own. + +When the joyful news of Roger's safety reached Edith at Salem, she was +slowly recovering from a long and dangerous illness, which anxiety and +sorrow had brought on her a few weeks after the birth of her child. +Through all her sufferings of mind end body, Dame Elliot had been her +nurse and her comforter; and she and her husband had sacrificed their +own domestic comfort, and their own humble but cherished home, to +lessen the sorrows of their afflicted friend. + +All the consolation that human sympathy and affection could afford to +Edith, was given by these true Christian friends; and all the spiritual +strength that the prayers end exhortations of such a minister as Elliot +could impart to a sorrowing spirit, were received, and gratefully +appreciated, by the object of his solicitude and care. But when weeks +and months had elapsed, and still no tidings came of the beloved +wanderer, what hope could be given to the desolate heart of Edith Her +friends had themselves given up all hope of Roger's having survived the +toils end privations of the journey; and how could they bid his wife +cheer up, and look for brighter days, which they believed would never +come? A letter which Edith received from her parents, by the captain of +a fishing-boat from Plymouth, too clearly proved that Williams had +never reached that settlement; and from that day the health and spirits +of his wife visibly declined. She did not give way to violent grief; +but a settled melancholy dwelt on her pale and lovely countenance, and +all the thoughtful abstraction of her early year, which happiness had +chased from her features, returned again. No object but her infant +seemed to rouse her; and then it was only to tears: but tears were +better than that look of deep and speechless sorrow that generally met +the anxious gaze of her friends, and made them, at times, apprehensive +for her reason. At length her physical powers gave way, and a violent +attack of fever brought Edith to the brink of the grave. + +During this period both Elliot and his wife devoted themselves, day and +night, to the poor sufferer, whose mind wandered continually, and whose +deeply-touching lamentations for the beloved one, whom she mourned as +dead, brought tears to the eyes of her faithful friends. They had no +hope of her recovery, nor could they heartily desire it; for they +believed her earthly happiness was wrecked for ever, and they could ask +no better fate for her than a speedy reunion with her Roger in a home +beyond the grave. + +Her child they looked on as their own, and cherished her with almost a +parent's love and care; while they resolved to bring her up in those +high and holy principles that had been so nobly contended for by her +unfortunate father, and so beautifully exemplified in the amiable +character of her mother. + +The fever ran high, and bore down all the strength--both moral and +physical--of its victim. At length, after days and nights of +restlessness and delirium, a deep and heavy sleep came on; and Edith +lay still and motionless for hours, while her untiring friends sat +watching her in silence, and offering up fervent prayers for the soul +that seemed to be departing. During this anxious period, a gentle knock +was made at the door; and Elliot, on opening it, was presented by +Edith's single attendant with the small packet that Roger's Indian +messenger had brought for her mistress. + +In trembling agitation, the pastor showed the direction--which he knew +to be in his friend's handwriting--to his wife: and now, indeed, they +lifted up their hearts to the God who heareth prayer, that He would be +pleased to recall the precious life that seemed to be fast ebbing away; +and to permit His tried and faithful servants again to be united, and +enjoy the happiness that yet might be their portion on earth. + +Noiselessly Elliot glided from the room--for he feared to awaken the +sleeper--and sought the friendly Indian, from whom he learnt the good +news of Roger's safety, and all the particulars that the red man could +relate concerning him. He then returned to Edith's chamber, and, in a +low whisper, communicated all that he had heard to his wife, and +consulted with her as to the best method of communicating the startling +tidings to Edith, should she ever awake from her present death-like +slumber. + +They were still engaged in earnest, but scarcely audible, conversation, +when Dame Elliot, who did not cease from watching her patient, observed +her open her large eyes, and fix them with a look of intelligent +inquiry on herself and her husband. She made a sign to him; and he +likewise was struck with the evident change in Edith's countenance, and +filled with hope that her reason had perfectly returned. This hope was +quickly confirmed by the invalid saying in a very low voice, but in a +collected manner-- + +'I have slept very long, and my dreams have been very painful. I +dreamt that I was alone in the world, and that an angel came to take my +soul where he had gone to dwell. And then--just as I bade farewell to +earth--a little form came between me and the angel, and held me back. +Where is that little being? Dame Elliot, let me look on her, that my +trembling spirit may be stayed. No, Roger; no--I must not ask to follow +you yet.' + +Edith seemed too weak for tears, or for any strong emotion; but she +closed her eyes, and slowly clasped her almost transparent hands upon +her breast, and looked so still and colorless, that she might have been +taken for a marble monument, but for the dark waving hair that fell +upon her pillow, and shaded her snowy neck. Dame Elliot took up the +infant from its little wicker cradle, and held it towards Edith, saying +gently-- + +'Look up, my Edith, and bless the little being that God has given to +call you back to life and happiness.' + +_'Happiness!'_ murmured Edith. 'That word has no meaning for me! Duty +is my only tie to life.' + +But she did look up; and as her eyes were long end fondly fixed on the +unconscious features of the child, her own sweet look of gentleness +rose into them again, and she raised her feeble arms, as if to take the +infant. + +'And he will never see her,' she whispered. 'He will never look on his +child in this world.' + +Elliot thought that hope might now be given without danger; and he took +her wasted hand in his, and said-- + +'Edith, you have had much sorrow, and it has nearly brought you down to +the grave. But can you bear to feel the agitation of hope? Can you +listen calmly while I tell you that some tidings of your husband have +reached us, and that he was certainly alive after the time when you +believed him dead?' + +He paused, and looked anxiously to see the effect of this sentence; and +he was almost awed by the expression of Edith's countenance. It was not +agitation--it was not joy--it was not trembling uncertainty. But it was +a look of concentrated mental power and endurance, and of speechless +inquiry, that seemed to say, 'Now utter my sentence of life or death, +and do it quickly!' + +Dame Elliot could not bear it. Bursting into tears of deep emotion, she +beat down and imprinted a kiss on Edith's cold brow, while she +exclaimed, in broken accents-- + +'Yes! it is true, dearest Edith. You may live--and live, we hope, for +happiness as great as has ever been your portion.' + +'O, my God!' cried Edith-'this is too much!--too much of joy for one so +weak and faithless. But tell me, my friends--tell me all. I can bear it +now.' + +Gently and gradually Elliot prepared her for the blissful certainty of +her husband's safety; and when he found that illness had not greatly +weakened her natural strength of mind, and that she could bear the joy +that awaited her, he gave her Roger's own letter, and felt assured that +the tears she, at length, shed at the sight of his hand-writing, would +relieve and calm her over-burdened heart. + +In this he judged truly; for, though Edith was greatly exhausted after +this strong excitement, yet she passed a tranquil night, and was so +much recovered on the following morning as to be able to converse +composedly with her kind friends. The fever had passed away; and the +sense of restored happiness, joined to youth and a naturally good +constitution, had a rapid effect in renovating her strength and +spirits, and recalling a faint bloom to her cheek. + +Before the Indian set out on his return to Seacomb, she insisted on +seeing him, and herself delivering to him a letter to Roger, in which +she had carefully avoided all mention of her illness. She made +numerous inquiries of him relative to her husband's health and present +situation; and charged him to convey her packet safely, and tell his +employer that he had seen her and his child well and happy. She could +say this with truth; for so rapidly had she recovered, that the +inexperienced eye of the Indian could detect no remaining indisposition +in the slight and graceful form of the interesting pale-face, or any +trace of disease in the bright eye that smiled so kindly upon him. + +He departed with the friends of Williams, and earnestly did his wife +wish that it had been possible for her to accompany them, and join her +husband at once. But this could not be; and she could only endeavor to +regain her strength, so as to be able to proceed to Plymouth, as soon +as the promised vessel arrived. In due time it came: and bidding her +kind and devoted friends an affectionate farewell, Edith and her child +embarked, with all the little property that remained to her, and soon +found herself once more beneath the peaceful roof of her parents. + +Until she arrived at Plymouth, she was not aware of the fresh trial +that had befallen her husband, in being compelled to abandon his +settlement at Seacomb, and remove into the Narragansett district. This +change was distressing to her, as it net only placed the lines of her +future habitation at a greater distance from her parents and friends at +New Plymouth, but also removed it further from all civilized life, and +into a district inhabited by a tribe whom she had learnt to dread from +her childhood, as the rivals and foes of the friendly Wampanoges. +Still these considerations did not, in any measure, abate her eagerness +to fellow Roger, and take her part in all his toils and anxieties. The +winter had passed away, and, though far from genial, the weather was +more tolerable for travelling; and Edith resolved to set out. + +All the arguments and entreaties of Helen and Rodolph to induce her to +delay her journey for some months, were ineffectual. Her husband lived; +and he was suffering hardship--and could she remain separated from him, +now that her own strength had been restored? The only concession she +could be persuaded to make, was to wait until some friend from Plymouth +was found to accompany her. Gladly would her father have done so; but +he was suffering so severely from the ague that so often attacked the +settlement in the spring months, as to be perfectly incompetent to +attempt the toilsome journey. No vessel could now be procured, and it +was on foot that Edith proposed to traverse the wide extent of +wilderness that stretched between Plymouth and Roger's place of refuge. + +Two faithful and active Indians were appointed by Mooanam to be her +guides, and to carry the infant which she would not consent to leave +behind her; and, in order that this might be accomplished with greater +facility, Apannow provided her with one of the Indian cradles--or, +rather, pouches--in which the red squaws so commonly carry their young +children on their backs. This was thickly lined with soft and elastic +bog-moss, and well adapted to the purpose for which it was designed. + +All was prepared, and the impatient Edith only waited for a companion +from among her own countrymen, who were all so much occupied at that +busy season as to feel little disposed to undertake so long a journey. +But she found one at length who was sufficiently interested in her +happiness, and that of her husband, to leave his home and his +occupations, and offer to be her protector. This was the excellent +Edward Winslow, who had been her father's constant friend ever since +their first emigration, and who bad also learnt to know and value Roger +Williams, during his residence at Plymouth. + +With such a companion, Edith felt she had nothing to fear; and her +anxious parents committed her to his care with greater confidence than +they would have done to that of any other protector. His natural +sagacity, his courage, and his knowledge of the Indians and their +language, rendered him peculiarly suitable for the enterprise; and his +warm friendship for Rodolph and all his family, and the lively powers +of his pious and intelligent mind, ensured to Edith both a kind and an +agreeable fellow-traveler. + +Nevertheless, it was not without many prayers and tears that Helen saw +her daughter once more leave her childhood's home, and commence her +journey. But Edith's spirits were joyous, and her hopes were high; and +her child lay smiling contentedly in its strange nest, which was slung +on the shoulders of one of the Indian guides. The other carried a +small stock of provisions, and other necessaries, and thus the little +party set forth. + +We will rot follow them, day by day, in their fatiguing journey; but +merely state that its length and difficulty exceeded even the +expectations of Edith and her companion; but never damped the +persevering courage of the former, or drew from her a complaint, or a +wish to return. She only felt that every step, however rough and +toilsome, carried her nearer to the object that was dearest to her on +earth; and this conviction supported her when otherwise her strength +must have failed. + +Sometimes an Indian wigwam afforded her rest and shelter; but, +frequently, a bed of dry leaves, and a roof of boughs, were the best +lodging that Winslow and the Indians could provide for her and her +little infant. Happily the weather was calm and mild, and the season +sufficiently advanced to enable the Indians to find a quantity of +nutritious roots, which, with the meal, or nokake, that they carried +with them--or procured from the natives by the way--formed the chief +subsistence of the party. Occasionally, their fare was improved by a +wild turkey, or wood duck; or, perhaps, a squirrel or hare, that Winslow +brought down with his gun; but often the day's journey was performed +with no other refreshment than a few spoonsful of dry meal, and a +draught of cold water, until something more nourishing could be procured +at their place of repose for the right. + +Roger Williams was standing one evening on the bank of the river, or +rather, arm of the sea, called Seacock, near the spot where he had +first landed, and to which he had given the name of 'What Cheer?' He +was examining the landing-place, and contriving some means of turning +it into a sort of harbor for canoes that belonged to the settlers in +his new village, when his attention was attracted to the other side of +the river, by hearing his own name loudly called by native voices. He +looked to the spot, and saw two Indians plunge into the water, and swim +rapidly towards him: and, as they did so, he also observed two other +figures emerge from a grove of trees that reached nearly to the eastern +brink of the inlet. + +The distance was considerable, but Roger's keen eye could discern that +one of them was a female form; and, as they approached nearer to the +water's edge, and the rays of the evening sun fell brightly upon them, +he also saw that the arms of that graceful and familiar form carried an +infant. + +'Surely it is an illusion!' he exclaimed. I have so long pictured to +my mind that blessed sight, that at length my fancy seems realized. It +cannot be!' + +But again his name was called--not now with an Indian accent, but in +the manly English tones of Edward Winslow 'Bring down a canoe, Roger!' +he shouted across the Water. 'Edith and your child cannot swim this, +arm of the sea.' + +It was then true! Edith--his beloved wife--was there and only that +narrow inlet divided them! The Indians had sprung to the shore, and +were waiting his directions, to go in search of a canoe; but for a few +moments he did not regard them, so riveted were his eyes, and all his +senses, on the opposite shore. But now he remembered that only by means +of a boat could he attain that shore; and making a signal of wild joy +and welcome to Edith, he hurried up the creek with the Indians, and +rapidly unloosed the moorings of his canoe, which lay securely behind a +projecting rock. He leaped into it, leaving the natives on the shore, +and paddled the canoe swiftly down the creek, to the spot where Edith +stood waiting to receive him, trembling with agitation and joy. + +When the first burst of emotion, at this, long-desired meeting with his +wife and hitherto unknown child, had subsided, Roger warmly welcomed +the friend who had so kindly protected them during their long journey, +and brought them to the wild spot that was now his only home. He then +led them to the canoe, and, with Winslow's assistance, soon rowed them +to the other side, and conducted them to his, infant settlement. + +The huts were indeed erected, and covered in with shingle roofs; but +their appearance promised little of outward comfort to Edith. Yet an +inward joy and satisfaction were now permitted to her, which, at one +time, she had never hoped to enjoy again on earth; and all externals +were as nothing when compared with this. Nevertheless, she exerted +herself with all a woman's taste and skill to arrange the simple +furniture of the hut, and even to add a something of decoration; and +both her husband and Winslow wondered at the improvement which she soon +effected in the appearance of the dwelling, and the ingenuity with +which she converted the rudest materials into articles of use or +ornament. + +Her joyous spirits, and active moments, gave a life and animation to +the hitherto dreary scene; and Roger felt that he had, indeed, in her a +helpmate, who would cheer the loneliest situation, and shed a grace and +charm ever poverty itself. + +Winslow appreciated all her excellent and amiable qualities very highly +also; and yet he lamented the lot of both his friends, who had to +endure, in this comparative solitude, all the struggles, and all the +hardships, that the Pilgrim Fathers had once encountered, and had now +conquered. + +But the visit of this, 'great and pious soul,' as Roger described +Edward Winslow, very greatly cheered the heart of the exiles. He +remained for many weeks in the new settlement; and only left it when +the advance of the season warned him that the short Indian summer was +drawing to an end. A vessel which arrived at that time from Plymouth, +and which brought the wives and families of several of the settlers, +afforded him the means of returning by sea, and avoiding the tedious +land journey. He departed, with the thanks and blessings of his +friends, to convey to Edith's, parents the happy intelligence that she +was both well and happy, and that it was evident her cheerful spirit +had power to sustain her through every difficulty by which she might be +surrounded. + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +'Epictetus says: "Every thing hath two handles." The art of taking +things by the right handle, or the better side--which charity always +doth--would save much of those janglings and heart-burnings that so +abound in the world.' ARCHBISHOP LEIGHTON. + +For a long period an unbroken peace had subsisted between the English +settlers and the native tribes. But this could no longer be maintained, +and a succession of petty injuries and mutual misunderstandings brought +about a state of hostility that the Pilgrim Fathers had labored--and, +generally, with success--to avert. + +Their kind and equitable treatment of the Indians had not been, as we +have had occasion to show, adopted by the later emigrants, and doubt +and suspicion had taken the place of that confidence and respect with +which the red men had soon learnt to regard the settlers of New +Plymouth. + +The recent colony of Connecticut, which was composed of bands of +settlers from Plymouth and Massachusetts, and also a few Dutch +planters, first came into hostile collision with the natives. The +settlers of New Plymouth had entered upon an almost deserted land; +those of Massachusetts had ensured to themselves safety by their +superior strength; and those among the Narragansetts were protected +from injury by the friendly feelings of the neighboring Indians. But +the settlement of Connecticut was surrounded by hardy and hostile +races, and could only enjoy security so long as the mutual hatred of +the native tribes prevented them from uniting against the intruders. + +In the extreme west of the Narragansett district, and near the entrance +of Long Island Sound, dwelt a powerful division of the Pequodees; of +that race of red warriors whose pride and ambition caused them to be +both feared and hated by the other tribes in the vicinity. They could +bring upwards of seven hundred warriors into the field, and their +Chief, Sassacus, had, in common with almost all the great Indian +Sagamores, a number of subordinate chiefs, who yielded to him a certain +degree of obedience. The Narragansetts were the only tribe that could +at all compete in strength with the fierce and haughty Pequodees; and +their young Chieftain, Miantonomo, was already regarded by Sassacus as +a dangerous rival. + +Such was the feeling that existed among the tribes near the settlements +of Connecticut, when an event occurred that disturbed the peace of the +whole community. Two merchants of Virginia, who had long dwelt in +Massachusetts, and who were engaged in trafficking with the Connecticut +settlers, were suddenly and treacherously attacked by a party of +Pequodees, and, with their attendants, barbarously murdered. And +shortly afterwards another trader, named Oldham, met the same fate, +being assassinated while he was quietly sleeping in his boat, by some +Indians who had, but an hour before, been conversing with him in a +friendly manner. This latter murder did not take place actually among +the Pequodees, but on a small island belonging to the Narragansetts, +called Block Island. But the inhabitants denied all knowledge of its +perpetration, and the murderers fled to the Pequodees, by whom they +were received and sheltered. A strong suspicion, therefore, lay on +them as being guilty of the latter crime, as well as the former. + +The government of Massachusetts immediately resolved on punishing the +offenders, and a troop of eighty or ninety men were sent off to Block +Island, to seek for the murderers. The natives endeavored to oppose +their landing; but, after a short contest, they fled, and hid +themselves in the woods. For two days the Boston soldiers remained on +the island, burning and devastating the villages and fields, end firing +at random into the thickets, but without seeing a single being. They +then broke up the canoes that lay on the beach, and sailed away to the +country of the Pequodees to insist on the guilty individuals being +delivered to them and, on this condition, to offer peace. But neither +the murderers nor their protectors were to be found. All had fled to +the forests and the marshes, whither the English could not follow +them, and they merely succeeded in killing and wounding a few +stragglers, and burning the huts that came in their way. + +This fruitless expedition rendered the Pequodees bolder than ever, and +the neighboring towns were harassed by their nightly attacks, and, +notwithstanding all their precautions, and the patrols that were set on +every side, the savages fell on the whites whenever they were at work +in the distant fields. They slew the men with their tomahawks end +dragged their wretched wives and daughters away to captivity; and thus, +in a short time, thirty of the English settlers had become the victims +of their fury. Meanwhile, messengers were sent to Plymouth and +Massachusetts, to implore their aid, and the latter state promised two +hundred soldiers, and the former forty, which were as many as its small +population could afford. + +The Pequodees, dreading the power of the English, endeavored to move +the Narragansetts--who had from the most distant times been their +rivals and enemies--to join them in an offensive and defensive alliance +against the white men, whom they represented as a common foe to the +Indians, and the future destroyers of their race. + +This intended confederation was discovered by Roger Williams, who spent +much of his time in visiting the Indian villages and instructing the +natives, with all of whom he obtained a remarkable degree of influence. +This noble-minded and truly Christian-spirited man immediately seized +the opportunity of repaying with benefits the heavy injuries that he +had received from the Massachusetts; and, with an admirable magnanimity +and self devotion, he set himself to prevent the dangerous alliance. + +The government of Massachusetts were well aware that Williams was the +only man who could effect this desirable object; and, on hearing from +him of the schemes of Sassacus, they immediately requested the former +victim of their unjust persecution to employ his influence with the +natives for the benefit of his countrymen: and well and zealously be +complied with this request. He left his now comfortable home, and all +the various employments that occupied his time, and travelled +restlessly from place to place, defying the storms and the waves, in a +miserable canoe; and meeting, with an undaunted courage, the assembled +parties of hostile tribes whom he sought, at his own extreme peril, to +bring into alliance with the English. He succeeded in his patriotic +object, and, after along doubtful negotiation, he persuaded the +Narragansetts to refuse the proffered coalition with the Pequodees. +Their young chief, Miantonomo, even went a journey to Boston, where he +was received with distinguished marks of honor and respect, and signed +a treaty which allied him to the settlers against his own countrymen. + +The troops from the river-towns assembled together, and went down the +Connecticut to attack the Pequodees in their own land. Their numbers +were but small--not exceeding eighty men--as each town furnished a much +weaker force than had been promised. But they were joined by a band of +the Mohicans, a hardy race inhabiting the valleys of the Connecticut, +and who had been alienated from the Pequodees by the oppression and +arrogance that had excited the enmity of so many other tribes. The +combined forces of the English and Indians were placed under the +command of Captain Mason, a brave and intelligent officer who had +served in the Netherlands under General Fairfax. + +The detachment that was expected from New Plymouth was not ready to +march at the time of the troops taking the field. Captain Standish, +therefore, did not set out himself; but he allowed such of his brother- +soldiers as were ready, to precede him, and take part in the +commencement of the campaign. Among these, Rodolph Maitland, who still +retained all the fire and energy of his youth, was the foremost; and he +led a little band of brave companions to the place of rendezvous. The +learned minister Stone--the friend and colleague of Hooker--accompanied +the troops from Boston; for a band of Puritanical warriors would have +thought themselves but badly provided for without such spiritual aid. + +The instructions of the government of Connecticut directed Mason to +land in the harbor of Pequod,[*] and thus attack the Indian forces on +their own ground. But he found the natural strength of the place so +much greater than he expected, and also observed that it was so +watchfully guarded by his enemies, that he resolved to pass on to the +harbor in Narragansett Bay; and, after having strengthened his forces +with the warriors promised by Miantonomo, to attack the Pequodees from +thence. A circumstance occurred here that is so characteristic of the +time, and of the manners of the Puritans, that it must not be omitted. +The officers under Mason were dissatisfied with this alteration in the +plan of the campaign, and asserted that the instructions given to the +commander ought to be literally followed. It was, therefore, resolved +to refer the question to the minister, who was directed 'to bring down +by prayer the responsive decision of the Lord.' Stone passed nearly the +whole night in prayer and supplication for wisdom to decide the matter, +and the next morning declared to the officers that the view taken by +their leader was the right one; on which they all submitted without a +murmur. + +[Footnote: Now Newhaven] + +The Indian reinforcements continued to increase. Miantonomo brought two +hundred warriors, and other allied tribes joined them on their march, +until the number of native auxiliaries amounted to five hundred. In +these Mason placed little confidence, and would gladly have awaited the +arrival of the forty men from Plymouth, who were already at Providence +on their way to join him. But his men were eager to attack the savages, +and the Indians taunted him with cowardice for desiring to delay the +conflict; and he was forced to advance at once. + +The great strength of the Pequodees consisted in two large forts, in +one of which the redoubted Chief, Sassacus, himself commanded. The +other was situated on the banks of the Mystic, an inconsiderable river +that runs parallel to the Connecticut. These Indian forts or castles +consisted of wooden palisades, thirty or forty feet high, generally +erected on an elevated situation, and enclosing a space sufficiently +large to contain a considerable number of wigwams for the aged men--or +whiteheads--and the women and children. + +These two fortresses were the pride and the confidence of the +Pequodees, who believed them to be invulnerable; as, indeed, they had +hitherto found them to the assaults of their own countrymen. And the +other Indian tribes appeared to hold them in the same estimation; for +when they found that it was Mason's intention to march directly to the +fort on the Mystic, their courage failed completely. They were only +accustomed to the Indian mode of warfare, which consists in secret +attacks and cunning stratagems; and the idea of braving the terrible +Pequodees in their strongholds, overpowered their resolution. The very +warriors who, only the day before, had boasted of their deeds, now were +crest-fallen, and cried out, 'Sassacus is a God; he is invincible!' and +they deserted in troops, and returned to their own dwellings. Thus the +English found themselves deprived of at least a hundred of their +Narragansett allies. The rest remained with them, as did also the +Mohicans; but their fear of the Pequodees was so great, that Mason could +only employ them as a sort of rear-guard. + +Meanwhile, these haughty Indians were exulting in their supposed +security, and indulging in songs and feasting. They believed that the +English were terrified at their strength and reputed numbers, and had +fled from the intended place of landing in Pequod harbor in fear, and +had abandoned their enterprise altogether. They, therefore, amused +themselves with fishing in the bay; and then inviting their allies to +join their revels, they passed the night in vaunting of their own great +actions, and defying the cowardly whites. + +We have seen that their assuming arrogance had aroused the jealousy and +hatred of most of the neighboring tribes; but there were still a few +who adhered to their cause, and were willing to unite with them against +the British intruders. Among those, none were more powerful or more +zealous than the Nausetts--that tribe which had so greatly harassed and +annoyed the first settlers at Plymouth, and which still retained the +same feelings of enmity that had then influenced them. The presence of +Henrich among that portion of the tribe that was governed by Tisquantum +had, indeed, secured to himself the respect and regard of almost the +whole community; but it had not weakened the strong prejudice that +they, as well as the main body of their tribe, entertained against his +race, or lessened their ardent desire to rid the land of the powerful +invaders. + +Sassacus was well acquainted with the sentiments of his Nausett allies, +and he had lost no time in securing the co-operation of the Sagamore of +the tribe, as soon as he knew that the British troops were preparing to +attack him, and he had, also, dispatched a swift messenger to meet +Tisquantum and his warriors, and entreat them to use all possible +expedition to join him in his own fortress, and assist in defending it +against his enemies. + +With the present position and intended movements of Tisquantum's party, +the Pequodee Chief was perfectly conversant; for there was one in his +castle who was acquainted with the plans of the Nausetts, and had only +left their councils when their camp was pitched on the banks of the +great Missouri. + +This individual had reasons of his own, besides his wish to strengthen +his countrymen against the English, for desiring the presence of +Tisquantum's warriors in the approaching contest. He hoped to place +Henrich in such a position, that he would have no alternative but +either to lead the Nausetts against his own people or to excite their +distrust, and even hatred, by refusing to do so. He expected, and +wished, that he should adopt the latter course; for he knew that he had +himself still many secret adherents in the tribe, who would gladly make +this an excuse for withdrawing their allegiance from the white Sachem, +and bestowing it on him; and thus, at length, the long-sought object of +his restless ambition might he attained. And then--then revenge!--that +burning passion of his soul--might quickly be also satiated! + +It was now many months since Coubitant had escaped the punishment that +was due to his many crimes, and had fled from the wrath of Tisquantum. +But he had contrived to keep up an exact knowledge of the movements of +the tribe, and even an intercourse with his own treacherous partisans. +Often, indeed, as the Nausetts traveled slowly across the wide plain +between the Missouri and the Mississippi, that well-known and terrible +eye of fire was fixed upon them from the elevated bough of some thick +tree, or from the overhanging summit of a neighboring rock; and often +at night, when the camp was sunk in the silence of repose, his guilty +confederates crept forth to meet him in some retired spot, and form +plans for the future. + +In this way Coubitant dodged the path of the Nausetts while they +traversed the forests and savannas, the lulls and the valleys, that led +them at length to the great lake, now so well known as Lake Superior. +Here they encamped for a considerable time, in order to construct a +sufficient number of canoes to carry the whole party across it and +also, by following the chain of lakes and rivers that intersects that +part of the great continent, and ends in Lake Ontario, to enable them +to land at no very great distance from their own native district. + +When the little fleet set out on its long and circuitous voyage, +Coubitant actually contrived to be one of the passengers. His partisans +secured a canoe to themselves; and, pretending that some of their +arrangements were incomplete, they lingered on the shore until the rest +of the boats were nearly out of sight. They then summoned their leader +from his place of concealment, and, giving him a seat in the canoe, +followed at their leisure. Thus he performed the whole of the voyage; +and when the tribe landed on the eastern shore of Ontario, and +recommenced their wanderings on land, he left their route, and hastened +forward to try and contrive some schemes that could further his own +views. + +The news of the war between the English and his old friends, the +Pequodees, soon reached him; and, in an incredibly short time, he +arrived in their country, and joined Sassacus in his fortified village. +It was he who travelled from thence to the head-quarters of the +Nausetts, near Cape Cod, and secured their assistance in the coming +conflict; and then returned in time to send a trusty emissary to meet +Tisquantum, and deliver to him a courteous message from Sassacus. + +This message had the desired effect; for Tisquantum called a council of +his braves, and submitted to them the request of their powerful ally, +that they would fight with him against the Narragansetts. The emissary +was instructed to say nothing of the quarrel with the English; for +Coubitant wished to get Henrich into the power of the Pequodees, before +he became aware of the service that was to be required of him; and he +trusted that no intelligence would reach him in the desolate country +through which he and his warriors would have to march. + +All the assembled council were unanimous in their decision, that the +request of Sassacus should be complied with; and Tisquantum then turned +to Henrich, who sat beside him, and said-- + +'My son! the days are past when I could lead forth my warriors to the +battle, and wield my tomahawk with the best and the bravest. I must sit +in my tent with the children and the squaws, and tell of the deeds that +I once could perform, while my young braves are in the field of fight. +You must now be their leader, Henrich; and let them see that, though +your skin is fair, you have in your breast an Indian heart.' + +'I will, my father,' replied the Young Sachem. 'Your warriors shall be +led into the thickest of the battle, even as if your long-lost Tekoa +went before them with his glancing spear. Tisquantum shall never have +cause to feel shame for the son of his adoption.' + +'I know it, my brave Henrich,' said the old Chief, 'I know that the +honor of Tisquantum's race is safe in your hands; and that you will +fight in defence of my ancient friends and allies, even as I would have +fought in the days of my young strength. Come away, now; my warriors +must prepare to go with the messenger of the great Sassacus. No time +must be lost in giving him the aid he asks; and you, my son, will be +ready by to-morrow's dawn to lead them on their way. I cannot go with +you, for these feeble limbs are unfit to travel at the speed with which +you must cross the forests and the plains; neither could the women and +children bear it. We will follow the course that we designed to take, +and go to the land of my fathers in the far east; and there we will +wait for our victorious warriors.' + +As Tisquantum said this, he left the hall of council, which consisted +of a shadowing maple tree, and led his companion to the hut of boughs, +in which Oriana and Mailah sat anxiously awaiting the result of the +conference. They did not regret when they heard that their husbands +were to hasten to the scene of war, for they were Indian women, and +could glory in the deeds of their warriors. But when they were informed +that the main body of the tribe was to pursue the intended route +towards Paomet,[*] their grief and disappointment were very great. + +[Footnote: Cape Cod] + +'Must I leave you, Henrich?' exclaimed Oriana. 'Must I know that you +are in the battle-field; and wounded perhaps, and wanting my aid, and I +far away? Let me go with you! You know that Oriana can bear danger, and +fatigue, and hardship; and with you there would be no danger.' + +'It cannot be,' replied Henrich, gently but decidedly. 'Your father +cannot travel, as we must do, with no respite or repose; and you, my +Oriana, could not leave him and our boy. You must go with them to +Paomet, my love; and prepare a home for me after the fight is done. The +camp of the fierce Pequodees is no place for you.' + +Oriana felt that her husband was right; and she said no more. But she +did not the less sorrowfully assist him in his preparations for the +journey and the battle, or feel less keenly the grief of separation +when, at daybreak on the following morning, he and his warriors were +ready to set out. + +'My son,' said Tisquantum, as he grasped the hand of Henrich, 'I have +one request--I would rather say command--to impress upon you before we +part. Let it not be known in the camp that you are a pale-face. I know +that your good arm will bring glory on yourself and those who follow +you; and I would have that glory belong to my own people, among whom +you have learned to fight. I ask it also for your own sake; for in the +camp of Sassacus there may be some who regard your race with jealousy +and hatred, and would not bear to see a pale-face excelling the red +men. You may trust my warriors. They look on you as they would have +done on my Tekoa. But you may not trust either our Indian friends, or +our Indian foes.' + +Henrich regarded this precaution as needless; yet, when Oriana joined +her entreaties to those of her father, he readily gave the promise +required. His costume and accoutrements were strictly native; and +constant exposure to the air and sun had burnt his skin almost to a +copper color. But his eyes were a deep blue; and his hair, though now +dark, had a rich auburn glow upon it, that differed greatly from the +jet black locks so universal among the Indians. To hide this, Oriana +gathered it up into a knot on the top of his head in native fashion, +and covered it with a close black cap. Over this his Sachem's coronet +of feathers was placed; and it would have required a very scrutinising +and suspicious eye to have detected the disguise. The blue eyes alone +gave intimation of an European extraction; and they were so shaded by +long black lashes, and had an expression so deep and penetrating, that +few could discover of what color they were. The tongue of Hannah, too, +had learnt to speak the Indian language with a pure, native accent, +that no one could acquire who had not been brought up among the red +men; so that there was little fear of his being known for a pale-face, +amid the excitement and confusion of the war. + +The warriors departed; and Tisquantum's party resumed their journey, +though not so joyously as before their separation from those who were +going to meet danger, and, perhaps, death. + +With unremitting speed, the Nausett braves pursued their way, and +reached the land of the Pequodees before the campaign had begun. +Sassacus had, as we have seen, taken up his position in one of his +boasted forts, and he wanted no reinforcements there; for his presence +was regarded by his people as a panoply of strength. He, therefore, +sent to desire the Nausett detachment to march to Fort Mystic, and +assist the garrison there in defending it against any attack that might +he made. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +'Merciful God! how horrible is night! +...There the shout +Of battle, the barbarian yell, the bray +Of dissonant instruments, the clang of arms, +The shriek of agony, the groan of death, +In one wild uproar and continuous din, +Shake the still air; while overhead, the moon, +Regardless of the stir of this low world, +Holds on her heavenly way.' MADOC. + +Henrich was now called on to perform the part of an Indian leader in an +Indian camp. It was no new position to him; for, during his years of +wandering with the Nansetts, he had taken an active part in many of the +wars that were being waged by the tribes among whom they had sojourned, +against their hostile neighbors. He, therefore, was fully conversant +with Indian modes of warfare; but he was as unaccustomed as his +followers were to the defence of a fortress, or to a pitched battle +between assembled forces in an open field. + +He had not been long at Fort Mystic ere he found that he was about to +be opposed to some of his own countrymen, and the information filled +him with grief and dismay. It is true, he had dwelt so long among the +Nausett Indians, and all his personal interests were so bound up with +theirs, that he felt as if they were indeed his kindred. But still his +heart yearned towards his own people and the friends of his childhood, +and the idea of being instrumental in shedding the blood of a Briton +was utterly repugnant to him. It was now, however, too late to retract. +He had pledged his word to Tisquantum that he would lead his warriors +bravely against the foes of his allies, and honor forbad him to decline +the post of their Sachem and commander. He therefore concealed his +scruples and anxieties in his own breast, and resolved to do what he +now felt to be his duty. It was with much satisfaction that he learnt, +from one of the Indian spies, that the detachment of troops from New +Plymouth had been unable to join the forces of their countrymen; for +thus he should be spared the trial of being placed in opposition to +those with whom, perhaps, he had been brought up in childhood. Towards +the other settlers be entertained a far less friendly feeling; as +reports of their cruel and unjust conduct towards the natives had, from +time to time, reached him during his residence in different parts of +the continent. + +The Pequodees and their allies treated him with respect and honor, as +the representative of their ancient friend Tisquantum; and if his +English blood was known to any of them, they made no remarks on the +subject. They did not dare to notice what such a man as the Nausett +Sachem appeared to be, chose to conceal. + +But it is certain that there was one in the fortress of Mystic whose +keen eye had penetrated the disguise, and to whom the features of +Henrich were so familiar, that he could even read his thoughts in his +open and ingenuous countenance. Coubitant was already in the castle +before the Nausett detachment arrived; and, while he dexterously +contrived to conceal himself from Henrich, he watched him narrowly, and +his eye was on him when he first became aware that English soldiers +were with the foes with whom he must contend. Then did the savage exult +in the painful struggle that he could perceive the news excited in his +rival's breast, and he hoped that the white Sachem would find some +pretext for leaving the fort, and deserting to his own countrymen. He +kept spies continually watching his every movement, with orders to +allow him full liberty to escape, but to follow and secure him before +his purpose could be effected, and bring him in bonds to receive from +Coubitant's own hand the punishment of a coward and a deserter. + +But he waited in vain for any such attempt on the part of the young +Sachem. Henrich never left the fortress, and employed himself in +endeavoring to keep his men from sharing in the revelry and wild +security of their countrymen. + +In this endeavor he had but little success, and Jyanough alone remained +with his friend, and took no part in the noisy songs and dances that +followed the feast, and con-tinned almost until midnight. + +Then a deep and profound stillness gradually succeeded to the barbarous +noises of the wild festival; and long before day-break the exhausted +revellers were all buried in a heavy sleep. Even the watch, whose +business it was to patrol round the fort, had that night carelessly +left their respective stations, and come inside the palisades to light +their pipes. Here they found none awake but the Nausett Sachem and his +friend, who were slowly walking among the weary and sleeping warriors, +attended only by a large and powerful dog. There was another wakeful +eye in the fortress, and that was even now fixed on Henrich. Bat he +whose dark soul looked forth from that singular eye, was himself +concealed from view, and was intently watching the object of his hatred, +and hoping that he would now attempt some act of cowardice or +treachery. + +Henrich and Jyanough approached the guard, who had thus thoughtlessly +left their post, and desired them immediately to return to their duty. +But while the men remonstrated on the uselessness of so strictly +keeping a watch, now that no present attack could be expected, they +were startled by the loud and furious barking of Rodolph, who had +wandered to the open gate, and thus gave ominous warning of approaching +danger. The terrified guard now reached to the gate, accompanied by +Henrich and Jyanough, when, to their dismay, they beheld in the faint +moonlight a large body of men approaching close to the fort. + +They easily discerned that the foremost of the troop were Europeans; +and they raised a loud cry of 'Owannux! Owannux!'--Englishmen! +Englishmen!--which quickly aroused the sleepers, and brought them +towards the gate. In the next minute the fort was thickly hemmed in by +the British force, and a second dense ring was formed beyond them by +their Indian allies. + +The main entrance was soon forced by the swords and muskets of the +vigorous assailants; and, though the Pequodees fought with all the fury +of despair, they were driven back, and compelled to retreat towards the +wigwams. They were closely pursued by their foes; and, at length, threw +themselves into the huts, which contained the terrified women and +children, and resolved to defend them to the last gasp. While the +murderous strife continued, the light of day began to dawn; and soon +the full glow of the rising sun revealed the work that had been done in +darkness. The ground was strewed with dead and dying Indians; but the +band of English warriors was yet unbroken, and was fiercely bearing +onward towards the wigwams. Their numbers were small, indeed, when +compared with those of their opponents; but the latter had no +firearms, and a panic seemed to have struck them from the force and +suddenness of the attack. Still they defended the lines of wigwams with +desperation, until Mason, with amazing boldness, entered one of them, +and, seizing a brand from the hearth, set fire to the roof of reeds. An +Indian warrior was in the act of levelling his arrow at him, when an +English officer sprang forward, and cut the string of the bent bow with +his sword. + +This officer caught the eye of Henrich; and, though he knew not why, +riveted it by a strange and unaccountable attraction. He was a noble- +looking man; and, though his dark hair was slightly tinged with grey, +his muscular limbs had apparently lost none of their force, and his +spirit none of its courage and energy. + +So fixedly was the attention of Henrich fastened on the gallant +soldier, that, for a time, he was regardless of the battle that raged +around him, and of the fearful conflagration that was spreading along +the Indian huts. These were only composed of weed and dry moss and +reeds; and the flames quickly caught hold of them, and promised soon to +bring the conflict to a dreadful close. + +The eye of Henrich was still fixed on that noble English officer; and +the instinctive feeling of admiration and respect with which his aspect +inspired him, was increased by seeing him, regardless of his own +safety, actively engaged in rescuing an Indian woman and her child from +a mass of burning ruins. + +He had been observed by other eyes also--by eyes that recognised him, +and glared with irrepressible fury as they fell on him'. An Indian +warrior approached him from behind, while he was unguardedly pursuing +his work of mercy; and Henrich saw the savage preparing to strike a +deadly blow, that would have cleft the head of the stranger in twain. +Could he stand and see the noble Briton thus fall by a secret and +unresisted attack? No! every feeling and every instinct of his heart +forbad it! One instant his tomahawk flew in a gleaming circle round +his head; and the next it fell with crushing force on the right +shoulder of the savage, and sank deeply into his chest. It was a timely +blow, and saved the white man's life. But it could not save him from a +severe wound in the back, where the axe of the Indian fell heavily, as +his arm dropped powerlessly by his side--never to be raised again. + +Coubitant sank on the ground; and, as he turned to look on his +unexpected assailant, his blood-shot eyes met those of Henrich, and +glared fiercely, first at him, and then at his intended victim, whose +life had been so strangely preserved. They stood side by side, +unconscious of the tie that bound them so closely together. Coubitant +knew it well; and he felt in this awful moment that Mahneto had, in +righteous retribution, sent the son to preserve the father's life from +the hand of him who had hated both alike. He hated them still: and, +even with his dying breath, he would not reveal the secret that would +have united those seemingly hostile warriors in the embrace of deep +affection. + +Rodolph had not seen the friend whose timely aid had partially averted +the deadly blow that had been aimed at him by the savage. But, on +turning round, he was astonished to perceive that his foe and his +avenger were apparently of the same party. The latter--whose countenance +expressed the deepest indignation, and who was raising his bloody +hatchet from the prostrate form of the wounded Indian--was evidently not +one of the allies of the English; and his dress and ornaments, and air +of dignified command, indicated him to be a Chief among his own people. +Why, then, had he come to the aid of an enemy? + +Rodolph gazed inquiringly at the fine countenance of the young Sachem, +which was now bent upon the dying Indian at his feet. + +'Coubitant!' he exclaimed in the Nausett tongue, 'is it, indeed, you +whom I have thus slain unknowingly? You have been a bitter and an +untiring enemy to me; but it was not for this that I smote thee to the +earth. I knew you not. But I saw you aim a cowardly blow at the white +chief; and I saved him. I forgive you now for all your hatred, and all +your evil designs, which Mahneto has thus recompensed upon your own +head.' + +'I ask not your forgiveness,' replied the savage in a deep, struggling +voice--for the hand of death was on him, and the dark fire of his eye +was waning out. 'In death, I hate and defy you! And in death I enjoy a +revenge that you know not of.' + +He strove to raise his hand in menace, but it fell to the ground; and, +with a groan of suppressed agony, he expired. + +The fight was raging with unabated violence, and the conflagration had +already spread to the farthest end of the fortress. Henrich looked +around for his comrades, who were bravely contending with their +powerful foes at some distance, and he hastily prepared to join them. +But, as he turned away, he courteously waved his hand to Rodolph, and +said in the English language, but with an Indian accent, + +'Farewell, brave Englishman!' + +Rodolph started. That voice had thrilled through his heart when it had +spoken a strange language: but now it struck upon him with a sense of +familiarity that be could not account for, as the Indian Chief was +evidently an utter stranger to him. He returned his parting salutation +and 'farewell'; but still he watched his retreating form, and thought +he distinctly heard him utter the name 'Rodolph!' as a large dog, which +had stood near him during their brief encounter, bounded after him over +foe heaps of slain and dying. + +'Surely it was my own fancy that conjured up that name,' thought +Rodolph. The next moment he found himself compelled again to join the +conflict, and, at the head of his little band, to fight his way out of +the fortress, which was rapidly becoming a prey to the devouring +flames. All the English withdrew outside the palisades, and thickly +surrounded the fort; while their Indian allies, who had hitherto kept +aloof, now took courage to approach, and form a second circle outside. +The most furious despair now took possession of the souls of the +devoted Pequodees: and their terrible war-cry was heard resounding +high, and mingled with the agonising yells of the women and children, +and helpless aged men, who were expiring amid the flames. Many of the +warriors climbed the palisades, and leaped down among their foes, +hoping to escape; but they were quickly despatched by the muskets and +bayonets of the English; or if any had power to break through the first +hostile line, they fell beneath the battle-axes of the Mohicans. + +Rodolph had received a considerable wound, but it had not entirely +disabled him. At the head of his men he passed through the open gate +of the fortress, and attempted still to lead and command them. He +found, however that his strength was failing, and that he could no +longer wield his good broad sword. He therefore stood leaning on it, +and watching, with mingled feelings of pity and horror, the progress of +the work of destruction. + +Presently he saw a side entrance to the fort thrown suddenly open, and +the form of the Indian Chief--whose tomahawk had saved his life, and +whose voice had awakened such strange feelings--appeared rushing forth. +He was attended by another striking looking warrior, and followed by a +band of determined natives, who were resolved to escape, or sell their +lives dearly. + +Rodolph's men, who occupied the position opposite to that gate, raised +their muskets to fire on these brave men; but their commander loudly +and authoritatively bade them desist. + +'Hold! I command you!' he exclaimed. 'Let that noble Chieftain escape, +and all his attendants for his sake. He saved my life in the fort; and +death to the man who injures him! + +He attempted to rush forward to enforce his orders, but pain and loss +of blond prevented him from moving; and he would have fallen but for +the support of one of his comrades. + +Meanwhile, Henrich and Jyanough, and their band of Nausetts, had rushed +through the unopposing ranks of the English, and were now contending +desperately with the Indian line beyond. The British troops paused, and +looked after them; and the sympathy that brave men feel for each other +prevented any of them from attempting to pursue or molest them. On the +contrary, all now wished them success. + +With breathless anxiety Rodolph gazed after them, and watched the +towering plumes that adorned the noble head of the Sachem, as he bore +onward through the opposing crowd of Indians. He passed, and gained the +plain beyond, attended by his followers; and, from the elevated +position at which the fort was erected, Rodolph could still watch the +little band retiring, until the Indian heroes were hidden from view by +a thicket. + +So fiercely had the fire seconded the efforts of the English that the +whole conflict only lasted one hour. In that brief space of time, +between five and six hundred Indians--young and old, men and women-- +were destroyed by fire and sword; and the small remainder were made +prisoners of war by the English, or carried off as prizes by the +hostile natives. Only two of the British soldiers were slain, but many +were wounded; and the arrows remaining some time in the wounds, and the +want of necessary medicine and refreshment, added greatly to their +sufferings The medical attendants attached to the expedition, and the +provisions, had all been left in the boats, and a march of more than +six miles through their enemies' land was necessary, in order to reach +them. + +Litters were therefore constructed and, in these, the wounded were sent +off under the charge of the Mohicans, while the able-bodied men, whose +number was reduced to little more than forty, prepared to follow as a +rear-guard. The whole party were still near the smoking ruins of the +fort, when they were startled by perceiving a large body of armed +natives approaching. These were a band of more than three hundred +Pequodees, sent by Sassacus to aid the garrison of Fort Mystic. +Happily, they did not discover the small number of the English who were +in a condition to oppose them, and they turned aside, and avoided a +re-encounter. The white men took advantage of this mistake on the part +of their enemies, and hastened forward with all the speed that +circumstances would allow. + +But they had not proceeded far when their ears were assailed by the +most discordant yells from the Pequodees. They had reached the scene of +devastation; and, when they beheld the ruined fort, and the ground +strewn with hundreds of mangled corpses and expiring friends, their +fury knew no bounds. They stamped and howled with rage and grief, and +madly tore their hair; while they gave vent to their excited feelings +in that fearful and peculiar yell, at the sound of which the stoutest +hearts might quail. Then, with a wild and desperate effort at revenge, +they rushed down the bill in pursuit of their cruel enemies. The rear- +guard turned, and met the onset bravely. The savages were received with +a shower of bullets, which checked their furious assault; but they hung +on the rear of the English, and harassed them during the whole of their +retreat. They, however, reached their vessels in safety, and arrived +in triumph at Hartford, from which port they had sailed three weeks +before. + +This discomfiture proved a death-blow to the pride and power of the +redoubted Sassacus. Disgusted alike by his arrogance, and by his recent +defeat, many of his own warriors deserted him and attached themselves +to other tribes; and the Sachem then destroyed his second fortress, end +carried off his treasure to the land of the Mohawks, near the river +Hudson, and, with his principal Chiefs, joined that warlike race. + +Meanwhile, the remainder of the troops from Massachusetts, whom the +Government had not thought it necessary to send with Captain Mason, had +landed at Saybroke, led by Captain Houghton, and attended by Wilson as +their spiritual guide. They arrived just in time to hear of the +successful issue of the campaign; and had, therefore, nothing left for +them to do, except to join a small band from Connecticut, and keep down +or destroy the few Pequodees, or other hostile Indians who still lurked +about the district, and kept the settlers in fear and anxiety. These +wretched natives were chased into their most secret haunts, where they +were barbarously slain; their wigwams were burnt, and their fields +desolated. Nor were the English the only foes of the once terrible +Pequodees. Their Indian rivals took advantage of their present weak and +scattered condition, to wreak upon them the suppressed vengeance of +bygone years; and pursued, with ruthless cruelty, those whose very name +had once inspired them with awe and dread. And yet--with shame be it +said!--the _Christian_ leader of the troops of Massachusetts, himself a +member of the strict and exclusive Church of Boston, surpassed these +savages in cruelty. + +On one occasion, he made prisoners of nearly a hundred Pequodees. Of +these miserable creatures he sent the wives and children into servitude +at Boston, while he caused the men--thirty-seven in number--to be bound +hand and foot, and carried in a shallop outside the harbor, where they +wore thrown overboard. If this barbarous deed was not committed by the +directions of the _Christian_ Fathers of Massachusetts, yet they +certainly neither disclaimed nor censured it. Indeed, so little were +cruelty and oppression, when exercised against the red men, regarded as +crimes by many of the settlers, that one of their learned divines, even +of the age succeeding the perpetrations of the above appalling event, +expressed it as his opinion that 'Heaven had smiled on the English +_hunt';_ and added, with horrible and disgusting levity, 'that it was +found to be the quickest way _feed the fishes_ with the multitude of +Indian captives!' + +The other tribes who had joined the Pequodees in opposing the +conquering white men, were pardoned on their submission; but that +devoted race, who fought like heroes to the very last, were extirpated +as a nation from the face of the earth. The very name in which they had +so long gloried, and which had been a terror to all the neighboring +tribes, was not permitted to remain, and to tell where once they had +dwelt and reigned unrivalled. The river, which had been called the +Pequod, received the appellation of the Thames; and the native +township, on the ruins of which an English settlement was founded, was +afterwards called New London. Numbers of the women and boys, who were +taken captive from tune to time by the British troops, were sold and +carried as slaves to Bermuda, and others were divided among the +settlers, and condemned--not _nominally to slavery,_ for that was +forbidden by the laws of New England, but--to _perpetual servitude,_ +which must, indeed, have been much the same thing to free-born Indian +spirits, accustomed to the wild liberty of the forests and the +prairies. + +Sassacus--the once mighty Chief of this mighty and heroic people--was +basely slain by the Mohawks, among whom he had sought fellowship and +protection, for the sake of the treasures that be had brought with him +from his own lost dominions; and his heart was sent by his murderers as +a peace-offering to the government of Connecticut. + +Thus ended the war which had been commenced as a necessary measure of +self-defence, and in which the pious and high-minded Roger Williams +had, at first, taken so active and influential a part. The manner in +which it was carried out, and the cruelty that marked so many of its +details, were repulsive in the highest degree to his just and +benevolent spirit; but where mercy was concerned, his opinion and +advice had no influence with the stern men of Boston. The only act +which met with his approbation in the conclusion of the campaign, was +the assignment of the depopulated lands of the Pequodees to Uncas, the +Chief of the Mohicans. As being a conquered territory, the usual laws +of war would have annexed it to the territory of the victors. But, in +this case, the settlers adhered to their original principle of only +obtaining, by purchase from the natives, those tracts of land on which +they desired to settle; and a great part of that which was now bestowed +on Uncas, was afterwards bought back from him and his inferior Sachems, +or obtained by friendly contract, until the English became possessors +of the whole district. + +At a subsequent period, the Pequodees who had escaped from their +desolated land, and joined other tribes, assembled themselves together, +and made one final effort at establishing their independence in a +distant part of the country. But their power and prosperity were broken +for ever. Captain Mason was again sent to subdue this remnant of the +tribe; and the destruction that was accomplished on these unhappy +exiles spread a fear of the white men through all the Indian race in +that part of the continent. From that time the settlers of +Connecticut--who had been the original cause of this cruel war--enjoyed +an unbroken peace and security for forty years. + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +'The voices of my home! I hear them still! + They have been with me through the stormy night-- +The blessed household voices wont to fill + My heart's clear depths with unalloyed delight! +I hear them still unchanged; though some from earth +Are music parted, and the tones of mirth-- + Wild silvery tones, that rang through days more bright, +Have died in others--yet to me they come +Singing of boyhood back!--the voices of my home!' HEMANS. + +One Sabbath evening, a few months after the events related in the last +chapter, and when the short second Indian summer, that so often returns +late in the month of September, was at its height, the inhabitants of +New Plymouth were assembled at their meeting-house on 'the Burying +Hill,' and engaged at their usual devotions. None were left in their +dwellings except those whom age or sickness prevented from joining the +rest of the congregation, or those who were necessarily detained by the +care of young children. + +The habitation of Rodolph Maitland was, therefore, deserted by all but +Janet, who would gladly have gone that evening to listen to the husband +of her young mistress; for Roger Williams was to lead the prayers of +the congregation, and to deliver to them the customary address. But +Edith's little girl demanded her care; and old Janet took too much +pride and pleasure in the interesting child to repine at having the +charge of her, even though it prevented her from attending at the +meeting-house on the first occasion of Roger's officiating there since +his marriage. + +Little Edith was just beginning to walk alone, and it was her delight +to play in the bright sunny garden, and pluck the gay flowers that +still bloomed there in profusion. She was thus engaged, and murmuring a +sweet but inarticulate song that her mother had attempted to teach her, +when Janet, apprehending no danger, returned for a moment to the house, +to perform some domestic duty. + +Just then a stranger, followed by a large dog, entered the garden by +the wicket gate that led towards the forest, and stood silently gazing +around him, without at first observing the happy and occupied child. He +was tall and of a commanding appearance; and his costume, which was +richly ornamented in the Indian fashion, bespoke him to be a native of +high rank. But had any one closely examined his countenance, they would +have discovered beneath those long dark lashes, and clearly marked +eyebrows, the deep blue eye of the Saxon race, which was also indicated +by the rich brown hair, that, now unconcealed, waved across his manly +forehead. A keen eye would also have detected on the features of that +seeming Indian Sachem an expression of deep thought and strong emotion, +that told of old remembrances not yet obliterated, and of feelings that +belonged to home and kindred. + +Yes! Henrich was, indeed, absorbed in those recollections that were +revived in his breast by the sight of objects once so familiar, but +which many years had elapsed since last he had looked on. Much was +changed: but much was still the same. The rude hut commodious log-house +that once stood on that site was now replaced by a substantial and +picturesque dwelling in the Elizabethan style of architecture, whose +deep bay windows were hung with the sweet single roses that were +natives of the woods, and other flowering plants; while wreaths of the +well-known Virginian creeper, now glowing in its scarlet hue of autumn, +climbed to the summit of the carved gables and pinnacles that +ornamented the building, and hung from thence in rich festoons. + +On the front of this dwelling the evening sun fell brightly, and its +slanting beams likewise partially illuminated the garden with long +streaks of light, while other parts were thrown into strong shadow by +the trees and shrubs that grew among the flower-beds. One of these--a +noble tulip-tree--rose in the centre of the enclosure and stretched its +giant arms wide on every side. On this tree the eyes of the wanderer +rested long; and then he approached it, and stood looking wistfully +towards a bower that was situated near the old tree, and over which the +creepers fell in wild luxuriance. + +Was it a tear that glittered in that warlike stranger's eye, as a ray +from the western sun fell on his face through the thick overhanging +foliage? And did those manly limbs tremble as he clasped his hands over +his face, and sank on the rustic seat beneath the tulip-tree? + +'I cannot enter the house!' he exclaimed, in a low voice. 'I cannot +seek those loved ones there where once we dwelt in happiness together; +and where, perhaps, none now remain to welcome the wanderer home! O, +that some one would appear who might tell me of their fate!' + +Henrich spoke to himself in his native tongue. He could not speak a +strange language in that old familiar spot; and his voice attracted the +notice of the little girl, who was now slowly moving towards him, her +hands filled with the spoils of the flower-beds. She stopped, and +gazed at the stranger, and then uttered a faint cry of fear that at +once roused Henrich from his reverie. His eyes fell on the lovely +child, and instantly his memory recalled the features and expression of +his brother Ludovico, to whom the little Edith bore a strong +resemblance. + +With an irresistible impulse he sprang forward, and caught the little +girl in his arms, and sought, by caresses, to soothe her fears, and +hush her cries of terror. But those cries had caught the watchful ear +of Janet; and, with all the speed that she could use, she came running +from the house, merely anticipating that her charge had fallen down, or +was alarmed at finding herself alone. + +What was, then, her terror and amazement at seeing her in the arms of +an Indian! One instant she stood rivetted to the spot, not knowing how +to act. The next she turned, and again hurried in to the house, from +whence she escaped by a back door, and sped breathlessly towards 'the +Burying Hill.' She knew that the service was over--for the last strains +of the parting hymn had been borne down by the evening breeze as she +left the house--and therefore she would find help and succor from the +returning congregation. That deep, melodious sound had been heard by +Henrich also; and it had struck a chord in his heart that vibrated +almost to agony. The stillness and abstraction of his look, as he +listened to the dying cadence, silenced the cries of the little child. +She gazed into his upturned eyes; and, possibly, she felt that those +eyes had an expression that was neither strange nor terrible--for now +she suffered the stranger to seat himself again on the bench beneath +the tulip tree, and place her gently on his knee. + +Such was the picture that met the eyes of Edith, and her husband, and +parents, as they rushed into the garden, followed by the trembling and +exhausted Janet. + +'My child! my Edith!' shrieked the young mother and sprang towards the +tree. That name told a long history to the wanderer which his heart +had already guessed. The Indian warrior rose, but he did not fly. No! +he only met the terrified mother; and as he placed her child in her +trembling arms, he folded them both in his own. + +In amazement and indignation at this rude action, Roger now caught his +arm, and in the Indian tongue, inquired hastily-- + +'Who are you? and what can cause this freedom?' + +I am Henrich Maitland!' exclaimed the stranger; 'and the Lord has +brought me back to my home once more.' + +Oh, the music--the thrilling, startling music--of those words to the +ears and hearts of those who bad so long believed him dead! The +surprise and joy were too intense for Helen, and she sank fainting into +the arms of her long-lost son: while Rodolph grasped his hand, and +exclaimed with deep emotion-- + +'Now, God be praised! my brave, my blessed son! Surely His mercies are +infinite, and His ways past finding out! Now I know why my heart +yearned so strangely towards the Indian Chief who saved my life in the +Fort of Mystic; and why his voice had such a thrilling and familiar +tone, that spoke of home, and bygone years. Look on me, my Henrich, and +say, do you not recognise the English soldier whom your generous +interference preserved from a dreadful death?' + +The change in Rodolph's dress, and his own overpowering emotions, had +hitherto prevented Henrich from discovering that, in the noble-looking +man whom he was proud to call his father, he also beheld that gallant +British officer whose appearance had so powerfully attracted him in the +conflict of Fort Mystic. But when he looked into that fine countenance, +he well remembered every feature; and he wondered why he, had not known +him, even when they met so unexpectedly in the excitement of the +battle. + +That was a happy hour; and, in the joy of meeting so many that he +loved, Henrich for awhile forgot that any one was missing. But soon be +looked around, as if seeking some familiar object, which did not meet +his eye. He feared to ask for Ludovico: but his father saw the +inquiring look, and guessed its import. + +'He is gone!' he said, gently. 'Your brother did not remain with us +long after you had left us; and his young spirit is now where we +believed that yours had long been dwelling in peace. He would have +rejoiced to see this day, dear Henrich; for he, as well as Edith, +mourned your loss sincerely. But he is happy now, and we will not +regret him. The Lord has restored to us one of our sons in a manner so +strange, and under such extraordinary circumstances, that we can hardly +realise the blessing. Tell us, Henrich, how this has been brought +about.' + +The violent agitation occasioned by such a meeting had now somewhat +subsided; and the wanderer could calmly relate the story of his +adventures, while his mother and sister sat on each side of him, gazing +fondly at his much-changed, but still familiar countenance; and the +scarcely less interested Janet seated herself on the turf, with little +Edith on her knees. Rodolph and Roger Williams also reclined on the +ground, and all were impatient for the narrative. + +'Our group is not complete,' said Henrich. 'Come hither, Rodolph!' And +then, addressing his dog in the Indian language, he made him lie down +at his feet. + +'Then my ears did not deceive me?' exclaimed Maitland. 'When you left +me, Henrich, in the midst of that fearful fray, I thought I heard you +pronounce my name; and the sound startled me strangely. Have you, then, +called your unconscious companion by your father's name; and in all +your wanderings, and your trials, and temptations, has that name been +dear to you?' + +'Heaven only knows _how_ dear!' replied the Sachem. 'The remembrance of +my parents, and all they taught me in my childhood, has been not only +my joy and consolation, but my safeguard also. You will find me very +unlearned and ignorant in all worldly knowledge, for I have had no +means of keeping up the little I had acquired. But, God be praised! I +have been kept from forgetting Him, and the Saviour in whom you taught +me to put my trust. Nor have I been quite alone in my faith. One there +is of whom I shall have much to tell you in the course of my history, +who has been, and is, my spiritual companion and support. I have had +many blessings!' + +'How truly is it declared, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my +Spirit, saith the Lord"!' exclaimed Helen, as she raised her eyes in +grateful gratitude to Heaven. Now she and Rodolph felt that they had, +_indeed,_ recovered their lost son--not for time alone, but for +eternity. + +Henrich's long and adventurous story was told: and so many were the +questions and the comments that it called forth, that long are it was +finished the light of day had all departed, and been replaced by the +softer rays of the unclouded moon. It was with mingled feelings of +disappointment and of gratitude, that Henrich's friends heard of his +marriage with an Indian female. But as he described her character, and +spoke of her sincere and humble faith, and of all that she had been to +him since the first day of his captivity, they became more than +reconciled to the alliance, and thanked God who had so mercifully +provided their son with such a friend and companion, to cheer his +otherwise lonely life. They, and Edith also, felt impatient to become +acquainted with this new relative, whom they were already prepared to +love; and, as she was now dwelling near Cape Cod with her father and +the rest of her tribe, they hoped to do so before the winter set in. + +Henrich promised that this hope should be compiled with; but it was a +source of sorrow and disappointment to his family, when they heard that +he was pledged to the aged Tisquantum never to take his only and +beloved child from him as long as he lived. He could not, therefore, +at present change his mode of life, or take up his abode at New +Plymouth but must return to dwell with his Indian friends, and fill the +place of Tisquantum's son and representative, until the old man should +be gathered to his fathers. + +The days that Henrich passed in the home of his childhood flew rapidly +away. All his old friends gathered around him to welcome him on his +unexpected return, and to offer their congratulations to his happy +parents and sister. The joy of the venerable Brewster at again +beholding his young friend and pupil, and at finding him still a +sincere and intelligent Christian, was very great; and even among those +who had never known him, his adventurous story, and his frank and +engaging manners, excited the deepest interest. Between himself and +his brother-in-law, Roger Williams, a strong and lasting friendship was +established; and when the time arrived for Henrich to return to Paomet, +Roger proposed to accompany him, and assist in escorting his wife and +child to pay their promised visit to New Plymouth. This offer was +gladly accepted; and the English minister and the Indian Chief set out +on foot. The journey was comparatively easy to men who had long been +accustomed to such toils and difficulties as both Henrich and Roger +had, for years, been inured to, and they reached Paomet very quickly. + +But sorrow met them there. The first sound that fell on their ears as +they approached the village was the Indian dirge for a departing soul. +Henrich listened for a moment to catch the exact direction from whence +the ominous sound proceeded, and then darted forward with such +velocity, that Roger, active as he was, could with difficulty follow +him. Henrich hastened towards a large dwelling at the upper end of the +village; and entering the low door, he beheld a sight which, though it +filled his heart with unaffected grief, was yet, in some sense, a +relief to his fears. + +It was not for his wife or child that the wail was being made. It was +Tisquantum who lay on the bed of death, and who turned his dim and +sunken eyes towards him as he passed the threshold. The old man smiled +a joyful welcome, and held out his trembling hand to greet him. And +Oriana--who was seated on the ground by her father's bedside, in an +attitude of deep and silent sorrow--sprang to her feet with a cry of +joy, and throwing herself into her husband's arms, burst into a flood +of long-suppressed tears. + +'You are come at lest,' she exclaimed. 'You are come in time to see my +father die, and to receive his blessing. O, Henrich! how I have hoped +end preyed for your return. I feared you would be too late; and my +beloved father has something to confide to you--I know he has--which +will fill your soul with joy. Father,' she continued, in a calmer +voice, as she led Henrich to his side, and joined their hands in her +own--' Father, say those blessed words again. Tell your son that you +believe and love the Christian's God, and that you desire to die in +this faith.' + +Henrich was surprised. He had not hoped that Tisquantum had been thus +far influenced by what he had seen and heard of the Christian religion, +and his joy was equal to his astonishment. + +He looked inquiringly at the old Chief's countenance, and pressed his +withered hand. At length, in a feeble, but calm and decided voice, +Tisquantum spoke. + +'My son, it is true. I have observed and listened, but I have held my +peace. When you were a boy, you talked to me of the Christian's God, +and I smiled in my soul at your ignorance. Then I found that you +believed in the Great Mahneto, and I was satisfied. But for years I +have studied your character, to find out why, young as you were, I felt +for you a respect that I never felt for any human being except my own +heroic father. At last, I understood that it was because your religion +made you true, and brave, and good, and kept you from committing any of +the crimes that I saw others guilty of. If all your nation acted as you +have done, Henrich, their coming to this land would have proved a +blessing indeed to the red men, and our people would not hate them, and +seek to destroy them, as I once sought to do. But enough of this. My +strength is failing. Henrich, your example has taught me that your God +is holy, and just, and good; it has made me feel the truth of the +Christian's religion.' + +Tears of humble joy and gratitude glistened in Henrich's eyes at this +confession. He knelt beside the dying convert, and bowed his head upon +the bed; but his heart was too full to allow him to express his +thanksgivings audibly. Oriana was equally affected; but another form +knelt beside them, and another deep rich voice arose in prayer, which +was uttered fluently in the Indian language, and in which the hearts of +all present joined fervently, although the speaker was a stranger to +all but Henrich. + +It was Roger Williams, who had been an unobserved witness of the +foregoing deeply interesting scene, and had listened, with deep and +grateful emotion, to the words of the expiring Chief. He now spoke the +feelings of all his auditors, and, with his wonted power and eloquence, +poured forth a fervent prayer for the aged 'babe in Christ,' and +blessed the God of all spirits that it had pleased Him, even 'in the +eleventh hour,' to call the heathen Chief into the fold of Christ. + +When his prayer was finished, Henrich presented his friend and brother +to his father-in-law, and told him that, from his lips, he might bear +all that one of the Lord's most zealous and devoted ministers could +tell him of holy and eternal things. Gladly the old man availed +himself of this opportunity of obtaining instruction, end being +prepared for what he now earnestly desired--an admittance by baptism +into the once despised religion of the white men. + +For this task no man was more fitted than Roger Williams. He well knew +how to deal with Indian prejudices, and bow to call forth the +affections, by the relation of the simple and touching truths of the +gospel. Tisquantum heard with a willing and teachable spirit, and he +believed, and was at peace. His life was rapidly ebbing away, and no +time was to be lost; for though he rallied a little after the arrival +of Henrich and Roger, it was evident that his time on earth could only +be counted by hours. + +The following morning, therefore, at his own earnest desire, he was +baptised by Williams, in the presence of his rejoicing children, and of +Jyanough and Mailah, who formed a little congregation of sincere +Christians in the midst of an heathen population. + +The venerable Chieftain did not long survive his admission into the +pale of the visible church of Christ. His strength faded hour by hour; +but he was calm and collected to the last. He gave to Henrich all his +parting directions for the government of his people, if he still +continued to live among them, and to be their Sachem. 'But,' he added, +'I know that your heart is with your own people, and that you desire to +return to your former home. I cannot blame you; for I well know the +yearning of spirit that draws a man to his kindred, and to his father's +house. And Oriana will go with you, and make your home and your people +her own. If this is to be, then let Jyanough be Sachem in your stead. +He also is just and upright, and will guide my warriors with courage +and wisdom. There is none besides yourself to whom I could so +confidently leave them. And now, farewell, my children! May the good +God in whom you trust receive my sinful soul for His Son's sake; and +may his blessing rest on those who have led me into the truth.' + +Tisquantum had been supported in his bed, while he thus took leave of +his sorrowing relatives and friends. He now lay down, and never rose +again. Neither did he utter many more words; but lay as if engaged in +thought and prayer, and occasionally fixed his failing eyes with fond +affection on his child and Henrich. At length they gently closed, and +the venerable old Chief slept the sleep of death. + +Oriana's grief was deep and sincere, for she had loved her father +almost passionately; but she did not now 'sorrow as those without +hope'; and, ere long, she was calm. The funeral was conducted in the +simple manner of the Puritans; and all Tisquantum's warriors stood +respectfully and silently round his grave, while Williams addressed +them in their own language, and exhorted them to follow the example of +their departed Chief, and examine the faith of the Christians, and +embrace it to the salvation of their souls. + +Not long after the death of Tisquantum, and before the severity of +winter prevented the journey being practicable, Henrich and his wife +took leave of the Nausetts, and of their Christian friends, Jyanough +and Mailah; and, accompanied by Roger Williams, and two or three Indian +attendants who desired to follow their fortunes, took their way towards +New Plymouth. Their departure from Paomet was much regretted, for they +were greatly beloved by the red men. But the promotion of Jyanough to +the Chieftainship gave general satisfaction; and there were even some +who thought it was more consistent with their dignity and independence, +to be governed by one of their own race, rather than by a pale-face, +let his personal qualities he ever so estimable. + +Henrich's heart beat high when he again arrived at his father's +dwelling, and presented his wife and child to his parents and his +sister. He cast searching glances at their countenances, to read their +feelings at thus greeting an _Indian_ as their near relative; but he +saw no expression that could give him pain. On the contrary, the +native grace and beauty of Oriana, and the gentle refinement of her +manner, evidently struck them with surprise and pleasure, and made upon +them all a most favorable impression. Nor did a further acquaintance +lessen this kindly feeling. It was impossible to know Oriana, and not +to love her; and she was soon regarded as a daughter and a sister by +all her husband's relatives; while the young Ludovico was cherished and +caressed by all the household, and by none more than by his little +cousin Edith. + +The Maitlands were now a happy family; and when, in the ensuing spring, +their daughter and her husband again left them to return to their +distant home at Providence, they felt they had still a daughter left to +them in the Indian wife of their beloved Henrich. This long-lost son +did not again leave them, except to pay occasional visits with Oriana +to their Nausett friends. But he fixed his permanent home at Plymouth, +where his knowledge of the Indian language and manners, and the +influence he continued to possess among the Nausetts and other +neighboring tribes, enabled him frequently to render important services +both to his own countrymen, and the red natives. His own merits, +likewise, won for him the love and respect of the settlers of New +Plymouth, who appreciated the unaffected devotion, and the simple +truthfulness, of his character; and felt that such men as Rodolph +Maitland and his son added glory to the history of 'the Pilgrim +Fathers.' + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Pilgrims of New England, by Mrs. J. B. Webb + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PILGRIMS OF NEW ENGLAND *** + +***** This file should be named 10222.txt or 10222.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/2/10222/ + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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