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diff --git a/4215.txt b/4215.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d4d7d90 --- /dev/null +++ b/4215.txt @@ -0,0 +1,17125 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Oak Openings, by James Fenimore Cooper + +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: Oak Openings + +Author: James Fenimore Cooper + + +Release Date: July, 2003 [Etext# 4215] +This file was first posted on December 11, 2001 +Last Updated: May 4, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OAK OPENINGS *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + + + +OAK OPENINGS + + +By James Fennimore Cooper + + + + +PREFACE. + +It ought to be matter of surprise how men live in the midst of marvels, +without taking heed of their existence. The slightest derangement of +their accustomed walks in political or social life shall excite all +their wonder, and furnish themes for their discussions, for months; +while the prodigies that come from above are presented daily to their +eyes, and are received without surprise, as things of course. In a +certain sense, this may be well enough, inasmuch as all which comes +directly from the hands of the Creator may be said so far to exceed the +power of human comprehension, as to be beyond comment; but the truth +would show us that the cause of this neglect is rather a propensity to +dwell on such interests as those over which we have a fancied control, +than on those which confessedly transcend our understanding. Thus is it +ever with men. The wonders of creation meet them at every turn, without +awakening reflection, while their minds labor on subjects that are not +only ephemeral and illusory, but which never attain an elevation higher +than that the most sordid interests can bestow. + +For ourselves, we firmly believe that the finger of Providence is +pointing the way to all races, and colors, and nations, along the path +that is to lead the east and the west alike to the great goal of +human wants. Demons infest that path, and numerous and unhappy are +the wanderings of millions who stray from its course; sometimes in +reluctance to proceed; sometimes in an indiscreet haste to move faster +than their fellows, and always in a forgetfulness of the great rules of +conduct that have been handed down from above. Nevertheless, the main +course is onward; and the day, in the sense of time, is not distant, +when the whole earth is to be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, "as +the waters cover the sea." + +One of the great stumbling-blocks with a large class of well-meaning, +but narrow-judging moralists, are the seeming wrongs that are permitted +by Providence, in its control of human events. Such persons take a +one-sided view of things, and reduce all principles to the level of +their own understandings. If we could comprehend the relations which the +Deity bears to us, as well as we can comprehend the relations we bear +to him, there might be a little seeming reason in these doubts; but when +one of the parties in this mighty scheme of action is a profound mystery +to the other, it is worse than idle, it is profane, to attempt to +explain those things which our minds are not yet sufficiently cleared +from the dross of earth to understand. Look at Italy, at this very +moment. The darkness and depression from which that glorious peninsula +is about to emerge are the fruits of long-continued dissensions and an +iron despotism, which is at length broken by the impulses left behind +him by a ruthless conqueror, who, under the appearance and the phrases +of Liberty, contended only for himself. A more concentrated egotism than +that of Napoleon probably never existed; yet has it left behind it seeds +of personal rights that have sprung up by the wayside, and which are +likely to take root with a force that will bid defiance to eradication. +Thus is it ever, with the progress of society. Good appears to arise +out of evil, and the inscrutable ways of Providence are vindicated by +general results, rather than by instances of particular care. We leave +the application of these remarks to the intelligence of such of our +readers as may have patience to peruse the work that will be found in +the succeeding pages. + +We have a few words of explanation to say, in connection with the +machinery of our tale. In the first place, we would remark, that the +spelling of "burr-oak," as given in this book, is less our own than +an office spelling. We think it should be "bur-oak," and this for the +simple reason, that the name is derived from the fact that the acorn +borne by this tree is partially covered with a bur. Old Sam Johnson, +however, says that "burr" means the lobe, or lap of the ear; and those +who can fancy such a resemblance between this and the covering of our +acorn, are at liberty to use the two final consonants. Having commenced +stereotyping with this supernumerary, for the sake of uniformity that +mode of spelling, wrong as we think it, has been continued through-out +the book. + +There is nothing imaginary in the fertility of the West. Personal +observation has satisfied us that it much surpasses anything that exists +in the Atlantic States, unless in exceptions, through the agency of +great care and high manuring, or in instances of peculiar natural soil. +In these times, men almost fly. We have passed over a thousand miles of +territory within the last few days, and have brought the pictures at the +two extremes of this journey in close proximity in our mind's eye. Time +may lessen that wonderful fertility, and bring the whole country more +on a level; but there it now is, a glorious gift from God, which it +is devoutly to be wished may be accepted with due gratitude and with +a constant recollection of his unwavering rules of right and wrong, by +those who have been selected to enjoy it. + +June, 1848. + + + + +THE OAK OPENINGS. + + + +CHAPTER I. + + How doth the little busy bee + Improve each shining hour, + And gather honey all the day, + From every opening flower. + WATTS' HYMNS FOR CHILDREN. + +We have heard of those who fancied that they beheld a signal instance +of the hand of the Creator in the celebrated cataract of Niagara. Such +instances of the power of sensible and near objects to influence certain +minds, only prove how much easier it is to impress the imaginations +of the dull with images that are novel, than with those that are less +apparent, though of infinitely greater magnitude. Thus it would seem to +be strange indeed, that any human being should find more to wonder at +in any one of the phenomena of the earth, than in the earth itself; or +should especially stand astonished at the might of Him who created the +world, when each night brings into view a firmament studded with other +worlds, each equally the work of His hands! + +Nevertheless, there is (at bottom) a motive for adoration, in the study +of the lowest fruits of the wisdom and power of God. The leaf is as +much beyond our comprehension of remote causes, as much a subject of +intelligent admiration, as the tree which bears it: the single tree +confounds our knowledge and researches the same as the entire forest; +and, though a variety that appears to be endless pervades the world, +the same admirable adaptation of means to ends, the same bountiful +forethought, and the same benevolent wisdom, are to be found in the +acorn, as in the gnarled branch on which it grew. + +The American forest has so often been described, as to cause one +to hesitate about reviving scenes that might possibly pall, and in +retouching pictures that have been so frequently painted as to be +familiar to every mind. But God created the woods, and the themes +bestowed by his bounty are inexhaustible. Even the ocean, with its +boundless waste of water, has been found to be rich in its various +beauties and marvels; and he who shall bury himself with us, once more, +in the virgin forests of this widespread land, may possibly discover new +subjects of admiration, new causes to adore the Being that has brought +all into existence, from the universe to its most minute particle. + +The precise period of our legend was in the year 1812, and the season +of the year the pleasant month of July, which had now drawn near to its +close. The sun was already approaching the western limits of a wooded +view, when the actors in its opening scene must appear on a stage that +is worthy of a more particular description. + +The region was, in one sense, wild, though it offered a picture that +was not without some of the strongest and most pleasing features of +civilization. The country was what is termed "rolling," from some +fancied resemblance to the surface of the ocean, when it is just +undulating with a long "ground-swell." + +Although wooded, it was not, as the American forest is wont to grow, +with tail straight trees towering toward the light, but with intervals +between the low oaks that were scattered profusely over the view, and +with much of that air of negligence that one is apt to see in grounds +where art is made to assume the character of nature. The trees, with +very few exceptions, were what is called the "burr-oak," a small +variety of a very extensive genus; and the spaces between them, always +irregular, and often of singular beauty, have obtained the name of +"openings"; the two terms combined giving their appellation to this +particular species of native forest, under the name of "Oak Openings." + +These woods, so peculiar to certain districts of country, are not +altogether without some variety, though possessing a general character +of sameness. The trees were of very uniform size, being little taller +than pear-trees, which they resemble a good deal in form; and having +trunks that rarely attain two feet in diameter. The variety is produced +by their distribution. In places they stand with a regularity resembling +that of an orchard; then, again, they are more scattered and less +formal, while wide breadths of the land are occasionally seen in which +they stand in copses, with vacant spaces, that bear no small affinity to +artificial lawns, being covered with verdure. The grasses are supposed +to be owing to the fires lighted periodically by the Indians in order to +clear their hunting-grounds. + +Toward one of these grassy glades, which was spread on an almost +imperceptible acclivity, and which might have contained some fifty or +sixty acres of land, the reader is now requested to turn his eyes. Far +in the wilderness as was the spot, four men were there, and two of them +had even some of the appliances of civilization about them. The woods +around were the then unpeopled forest of Michigan; and the small winding +reach of placid water that was just visible in the distance, was an +elbow of the Kalamazoo, a beautiful little river that flows westward, +emptying its tribute into the vast expanse of Lake Michigan. Now, this +river has already become known, by its villages and farms, and railroads +and mills; but then, not a dwelling of more pretension than the wigwam +of the Indian, or an occasional shanty of some white adventurer, +had ever been seen on its banks. In that day, the whole of that fine +peninsula, with the exception of a narrow belt of country along the +Detroit River, which was settled by the French as far back as near the +close of the seventeenth century, was literally a wilderness. If a white +man found his way into it, it was as an Indian trader, a hunter, or an +adventurer in some other of the pursuits connected with border life and +the habits of the savages. + +Of this last character were two of the men on the open glade just +mentioned, while their companions were of the race of the aborigines. +What is much more remarkable, the four were absolutely strangers to each +other's faces, having met for the first time in their lives, only an +hour previously to the commencement of our tale. By saying that they +were strangers to each other, we do not mean that the white men were +acquaintances, and the Indians strangers, but that neither of the four +had ever seen either of the party until they met on that grassy glade, +though fame had made them somewhat acquainted through their reputations. +At the moment when we desire to present this group to the imagination of +the reader, three of its number were grave and silent observers of +the movements of the fourth. The fourth individual was of middle size, +young, active, exceedingly well formed, and with a certain open +and frank expression of countenance, that rendered him at least +well-looking, though slightly marked with the small-pox. His real name +was Benjamin Boden, though he was extensively known throughout the +northwestern territories by the sobriquet of Ben Buzz--extensively as +to distances, if not as to people. By the voyageurs, and other French +of that region, he was almost universally styled le Bourdon or the +"Drone"; not, however, from his idleness or inactivity, but from the +circumstances that he was notorious for laying his hands on the +products of labor that proceeded from others. In a word, Ben Boden was +a "bee-hunter," and as he was one of the first to exercise his craft in +that portion of the country, so was he infinitely the most skilful and +prosperous. The honey of le Bourdon was not only thought to be purer and +of higher flavor than that of any other trader in the article, but it +was much the most abundant. There were a score of respectable families +on the two banks of the Detroit, who never purchased of any one else, +but who patiently waited for the arrival of the capacious bark canoe of +Buzz, in the autumn, to lay in their supplies of this savory nutriment +for the approaching winter. The whole family of griddle cakes, including +those of buckwheat, Indian rice, and wheaten flour, were more or less +dependent on the safe arrival of le Bourdon, for their popularity and +welcome. Honey was eaten with all; and wild honey had a reputation, +rightfully or not obtained, that even rendered it more welcome than that +which was formed by the labor and art of the domesticated bee. + +The dress of le Bourdon was well adapted to his pursuits and life. He +wore a hunting-shirt and trousers, made of thin stuff, which was dyed +green, and trimmed with yellow fringe. This was the ordinary forest +attire of the American rifleman; being of a character, as it was +thought, to conceal the person in the woods, by blending its hues with +those of the forest. On his head Ben wore a skin cap, somewhat smartly +made, but without the fur; the weather being warm. His moccasins were +a good deal wrought, but seemed to be fading under the exposure of many +marches. His arms were excellent; but all his martial accoutrements, +even to a keen long-bladed knife, were suspended from the rammer of his +rifle; the weapon itself being allowed to lean, in careless confidence, +against the trunk of the nearest oak, as if their master felt there was +no immediate use for them. + +Not so with the other three. Not only was each man well armed, but each +man kept his trusty rifle hugged to his person, in a sort of jealous +watchfulness; while the other white man, from time to time, secretly, +but with great minuteness, examined the flint and priming of his own +piece. + +This second pale-face was a very different person from him just +described. He was still young, tall, sinewy, gaunt, yet springy and +strong, stooping and round-shouldered, with a face that carried a very +decided top-light in it, like that of the notorious Bardolph. In short, +whiskey had dyed the countenance of Gershom Waring with a tell-tale +hue, that did not less infallibly betray his destination than his speech +denoted his origin, which was clearly from one of the States of New +England. But Gershom had been so long at the Northwest as to have +lost many of his peculiar habits and opinions, and to have obtained +substitutes. + +Of the Indians, one, an elderly, wary, experienced warrior, was +a Pottawattamie, named Elksfoot, who was well known at all the +trading-houses and "garrisons" of the northwestern territory, including +Michigan as low down as Detroit itself. The other red man was a young +Chippewa, or O-jeb-way, as the civilized natives of that nation now tell +us the word should be spelled. His ordinary appellation among his own +people was that of Pigeonswing; a name obtained from the rapidity +and length of his flights. This young man, who was scarcely turned +of five-and-twenty, had already obtained a high reputation among the +numerous tribes of his nation, as a messenger, or "runner." + +Accident had brought these four persons, each and all strangers to one +another, in communication in the glade of the Oak Openings, which has +already been mentioned, within half an hour of the scene we are about +to present to the reader. Although the rencontre had been accompanied +by the usual precautions of those who meet in a wilderness, it had been +friendly so far; a circumstance that was in some measure owing to the +interest they all took in the occupation of the bee-hunter. The three +others, indeed, had come in on different trails, and surprised le +Bourdon in the midst of one of the most exciting exhibitions of his +art--an exhibition that awoke so much and so common an interest in the +spectators, as at once to place its continuance for the moment above all +other considerations. After brief salutations, and wary examinations of +the spot and its tenants, each individual had, in succession, given his +grave attention to what was going on, and all had united in begging +Ben Buzz to pursue his occupation, without regard to his visitors. The +conversation that took place was partly in English, and partly in one +of the Indian dialects, which luckily all the parties appeared to +understand. As a matter of course, with a sole view to oblige the +reader, we shall render what was said, freely, into the vernacular. + +"Let's see, let's see, STRANger," cried Gershom, emphasizing the +syllable we have put in italics, as if especially to betray his origin, +"what you can do with your tools. I've heer'n tell of such doin's, but +never see'd a bee lined in all my life, and have a desp'rate fancy for +larnin' of all sorts, from 'rithmetic to preachin'." + +"That comes from your Puritan blood," answered le Bourdon, with a quiet +smile, using surprisingly pure English for one in his class of life. +"They tell me you Puritans preach by instinct." + +"I don't know how that is," answered Gershom, "though I can turn my hand +to anything. I heer'n tell, across at Bob Ruly (Bois Brulk [Footnote: +This unfortunate name, which it may be necessary to tell a portion of +our readers means "burnt wood," seems condemned to all sorts of abuses +among the linguists of the West. Among other pronunciations is that of +"Bob Ruly"; while an island near Detroit, the proper name of which is +"Bois Blanc," is familiarly known to the lake mariners by the name of +"Bobolo."]) of sich doin's, and would give a week's keep at Whiskey +Centre, to know how 'twas done." + +"Whiskey Centre" was a sobriquet bestowed by the fresh-water sailors +of that region, and the few other white adventurers of Saxon origin who +found their way into that trackless region, firstly on Gershom himself, +and secondly on his residence. These names were obtained from the +intensity of their respective characters, in favor of the beverage +named. L'eau de mort was the place termed by the voyagers, in a sort +of pleasant travesty on the eau de vie of their distant, but still +well-remembered manufactures on the banks of the Garonne. Ben Boden, +however, paid but little attention to the drawling remarks of Gershom +Waring. This was not the first time he had heard of "Whiskey Centre," +though the first time he had ever seen the man himself. His attention +was on his own trade, or present occupation; and when it wandered at +all, it was principally bestowed on the Indians; more especially on the +runner. Of Elk's foot, or Elksfoot, as we prefer to spell it, he had +some knowledge by means of rumor; and the little he knew rendered him +somewhat more indifferent to his proceedings than he felt toward those +of the Pigeonswing. Of this young redskin he had never heard; and, while +he managed to suppress all exhibition of the feeling, a lively curiosity +to learn the Chippewa's business was uppermost in his mind. As for +Gershom, he had taken HIS measure at a glance, and had instantly set +him down to be, what in truth he was, a wandering, drinking, reckless +adventurer, who had a multitude of vices and bad qualities, mixed up +with a few that, if not absolutely redeeming, served to diminish the +disgust in which he might otherwise have been held by all decent people. +In the meanwhile, the bee-hunting, in which all the spectators took +so much interest, went on. As this is a process with which most of our +readers are probably unacquainted, it may be necessary to explain the +modus operandi, as well as the appliances used. + +The tools of Ben Buzz, as Gershom had termed these implements of his +trade, were neither very numerous nor very complex. They were all +contained in a small covered wooden pail like those that artisans and +laborers are accustomed to carry for the purpose of conveying their +food from place to place. Uncovering this, le Bourdon had brought his +implements to view, previously to the moment when he was first seen by +the reader. There was a small covered cup of tin; a wooden box; a sort +of plate, or platter, made also of wood; and a common tumbler, of a very +inferior, greenish glass. In the year 1812, there was not a pane, nor a +vessel, of clear, transparent glass, made in all America! Now, some of +the most beautiful manufactures of that sort, known to civilization, are +abundantly produced among us, in common with a thousand other articles +that are used in domestic economy. The tumbler of Ben Buzz, however, was +his countryman in more senses than one. It was not only American, but +it came from the part of Pennsylvania of which he was himself a native. +Blurred, and of a greenish hue, the glass was the best that Pittsburg +could then fabricate, and Ben had bought it only the year before, on the +very spot where it had been made. + +An oak, of more size than usual, had stood a little remote from its +fellows, or more within the open ground of the glade than the rest of +the "orchard." Lightning had struck this tree that very summer, twisting +off its trunk at a height of about four feet from the ground. Several +fragments of the body and branches lay near, and on these the spectators +now took their seats, watching attentively the movements of the +bee-hunter. Of the stump Ben had made a sort of table, first levelling +its splinters with an axe, and on it he placed the several implements of +his craft, as he had need of each in succession. + +The wooden platter was first placed on this rude table. Then le Bourdon +opened his small box, and took out of it a piece of honeycomb, that was +circular in shape, and about an inch and a half in diameter. The little +covered tin vessel was next brought into use. Some pure and beautifully +clear honey was poured from its spout into the cells of the piece of +comb, until each of them was about half filled. The tumbler was next +taken in hand, carefully wiped, and examined, by holding it up before +the eyes of the bee-hunter. Certainly, there was little to admire in it, +but it was sufficiently transparent to answer his purposes. All he asked +was to be able to look through the glass in order to see what was going +on in its interior. + +Having made these preliminary arrangements, Buzzing Ben--for the +sobriquet was applied to him in this form quite as often as in the +other--next turned his attention to the velvet-like covering of the +grassy glade. Fire had run over the whole region late that spring, and +the grass was now as fresh, and sweet and short, as if the place were +pastured. The white clover, in particular, abounded, and was then +just bursting forth into the blossom. Various other flowers had +also appeared, and around them were buzzing thousands of bees. These +industrious little animals were hard at work, loading themselves with +sweets; little foreseeing the robbery contemplated by the craft of +man. As le Bourdon moved stealthily among the flowers and their humming +visitors, the eyes of the two red men followed his smallest movement, as +the cat watches the mouse; but Gershom was less attentive, thinking the +whole curious enough, but preferring whiskey to all the honey on earth. + +At length le Bourdon found a bee to his mind, and watching the moment +when the animal was sipping sweets from a head of white clover, he +cautiously placed his blurred and green-looking tumbler over it, and +made it his prisoner. The moment the bee found itself encircled with the +glass, it took wing and attempted to rise. This carried it to the upper +part of its prison, when Ben carefully introduced the unoccupied hand +beneath the glass, and returned to the stump. Here he set the tumbler +down on the platter in a way to bring the piece of honeycomb within its +circle. + +So much done successfully, and with very little trouble, Buzzing Ben +examined his captive for a moment, to make sure that all was right. Then +he took off his cap and placed it over tumbler, platter, honeycomb, and +bee. He now waited half a minute, when cautiously raising the cap again, +it was seen that the bee, the moment a darkness like that of its hive +came over it, had lighted on the comb, and commenced filling itself with +the honey. When Ben took away the cap altogether, the head and half of +the body of the bee was in one of the cells, its whole attention being +bestowed on this unlooked-for hoard of treasure. As this was just what +its captor wished, he considered that part of his work accomplished. It +now became apparent why a glass was used to take the bee, instead of a +vessel of wood or of bark. Transparency was necessary in order to watch +the movements of the captive, as darkness was necessary in order to +induce it to cease its efforts to escape, and to settle on the comb. + +As the bee was now intently occupied in filling itself, Buzzing Ben, or +le Bourdon, did not hesitate about removing the glass. He even ventured +to look around him, and to make another captive, which he placed over +the comb, and managed as he had done with the first. In a minute, the +second bee was also buried in a cell, and the glass was again removed. +Le Bourdon now signed for his companions to draw near. + +"There they are, hard at work with the honey," he said, speaking in +English, and pointing at the bees. "Little do they think, as they +undermine that comb, how near they are to the undermining of their own +hive! But so it is with us all! When we think we are in the highest +prosperity we may be nearest to a fall, and when we are poorest and +hum-blest, we may be about to be exalted. I often think of these things, +out here in the wilderness, when I'm alone, and my thoughts are acTYVE." + +Ben used a very pure English, when his condition in life is remembered; +but now and then, he encountered a word which pretty plainly proved he +was not exactly a scholar. A false emphasis has sometimes an influence +on a man's fortune, when one lives in the world; but it mattered little +to one like Buzzing Ben, who seldom saw more than half a dozen human +faces in the course of a whole summer's hunting. We remember an +Englishman, however, who would never concede talents to Burr, because +the latter said, a L'AmEricaine, EurOpean, instead of EuropEan. + +"How hive in danger?" demanded Elksfoot, who was very much of a +matter-of-fact person. "No see him, no hear him--else get some honey." + +"Honey you can have for asking, for I've plenty of it already in my +cabin, though it's somewhat 'arly in the season to begin to break in +upon the store. In general, the bee-hunters keep back till August, for +they think it better to commence work when the creatures"--this word +Ben pronounced as accurately as if brought up at St. James's, making it +neither "creatur'" nor "creatOOre"--"to commence work when the creatures +have had time to fill up, after winter's feed. But I like the old stock, +and, what is more, I feel satisfied this is not to be a common summer, +and so I thought I would make an early start." + +As Ben said this, he glanced his eyes at Pigeonswing, who returned the +look in a way to prove there was already a secret intelligence between +them, though neither had ever seen the other an hour before. + +"Waal!" exclaimed Gershom, "this is cur'ous, I'll allow THAT; yes, it's +cur'ous--but we've got an article at Whiskey Centre that'll put the +sweetest honey bee ever suck'd, altogether out o' countenance!" + +"An article of which you suck your share, I'll answer for it, judging +by the sign you carry between the windows of your face," returned Ben, +laughing; "but hush, men, hush. That first bee is filled, and begins to +think of home. He'll soon be off for HONEY Centre, and I must keep my +eye on him. Now, stand a little aside, friends, and give me room for my +craft." + +The men complied, and le Bourdon was now all intense attention to his +business. The bee first taken had, indeed, filled itself to satiety, and +at first seemed to be too heavy to rise on the wing. After a few moments +of preparation, however, up it went, circling around the spot, as if +uncertain what course to take. The eye of Ben never left it, and when +the insect darted off, as it soon did, in an air-line, he saw it for +fifty yards after the others had lost sight of it. Ben took the range, +and was silent fully a minute while he did so. + +"That bee may have lighted in the corner of yonder swamp," he said, +pointing, as he spoke, to a bit of low land that sustained a growth of +much larger trees than those which grew in the "opening," "or it has +crossed the point of the wood, and struck across the prairie beyond, +and made for a bit of thick forest that is to be found about three miles +further. In the last case, I shall have my trouble for nothing." + +"What t'other do?" demanded Elksfoot, with very obvious curiosity. + +"Sure enough; the other gentleman must be nearly ready for a start, +and we'll see what road HE travels. 'Tis always an assistance to a +bee-hunter to get one creature fairly off, as it helps him to line the +next with greater sartainty." + +Ben WOULD say acTYVE, and SARtain, though he was above saying creatoore, +or creatur'. This is the difference between a Pennsylvanian and +a Yankee. We shall not stop, however, to note all these little +peculiarities in these individuals, but use the proper or the peculiar +dialect, as may happen to be most convenient to ourselves. + +But there was no time for disquisition, the second bee being now ready +for a start. Like his companion, this insect rose and encircled the +stump several times, ere it darted away toward its hive, in an air-line. +So small was the object, and so rapid its movement, that no one but the +bee-hunter saw the animal after it had begun its journey in earnest. To +HIS disappointment, instead of flying in the same direction as the +bee first taken, this little fellow went buzzing off fairly at a right +angle! It was consequently clear that there were two hives, and that +they lay in very different directions. + +Without wasting his time in useless talk, le Bourdon now caught another +bee, which was subjected to the same process as those first taken. When +this creature had filled it-self, it rose, circled the stump as usual, +as if to note the spot for a second visit, and darted away, directly in +a line with the bee first taken. Ben noted its flight most accurately, +and had his eye on it, until it was quite a hundred yards from the +stump. This he was enabled to do, by means of a quick sight and long +practice. + +"We'll move our quarters, friends," said Buzzing Ben, good-humoredly, as +soon as satisfied with this last observation, and gathering together his +traps for a start. "I must angle for that hive, and I fear it will turn +out to be across the prairie, and quite beyond my reach for to-day." + +The prairie alluded to was one of those small natural meadows, or +pastures, that are to be found in Michigan, and may have contained +four or five thousand acres of open land. The heavy timber of the +swamp mentioned, jutted into it, and the point to be determined was, to +ascertain whether the bees had flown OVER these trees, toward which they +had certainly gone in an air-line, or whether they had found their hive +among them. In order to settle this material question, a new process was +necessary. + +"I must 'angle' for them chaps," repeated le Bourdon; "and if you +will go with me, strangers, you shall soon see the nicest part of the +business of bee-hunting. Many a man who can 'line' a bee, can do nothing +at an 'angle'." + +As this was only gibberish to the listeners, no answer was made, but +all prepared to follow Ben, who was soon ready to change his ground. +The bee-hunter took his way across the open ground to a point fully a +hundred rods distant from his first position, where he found another +stump of a fallen tree, which he converted into a stand. The same +process was gone through with as before, and le Bourdon was soon +watching two bees that had plunged their heads down into the cells of +the comb. Nothing could exceed the gravity and attention of the Indians, +all this time. They had fully comprehended the business of "lining" the +insects toward their hives, but they could not understand the virtue of +the "angle." The first bore so strong an affinity to their own pursuit +of game, as to be very obvious to their senses; but the last included a +species of information to which they were total strangers. Nor were they +much the wiser after le Bourdon had taken his "angle"; it requiring a +sort of induction to which they were not accustomed, in order to put the +several parts of his proceedings together, and to draw the inference. +As for Gershom, he affected to be familiar with all that was going on, +though he was just as ignorant as the Indians themselves. This little +bit of hypocrisy was the homage he paid to his white blood: it being +very unseemly, according to his view of the matter, for a pale-face not +to know more than a redskin. + +The bees were some little time in filling themselves. At length one +of them came out of his cell, and was evidently getting ready for his +flight. Ben beckoned to the spectators to stand farther back, in order +to give him a fair chance, and, just as he had done so, the bee rose. +After humming around the stump for an instant, away the insect flew, +taking a course almost at right angles to that in which le Bourdon had +expected to see it fly. It required half a minute for him to recollect +that this little creature had gone off in a line nearly parallel to that +which had been taken by the second of the bees, which he had seen quit +his original position. The line led across the neighboring prairie, and +any attempt to follow these bees was hopeless. + +But the second creature was also soon ready, and when it darted away, le +Bourdon, to his manifest delight, saw that it held its flight toward +the point of the swamp INTO, or OVER which two of his first captives had +gone. This settled the doubtful matter. Had the hive of these bees been +BEYOND that wood, the angle of intersection would not have been there, +but at the hive across the prairie. The reader will understand that +creatures which obey an instinct, or such a reason as bees possess, +would never make a curvature in their flights without some strong motive +for it. Thus, two bees taken from flowers that stood half a mile apart +would be certain not to cross each other's tracks, in returning home, +until they met at the common hive: and wherever the intersecting angle +in their respective flights may be, there would that hive be also. As +this repository of sweets was the game le Bourdon had in view, it is +easy to see how much he was pleased when the direction taken by the +last of his bees gave him the necessary assurance that its home would +certainly be found in that very point of dense wood. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + How skilfully it builds its cell, + How neat it spreads the wax, + And labors hard to store it well, + With the sweet food it makes. + WATTS' HYMNS FOR CHILDREN. + + +The next thing was to ascertain which was the particular tree in which +the bees had found a shelter. Collecting his implements, le Bourdon was +soon ready, and, with a light elastic tread, he moved off toward the +point of the wood, followed by the whole party. The distance was about +half a mile, and men so much accustomed to use their limbs made light +of it. In a few minutes all were there, and the bee-hunter was busy in +looking for his tree. This was the consummation of the whole process, +and Ben was not only provided for the necessities of the case, but he +was well skilled in all the signs that betokened the abodes of bees. + +An uninstructed person might have passed that point of wood a thousand +times, without the least consciousness of the presence of a single +insect of the sort now searched for. In general, the bees flew too high +to be easily perceptible from the ground, though a practised eye can +discern them at distances that would almost seem to be marvellous. But +Ben had other assistants than his eyes. He knew that the tree he sought +must be hollow, and such trees usually give outward signs of the defect +that exists within. Then, some species of wood are more frequented +by the bees than others, while the instinct of the industrious little +creatures generally enables them to select such homes as will not be +very likely to destroy all the fruits of their industry by an untimely +fall. In all these particulars, both bees and bee-hunter were well +versed, and Ben made his search accordingly. + +Among the other implements of his calling, le Bourdon had a small +spy-glass; one scarcely larger than those that are used in theatres, +but which was powerful and every way suited to its purposes. Ben was +not long in selecting a tree, a half-decayed elm, as the one likely to +contain the hive; and by the aid of his glass he soon saw bees flying +among its dying branches, at a height of not less than seventy feet +from the ground. A little further search directed his attention to a +knot-hole, in and out of which the glass enabled him to see bees passing +in streams. This decided the point; and putting aside all his implements +but the axe, Buzzing Ben now set about the task of felling the tree. + +"STRANger," said Gershom, when le Bourdon had taken out the first chip, +"perhaps you'd better let ME do that part of the job. I shall expect to +come in for a share of the honey, and I'm willing to 'arn all I take. I +was brought up on axes, and jack-knives, and sich sort of food, and can +cut OR whittle with the best chopper, or the neatest whittler, in or out +of New England." + +"You can try your hand, if you wish it," said Ben, relinquishing the +axe. "I can fell a tree as well as yourself, but have no such love for +the business as to wish to keep it all to myself." + +"Waal, I can say, I LIKE it," answered Gershom, first passing his +thumb along the edge of the axe, in order to ascertain its state; then +swinging the tool, with a view to try its "hang." + +"I can't say much for your axe, STRANGER, for this helve has no tarve +to't, to my mind; but, sich as it is, down must come this elm, though +ten millions of bees should set upon me for my pains." + +This was no idle boast of Waring's. Worthless as he was in so many +respects, he was remarkably skilful with the axe, as he now proved by +the rapid manner in which he severed the trunk of the large elm on which +he was at work. He inquired of Ben where he should "lay the tree," and +when it came clattering down, it fell on the precise spot indicated. +Great was the confusion among the bees at this sudden downfall of their +long-cherished home. The fact was not known to their enemy, but they had +inhabited that tree for a long time; and the prize now obtained was the +richest he had ever made in his calling. As for the insects, they filled +the air in clouds, and all the invaders deemed it prudent to withdraw +to some little distance for a time, lest the irritated and wronged bees +should set upon them and take an ample revenge. Had they known their +power, this might easily have been done, no ingenuity of man being +able to protect him against the assaults of this insignificant-looking +animal, when unable to cover himself, and the angry little heroes are in +earnest. On the present occasion, however, no harm befell the marauders. +So suddenly had the hive tumbled that its late occupants appeared to be +astounded, and they submitted to their fate as men yield to the power of +tempests and earthquakes. In half an hour most of them were collected on +an adjacent tree, where doubtless a consultation on the mode of future +proceedings was held, after their fashion. + +The Indians were more delighted with le Bourdon's ingenious mode of +discovering the hive than with the richness of the prize; while Ben +himself, and Gershom, manifested most satisfaction at the amount of the +earnings. When the tree was cut in pieces, and split, it was ascertained +that years of sweets were contained within its capacious cavities, and +Ben estimated the portion that fell to his share at more than three +hundred pounds of good honey--comb included--after deducting the +portions that were given to the Indians, and which were abstracted by +Gershom. The three last, however, could carry but little, as they had no +other means of bearing it away than their own backs. + +The honey was not collected that night. The day was too far advanced for +that; and le Bourdon--certainly never was name less merited than this +sobriquet as applied to the active young bee-hunter--but le Bourdon, to +give him his quaint appellation, offered the hospitalities of his own +cabin to the strangers, promising to put them on their several paths the +succeeding day, with a good store of honey in each knapsack. + +"They do say there ar' likely to be troublesome times." he continued, +with simple earnestness, after having given the invitation to partake +of his homely fare; "and I should like to hear what is going on in the +world. From Whiskey Centre I do not expect to learn much, I will own; +but I am mistaken if the Pigeonswing, here, has not a message that will +make us all open our ears." + +The Indians ejaculated their assent; but Gershom was a man who could not +express anything sententiously. As the bee-hunter led the way toward +his cabin, or shanty, he made his comments with his customary freedom. +Before recording what he communicated, however, we shall digress for one +moment in order to say a word ourselves concerning this term "shanty." +It is now in general use throughout the whole of the United States, +meaning a cabin that has been constructed in haste, and for temporary +purposes. By a license of speech, it is occasionally applied to more +permanent residences, as men are known to apply familiar epithets +to familiar objects. The derivation of the word has caused some +speculation. The term certainly came from the West-perhaps from the +Northwest-and the best explanation we have ever heard of its derivation +is to sup-pose "shanty," as we now spell it, a corruption of "chiente," +which it is thought may have been a word in Canadian French phrase to +express a "dog-kennel." "Chenil," we believe, is the true French +term for such a thing, and our own word is said to be derived from +it--"meute" meaning "a kennel of dogs," or "a pack of hounds," rather +than their dwelling. At any rate, "chiente" is so plausible a solution +of the difficulty, that one may hope it is the true one, even though +he has no better authority for it than a very vague rumor. Curious +discoveries are sometimes made by these rude analogies, however, though +they are generally thought not to be very near akin to learning. For +ourselves, now, we do not entertain a doubt that the sobriquet of +"Yankees" which is in every man's mouth, and of which the derivation +appears to puzzle all our philologists, is nothing but a slight +corruption of the word "Yengeese," the term applied to the "English," by +the tribes to whom they first became known. We have no other authority +for this derivation than conjecture, and conjectures that are purely +our own; but it is so very plausible as almost to carry conviction of +itself. [Footnote: Since writing the above, the author has met with an +allusion that has induced him to think he may not have been the first +to suggest this derivation of the word "Yankee." With himself, the +suggestion is perfectly original, and has long since been published by +him; but nothing is more probable than the fact that a solution so very +natural, of this long-disputed question in language, may have suggested +itself to various minds.] + +The "chiente'" or shanty of le Bourdon stood quite near to the banks of +the Kalamazoo, and in a most beautiful grove of the burr-oak. Ben had +selected the site with much taste, though the proximity of a spring of +delicious water had probably its full share in influencing his decision. +It was necessary, moreover, that he should be near the river, as +his great movements were all made by water, for the convenience of +transporting his tools, furniture, etc., as well as his honey. A famous +bark canoe lay in a little bay, out of the current of the stream, +securely moored, head and stern, in order to prevent her beating against +any object harder than herself. + +The dwelling had been constructed with some attention to security. This +was rendered necessary, in some measure, as Ben had found by experience, +on account of two classes of enemies--men and bears. From the first, it +is true, the bee-hunter had hitherto apprehended but little. There were +few human beings in that region. The northern portions of the noble +peninsula of Michigan are some-what low and swampy, or are too broken +and savage to tempt the native hunters from the openings and prairies +that then lay, in such rich profusion, further south and west. With the +exception of the shores, or coasts, it was seldom that the northern +half of the peninsula felt the footstep of man. With the southern +half, however, it was very different; the "openings," and glades, and +watercourses, offering almost as many temptations to the savage as they +have since done to the civilized man. Nevertheless, the bison, or +the buffalo, as the animal is erroneously, but very generally, termed +throughout the country, was not often found in the vast herds of which +we read, until one reached the great prairies west of the Mississippi. +There it was that the red men most loved to congregate; though always +bearing, in numbers, but a trifling proportion to the surface they +occupied. In that day, however, near as to the date, but distant as to +the events, the Chippewas, Ottawas, Pottawattamies, kindred tribes, we +believe, had still a footing in Michigan proper, and were to be found +in considerable numbers in what was called the St. Joseph's country, or +along the banks of the stream of that name; a region that almost merits +the lofty appellation of the garden of America. Le Bourdon knew many of +their warriors, and was much esteemed among them; though he had never +met with either of those whom chance now had thrown in his way. In +general, he suffered little wrong from the red men, who wondered at his +occupation, while they liked his character; but he had sustained losses, +and even ill-treatment, from certain outcasts of the tribes, as well as +from vagrant whites, who occasionally found their way to his temporary +dwellings. On the present occasion, le Bourdon felt far more uneasiness +from the circumstance of having his abode known to Gershom Waring, a +countryman and fellow-Christian, in one sense at least, than from its +being known to the Chippewa and the Pottawattamie. + +The bears were constant and dangerous sources of annoyance to the +bee-hunter. It was not often that an armed man--and le Bourdon seldom +moved without his rifle--has much to apprehend from the common brown +bear of America. Though a formidable-looking animal, especially when +full grown, it is seldom bold enough to attack a human being, nothing +but hunger, or care for its young, ever inducing it to go so much out +of the ordinary track of its habits. But the love of the bear for honey +amounts to a passion. Not only will it devise all sorts of bearish +expedients to get at the sweet morsels, but it will scent them from +afar. On one occasion, a family of Bruins had looked into a shanty of +Ben's, that was not constructed with sufficient care, and consummated +their burglary by demolishing the last comb. That disaster almost ruined +the adventurer, then quite young in his calling; and ever since its +occurrence he had taken the precaution to build such a citadel as should +at least set teeth and paws at defiance. To one who had an axe, with +access to young pines, this was not a difficult task, as was proved by +the present habitation of our hero. + +This was the second season that le Bourdon had occupied "Castle Meal," +as he himself called the shanty. This appellation was a corruption of +"chateau au Mtel" a name given to it by a wag of a voyageur who had +aided Ben in ascending the Kalamazoo the previous summer, and had +remained long enough with him to help him put up his habitation. The +building was just twelve feet square, in the interior, and somewhat less +than fourteen on its exterior. It was made of pine logs, in the usual +mode, with the additional security of possessing a roof of squared +timbers of which the several parts were so nicely fitted together as to +shed rain. This unusual precaution was rendered necessary to protect the +honey, since the bears would have unroofed the common bark coverings +of the shanties, with the readiness of human beings, in order to get at +stores as ample as those which the bee-hunter had soon collected beneath +his roof. There was one window of glass, which le Bourdon had brought in +his canoe; though it was a single sash of six small lights, that opened +on hinges; the exterior being protected by stout bars of riven oak, +securely let into the logs. The door was made of three thicknesses of +oaken plank, pinned well together, and swinging on stout iron hinges, so +secured as not to be easily removed. Its outside fastening was made by +means of two stout staples, a short piece of ox-chain, and an unusually +heavy padlock. Nothing short of an iron bar, and that cleverly applied, +could force this fastening. On the inside, three bars of oak rendered +all secure, when the master was at home. + +"You set consid'rable store by your honey, I guess, STRANger," said +Gershom, as le Bourdon unlocked the fastenings and removed the chain, +"if a body may judge by the kear (care) you take on't! Now, down our way +we ain't half so partic'lar; Dolly and Blossom never so much as putting +up a bar to the door, even when I sleep out, which is about half the +time, now the summer is fairly set in." + +"And whereabouts is 'down our way,' if one may be so bold as to ask the +question?" returned le Bourdon, holding the door half-opened, while he +turned his face toward the other, in expectation of the answer. + +"Why, down at Whiskey Centre, to be sure, as the v'y'gerers and other +boatmen call the place." + +"And where is Whiskey Centre?" demanded Ben, a little pertinaciously. + +"Why, I thought everybody would 'a' known that," answered Greshom; "sin' +whiskey is as drawin' as a blister. Whiskey Centre is just where _I_ +happen to live; bein' what a body may call a travellin' name. As I'm now +down at the mouth of the Kalamazoo, why Whiskey Centre's there, too." + +"I understand the matter, now," answered le Bourdon, composing his +well-formed mouth in a sort of contemptuous smile. "You and whiskey, +being sworn friends, are always to be found in company. When I came into +the river, which was the last week in April, I saw nothing like whiskey, +nor anything like a Centre at the mouth." + +"If you'd 'a' be'n a fortnight later, STRANger, you'd 'a' found both. +Travellin' Centres, and stationary, differs somewhat, I guess; one is +always to be found, while t'other must be s'arched a'ter." + +"And pray who are Dolly and Blossom; I hope the last is not a WHISKEY +blossom?" + +"Not she--she never touches a spoonful, though I tell her it never hurt +mortal! She tries hard to reason me into it that it hurts ME--but that's +all a mistake, as anybody can see that jest looks at me." + +Ben DID look at him; and, to say truth, came to a somewhat different +conclusion. + +"Is she so blooming that you call her 'Blossom'?" demanded the +bee-hunter, "or is she so young?" + +"The gal's a little of both. Dolly is my wife, and Blossom is my sister. +The real name of Blossom is Margery Waring, but everybody calls her +Blossom; and so I gi'n into it, with the rest on 'em." + +It is probable that le Bourdon lost a good deal of his interest in +this flower of the wilderness, as soon as he learned she was so nearly +related to the Whiskey Centre. Gershom was so very uninviting an object, +and had so many palpable marks, that he had fairly earned the nickname +which, as it afterward appeared, the western adventurers had given +HIM, as well as his ABODE, wherever the last might be, that no one of +decently sober habits could readily fancy anything belonging to him. At +any rate, the bee-hunter now led the way into his cabin, whither he was +followed without unnecessary ceremony, by all three of his guests. + +The interior of the "chiente," to use the most poetical, if not the most +accurate word, was singularly clean for an establishment set up by +a bachelor, in so remote a part of the world. The honey, in neat, +well-constructed kegs, was carefully piled along one side of the +apartment, in a way to occupy the minimum of room, and to be rather +ornamental than unsightly. These kegs were made by le Bourdon himself, +who had acquired as much of the art as was necessary to that object. +The woods always furnished the materials; and a pile of staves that was +placed beneath a neighboring tree sufficiently denoted that he did not +yet deem that portion of his task completed. + +In one corner of the hut was a pile of well-dressed bearskins, three +in number, each and all of which had been taken from the carcasses of +fallen foes, within the last two months. Three more were stretched on +saplings, near by, in the process of curing. It was a material part +of the bee-hunter's craft to kill this animal, in particular; and the +trophies of his conflicts with them were proportionably numerous. On the +pile already prepared, he usually slept. + +There was a very rude table, a single board set up on sticks; and a +bench or two, together with a wooden chest of some size, completed the +furniture. Tools were suspended from the walls, it is true; and no +less than three rifles, in addition to a very neat double-barrelled +"shot-gun," or fowling-piece, were standing in a corner. These were arms +collected by our hero in his different trips, and retained quite as much +from affection as from necessity, or caution. Of ammunition, there was +no very great amount visible; only three or four horns and a couple of +pouches being suspended from pegs: but Ben had a secret store, as well +as another rifle, carefully secured, in a natural magazine and arsenal, +at a distance sufficiently great from the chiente to remove it from all +danger of sharing in the fortunes of his citadel, should disaster befall +the last. + +The cooking was done altogether out of doors. For this essential +comfort, le Bourdon had made very liberal provision. He had a small +oven, a sufficiently convenient fire-place, and a storehouse, at hand; +all placed near the spring, and beneath the shade of a magnificent elm. +In the storehouse he kept his barrel of flour, his barrel of salt, +a stock of smoked or dried meat, and that which the woodsman, if +accustomed in early life to the settlements, prizes most highly, a +half-barrel of pickled pork. The bark canoe had sufficed to transport +all these stores, merely ballasting handsomely that ticklish craft; and +its owner relied on the honey to perform the same office on the return +voyage, when trade or consumption should have disposed of the various +articles just named. + +The reader may smile at the word "trade," and ask where were those to +be found who could be parties to the traffic. The vast lakes and +innumerable rivers of that region, however, remote as it then was +from the ordinary abodes of civilized man, offered facilities for +communication that the active spirit of trade would be certain not to +neglect. In the first place, there were always the Indians to barter +skins and furs against powder, lead, rifles, blankets, and unhappily +"fire-water." Then, the white men who penetrated to those semi-wilds +were always ready to "dicker" and to "swap," and to "trade" rifles, and +watches, and whatever else they might happen to possess, almost to their +wives and Children. + +But we should be doing injustice to le Bourdon, were we in any manner +to confound him with the "dickering" race. He was a bee-hunter quite as +much through love of the wilderness and love of adventure, as through +love of gain. Profitable he had certainly found the employment, or he +probably would not have pursued it; but there was many a man who--nay, +most men, even in his own humble class in life-would have deemed his +liberal earnings too hardly obtained, when gained at the expense of all +intercourse with their own kind. But Buzzing Ben loved the solitude of +his situation, its hazards, its quietude, relieved by passing moments +of high excitement; and, most of all, the self-reliance that was +indispensable equally to his success and his happiness. Woman, as yet, +had never exercised her witchery over him, and every day was his passion +for dwelling alone, and for enjoying the strange, but certainly most +alluring, pleasures of the woods, increasing and gaining strength in his +bosom. It was seldom, now, that he held intercourse even with the Indian +tribes that dwelt near his occasional places of hunting; and frequently +had he shifted his ground in order to avoid collision, however friendly, +with whites who, like himself, were pushing their humble fortunes along +the shores of those inland seas, which, as yet, were rarely indeed +whitened by a sail. In this respect, Boden and Waring were the very +antipodes of each other; Gershom being an inveterate gossip, in despite +of his attachment to a vagrant and border life. + +The duties of hospitality are rarely forgotten among border men. The +inhabitant of a town may lose his natural disposition to receive all +who offer at his board, under the pressure of society; but it is only in +most extraordinary exceptions that the frontier man is ever known to +be inhospitable. He has little to offer, but that little is seldom +withheld, either through prudence or niggardliness. Under this +feeling--we might call it habit also--le Bourdon now set himself at work +to place on the table such food as he had at command and ready cooked. +The meal which he soon pressed his guests to share with him was composed +of a good piece of cold boiled pork, which Ben had luckily cooked the +day previously, some bear's meat roasted, a fragment of venison steak, +both lean and cold, and the remains of a duck that had been shot the +day before, in the Kalamazoo, with bread, salt, and, what was somewhat +unusual in the wilderness, two or three onions, raw. The last dish was +highly relished by Gershom, and was slightly honored by Ben; but the +Indians passed it over with cold indifference. The dessert consisted of +bread and honey, which were liberally partaken of by all at table. + +Little was said by either host or guests, until the supper was finished, +when the whole party left the chiente, to enjoy their pipes in the cool +evening air, beneath the oaks of the grove in which the dwelling stood. +Their conversation began to let the parties know something of each +other's movements and characters. + +"YOU are a Pottawattamie, and YOU a Chippewa," said le Bourdon, as he +courteously handed to his two red guests pipes of theirs, that he had +just stuffed with some of his own tobacco--"I believe you are a sort of +cousins, though your tribes are called by different names." + +"Nation, Ojebway," returned the elder Indian, holding up a finger, by +way of enforcing attention. + +"Tribe, Pottawattamie," added the runner, in the same sententious +manner. + +"Baccy, good"--put in the senior, by way of showing he was well +contented with his comforts. + +"Have you nothin' to drink?" demanded Whiskey Centre, who saw no great +merit in anything but "firewater." + +"There is the spring," returned le Bourdon, gravely; "a gourd hangs +against the tree." + +Gershom made a wry face, but he did not move. + +"Is there any news stirring among the tribes?" asked the bee-hunter, +waiting, however, a decent interval, lest he might be supposed to betray +a womanly curiosity. + +Elksfoot puffed away some time before he saw fit to answer, reserving a +salvo in behalf of his own dignity. Then he removed the pipe, shook off +the ashes, pressed down the fire a little, gave a reviving draught or +two, and quietly replied: + +"Ask my young brother--he runner--he know." + +But Pigeonswing seemed to be little more communicative than the +Pottawattamie. He smoked on in quiet dignity, while the bee-hunter +patiently waited for the moment when it might suit his younger guest to +speak. That moment did not arrive for some time, though it came at last. +Almost five minutes after Elksfoot had made the allusion mentioned, the +Ojebway, or Chippewa, removed his pipe also, and looking courteously +round at his host, he said with emphasis: + +"Bad summer come soon. Pale-faces call young men togedder, and dig up +hatchet." + +"I had heard something of this," answered le Bourdon, with a saddened +countenance, "and was afraid it might happen." + +"My brother dig up hatchet too, eh?" demanded Pigeonswing. + +"Why should I? I am alone here, on the Openings, and it would seem +foolish in me to wish to fight." + +"Got no tribe--no Ojebway--no Pottawattamie, eh?" + +"I have my tribe, as well as another, Chippewa, but can see no use I can +be to it, here. If the English and Americans fight, it must be a long +way from this wilderness, and on or near the great salt lake." + +"Don't know--nebber know, 'till see. English warrior plenty in Canada." + +"That may be; but American warriors are not plenty here. This country is +a wilderness, and there are no soldiers hereabouts, to cut each other's +throats." + +"What you t'ink him?" asked Pigeonswing, glancing at Gershom; who, +unable to forbear any longer, had gone to the spring to mix a cup from +a small supply that still remained of the liquor with which he had left +home. "Got pretty good scalp?" + +"I suppose it is as good as another's--but he and I are countrymen, and +we cannot raise the tomahawk on one another." + +"Don't t'ink so. Plenty Yankee, him!" + +Le Bourdon smiled at this proof of Pigeonswings sagacity, though he felt +a good deal of uneasiness at the purport of his discourse. + +"You are right enough in THAT" he answered, "but I'm plenty of Yankee, +too." + +"No, don't say so," returned the Chippewa--"no, mustn't say DAT. +English; no Yankee. HIM not a bit like you." + +"Why, we are unlike each other, in some respects, it is true, though we +are countrymen, notwithstanding. My great father lives at Washington, as +well as his." + +The Chippewa appeared to be disappointed; perhaps he appeared sorry, +too; for le Bourdon's frank and manly hospitality had disposed him to +friendship instead of hostilities, while his admissions would rather put +him in an antagonist position. It was probably with a kind motive that +he pursued the discourse in a way to give his host some insight into the +true condition of matters in that part of the world. + +"Plenty Breetish in woods," he said, with marked deliberation and point. +"Yankee no come yet." + +"Let me know the truth, at once, Chippewa," exclaimed le Bourdon. "I am +but a peaceable bee-hunter, as you see, and wish no man's scalp, or any +man's honey but my own. Is there to be a war between America and Canada, +or not?" + +"Some say, yes; some say, no," returned Pigeonswing, evasively, "My +part, don't know. Go, now, to see. But plenty Montreal belt among +redskins; plenty rifle; plenty powder, too." + +"I heard something of this as I came up the lakes," rejoined Ben; "and +fell in with a trader, an old acquaintance, from Canada, and a good +friend, too, though he is to be my enemy, according to law, who gave me +to understand that the summer would not go over without blows. Still, +they all seemed to be asleep at Mackinaw (Michilimackinac) as I passed +there." + +"Wake up pretty soon. Canada warrior take fort." + +"If I thought that, Chippewa, I would be off this blessed night to give +the alarm." + +"No--t'ink better of dat." + +"Go I would, if I died for it the next hour!" + +"T'ink better--be no such fool, I tell you." + +"And I tell you, Pigeonswing, that go I would, if the whole Ojebway +nation was on my trail. I am an American, and mean to stand by my own +people, come what will." + +"T'ought you only peaceable bee-hunter, just now," retorted the +Chippewa, a little sarcastically. + +By this time le Bourdon had somewhat cooled, and he became conscious of +his indiscretion. He knew enough of the history of the past, to be fully +aware that, in all periods of American history, the English, and, for +that matter, the French too, so long as they had possessions on +this continent, never scrupled about employing the savages in their +conflicts. It is true, that these highly polished, and, we may justly +add, humane nations--(for each is, out of all question, entitled to that +character in the scale of comparative humanity as between communities, +and each if you will take its own account of the matter, stands at the +head of civilization in this respect)--would, notwithstanding these high +claims, carry on their AMERICAN wars by the agency of the tomahawk, the +scalping-knife, and the brand. Eulogies, though pronounced by ourselves +on ourselves, cannot erase the stains of blood. Even down to the present +hour, a cloud does not obscure the political atmosphere between England +and America, that its existence may not be discovered on the prairies, +by a movement among the In-dians. The pulse that is to be felt there +is a sure indication of the state of the relations between the parties. +Every one knows that the savage, in his warfare, slays both sexes and +all ages; that the door-post of the frontier cabin is defiled by the +blood of the infant, whose brains have been dashed against it; and that +the smouldering ruins of log-houses oftener than not cover the remains +of their tenants. But what of all that? Brutus is still "an honorable +man," and the American, who has not this sin to answer for among his +numberless transgressions, is reviled as a semi-barbarian! The time is +at hand, when the Lion of the West will draw his own picture, too; and +fortunate will it be for the characters of some who will gather around +the easel, if they do not discover traces of their own lineaments among +his labors. + +The feeling engendered by the character of such a warfare is the secret +of the deeply seated hostility which pervades the breast of the WESTERN +American against the land of his ancestors. He never sees the Times, and +cares not a rush for the mystifications of the Quarterly Review; but +he remembers where his mother was brained, and his father or brother +tortured; aye, and by whose instrumentality the foul deeds were mainly +done. The man of the world can understand that such atrocities may be +committed, and the people of the offending nation remain ignorant of +their existence, and, in a measure, innocent of the guilt; but the +sufferer, in his provincial practice, makes no such distinction, +confounding all alike in his resentments, and including all that bear +the hated name in his maledictions. It is a fearful thing to awaken the +anger of a nation; to excite in it a desire for revenge; and thrice +is that danger magnified, when the people thus aroused possess +the activity, the resources, the spirit, and the enterprise of the +Americans. We have been openly derided, and that recently, because, +in the fulness of our sense of power and sense of right, language that +exceeds any direct exhibition of the national strength has escaped +the lips of legislators, and, perhaps justly, has exposed them to the +imputation of boastfulness. That derision, however, will not soon be +repeated. The scenes enacting in Mexico, faint as they are in comparison +with what would have been seen, had hostilities taken an other +direction, place a perpetual gag in the mouths of all scoffers. The +child is passing from the gristle into the bone, and the next generation +will not even laugh, as does the present, at any idle and ill-considered +menaces to coerce this republic; strong in the consciousness of its own +power, it will eat all such fanfaronades, if any future statesman should +be so ill-advised as to renew them, with silent indifference. + +Now, le Bourdon was fully aware that one of the surest pulses of +approaching hostilities between England and America was to be felt in +the far West. If the Indians were in movement, some power was probably +behind the scenes to set them in motion. Pigeonswing was well known to +him by reputation; and there was that about the man which awakened the +most unpleasant apprehensions, and he felt an itching desire to learn +all he could from him, without betraying any more of his own feelings, +if that were possible. + +"I do not think the British will attempt Mackinaw," Ben remarked, after +a long pause and a good deal of smoking had enabled him to assume an air +of safe indifference. + +"Got him, I tell you," answered Pigeonswing, pointedly. + +"Got what, Chippewa?" + +"Him--Mac-naw--got fort--got so'gers--got whole island. Know dat, for +been dere." + +This was astounding news, indeed! The commanding officer of that +ill-starred garrison could not himself have been more astonished, when +he was unexpectedly summoned to surrender by an enemy who appeared +to start out of the earth, than was le Bourdon, at hearing this +intelligence. To western notions, Michilimackinac was another Gibraltar, +although really a place of very little strength, and garrisoned by only +one small company of regulars. Still, habit had given the fortress a +sort of sanctity among the adventurers of that region; and its fall, +even in the settled parts of the country, sounded like the loss of +a province. It is now known that, anticipating the movements of the +Americans, some three hundred whites, sustained by more than twice that +number of Indians, including warriors from nearly every adjacent tribe, +had surprised the post on the 17th of July, and compelled the subaltern +in command, with some fifty odd men, to surrender. This rapid and highly +military measure, on the part of the British, completely cut off the +post of Chicago, at the head of Lake Michigan, leaving it isolated, on +what was then a very remote wilderness. Chicago, Mackinac, and Detroit, +were the three grand stations of the Americans on the upper lakes, and +here were two of them virtually gone at a blow! + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + --Ho! who's here? + If anything that's civil, speak; if savage, + Take, or lend-- + + Cymbeline + + +Not another syllable did le Bourdon utter to the Chippewa, or the +Chippewa to him, in that sitting, touching the important event just +communicated. Each carefully avoided manifesting any further interest in +the subject, but the smoking continued for some time after the sun had +set. As the shades of evening began to gather, the Pottawattamie arose, +shook the ashes from his pipe, gave a grunt, and uttered a word or two, +by way of announcing his disposition to retire. On this hint, Ben went +into the cabin, spread his skins, and intimated to his guests that their +beds were ready for them. Few compliments pass among border men on such +occasions, and one after another dropped off, until all were stretched +on the skins but the master of the place. He remained up two hours +later, ruminating on the state of things; when, perceiving that the +night was wearing on, he also found a nest, and sought his repose. + +Nothing occurred to disturb the occupants of "Castle Meal," as le +Bourdon laughingly called his cabin, until the return of day. If there +were any bears scenting around the place, as often occurred at night, +their instinct must have apprised them that a large reinforcement was +present, and caused them to defer their attack to a more favorable +opportunity. The first afoot next morning was the bee-hunter himself, +who arose and left his cabin just as the earliest streaks of day were +appearing in the east. Although dwelling in a wilderness, the "openings" +had not the character of ordinary forests. The air circulates freely +beneath their oaks, the sun penetrates in a thousand places, and grass +grows, wild but verdant. There was little of the dampness of the virgin +woods; and the morning air, though cool, as is ever the case, even in +midsummer, in regions still covered with trees, was balmy; and, at that +particular spot, it came to the senses of le Bourdon loaded with the +sweets of many a wide glade of his favorite white clover. Of course, he +had placed his cabin near those spots where the insect he sought most +abounded; and a fragrant site it proved to be, in favorable conditions +of the atmosphere. Ben had a taste for all the natural advantages of his +abode, and was standing in enjoyment of its placid beauties when some +one touched his elbow. Turning, quick as thought, he perceived the +Chippewa at his side. That young Indian had approached with the +noiseless tread of his people, and was now anxious to hold a private +communication with him. + +"Pottawattamie got long ear--come fudder--" said Pigeonswing; "go +cook-house--t'ink we want breakfast." + +Ben did as desired; and the two were soon side by side at the spring, in +the outlet of which they made their ablutions--the redskin being totally +without paint. When this agreeable office was performed, each felt in +better condition for a conference. + +"Elkfoot got belt from Canada fadder," commenced the Chippewa, with a +sententious allusion to the British propensity to keep the savages in +pay. "KNOW he got him KNOW he keep him." + +"And you, Pigeonswing--by your manner of talking I had set you down for +a king's Injin, too." + +"TALK so--no FEEL bit so. MY heart Yankee." + +"And have you not had a belt of wampum sent you, as well as the rest of +them?" + +"Dat true--got him--don't keep him." + +"What! did you dare to send it back?" + +"Ain't fool, dough young. Keep him; no keep him. Keep him for Canada +fadder; no keep him for Chippewa brave." + +"What have you then done with your belt?" + +"Bury him where nobody find him dis war. No--Waubkenewh no hole in heart +to let king in." + +Pigeonswing, as this young Indian was commonly called in his tribe, in +consequence of the rapidity of his movement when employed as a runner, +had a much more respectable name, and one that he had fairly earned in +some of the forays of his people, but which the commonalty had just the +same indisposition to use as the French have to call Marshal Soult the +Duc de Dalmatie. The last may be the most honorable title, but it is not +that by which he is the best known to his countrymen. Waubkenewh was +an appellation, notwithstanding, of which the young Chippewa was justly +proud; and he often asserted his right to use it, as sternly as the old +hero of Toulouse asserted his right to his duchy, when the Austrians +wished to style him "le Marechal DUC Soult." + +"And you are friendly to the Yankees, and an enemy to the red-coats?" + +Waubkenewh grasped the hand of le Bourdon, and squeezed it firmly. Then +he said, warily: + +"Take care--Elkfoot friend of Blackbird; like to look at Canada belt. +Got medal of king, too. Have Yankee scalp, bye'm by. Take care--must +speak low, when Elkfoot near." + +"I begin to understand you, Chippewa; you wish me to believe that YOU +are a friend to America, and that the Pottawatamie is not. If this be +so, why have you held the speech that you did last night, and seemed to +be on a war-path AGAINST my countrymen?" + +"Dat good way, eh? Elkfoot den t'ink me HIS friend dat very good in +war-time." + +"But is it true, or false, that Mackinaw is taken by the British?" + +"Dat true too--gone, and warrior all prisoner. Plenty Winnebago, plenty +Pottawatamie, plenty Ottowa, plenty redskin, dere." + +"And the Chippewas?" + +"Some Ojebway, too"--answered Pigeonswing, after a reluctant pause. +"Can't all go on same path this war. Hatchets, somehow, got two +handle--one strike Yankee; one strike King George." + +"But what is your business here, and where are you now going if you are +friendly to the Americans? I make no secret of my feelings--I am for my +own people, and I wish proof that you are a friend, and not an enemy." + +"Too many question, one time," returned the Chippewa, a little +distastefully. "No good have so long tongue. Ask one question, answer +him--ask anoder, answer HIM, too." + +"Well, then, what is your business, here?" + +"Go to Chicago, for gen'ral." + +"Do you mean that you bear a message from some American general to the +commandant at Chicago?" + +"Just so--dat my business. Guess him, right off; he, he, he!" + +It is so seldom that an Indian laughs that the bee-hunter was startled. + +"Where is the general who has sent you on this errand?" he demanded. + +"He at Detroit--got whole army dere--warrior plenty as oak in opening." + +All this was news to the bee-hunter, and it caused him to muse a moment, +ere he proceeded. + +"What is the name of the American general who has sent you on this +path?" he then demanded. + +"Hell," answered the Ojebway, quietly. + +"Hell! You mean to give his Indian title, I suppose, to show that he +will prove dangerous to the wicked. But how is he called in our own +tongue?" + +"Hell--dat he name--good name for so'ger, eh?" + +"I believe I understand you, Chippewa--Hull is the name of the governor +of the territory, and you must have mistaken the sound--'is it not so?" + +"Hull--Hell--don't know--just same--one good as t'other." + +"Yes, one will do as well as the other, if a body only understands you. +So Governor Hull sent you here?" + +"No gubbernor--general, tell you. Got big army--plenty warrior--eat +Breesh up!" + +"Now, Chippewa, answer me one thing to my likin', or I shall set you +down as a man with a forked tongue, though you do call yourself a friend +of the Yankees. If you have been sent from Detroit to Chicago, why +are you so far north as this? Why are you here, on the banks of +the Kalamazoo, when your path ought to lead you more toward the St. +Joseph's?" + +"Been to Mackinaw. Gen'ral says, first go to Mackinaw and see wid own +eye how garrison do--den go to Chicago, and tell warrior dere what +happen, and how he best manage. Understan' dat, Bourdon?" + +"Aye, it all sounds well enough, I will acknowledge. You have been to +Mackinaw to look about you, there, and having seen things with your own +eyes, have started for Chicago to give your knowledge to the commandant +at that place. Now, redskin, have you any proof of what you say?" + +For some reason that the bee-hunter could not yet fathom, the Chippewa +was particularly anxious either to obtain his confidence, or to deceive +him. Which he was attempting, was not yet quite apparent; but that one +or other was uppermost in his mind, Ben thought was beyond dispute. +As soon as the question last named was put, however, the Indian looked +cautiously around him, as if to be certain there were no spectators. +Then he carefully opened his tobacco-pouch, and extricated from the +centre of the cut weed a letter that was rolled into the smallest +compass to admit of this mode of concealment, and which was encircled +by a thread. The last removed, the letter was unrolled, and its +superscription exposed. The address was to "Captain--Heald, U. S. Army, +commanding at Chicago." In one corner were the words "On public service, +by Pigeonswing." All this was submitted to the bee-hunter, who read it +with his own eyes. + +"Dat good"-asked the Chippewa, pointedly-"dat tell trut'-b'lieve HIM?" + +Le Bourdon grasped the hand of the Indian, and gave it a hearty squeeze. +Then he said frankly, and like a man who no longer entertained any +doubts: + +"I put faith in all you say, Chippewa. That is an officer's letter, and +I now see that you are on the right side. You play'd so deep a game, at +first, hows'ever, that I didn't know exactly what to make of you. Now, +as for the Pottawattamie--do you set him down as friend or foe, in +reality?" + +"Enemy--take your scalp--take my scalp, in minute only can't catch him. +He got belt from Montreal, and it look handsome in his eye." + +"Which way d'ye think he's travelling? As I understood you, he and you +fell into the same path within a mile of this very spot. Was the meeting +altogether friendly?" + +"Yes; friendly--but ask too many question--too much squaw--ask one +question, den stop for answer." + +"Very true--I will remember that an Indian likes to do one thing at a +time. Which way, then, do you think he's travelling?" + +"Don't know--on'y guess--guess he on path to Blackbird." + +"And where is Blackbird, and what is he about?" + +"Two question, dat!" returned the Chippewa, smiling, and holding up +two of his fingers, at the same time, by way of rebuke. "Blackbird on +war-path;--when warrior on dat path, he take scalp if can get him." + +"But where is his enemy? There are no whites in this part of the +country, but here and there a trader, or a trapper, or a bee-hunter, or +a VOYAGEUR." + +"Take HIS scalp--all scalp good, in war time. An't partic'lar, down at +Montreal. What you call garrison at Chicago?" + +"Blackbird, you then think, may be moving upon Chicago. In that case, +Chippewa, you should outrun this Pottawatamie, and reach the post in +time to let its men know the danger." + +"Start, as soon as eat breakfast. Can't go straight, nudder, or +Pottawatamie see print of moccasin. Must t'row him off trail." + +"Very true; but I'll engage you're cunning enough to do that twice over, +should it be necessary." + +Just then Gershom Waring came out of the cabin, gaping like a hound, and +stretching his arms, as if fairly wearied with sleep. At the sight of +this man the Indian made a gesture of caution, saying, however, in an +undertone: + +"How is heart--Yankee or Breesh--love Montreal, eh? Pretty good scalp! +Love King George, eh?" + +"I rather think not, but am not certain. He is a poor pale-face, +however, and it's of no great account how he stands. His scalp would +hardly be worth the taking, whether by English or American." + +"Sell, down at Montreal--better look out for Pottawatamie. Don't like +that Injin." + +"We'll be on our guard against him; and there he comes, looking as if +his breakfast would be welcome, and as if he was already thinking of a +start." + +Le Bourdon had been busy with his pots, during the whole time this +discourse was going on, and had warmed up a sufficiency of food to +supply the wants of all his guests. In a few minutes each was busy +quietly eating his morning's meal, Gershom having taken his bitters +aside, and, as he fancied, unobserved. This was not so much owing to +niggardliness, as to a distrust of his having a sufficient supply of the +liquor, that long indulgence had made, in a measure, necessary to him, +to last until he could get back to the barrels that were still to be +found in his cabin, down on the shore of the lake. + +During the breakfast little was said, conversation forming no material +part of the entertainment, at the meals of any but the cultivated. When +each had risen, however, and by certain preliminary arrangements it +was obvious that the two Indians intended to depart, the Pottawatamie +advanced to le Bourdon, and thrust out a hand. + +"Thankee"--he said, in the brief way in which he clipped his +English--"good supper--good sleep--good breakfast. Now go. Thankee--when +any friend come to Pottawatamie village, good wigwam dere, and no door." + +"I thank you, Elksfoot--and should you pass this way, ag'in, soon, I +hope you'll just step into this chiente and help yourself it I should +happen to be off on a hunt. Good luck to you, and a happy sight of +home." + +The Pottawatamie then turned and thrust out a hand to each of the +others, who met his offered leave-taking with apparent friendship. The +bee-hunter observed that neither of the Indians said anything to the +other touching the path he was about to travel, but that each seemed +ready to pursue his own way as if entirely independent, and without the +expectation of having a companion. + +Elksfoot left the spot the first. After completing his adieus, the +Pottawattamie threw his rifle into the hollow of his arm, felt at his +belt, as if to settle it into its place, made some little disposition of +his light summer covering, and moved off in a southwesterly direction, +passing through the open glades, and almost equally unobstructed groves, +as steady in his movements as if led by an instinct. + +"There he goes, on a bee-line," said le Bourdon, as the straight form of +the old savage disappeared at length, behind a thicket of trees. "On +a bee-line for the St. Joseph's river, where he will shortly be, among +friends and neighbors, I do not doubt. What, Chippewa! are you in motion +too?" + +"Must go, now," returned Pigeonswing, in a friendly way. "Bye'm by come +back and eat more honey-bring sweet news, hope-no Canada here," placing +a finger on his heart-"all Yankee." + +"God be with you, Chippewa-God be with you. We shall have a stirring +summer of it, and I expect to hear of your name in the wars, as of a +chief who knows no fear." + +Pigeonswing waved his hand, cast a glance, half friendly half +contemptuously, at Whiskey Centre, and glided away. The two who remained +standing near the smouldering fire remarked that the direction taken +by the Chippewa was toward the lake, and nearly at right angles to that +taken by the Pottawattamie. They also fancied that the movement of the +former was about half as fast again as that of the latter. In less than +three minutes the young Indian was concealed in the "openings," though +he had to cross a glade of considerable width in order to reach them. + +The bee-hunter was now alone with the only one of his guests who was of +the color and race to which he himself belonged. Of the three, he was +the visitor he least respected; but the dues of hospitality are usually +sacred in a wilderness, and among savages, so that he could do nothing +to get rid of him. As Gershom manifested no intention to quit the place, +le Bourdon set about the business of the hour, with as much method and +coolness as if the other had not been present. The first thing was to +bring home the honey discovered on the previous day; a task of no light +labor, the distance it was to be transported being so considerable, and +the quantity so large. But our bee-hunter was not without the means +of accomplishing such an object, and he now busied himself in getting +ready. As Gershom volunteered his assistance, together they toiled in +apparent amity and confidence. + +The Kalamazoo is a crooked stream; and it wound from the spot where le +Bourdon had built his cabin, to a point within a hundred yards of the +fallen tree in which the bees had constructed their hive. As a matter +of course, Ben profited by this circumstance to carry his canoe to the +latter place, with a view to render it serviceable in transporting +the honey. First securing everything in and around the chiente, he +and Gershom embarked, taking with them no less than four pieces +of fire-arms; one of which was, to use the language of the west, a +double-barrelled "shot-gun." Before quitting the place, however, the +bee-hunter went to a large kennel made of logs, and let out a mastiff +of great power and size. Between this dog and himself there existed the +best possible intelligence; the master having paid many visits to the +prisoner since his return, feeding and caressing him. Glad, indeed, was +this fine animal to be released, bounding back and forth, and leaping +about le Bourdon in a way to manifest his delight. He had been cared for +in his kennel, and well cared for, too; but there is no substitute for +liberty, whether in man or beast, individuals or communities. + +When all Was ready, le Bourdon and Gershom got into the canoe, whither +the former now called his dog, using the name of "Hive," an appellation +that was doubtless derived from his own pursuit. As soon as the mastiff +leaped into the canoe, Ben shoved off, and the light craft was pushed +up the stream by himself and Gershom without much difficulty, and with +considerable rapidity. But little driftwood choked the channel; and, +after fifteen minutes of moderate labor, the two men came near to the +point of low wooded land in which the bee-tree had stood. As they drew +nigh, certain signs of uneasiness in the dog attracted his master's +attention, and he pointed them out to Gershom. + +"There's game in the wind," answered Whiskey Centre, who had a good +knowledge of most of the craft of border life, notwithstanding his +ungovernable propensity to drink, and who, by nature, was both shrewd +and resolute. "I shouldn't wonder"-a common expression of his class--"if +we found bears prowling about that honey!" + +"Such things have happened in my time," answered the bee-hunter, "and +twice in my experience I've been driven from the field, and forced to +let the devils get my 'arnin's." + +"That was when you had no comrade, stranger" returned Gershom, raising a +rifle, and carefully examining its flint and its priming. "It will be a +large family on 'em that drives us from that tree; for my mind is made +up to give Doll and Blossom a taste of the sweets." + +If this was said imprudently, as respects ownership in the prize, it +was said heartily, so far as spirit and determination were concerned. It +proved that Whiskey Centre had points about him which, if not absolutely +redeeming, served in some measure to lessen the disgust which one might +other-wise have felt for his character. The bee-hunter knew that there +was a species of hardihood that belonged to border men as the fruits +of their habits, and, apparently, he had all necessary confidence in +Gershom's disposition to sustain him, should there be occasion for a +conflict with his old enemies. + +The first measure of the bee-hunter, after landing and securing his +boat, was to quiet Hive. The animal being under excellent command, this +was soon done; the mastiff maintaining the position assigned him in the +rear, though evidently impatient to be let loose. Had not le Bourdon +known the precise position of the fallen tree, and through that the +probable position of his enemies, he would have placed the mastiff in +advance, as a pioneer or scout; but he deemed it necessary, under +the actual circumstances, to hold him as a reserve, or a force to be +directed whither occasion might require. With this arrangement, then, +le Bourdon and Whiskey Centre advanced, side by side, each carrying two +pieces, from the margin of the river toward the open land that commanded +a view of the tree. On reaching the desired point, a halt was called, in +order to reconnoitre. + +The reader will remember that the bee-elm had stood on the edge of a +dense thicket, or swamp, in which the trees grew to a size several times +exceeding those of the oaks in the openings; and le Bourdon had caused +it to fall upon the open ground, in order to work at the honey with +greater ease to himself. Consequently, the fragments lay in full view +of the spot where the halt was made. A little to Gershom's surprise, +Ben now produced his spy-glass, which he levelled with much earnestness +toward the tree. The bee-hunter, however, well knew his business, and +was examining into the state of the insects whom he had so violently +invaded the night before. The air was filled with them, flying above +and around the tree; a perfect cloud of the little creatures hovering +directly over the hole, as if to guard its treasure. + +"Waal," said Gershom, in his drawling way, when le Bourdon had taken a +long look with the glass, "I don't see much use in spy-glassin' in that +fashion. Spy-glassin' may do out on the lake, if a body has only the +tools to do it with; but here, in the openin's, nature's eyes is about +as good as them a body buys in the stores." + +"Take a look at them bees, and see what a fret they're in," returned +Ben, handing the glass to his companion. "As long as I've been in the +business, I've never seen a colony in such a fever. Commonly, a few +hours after the bees find that their tree is down, and their plans +broken into, they give it up, and swarm; looking for a new hive, and +setting about the making more food for the next winter; but here are all +the bees yet, buzzing above the hole, as if they meant to hold out for a +siege." + +"There's an onaccountable grist on 'em"--Gershom was never very +particular in his figures of speech, usually terming anything +in quantities a'grist"; and meaning in the present instance by +"onaccountable," a number not to be counted--"an onaccountable grist on +'em, I can tell you, and if you mean to charge upon sich enemies, you +must look out for somebody besides Whiskey Centre for your vanguard. +What in natur' has got into the critters! They can't expect to set that +tree on its legs ag'in!" + +"Do you see a flight of them just in the edge of the for-est--here, more +to the southward?" demanded le Bourdon. + +"Sure enough! There is a lot on 'em there, too, and they seem to be +comin' and goin' to the tree, like folks"--Gershom WOULD put his noun +of multitude into the plural, Nova-Anglice--"comin' and goin' like folks +carryin' water to a fire. A body would think, by the stir among 'em, +them critters' barrel was empty!" + +"The bears are there," coolly returned the bee-hunter; "I've seen such +movements before, and know how to account for them. The bears are in the +thicket, but don't like to come out in the face of such a colony. I have +heard of bears being chased miles by bees, when their anger was up!" + +"Mortality! They have a good deal of dander (dandruff) for sich little +vipers! But what are WE to do, Bourdon? for Doll and Blossom MUST taste +that honey! Half's mine, you know, and I don't like to give it up." + +The bee-hunter smiled at the coolness with which Gershom assigned to +himself so large a portion of his property; though he did not think +it worth his while, just then, to "demur to his declaration," as the +lawyers might have it. There was a sort of border rule, which gave all +present equal shares in any forest captures; just as vessels in sight +come in for prize-money, taken in time of war by public cruisers. At any +rate, the honey of a single tree was not of sufficient value to induce a +serious quarrel about it. If there should be any extra trouble or danger +in securing the present prize, every craft in view might, fairly enough, +come in for its share. + +"Doll shall not be forgotten, if we can only house our honey," answered +the bee-hunter; "nor Blossom, neither. I've a fancy, already, for +that blossom of the wilderness, and shall do all I can to make myself +agreeable to her. A man cannot approach a maiden with anything sweeter +than honey." + +"Some gals like sugar'd words better; but, let me tell you one thing, +STRANger-" + +"You have eaten bread and salt with me, Whiskey, and both are scarce +articles in a wilderness; and you've slept under my roof: is it not +almost time to call me something else than stranger?" + +"Well, Bourdon, if you prefer that name; though STRANger is a name I +like, it has sich an up and off sound to it. When a man calls all he +sees STRANgers, it's a sign he don't let the grass grow in the road +for want of movin'; and a movin' man for me, any day, before your +stationaries. I was born on the sea-shore, in the Bay State; and here +I am, up among the fresh-water lakes, as much nat'ralized as any +muskelunge that was ever cotch'd in Huron, or about Mackinaw. If I can +believe my eyes, Bourdon, there is the muzzle of a bear to be seen, jist +under that heavy hemlock--here, where the bees seem thickest!" + +"No doubt in the world," answered le Bourdon, coolly; though he had +taken the precaution to look to the priming of each of his pieces, as if +he expected there would soon be occasion to use them. "But what was that +you were about to say concernin' Blossom? It would not be civil to the +young woman to overlook her, on account of a bear or two." + +"You take it easy, STRANger--Bourdon, I should say--you take it easy! +What I was about to say was this: that the whull lake country, and +that's a wide stretch to foot it over, I know; but, big as it is, the +whull lake country don't contain Blossom's equal. I'm her brother, and +perhaps ought to be a little modest in sich matters; but I an't a bit, +and let out jist what I think. Blossom's a di'mond, if there be di'monds +on 'arth." + +"And yonder is a bear, if there be bears on earth!" exclaimed le +Bourdon, who was not a little amused with Gershom's account of his +family, but who saw that the moment was now arrived when it would be +necessary to substitute deeds for words. "There they come, in a drove, +and they seem in earnest." + +This was true enough. No less than eight bears, half of which, however, +were quite young, came tumbling over the logs, and bounding up toward +the fallen tree, as if charging the citadel of the bees by preconcert. +Their appearance was the signal for a general rally of the insects, and +by the time the foremost of the clumsy animals had reached the tree, the +air above and around him was absolutely darkened by the cloud of bees +that was collected to defend their treasures. Bruin trusted too much to +the thickness of his hide and to the defences with which he was provided +by nature, besides being too much incited by the love of honey, to +regard the little heroes, but thrust his nose in at the hole, doubtless +hoping to plunge it at once into the midst of a mass of the sweets. A +growl, a start backward, and a flourishing of the fore-paws, with +sundry bites in the air, at once announced that he had met with greater +resistance than he had anticipated. In a minute, all the bears were on +their hind-legs, beating the air with their fore-paws, and nipping right +and left with their jaws, in vigorous combat with their almost invisible +foes. Instinct supplied the place of science, and spite of the hides +and the long hair that covered them, the bees found the means of darting +their stings into unprotected places, until the quadrupeds were fairly +driven to rolling about on the grass in order to crush their assailants. +This last process had some effect, a great many bees being destroyed by +the energetic rollings and tumblings of the bears; but, as in the tide +of battle, the places of those who fell were immediately supplied by +fresh assailants, until numbers seemed likely to prevail over power, +if not over discipline. At this critical instant, when the bears seemed +fatigued with their nearly frantic saltations, and violent blows upon +nothing, le Bourdon deemed it wise to bring his forces into the combat. +Gershom having been apprised of the plan, both fired at the same +instant. Each ball took effect; one killing the largest of all the +bears, dead on the spot, while the other inflicted a grievous wound on +a second. This success was immediately followed by a second discharge, +wounding two more of the enemy, while Ben held the second barrel of his +"shot-gun" in reserve. While the hurt animals were hobbling off, the men +reloaded their pieces; and by the time the last were ready to advance on +the enemy, the ground was cleared of bears and bees alike, only two of +the former remaining, of which one was already dead and the other dying. +As for the bees, they followed their retreating enemies in a body, +making a mistake that sometimes happens to still more intelligent +beings; that of attributing to themselves, and their own prowess, a +success that had been gained by others. + +The bee-hunter and his friend now set themselves at work to provide +a reception for the insects, the return of which might shortly be +expected. The former lighted a fire, being always provided with the +means, while Gershom brought dry wood. In less than five minutes a +bright blaze was gleaming upward, and when the bees returned, as most +of them soon did, they found this new enemy intrenched, as it might be, +behind walls of flame. Thousands of the little creatures perished by +means of this new invention of man, and the rest soon after were led +away by their chiefs to seek some new deposit for the fruits of their +industry. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + The sad butterfly, + Waving his lackered wings, darts quickly on, + And, by his free flight, counsels us to speed + For better lodgings, and a scene more sweet, + Than these dear borders offer us to-night. + SIMMS. + + +It was noon before Ben and Gershom dared to commence the process of +cutting and splitting the tree, in order to obtain the honey. Until +then, the bees lingered around their fallen hive, and it would have been +dangerous to venture beyond the smoke and heat, in order to accomplish +the task. It is true, le Bourdon possessed several secrets, of more or +less virtue, to drive off the bees when disposed to assault him, but +no one that was as certain as a good fire, backed by a dense column of +vapor. Various plants are thought to be so offensive to the insects, +that they avoid even their odor; and the bee-hunter had faith in one or +two of them; but none of the right sort happened now to be near, and he +was obliged to trust, first to a powerful heat, and next to the vapor of +damp wood. + +As there were axes, and wedges, and a beetle in the canoe, and Gershom +was as expert with these implements as a master of fencing is with his +foil, to say nothing of the skill of le Bourdon, the tree was soon +laid open, and its ample stores of sweets exposed. In the course of the +afternoon the honey was deposited in kegs, the kegs were transferred to +the canoe, and the whole deposited in the chiente. The day had been one +of toil, and when our two bordermen sat down near the spring, to take +their evening meal, each felt glad that his work was done. + +"I believe this must be the last hive I line, this summer," said le +Bourdon, while eating his supper. "My luck has been good so far, but +in troublesome times one had better not be too far from home. I am +surprised, Waring, that you have ventured so far from your family, while +the tidings are so gloomy." + +"That's partly because you don't know ME, and partly because you don't +know DOLLY. As for leaving hum, with anybody to kear for it, I should +like to know who is more to the purpose than Dolly Waring? I haven't no +idee that even bees would dare get upon HER! If they did, they'd soon +get the worst on't Her tongue is all-powerful, to say nawthin' of her +arms; and if the so'gers can only handle their muskets as she can handle +a broom, there is no need of new regiments to carry on this war." + +Now, nothing could be more false than this character; but a drunkard has +little regard to what he says. + +"I am glad your garrison is so strong," answered the beehunter, +thoughtfully; "but mine is too weak to stay any longer, out here in +the openings. Whiskey Centre, I intend to break up, and return to the +settlement, before the red-skins break loose in earnest. If you will +stay and lend me a hand to embark the honey and stores, and help +to carry the canoe down the river, you shall be well paid for your +trouble." + +"Waal, I'd about as lief do that, as do anything else. Good jobs is +scarce, out here in the wilderness, and when a body lights of one, he +ought to profit by it. I come up here thinkin' to meet you, for I heer'n +tell from a voyager that you was a-beeing it, out in the openin's, and +there's nawthin' in natur' that Dolly takes to with a greater relish +than good wild honey. 'Try whiskey,' I've told her a thousand times, +'and you'll soon get to like THAT better than all the rest of creation'; +but not a drop could I ever get her, or Blossom, to swallow. It's true, +that leaves so much the more for me; but I'm a companionable crittur, +and don't think I've drunk as much as I want, unless I take it +society-like. That's one reason I've taken so mightily to you, Bourdon; +you're not much at a pull, but you an't downright afeared of a jug, +neither." + +The bee-hunter was glad to hear that all the family had not this man's +vice, for he now plainly foresaw that the accidents of his position must +bring him and these strangers much in contact, for some weeks, at least. +Le Bourdon, though not absolutely "afraid of a jug," as Whiskey Centre +had expressed it, was decidedly a temperate man; drinking but seldom, +and never to excess. He too well knew the hazards by which he was +surrounded, to indulge in this way, even had he the taste for it; but he +had no taste that way, one small jug of brandy forming his supply for a +whole season. In these days of exaggeration in all things, exaggeration +in politics, in religion, in temperance, in virtue, and even in +education, by putting "new wine into old bottles," that one little jug +might have sufficed to give him a bad name; but five-and-thirty years +ago men had more real independence than they now possess, and were +not as much afraid of that croquemitaine, public opinion, as they +are to-day. To be sure, it was little to le Bourdon's taste to make a +companion of such a person as Whiskey Centre; but there was no choice. +The man was an utter stranger to him; and the only means he possessed of +making sure that he did not carry off the property that lay so much at +his mercy, was by keeping near him. With many men, the bee-hunter would +have been uneasy at being compelled to remain alone with them in the +woods; for cases in which one had murdered another, in order to get +possession of the goods, in these remote regions, were talked of, among +the other rumors of the borders; but Gershom had that in his air and +manner that rendered Ben confident his delinquencies, at the most, would +scarcely reach bloodshed. Pilfer he might; but murder was a crime which +he did not appear at all likely to commit. + +After supping in company, our two adventurers secured everything; and, +retiring to the chiente, they went to sleep. No material disturbance +occurred, but the night passed in tranquillity; the bee-hunter merely +experiencing some slight interruption to his slumbers, from the unusual +circumstance of having a companion. One as long accustomed to be alone +as himself would naturally submit to some such sensation, our habits +getting so completely the mastery as often to supplant even nature. + +The following morning the bee-hunter commenced his preparations for a +change of residence. Had he not been discovered, it is probable that the +news received from the Chippewa would not have induced him to abandon +his present position, so early in the season; but he thought the risk of +remaining was too great under all the circumstances. The Pottawattamie, +in particular, was a subject of great distrust to him, and he believed +it highly possible some of that old chief's tribe might be after his +scalp ere many suns had risen. Gershom acquiesced in these opinions, +and, as soon as his brain was less under the influence of liquor than +was common with him, he appeared to be quite happy in having it in his +power to form a species of alliance, offensive and defensive, with a +man of his own color and origin. Great harmony now prevailed between the +two, Gershom improving vastly in all the better qualities, the instant +his intellect and feelings got to be a little released from the thraldom +of the jug. His own immediate store of whiskey was quite exhausted, and +le Bourdon kept the place in which his own small stock of brandy was +secured a profound secret. These glimmerings of returning intellect, +and of reviving principles, are by no means unusual with the sot, thus +proving that "so long as there is life, there is hope," for the moral, +as well as for the physical being. What was a little remarkable, Gershom +grew less vulgar, even in his dialect, as he grew more sober, showing +that in all respects he was becoming a greatly improved person. + +The men were several hours in loading the canoe, not only all the +stores and ammunition, but all the honey being transferred to it. The +bee-hunter had managed to conceal his jug of brandy, reduced by this +time to little more than a quart, within an empty powder-keg, into which +he had crammed a beaver-skin or two, that he had taken, as it might be +incidentally, in the course of his rambles. At length everything was +removed and stowed in its proper place, on board the capacious canoe, +and Gershom expected an announcement on the part of Ben of his readiness +to embark. But there still remained one duty to perform. The beehunter +had killed a buck only the day before the opening of our narrative, and +shouldering a quarter, he had left the remainder of the animal suspended +from the branches of a tree, near the place where it had been shot and +cleaned. As venison might be needed before they could reach the mouth +of the river, Ben deemed it advisable that he and Gershom should go +and bring in the remainder of the carcass. The men started on this +undertaking accordingly, leaving the canoe about two in the afternoon. + +The distance between the spot where the deer had been killed, and the +chiente, was about three miles; which was the reason why the bee-hunter +had not brought home the entire animal the day he killed it; the +American woodsman often carrying his game great distances in preference +to leaving it any length of time in the forest. In the latter case there +is always danger from beasts of prey, which are drawn from afar by the +scent of blood. Le Bourdon thought it possible they might now encounter +wolves; though he had left the carcass of the deer so suspended as to +place it beyond the reach of most of the animals of the wilderness. Each +of the men, however, carried a rifle: and Hive was allowed to accompany +them, by an act of grace on the part of his master. + +For the first half-hour, nothing occurred out of the usual course of +events. The bee-hunter had been conversing freely with his companion, +who, he rejoiced to find, manifested far more common sense, not to say +good sense, than he had previously shown; and from whom he was deriving +information touching the number of vessels, and the other movements on +the lakes, that he fancied might be of use to himself when he started +for Detroit. While thus engaged, and when distant only a hundred rods +from the place where he had left the venison, le Bourdon was suddenly +struck with the movements of the dog. Instead of doubling on his own +tracks, and scenting right and left, as was the animal's wont, he was +now advancing cautiously, with his head low, seemingly feeling his way +with his nose, as if there was a strong taint in the wind. + +"Sartain as my name is Gershom," exclaimed Waring, just after he and Ben +had come to a halt, in order to look around them--"yonder is an Injin! +The crittur' is seated at the foot of the large oak--hereaway, more +to the right of the dog, and Hive has struck his scent. The fellow is +asleep, with his rifle across his lap, and can't have much dread of +wolves or bears!" + +"I see him," answered le Bourdon, "and am as much surprised as grieved +to find him there. It is a little remarkable that I should have so many +visitors, just at this time, on my hunting-ground, when I never had +any at all before yesterday. It gives a body an uncomfortable feeling, +Waring, to live so much in a crowd! Well, well--I'm about to move, and +it will matter little twenty-four hours hence." + +"The chap's a Winnebago by his paint," added Gershom--"but let's go up +and give him a call." + +The bee-hunter assented to this proposal, remarking, as they moved +forward, that he did not think the stranger of the tribe just named; +though he admitted that the use of paint was so general and loose among +these warriors, as to render it difficult to decide. + +"The crittur' sleeps soundly!" exclaimed Gershom, stopping within ten +yards of the Indian, to take another look at him. + +"He'll never awake," put in the bee-hunter, solemnly--"the man is dead. +See; there is blood on the side of his head, and a rifle-bullet has left +its hole there." + +Even while speaking, the bee-hunter advanced, and raising a sort of +shawl, that once had been used as an ornament, and which had last +been thrown carelessly over the head of its late owner, he exposed the +well-known features of Elks-foot, the Pottawattamie, who had left them +little more than twenty-four hours before! The warrior had been shot by +a rifle-bullet directly through the temple, and had been scalped. The +powder had been taken from his horn, and the bullets from his pouch; +but, beyond this, he had not been plundered. The body was carefully +placed against a tree, in a sitting attitude, the rifle was laid across +its legs, and there it had been left, in the centre of the openings, to +become food for beasts of prey, and to have its bones bleached by the +snows and the rains! + +The bee-hunter shuddered, as he gazed at this fearful memorial of the +violence against which even a wilderness could afford no sufficient +protection. That Pigeonswing had slain his late fellow-guest, le Bourdon +had no doubt, and he sickened at the thought. Although he had himself +dreaded a good deal from the hostility of the Pottawattamie, he could +have wished this deed undone. That there was a jealous distrust of each +other between the two Indians had been sufficiently apparent; but the +bee-hunter could not have imagined that it would so soon lead to results +as terrible as these! + +After examining the body, and noting the state of things around it, the +men proceeded, deeply impressed with the necessity, not only of their +speedy removal, but of their standing by each other in that remote +region, now that violence had so clearly broken out among the tribes. +The bee-hunter had taken a strong liking to the Chippewa, and he +regretted so much the more to think that he had done this deed. It was +true, that such a state of things might exist as to justify an Indian +warrior, agreeably to his own notions, in taking the life of any one of +a hostile tribe; but le Bourdon wished it had been otherwise. A man +of gentle and peaceable disposition himself, though of a profoundly +enthusiastic temperament in his own peculiar way, he had ever avoided +those scenes of disorder and bloodshed, which are of so frequent +occurrence in the forest and on the prairies; and this was actually the +first instance in which he had ever beheld a human body that had fallen +by human hands. Gershom had seen more of the peculiar life of the +frontiers than his companion, in consequence of having lived so closely +in contact with the "fire-water"; but even HE was greatly shocked with +the suddenness and nature of the Pottawattamie's end. + +No attempt was made to bury the remains of Elksfoot, inasmuch as +our adventurers had no tools fit for such a purpose, and any merely +superficial interment would have been a sort of invitation to the wolves +to dig the body up again. + +"Let him lean ag'in' the tree," said Waring, as they moved on toward the +spot where the carcass of the deer was left, "and I'll engage nothin' +touches him. There's that about the face of man, Bourdon, that skears +the beasts; and if a body can only muster courage to stare them full in +the eye, one single human can drive before him a whull pack of wolves." + +"I've heard as much," returned the bee-hunter, "but should not like +to be the 'human' to try the experiment That the face of man may have +terrors for a beast, I think likely; but hunger would prove more than +a match for such fear. Yonder is our venison, Waring; safe where I left +it." + +The carcass of the deer was divided, and each man shouldering his +burden, the two returned to the river, taking care to avoid the path +that led by the body of the dead Indian. As both labored with much +earnestness, everything was soon ready, and the canoe speedily left the +shore. The Kalamazoo is not in general a swift and turbulent stream, +though it has a sufficient current to carry away its waters without any +appearance of sluggishness. Of course, this character is not uniform, +reaches occurring in which the placid water is barely seen to move; +and others, again, are found, in which something like rapids, and even +falls, appear. But on the whole, and more especially in the part of the +stream where it was, the canoe had little to disturb it, as it glided +easily down, impelled by a light stroke of the paddle. + +The bee-hunter did not abandon his station without regret. He had chosen +a most agreeable site for his chiente, consulting air, shade, water, +verdure, and groves, as well as the chances of obtaining honey. In his +regular pursuit he had been unusually fortunate; and the little pile of +kegs in the centre of his canoe was certainly a grateful sight to his +eyes. The honey gathered this season, moreover, had proved to be of an +unusually delicious flavor, affording the promise of high prices and +ready sales. Still, the bee-hunter left the place with profound regret. +He loved his calling; he loved solitude to a morbid degree, perhaps; and +he loved the gentle excitement that naturally attended his "bee-lining," +his discoveries, and his gains. Of all the pursuits that are more or +less dependent on the chances of the hunt and the field, that of +the bee-hunter is of the most quiet and placid enjoyment. He has the +stirring motives of uncertainty and doubt, without the disturbing +qualities of bustle and fatigue; and, while his exercise is sufficient +for health, and for the pleasures of the open air, it is seldom of a +nature to weary or unnerve. Then the study of the little animal that +is to be watched, and, if the reader will, plundered, is not without +a charm for those who delight in looking into the wonderful arcana of +nature. So great was the interest that le Bourdon sometimes felt in his +little companions, that, on three several occasions that very summer, +he had spared hives after having found them, because he had ascertained +that they were composed of young bees, and had not yet got sufficiently +colonized to render a new swarming more than a passing accident. With +all this kindness of feeling toward his victims, Boden had nothing of +the transcendental folly that usually accompanies the sentimentalism of +the exaggerated, but his feelings and impulses were simple and direct, +though so often gentle and humane. He knew that the bee, like all the +other inferior animals of creation, was placed at the disposition +of man, and did not scruple to profit by the power thus beneficently +bestowed, though he exercised it gently, and with a proper +discrimination between its use and its abuse. + +Neither of the men toiled much, as the canoe floated down the stream. +Very slight impulses served to give their buoyant craft a reasonably +swift motion, and the current itself was a material assistant. These +circumstances gave an opportunity for conversation, as the canoe glided +onward. + +"A'ter all," suddenly exclaimed Waring, who had been examining the pile +of kegs for some time in silence--"a'ter all, Bourdon, your trade is an +oncommon one! A most extr'ornary and oncommon callin'!" + +"More so, think you, Gershom, than swallowing whiskey, morning, noon, +and night?" answered the bee-hunter, with a quiet smile. + +"Aye, but that's not a reg'lar callin'; only a likin'! Now a man may +have a likin' to a hundred things in which he don't deal. I set nothin' +down as a business, which a man don't live by." + +"Perhaps you're right, Waring. More die by whiskey than live by +whiskey." + +Whiskey Centre seemed struck with this remark, which was introduced so +aptly, and was uttered so quietly. He gazed earnestly at his companion +for near a minute, ere he attempted to resume the discourse. + +"Blossom has often said as much as this," he then slowly rejoined; "and +even Dolly has prophesized the same." + +The bee-hunter observed that an impression had been made, and he thought +it wisest to let the reproof already administered produce its effect, +without endeavoring to add to its power. Waring sat with his chin on his +breast, in deep thought, while his companion, for the first time since +they had met, examined the features and aspect of the man. At first +sight, Whiskey Centre certainly offered little that was inviting; but +a closer study of his countenance showed that he had the remains of a +singularly handsome man. Vulgar as were his forms of speech, coarse and +forbidding as his face had become, through the indulgence which was his +bane, there were still traces of this truth. His complexion had once +been fair almost to effeminacy, his cheeks ruddy with health, and his +blue eye bright and full of hope. His hair was light; and all these +peculiarities strongly denoted his Saxon origin. It was not so much +Anglo-Saxon as Americo-Saxon, that was to be seen in the physical +outlines and hues of this nearly self-destroyed being. The heaviness +of feature, the ponderousness of limb and movement, had all long +disappeared from his race, most probably under the influence of climate, +and his nose was prominent and graceful in outline, while his mouth +and chin might have passed for having been under the chisel of some +distinguished sculptor. It was, in truth, painful to examine that face, +steeped as it was in liquor, and fast losing the impress left by +nature. As yet, the body retained most of its power, the enemy having +insidiously entered the citadel, rather than having actually subdued it. +The bee-hunter sighed as he gazed at his moody companion, and wondered +whether Blossom had aught of this marvellous comeliness of countenance, +without its revolting accompaniments. + +All that afternoon, and the whole of the night that succeeded, did +the canoe float downward with the current. Occasionally, some slight +obstacle to its progress would present itself; but, on the whole, its +advance was steady and certain. As the river necessarily followed the +formation of the land, it was tortuous and irregular in its course, +though its general direction was toward the northwest, or west a little +northerly. The river-bottoms being much more heavily "timbered"--to +use a woodsman term--than the higher grounds, there was little of the +park-like "openings" on its immediate banks, though distant glimpses +were had of many a glade and of many a charming grove. + +As the canoe moved toward its point of destination, the conversation did +not lag between the bee-hunter and his companion. Each gave the other +a sort of history of his life; for, now that the jug was exhausted, +Gershom could talk not only rationally, but with clearness and force. +Vulgar he was, and, as such, uninviting and often repulsive; still his +early education partook of that peculiarity of New England which, if +it do not make her children absolutely all they are apt to believe +themselves to be, seldom leaves them in the darkness of a besotted +ignorance. As usually happens with this particular race, Gershom +had acquired a good deal for a man of his class in life; and this +information, added to native shrewdness, enabled him to maintain his +place in the dialogue with a certain degree of credit. He had a very +lively perception--fancied or real--of all the advantages of being born +in the land of the Puritans, deeming everything that came of the +great "Blarney Stone" superior to everything else of the same nature +elsewhere; and, while much disposed to sneer and rail at all other +parts of the country, just as much indisposed to "take," as disposed +to "give." Ben Boden soon detected this weakness in his companion's +character, a weakness so very general as scarce to need being pointed +out to any observant man, and which is almost inseparable from half-way +intelligence and provincial self-admiration; and Ben was rather inclined +to play on it, whenever Gershom laid himself a little more open than +common on the subject. On the whole, however, the communications were +amicable; and the dangers of the wilderness rendering the parties +allies, they went their way with an increasing confidence in each +other's support. Gershom, now that he was thoroughly sober, could impart +much to Ben that was useful; while Ben knew a great deal that even his +companion, coming as he did from the chosen people, was not sorry to +learn. As has been, already intimated, each communicated to the other, +in the course of this long journey on the river, an outline of his past +life. + +The history of Gershom Waring was one of every-day occurrence. He was +born of a family in humble circumstances in Massachusetts, a community +in which, however, none are so very humble as to be beneath the paternal +watchfulness of the State. The common schools had done their duty by +him; while, according to his account of the matter, his only sister had +fallen into the hands of a female relative, who was enabled to impart +an instruction slightly superior to that which is to be had from the +servants of the public. After a time, the death of this relative, and +the marriage of Gershom, brought the brother and sister together again, +the last still quite young. From this period the migratory life of +the family commenced. Previously to the establishment of manufactories +within her limits, New England systematically gave forth her increase +to the States west and south of her own territories. A portion of this +increase still migrates, and will probably long continue so to do; but +the tide of young women, which once flowed so steadily from that +region, would now seem to have turned, and is setting back in a flood +of "factory girls." But the Warings lived at too early a day to feel +the influence of such a pass of civilization, and went west, almost as +a matter of course. With the commencement of his migratory life, Gershom +began to "dissipate," as it has got to be matter of convention to term +"drinking." Fortunately, Mrs. Waring had no children, thus lessening in +a measure the privations to which those unlucky females were obliged to +submit. When Gershom left his birthplace he had a sum of money exceeding +a thousand dollars in amount, the united means of himself and sister; +but, by the time he had reached Detroit, it was reduced to less than +a hundred. Several years, however, had been consumed by the way, the +habits growing worse and the money vanishing, as the family went further +and further toward the skirts of society. At length Gershom attached +himself to a sutler, who was going up to Michilimackinac, with a party +of troops; and finally he left that place to proceed, in a canoe of his +own, to the head of Lake Michigan, where was a post on the present site +of Chicago, which was then known as Fort Dearborn. + +In quitting Mackinac for Chicago, Waring had no very settled plan. His +habits had completely put him out of favor at the former place; and +a certain restlessness urged him to penetrate still farther into the +wilderness. In all his migrations and wanderings the two devoted females +followed his fortunes; the one because she was his wife, the other +because she was his sister. When the canoe reached the mouth of the +Kalamazoo, a gale of wind drove it into the river; and finding a +deserted cabin, ready built, to receive him, Gershom landed, and had +been busy with the rifle for the last fortnight, the time he had been +on shore. Hearing from some voyageurs who had gone down the lake that a +bee-hunter was up the river, he had followed the stream in its windings +until he fell in with le Bourdon. + +Such is an outline of the account which Whiskey Centre gave of himself. +It is true, he said very little of his propensity to drink, but this his +companion was enabled to conjecture from the context of his narrative, +as well as from what he had seen. It was very evident to the bee-hunter, +that the plans of both parties for the summer were about to be seriously +deranged by the impending hostilities, and that some decided movement +might be rendered necessary, even for the protection of their lives. +This much he communicated to Gershom, who heard his opinions with +interest, and a concern in behalf of his wife and sister that at least +did some credit to his heart. For the first time in many months, indeed, +Gershom was now PERFECTLY sober, a circumstance that was solely owing to +his having had no access to liquor for eight-and-forty hours. With +the return of a clear head, came juster notions of the dangers and +difficulties in which he had involved the two self-devoted women who +had accompanied him so far, and who really seemed ready to follow him in +making the circuit of the earth. + +"It's troublesome times," exclaimed Whiskey Centre, when his +companion had just ended one of his strong and lucid statements of the +embarrassments that might environ them, ere they could get back to the +settled portions of the country--"it's troublesome times, truly! I see +all you would say, Bourdon, and wonder I ever got my foot so deep +into it, without thinkin' of all, beforehand! The best on us will make +mistakes, hows'ever, and I suppose I've been called on to make mine, as +well as another." + +"My trade speaks for itself," returned the bee-hunter, "and any man can +see why one who looks for bees must come where they're to be found; +but I will own, Gershom, that your speculation lies a little beyond my +understanding. Now, you tell me you have two full barrels of whiskey--" + +"Had, Bourdon--HAD--one of them is pretty nearly half used, I am +afeared." + +"Well, HAD, until you began to be your own customer. But here you are, +squatted at the mouth of the Kalamazoo, with a barrel and a half of +liquor, and nobody but yourself to drink it! Where the profits are to +come from, exceeds Pennsylvany calculations; perhaps a Yankee can tell." + +"You forget the Injins. I met a man at Mackinaw, who only took out +in his canoe ONE barrel, and he brought in skins enough to set up a +grocery, at Detroit. But I was on the trail of the soldiers, and meant +to make a business on't, at Fort Dearborn. What between the soldiers and +the redskins, a man might sell gallons a day, and at fair prices." + +"It's a sorry business at the best, Whiskey; and now you're fairly +sober, if you'll take my advice you'll remain so. Why not make up your +mind, like a man, and vow you'll never touch another drop." + +"Maybe I will, when these two barrels is emptied--I've often thought +of doin' some sich matter; and, ag'in and ag'in, has Dolly and Blossom +advised me to fall into the plan; but it's hard to give up old habits, +all at once. If I could only taper off on a pint a day, for a year +or so, I think I might come round in time. I know as well as you do, +Bourdon, that sobriety is a good thing, and dissipation a bad thing; but +it's hard to give up all at once." + +Lest the instructed reader should wonder at a man's using the term +"dissipation" in a wilderness, it may be well to explain that, in common +American parlance, "dissipation" has got to mean "drunkenness." Perhaps +half of the whole country, if told that a man, or a woman, might be +exceedingly dissipated and never swallow anything stronger than water, +would stoutly deny the justice of applying the word to such a person. +This perversion of the meaning of a very common term has probably arisen +from the circumstance that there is very little dissipation in the +country that is not connected with hard drinking. A dissipated woman +is a person almost unknown in America; or when the word is applied, it +means a very different degree of misspending of time, from that which +is understood by the use of the same reproach in older and more +sophisticated states of society. The majority rules in this country, +and with the majority excess usually takes this particular aspect; +refinement having very little connection with the dissipation of the +masses, anywhere. + +The excuses of his companion, however, caused le Bourdon to muse, more +than might otherwise have been the case, on Whiskey Centre's condition. +Apart from all considerations connected with the man's own welfare, and +the happiness of his family, there were those which were inseparable +from the common safety, in the present state of the country. Boden was a +man of much decision and firmness of character, and he was clear-headed +as to causes and consequences. The practice of living alone had induced +in him the habits of reflection; and the self-reliance produced by his +solitary life, a life of which he was fond almost to a passion, caused +him to decide warily, but to act promptly. As they descended the river +together, therefore, he went over the whole of Gershom Waring's case and +prospects, with great impartiality and care, and settled in his own mind +what ought to be done, as well as the mode of doing it. He kept his own +counsel, however, discussing all sorts of subjects that were of interest +to men in their situation, as they floated down the stream, avoiding any +recurrence to this theme, which was possibly of more importance to them +both, just then, than any other that could be presented. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + He was a wight of high renown, + And thou art but of low degree; + 'Tis pride that pulls the country down-- + Then take thine auld cloak about thee. + SHAKESPEARE. + + +The canoe did not reach the mouth of the river until near evening of +the third day of its navigation. It was not so much the distance, though +that was considerable, as it was the obstacles that lay in the way, +which brought the travellers to the end of their journey at so late a +period. As they drew nearer and nearer to the place where Gershom had +left his wife and sister, le Bourdon detected in his companion signs +of an interest in the welfare of the two last, as well as a certain +feverish uneasiness lest all might not be well with them, that said +something in favor of his heart, whatever might be urged against his +prudence and care in leaving them alone in so exposed a situation. + +"I'm afeard a body don't think as much as he ought to do, when liquor is +in him," said Whiskey Centre, just as the canoe doubled the last point, +and the hut came into view; "else I never could have left two women by +them-selves in so lonesome a place. God be praised! there is the chiente +at any rate; and there's a smoke comin' out of it, if my eyes don't +deceive me! Look, Bourdon, for I can scarcely see at all." + +"There is the house; and, as you say, there is certainly a smoke rising +from it." + +"There's comfort in that!" exclaimed the truant husband and brother, +with a sigh that seemed to relieve a very loaded breast. "Yes, there's +comfort in that! If there's a fire, there must be them that lighted it; +and a fire at this season, too, says that there's somethin' to eat, +I should be sorry, Bourdon, to think I'd left the women folks without +food; though, to own the truth, I don't remember whether I did or not." + +"The man who drinks, Gershom, has commonly but a very poor memory." + +"That's true--yes, I'll own that; and I wish it warn't as true as it is; +but reason and strong drink do NOT travel far in company--" + +Gershom suddenly ceased speaking; dropping his paddle like one beset by +a powerless weakness. The bee-hunter saw that he was overcome by some +unexpected occurrence, and that the man's feelings were keenly connected +with the cause, whatever that might be. Looking eagerly around in quest +of the explanation, le Bourdon saw a female standing on a point of land +that commanded a view of the river and its banks for a considerable +distance, unequivocally watching the approach of the canoe. + +"There she is," said Gershom, in a subdued tone--"that's Dolly; and +there she has been, I'll engage, half the time of my absence, waitin' to +get the first glimpse of my miserable body, as it came back to her. Sich +is woman, Bourdon; and God forgive me, if I have ever forgotten their +natur', when I was bound to remember it. But we all have our weak +moments, at times, and I trust mine will not be accounted ag'in' me more +than them of other men." + +"This is a beautiful sight, Gershom, and it almost makes me your friend! +The man for whom a woman can feel so much concern--that a woman--nay, +women; for you tell me your sister is one of the family--but the man +whom DECENT women can follow to a place like this, must have some good +p'ints about him. That woman is a-weepin'; and it must be for joy at +your return." + +"'Twould be jist like Dolly to do so--she's done it before, and would be +likely to do so ag'in," answered Gershom, nearly choked by the effort he +made to speak without betraying his own emotion. "Put the canoe into the +p'int, and let me land there. I must go up and say a kind word to poor +Dolly; while you can paddle on, and let Blossom know I'm near at hand." + +The bee-hunter complied in silence, casting curious glances upward at +the woman while doing so, in order to ascertain what sort of a female +Whiskey Centre could possibly have for a wife. To his surprise, Dorothy +Waring was not only decently, but she was neatly clad, appearing as if +she had studiously attended to her personal appearance, in the hope of +welcoming her wayward and unfortunate husband back to his forest home. +This much le Bourdon saw by a hasty glance as his companion landed, for +a feeling of delicacy prevented him from taking a longer look at the +woman. As Gershom ascended the bank to meet his wife, le Bourdon paddled +on, and landed just below the grove in which was the chiente. It +might have been his long exclusion from all of the other sex, and most +especially from that portion of it which retains its better looks, but +the being which now met the bee-hunter appeared to him to belong to +another world, rather than to that in which he habitually dwelt. As +this was Margery Waring, who was almost uniformly called Blossom by +her acquaintances, and who is destined to act an important part in this +legend of the "openings," it may be well to give a brief description +of her age, attire, and personal appearance, at the moment when she was +first seen by le Bourdon. + +In complexion, color of the hair, and outline of face, Margery Waring +bore a strong family resemblance to her brother. In spite of exposure, +and the reflection of the sun's rays from the water of the lake, +however, HER skin was of a clear, transparent white, such as one might +look for in a drawing-room, but hardly expect to find in a wilderness; +while the tint of her lips, cheeks, and, in a diminished degree, of her +chin and ears, were such as one who wielded a pencil might long endeavor +to catch without succeeding. Her features had the chiselled outline +which was so remarkable in her brother; while in HER countenance, in +addition to the softened expression of her sex and years, there was +nothing to denote any physical or moral infirmity, to form a drawback +to its witchery and regularity. Her eyes were blue, and her hair as near +golden as human tresses well could be. Exercise, a life of change, and +of dwelling much in the open air, had given to this unusually charming +girl not only health, but its appearance. Still, she was in no respect +coarse, or had anything in the least about her that indicated her being +accustomed to toil, with some slight exception in her hands, perhaps, +which were those of a girl who did not spare herself, when there was an +opportunity to be of use. In this particular, the vagrant life of her +brother had possibly been of some advantage to her, as it had prevented +her being much employed in the ordinary toil of her condition in life. +Still, Margery Waring had that happy admixture of delicacy and physical +energy, which is, perhaps, oftener to be met in the American girl of her +class, than in the girl of almost any other nation; and far oftener than +in the young American of her sex, who is placed above the necessity of +labor. + +As a stranger approached her, the countenance of this fair creature +expressed both surprise and satisfaction; surprise that any one should +have been met by Gershom, in such a wilderness, and satisfaction that +the stranger proved to be a white man, and seemingly one who did not +drink. + +"You are Blossom," said the bee-hunter, taking the hand of the +half-reluctant girl, in a way so respectful and friendly that she could +not refuse it, even while she doubted the propriety of thus receiving an +utter stranger--"the Blossom of whom Gershom Waring speaks so often, and +so affectionately?" + +"You are, then, my brother's friend," answered Margery, smiling so +sweetly, that le Bourdon gazed on her with delight. "We are SO glad +that he has come back! Five terrible nights have sister and I been here +alone, and we have believed every bush was a red man!" + +"That danger is over, now, Blossom; but there is still an enemy near you +that must be overcome." + +"An enemy! There is no one here, but Dolly and myself. No one has been +near us, since Gershom went after the bee-hunter, whom we heard was out +in the openings. Are you that bee-bunter?" + +"I am, beautiful Blossom; and I tell you there is an enemy here, in your +cabin, that must be looked to." + +"We fear no enemies but the red men, and we have seen none of them since +we reached this river. What is the name of the enemy you so dread, and +where is he to be found?" + +"His name is Whiskey, and he is kept somewhere in this hut, in casks. +Show me the place, that I may destroy him, before his friend comes to +his assistance." + +A gleam of bright intelligence flashed into the face of the beautiful +young creature. First she reddened almost to scarlet; then her face +became pale as death. Compressing her lips intensely, she stood +irresolute--now gazing at the pleasing and seemingly well-disposed +stranger before her, now looking earnestly toward the still distant +forms of her brother and sister, which were slowly advancing in the +direction of the cabin. + +"Dare you?" Margery at length asked, pointing toward her brother. + +"I dare: he is now quite sober, and may be reasoned with. For the sake +of us all, let us profit by this advantage." + +"He keeps the liquor in two casks that you will find under the shed, +behind the hut." + +This said, the girl covered her face with both her hands, and sunk on a +stool, as if afraid to be a witness of that which was to follow. As for +le Bourdon, he did not delay a moment, but passed out of the cabin by a +second door, that opened in its rear. There were the two barrels, and +by their side an axe. His first impulse was to dash in the heads of +the casks where they stood; but a moment's reflection told him that the +odor, so near the cabin, would be unpleasant to every one, and might +have a tendency to exasperate the owner of the liquor. He cast about +him, therefore, for the means of removing the casks, in order to stave +them, at a distance from the dwelling. + +Fortunately, the cabin of Whiskey Centre stood on the brow of a sharp +descent, at the bottom of which ran a brawling brook. At another moment, +le Bourdon would have thought of saving the barrels; but time pressed, +and he could not delay. Seizing the barrel next to him, he rolled it +without difficulty to the brow of the declivity, and set it off with +a powerful shove of his foot. It was the half-empty cask, and away it +went, the liquor it contained washing about as it rolled over and over, +until hitting a rock about half-way down the declivity, the hoops gave +way, when the staves went over the little precipice, and the water of +the stream was tumbling through all that remained of the cask, at the +next instant. A slight exclamation of delight behind him caused the +bee-hunter to look round, and he saw Margery watching his movement +with an absorbed interest. Her smile was one of joy, not unmingled +with terror; and she rather whispered than said aloud--"The other--the +other--THAT is full--be quick; there is no time to lose." The bee-hunter +seized the second cask and rolled it toward the brow of the rocks. It +was not quite as easily handled as the other barrel, but his strength +sufficed, and it was soon bounding down the declivity after its +companion. The second cask hit the same rock as the first, whence it +leaped off the precipice, and, aided by its greater momentum, it was +literally dashed in pieces at its base. + +Not only was this barrel broken into fragments, but its hoops and staves +were carried down the torrent, driving before them those of the sister +cask, until the whole were swept into the lake, which was some distance +from the cabin. + +"That job is well done!" exclaimed le Bourdon, when the last fragment of +the wreck was taken out of sight. "No man will ever turn himself into a +beast by means of that liquor." + +"God be praised!" murmured Margery. "He is SO different, stranger, when +he has been drinking, from what he is when he has not! You have been +sent by Providence to do us this good." + +"I can easily believe that, for it is so with us all. But you must +not call me stranger, sweet Margery; for, now that you and I have this +secret between us, I am a stranger no longer." + +The girl smiled and blushed; then she seemed anxious to ask a question. +In the mean time they left the shed, and took seats, in waiting for the +arrival of Gershom and his wife. It was not long ere the last entered; +the countenance of the wife beaming with a satisfaction she made no +effort to conceal. Dolly was not as beautiful as her sister-in-law; +still, she was a comely woman, though one who had been stricken by +sorrow. She was still young, and might have been in the pride of her +good looks, had it not been for the manner in which she had grieved over +the fall of Gershom. The joy that gladdens a woman's heart, however, +was now illuminating her countenance, and she welcomed le Bourdon most +cordially, as if aware that he had been of service to her husband. For +months she had not seen Gershom quite himself, until that evening. + +"I have told Dolly all our adventur's, Bourdon," cried Gershom, as +soon as the brief greetings were over, "and she tells me all's right, +hereabouts. Three canoe-loads of Injins passed along shore, goin' up the +lake, she tells me, this very a'ternoon; but they didn't see the smoke, +the fire bein' out, and must have thought the hut empty; if indeed, they +knew anythin' of it, at all." + +"The last is the most likely," remarked Margery; "for I watched them +narrowly from the beeches on the shore, and there was no pointing, or +looking up, as would have happened had there been any one among them who +could show the others a cabin. Houses an't so plenty, in this part of +the country, that travellers pass without turning round to look at them. +An Injin has curiosity as well as a white man, though he manages so +often to conceal it." + +"Didn't you say, Blossom, that one of the canoes was much behind the +others, and that a warrior in that canoe DID look up toward this grove, +as if searching for the cabin?" asked Dorothy. + +"Either it was so, or my fears made it SEEM so. The two canoes that +passed first were well filled with Injins, each having eight in it; +while the one that came last held but four warriors. They were a mile +apart, and the last canoe seemed to be trying to overtake the others. +I did think that nothing but their haste prevented the men in the last +canoe from landing; but my fears may have made that seem so that was not +so." + +As the cheek of the charming girl flushed with excitement, and her race +became animated, Margery appeared marvellously handsome; more so, the +bee-hunter fancied, than any other female he had ever before seen. But +her words impressed him quite as much as her looks; for he at once saw +the importance of such an event, to persons in their situation. The +wind was rising on the lake, and it was ahead for the canoes; should the +savages feel the necessity of making a harbor, they might return to the +mouth of the Kalamazoo; a step that would endanger all their lives, in +the event of these Indians proving to belong to those, whom there +was now reason to believe were in British pay. In times of peace, the +intercourse between the whites and the red men was usually amicable, +and seldom led to violence, unless through the effects of liquor; but, a +price being placed on scalps, a very different state of things might be +anticipated, as a consequence of the hostilities. This was then a matter +to be looked to; and, as evening was approaching, no time was to be +lost. + +The shores of Michigan are generally low, nor are harbors either +numerous, or very easy of access. It would be difficult, indeed, to +find in any other part of the world, so great an extent of coast that +possesses so little protection for the navigator, as that of this very +lake. There are a good many rivers, it is true, but usually they have +bars, and are not easy of entrance. This is the reason why that very +convenient glove, the Constitution, which can be made to fit any hand, +has been discovered to have an extra finger in it, which points out a +mode by which the federal government can create ports wherever nature +has forgotten to perform this beneficent office. It is a little +extraordinary that the fingers of so many of the great "expounders" turn +out to be "thumbs," however, exhibiting clumsiness, rather than that +adroit lightness which usually characterizes the dexterity of men who +are in the habit of rummaging other people's pockets, for their own +especial purposes. It must be somewhat up-hill work to persuade any +disinterested and clear-headed man, that a political power to "regulate +commerce" goes the length of making harbors; the one being in a great +measure a moral, while the other is exclusively a physical agency; any +more than it goes the length of making ware-houses, and cranes, and +carts, and all the other physical implements for carrying on trade. Now, +what renders all this "thumbing" of the Constitution so much the more +absurd, is the fact, that the very generous compact interested does +furnish a means, by which the poverty of ports on the great lakes may +be remedied, without making any more unnecessary rents in the great +national glove. Congress clearly possesses the power to create and +maintain a navy, which includes the power to create all sorts of +necessary physical appliances; and, among others, places of refuge for +that navy, should they be actually needed. As a vessel of war requires +a harbor, and usually a better harbor than a merchant-vessel, it strikes +us the "expounders" would do well to give this thought a moment's +attention. Behind it will be found the most unanswerable argument in +favor of the light-houses, too. + +But, to return to the narrative: the Kalamazoo could be entered by +canoes, though it offered no very available shelter for a vessel of any +size. There was no other shelter for the savages for several miles to +the southward; and, should the wind increase, of which there were strong +indications, it was not only possible, but highly probable, that the +canoes would return. According to the account of the females, they +had passed only two hours before, and the breeze had been gradually +gathering strength ever since. It was not unlikely, indeed, that the +attention paid to the river by the warrior in the last canoe may have +had reference to this very state of the weather; and his haste to +overtake his companions been connected with a desire to induce them to +seek a shelter. All this presented itself to the beehunter's mind, at +once; and it was discussed between the members of the party, freely, and +not without some grave apprehensions. + +There was one elevated point--elevated comparatively, if not in a very +positive sense--whence the eye could command a considerable distance +along the lake shore. Thither Margery now hastened to look after the +canoes. Boden accompanied her; and together they proceeded, side by +side, with a new-born but lively and increasing confidence, that was all +the greater, in consequence of their possessing a common secret. + +"Brother must be much better than he was," the girl observed, as they +hurried on, "for he has not once been into the shed to look at the +barrels! Before he went into the openings, he never entered the house +without drinking; and sometimes he would raise the cup to his mouth as +often as three times in the first half-hour. Now, he does not seem even +to think of it!" + +"It may be well that he can find nothing to put into his cup, should he +fall into his old ways. One is never sure of a man of such habits, until +he is placed entirely out of harm's way." + +"Gershom is such a different being when he has not been drinking!" +rejoined the sister, in a touching manner. "We love him, and strive to +do all we can to keep him up, but it IS hard." + +"I am surprised that YOU should have come into this wilderness with any +one of bad habits." + +"Why not? He is my brother, and I have no parents--he is all to me: and +what would become of Dorothy if I were to quit her, too! She has lost +most of her friends, since Gershom fell into these ways, and it would +quite break her heart, did I desert her." + +"All this speaks well for you, pretty Margery, but it is not the less +surprising--ah, there is my canoe, in plain sight of all who enter the +river; THAT must be concealed, Injins or no Injins." + +"It is only a step further to the place where we can get a lookout. Just +there, beneath the burr-oak. Hours and hours have I sat on that spot, +with my sewing, while Gershom was gone into the openings." + +"And Dolly--where was she while you were here?" + +"Poor Dolly!--I do think she passed quite half her time up at the +beech-tree, where you first saw her, looking if brother was not coming +home. It is a cruel thing to a wife to have a truant husband!" + +"Which I hope may never be your case, pretty Margery, and which I think +never CAN." + +Margery did not answer: but the speech must have been heard, uttered +as it was in a much lower tone of voice than the young man had hitherto +used; for the charming maiden looked down and blushed. Fortunately, +the two now soon arrived at the tree, and their conversation naturally +reverted to the subject which had brought them there. Three canoes were +in sight, close in with the land, but so distant as to render it for +some time doubtful which way they were moving. At first, the bee-hunter +said that they were still going slowly to the southward; but he +habitually carried his little glass, and, on levelling that, it was +quite apparent that the savages were paddling before the wind, and +making for the mouth of the river. This was a very grave fact; and, as +Blossom flew to communicate it to her brother and his wife, le Bourdon +moved toward his own canoe, and looked about for a place of concealment. + +Several considerations had to be borne in mind, in disposing of the +canoes; for that of Gershom was to be secreted, as well as that of the +bee-hunter. A tall aquatic plant, that is termed wild rice, and which +we suppose to be the ordinary rice-plant, unimproved by tillage, grows +spontaneously about the mouths and on the flats of most of the rivers +of the part of Michigan of which we are writing; as, indeed, it is to +be found in nearly all the shallow waters of those regions. There was +a good deal of this rice at hand; and the bee-hunter, paddling his own +canoe and towing the other, entered this vegetable thicket, choosing a +channel that had been formed by some accident of nature, and which wound +through the herbage in a way soon to conceal all that came within its +limits. These channels were not only numerous, but exceedingly winding; +and the bee-hunter had no sooner brought his canoes to the firm ground +and fastened them there, than he ascended a tree, and studied the +windings of these narrow passages, until he had got a general idea of +their direction and characters. This precaution taken, he hurried back +to the hut. + +"Well, Gershom, have you settled on the course to be taken?" were the +first words uttered by the bee-hunter when he rejoined the family of +Whiskey Centre. + +"We haven't," answered the husband. "Sister begs us to quit the chiente, +for the Indians must soon be here; but wife seems to think that she MUST +be safe, now I'm at home ag'in." + +"Then wife is wrong, and sister is right. If you will take my advice, +you will hide all your effects in the woods, and quit the cabin as soon +as possible. The Injins cannot fail to see this habitation, and will be +certain to destroy all they find in it, and that they do not carry off. +Besides, the discovery of the least article belonging to a white +man will set them on our trail; for scalps will soon bear a price at +Montreal. In half an hour, all that is here can be removed into the +thicket that is luckily so near; and by putting out the fire with care, +and using proper caution, we may give the place such a deserted look, +that the savages will suspect nothing." + +"If they enter the river, Bourdon, they will not camp out with a wigwam +so near by, and should they come here, what is to prevent their seein' +the footprints we shall leave behind us?" + +"The night, and that only. Before morning their own footsteps will be +so plenty as to deceive them. Luckily we all wear moccasins, which is a +great advantage just now. But every moment is precious, and we should +be stirring. Let the women take the beds and bedding, while you and I +shoulder this chest. Up it goes, and away with it!" + +Gershom had got to be so much under his companion's influence, that he +complied, though his mind suggested various objections to the course +taken, to which his tongue gave utterance as they busied themselves in +this task. The effects of Whiskey Centre had been gradually diminishing +in quantity, as well as in value, for the last three years, and were +now of no great amount, in any sense. Still there were two chests, one +large, and one small. The last contained all that a generous regard for +the growing wants of the family had left to Margery; while the first +held the joint wardrobes of the husband and wife, with a few other +articles that were considered as valuable. Among other things were half +a dozen of very thin silver tea-spoons, which had fallen to Gershom on +a division of family plate. The other six were carefully wrapped up in +paper and put in the till of Margery's chest, being her portion of this +species of property. The Americans, generally, have very little plate; +though here and there marked exceptions do exist; nor do the humbler +classes lay out much of their earnings in jewelry, while they commonly +dress far beyond their means in all other ways. In this respect, the +European female of the same class in life frequently possesses as much +in massive golden personal ornaments as would make an humble little +fortune, while her attire is as homely as cumbrous petticoats, coarse +cloth, and a vile taste can render it. On the other hand, the American +matron that has not a set--one half-dozen--of silver tea-spoons must +be poor indeed, and can hardly be said to belong to the order of +housekeepers at all. By means of a careful mother, both Gershom and his +sister had the half-dozen mentioned; and they were kept more as sacred +memorials of past and better days than as articles of any use. The +household goods of Waring would have been limited by his means of +transportation, if not by his poverty. Two common low-post maple +bedsteads were soon uncorded and carried off, as were the beds and +bedding. There was scarcely any crockery, pewter and tin being its +substitutes; and as for chairs there was only one, and that had rockers: +a practice of New England that has gradually diffused itself over the +whole country, looking down ridicule, the drilling of boarding-schools, +the comments of elderly ladies of the old school, the sneers of nurses, +and, in a word, all that venerable ideas of decorum could suggest, until +this appliance of domestic ease has not only fairly planted itself in +nearly every American dwelling, but in a good many of Europe also! + +It required about twenty minutes for the party to clear the cabin of +every article that might induce an Indian to suspect the presence of +white men. The furniture was carried to a sufficient distance to be +safe from everything but a search; and care was had to avoid as much as +possible making a trail, to lead the savages to the place selected for +the temporary storeroom. This was merely a close thicket, into which +there was a narrow but practicable entrance on the side the least likely +to be visited. When all was accomplished the four went to the lookout to +ascertain how far the canoes had come. It was soon ascertained that they +were within a mile, driving down before a strong breeze and following +sea, and impelled by as many paddles as there were living beings in +them. Ten minutes would certainly bring them up with the bar, and five +more fairly within the river. The question now arose, where the party +was to be concealed during the stay of the savages. Dolly, as was +perhaps natural for the housewife, wished to remain by her worldly +goods, and pretty Margery had a strong feminine leaning to do the same. +But neither of the men approved of the plan. It was risking too much in +one spot; and a suggestion that the bee-hunter was not long in making +prevailed. + +It will be remembered that le Bourdon had carried the canoes within +the field of wild rice, and bestowed them there with a good deal of +attention to security. Now these canoes offered, in many respects, +better places of temporary refuge, under all the circumstances, than +any other that could readily be found on shore. They were dry; and by +spreading skins, of which Boden had so many, comfortable beds might be +made for the females, which would be easily protected from the night air +and dews by throwing a rug over the gunwales. Then, each canoe contained +many articles that would probably be wanted; that of the bee-hunter in +particular furnishing food in abundance, as well as diverse other things +that would be exceedingly useful to persons in their situation. The +great advantage of the canoes, however, in the mind of le Bourdon, was +the facilities they offered for flight. He hardly hoped that Indian +sagacity would be so far blinded as to prevent the discovery of the +many footsteps they must have left in their hurried movements, and he +anticipated that with the return of day something would occur to render +it necessary for them to seek safety by a stealthy removal from the +spot. This might be done, he both hoped and believed, under cover of the +rice, should sufficient care be taken to avoid exposure. In placing the +canoes, he had used the precaution to leave them where they could not +be seen from the cabin or its vicinity, or, indeed, from any spot in the +vicinity of the ground that the savages would be likely to visit during +their stay. All these reasons le Bourdon now rapidly laid before his +companions, and to the canoes the whole party retired as fast as they +could walk. + +There was great judgment displayed on the part of the bee-hunter in +selecting the wild rice as a place of shelter. At that season it was +sufficiently grown to afford a complete screen to everything within it +that did not exceed the height of a man, or which was not seen from some +adjacent elevation. Most of the land near the mouth of the river was +low, and the few spots which formed exceptions had been borne in mind +when the canoes were taken into the field. But just as Gershom was on +the point of putting a foot into his own canoe, with a view to arrange +it for the reception of his wife, he drew back, and exclaimed after the +manner of one to whom a most important idea suddenly occurs: + +"Land's sake! I've forgotten all about them barrels! They'll fall into +the hands of the savages, and an awful time they'll make with them! Let +me pass, Dolly; I must look after the barrels this instant." + +While the wife gently detained her eager husband, the bee-hunter quietly +asked to what barrels he alluded. + +"The whiskey casks," was the answer. "There's two on 'em in the shed +behind the hut, and whiskey enough to set a whole tribe in commotion. I +wonder I should have overlooked the whiskey!" + +"It is a sign of great improvement, friend Waring, and will lead to no +bad consequences," returned le Bourdon, coolly. "I foresaw the danger, +and rolled the casks down the hill, where they were dashed to pieces in +the brook, and the liquor has long since been carried into the lake in +the shape of grog." + +Waring seemed astounded; but was so completely mystified as not to +suspect the truth. That his liquor should be hopelessly lost was bad +enough; but even that was better than to have it drunk by savages +without receiving any re-turns. After groaning and lamenting over the +loss for a few minutes, he joined the rest of the party in making some +further dispositions, which le Bourdon deemed prudent, if not necessary. + +It had occurred to the bee-hunter to divide his own cargo between the +two canoes, which was the task that the whole party was now engaged in. +The object was to lighten his own canoe in the event of flight, and, by +placing his effects in two parcels, give a chance to those in the +boat which might escape, of having wherewithal to comfort and console +themselves. As soon as this new arrangement was completed, le Bourdon +ran up to a tree that offered the desired facilities, and springing +into its branches, was soon high enough to get a view of the bar and the +mouth of the river. By the parting light of day, he distinctly saw FOUR +canoes coming up the stream; which was one more than those reported to +him by Margery as having passed. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + And long shall timorous fancy see + The painted chief and pointed spear; + And reason's self shall bow the knee + To shadows and delusions here. + FRENEAU. + + +A bright moon reflected on the earth for about an hour the light of the +sun, as the latter luminary disappeared. By its aid the bee-hunter, who +still continued in the tree, was enabled to watch the movements of the +canoes of the Indians, though the persons they contained soon got to +be so indistinct as to render it impossible to do more than count their +numbers. The last he made out to be five each in three of the canoes, +and six in the other, making twenty-one individuals in all. This was +too great an odds to think of resisting, in the event of the strangers +turning out to be hostile; and the knowledge of this disparity in force +admonished all the fugitives of the necessity of being wary and prudent. + +The strangers landed just beneath the hut, or at the precise spot where +Whiskey Centre was in the habit of keeping his canoe, and whence Boden +had removed it only an hour or two before. The savages had probably +selected the place on account of its shores being clear of the wild +rice, and because the high ground near it promised both a lookout +and comfortable lodgings. Several of the party strolled upward, as if +searching for an eligible spot to light their fire, and one of them soon +discovered the cabin. The warrior announced his success by a whoop, and +a dozen of the Indians were shortly collected in and about the chiente. +All this proved the prudence of the course taken by the fugitives. + +Blossom stood beneath the tree, and the bee-hunter told her, as each +incident occurred, all that passed among the strangers, when the girl +communicated the same to her brother and his wife, who were quite near +at hand in one of the canoes. As there was no danger of being overheard, +conversation in an ordinary tone passed between the parties, two of whom +at least were now fond of holding this sort of communion. + +"Do they seem to suspect the neighborhood of the occupants of the +cabin?" asked Margery, when the bee-hunter had let her know the manner +in which the savages had taken possession of her late dwelling. + +"One cannot tell. Savages are always distrustful and cautious when on a +war-path; and these seem to be scenting about like so many hounds which +are nosing for a trail. They are now gathering sticks to light a fire, +which is better than burning the chiente." + +"THAT they will not be likely to do until they have no further need of +it. Tell me, Bourdon, do any go near the thicket of alders where we have +hidden our goods?" + +"Not as yet; though there is a sudden movement and many loud yells among +them!" + +"Heaven send that it may not be at having discovered anything we +have forgotten. The sight of even a lost dipper or cup would set them +blood-hounds on our path, as sure as we are white and they are savages!" + +"As I live, they scent the whiskey! There is a rush toward, and a +pow-wow in and about the shed--yes, of a certainty they smell the +liquor! Some of it has escaped in rolling down the hill, and their noses +are too keen to pass over a fragrance that to them equals that of roses. +Well, let them SCENT as they may--even an Injin does not get drunk +through his NOSE." + +"You are quite right, Bourdon: but is not this a most unhappy scent for +us, since the smell of whiskey can hardly be there without their seeing +it did not grow in the woods of itself, like an oak or a beech?" + +"I understand you, Margery, and there is good sense in what you say. +They will never think the liquor grew there, like a blackberry or a +chestnut, though the place IS called Whiskey Centre!" + +"It is hard enough to know that a family has deserved such a name, +without being reminded of it by those that call themselves friends," +answered the girl pointedly, after a pause of near a minute, though she +spoke in sorrow rather than in anger. + +In an instant the bee-hunter was at pretty Margery's side, making his +peace by zealous apologies and winning protestations of respect and +concern. The mortified girl was soon appeased; and, after consulting +together for a minute, they went to the canoe to communicate to the +husband and wife what they had seen. + +"The whiskey after all is likely to prove our worst enemy," said the +bee-hunter as he approached. "It would seem that in moving the barrels +some of the liquor has escaped, and the nose of an Injin is too quick +for the odor it leaves, not to scent it." + +"Much good may it do them," growled Gershom--"they've lost me that +whiskey, and let them long for it without gettin' any, as a punishment +for the same. My fortun' would have been made could I only have got them +two barrels as far as Fort Dearborn before the troops moved!" + +"The BARRELS might have been got there, certainly," answered le Bourdon, +so much provoked at the man's regrets for the destroyer which had +already come so near to bringing want and ruin on himself and family, as +momentarily to forget his recent scene with pretty Margery; "but whether +anything would have been IN them is another question. One of those I +rolled to the brow of the hill was half empty as it was." + +"Gershom is so troubled with the ague, if he don't take stimulant in +this new country," put in the wife, in the apologetic manner in which +woman struggles to conceal the failings of him she loves. "As for +the whiskey, I don't grudge THAT in the least; for it's a poor way +of getting rich to be selling it to soldiers, who want all the reason +liquor has left 'em, and more too. Still, Gershom needs bitters; and +ought not to have every drop he has taken thrown into his face." + +By this time le Bourdon was again sensible of his mistake, and he beat +a retreat in the best manner he could, secretly resolving not to place +himself any more between two fires, in consequence of further blunders +on this delicate subject. He now found that it was a very different +thing to joke Whiskey Centre himself on the subject of his great +failing, from making even the most distant allusion to it in the +presence of those who felt for a husband's and a brother's weakness, +with a liveliness of feeling that brutal indulgence had long since +destroyed in the object of their solicitude. He accordingly pointed out +the risk there was that the Indians should make the obvious inference, +that human beings must have recently been in the hut, to leave the fresh +scent of the liquor in question behind them. This truth was so apparent +that all felt its force, though to no one else did the danger seem so +great as to the bee-hunter. He had greater familiarity with the Indian +character than any of his companions, and dreaded the sagacity of the +savages in a just proportion to his greater knowledge. He did not fail, +therefore, to admonish his new friends of the necessity for vigilance. + +"I will return to the tree and take another look at the movements of the +savages," le Bourdon concluded by saying. "By this time their fire must +be lighted; and by the aid of my glass a better insight may be had into +their plans and feelings." + +The bee-hunter now went back to his tree, whither he was slowly followed +by Margery; the girl yielding to a feverish desire to accompany him, +at the very time she was half restrained by maiden bashfulness; though +anxiety and the wish to learn the worst as speedily as possible, +prevailed. + +"They have kindled a blazing fire, and the whole of the inside of the +house is as bright as if illuminated," said le Bourdon, who was now +carefully bestowed among the branches of his small tree. "There are lots +of the red devils moving about the chiente, inside and out; and they +seem to have fish as well as venison to cook. Aye, there goes more dry +brush on the fire to brighten up the picture, and daylight is almost +eclipsed. As I live, they have a prisoner among 'em!" + +"A prisoner!" exclaimed Margery, in the gentle tones of female pity. +"Not a white person, surely?" + +"No--he is a red-skin like all of them--but--wait a minute till I +can get the glass a little more steady. Yes--it is so--I was right at +first!" + +"What is so, Bourdon--and in what are you right?" + +"You may remember, Blossom, that your brother and I spoke of the two +Injins who visited me in the Openings. One was a Pottawattamie and the +other a Chippewa. The first we found dead and scalped, after he had +left us; and the last is now in yonder hut, bound and a prisoner. He +has taken to the lake on his way to Fort Dearborn, and has, with all his +craft and resolution, fallen into enemies' hands. Well will it be for +him if his captors do not learn what befell the warrior who was slain +near my cabin, and left seated against a tree!" + +"Do you think these savages mean to revenge the death of their brother +on this unfortunate wretch?" + +"I know that he is in the pay of our general at Detroit, while the +Pottawattamies are in the pay of the English. This of itself would make +them enemies, and has no doubt been the cause of his being taken; but +I do not well see how Injins on the lake here can know anything of what +happened some fifty miles or so up in the Openings." + +"Perhaps the savages in the canoes belong to the same party as the +warrior you call Elksfoot, and that they have had the means of learning +his death, and by whose hand he fell." + +The bee-hunter was surprised at the quickness of the girl's wit, the +suggestion being as discreet as it was ingenious. The manner in which +intelligence flies through the wilderness had often surprised him, and +certainly it was possible that the party now before him might have heard +of the fate of the chief whose body he had found in the Openings, short +as was the time for the news to have gone so far. The circumstance +that the canoes had come from the northward was against the inference, +however, and after musing a minute on the facts, le Bourdon mentioned +this objection to his companion. + +"Are we certain these are the same canoes as those which I saw pass +this afternoon?" asked Margery, who comprehended the difficulty in an +instant. "Of those I saw, two passed first, and one followed; while here +are FOUR that have landed." + +"What you say may be true enough. We are not to suppose that the canoes +you saw pass are all that are on the lake. But let the savages be whom +they may, prudence tells us to keep clear of them if we can; and this +more so than ever, now I can see that Pigeonswing, who I know to be an +American Injin, is treated by them as an enemy." + +"How are the savages employed now, Bourdon? Do they prepare to eat, or +do they torture their prisoner?" + +"No fear of their attempting the last to-night. There is an uneasiness +about them, as if they still smelt the liquor; but some are busy cooking +at the fire. I would give all my honey, pretty Margery, to be able to +save Pigeonswing! He is a good fellow for a savage, and is heart and +hand with us in this new war, that he tells me has begun between us and +the English!" + +"You surely would not risk your own life to save a savage, who kills and +scalps at random, as this man has done!" + +"In that he has but followed the habits of his color and race. I dare +say WE do things that are quite as bad, according to Injin ways of +thinking. I DO believe, Margery, was that man to see ME in the hands of +the Pottawattamies, as I now see HIM, he would undertake something for +my relief." + +"But what can you, a single man, do when there are twenty against you?" +asked Margery, a little reproachfully as to manner, speaking like one +who had more interest in the safety of the young bee-hunter than she +chose very openly to express. + +"No one can say what he can do till he tries. I do not like the way +they are treating that Chippewa, for it looks as if they meant to do him +harm. He is neither fed, nor suffered to be with his masters; but there +the poor fellow is, bound hand and foot near the cabin door, and lashed +to a tree. They do not even give him the relief of suffering him to sit +down." + +The gentle heart of Margery was touched by this account of the manner in +which the captive was treated, and she inquired into other particulars +concerning his situation, with a more marked interest than she had +previously manifested in his state. The bee-hunter answered her +questions as they were put; and the result was to place the girl in +possession of a minute detail of the true manner in which Pigeonswing +was treated. + +Although there was probably no intention on the part of the captors of +the Chippewa to torture him before his time, tortured he must have been +by the manner in which his limbs and body were confined. Not only were +his arms fastened behind his back at the elbows, but the hands were also +tightly bound together in front. The legs had ligatures in two places, +just above the knees and just below the ankles. Around the body was +another fastening; which secured the captive to a beech that stood about +thirty feet from the door of the cabin, and so nearly in a line with +the fire within and the lookout of le Bourdon, as to enable the last +distinctly to note these particulars, aided as he was by his glass. +Relying on the manner in which they secured their prisoner, the savages +took little heed of him; but each appeared bent on attending to his own +comfort, by means of a good supper, and by securing a dry lair in which +to pass the night. All this le Bourdon saw and noted too, ere he dropped +lightly on his feet by the side of Margery, at the root of the tree. + +Without losing time that was precious, the bee-hunter went at once to +the canoes and communicated his intention to Waring. The moon had now +set, and the night was favorable to the purpose of le Bourdon. At the +first glance it might seem wisest to wait until sleep had fallen upon +the savages, ere any attempt were made to approach the hut; but Boden +reasoned differently. A general silence would succeed as soon as the +savages disposed of themselves to sleep, which would be much more likely +to allow his footsteps to be overheard, than when tongues and bodies and +teeth were all in active movement. A man who eats after a long march, or +a severe paddling, usually concentrates his attention on his food, as le +Bourdon knew by long experience; and it is a much better moment to steal +upon the hungry and weary, to do so when they feed, than to do so +when they sleep, provided anything like a watch be kept. That the +Pottawattamie would neglect this latter caution le Bourdon did not +believe; and his mind was made up, not only to attempt the rescue of his +Chippewa friend, but to attempt it at once. + +After explaining his plan in a few words, and requesting Waring's +assistance, le Bourdon took a solemn leave of the party, and proceeded +at once toward the hut. In order to understand the movements of the +bee-hunter, it may be well now briefly to explain the position of +the chiente, and the nature of the ground on which the adventurer was +required to act. The hut stood on a low and somewhat abrupt swell, being +surrounded on all sides by land so low as to be in many places wet and +swampy. There were a good many trees on the knoll, and several thickets +of alders and other bushes on the lower ground; but on the whole, the +swamps were nearly devoid of what is termed "timber." Two sides of the +knoll were abrupt; that on which the casks had been rolled into the +lake, and that opposite, which was next to the tree where Boden had so +long been watching the proceedings of the savages. The distance between +the hut and this tree was somewhat less than a mile. The intervening +ground was low, and most of it was marshy; though it was possible to +cross the marsh by following a particular course. Fortunately this +course, which was visible to the eye by daylight, and had been taken by +the fugitives on quitting the hut, might be dimly traced at night, by +one who understood the ground, by means of certain trees and bushes, +that formed so many finger-posts for the traveller. Unless this +particular route were taken, however, a circuit of three or four miles +must be made, in order to pass from the chiente to the spot where the +family had taken refuge. As le Bourdon had crossed this firm ground +by daylight and had observed it well from his tree, he thought himself +enough of a guide to find his way through it in the dark, aided by the +marks just mentioned. + +The bee-hunter had got as far as the edge of the marsh on his way toward +the hut, when, pausing an instant to examine the priming of his rifle, +he fancied that he heard a light footstep behind him. Turning, quick +as thought, he perceived that pretty Margery had followed him thus far. +Although time pressed, he could not part from the girl without showing +that he appreciated the interest she manifested in his behalf. Taking +her hand, therefore, he spoke with a simplicity and truth, that imparted +to his manner a natural grace that one bred in courts might have envied. +What was more, with a delicacy that few in course would deem necessary +under the circumstances, he did not in his language so much impute to +concern on his own account this movement of Margery's, as to that she +felt for her brother and sister; though in his inmost heart a throbbing +hope prevailed that he had his share in it. + +"Do not be troubled on account of Gershom and his wife, pretty Margery," +said the bee-hunter, "which, as I perceive, is the main reason why you +have come here; and as for myself, be certain that I shall not forget +who I have left behind, and how much her safety depends on my prudence." + +Margery was pleased, though a good deal confused. It was new to her +to hear allusions of this sort, but nature supplied the feeling to +appreciate them. + +"Is it not risking too much, Bourdon?" she said. "Are you sure of being +able to find the crossing in the marsh, in a night so very dark? I do +not know but looking so long at the bright light in the cabin may blind +me, but it DOES seem as if I never saw a darker night!" + +"The darkness increases, for the star-light is gone; but I can see where +I go, and so long as I can do that there is not much fear of losing my +way. I do not like to expose you to danger, but--" + +"Never mind me, Bourdon--set me to do anything in which you think I can +be of use!" exclaimed the girl, eagerly. + +"Well then, Margery, you may do this: come with me to the large tree in +the centre of the marsh, and I will set you on a duty that may possibly +save my life. I will tell you my meaning when there." + +Margery followed with a light, impatient step; and, as neither stopped +to speak or to look around, the two soon stood beneath the tree in +question. It was a large elm that completely overshadowed a considerable +extent of firm ground. Here a full and tolerably near view could be had +of the hut, which was still illuminated by the blazing fire within. +For a minute both stood silently gazing at the strange scene; then le +Bourdon explained to his companion the manner in which she might assist +him. + +Once at the elm, it was not so difficult to find the way across the +marsh, as it was to reach that spot, coming FROM the chiente. As there +were several elms scattered about in the centre of the marsh, the +bee-hunter was fearful that he might not reach the right tree; in +which case he would be compelled to retrace his steps, and that at the +imminent hazard of being captured. He carried habitually a small dark +lantern, and had thought of so disposing of it in the lower branches of +this very elm, as to form a focus of it, but hesitated about doing +that which might prove a guide to his enemies as well as to himself. +If Margery would take charge of this lantern, he could hope to reap its +advantages without incurring the hazard of having a light suspended +in the tree for any length of time. Margery understood the lessons she +received, and promised to obey all the injunctions by which they were +accompanied. + +"Now, God bless you, Margery," added the bee-hunter. "Providence has +brought me and your brother's family together in troublesome times; +should I get back safe from this adventure, I shall look upon it as a +duty to do all I can to help Gershom place his wife and sister beyond +the reach of harm." + +"God bless you, Bourdon!" half whispered the agitated girl. "I know it +is worth some risk to save a human life, even though it be that of an +Injin, and I will not try to persuade you from this undertaking; but +do not attempt more than is necessary, and rely on my using the lantern +just as you have told me to use it." + +Those young persons had not yet known each other a single day, yet both +felt that confidence which years alone, in the crowds of the world, can +ordinarily create in the human mind. The cause of the sympathy which +draws heart to heart, which generates friendships, and love, and +passionate attachments, is not obvious to all who choose to talk of it. +There is yet a profound mystery in our organization, which has hitherto +escaped the researches of both classes of philosophers, and which it +probably was the design of the Creator should not be made known to us +until we draw nearer to that great end which, sooner or later, is to be +accomplished in behalf of our race, when "knowledge will abound," and we +shall better understand our being and its objects, than is permitted to +us in this our day of ignorance. But while we cannot trace the causes +of a thousand things, we know and feel their effects. Among the other +mysteries of our nature is this of sudden and strong sympathies, which, +as between men for men, and women for women, awaken confidence and +friendship; and as between those of different sexes, excite passionate +attachments that more or less color their future lives. The great +delineator of our common nature, in no one of the many admirable +pictures he has drawn of men, manifests a more profound knowledge of +his subject, than in that in which he portrays the sudden and nearly +ungovernable inclination which Romeo and Juliet are made to display +for each other; an inclination that sets reason, habit, prejudice, and +family enmities at defiance. That such an attachment is to be commended, +we do not say; that all can feel it, we do not believe; that connections +formed under its influence can always be desirable, we are far from +thinking: but that it may exist we believe is just as certain as any of +the incomprehensible laws of our wayward and yet admirable nature. +We have no Veronese tale to relate here, however, but simply a homely +legend, in which human feeling may occasionally be made to bear an +humble resemblance to that world-renowned picture which had its scenes +in the beautiful capital of Venetian Lombardy. + +When le Bourdon left his companion, now so intensely interested in his +success, to pick his way in the darkness across the remainder of the +marsh, Margery retired behind the tree, where the first thing she did +was to examine her lantern, and to see that its light was ready to +perform the very important office which might so speedily be required +of it. Satisfied on this point, she turned her eyes anxiously in the +direction of the hut. By this time every trace of the bee-hunter was +lost, the hillock in his front forming too dark a background to admit +of his being seen. But the fire still blazed in the chiente, the savages +not having yet finished their cooking, though several had satisfied +their appetites, and had already sought places where they might stretch +themselves for the night. Margery was glad to see that these last +individuals bestowed themselves within the influence of the fire, +warm as was the night. This was done most probably to escape from the +annoyance of the mosquitos, more or less of which are usually found in +the low lands of the new countries, and near the margins of rivers. + +Margery could distinctly see the Chippewa, erect and bound to his tree. +On him she principally kept her looks riveted, for near his person did +she expect first again to find the bee-hunter. Indeed, there was no +chance of seeing one who was placed beneath the light of the fire, since +the brow of the acclivity formed a complete cover, throwing all below it +into deep shade. This circumstance was of the greatest importance to +the adventurer, however, enabling him to steal quite near to his friend, +favored by a darkness that was getting to be intense. Quitting Margery, +we will now rejoin le Bourdon, who by this time was approaching his +goal. + +The bee-hunter had some difficulty in finding his way across the marsh; +but floundering through the impediments, and on the whole preserving the +main direction, he got out on the firm ground quite as soon as he had +expected to do. It was necessary for him to use extreme caution. The +Indians according to their custom had dogs, two of which had been in +sight, lying about half-way between the prisoner and the door of the +hut. Boden had seen a savage feeding these dogs; and it appeared to him +at the time as if the Indian had been telling them to be watchful of the +Chippewa. He well knew the services that the red men expected of these +animals, which are kept rather as sentinels than for any great use they +put them to in the hunts. An Indian dog is quick enough to give the +alarm, and he will keep on a trail for a long run and with considerable +accuracy, but it is seldom that he closes and has his share in the +death, unless in the case of very timid and powerless creatures. + +Nevertheless, the presence of these dogs exacted extra caution in the +movements of the bee-hunter. He had ascended the hill a little out of +the stream of light which still issued from the open door of the hut, +and was soon high enough to get a good look at the state of things on +the bit of level land around the cabin. Fully one-half of the savages +were yet up and in motion; though the processes of cooking and eating +were by this time nearly ended. These men had senses almost as acute +as those of their dogs, and it was very necessary to be on his guard +against them also. By moving with the utmost caution, le Bourdon reached +the edge of the line of light, where he was within ten yards of the +captive. Here he placed his rifle against a small tree, and drew his +knife, in readiness to cut the prisoner's thongs. Three several times, +while the bee-hunter was making these preparations, did the two dogs +raise their heads and scent the air; once, the oldest of the two gave +a deep and most ominous growl. Singular as it may seem, this last +indication of giving the alarm was of great service to le Bourdon and +the Chippewa. The latter heard the growl, and saw two of the movements +of the animals' heads, from all which he inferred that there was some +creature, or some danger behind him. This naturally enough induced him +to bestow a keen attention in that direction, and being unable to +turn body, limbs, or head, the sense of hearing was his only means of +watchfulness. It was while in this state of profound listening that +Pigeonswing fancied he heard his own name, in such a whisper as one +raises when he wishes to call from a short distance with the least +possible expenditure of voice. Presently the words "Pigeonswing," and +"Chippewa," were succeeded by those of "bee-hunter," "Bourdon." This was +enough: the quick-witted warrior made a low ejaculation, such as might +be mistaken for a half-suppressed murmur that proceeded from pain, but +which one keenly on the watch, and who was striving to communicate with +him, would be apt to understand as a sign of attention. The whispering +then ceased altogether, and the prisoner waited the result with the +stoic patience of an American Indian. A minute later the Chippewa felt +the thongs giving way, and his arms were released at the elbows. An arm +was next passed round his body, and the fastenings at the wrist were +cut. At this instant a voice whispered in his ear--"Be of good heart, +Chippewa--your friend, Bourdon, is here. Can you stand?" + +"No stand," answered the Indian in a low whisper--"too much tie." + +At the next moment the feet of the Chippewa were released, as were also +his knees. Of all the fastenings none now remained but that which bound +the captive to the tree. In not cutting this, the bee-hunter manifested +his coolness and judgment; for were the stout rope of bark severed, the +Indian would have fallen like a log, from total inability to stand. His +thongs had impeded the circulation of the blood, and the usual temporary +paralysis had been the consequence. Pigeonswing understood the reason +of his friend's forbearance, and managed to rub his hands and wrists +together, while the bee-hunter himself applied friction to his feet, +by passing his own arms around the bottom of the tree. The reader may +imagine the intense anxiety of Margery the while; for she witnessed the +arrival of le Bourdon at the tree, and could not account for the long +delay which succeeded. + +All this time, the dogs were far from being quiet or satisfied. Their +masters, accustomed to being surrounded at night by wolves and foxes, +or other beasts, took little heed, however, of the discontent of these +creatures, which were in the habit of growling in their lairs. The +bee-hunter, as he kept rubbing at his friend's legs, felt now but little +apprehension of the dogs, though a new source of alarm presented itself +by the time the Chippewa was barely able to sustain his weight on his +feet, and long before he could use them with anything like his former +agility. The manner in which the savages came together in the hut, and +the gestures made by their chief, announced pretty plainly that a watch +was about to be set for the night. As it was probable that the sentinel +would take his station near the prisoner, the bee-hunter was at a loss +to decide whether it were better to commence the flight before or after +the rest of the savages were in their lairs. Placing his mouth as close +to the ear of Pigeonswing as could be done without bringing his head +into the light, the following dialogue passed between le Bourdon and the +captive. + +"Do you see, Chippewa," the bee-hunter commenced, "the chief is telling +one of the young men to come and keep guard near you?" + +"See him, well 'nough. Make too many sign, no to see." + +"What think you--shall we wait till the warriors are asleep, or try to +be off before the sentinel comes?" + +"Bess wait, if one t'ing. You got rifle--got tomahawk--got knife, eh?" + +"I have them all, though my rifle is a short distance behind me, and a +little down the hill." + +"Dat bad--nebber let go rifle on war-path. Well, YOU tomahawk him--_I_ +scalp him--dat'll do." + +"I shall kill no man, Chippewa, unless there is great occasion for it. +If there is no other mode of getting you off, I shall choose to cut this +last thong, and leave you to take care of yourself." + +"Give him tomahawk, den--give him knife, too." + +"Not for such a purpose. I do not like to shed blood without a good +reason for it." + +"No call war good reason, eh? Bess reason in world Pottawattamie dig up +hatchet ag'in' Great Fadder at Wash'ton--dat no good reason why take his +scalp, eh?" + +In whispering these last words the Chippewa used so much energy, that +the dogs again raised their heads from between their forepaws and +growled. Almost at that instant the chief and his few remaining +wakeful companions laid themselves down to sleep, and the young warrior +designated as the sentinel left the hut and came slowly toward the +prisoner. The circumstances admitted of no delay; le Bourdon pressed +the keen edge of his knife across the withe that bound the Indian to +the tree; first giving him notice, in order that he might be prepared to +sustain his own weight. This done, the bee-hunter dropped on the ground, +crawling away out of the light; though the brow of the hill almost +immediately formed a screen to conceal his person from all near the hut. +In another instant he had regained his rifle, and was descending swiftly +toward the crossing at the marsh. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + We call them savage--oh, be just! + Their outraged feelings scan; + A voice comes forth, 'tis from the dust-- + The savage was a man! + SPRAGUE. + + +As soon as le Bourdon reached the commencement of that which might be +called his path across the marsh, he stopped and looked backward. He was +now sufficiently removed from the low acclivity to see objects on its +summit, and had no difficulty in discerning all that the waning fire +illuminated. There stood the Chippewa erect against the tree as if still +bound with thongs, while the sentinel was slowly approaching him. The +dogs were on their feet, and gave two or three sharp barks, which had +the effect to cause five or six of the savages to lift their heads in +their lairs. One arose even and threw an armful of dried branches on the +fire, producing a bright blaze, that brought everything around the hut, +and which the light could touch, into full view. + +The bee-hunter was astonished at the immovable calmness with which +Pigeonswing still stood to his tree, awaiting the approach of the +sentinel. In a few moments the latter was at his side. At first the +Pottawattamie did not perceive that the prisoner was unbound. He threw +him into shadow by his own person, and it required a close look to note +the circumstance. Boden was too far from the spot to see all the minor +movements of the parties, but there was soon a struggle that could +not be mistaken. As the Pottawattamie was examining the prisoner, an +exclamation that escaped him betrayed the sudden consciousness that the +Chippewa was unbound. The sound was no sooner uttered than Pigeonswing +made a grasp at the sentinel's knife, which however he did not obtain, +when the two closed and fell, rolling down the declivity into the +darkness. When the Pottawattamie seized the Chippewa, he uttered a +yell, which instantly brought every man of his party to his feet. As the +savages now united in the whoops, and the dogs began to bark wildly, an +infernal clamor was made. + +At first, le Bourdon did not know how to act. He greatly feared the +dogs, and could not but think of Margery, and the probable consequences, +should those sagacious animals follow him across the marsh. But he did +not like the idea of abandoning Pigeonswing, when a single blow of his +arm, or a kick of his foot, might be the cause of his escape. While +deliberating in painful uncertainty, the sounds of the struggle ceased, +and he saw the sentinel rising again into the light, limping like one +who had suffered by a fall. Presently he heard a footstep near him, and, +calling in a low voice, he was immediately joined by Pigeonswing. Before +the bee-hunter was aware of his intention, the Chippewa seized his +rifle, and levelling at the sentinel, who still stood on the brow of the +hill, drawn in all his savage outlines distinctly in the light of +the flames, he fired. The cry, the leap into the air, and the fall, +announced the unerring character of the aim. In coming to the earth, +the wounded man fell over the brow of the sharp acclivity, and was heard +rolling toward its base. + +Le Bourdon felt the importance of now improving the precious moments, +and was in the act of urging his companion to follow, when the latter +passed an arm around his body, whipped his knife from the girdle and +sheath, and dropping the rifle into his friend's arms, bounded away in +the darkness, taking the direction of his fallen enemy. There was no +mistaking all this; Chippewa, led by his own peculiar sense of honor, +risking everything to obtain the usual trophy of victory. By this time, +a dozen of the savages stood on the brow of the hill, seemingly at a +loss to understand what had become of the combatants. Perceiving +this, the bee-hunter profited by the delay and reloaded his rifle. As +everything passed almost as swiftly as the electric spark is known +to travel, it was but a moment after the Pottawattamie fell ere his +conqueror was through with his bloody task. Just as le Bourdon threw his +rifle up into the hollow of his arm, he was rejoined by his red +friend, who bore the reeking scalp of the sentinel at his belt; though +fortunately the bee-hunter did not see it on account of the obscurity, +else might he not have been so willing to continue to act with so +ruthless an ally. + +Further stay was out of the question; for the Indians were now collected +in a body on the brow of the hill, where the chief was rapidly issuing +his orders. In a minute the band dispersed, every man bounding into the +darkness, as if aware of the danger of remaining within the influence of +the bright light thrown from the fire. Then came such a clamor from +the dogs, as left no doubt in the mind of the bee-hunter that they had +scented and found the remains of the fallen man. A fierce yell came from +the same spot, the proof that some of the savages had already discovered +the body; and le Bourdon told his companion to follow, taking his way +across the marsh as fast as he could overcome the difficulties of the +path. + +It has already been intimated that it was not easy, if indeed it were +possible, to cross that piece of low wet land in a direct line. There +was tolerably firm ground on it, but it lay in an irregular form, its +presence being generally to be noted by the growth of trees. Le +Bourdon had been very careful in taking his landmarks, foreseeing the +probability of a hasty retreat, and he had no difficulty for some time +in keeping in the right direction. But the dogs soon left the dead +body, and came bounding across the marsh, disregarding its difficulties; +though their plunges and yells soon made it apparent that even they did +not escape altogether with dry feet. As for the savages, they poured +down the declivity in a stream, taking the dogs as their guides; +and safe ones they might well be accounted, so far as the SCENT was +concerned, though they did not happen to be particularly well acquainted +with all the difficulties of the path. + +At length le Bourdon paused, causing his companion to stop also. In the +hurry and confusion of the flight, the former had lost his landmarks, +finding himself amidst a copse of small trees, or large bushes, but +not in the particular copse he sought. Every effort to get out of this +thicket, except by the way he had entered it, proved abortive, and the +dogs were barking at no great distance in his rear. It is true that +these animals no longer approached: for they were floundering in the mud +and water; but their throats answered every purpose to lead the pursuers +on, and the low calls that passed from mouth to mouth, let the +pursued understand that the Pottawattamies were at their heels, if not +absolutely on their trail. + +The crisis demanded both discretion and decision; qualities in which the +bee-hunter, with his forest training, was not likely to be deficient. He +looked out for the path by which he had reached the unfortunate thicket, +and having found it, commenced a retreat by the way he had come. Nerve +was needed to move almost in a line toward the dogs and their masters; +but the nerve was forthcoming, and the two advanced like veterans +expecting the fire of some concealed but well-armed battery. Presently, +le Bourdon stopped, and examined the ground on which he stood. + +"HERE we must turn, Chippewa," he said, in a guarded voice. "This is the +spot where I must have missed my way." + +"Good place to turn 'bout," answered the Indian--"dog too near." + +"We must shoot the dogs if they press us too hard," returned the +bee-hunter, leading off rapidly, now secure in the right direction. +"They seem to be in trouble, just at this time; but animals like them +will soon find their way across this marsh." + +"Bess shoot Pottawattamie," coolly returned Pigeonswing. "Pottawattamie +got capital scalp--dog's ears no good for nutting any more." + +"Yonder, I believe, is the tree I am in search of!" exclaimed le +Bourdon. "If we can reach that tree, I think all will go well with us." + +The tree was reached, and the bee-hunter proceeded to make sure of +his course from that point. Removing from his pouch a small piece of +moistened powder that he had prepared ere he liberated the Chippewa, he +stuck it on a low branch of the tree he was under, and on the side next +the spot where he had stationed Margery. When this was done, he made his +companion stand aside, and lighting some spunk with his flint and steel, +he fired his powder. Of course, this little preparation burned like the +fireworks of a boy, making sufficient light, however, to be seen in a +dark night for a mile or more. No sooner was the wetted powder hissing +and throwing off its sparks, than the bee-hunter gazed intently into the +now seemingly tangible obscurity of the marsh. A bright light appeared +and vanished. It was enough; the bee-hunter threw down his own signal +and extinguished it with his foot; and, as he wished, the lantern of +Margery appeared no more. Assured now of the accuracy of his position, +as well as of the course he was to pursue, le Bourdon bade his companion +follow, and pressed anew across the marsh. A tree was soon visible, and +toward that particular object the fugitives steadily pressed, until it +was reached. At the next instant Margery was joined; and the bee-hunter +could not refrain from kissing her, in the excess of his pleasure. + +"There is a dreadful howling of dogs," said Margery, feeling no offence +at the liberty taken, in a moment like that, "and it seems to me that a +whole tribe is following at their heels. For Heaven's sake, Bourdon, let +us hasten to the canoes; brother and sister must think us lost!" + +The circumstances pressed, and the bee-hunter took Margery's arm, +passing it through one of his own, with a decided and protecting manner, +that caused the girl's heart to beat with emotions not in the least +connected with fear, leaving an impression of pleasure even at that +perilous moment. As the distance was not great, the three were soon +on the beach and near to the canoes. Here they met Dorothy, alone, and +pacing to and fro like a person distressed. She had doubtless heard the +clamor, and was aware that the savages were out looking for their party. +As Margery met her sister, she saw that something more than common +had gone wrong, and in the eagerness of her apprehensions she did not +scruple about putting her questions. + +"What has become of brother? Where is Gershom?" demanded the sensitive +girl, at once. + +The answer was given in a low voice, and in that sort of manner with +which woman struggles to the last to conceal the delinquencies of him +she loves. + +"Gershom is not himself, just now," half whispered the wife--"he has +fallen into one of his old ways, ag'in." + +"Old ways?" slowly repeated the sister, dropping her own voice to +tones similar to those in which the unpleasant news had just been +communicated. "How is that possible, now that all the whiskey is +emptied?" + +"It seems that Bourdon had a jug of brandy among his stores, and Gershom +found it out. I blame no one; for Bourdon, who never abuses the gifts of +Providence, had a right to his comforts at least; but it IS a pity that +there was anything of the sort in the canoes!" + +The bee-hunter was greatly concerned at this unwelcome intelligence, +feeling all its importance far more vividly than either of his +companions. They regretted as women; but he foresaw the danger, as a man +accustomed to exertion in trying scenes. If Whiskey Centre had really +fallen into his old ways, so as to render himself an incumbrance, +instead of being an assistant at such a moment, the fact was to be +deplored, but it could only be remedied by time. Luckily they had +the Indian with them, and he could manage one of the canoes, while he +himself took charge of the other. As no time was to be lost--the barking +of the dogs and the cries of the savages too plainly letting it be known +that the enemy was getting through the marsh by some means or other--he +hurried the party down to the canoes, entering that of Whiskey Centre at +once. + +Le Bourdon found Gershom asleep, but with the heavy slumbers of the +drunkard. Dolly had removed the jug and concealed it, as soon as +the state of her husband enabled her to do so without incurring his +violence. Else might the unfortunate man have destroyed himself, by +indulging in a liquor so much more palatable than that he was accustomed +to use, after so long and compelled an abstinence. The jug was now +produced, however, and le Bourdon emptied it in the river, to the great +joy of the two females, though not without a sharp remonstrance from the +Chippewa. The bee-hunter was steady, and the last drop of the liquor of +Gascony was soon mingling with the waters of the Kalamazoo. This done, +the bee-hunter desired the women to embark, and called to the Chippewa +to do the same. By quitting the spot in the canoes, it was evident the +pursuers would be balked, temporarily at least, since they must recross +the marsh in order to get into their own boats, without which further +pursuit would be fruitless. + +It might have been by means of a secret sympathy, or it was possibly the +result of accident, but certain it is, that the Chippewa was placed +in that of le Bourdon. As for Whiskey Centre, he lay like a log in the +bottom of his own light bark, cared for only by his affectionate wife, +who had made a pillow for his head; but, fortunately, if no assistance +just then, not any material hindrance to the movements of his friends. +By the time le Bourdon and the Chippewa had got their stations, and the +canoes were free of the bottom, it was evident by the sounds, that not +only the dogs, but divers of their masters, had floundered through the +swamp, and were already on the firm ground east of it. As the dogs ran +by scent, little doubt remained of their soon leading the savages to +the place of embarkation. Aware of this, the bee-hunter directed +the Chippewa to follow, and urged his own canoe away from the shore, +following one of three of the natural channels that united just at that +point. + +The clamor now sensibly increased, and the approach of the pursuers +was much faster than it had previously been, in consequence of there no +longer being wet land beneath their feet. At the distance of fifty +yards from the shore, however, the channel, or open avenue among +the rice-plants that the canoes had taken, made a short turn to the +northward; for all the events we have just been recording occurred on +the northern, or leeward side of the river. Once around this bend in the +channel, the canoes would have been effectually concealed from those on +the beach, had it even been broad daylight, and, of course, were so +much more hidden from view under the obscurity of a very dark night. +Perceiving this, and fearful that the dip of the paddles might be heard, +le Bourdon ceased to urge his canoe through the water, telling the +Chippewa to imitate his example, and let the boats drift. In consequence +of this precaution the fugitives were still quite near the shore when, +first, the dogs, then a party of their masters, came rushing down to the +very spot whence the canoes had departed scarcely two minutes before. +As no precautions were taken to conceal the advance of the pursuers, the +pursued, or the individuals among them who alone understood the common +language of the great Ojebway nation well, had an opportunity of hearing +and understanding all that was said. Le Bourdon had brought the two +canoes together; and the Chippewa, at his request, now translated +such parts of the discourse of their enemies as he deemed worthy of +communicating to the females. + +"Say, now, nobody dere!" commenced the Indian, coolly. "T'ink he no +great way off--mean to look for him--t'ink dog uneasy--won'er why dog so +uneasy." + +"Them dogs are very likely to scent us here in the canoes, we are so +near them," whispered le Bourdon. + +"S'pose he do, can't catch us," coolly answered the Chippewa--"beside, +shoot him, don't take care--bad for dog to chase warrior too much." + +"There is one speaking now, who seems to have authority." + +"Yes--he chief--know he voice--hear him too often--he mean to put +Pigeonswing to torture. Well, let him catch Pigeonswing fust--swift bird +do that, eh?" + +"But what says he?--it may be of importance to learn what the chief +says, just now." + +"Who care what he say--can't do nuttin'--if get good chance, take HIS +scalp, too." + +"Aye, that I dare say--but he is speaking earnestly and in a low voice; +listen, and let us know what he says. I do not well understand at this +distance." + +The Chippewa complied, and maintained an attentive silence until the +chief ceased to speak. Then he rendered what had been said into such +English as he could command, accompanying the translation by the +explanations that naturally suggested themselves to one like himself. + +"Chief talk to young men," said the Chippewa--"all chief talk to young +men--tell him dat Pigeonswing must get off in canoe--don't see canoe, +nudder--but, muss be canoe, else he swim. T'ink more than one Injin +here--don't know, dough--maybe, maybe not--can't tell, till see trail, +morrow morning--" + +"Well, well; but what does he tell his young men to DO?" demanded the +bee-hunter, impatiently. + +"Don't be squaw, Bourdon--tell all by'em bye. Tell young men s'pose he +get canoe, den he may get OUR canoe, and carry 'em off--s'pose he swim; +dat Chippewa devil swim down stream and get OUR canoe dat fashion--bess +go back, some of you, and see arter OUR canoe--dat what he tell young +men most." + +"That is a lucky thought!" exclaimed le Bourdon--"let us paddle down, at +once, and seize all their canoes before they can get there. The distance +by water, owing to this bend in the river, is not half as great as that +by land, and the marsh will double the distance to them." + +"Dat good counsel," said Pigeonswing--"you go--I follow." + +This was no sooner said, than the canoes again got in motion. The +darkness might now have been a sufficient protection had there been no +rice, but the plant would have concealed the movement, even at noon-day. +The fire in the hut served as a beacon, and enabled le Bourdon to find +the canoes. When he reached the landing, he could still hear the dogs +barking on the marsh, and the voices of those with them, calling in loud +tones to two of the savages who had remained at the chiente, as a sort +of camp-guard. + +"What do them chaps say?" asked le Bourdon of the Chippewa. "They yell +as if striving to make the two men at the door of the hut hear them. Can +you make out what they are bawling so loud?" + +"Tell two warrior to come down and take care of canoe--dat all--let 'em +come--find two here to take care of DEM--got good scalp, them two rascal +Pottawattamie!" + +"No--no--Pigeonswing--we must have no more of that work to-night, but +must set about towing these four canoes off the shore as fast as we can. +Have you got hitches on your two?" + +"Fast 'nough--so fast, he follow," answered the Indian, who, +notwithstanding his preparations to help to remove the canoes, was +manifestly reluctant to depart without striking another blow at his +enemies. "Now good time for dem rascal to lose scalp!" + +"Them rascals, as you call them, begin to understand their friends in +the marsh, and are looking to the priming of their rifles. We must be +moving, or they may see us, and give us a shot. Shove off, Chippewa, and +paddle at once for the middle of the bay." + +As le Bourdon was much in earnest, Pigeonswing was fain to comply. Had +the last possessed a rifle of his own, or even a knife, it is highly +probable he would have leaped ashore, and found the means of stealing on +some of his enemies unawares, and thus secured another trophy. But the +bee-hunter was determined, and the Chippewa, however reluctant, was +compelled to obey; for not only had le Bourdon kept his rifle at his +side, but he had used the precaution of securing his knife and tomahawk, +both of which he carried habitually, the same as a red man. + +The canoes had now a somewhat difficult task. The wind still blew fresh, +and it was necessary for one of these light craft, pretty well loaded +with its proper freight, and paddled by only a single person, to tow two +other craft of equal size dead to the windward. The weight in the towing +craft, and the lightness of those that were towed, rendered this task, +however, easier than it might otherwise have proved. In the course of +a couple of minutes all the canoes were far enough from the shore to be +out of sight of the two Indians, who, by that time, had got down to the +beach to look after their own craft. The yell these savages raised on +finding themselves too late, not only announced their disappointment, +but communicated the extent of the disaster to their friends, who were +still floundering through the marsh. + +The great advantage that the party of the bee-hunter had now obtained +must be very apparent to all. In possession of ALL the canoes, their +enemies were, or would be for some time at least, confined to the +northern side of the river, which was so wide near its mouth as to +present an effectual barrier between them and those who occupied the +opposite bank. The canoes, also, enabled the weaker party to change +their position at will, carrying with them as many effects as were on +board, and which included the whole of the property of le Bourdon; while +their loss deprived their enemies of all extra means of motion, and +would be very likely to induce them to proceed on their expedition by +land. The objects of that expedition could only be conjectured by the +bee-hunter, until he had questioned the Chippewa; a thing he did not +fail to do, so soon as he believed the party quite safe under the south +shore. Here the fugitives landed, proceeding up a natural channel in the +wild rice in order to do so, and selecting a bit of dry beach for +their purpose. Margery set about lighting a fire, in order to keep the +mosquitos at a distance, selecting a spot to kindle it, behind a swell +on the land, that concealed the light from all on the other shore. In +the morning, it would be necessary to extinguish that fire, lest its +smoke should betray their position. It was while these things were in +progress, and after le Bourdon had himself procured the fuel necessary +to feed pretty Margery's fire, that he questioned the Chippewa touching +his captivity. + +"Yes, tell all 'bout him," answered the Indian, as soon as +interrogated--"no good to hide trail from friend. 'Member when say +good-by up in openin' to Bourdon?" + +"Certainly--I remember the very instant when you left me. The +Pottawattamie went on one path, and you went on another. I was glad of +that, as you seemed to think he was not your friend." + +"Yes; good not to travel on same path as inimy, 'cause he quarrel +sometime," coolly returned the Indian. "Dis time, path come together, +somehow; and Pottawattamie lose he scalp." + +"I am aware of all that, Pigeonswing, and wish it had not been so. I +found the body of Elksfoot sitting up against a tree soon after you left +me, and knew by whose hands he had fallen." + +"Didn't find scalp, eh?" + +"No, the scalp had been taken; though I accounted that but for little, +since the man's life was gone. There is little gained by carrying on war +in this manner, making the woods, and the openings, and the prairies, +alike unsafe. You see, to what distress this family is reduced by your +Injin manner of making war." + +"How you make him, den--want, to hear. Go kiss, and give venison to +inimy, or go get his scalp, eh? Which bess fashion to make him afeard, +and own you master?" + +"All that may be done without killing single travellers, or murdering +women and children. The peace will be made none the sooner between +England and America, because you have got the scalp of Elksfoot." + +"No haben't got him any longer; wish had--Pottawattamie take him away, +and say he bury him. Well, let him hide him in a hole deep as white +man's well, can't hide Pigeonswing honor dere, too. Dat is safe as notch +cut on stick can make him!" + +This notch on a stick was the Indian mode of gazetting a warrior; and a +certain number of these notches was pretty certain to procure for him a +sort of savage brevet, which answered his purpose quite as well as the +modern mode of brevetting at Washington answers our purpose. Neither +brings any pay, we believe, nor any command, except in such cases as +rarely occur, and then only to the advantage of government. There are +varieties in honor, as in any other human interest: so are there many +moral degrees in warfare. Thus, the very individual who admires the +occupation of Algiers, or that of Tahiti, or the attack on Canton, +together with the long train of Indian events which have dyed the +peninsulas of the East in the blood of their people, sees an alarming +enormity in the knocking down of the walls of Vera Cruz, though the +breach opened a direct road into San Juan de Ulloa. In the eyes of +the same profound moralists, the garitas of Mexico ought to have been +respected, as so many doors opening into the boudoirs of the beautiful +dames of that fine capital; it being a monstrous thing to fire a shot +into the streets of a town, no matter how many came out of them. We +are happy, therefore, to have it in our power to add these touches of +philosophy that came from Pigeonswing to those of the sages of the +old world, by way of completing a code of international morals on this +interesting subject, in which the student shall be at a loss to say +which he most admires--that which comes from the schools, or that which +comes direct from the wilderness. + +"So best," answered the bee-hunter. "I wish I could persuade you to +throw away that disgusting thing at your belt. Remember, Chippewa, you +are now among Christians, and ought to do as Christians wish." + +"What Christians DO, eh?" returned the Indian, with a sneer, "get drunk +like Whiskey Centre, dere? Cheat poor red man; den get down on knee and +look up at Manitou? DAT what Christian do, eh?" + +"They who do such things are Christian but in name--you must think +better of such as are Christians in fact." + +"Ebberybody call himself Christian, tell you--all pale-face +Christian, dey say. Now, listen to Chippewa. Once talk long talk wit' +missionary--tell all about Christian--what Christian do--what Christian +say--how he eat, how he sleep, HOW he drink!--all good--wish Pigeonwing +Christian--den 'member so'ger at garrison--no eat, no sleep, no drink +Christian fashion--do ebbery t'ing so'ger fashion--swear, fight, cheat, +get drunk--wuss dan Injin--dat Christian, eh?" + +"No, that is not acting like a Christian; and I fear very few of us who +call ourselves by that name, act as if we were Christians, in truth," +said le Bourdon, conscious of the justice of the Chippewa's accusation. + +"Just dat--now, I get him--ask missionary, one day, where all Christian +go to, so dat Injin can't find him--none in woods--none on prairie--none +in garrison--none in Mack'naw--none at Detroit--where all go to, den, so +Injin can't find him, on'y in missionary talk?" + +"I am curious to know what answer your missionary made to that +question." + +"Well, tell you--say, on'y one in ten t'ousant RAAL Christians 'mong +pale-face, dough all call himself Christian! DAT what Injin t'ink queer, +eh?" + +"It is not easy to make a red man understand all the ways of the +pale-faces, Pigeonswing; but we will talk of these things another time, +when we are more at our ease. Just now, I wish to learn all I can of the +manner in which you fell into the hands of the Pottawattamies." + +"Dat plain 'nough--wish Christian talk half as plain. You see, Bourdon, +dat Elksfoot on scout, when we meet in openin', up river. I know'd his +ar'nd, and so took scalp. Dem Pottawattamie his friend--when dey come to +meet ole chief, no find him; but find Pigeonwing; got me when tired +and 'sleep; got Elkfoot scalp wid me--sorry for dat--know scalp by +scalp-lock, which had gray hair, and some mark. So put me in canoe, and +meant to take Chippewa to Chicago to torture him--but too much wind. So, +when meet friend in t'odder canoe, come back here to wait little while." + +This was the simple explanation of the manner in which Pigeonswing had +fallen into the hands of his enemies. It would seem that Elksfoot had +come in a canoe from the mouth of the St. Joseph's to a point about +half-way between that river and the mouth of the Kalamazoo, and there +landed. What the object of the party was, does not exactly appear, +though it is far from being certain that it was not to seize the +bee-hunter, and confiscate his effects. Although le Bourdon was +personally a stranger to Elksfoot, news flies through the wilderness in +an extraordinary manner; and it was not at all unlikely that the fact of +a white American's being in the openings should soon spread, along with +the tidings that the hatchet was dug up, and that a party should go out +in quest of his scalp and the plunder. It would seem that the savage +tact of the Chippewa detected that in the manner of the Pottawattamie +chief, which assured him the intentions of the old warrior were not +amicable; and that he took the very summary process which has been +related, not only to secure HIS scalp, but effectually to put it out +of his power to do any mischief to one who was an ally, and by means of +recent confidence, now a friend. All this the Indian explained to his +companion, in his usual clipped English, but with a clearness sufficient +to make it perfectly intelligible to his listener. The bee-hunter +listened with the most profound attention, for he was fully aware of the +importance of comprehending all the hazards of his own situation. + +While this dialogue was going on, Margery had succeeded in lighting her +fire, and was busy in preparing some warm compound, which she knew would +be required by her unhappy brother after his debauch, Dorothy passed +often between the fire and the canoe, feeling a wife's anxiety in the +fate of her husband. As for the Chippewa, intoxication was a very venial +offence in his eyes; though he had a contempt for a man who would thus +indulge while on a warpath. The American Indian does possess this merit +of adapting his deportment to his circumstances. When engaged in war he +usually prepares himself, in the coolest and wisest manner, to meet +its struggles, indulging only in moments of leisure, and of comparative +security. It is true that the march of what is called civilization is +fast changing the red man's character, and he is very apt now to do that +which he sees done by the "Christians" around him. + +Le Bourdon, when his dialogue with the Chippewa was over, and after a +few words of explanation with Margery, took his own canoe, and +paddled through the rice-plants into the open water of the river, to +reconnoitre. The breadth of the stream induced him to float down before +the wind, until he reached a point where he could again command a view +of the hut. What he there saw, and what he next did, must be reserved +for a succeeding chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + The elfin cast a glance around, + As he lighted down from his courser toad, + Then round his breast his wings he wound, + And close to the river's brink he strode; + He sprang on a rock, he breathed a prayer, + Above his head his arm he threw, + Then tossed a tiny curve in air, + And headlong plunged in the water blue. + DRAKE. + + +An hour had intervened between the time when le Bourdon had removed the +canoes of the Pottawattamies, and the time when he returned alone to the +northern side of the river. In the course of that hour the chief of the +savages had time to ascertain all the leading circumstances that have +just been related, and to collect his people in and around the hut, for +a passing council. The moment was one of action, and not of ceremonies. +No pipe was smoked, nor any of the observances of the great councils +of the tribe attended to; the object was merely to glean facts and +to collect opinions. In all the tribes of this part of North America, +something very like a principle of democracy is the predominant feature +of their politics. It is not, however, that bastard democracy which +is coming so much in fashion among ourselves, and which looks into the +gutters solely for the "people," forgetting that the landlord has just +as much right to protection as the tenant, the master as the servant, +the rich as the poor, the gentleman as the blackguard. The Indians +know better than all this. They understand, fully, that the chiefs are +entitled to more respect than the loafers in their villages, and listen +to the former, while their ears are shut to the latter. They appear +to have a common sense, which teaches them to avoid equally the +exaggerations of those who believe in blood, and of those who believe +in blackguardism. With them the doctrines of "new men" would sound as +an absurdity, for they never submit to change for change's sake. On +the contrary, while there is no positive hereditary rank, there is much +hereditary consideration; and we doubt if a red man could be found +in all America, who is so much of a simpleton as to cite among the +qualifications of any man for a situation of trust and responsibility, +that he had never been TAUGHT how to perform its duties. They are +not guilty of the contradiction of elevating men BECAUSE they are +self-taught, while they expend millions on schools. Doubtless they +have, after a fashion of their own, demagogues and Caesars, but they are +usually kept within moderate limits; and in rare instances, indeed, +do either ever seriously trespass on the rights of the tribe. As human +nature is everywhere the same, it is not to be supposed that pure +justice prevails even among savages; but one thing would seem to be +certain, that, all over the world, man in his simplest and wildest state +is more apt to respect his own ordinances, than when living in what is +deemed a condition of high civilization. + +When le Bourdon reached the point whence he could get a good view of +the door of the hut, which was still illuminated by the fire within, he +ceased using the paddle beyond the slight effort necessary to keep the +canoe nearly stationary. He was quite within the range of a rifle, but +trusted to the darkness of the night for his protection. That scouts +were out, watching the approaches to the hut, he felt satisfied; and he +did not doubt that some were prowling along the margin of the Kalamazoo, +either looking for the lost boats, or for those who had taken them away. +This made him cautious, and he took good care not to place his canoe in +a position of danger. + +It was very apparent that the savages were in great uncertainty as to +the number of their enemies. Had not the rifle been fired, and their +warrior killed and scalped, they might have supposed that their prisoner +had found the means of releasing his limbs himself, and thus effected +his escape; but they knew that the Chippewa had neither gun nor knife, +and as all their own arms, even to those of the dead man, were still in +their possession, it was clear that he had been succored from without. +Now, the Pottawattamies had heard of both the bee-hunter and Whiskey +Centre, and it was natural enough for them to ascribe some of these +unlooked-for feats to one or the other of these agents. It is true, +the hut was known to have been built three or four years earlier, by an +Indian trader, and no one of the party had ever actually seen Gershom +and his family in possession; but the conjectures on this head were as +near the fact, as if the savages had passed and repassed daily. There +was only one point on which these close calculators of events were at +fault. So thoroughly had everything been removed from the chiente, and +so carefully the traces of its recent occupation concealed, that no one +among them suspected that the family had left the place only an hour +before their own arrival. The bee-hunter, moreover, was well assured +that the savages had not yet blundered on the hiding-place of the +furniture. Had this been discovered, its contents would have been +dragged to light, and seen around the fire; for there is usually little +self-restraint among the red men, when they make a prize of this sort. + +Nevertheless, there was one point about which even those keen-scented +children of the forest were much puzzled, and which the bee-hunter +perfectly comprehended, notwithstanding the distance at which he was +compelled to keep himself. The odor of the whiskey was so strong, in and +about the chiente, that the Pottawattamies did not know what to make +of it. That there should be the remains of this peculiar smell--one +so fragrant and tempting to those who are accustomed to indulge in the +liquor--in the hut itself, was natural enough; but the savages were +perplexed at finding it so strong on the declivity down which the +barrels had been rolled. On this subject were they conversing, when +le Bourdon first got near enough to observe their proceedings. After +discussing the matter for some time, torches were lighted, and most of +the party followed a grim old warrior, who had an exceedingly true nose +for the scent of whiskey, and who led them to the very spot where the +half-barrel had been first stove by rolling off a rock, and where its +contents had been mainly spilled. Here the earth was yet wet in places, +and the scent was so strong as to leave no doubt of the recent nature of +the accident which had wasted so much of a liquor that was very precious +in Pottawattamie eyes; for accident they thought it must be, since no +sane man could think of destroying the liquor intentionally. + +All the movements, gestures, and genuflections of the savages were +plainly seen by the bee-hunter. We say the genuflections, for nearly all +of the Indians got on their knees and applied their noses to the earth, +in order to scent the fragrance of the beloved whiskey; some out of +curiosity, but more because they loved even this tantalizing +indulgence, when no better could be had. But le Bourdon was right in his +conjectures, that the matter was not to end here. Although most of the +Indians scented the remains of the whiskey out of love for the liquor, a +few of their number reasoned on the whole transaction with quite as much +acuteness as could have been done by the shrewdest natural philosopher +living. To them it was very apparent that no great length of time, a few +hours at most, could have elapsed since that whiskey was spilled; and +human hands must have brought it there, in the first place, and poured +it on the ground, in the second. There must have been a strong reason +for such an act, and that reason presented itself to their minds with +unerring accuracy. Their own approach must have been seen, and the +liquor was destroyed because it could not be removed in time to prevent +its falling into their hands. Even the precise manner in which the +whiskey had been disposed of was pretty nearly conjectured by a few of +the chiefs, acute and practised as they were; who, accustomed to this +species of exercise of their wits, had some such dexterity in examining +facts of this nature, and in arriving at just results, as the men of the +schools manifest in the inquiries that more especially belong to their +habits and training. But their conclusions were confined to themselves; +and they were also sufficiently enveloped in doubts, to leave those who +made them ready enough to receive new impressions on the same subject. + +All this, moreover, le Bourdon both saw and understood; or, if not +absolutely all, so much of it as to let him comprehend the main +conclusions of the savages, as well as the process by which they were +reached. To obtain light, the Indians made a fire near the charmed spot, +which brought themselves and their movements into plain view from the +canoe of the bee-hunter. Curiosity now became strongly awakened in the +latter, and he ventured in nearer to the shore, in order to get the +best possible view of what was going on. In a manner, he was solving +an enigma; and he experienced the sort of pleasure we all feel at +exercising our wits on difficulties of that nature. The interest he felt +rendered the young man careless as respected the position of his canoe, +which drifted down before the strong breeze, until le Bourdon found +himself in the very edge of the wild rice, which at this point formed +but a very narrow belt along the beach. It was this plant, indeed, that +contributed to make the young man so regardless of his drift, for he +looked upon the belt of rice as a species of landmark to warn him when +to turn. But, at no other spot along that whole shore, where the plant +was to be found at all, was its belt so narrow as at this, immediately +opposite to the new fire of the savages, and almost within the +influence of its rays. To le Bourdon's surprise, and somewhat to his +consternation, just as his little craft touched the rice, the forms of +two stout warriors passed along the beach, between him and the light, +their feet almost dipping in the water. So near were these two warriors +to him, that, on listening intently, he heard not only their voices, +as they communicated their thoughts to each other in low tones, but +the tread of their moccasined feet on the ground. Retreat, under the +circumstances, would not be safe, for it must have been made under +the muzzles of the rifles; and but one resource presented itself. By +grasping in his hand two or three stalks of the rice-plant, and holding +them firmly, the drift of the canoe was arrested. + +After a moment's reflection, le Bourdon was better satisfied with this +new station than he had been on first gaining it. To have ventured on +such a near approach to his enemies, he would have regarded as madness; +but now he was there, well concealed among the rice, he enjoyed the +advantages of observation it gave him, and looked upon the chance that +brought him there as lucky. He found a thong of buckskin, and fastened +his canoe to the stalks of the plant, thus anchoring or mooring his +little bark, and leaving himself at liberty to move about in it. The +rice was high enough to conceal him, even when erect, and he had some +difficulty in finding places favorable to making his observations +through it. When the bee-hunter made his way into the bow of his canoe, +however, which he did with a moccasined and noiseless foot, he was +startled at perceiving how small was his cover. In point of fact, he was +now within three feet of the inner edge of the rice-plant, which grew +within ten feet of the shore, where the two warriors already mentioned +were still standing, in close communication with each other. Their faces +were turned toward the fire, the bright light from which, at times, +streamed over the canoe itself, in a way to illumine all it contained. +The first impulse of le Bourdon, on ascertaining how closely he had +drifted to the shore, was to seize a paddle and make off, but a second +thought again told him it would be far safer to remain where he was. +Taking his seat, therefore, on a bit of board laid athwart, from gunwale +to gunwale, if such a craft can be said to have gunwales at all, he +patiently waited the course of events. + +By this time, all or nearly all of the Pottawattamies had collected on +this spot, on the side of the hill. The hut was deserted, its fire got +to be low, and darkness reigned around the place. On the other hand, +the Indians kept piling brush on their new fire, until the whole of +that hill-side, the stream at its foot, and the ravine through which the +latter ran, were fairly illuminated. Of course, all within the influence +of this light was to be distinctly seen, and the bee-hunter was +soon absorbed in gazing at the movements of savage enemies, under +circumstances so peculiar. + +The savages seemed to be entranced by the singular, and to most of them +unaccountable circumstance of the earth's giving forth the scent of +fresh whiskey, in a place so retired and unknown. While two or three of +their number had certain inklings of the truth, as has been stated, +to much the greater portion of their body it appeared to be a profound +mystery; and one that, in some inexplicable manner, was connected with +the recent digging up of the hatchet. Ignorance and superstition ever +go hand in hand, and it was natural that many, perhaps most of these +uninstructed beings should thus consider so unusual a fragrance, on such +a spot. Whiskey has unfortunately obtained a power over the red man of +this continent that it would require many Fathers Matthew to suppress, +and which can only be likened to that which is supposed to belong to the +influence of witchcraft. The Indian is quite as sensible as the white +man of the mischief that the "fire-water" produces; but, like the white +man, he finds how hard it is to get rid of a master passion, when we +have once submitted ourselves to its sway. The portion of the band that +could not account for the fact of the scent of their beloved beverage's +being found in such a place, and it was all but three of their whole +party, were quite animated in their discussions on the subject, and +many and crude were the suggestions that fell from their lips. The +two warriors on the beach were more deeply impressed than any of their +companions, with the notion that some "medicine charm" was connected +with this extraordinary affair. + +The reader will not be surprised to hear that le Bourdon gazed on the +scene before him with the most profound attention. So near did he seem +to be, and so near was he, in fact, to the savages who were grouped +around the fire, that he fancied he could comprehend what they were +saying, by the expressions of their grim and swarthy countenances. +His conjectures were in part just, and occasionally the bee-hunter was +absolutely accurate in his notions of what was said. The frequency with +which different individuals knelt on the ground, to scent an odor that +is always so pleasant to the red man, would of itself have given a +clew to the general character of the discourse; but the significant and +expressive gestures, the rapid enunciation, and the manner in which the +eyes of the speakers glanced from the faces near themselves to the spot +consecrated by whiskey, pretty plainly told the story. It was while thus +intently occupied in endeavoring to read the singular impression made +on the minds of most of those wild beings, by an incident so much out of +the usual track of their experience, that le Bourdon suddenly found the +bow of his canoe thrusting itself beyond the inner margin of the rice, +and issuing into open water, within ten feet of the very spot where the +two nearest of the savages were still conferring together, apart. The +buckskin thong which served as a fastening had got loosened, and the +light craft was again drifting down before the strong southerly wind, +which still continued to blow a little gale. + +Had there been an opportunity for such a thing, the bee-hunter would +have made an effort to escape. But so sudden and unexpected was this +exposure, that he found himself almost within reach of a rifle, before +he was aware of his approaching the two warriors on the shore, at all. +His paddle was in the stern of the canoe, and had he used the utmost +activity, the boat would have grounded on the beach, ere he could have +obtained it. In this situation, therefore, he was absolutely without any +other means than his hands of stopping the canoe, had there even been +time. + +Le Bourdon understood his real situation without stopping to reflect; +and, though his heart made one violent leap as soon as he perceived he +was out of cover, he immediately bethought him of the course he ought to +pursue. It would have been fatal to betray alarm, or to attempt flight. +As accident had thus brought him, as it might be on a visit, to the +spot, he at once determined to give his arrival the character of a +friendly call, and the better to support the pretension, to blend with +it, if possible, a little of the oracular, or "medicine" manner, in +order to impose on the imaginations of the superstitious beings into +whose power he had so unwittingly fallen. + +The instant the canoe touched the shore, and it was only a moment after +it broke through the cover, le Bourdon arose, and extending his hand +to the nearest Indian, saluted him with the mongrel term of "Sago." A +slight exclamation from this warrior communicated to his companion an +arrival that was quite as much a matter of surprise to the Indians as to +their guest, and through this second warrior to the whole party on the +hill-side. A little clamor succeeded, and presently the bee-hunter was +surrounded with savages. + +The meeting was marked by the self-command and dignified quiet that are +so apt to distinguish the deportment of Indian warriors, when they are +on the war-path, and alive to the duties of manhood. The bee-hunter +shook hands with several, who received his salutations with perfect +calmness, if not with absolute confidence and amity. This little +ceremony gave our hero an opportunity to observe the swarthy +countenances by which he was surrounded, most of which were fierce in +their paint, as well as to reflect a little on his own course. By a +fortunate inspiration he now determined to assume the character of a +"medicine man," and to connect his prophecies and juggleries with this +lucky accident of the whiskey. Accordingly, he inquired if any one spoke +English, not wishing to trust his explanations to his own imperfect +knowledge of the Ojebway tongue, which is spoken by all the numerous +tribes of that widely-extended nation. Several could render +themselves intelligible in English, and one was so expert as to render +communication with him easy, if not very agreeable. As the savages, +however, soon insisted on examining the canoe, and taking a look at its +contents, previously to listening to their visitor's explanations, +le Bourdon was fain to submit, and to let the young men satisfy their +curiosity. + +The bee-hunter had come on his hazardous expedition in his own canoe. +Previously to quitting the south shore, however, he had lightened +the little craft, by landing everything that was not essential to his +present purpose. As nearly half of his effects were in the canoe of +Whiskey Centre, the task was soon performed, and lucky it was for our +hero that he had bethought him of the prudence of the measure. His sole +object had been to render the canoe swifter and lighter, in the event +of a chase; but, as things turned out, he saved no small portion of +his property by using the precaution. The Indians found nothing in +the canoe, but one rifle, with a horn and pouch, a few light articles +belonging to the bee-hunter's domestic economy, and which he had not +thought it necessary to remove, and the paddles. All the honey, and the +skins and stores, and spare powder, and lead, and, in short, everything +else that belonged to le Bourdon, was still safe on the other side of +the river. The greatest advantage gained by the Pottawattamies was in +the possession of the canoe itself, by means of which they would now be +enabled to cross the Kalamazoo, or make any other similar expedition, by +water. + +But, as yet, not a sign of hostility was betrayed by either party. The +bee-hunter seemed to pay no attention to his rifle and ammunition, or +even to his canoe, while the savages, after having warily examined +the last, together with its contents, returned to their visitor, to +re-examine him, with a curiosity as lively as it was full of distrust. +At this stage in the proceeding, something like a connected and +intelligible conversation commenced between the chief who spoke +English, and who was known in most of the north-western garrisons of the +Americans by the name of Thundercloud, or Cloud, by way of abbreviation, +on account of his sinister looks, though the man actually sustained a +tolerably fair reputation for one of those who, having been wronged, was +so certain to be calumniated. No man was ever yet injured, that he has +not been slandered. + +"Who kill and scalp my young man?" asked Cloud, a little abruptly. + +"Has my brother lost a warrior?" was the calm reply. "Yes, I see that he +has. A medicine-man can see that, though it is dark." + +"Who kill him, if can see?-who scalp him, too?" + +"An enemy did both," answered le Bourdon, oracularly. "Yes; 'twas an +enemy that killed him; and an enemy that took his scalp." + +"Why do it, eh? Why come here to take Pottawattamia scalp, when no +war-path open, eh?" + +"Pottawattamie, the truth must always be said to a medicine-man. There +is no use in trying to hide truth from HIM. There IS a war-path open; +and a long and a tangled path it is. My Great Father at Washington has +dug up the hatchet against my Great Father at Quebec. Enemies always +take scalps when they can get them." + +"Dat true--dat right, too--nobody grumble at DAT--but who enemy? +pale-face or red-skin?" + +"This time it was a red-skin--a Chippewa--one of your own nation, though +not of your own tribe. A warrior called Pigeonswing, whom you had in +thongs, intending to torture him in the morning. He cut his thongs, and +shot your young man--after which he took his scalp." + +"How know dat?" demanded the Cloud, a little fiercely. "You 'long, and +help kill Pottawattamie, eh?" + +"I know it," answered le Bourdon, coolly, "because medicine-men know +most of what happens. Do not be so hasty, chief, for this is a medicine +spot--whiskey GROWS here." + +A common exclamation escaped all of the red men, who comprehended +the clear, distinct, and oracular-like language and manner of the +bee-hunter. He intended to make an impression on his listeners, and he +succeeded admirably; perhaps as much by means of manner as of matter. +As has been said, all who understood his words--some four or five of the +party--grunted forth their surprise at this evidence of their guest's +acquaintance with the secrets of the place, in which they were joined by +the rest of their companions, as soon as the words of the pale-face had +been translated. Even the experienced and wary old chiefs, who had more +than half conjectured the truth, in connection with this mysterious odor +of whiskey, were much unsettled in their opinions concerning the wonder, +and got to be in that condition of mind when a man does not know what +to think of any particular event. The bee-hunter, quick-witted, and +managing for his life, was not slow to perceive the advantage he had +gained, and he proceeded at once to clinch the nail he had so skilfully +driven. Turning from Cloud to the head-chief of the party, a warrior +whom he had no difficulty in recognizing, after having so long watched +his movements in the earlier part of the night, he pushed the same +subject a little further. + +"Yes; this place is called by the whites Whiskey Centre," he +added--"which means that it is the centre of all the whiskey of the +country round about." + +"Dat true," said Cloud, quickly--"I hear so'ger at Fort Dearborn call +him Whiskey Centre!" + +This little circumstance greatly complicated the mystery, and le Bourdon +perceived that he had hit on a lucky explanation. + +"Soldiers far and near--soldiers drunk or sober--soldiers with scalps, +and soldiers without scalps--all know the place by that name. But you +need not believe with your eyes shut and noses stopped, chief, since you +have the means of learning for yourselves the truth of what I tell you. +Come with me, and I will tell you where to dig in the morning for a +whiskey spring." + +This communication excited a tremendous feeling among the savages, when +its purport came to be explained to the whole party. Apart from the +extraordinary, miraculous nature of such a spring, which in itself was +sufficient to keep alive expectation and gratify curiosity, it was so +comfortable to have an inexhaustible supply of the liquor running out of +the bowels of the earth, that it is no wonder the news spread infinite +delight among the listeners. Even the two or three of the chiefs who +had so shrewdly divined the manner in which the liquor had been spilled, +were staggered by the solemnity and steadiness of the bee-hunter's +manner, and perhaps a little carried away by sympathy with those around +them. This yielding of the human mind to the influence of numbers is +so common an occurrence as scarcely to require explanation, and is +the source of half the evils that popular associations inflict on +themselves. It is not that men capable of SEEING the truth are ever +wanting; but men capable of MAINTAINING it, in the face of clamor and +collected power. + +It will be readily conceived that a medicine-man who is supposed to +possess the means of discovering a spring that should overflow with pure +whiskey, would not be left without urgent demands for a speedy exercise +of this art. This was now the case with le Bourdon, who was called on +from all sides to point out the precise spot where the young men were +to commence digging in order to open on the treasure. Our hero knew that +his only hope of escape was connected with his steadily maintaining his +assumed character; or of maintaining this assumed character, with +his going on, at once, to do something that might have the effect, +temporarily at least, of satisfying the impatience of his now attentive +listeners. Accordingly, when the demand was made on him to give some +evidence of his power, he set about the task, not only with composure, +but with a good deal of ingenuity. + +Le Bourdon, it will be remembered, had, with his own hands, rolled the +two barrels of whiskey down the declivity. Feeling the great importance +of effectually destroying them, he had watched their descent, from +the top to the bottom of the hill, and the final disappearance of the +staves, etc., into the torrent which brawled at its foot. It had so +happened that the half-filled cask broke and let out its liquor at a +point much more remote from the stream, than the filled. The latter +had held together until it went over the low rocky precipice, already +mentioned, and was stove at its base, within two yards of the torrent, +which received all its fragments and swept them away, including most +of the liquor itself; but not until the last had been spilled. Now, +the odorous spot which had attracted the noses of the savages, and near +which they had built their fire, was that where the smallest quantity +of the whiskey had fallen. Le Bourdon reasoned on these circumstances +in this wise:--if half a barrel of the liquor can produce so strong a +scent, a barrel filled ought to produce one still stronger; and I will +manifest my medicine-character, by disregarding for the present moment +the spot on the hill-side, and proceed at once to that at the foot +of the rocks. To this latter point, therefore, did he direct all +the ceremony, as well as his own footsteps, when he yielded to the +solicitations of the Pottawattamies, and undertook to point out the +position of the whiskey spring. + +The bee-hunter understood the Indian character too well to forget to +embellish his work with a proper amount of jugglery and acting. Luckily, +he had left in the canoe a sort of frock of mottled colors that he had +made himself, to wear in the woods in the autumn as a hunting-dress, +under the notion that such a covering would conceal his approach from +his game, by blending its hues with those of the autumn leaf. This dress +he now assumed, extorting a good deal of half-suppressed admiration from +the younger warriors, by the gay appearance he made. Then he drew out +his spy-glass to its greatest length, making various mysterious signs +and gestures as he did so. This glass proved to be a great auxiliary, +and possibly alone kept the doubters in awe. Le Bourdon saw at once that +it was entirely new, even to the oldest chief, and he felt how much +it might be made to assist him. Beckoning to Cloud, and adjusting the +focus, he directed the small end of his glass to the fire, and placed +the large end to that Indian's eye. A solitary savage, who loved the +scent of whiskey too much to tear himself away from the spot, was +lingering within the influence of the rays, and of course was seen by +the chief, with his person diminished to that of a dwarf, and his form +thrown to a seeming distance. + +An eloquent exclamation followed this exhibition of the medicine-man's +power; and each of the chiefs, and most of the other warriors, were +gratified with looks through the glass. + +"What dat mean?" demanded Cloud, earnestly. "See Wolfeye well +'nough--why he so little?--why he so far off, he?" + +"That is to show you what a medicine-man of the pale-faces can do, when +he is so minded. That Indian is named Wolfseye, and he loves whiskey too +well. That I know, as well as I know his name." + +Each of these exhibitions of intelligence extorted exclamations of +wonder. It is true, that one or two of the higher chiefs understood that +the name might possibly have been obtained from Cloud; but how was the +medicine-man to know that Wolfseye was a drunkard? This last had not +been said in terms; but enough had been said, to let those who +were aware of the propensity feel that more was meant than had been +expressed. Before there was time, however, to deliberate on, or to +dissect this specimen of mysterious knowledge, le Bourdon reversed the +glass, and applied the small end to the eye of Cloud, after having given +it its former direction. The Indian fairly yelled, partly with dread, +and partly with delight, when he saw Wolfseye, large as life, brought so +near him that he fancied he might be touched with his own hand. + +"What dat mean?" exclaimed Cloud, as soon as surprise and awe enabled +him to find his voice. "Fuss he little, den he big--fuss he great way, +den he close by--what dat mean, eh?" + +"It means that I am a medicine-man, and this is a medicine-glass, and +that I can see with it into the earth, deeper than the wells, or higher +than the mountains!" + +These words were translated, and explained to all three. They extorted +many ejaculations of wonder, and divers grunts of admiration and +contentment. Cloud conferred a moment with the two principal chiefs; +then he turned eagerly to the bee-hunter, saying-- + +"All good, but want to hear more--want to l'arn more--want to SEE more." + +"Name your wants freely, Pottawattamie," answered le Bourdon, with +dignity, "they shall be satisfied." + +"Want to see--want to TASTE whiskey spring--see won't do--want to TASTE" + +"Good--you shall smell first; then you shall see; after that you shall +taste. Give me room, and be silent; a great medicine is near." + +Thus delivering himself, le Bourdon proceeded with his necromancy. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + He turned him round, and fled amain With hurry and dash to the beach + again; He twisted over from side to side, And laid his cheek to the + cleaving tide; The strokes of his plunging arms are fleet, And with all + his might he flings his feet, But the water-sprites are round him still, + To cross his path and work him ill. + --The Culprit Fay. + + +The first step in the conjuration of the bee-hunter was, to produce an +impression on the minds of his untutored observers, by resorting to a +proper amount of mummery and mystical action. This he was enabled to do +with some effect, in consequence of having practised as a lad in similar +mimicry, by way of pastime. The Germans, and the descendants of Germans +in America, are not of a very high class, as respects education, +taken as a body, and they retain many of the most inveterate of the +superstitions of their Teutonic ancestors. Although the bee-hunter +himself was of purely English descent, he came from a State that was in +part peopled by these Germans and their descendants; and, by intercourse +with them, he had acquired a certain knowledge of their notions on the +subject of necromancy, that he now found was of use. So far as gravity +of mien, solemn grimaces, and unintelligible mutterings were concerned, +le Bourdon played his part to admiration; and by the time he had led +the party half the distance he intended to go, our necromancer, or +"medicine-man," had complete possession of the imaginations of all the +savages, the two or three chiefs already mentioned alone excepted. At +this stage of the proceedings occurred a little incident, which goes +to prove the disposition of the common mind to contribute in deceiving +itself, and which was of considerable assistance to le Bourdon, in +maintaining his assumed character. + +It will be remembered that the place where the Indians had found their +strongest scent was on the hill-side, or the spot where the half-filled +barrel had let out most of its contents. Near this spot their new fire +was still brightly blazing, and there Wolfseye remained, regaling one of +his senses, at least, with an odor that he found so agreeable. But +the bee-hunter knew that he should greatly increase the wonder of the +savages by leading them to a NEW scent-spot, one to which there was no +visible clew, and where the odor was probably much stronger than on the +hill-side. Accordingly he did not approach the fire, but kept around the +base of the hill, just enough within the influence of the light to pick +his way readily, and yet so distant from it as to render his countenance +indistinct and mysterious. No sooner, however, had he got abreast of the +scent-spot known to the savages, than the crowd endeavored to lead him +toward it, by gestures and hints, and, finally, by direct intimations +that he was going astray. All this our "medicine-man" disregarded; he +held his way steadily and solemnly toward that place at the foot of the +hill where he knew that the filled barrel had let out its contents, and +where he, reasonably enough, expected to find sufficient traces of the +whiskey to answer his purposes. At first, this pertinacity provoked +the crowd, which believed he was going wrong; but a few words from +Crowsfeather, the principal chief, caused the commotion to cease. In a +few more minutes le Bourdon stopped, near the place of his destination. +As a fresh scent of whiskey was very perceptible here, a murmur of +admiration, not unmixed with delight, passed among the attendants. + +"Now, let the young men build a fire for ME" said the bee-hunter, +solemnly--"not such a fire as that which is burning on the hill, but a +medicine-fire. I SMELL the whiskey spring, and want a medicine-light to +SEE it." + +A dozen young men began to collect the brush; in a minute a pile of some +size had been accumulated on a flat rock, within twenty feet of the spot +where le Bourdon knew that the cask had been dashed to pieces. When he +thought the pile sufficiently large, he told Crowsfeather that it might +be lighted by bringing a brand from the other fire. + +"This will not be a medicine-light, for that can come only from +'medicine-matches,'" he added; "but I want a fire to see the shape of +the ground. Put in the brand, brothers; let us have a flame." + +The desire of the bee-hunter was gratified, and the whole of the base +of the hill around the spot where the filled cask had broken, was +illuminated. + +"Now, let all the Pottawattamies stand back," added le Bourdon, +earnestly. "It might cost a warrior his life to come forward too +soon--or, if not his life, it might give a rheumatism that can never be +cured, which is worse. When it is time for my red brothers to advance, +they will be called." + +As the bee-hunter accompanied this announcement by suitable gestures, +he succeeded in ranging all of the silent, but excited savages on three +sides of his fire, leaving that next his mysterious spring to +himself, alone. When all was arranged, le Bourdon moved slowly, but +unaccompanied, to the precise spot where the cask had broken. Here he +found the odor of the whiskey so strong, as to convince him that some +of the liquor must yet remain. On examining more closely, he ascertained +that several shallow cavities of the flat rock, on which the cask had +been dashed, still contained a good deal of the liquor; enough to prove +of great assistance to his medicine character. + +All this while the bee-hunter kept one portion of his faculties on the +alert, in order to effect his escape. That he might deceive for a time, +aided as he was by so many favorable circumstances, he did not doubt; +but he dreaded the morning and the results of a night of reflection and +rest. Crowsfeather, in particular, troubled him; and he foresaw that +his fate would be terrible, did the savages once get an inkling of the +deception he was practising. As he stood there, bending over the little +pools of whiskey, he glanced his eyes toward the gloom which pervaded +the northern side of the hill, and calculated the chances of escape by +trusting to his speed. All of the Pottawattamies were on the opposite +side, and there was a thicket favorably placed for a cover, so near that +the rifle would scarce have time to perform its fatal office, ere +he might hope to bury himself within its leaves. So tempting did the +occasion appear, that, for a single instant, le Bourdon forgot his +caution, and his mummeries, and had actually advanced a step or two in +the direction toward which he contemplated flight, when, on glancing an +uneasy look behind him, he perceived Crowsfeather and his two intimate +counsellors stealthily preparing their rifles, as if they distrusted +his intentions. This at once induced a change of plan, and brought +the bee-hunter back to a sense of his critical position, and of the +indispensable necessity of caution to a man in his situation. + +Le Bourdon now seemingly gave all his attention to the rocks where he +stood, and out of which the much-coveted liquor was expected to flow; +though his thoughts were still busily employed in considering the means +of escape, the whole time. While stooping over the different pools, and +laying his plans for continuing his medicine-charms, the bee-hunter saw +how near he had been to committing a great mistake. It was almost as +indispensable to carry off the canoe, as it was to carry off himself; +since, with the canoe, not only would all his own property, but +pretty Margery, and Gershom and his wife, be at the mercy of the +Pottawattamies; whereas, by securing the boat, the wide Kalamazoo would +serve as a nearly impassable barrier, until time was given to the whites +to escape. His whole plan was changed by this suggestion, and he no +longer thought of the thicket and of flight inland. At the same time +that the bee hunter was laying up in his mind ideas so important to his +future movements, he did not neglect the necessary examination of the +means that might be required to extend and prolong his influence over +the minds of the superstitious children of the forest on whom he was +required to practise his arts. His thoughts reverted to the canoe, and +he concocted a plan by which he believed it possible to get possession +of his little craft again. Once on board it, by one vigorous shove he +fancied he might push it within the cover of the rice-plants, where he +would be in reasonable safety against the bullets of the savages. Could +he only get the canoe on the outer side of the narrow belt of the plant, +he should deem himself safe! + +Having arranged his course in his own mind, le Bourdon now beckoned to +Crowsfeather to draw near, at the same time inviting the whole party +to approach within a few feet of the spot where he himself stood. The +bee-hunter had brought with him from the boat a fragment of the larger +end of a cane fishing-rod, which he used as a sort of wand. Its size was +respectable, and its length about eight feet. With this wand he pointed +out the different objects he named, and it answered the very important +purpose of enabling him to make certain small changes in the formation +of the ground, that were of the greatest service to him, without +permitting curious eyes to come so near as to detect his artifices. + +"Now open your ears, Crowsfeather; and you, Cloud; and all of you, young +braves," commenced the bee-hunter, solemnly, and with a steadiness that +was admirable; "yes, open wide your ears. The Great Spirit has given +the red man a nose that he might smell--does the Cloud smell more than +common?" + +"Sartain--smell whiskey--this Whiskey Centre dey say--nat'ral dat such +smell be here." + +"Do all the chiefs and warriors of the Pottawattamies who are present, +also smell the same?" + +"S'pose so--why he don't, eh? Got nose--can smell whiskey good way, tell +you." + +"It is right they should smell the liquor here, for out of this rock a +whiskey spring will soon begin to run. It will begin with a very small +stream, but soon will there be enough to satisfy everybody. The +Great Manitou knows that his red children are dry; he has sent a +'medicine-man' of the pale-faces to find a spring for them. Now, look +at this piece of rock--it is dry--not even the dew has yet moistened it. +See--it is made like a wooden bowl, that it may hold the liquor of the +spring. Let Crowsfeather smell it--smell it, Cloud--let all my young men +smell it, too, that they may be certain that there is nothing there." + +On this invitation, accompanied as it was by divers flourishes of the +wand, and uttered in a deep, solemn tone of voice, the whole party of +the Indians gathered around the small hollow basin-like cavity pointed +out by the bee-hunter, in order both to see and to smell. Most knelt, +and each and all applied their noses to the rock, as near the bowl as +they could thrust them. Even the dignified and distrustful Crowsfeather +could not refrain from bending in the crowd. This was the moment for +which le Bourdon wished, and he instantly prepared to carry out his +design. + +Previously, however, to completing the project originally conceived, +a momentary impulse prevailed which urged him to adopt a new mode of +effecting his escape. Now, that most of the savages were on their hands +and knees, struggling to get their noses as near as possible to the +bowl, and all were intent on the same object, it occurred to the +bee-hunter, who was almost as active as the panther of the American +forest, that he might dash on toward the canoe, and make his escape +without further mummery. Had it been only a question of human speed +perhaps such would have been the wisest thing he could do; but a +moment's reflection told him how much swifter than any foot of man was +the bullet of a rifle. The distance exceeded a hundred yards, and it +was altogether in bright light, by means of the two fires, Wolfseye +continuing to pile brush on that near which he still maintained +his post, as if afraid the precious liquor would start out of the +scent-spot, and be wasted should he abandon his ward. Happily, +therefore, le Bourdon relinquished his dangerous project almost as +soon as it was entertained, turning his attention immediately to the +completion of the plan originally laid. + +It has been said that the bee-hunter made sundry flourishes with his +wand. While the savages were most eager in endeavoring to smell the +rock, he lightly touched the earth that confined the whiskey in the +largest pool, and opened a passage by which the liquor could trickle +down the side of the rock, selecting a path for itself, until it +actually came into the bowl, by a sinuous but certain channel. + +Here was a wonder! Liquor could not only be smelled, but it could be +actually seen! As for Cloud, not satisfied with gratifying the two +senses connected with the discoveries named, he began to lap with his +tongue, like a dog, to try the effect of taste. + +"The Manitou does not hide his face from the Pottawattamie!" exclaimed +this savage, rising to his feet in astonishment; "this is the +fire-water, and such as the pale-faces bring us for skins!" + +Others imitated his example, and the exclamations of wonder and delight +flew from mouth to mouth, in a torrent of vehement assertions and +ejaculations. So great a "medicine" charm had never before been +witnessed in that tribe, or in that region, and a hundred more might +succeed, before another should equal this in its welcome character. +There was whiskey, of a certainty, not much in quantity, to be sure, but +of excellent quality, as several affirmed, and coming in a current that +was slowly increasing! This last sign was owing to the circumstance +that le Bourdon had deepened the outlet of the pool, permitting a larger +quantity to flow down the little channel. + +The moment had now come for a decisive step. The bee-hunter knew that +his precious rivulet would soon cease to run, and that he must carry out +his design under the first impressions of his charm, or that he probably +would not be permitted to carry it out, at all. At this moment even +Crowsfeather appeared to be awed by what he had seen; but a chief so +sagacious might detect the truth, and disappointment would then be +certain to increase the penalties he would incur. + +Making many sweeps of his wand, and touching various points of the rock, +both to occupy the attention of the savages, and to divert it from his +pool, the bee-hunter next felt in his pocket and drew out a small piece +of resin that he knew was there; the remains of a store with which +he resined the bow of his fiddle; for our hero had a violin among his +effects, and often used it in his solitary abodes in the openings. +Breaking this resin on a coal, he made it flash and blaze; but the +quantity was too small to produce the "medicine-fire" he wanted. + +"I have more in my canoe," he said, addressing himself to the +interpreter; "while I go for it, the red men must not stir, lest they +destroy a pale-face's doings. Least of all they must go near the spring. +It would be better for the chiefs to lead away their young men, and +make them stand under the oak, where nothing can be done to hurt the +'medicine-charm.'" + +The bee-hunter pointed to a tree that stood in the direction of the +canoe, in order to prevent distrust, though he had taken care to select +a spot whence the little craft could not be seen, on account of an +intervening swell in the land, Crowsfeather led his warriors to the +indicated place, where they took their stations, in silent and grave +attention. + +In the mean while, le Bourdon continued his incantations aloud; +walking toward his canoe, waving his hand, and uttering a great deal of +gibberish as he slowly proceeded. In passing the tree, our hero, though +he did not turn his head, was sensible that he was followed by the +chiefs, a movement against which he did not dare to remonstrate, though +it sadly disappointed him. Neither hastening nor retarding his steps, +however, in consequence of this unpleasant circumstance, the young man +continued on; once or twice sweeping the wand behind him, in order to +ascertain if he could reach his followers. But Crowsfeather and his +companions stopped when they reached the swell of land which concealed +the canoe, suffering the "medicine-man" to move on alone. Of this +fact le Bourdon became aware, by turning three times in a circle, and +pointing upward at the heavens with his wand, as he did so. + +It was a nervous moment when the bee-hunter reached the canoe. He did +not like to look behind him again, lest the chiefs should suspect his +motive, and, in shoving off from the shore, he might do so within a +few yards of the muzzle of a hostile rifle. There was no time to lose, +however, for any protracted delay on his part would certainly cause the +savages to approach, through curiosity, if not through distrust of his +motives. He stepped into his light craft, therefore, without any delay, +still flourishing his wand, and muttering his incantations. The first +thing was to walk to the stern of the canoe, that his weight might +raise the bow from the shore, and also that he might have an excuse for +turning round, and thus get another look at the Indians. So critical was +his situation, and so nervous did it make our young hero, that he took +no heed of the state of matters in the canoe, until the last moment. +When he had turned, however, he ascertained that the two principal +chiefs had drawn so near as to be within twenty yards of him, though +neither held his rifle at "ready," but each leaned on it in a careless +manner, as if in no anticipation of any necessity to make a speedy +use of the weapon. This state of things could not last, and le Bourdon +braced his nerves for the final trial. On looking for his paddle, +however, he found that of three which the canoe had contained when he +left it, not even one was to be seen! These wily savages had, out of all +question, taken their opportunity to remove and secrete these simple, +but almost indispensable, means of motion. + +At the instant when first apprised of the loss just mentioned, the +bee-hunter's heart sunk within him, and he fell into the seat in the +stern of the canoe, nearly with the weight of so much lead. Then a +species of desperation came over him, and putting an end of his cane +wand upon the bottom, with a vigorous shove he forced the canoe swiftly +astern and to windward. Sudden as was this attempt, and rapid as was +the movement, the jealous eyes and ready hands of the chiefs seemed to +anticipate it. Two shots were fired within a few seconds after the canoe +had quitted the shore. The reports of the rifles were a declaration of +hostilities, and a general yell, accompanied by a common rush toward the +river, announced that the whole band now understood that some deception +had been practised at their expense. + +Although the two chiefs in advance had been so very prompt, they were +not quick enough for the rapid movement of the canoe. The distance +between the stern of the boat and the rice-plants was so small, that +the single desperate shove given by the bee-hunter sufficed to bury +his person in the cover, before the leaden messengers reached him. +Anticipating this very attempt, and knowing that the savages might +get their range from the part of the canoe that was still in sight, le +Bourdon bent his body far over the gunwale, grasping the rice-plants +at the same time, and hauling his little craft through them, in the way +that sailors call "hand over hand." This expedient most probably saved +his life. While bending over the gunwale, he heard the crack of the +rifles, and the whizzing of two bullets that appeared to pass just +behind him. By this time the whole of the canoe was within the cover. + +In a moment like that we are describing, incidents pass so rapidly as +almost to defy description. It was not twenty seconds from the instant +when le Bourdon first put his wand down to push the canoe from the land, +ere he found his person emerging from the cover, on its weather side. +Here he was effectually concealed from his enemies, not only on account +of the cover made by the rice-plants, but by reason of the darkness; the +light not extending far enough from the fire to illumine objects on the +river. Nevertheless, new difficulties presented themselves. When clear +of the rice, the wind, which still blew strong, pressed upon his canoe +to such a degree as not only to stop its further movement from the +shore, but so as to turn it broadside to, to its power. Trying with +his wand, the bee-hunter ascertained that it would no longer reach the +bottom. Then he attempted to use the cane as a paddle, but soon found +it had not sufficient hold of the water to answer for such an implement. +The most he could effect with it, in that way, was to keep the canoe for +a short distance along the outer edge of the rice, until it reached a +spot where the plant extended a considerable distance farther toward the +middle of the river. Once within this little forest of the wild rice, he +was enabled to drag the canoe farther and farther from the north shore, +though his progress was both slow and laborious, on account of the +resistance met. + +All this time, the savages were not idle. Until the canoe got within +its new cover, it was at no instant fifty yards from the beach, and the +yells, and orders, and whoopings sounded as if uttered directly in le +Bourdon's ear. A splashing in the water soon announced that our fugitive +was pursued by swimmers. As the savages knew that the beehunter was +without a paddle, and that the wind blew fresh, the expectation +of overtaking their late captive, in this manner, was by no means +chimerical. Half a dozen active young men would prove very formidable to +one in such a situation, more especially while entangled in the mazes +of the rice-plant. The bee-hunter was so well convinced of this +circumstance, that no sooner did he hear the splashes of the swimmers, +than he redoubled his exertions to pull his canoe farther from the spot. +But his progress was slow, and he was soon convinced that his impunity +was more owing to the fact that his pursuers did not know where to find +him, than to the rapidity of his flight. + +Notwithstanding his exertions, and the start obtained, le Bourdon soon +felt assured that the swimmers were within a hundred feet of him, their +voices coming from the outer margin of the cover in which he now lay, +stationary. He had ceased dragging the canoe ahead, from an apprehension +of being heard, though the rushing of the wind and the rustling of +the rice might have assured him that the slight noises made by his +own movements would not be very likely to rise above those sounds. The +splashing of the swimmers, and their voices, gradually drew nearer, +until the bee-hunter took up his rifle, determined to sacrifice the +first savage who approached; hoping, thereby, to intimidate the others. +For the first time, it now occurred to him that the breech of his rifle +might be used as a paddle, and he was resolved to apply it to that +service, could he once succeed in extricating himself from the enemies +by whom he was nearly environed, and from the rice. + +Just as le Bourdon fancied that the crisis had arrived, and that he +should soon be called on to kill his man, a shout was given by a savage +at some distance in the river, and presently calls passed from mouth to +mouth, among the swimmers. Our hero now listened to a degree that kept +his faculty of hearing at a point of painful attention. The voices and +plashes on the water receded, and what was startling, a sound was heard +resembling that which as produced by a paddle when struck incautiously +against the side of a canoe. Was it then possible that the Chippewa was +out, or had the Pottawattamies one boat that had escaped his attention? +The last was not very probable, as he had several times counted their +little fleet, and was pretty sure of having taken it all to the other +side of the river. The sound of the paddle was repeated, however; then +it occurred to the bee-hunter, that Pigeonswing might be on the scent +for another scalp. + +Although the conjecture just mentioned was exceedingly unpleasant to le +Bourdon, the chase of the strange canoe gave him an opportunity to drag +his own light craft ahead, penetrating deeper and deeper among the wild +rice, which now spread itself to a considerable distance from the shore, +and grew so thick as to make it impossible to get through the waving +mass. At length, wearied with his exertions, and a little uncertain as +to his actual position, our hero paused, listening intently, in order to +catch any sounds that might direct his future movements. + +By this time the savages ceased to call to each other; most probably +conscious of the advantage it gave the fugitive. The bee-hunter +perfectly understood that his pursuers must be aware of its being +entirely out of his power to get to windward, and that they would keep +along the shore of the river, as he did himself, expecting to see his +canoe sooner or later driven by the wind on the beach. This had made him +anxious to drag his boat as much toward the outer edge of the rice as +he could get it, and by the puffs of wind that he occasionally felt, he +hoped he had, in a great measure, effected his purpose. Still he had his +apprehensions of the savages; as some would be very apt to swim quite +out into the stream, not only to look for him, but to avoid being +entangled among the plants. It was only in the natural channels of the +rice, of which there were a good many, that a swimmer could very readily +make his way, or be in much safety. By waiting long enough, moreover, +the bee-hunter was sure he should tire out his pursuers, and thus get +rid of them. + +Just as le Bourdon began to think this last-mentioned purpose had +been accomplished, he heard low voices directly to windward, and the +splashing of water, as if more than one man was coming down upon him, +forcing the stalks of the plants aside. He grasped the rifle, and let +the canoe drift, which it did slowly, under the power of the wind, +notwithstanding the protection of the cover. The swimmers forced their +way through the stalks; but it was evident, just then, that they +were more occupied by their present pursuit than in looking for him. +Presently a canoe came brushing through the rice, forced by the wind, +and dragged by two savages, one of whom swam on each bow. The last did +not see the bee-hunter, or his canoe, the one nearest having his face +turned in the opposite direction; but they were distinctly seen by the +former. Surprised that a seizure should be made with so little fracas, +le Bourdon bent forward to look the better, and, as the stern of the +strange canoe came almost under his eyes, he saw the form of Margery +lying in its bottom. His blood curdled at this sight; for his first +impression was, that the charming young creature had been killed and +scalped; but there being no time to lose, he sprang lightly from one +canoe to the other, carrying the rifle in his hand. As he struck in +the bottom of the boat of Gershom, he heard his name uttered in a +sweet female voice, and knew that Margery was living. Without stopping, +however, to inquire more, he moved to the head of the canoe, and, with +a sharp blow on the fingers, made each of the savages release his grasp. +Then, seizing the rice-plants, he dragged the little craft swiftly to +windward again. All this was done, as it might be, in an instant; the +savages and the canoe being separated some twenty feet, in much less +time than is required to relate the occurrence. + +"Bourdon, are you injured?" asked Margery, her voice trembling with +anxiety. + +"Not in the least, dear Margery--and you, my excellent girl?" + +"They caught my canoe, and I almost died of fright; but they have only +dragged it toward the shore." + +"God be praised! Is there any paddle in the canoe?" + +"There are several--one is at your feet, Bourdon--and here, I have +another." + +"Then, let us search for my canoe, and get out of the rice. If we can +but find my canoe, we shall be safe enough, for the savages have nothing +in which to cross the river. Keep your eyes about you, Margery, and look +among the rice for the other boat." + +The search was not long, but it was intently anxious. At length Margery +saw the lost canoe just as it was drifting past them, and it was secured +immediately. In a few minutes, le Bourdon succeeded in forcing the +two craft into open water, when it was easy for him to paddle both to +windward. The reader can readily imagine that our hero did not permit +many minutes to elapse, ere he questioned his companion on the subject +of her adventures. Nor was Margery reluctant to tell them. She had +become alarmed at le Bourdon's protracted absence, and taking advantage +of Pigeonswing lying down, she unloaded her brother's canoe, and +went out into the river to look for the absent one. As a matter of +course--though so feminine and far removed from all appearance of +coarseness, a true American girl in this respect--Margery knew perfectly +well how to manage a bark canoe. The habits of her life for the last few +years, made her acquainted with this simple art; and strength being +much less needed than skill, she had no difficulty in going whither +she wished. The fires served as beacons, and Margery had been a distant +witness of the bee-hunter's necromancy as well as of his escape. The +instant the latter was effected, she endeavored to join him; and it was +while incautiously paddling along the outer edge of the rice, with this +intention, that her canoe was seized by two of the swimmers. As soon as +these last ascertained that they had captured a "squaw," they did not +give themselves the trouble to get into the canoe--a very difficult +operation with one made of bark, and which is not loaded--but they +set about towing the captured craft to the shore, swimming each with a +single hand and holding on by the other. + +"I shall not soon forget this kindness of yours, Margery," said le +Bourdon, with warmth, when the girl had ended her simple tale, which +had been related in the most artless and ingenuous manner. "No man could +forget so generous a risk on the part of a young woman in his behalf." + +"I hope you do not think it wrong, Bourdon--I should be sorry to have +you think ill of me!" + +"Wrong, dear Margery!--but no matter. Let us get ourselves out of +present difficulties, and into a place of safety; then I will tell you +honestly what I think of it, and of you, too. Was your brother awake, +dear Margery, when you left the family?" + +"I believe not--he sleeps long and heavily after drinking. But he can +now drink no more, until he reaches the settlements." + +"Not unless he finds the whiskey spring," returned the bee-hunter, +laughing. + +The young man then related to his wondering companion the history of the +mummery and incantations of which she had been a distant spectator. Le +Bourdon's heart was light, after his hazards and escape, and his spirits +rose as his narrative proceeded. Nor was pretty Margery in a mood to +balk his humor. As the bee-hunter recounted his contrivances to elude +the savages, and most especially when he gave the particulars of the +manner in which he managed to draw whiskey out of the living rock, the +girl joined in his merriment, and filled the boat with that melody of +the laugh of her years and sex, which is so beautifully described by +Halleck. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + The things that once she loved are still the same; + Yet now there needs another name + To give the feeling which they claim, + While she the feeling gives; + She cannot call it gladness or delight; + And yet there seems to be a richer, lovelier light + On e'en the humblest thing that lives. + --WASHINGTON ALLSTON. + + +The history given by le Bourdon lasted until the canoes reached the +south shore. Glad enough was Dorothy to see them both safe back, for +neither of her companions had yet awoke. It was then midnight, and all +now retired to seek the rest which might be so needful to prepare them +for the exertions of the next day. The bee-hunter slept in his canoe, +while Margery shared the buffalo-skin of her sister. + +As perfect security, for the moment at least, was felt by the sleepers, +their slumbers were sound, and reached into the morning. Then le Bourdon +arose, and withdrawing to a proper distance, he threw off his clothes +and plunged into the stream, in conformity with a daily practice of his +at that genial season of the year. After bathing, the young man ascended +a hill, whence he might get a good view of the opposite shore, and +possibly obtain some notion of what the Pottawattamies were about. In +all his movements, however, the bee-hunter had an eye to the concealment +of his person, it being of the last importance that the savages should +not learn his position. With the intention of concealment, the fire had +been suffered to go down, a smoke being a sign that no Indian would be +likely to overlook. As for the canoe and the bivouac of the party, the +wild rice and an intermediate hill formed a perfect cover, so long as +nothing was shown above them. + +From the height to which he ascended, the bee-hunter, aided by his +glass, got a very clear view of Whiskey Centre and the parts adjacent. +The savages were already stirring, and were busy in the various +avocations of the red man on a war-path. One party was disposing of +the body of their dead companion. Several were cooking, or cleaning the +wild-fowl shot in the bay, while a group was collected near the spot of +the wished-for spring, reluctant to abandon the hopes to which it had +given birth, at the very moment they were plotting to obtain the scalp +of the "medicine-man." The beloved "fire-water," that seduces so many +to their destruction, who have enjoyed the advantages of moral teaching, +and which has been a withering curse on the red man of this continent, +still had its influence; and the craving appetites of several of the +drunkards of the party brought them to the spot, as soon as their eyes +opened on the new day. The bee-hunter could see some of this cluster +kneeling on the rocks, lapping like hounds at the scattered little +pools of the liquor, while others scented around, in the hope of yet +discovering the bird that laid the golden egg. Le Bourdon had now little +expectation that his assumed character could be maintained among these +savages any longer, did accident again throw him in their way. The +chiefs, he saw, had distrusted him all along, but had given him an +opportunity to prove what he could do, in order to satisfy the more +vulgar curiosity of their young men. He wisely determined, therefore, to +keep out of the hands of his enemies. + +Although le Bourdon could hold a conversation in the tongue of +the Ojebways, he was not fond of so doing. He comprehended without +difficulty nearly all of what was said by them, and had observed the +previous night that the warriors made many allusions to a chief whom +they styled Onoah, but who he himself knew was usually called Scalping +Peter among the whites of that frontier. This savage had a fearful +reputation at all the garrisons, though he never showed himself in +them; and he was now spoken of by the Pottawattamies present, as if they +expected to meet him soon, and to be governed by his commands or his +advice. The bee-hunter had paid great attention whenever this dreaded +name was mentioned, for he was fully aware of the importance of +keeping clear of an enemy who bore so bad a reputation that it was not +considered prudent for a white man to remain long in his company even +in a time of peace. His English sobriquet had been obtained from the +circumstances of its being reputed that this chief, who seemed to belong +to no tribe in particular, while he had great influence with all, had +on divers occasions murdered the palefaces who fell in his way, and then +scalped them. It was added, that he had already forty notches on his +pole, to note that number of scalps taken from the hated whites. In +short, this Indian, a sort of chief by birth, though of what tribe no +one exactly knew, appeared to live only to revenge the wrongs done his +color by the intruders, who had come from toward the rising sun to +drive his people into the great salt lake on the other side of the Rocky +Mountains. Of course there was a good deal that was questionable in +these reports; a rumor in the "openings" and on the prairies, having +this general resemblance to those that circulate in town, and in +drawing-rooms, and at feasts, that no one of them all can be relied on +as rigidly exact. But le Bourdon was still young, and had yet to learn +how little of that which we all hear is true, and how very much is +false. Nevertheless, as an Indian tradition is usually more accurate +than a white man's written history, so is a rumor of the forest +generally entitled to more respect than the ceaseless gossipings of the +beings who would be affronted were they not accounted civilized. + +The bee-hunter was still on the elevated bit of ground, making his +observations, when he was joined by Margery. The girl appeared fresh and +handsome, after a night of sleep, and coming from her dressing-room in +a thicket, and over a stream of sweet running water; but she was sad and +thoughtful. No sooner had le Bourdon shaken her hand, and repeated his +thanks for the succor of the past night, than the full heart of Margery +poured out its feelings, as the swollen stream overflows its banks, and +began to weep. + +"Brother is awake," she said, as soon as her sobs were quieted by a +powerful effect; "but, as is usual with him after hard drinking, so +stupid, that Dolly cannot make him understand our danger. He tells her +he has seen too many Injins to be afraid of these, and that they will +never harm a family that has brought so much liquor into their country." + +"His senses must be at a low ebb, truly, if he counts on Injin +friendship because he has sold fire-water to the young men!" answered +le Bourdon, with a nice understanding of not only Indian nature, but +of human nature. "We may like the sin, Margery, while we detest the +tempter. I have never yet met with the man, pale-face or red-skin, who +did not curse, in his sober moments, the hand that fed his appetite +while intoxicated." + +"I dare say that may be very true," returned the girl, in a low voice; +"but one has need of his reason to understand it. What will become of us +now, it is hard to say." + +"Why, now, Margery, more than yesterday, or the day before?" + +"Yesterday there were no savages near us, and Gershorn had all along +told us he intended to start for the garrison at the head of the lake, +as soon as he got back from his visit to the openings. He is back; but +not in a state to protect his wife and sister from the red man, who will +be looking for us as soon as they can build a canoe, or anything that +will do to cross the river with." + +"Had they even a canoe," returned le Bourdon, coolly, "they would not +know where to look for us. Thank Heaven! that will be a job that would +take some time; nor is a bark canoe built in a minute. But, Margery, +if your brother be a little dull and heavy, after his debauch, _I_ am +sober, and as much awake as ever I was in my life." + +"Oh! you have no weakness like that of poor brother's, to make you +otherwise; but, Bourdon, you will naturally wish to take care of +yourself and your property, and will quit us the first good opportunity. +I'm sure that we have no right to expect you will stay a minute longer +than it is your interest to do so, and I do not know that I wish it." + +"Not wish it, Margery!" exclaimed the bee-hunter, in the manner of a +disappointed man. "I had supposed you would have wished my company. But, +now I know the contrary, I shall not much care how soon I go, or into +whose hands I fall." + +It is strange how apt are those who ought to understand one another so +readily, to misinterpret each other's thoughts. Margery had never seen +the bee-hunter twenty-four hours before, though she had often heard +of him, and of his success in his art; for the fame of a man of good +reputation and active qualities spreads far on a frontier. The very +individual whose existence would be nearly overlooked in a crowded +region, shall be spoken of, and known by his qualities, a hundred +leagues from his place of residence, when settlements are few and far +apart. In this way, Margery had heard of Boden, or of "Bourdon," as she +called him, in common with hundreds who, confounding his real name with +his sobriquet, made the mistake of using the last under the impression +that it was the true appellation. Margery had no other knowledge of +French than the few words gleaned in her slow progress among a frontier +on which, it is true, more of that language than of any other was heard, +but heard under circumstances that were not particularly favorable to +the acquisition of a foreign tongue. Had she understood the real meaning +of "Bourdon," she would have bitten off her tongue before she would have +once called Boden by such an appellation; though the bee-hunter himself +was so accustomed to his Canadian nickname as to care nothing at all +about it. But Margery did not like to give pain to any one; and, least +of all, would she desire to inflict it on the bee-hunter, though he +were only an acquaintance of a day. Still, Margery could not muster +sufficient courage to tell her new friend how much he was mistaken, and +that of all the youths she had ever met she would most prefer to keep +him near her brother and sister in their distress; while the young man, +inspired by a pure and infant passion, was just in the frame of mind to +believe the worst of himself, and of his claims to the attention of her +who had begun to occupy so many of his thoughts. + +No explanation occurring, our young people descended from the hill, +misconceiving each other's meaning and wishes, and unhappy under the +influence of an ideal source of misery, when actual circumstances +created so many that were substantial and real. Gershom was found +awake, but, as his sister had described him, stupid and lethargic. The +bee-hunter at once saw that, in his present condition, Whiskey Centre +would still be an incumbrance rather than of any service, in the event +of an occasion for extraordinary exertion. Margery had hinted that it +usually took twenty-four hours to bring her brother entirely round, +after one of his serious debauches; and within that time it was more +than probable that the fate of the family would be decided. + +Le Bourdon thought intently, during breakfast, of the condition of his +party, and of the best mode of proceeding, while the pallid and anxious +young creature at his side believed he was deliberating solely on the +best means of extricating himself and his store of honey, from the +savages on the other shore. Had the acquaintance between these young +people been of longer date than it actually was, Margery could not +have entertained a notion so injurious to the bee-hunter, for a single +moment; but there was nothing either violent, or depreciating, in +supposing that one so near being a total stranger would think first of +himself and his own interests, in the situation in which this young man +was now placed. + +Little was said during the meal. Dorothy was habitually silent; the +result of grief and care. As for her husband, he was too stupid to +talk, though usually somewhat garrulous; while the Indian seldom did +two things at the same time. This was the hour for acting; when that +for talking should arrive, he would be found equal to its duties. +Pigeonswing could either abstain from food, or could indulge in it +without measure, just as occasion offered. He had often gone for +days without tasting a mouthful, with the exception of a few berries, +perhaps; and he had lain about the camp-fire, a week at a time, gorging +himself with venison, like an anaconda. It is perhaps fortunate for the +American Indian, that this particular quality of food is so very easy of +digestion, since his excesses on it are notorious, and so common to his +habits as almost to belong to his nature. Death might otherwise often be +the consequence. + +When the breakfast was ended, it was time to consult about the future +course. As yet, the Pottawattamies had made no new discovery; but the +sagacity of the red man was ever to be feared, when it came to be merely +a question of finding his foe in a forest. + +"We have obtained one advantage over the enemy," said le Bourdon, "by +crossing the river. Water leaves no trail; even had Crowsfeather a +canoe, he might not know where to go in it, in order to find us." + +"Dat not so," put in the Chippewa, a little dogmatically; "know we hab +canoe--know cross river in him." + +"Why should they know this, Pigeonswing? We may have gone out upon the +lake, or we may have gone up in the oak openings again, for anything the +Pottawattamies can know to the contrary." + +"Tell you, not so. Know don't go on lake, cause wind blow. Know don't +go up river, cause dat hard work; know come here, cause dat easy. Injin +like to do what easy, and pale-face do just what Injin do. Crowsfeather +make raft, pretty soon; den he come look arter scalp." + +"Yes," said Margery, gently; "you had better load your canoe at once, +and go on the lake, while the savages cannot reach you. The wind is fair +for them that are to go north; and I have heard you say that you are +bound to Mackinaw." + +"I shall load my canoe, and I shall load yours, too, Margery; but I +shall not go away from this family, so long as any in it stand in need +of my services." + +"Brother will be able to help us by afternoon. He manages a canoe well, +when himself; so go, Bourdon, while you can. I dare say you have a +mother at home; or a sister perhaps a wife--" + +"Neither," interrupted the bee-hunter, with emphasis. "No one expects +me; no one has a right to expect me." + +The color stole into pretty Margery's cheeks as she heard these words, +and a ray of comfort gleamed on an imagination that, for the last hour, +had been portraying the worst. Still, her generous temper did not like +the idea of the bee-hunter's sacrificing himself for those who had +so few claims on him, and she could not but again admonish him of the +necessity of losing no time. + +"You will think better of this, Bourdon," the girl resumed. "We are +going south, and cannot quit the river with this wind, but you could +not have a better time to go north, unless the wind blows harder than I +think it does." + +"The lake is a bad water for a canoe, when there is much wind," put in +Gershom, yawning after he had spoken, as if the effort fatigued him, +"I wonder what we're all doing over on this side of the river! Whiskey +Centre is a good enough country for me; I'm going back to look arter my +casks, now I've breakfasted. Come, Doll; let's load up, and be off." + +"You are not yourself yet, Gershom," returned the sorrowful wife, "or +you would not talk in this way. You had better listen to the advice of +Bourdon, who has done so much for us already, and who will tell you the +way to keep out of Injin clutches. We owe our lives to Bourdon, Gershom, +and you should thank him for it." + +Whiskey Centre muttered a few half intelligible words of thanks, and +relapsed into his state of drowsy indifference. The bee-hunter saw, +however, that the effects of the brandy were leaving him, and he managed +to get him on one side, where he persuaded the fellow to strip and go +into the water. The bath did wonders for the poor creature, who soon +got to be so far himself again, as to be of use, instead of being an +incumbrance. When sober, and more especially when sober for several +consecutive days, Gershom was a man of sufficient energy, possessing +originally great personal strength and activity, which had been +essentially lessened, however, by his excesses in liquor. It has already +been stated what a different being he became, in a moral point of view, +after having been sober for any length of time. + +On his return from the bathing, le Bourdon again joined the females. +Margery had been weeping; but she smiled in a friendly way, on meeting +his eye, and appeared less anxious for his departure than she had been +an hour before. As the day advanced, and no signs of the savages were +seen, a sense of greater security began to steal over the females, and +Margery saw less necessity for the departure of their new friend. It +was true, he was losing a wind; but the lake was rough, and after all +it might be better to wait. In short, now that no immediate danger was +apparent, Margery began to reason in conformity with her wishes, as is +so apt to be the case with the young and inexperienced. The bee-hunter +perceived this change in the deportment of his fair friend, and was well +enough disposed to hope it would admit of a favorable construction. + +All this time, the Chippewa had taken little visible interest in the +state of the party to which he had now attached himself. The previous +evening had been fertile in excitement and in gratification, and he had +since slept and ate to his entire content. He was ready to meet events +as they might arise, and began to plot the means of obtaining more +Pottawattamie scalps. Let not the refined reader feel disdisgust at this +exhibition of the propensities of an American savage. Civilized life has +had, and still has, very many customs, little less excusable than that +of scalping. Without dragging into the account the thousand and one sins +that disgrace and deform society, it will be sufficient to look into the +single interest of civilized warfare, in order to make out our case. In +the first place, the noblest strategy of the art is, to put the greatest +possible force on the least of the enemy, and to slay the weaker party +by the mere power of numbers. Then, every engine that ingenuity can +invent, is drawn into the conflict; and rockets, revolvers, shells, and +all other infernal devices, are resorted to, in order to get the +better of an enemy who is not provided with such available means of +destruction. And after the battle is over, each side commonly claims +the victory; sometimes, because a partial success has been obtained in a +small portion of the field; sometimes, because half a dozen horses have +run away with a gun, carrying it into the hostile ranks; and, again, +because a bit of rag has fallen from the hands of a dead man, and been +picked up by one of the opposing side. How often has it happened that a +belligerent, well practised in his art, has kept his own colors out of +the affair, and then boasted that they were not lost! Now, an Indian +practises no such shameless expedients. His point of honor is not a +bit of rag, but a bit of his skin. He shaves his head because the hair +encumbers him; but he chivalrously leaves a scalp-lock, by the aid of +which his conquerors can the more easily carry away the coveted +trophy. The thought of cheating in such a matter never occurs to his +unsophisticated mind; and as for leaving his "colors" in barracks, while +he goes in the field himself, he would disdain it--nay, cannot practise +it; for the obvious reason that his head would have to be left with +them. + +Thus it was with Pigeonswing. He had made his toilet for the war-path, +and was fierce in his paint, but honest and fair-dealing in other +particulars. If he could terrify his enemies by looking like a skeleton, +or a demon, it was well; his enemy would terrify him, if possible, by +similar means. But neither would dream, or did dream, of curtailing, by +a single hair, that which might be termed the flag-staff of his scalp. +If the enemy could seize it, he was welcome to the prize; but if he +could seize that of the enemy, no scruples on the score of refinement, +or delicacy, would be apt to interfere with his movements. It was in +this spirit, then, that Pigeonswing came to the canoe, where le Bourdon +was holding a little private discourse with Margery, and gave utterance +to what was passing in his mind. + +"Good time, now, get more scalps, Bourdon," said the Chippewa, in his +clipping, sententious English. + +"It is a good time, too, to keep our own, Chippewa," was the answer. +"Your scalp-lock is too long, to be put before Pottawattamie eyes +without good looking after it." + +"Nebber mind him--if go, go; if stay, stay. Always good for warrior to +bring home scalp." + +"Yes; I know your customs in this respect, Pigeonswing, but ours are +different. We are satisfied if we can keep out of harm's way, when we +have our squaws and pappooses with us." + +"No pappooses here," returned the Indian, looking around him--"dat your +squaw, eh?" + +The reader can readily imagine that this abrupt question brought blushes +into the cheeks of pretty Margery, making her appear ten times +more handsome than before; while even le Bourdon did not take the +interrogatory wholly undisturbed. Still, the latter answered manfully, +as became his sex. + +"I am not so fortunate as to have a squaw, and least of all to have +this" said le Bourdon. + +"Why no hab her--she good squaw," returned the literal-minded +Indian--"han'some 'nough for chief. You ask; she hab--now squaw +well--always like warrior to ask him fuss; den say, yes." + +"Aye, that may do with your red-skin squaws," le Bourdon hastily +replied; for he saw that Margery was not only distressed, but a little +displeased--"but not with the young women of the pale-faces. I never saw +Margery before last evening; and it takes time for a pale-face girl to +know a youth." + +"Just so wid red-skin--sometime don't know, till too late! See plenty +dat, in wigwam." + +"Then it is very much in the wigwams as it is in the houses. I have +heard this before." + +"Why not same?--skin make no difference--pale-face spile squaw, +too--make too much of her." + +"That can never be!" exclaimed le Bourdon, earnestly. "When a pretty, +modest, warm-hearted young woman accepts a youth for a husband, he can +never make enough of her!" + +On hearing sentiments so agreeable to a woman's ears, Margery looked +down, but she looked pleased. Pigeonswing viewed the matter very +differently; and being somewhat of a partisan in matters relating +to domestic economy, he had no thought of leaving a point of so much +importance in so bad a way. Accordingly, it is not surprising that, +in pursuing the subject, he expressed opinions in several essentials +diametrically the reverse of those of the bee-hunter. + +'"Easy 'nough spile squaw," rejoined the Chippewa. "What she good for, +don't make her work? Can't go on the warpath--can't take scalp--can't +shoot deer--can't hunt--can't kill warrior--so muss work. Dat what squaw +good for." + +"That may do among red men, but we pale-faces find squaws good for +something else--we love them and take care of them--keep them from the +cold in winter, and from the heat in summer; and try to make them as +comfortable and happy as we can." + +"Dat good talk for young squaw's ears," returned the Chippewa, a little +contemptuously as to manner; though his real respect for the bee-hunter, +of whose prowess he had so lately been a witness, kept him a little +within bounds "but it bess not take nobody in. What Injin say to squaw, +he do--what pale-face say, he no do." + +"Is that true, Bourdon?" demanded Margery, laughing at the Indian's +earnestness. + +"I shall be honest, and own that there may be some truth in it--for the +Injin promises nothing, or next to nothing, and it is easy to square +accounts, in such cases. That white men undertake more than they always +perform, is quite likely to be the fact The Injin gets his advantage in +this matter, by not even thinking of treating his wife as a woman should +be treated." + +"How should treat woman?" put in Pigeonswing with warmth. "When warrior +eat venison, gib her rest, eh? Dat no good--what you call good, den? If +good hunter husband, she get 'nough--if an't good hunter, she don't get +'nough. Just so wid Injin--sometime hungry, sometime full. Dat way to +live!" + +"Aye, that may be your red man's ways, but it is not the manner in which +we wish to treat our wives. Ask pretty Margery, here, if she would be +satisfied to wait until her husband had eaten his dinner, and then come +in for the scraps. No-no-Pigeonswing; we feed our women and children +first and come in last, ourselves." + +"Dat good for pappoose--he little; want venison--squaw tough; use to +wait. Do her good." + +Margery now laughed outright, at these specimens of Indian gallantry, +which only too well embody the code of the red man's habits. Doubtless +the heart has its influence among even the most savage people, for +nature has not put into our breasts feelings and passions to be +discarded by one's own expedients, or wants. But no advocate of the +American Indian has ever yet been able to maintain that woman fills her +proper place in his estimate of claims. As for Margery, though so long +subject to the whims, passions and waywardness of a drunkard, she +had reaped many of the advantages of having been born in that woman's +paradise, New England. We are no great admirers of the legacy left +by the Puritan to his descendants, taken as an inheritance in morals, +manners, and customs, and as a whole; though there are parts, in the way +of codicils, that there is no portion of the Christian world which might +not desire to emulate. In particular, do we allude to the estimate put +upon, and the treatment received by their women. Our allusion is not to +the refinements and gracefulness of polished intercourse; for of THEM, +the Blarney Rock of Plymouth has transmitted but a meagre account in the +inventory, and perhaps the less that is said about this portion of the +family property the better; but, dropping a few degrees in the social +scale, and coming down to the level where we are accustomed to regard +people merely as men and women, we greatly question if any other portion +of the world can furnish a parallel to the manly, considerate, rational, +and wisely discriminating care, that the New England husband, as the +rule, bestows on his wife; the father on his daughter; or the brother +on his sister. Gershom was a living, and, all things considered, a +remarkable instance of these creditable traits. When sober, he was +uniformly kind to Dorothy; and for Margery he would at any time risk +his life. The latter, indeed, had more power over him than his own +wife possessed, and it was her will and her remonstrances that most +frequently led him back from the verge of that precipice over which he +was so often disposed to cast himself. By some secret link she bound him +closest to the family dwelling, and served most to recall the days of +youth and comparative innocence, when they dwelt together beneath +the paternal roof, and were equally the objects of the affection and +solicitude of the same kind mother. His attachment to Dorothy was +sincere, and, for one so often brutalized by drink, steady; but Dorothy +could not carry him as far back, in recollections, as the one only +sister who had passed the morning of life with him, in the same homely +but comfortable abode. + +We have no disposition to exaggerate the character of those whom it is +the fashion to term the American yeomen, though why such an appellation +should be applied to any in a state of society to which legal +distinctions are unknown, is what we could never understand. There are +no more of esquires and yeomen in this country than there are of knights +and nobles, though the quiet manner in which the transition from the old +to the new state of things has been made, has not rendered the public +mind very sensible to the changes. But, recurring to the class, which is +a positive thing and consequently ought to have a name of some sort or +other, we do not belong to those that can sound its praises without some +large reservations on the score of both principles and manners. Least of +all, are we disposed to set up these yeomen as a privileged class, +like certain of the titular statesmen of the country, and fall down and +worship a calf--not a golden one by the way--of our own setting up. +We can see citizens in these yeomen, but not princes, who are to be +especially favored by laws made to take from others to bestow on them. +But making allowances for human infirmities, the American freeholder +belongs to a class that may justly hold up its head among the tillers +of the earth. He improves daily, under the influence of beneficent +laws, and if he don't get spoiled, of which there is some danger, in the +eagerness of factions to secure his favor, and through that favor his +VOTE--if he escape this danger, he will ere long make a reasonably near +approach to that being, which the tongue of the flatterer would long +since have persuaded him he had already more than got to be. + +To one accustomed to be treated kindly, as was the case with Margery, +the Chippewa's theory for the management of squaws contained much to +excite her mirth, as well as her resentment, as she now made apparent by +her remarks. + +"You do not deserve to HAVE a wife, Pigeonswing," she cried, +half-laughing, yet evidently alive to the feelings of her sex--"can have +no gratitude for a wife's tenderness and care. I wonder that a Chippewa +girl can be found to have you?" + +"Don't want him," coolly returned the Indian, making his preparations +to light his pipe--"got Winnebagoe squaw, already; good 'nough for +me. Shoot her t'other husband and take his scalp--den she come into my +wigwam." + +"The wretch!" exclaimed Margery. + +But this was a word the savage did not understand, and he continued to +puff at the newly lighted tobacco, with all of a smoker's zeal. When the +fire was secured, he found time to continue the subject. + +"Yes, dat good war-path--got rifle; got wife; got TWO scalp! Don't do so +well, ebbery day." + +"And that woman hoes your corn, and cooks your venison?" demanded the +bee-hunter. + +"Sartain--capital good to hoe--no good to cook--make deer meat too dry. +Want to be made to mind business. Bye'm by teach him. No l'arn all at +once, like pale-face pappoose in school." + +"Pigeonswing, have you never observed the manner in which the white man +treats his squaw?" + +"Sartain--see him make much of her--put her in warm corner--wrap +blanket round her--give her venison 'fore he eat himself--see all dat, +often--what den? DAT don't make it right." + +"I give you up, Chippewa, and agree with Margery in thinking you ought +not to have a squaw, at all." + +"T'ink alike, den--why no get marry?" asked the Indian, without +circumlocution. + +Margery's face became red as fire; then her cheeks settled into the +color of roses, and she looked down, embarrassed. The bee-hunter's +admiration was very apparent to the Indian, though the girl did not dare +to raise her eyes from the ground, and so did not take heed of it. But +this gossiping was suddenly brought to an end by a most unexpected cause +of interruption; the manner and form of which it shall be our office to +relate, in the succeeding chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + So should it be--for no heart beats + Within his cold and silent breast; + To him no gentle voice repeats + The soothing words that make us blest. + --PEABODY. + + +The interruption came from Dorothy, who, on ascending the little height, +had discovered a canoe coming into the mouth of the river, and who was +running, breathless with haste, to announce the circumstance to the +bee-hunter. The latter immediately repaired to the eminence, and saw for +himself the object that so justly had alarmed the woman. The canoe was +coming in from the lake, after running before the wind, which now began +to abate a little in its strength, and it evidently had been endeavoring +to proceed to the northward. The reason for its entering the river, was +probably connected with the cookery or food of the party, since the lake +was each minute getting to be safer, and more navigable for so light +a craft. To le Bourdon's great apprehension, he saw the savages on the +north shore making signal to this strange canoe, by means of smoke, +and he foresaw the probability of his enemies obtaining the means +of crossing the stream, should the strangers proceed in the desired +direction. To counteract this design, he ran down to a spot on the beach +where there was no rice-plant, and showing himself to the strangers, +invited them to land on the south side, which was much the nearest, and +in other visible respects quite as convenient as the opposite bank +of the river. One of the strangers soon made a gesture with an arm, +implying assent, and the bows of this strange canoe were immediately +turned toward the spot where the bee-hunter stood. + +As the canoe drew near, the whole party, including Pigeonswing, came +to the margin of the water to receive the strangers. Of the last, there +were three; one paddling at each end of the light bark, and a third +seated in its centre, doing nothing. As the bee-hunter had his glass, +with which he examined these visitors, he was soon questioned by his +companions concerning their character and apparent purposes. + +"Who are they, Bourdon?" demanded the impatient Margery--"and why do +they come here?" + +"The last is a question they must answer for themselves, but the +person paddling in the bows of the canoe seems to be a white man, and a +soldier--or a half-soldier, if one may judge from his dress. The man in +the middle of the canoe is white, also. This last fellow seems to be +a parson--yes, he is a clergyman, though pretty well used up in the +wilderness, as to dress. The third man is a red-skin, beyond all doubt." + +"A clergyman!" repeated Margery, in surprise. "What should a clergyman +be doing here?" + +"There are missionaries scattered about among the savages, I suppose +you know, and this is probably one of them. A body can tell one of these +parsons by his outside, as far as he can see him. The poor man has heard +of the war, most likely, and is trying to get back into the settlements, +while his scalp is safe on his head." + +"Don't hurt HIM" put in the Chippewa, pointedly. "Know MEAN well--talk +about Great Spirit--Injin don't scalp sich medicine-men--if don't mind +what he say, no good to take his scalp." + +"I'm glad to hear this, Pigeonswing, for I had begun to think NO man's +scalp was safe under YOUR fingers. But what can the so'ger be doing +down this-away? A body would think there was business enough for all +the so'gers up at the garrison, at the head of the lake. By the way, +Pigeonswing, what has become of your letter to the captain at Fort +Dearborn, to let him know of the war?" + +"Chaw him up, like so much 'baccy," answered the Chippewa--"yes, chaw +him up, lest Pottawattamie get hold on him, and ask one of King George's +men to read him. No good to hab letter in sich times." + +"The general who employed you to carry that letter, will scarce thank +you for your care." + +"Yes, he do--t'ank all same--pay all same--letter no use now." + +"How can you know that? The letter might be the means of preventing the +garrison from falling into the enemy's hands." + +"Got dere, already. Garrison all kill, scalp, or prisoner. Pottawattamie +talk tell me DAT!" + +"Is this possible! Mackinaw and Chicago both gone, already! John Bull +must have been at work among the savages a long time, to get them into +this state of readiness!" + +"Sartain--work long as can 'member. ALWAY somebody talkin' for great +Montreal Fadder among red men." + +"It must be as you say, Chippewa--but, here are our visitors--let us see +what we can make of THEM!" + +By this time, the canoe was so near as to render it easy to distinguish +countenances and dress, without the aid of the glass--so near, indeed, +that a swift-moving boat, like the canoe, might be expected soon to +reach the shore. The truth of the observation of the bee-hunter was +confirmed, as the strangers approached. The individual in the bows of +the canoe was clearly a soldier, in a fatigue-dress, and the musket +between his legs was one of those pieces that government furnishes to +the troops of the line. The man in the middle of the boat could no more +be mistaken than he in its bows. Each might be said to be in uniform-- +the well-worn, nay, almost threadbare black coat of the "minister," as +much denoting him to be a man of peace, as the fatigue-jacket and cap on +the person of his hard-featured and weather-beaten companion indicated +that the last was a man of war. As for the red man, Pigeonswing declared +that he could not yet tell his tribe, though there was that about his +air, attire and carriage, that proclaimed him a chief—and, as the +Chippewa fancied, a chief of note. In another minute, the bows of the +light craft grated gently on the shingle of the beach. + +"Sago, sago," said the soldier, rising to step ashore--"sago all, +friends, and I hope we come to a welcome camp." + +"You are welcome," returned the bee-hunter. "Welcome as strangers met in +the wilderness, but more welcome, as I see by your dress that you are a +veteran of one of Uncle Sam’s regiments." + +"Quite true, Mr. Bee-hunter ; for such I see is _your_ callin’, by the +honey vessel and glass you carry, and by the other signs about you. We +are travelling toward Mackinaw, and hope to fere as friends, while we +stay in your good company." + +"In going to Mackinaw, do you expect to meet with an _American or an +English_ garrison ?" + +"One of our own, to be sure," returned the soldier, looking up from his +work, like one struck by the question. + +"Mackinaw has fallen, and is now an English post, as well as Chicago." + +"This, then, must alter our plans, Mr. Amen !" exclaimed the soldier, +addressing the minister. "If the enemy has Mackinaw, it will not do for +us to trust ourselves on the island." + +"Amen" was not the real name of the missionary ; but it was a +_sobriquet_ bestowed by the soldiers, on account of the unction with +which this particular word was ordinarily pronounced, and quite likely, +too, because it was the word of all others most pleasant to their ears, +after a sermon, or a prayer. It had, by long use, got to be so familiar, +that the men did not scruple to use it to the good man’s face. This +missionary was a Methodist ; a sect that possessed, in that day, very +few clergymen of education, most of its divines coming of a class in +life that did not predispose them to take offence at light invasions on +their dignity, and whose zeal and habitual self-denial had schooled them +into a submission to far more positive personal privations, than any +connected with the mere tongue. That there are "wolves in sheep’s +clothing" among the Methodists, as well as among the other religious +sects of the country, our daily experience shows ; but the mind must be +sadly inclined to believe evil of others, which does not see in the +humble and untiring efforts of this particular sect of Christians, more +than mere fanaticism or hypocrisy can produce. + +"You are right, corporal," returned the missionary ; "since this is the +case, I see no better course for us to pursue, than to put ourselves +altogether in the hands of Onoah. He has counselled us well, hitherto, +and will do better by us than any other guide to be found, out in this +wilderness." + +Le Bourdon could scarcely trust his sense of hearing ! Onoah was the +Indian appellation of the terrible and most dreaded savage, who, in +English, went by the name of Scalping Peter, or "Scalping Pete," among +all the white dwellers on that frontier, and at all the garrisons of the +Americans, far and near. The Indian name, indeed, was said to mean +"scalp," in several of the dialects of the Iroquois. Perhaps it may be +well, also, to explain here, that the term "garrison" did not imply, in +the language of that region, the troops only who garrisoned a post, but +it was even oftener applied to the post itself than to those who held +it. Thus old, empty, and deserted forts, those that have actually been +abandoned, and are devoted to decay, are almost universally styled the " +garrisons," even though a soldier had not put foot in them for a quarter +of a century. This is one of the proofs of the convertible nature of our +language, of which the country affords so many, and which has changed +the smaller-sized rivers into "creeks," "lakes" into "ponds," "squares" +into "parks," public promenades on the water into "batteries"; to all of +which innovations, bad as they may be, and useless and uncalled for, and +wanton as they are, we are much more willing to submit, than to the new- +fangled and lubberly abomination of saying "ON a steamboat," or "ON a +ship." + +While le Bourdon was so much astounded at hearing the terrible name of +Onoah, which was familiar enough to him, neither of his white companions +betrayed any emotion. Had the Indian been termed "Scalping Peter," it +is probable that both Dorothy and Margery would have screamed, if not +actually fled; but they knew nothing of the appellation that was given +to this mysterious chief, in the language of the red men. To this +circumstance, therefore, was it owing that the utterance of his name did +not produce a general commotion. The bee-hunter observed, nevertheless, +a great change in the demeanor of the Chippewa, the instant the +missionary had uttered the ominous word, though he did not seem to be +alarmed. On the contrary, Boden fancied that his friend Pigeonswing was +pleased, rather than terrified, at ascertaining the character of their +visitor, though he no longer put himself forward, as had been the case +previously; and from that moment the young warrior appeared to carry +himself in a more subdued and less confident manner than was his wont. +This unexpected demeanor on the part of his friend, somewhat confounded +le Bourdon, though it in a degree relieved his apprehensions of any +immediate danger. All this time, the conversation between the missionary +and the corporal went on in as quiet and composed a manner, as if each +saw no ground for any other uneasiness than that connected with the fall +of Mackinaw. + +"Yes, sir," returned the soldier, "Onoah is a good guide, and a great +hand at a council-fire; but these is war-times, and we must stand to +our arms, each accordin' to his edication and temper--you, sir, with +preachin' and prayin', and I with gun and baggonet." + +"Ah! corporal, the preaching and praying would be of quite as much +account with you men of war, as your arms and ammunition, if you could +only be made to think so. Look at Fort Dearborn! It was defended +by human means, having its armed band, and its guns and swords, and +captains and corporals; yet you have seen their pride lowered, their +means of defence destroyed, and a large part of your comrades massacred. +All this has been done to armed men, while the Lord has brought ME, an +unarmed and humble teacher of his word, safely out of the hands of +the Philistines, and placed me here in safety, on the shores of the +Kalamazoo." + +"For that matter, Mr. Amen, the Lord has done the same by ME, with a +musket on my shoulder and a baggonet by my side," returned the +literal corporal. "Preachin' may be good on some marches; but arms and +ammunition answers well enough on others. Hearken to the Hebrew, who +knows all the ways of the wilderness, and see if he don't give you the +same opinion." "The Hebrew is one of the discarded of the Lord, as he +is one chosen of the Lord!" returned the missionary. "I agree with you, +however, that he is as safe an adviser, for a human adviser, as can +be easily found; therefore will I consult him. Child of the seed of +Abraham," he added, turning to Onoah, "thou hast heard the tidings from +Mackinaw; we cannot think, any longer, of pursuing our journey in that +direction; whither, then, wouldst thou advise that we shall direct +our steps? I ask this question of THEE first, as an experienced and +sagacious dweller in the wilderness: at a more fitting time, I intend +to turn to the Lord, and seek divine aid for the direction of our +footsteps." + +"Aye," observed the corporal, who entertained a good deal of respect for +the zealous, but slightly fanatical missionary, though he believed an +Indian was always safe to consult in matters of this sort, "try BOTH--if +one staff should fail, it may be well to have another to lean on. A good +soldier always keeps a part of his troops for a reserve. I motto of his +coat of arms; the "gare a qui la touchc," or "noli me tangere," of his +device." + +The head was shaved, as is usual with a warrior, carrying only the +chivalrous scalp-lock, but the chief was not in his paint. The outline +of this celebrated savage's features was bold and eagle-like; a +comparison that his steady, calm, piercing eye well sustained. The chin +was full and expanded, the lips compressed and firm, the teeth were +short, but even and sound, his smile courteous, and, at times, winning. + +In the way of attire, Onoah was simply dressed, consulting the season +and his journey. He had a single eagle's feather attached to the +scalp-lock, and wore a belt of wampum of more than usual value, beneath +which he had thrust his knife and tomahawk; a light, figured and fringed +hunting-shirt of cotton covered his body, while leggings of deerskin, +with a plain moccasin of similar material, rose to his knee. The latter, +with the lower part of a stout sinewy thigh, was bare. He also carried a +horn and pouch, and a rifle of the American rather than of the military +fashion that is, one long, true, and sighted to the deviation of a hair. + +On landing, Peter (for so he was generally called by the whites, when in +courtesy they omitted the prefix of "Scalping") courteously saluted the +party assembled around the bow of the canoe. This he did with a grave +countenance, like a true American, but in simple sincerity, so far as +human eye could penetrate his secret feelings. To each man he offered +his hand, glancing merely at the two females; though it may be +questioned if he ever before had looked upon so perfect a picture of +female loveliness as Margery at that precise instant presented, with +her face flushed with excitement, her spirited blue eye wandering with +curiosity, and her beautiful mouth slightly parted in admiration. + +"Sago, sago!" said Peter, in his deep, guttural enunciation, speaking +reasonably good English. "Sago, sago all, ole and young, friend come to +see you, and eat in your wigwam--which head--chief, eh?" + +"We have neither wigwam nor chief here," answered le Bourdon, though he +almost shrunk from taking the hand of one of whom he had heard the tales +of which this savage had been the hero; "we are common people, and +have no one among us who holds the States' commission. I live by taking +honey, of which you are welcome to all you can want, and this man is a +helper of the sutlers at the garrisons. He was travelling south to join +the troops at the head of the lake, and I was going north to Mackinaw, +on my way in, toward the settlements." + +"Why is my brother in such haste?" demanded Peter, mildly. "Bees get +tired of making honey?" + +"The times are troubled, and the red men have dug up the hatchet; a +pale-face cannot tell when his wigwam is safe." + +"Where my brodder wigwam?" asked Peter, looking warily around him. "See +he an't here; where is he?" + +"Over in the openings, far up the Kalamazoo. We left it last week, and +had got to the hut on the other shore, when a party of Pottawattamies +came in from the lake, and drove us over here for safety." + +On hearing this, Peter turned slowly to the missionary, raising a finger +as one makes a gesture to give emphasis to his words. + +"Tole you so," said the Indian. "Know dere was Pottawattamie dere. Can +tell 'em great way off." + +"We fear them, having women in our party," added the bee-hunter, "and +think they might fancy our scalps." + +"Dat like enough; all Injin love scalp in war-time. You Yankee, dey +Br'ish; can't travel on same path now, and not quarrel. Must not let +Pottawattamie catch you." + +"How are we to help it, now you have come in? We had all the canoes on +this side of the river, and were pretty safe, but should you cross and +place your canoe in their hands, there is nothing to prevent them from +doing what they please with us. If you will promise not to cross the +river till we can get out well on the lake, we may shift our ground, +however, and leave no trail." + +"Muss cross over--yes, muss cross over, else Pottawattamie t'ink it +strange--yes, muss cross over. Shan't touch canoe, dough." + +"How can you help it, if they be so minded? You are but a single man, +and they are twenty." + +On hearing this, Corporal Flint pricked up his ears, and stood if +possible more erect than ever, for he considered himself a part of a man +at least, and one moreover who had served in all the wars of the west, +from the great battle of St. Glair to that of Mad Anthony. He was spared +the necessity of a reply, however, for Peter made a significant gesture +which as much as told him that he would take that office on himself. + +"No need be afeard," said Peter, quietly. "Know Pottawattamie--know all +chief. Nobody touch canoe of Onoah when he say don't touch him." + +"Yet they are Injins of the British, and I see you here in company with +a soldier of Uncle Sam." + +"No matter; Onoah go just where he please. Sometime to Pottawattamie; +sometime to Iroquois. All Ojebways know Onoah. All Six Nation know him +well. All Injin know him. Even Cherokee know him now, and open ears when +he speak. Muss cross river, and shake hand with Crowsfeather." + +There was nothing boastful, or vaunting, in Peter's manner while he +thus announced his immunity or power, but he alluded to it in a quiet, +natural way, like one accustomed to being considered a personage of +consequence. Mankind, in general, make few allowances for the influence +of habit; the sensibilities of the vainglorious themselves being quite +as often wounded by the most natural and direct allusions of those who +enjoy advantages superior to their own, as by those that are intended to +provoke comparisons. In the present instance, however, no such feeling +could exist, the Indian asserting no more than his extended reputation +would fully maintain. + +When Peter had thus expressed himself, the missionary thought it meet to +add a few words in explanation. This he did, however, aside, walking a +little apart with the bee-hunter, in order so to do. As for Gershom, +no one seemed to think him of sufficient importance to throw away any +interest or care on him. + +"You can trust to Peter, friend bee-hunter," the missionary observed, +"for what he promises he will perform. I know him well, and have put +myself altogether in his hands. If he says that the Pottawattamies are +not to have his canoe, the Pottawattamies will not get it. He is a man +to be depended on." + +"Is not this, then, Scalping Peter, who bears so terrible a name on all +this frontier?" demanded le Bourdon. + +"The same; but do not disturb yourself with names: they hurt no one, and +will soon be forgotten. A descendant of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of +Jacob, is not placed in the wilderness by the hand of divine power for +no purpose; since he is here, rely on it, it is for good." + +"A descendant of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob! Is not Peter, then, a +red-skin and an Injin?" + +"Certainly; though no one knows his tribe but himself. I know it, friend +bee-hunter, and shortly shall proclaim it throughout the length and +breadth of the land. Yes, it has been given to me to make this important +discovery, though I sometimes think that Peter himself is really as +ignorant as all around him of the tribe to which he properly belongs." + +"Do you wish to keep it a secret from me, too? I own that, in my eyes, +the tribe of a red-skin goes a good way in making up my opinions of the +man. Is he a Winnebagoe?" + +"No, my friend, the Winnebagoes have no claims on him at all." + +"Nor a Pottawattamie, Ottawa, or Ojebway of any sort?" + +"He is none of these. Peter cometh of a nobler tribe than any that +beareth such names." + +"Perhaps he is an Injin of the Six Nations? They tell me that many such +have found their way hither since the war of the revolution." + +"All that may be true, but Peter cometh not of Pottawattamie, Ottawa, +nor Ojebway." + +"He can hardly be of the Sacs or the Foxes; he has not the appearance of +an Injin from a region so far west." + +"Neither, neither, neither," answered Parson Amen, now so full of his +secret as fairly to let it overflow. "Peter is a son of Israel; one of +the lost children of the land of Judea, in common with many of his +red brethren-mind, I do not say ALL, but with MANY of his red +brethren--though he may not know exactly of what tribe himself. This +last point has exercised me greatly, and days and nights have I pondered +over the facts. Turn to Genesis XLIX and 14th, and there will you find +all the authorities recorded. 'Zebulon shall dwell at the haven of the +sea.' That refers to some other red brother, nearer to the coast, most +clearly. 'Issachar is a strong ass, crouching down between two burdens'; +'and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.' +That refers, most manifestly, to the black man of the Southern States, +and cannot mean Peter. 'Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in +the path.' There is the red man for you, drawn with the pencil of truth! +'Gad, a troop shall overcome him.' Here, corporal, come this way and +tell our new friend how Mad Anthony with his troopers finally routed +the red-skins. You were there, and know all about it. No language can +be plainer: until the 'long-knives and leather-stockings' came into the +woods, the red man had his way. Against THEM he COULD not prevail." + +"Yes," returned Corporal Flint, who delighted in talking of the wars, +"it was very much as Parson Amen says. The savages, by their nimbleness +and artifices, would first ambush us, and then break away from our +charges, until the gin'ral bethought him of bringing cavalry into +the wilderness. Nobody ever thought of such a plan, until old Anthony +invented it. As soon as we got the fire of the savages, at the Mawmee, +we charged with the baggonet, and put 'em up; and no sooner was they +up, than away went the horse into them, flourishing the 'long knife' +and pressing the heel of the 'leather-stocking' into the flanks of their +beasts. Mr. Amen has found a varse in Scriptur's that does come near to +the p'int, and almost foretells our victory, and that, too, as plain as +it stood in dispatches, arterward, from headquarters." + +"'Gad, a TROOP shall overcome him,'" put in the missionary, +triumphantly. + +"That's it--that's it; there was just one troop on 'em, and not a +man more! Mad Anthony said a troop would answer, arter we had put the +red-skins up out of their ambushes, or any other bushes; and so it did. +I must acknowledge that I think more of the Scriptur's than ever, since +Parson Amen read to me that varse." + +"Hearken unto this, friend bee-hunter," added the missionary, who +by this time had fairly mounted his hobby, and fancied he saw a true +Israelite in every other Indian of the west, "and tell me if words were +ever more prophetic--'Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf; in the morning he +shall devour his prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.' The art +of man could not draw a more faithful picture of these Indians." + +Boden was not much skilled in sacred lore, and scarce knew what to make +of all this. The idea that the American Indians were the descendants +of the lost tribes of Israel was entirely new to him; nor did he know +anything to boast of, touching those tribes, even in their palmiest +days, and while in possession of the promised land; still he had some +confused recollection of that which he had read when a child--what +American has not?--and was enabled to put a question or two, in return +for the information now received. "What, do you take the savages of +America for Jews?" he asked, understanding the general drift of the +missionary's meaning. + +"As sure as you are there, friend bee-hunter, though you are not to +suppose that I think Peter Onoah of the tribe of Benjamin. No, I turn to +the 21st verse for the tribe of Peter Naphthali--Naphthalis, the root +of his stock. 'Naphthali is a hind, let loose: he giveth goodly words.' +Now, what can be plainer than this? A hind let loose is a deer running +at large, and, by a metaphor, that deer includes the man that hunts him. +Now, Peter has been--nay, is still--a renowned hunter, and is intended +to be enumerated among the hinds let loose; 'he giveth goodly words,' +would set that point at rest, if anything were wanting to put it beyond +controversy, for Onoah is the most eloquent speaker ear ever listened +to! No one, that has ever heard him speak, can doubt that he is the one +who 'giveth goodly words.'" + +To what other circumstance the well-intentioned missionary would next +have alluded, in the course of this demonstration of a theory that had +got to be a favorite with him, is more than can now be related, since +the Indian himself drew near, and put an end to the conversation. Peter +had made up his mind to cross the river at once; and came to say as +much to his companions, both of whom he intended to leave behind him. Le +Bourdon could not arrest this movement, short of an appeal to force; +and force he did not like to use, doubting equally its justice and its +prudence. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + There is no other land like thee, No dearer shore; Thou art the shelter + of the free; The home, the port of liberty Thou hast been, and shall + ever be Till time is o'er. Ere I forget to think upon My land, shall + mother curse the son She bore. + --Percival. + + +The independent, not to say controlling, manner of Peter, would seem +to put all remonstrances and arguments at defiance, Le Bourdon soon had +occasion to see that both the missionary and the corporal submitted +to his wishes, and that there was no use in gainsaying anything he +proposed. In all matters he did as he pleased; his two companions +submitting to his will as completely as if one of them had seen in this +supposed child of Israel, Joshua, the son of Nun, and the other even +Aaron, the high-priest, himself. + +Peter's preparations were soon made. Everything belonging to the +missionary and the corporal was removed from the canoe, which then +contained only the extra clothing and the special property of the Indian +himself. As soon as ready, the latter quietly and fearlessly paddled +away, his canoe going easily and swiftly down before the wind. He had no +sooner got clear of the rice, than the bee-hunter and Margery ran away +to the eminence, to watch his movements, and to note his reception among +the Pottawattamies. Leaving them there, we shall accompany the canoe, in +its progress toward the northern shore. + +At first, Peter paddled quietly on, as if he had no other object +before him than the passage of the river. When quite clear of the +rice, however, he ceased, and undid his bundle of clothes, which were +carefully put away in the knapsack of a soldier. From this repository of +his effects, the chief carefully drew forth a small bundle, on opening +which, no less than seven fresh human scalps appeared. These he arranged +in order on a wand-like pole, when, satisfied with the arrangement, +he resumed the paddle. It was apparent, from the first, that the +Pottawattamies on the north shore had seen the strange canoe when it +entered the river, and they now collected in a group, at the ordinary +landing beneath the chiente, to await its approach. Peter ceased his +own exertion, as soon as he had got within a hundred yards of the beach, +took the scalp-pole in his hand, arose, and permitted the canoe to drift +down before the wind, certain it would take the desired direction, from +the circumstance of his having placed it precisely to windward of +the landing. Once or twice he slowly waved the pole in a way to draw +attention to the scalps, which were suspended from its end, each obvious +and distinct from its companions. + +Napoleon, when he returned from the campaign of Austerlitz; or +Wellington, when he entered the House of Commons to receive the thanks +of its speaker, on his return from Spain; or the chief of all the +battles of the Rio Bravo del Norte; or him of the valley of Mexico, +whose exploits fairly rival those of Cortes himself, could scarcely be a +subject of greater interest to a body of spectators, assembled to do +him honor, than was this well-known Indian, as he drew near to the +Pottawattamies, waving his scalps, in significant triumph! Glory, as the +homage paid by man to military renown is termed, was the common impulse +with them all. It is true, that, measured by the standards of reason +and right, the wise and just might find motives for appreciating the +victories of those named differently from the manner in which they are +usually regarded through the atmosphere of success; but in the common +mind it was all glory, alike. The name of "Onoah" passed in murmurs of +admiration, from mouth to mouth; for, as it appeared, the person of this +renowned Indian was recognized by many on the shore, some time ere he +reached it himself. + +Crowsfeather, and the other chiefs, advanced to meet the visitor; the +young men standing in the background, in respectful admiration. Peter +now stepped from the canoe, and greeted each of the principal men with +the courteous gravity of a savage. He shook hands with each, calling +one or two by name, a proof of the parties having met before; then +the following dialogue occurred. All spoke in the tongue of the +Pottawattamies, but, as we have had occasion to remark on previous +occasions, it is to be presumed that the reader would scarcely be able +to understand what was said, were we to record it, word for word, in the +language in which it was uttered. In consequence of this difficulty, and +for other reasons to which it may not be necessary to allude, we shall +endeavor to translate that which passed, as closely as the English +idioms will permit us so to do. + +"My father is very welcome!" exclaimed Crowsfeather, who, by many +degrees, exceeded all his companions in consideration and rank. "I see +he has taken many scalps as is his practice, and that the pale-faces are +daily getting to be fewer. Will the sun ever rise on that day when their +wigwams will look like the branches of the oak in winter? Can my father +give us any hope of seeing that hour?" + +"It is a long path from the salt-lake out of which the sun rises, to +that other salt-lake in which it hides itself at night. The sun sleeps +each night beneath water, but it is so hot that it is soon dried when it +comes out of its bed in the morning. This is the Great Spirit's doings, +and not ours. The sun is his sun; the Indians can warm themselves by it, +but they cannot shorten its journey a single tomahawk handle's length. +The same is true of time; it belongs to the Manitou, who will lengthen +or shorten it, as he may see fit. We are his children, and it is our +duty to submit. He has not forgotten us. He made us with his own hand, +and will no more turn us out of the land than a father will turn his +child from the wigwam." + +"We hope this is so; but it does not seem thus to out poor weak eyes, +Onoah. We count the pale-faces, and every summer they grow fast as the +grass on the prairies. We can see more when the leaf falls than when +the tree is in bud; and, then, more when the leaf is in bud than when +it falls. A few moons will put a town where the pine stood, and wigwams +drive the wolves from their homes. In a few years we shall have nothing +but dogs to eat, if the pale-face dogs do not eat us." + +"Squaws are impatient, but men know how to wait. This land was given to +the red man by the Great Spirit, as I have often told you, my children; +if he has let in the pale-faces for a few winters, it is to punish us +for having done wrong. Now that we are sorry for what we have done, he +will help us to drive away the strangers, and give us the woods again +to hunt in by ourselves. Have not messengers from our Great Father in +Montreal been among the Pottawattamies to strengthen their hearts?" + +"They are always whispering in the ears of our tribes. I cannot remember +the time when whispers from Montreal have not been among us. Their +blankets are warm, their fire-water is strong, their powder is good, +and their rifles shoot well; but all this does not stop the children of +Uncle Sam from being more at night than they were in the morning. The +red men get tired of counting them. They have become plentier than the +pigeons in the spring. My father has taken many of their scalps, but the +hair must grow after his knife, their scalps are so many." + +"See!" rejoined Peter, lowering his pole so that all might examine his +revolting trophies, "these come from the soldiers at the head of the +lake. Blackbird was there with his young men; no one of them all got as +many scalps! This is the way to stop the white pigeon from flying over +us in such flocks as to hide and darken the sun." + +Another murmur of admiration passed through the crowd, as each young +warrior bent forward to count the number of the scalps, and to note, +by signs familiar to themselves, the ages, sex, and condition of the +different victims. Here was another instance among a hundred others of +which they had heard, of the prowess of the mysterious Onoah, as well +as of his inextinguishable hatred of the race, that was slowly, but +unerringly, supplanting the ancient stock, causing the places that once +knew the people of their tribes "to know them no more." As soon as this +little burst of feeling had subsided, the conversation went on. + +"We have had a pale-face medicine-man among us, Onoah," continued +Crowsfeather, "and he has so far blinded us that we know not what to +think." + +The chief then recounted the leading events of the visit of the +bee-hunter to the place, stating each occurrence fairly, as he +understood it, and as fairly confessing that even the chiefs were at a +loss to know what to make of the affair. In addition to this account, +he gave the mysterious Onoah the history of the prisoner they had taken, +the death of Elks-foot, their intention to torture that very morning the +Chippewa they had captured, and his flight, together with the loss of +their young man, and the subsequent escape of their unknown enemies, +who had taken away all of their own canoes. How far the medicine-man had +anything to do with the other events of his narrative, Crowsfeather very +candidly admitted he could not even conjecture. He was still at a loss +whether to set down the conjurer for a pretender, or as a real oracle. +Peter, however, was less credulous even than the chiefs. He had his +superstitious notions, like all uneducated men, but a clear head and +quick intellect placed him far above the weaknesses of the red man +in general. On receiving a description of the person of the unknown +"medicine-man," he at once recognized the bee-hunter. With an Indian to +describe, and an Indian to interpret or apply, escape from discovery was +next to impossible. + +Although Onoah, or the "Tribeless," as he was also frequently called +by the red men, from the circumstance of no one's knowing to what +particular section of the great Indian family he belonged, perfectly +understood that the bee-hunter he had seen on the other shore was the +individual who had been playing the part of a conjurer among these +Pottawattamies, he was very careful not to reveal the fact to +Crowsfeather. He had his own policy, and was fully aware of all the +virtue there is in mystery and reserve. With an Indian, these qualities +go farther even than with a white man; and we of the Caucasian race are +not entirely exempt from the folly of being deceived by appearances. On +the present occasion Peter kept his knowledge to himself, still leaving +his red brethren in doubt and uncertainty; but he took care to be right +in his own opinions by putting as many questions as were necessary for +that purpose. Once assured of this fact, he turned to other subjects of +even greater interest to himself and his companions. + +The conference which now took place between the "Tribeless" and +Crowsfeather was held apart, both being chiefs of too much importance +to be intruded on at a moment like that. The two chiefs exhibited a very +characteristic picture while engaged in this conference. They seated +themselves on a bank, and drawing their legs partially under them, sat +face to face, with their heads less than two feet asunder, occasionally +gesticulating with dignity, but each speaking in his turn with studied +decorum. Crowsfeather was highly painted, and looked fierce and warlike, +but Onoah had nothing extraordinary about him, with the exception of +the decorations and dress already described, unless it might be his +remarkable countenance. The face of this Indian ordinarily wore a +thoughtful cast, an expression which it is not unusual to meet with in +a savage; though at times it lighted up, as it might be with the heat of +inward fires, like the crater giving out its occasional flames beneath +the hues of a saddened atmosphere. One accustomed to study the human +face, and to analyze its expressions, would possibly have discovered in +that countenance lines of deep artifice, together with the traces of +a profound and constitutional enthusiasm. He was bent, at that +very moment, on a scheme worthy of the loftiest spirit living; the +regeneration and union of the people of his race, with a view to recover +the possessions they had yielded to the pale-faces; but it was a project +blended with the ferocity and revenge of a savage-noble while ferocious. + +Not idly had the whites, scattered along that frontier, given the +sobriquet of "Scalping" to Peter, As his pole now showed, it had been +earned in a hundred scenes of bloody vengeance; and so great had been +his success, that the warrior, prophet, and councillor, for all +these characters were united in his single person, began to think the +attainment of his wishes possible. As a matter of course, much ignorance +of the power of the Anglo-Saxon race on this continent was blended with +these opinions and hopes; but it was scarcely an ignorance exceeding +that of certain persons of far higher pretensions in knowledge, who live +in another hemisphere, and who often set themselves up as infallible +judges of all things connected with man and his attributes. Peter, the +"Tribeless," was not more in fault than those who fancied they saw the +power of this great republic in the gallant little band collected at +Corpus Christi, under its indomitable chief, and who, march by march, +nay, foot by foot, as it might be, have perseveringly predicted the +halt, the defeat, the disasters, and final discomfiture, which it has +not yet pleased Divine Providence to inflict on this slight effort of +the young Hercules, as he merely moves in his cradle. Alas, the enemy +that most menaces the overthrow of this new and otherwise invincible +exhibition of human force, is within; seated in the citadel itself; +and must be narrowly watched, or he will act his malignant purpose, and +destroy the fairest hopes that ever yet dawned on the fortunes of the +human race! + +The conference between the chiefs lasted fully an hour. Crowsfeather +possessed much of the confidence of Peter, and, as for Onoah, neither +Tecumseh, nor his brother the Prophet, commanded as much of the +respect of Crowsfeather as he did himself. Some even whispered that the +"Tribeless" was the individual who lay behind all, and that the others +named merely acted as he suggested, or advised. The reader will obtain +all the insight into the future that it is necessary now to give him, +by getting a few of the remarks made by the two colloquists, just before +they joined the rest of the party. + +"My father, then, intends to lead his pale-faces on a crooked path, and +take their scalps when he has done with them," said Crowsfeather, who +had been gravely listening to Peter's plans of future proceeding; "but +who is to get the scalp of the Chippewa?" + +"One of my Pottawattamie young men; but not until I have made use of +him. I have a medicine-priest of the pale-faces and a warrior with me, +but shall not put their scalps on my pole until they have paddled +me further. The council is to be first held in the Oak Openings"--we +translate this term freely, that used by Peter meaning rather "the open +woods of the prairies"--"and I wish to show my prisoners to the chiefs, +that they may see how easy it is to cut off all the Yankees. I have now +four men of that people, and two squaws, in my power; let every red man +destroy as many, and the land will soon be clear of them all!" + +This was uttered with gleamings of ferocity in the speaker's face, that +rendered his countenance terrible. Even Crowsfeather quailed a little +before that fierce aspect; but the whole passed away almost as soon as +betrayed, and was succeeded by a friendly and deceptive smile, that +was characteristic of the wily Asiatic rather than of the aboriginal +American. + +"They cannot be counted," returned the Pottawattamie chief, as soon as +his restraint was a little removed by this less terrific aspect of his +companion, "if all I hear is true. Blackbird says that even the squaws +of the pale-faces are numerous enough to overcome all the red men that +remain." + +"There will be two less, when I fasten to my pole the scalps of those +on the other side of the river," answered Peter, with another of his +transient, but startling gleams of intense revenge. "But no matter, now: +my brother knows all I wish him to do. Not a hair of the head of any +of these pale-faces must be touched by any hand but mine. When the time +comes, the knife of Onoah is sure. The Pottawattamies shall have their +canoes, and can follow us up the river. They will find us in the +Openings, and near the Prairie Round. They know the spot; for the red +men love to hunt the deer in that region. Now, go and tell this to your +young men; and tell them that corn will not grow, nor the deer wait to +be killed by any of your people, if they forget to do as I have said. +Vengeance shall come, when it is time." + +Crowsfeather communicated all this to his warriors, who received it as +the ancients received the words of their oracles. Each member of the +party endeavored to get an accurate notion of his duty, in order that +he might comply to the very letter with the injunctions received. So +profound was the impression made among all the red men of the north-west +by the previous labors of the "Tribeless" to awaken a national spirit, +and so great was their dread of the consequences of disobedience, that +every warrior present felt as if his life were the threatened penalty of +neglect or disinclination to obey. + +No sooner, however, had Crowsfeather got through with his communication, +than a general request was made that the problem of the whiskey-spring +might be referred to Onoah for solution. The young men had strong hopes, +not-withstanding all that had passed, that this spring might yet turn +out to be a reality. The scent was still there, strong and fragrant, +and they could not get rid of the notion that "fire-water" grew on that +spot. It is true, their faith had been somewhat disturbed by the manner +in which the medicine-man had left them, and by his failure to draw +forth the gushing stream which he had impliedly promised, and in a small +degree performed; nevertheless little pools of whiskey had been found on +the rock, and several had tasted and satisfied themselves of the quality +of the liquor. As is usual, that taste had created a desire for more, a +desire that seldom slumbered on an Indian palate when strong drinks were +connected with its gratification. + +Peter heard the request with gravity, and consented to look into the +matter with a due regard to his popularity and influence. He had his own +superstitious views, but among them there did not happen to be one +which admitted the possibility of whiskey's running in a stream from the +living rock. Still he was willing to examine the charmed spot, scent the +fragrant odor, and make up his own estimate of the artifices by which +the bee-hunter had been practising on the untutored beings into whose +hand chance had thrown him. + +While the young men eagerly pointed out the precise spots where the +scent was the strongest, Peter maintained the most unmoved gravity. He +did not kneel to smell the rocks, like the other chiefs, for this an +innate sense of propriety told him would be undignified; but he made +his observations closely, and with a keen Indian-like attention to every +little circumstance that might aid him in arriving at the truth. All +this time, great was the awe and deep the admiration of the lookers-on. +Onoah had succeeded in creating a moral power for himself among the +Indians of the northwest which much exceeded that of any other red man +of that region. The whites scarcely heard of him, knew but little of +his career, and less of his true character, for both were shrouded in +mystery. There is nothing remarkable in this ignorance of the pale-faces +of the time. They did not understand their own leaders; much less the +leaders of the children of the openings, the prairies, and the forest. +At this hour, what is really known by the mass of the American people of +the true characters of their public men? No nation that has any claim +to civilization and publicity knows less, and for several very obvious +reasons. The want of a capital in which the intelligence of the nation +periodically assembles and whence a corrected public opinion on all such +matters ought constantly to flow, as truth emanates from the collisions +of minds, is one of these reasons. The extent of the country, which +separates men by distances that no fact can travel over without +incurring the dangers of being perverted on the road, is another. But +the most fatal of al he influences that tend to mislead the judgment of +the American citizen, is to be found in the abuse of a machinery that +was intended to produce an exactly contrary effect. If the tongue was +given to man to communicate ideas to his fellows, so has philosophy +described it as "a gift to conceal his thoughts." If the press was +devised to circulate truth, so has it been changed into a means of +circulating lies. One is easily, nay, more easily, sent abroad on +the four winds of the heavens than the other. Truth requires candor, +impartiality, honesty, research, and industry; but a falsehood, whether +designed or not, stands in need of neither. Of that which is the most +easily produced, the country gets the most; and it were idle to imagine +that a people who blindly and unresistingly submit to be put, as it +might be, under the feet of falsehood, as respects all their own public +men, can ever get very accurate notions of those of other nations. + +Thus was it with Onoah. His name was unknown to the whites, except as +a terrible and much-dreaded avenger of the wrongs of his race. With +the red men it was very different. They had no "forked tongues" to make +falsehood take the place of truth; or if such existed they were not +believed. The Pottawattamies now present knew all about Tecumseh, +[Footnote: A "tiger stooping for his prey."] of whom the whites had also +various and ample accounts. This Shawanee chief had long been active +among them, and his influence was extended far and near. He was a bold, +restless, and ingenious warrior; one, perhaps, who better understood +the art of war, as it was practised among red men, than any Indian then +living. They knew the name and person, also, of his brother Elkswatawa, +[Footnote: "A door opened."] or the Prophet, whose name has also become +incorporated with the histories of the times. These two chiefs were +very powerful, though scarce dwelling regularly in any tribe; but their +origin, their careers, and their characters were known to all, as were +those of their common father, Pukeesheno, [Footnote: "I light from +fly--"] and their mother, Meethetaske.[Footnote: "A turtle laying her +eggs in the sand."] But with Onoah it was very different. With him the +past was as much of a mystery as the future. No Indian could say even of +what tribe he was born. The totem that he bore on his person belonged +to no people then existing on the continent, and all connected with him, +his history, nation, and family, was conjecture and fancy. + +It is said that the Indians have traditions which are communicated +only to a favored few, and which by them have been transmitted from +generation to generation. An enlightened and educated red man has quite +recently told us in person, that he had been made the repository of some +of these traditions, and that he had thus obtained enough of the history +of his race to be satisfied that they were not derived from the lost +tribes of Israel, though he declined communicating any more. It is so +natural to resort to secrecy in order to extend influence, that we can +have no difficulty In believing the existence of the practice; there +probably being no other reason why Free Masonry or Odd Fellowship should +have recourse to such an expedient, but to rule through the imagination +in preference to the judgment. Now Peter enjoyed all the advantages of +mystery. It was said that even his real name was unknown, that of Onoah +having been given in token of the many scalps he took, and that of +Wa-wa-nosh, which he also sometimes bore, having been bestowed on him +by adoption in consequence of an act of favor extended to him from an +Ojebway of some note, while that of Peter was clearly derived from the +whites. Some of his greatest admirers whispered that when the true name +of the "Tribeless" should get to be known, his origin, early career, and +all relating to him would at once become familiar to every red man. +At present, the Indians must rest content with what they saw and +understood. The wisdom of Wa-wa-nosh made itself felt in the councils; +his eloquence no speaker has equalled for ages; as for his vengeance on +the enemies of his race, that was to be estimated by the scalps he had +taken. More than this no Indian was to be permitted to know, until the +mission of this oracle and chief was completed. + +Had one enlightened by the education of a civilized man been there, to +watch the movements and countenance of Peter as he scented the whiskey, +and looked in vain for the cause of the odor, and for a clew to the +mystery which so much perplexed the Pottawattamies, he would probably +have discovered some reason to distrust the sincerity of this remarkable +savage's doubts. If ever Peter was an actor, it was on that occasion. +He did not, in the least, fall into any of the errors of his companions; +but the scent a good deal confounded him at first. At length he came to +the natural conclusion, that this unusual odor was in some way connected +with the family he had left on the other shore; and from that moment his +mind was at ease. + +It did not suit the views of Peter, however, to explain to the +Pottawattamies that which was now getting to be so obvious to himself. +On the contrary, he rather threw dust into the eyes of the chiefs, with +a view to bring them also under the influence of superstition. After +making his observations with unmoved gravity, he promised a solution +of the whole affair when they should again meet in the Openings, and +proposed to recross the river. Before quitting the shore Peter +and Crowsfeather had a clear understanding on the subject of their +respective movements; and, as soon as the former began to paddle up +against the wind, the latter called his young men together, made a short +address, and led them into the woods, as if about to proceed on a march +of length. The party, notwithstanding, did not proceed more than a mile +and a half, when it came to a halt, and lighted a fire in order to cook +some venison taken on the way. + +When Peter reached the south shore, he found the whole group assembled +to receive him. His tale was soon told. He had talked with the +Pottawattamies, and they were gone. The canoes, however, must be carried +to the other shore and left there, in order that their owners might +recover their property when they returned. This much had Peter promised, +and his pale-face friends must help him to keep his word. Then he +pointed to the Openings as to their place of present safety. There they +would be removed from all immediate danger, and he would accompany them +and give them the countenance and protection of his name and presence. +As for going south on the lake, that was impossible, so long as the wind +lasted, and it was useless even could it be done. The troops had all +left Chicago, and the fort was destroyed. + +Parson Amen and Corporal Flint, both of whom were completely deluded by +Peter, fancying him a secret friend of the whites, in consequence of his +own protestations to that effect and the service he had already rendered +them, in appearance at least, instantly acquiesced in this wily savage's +proposal. It was the best, the wisest, nay, the only thing that now +could be done. Mackinaw was gone, as well as Chicago, and Detroit must +be reached by crossing the peninsula, instead of taking the easier +but far more circuitous route of the lakes. Gershom was easily enough +persuaded into the belief of the feasibility, as well as of the +necessity, of this deviation from his original road, and he soon agreed +to accompany the party. + +With le Bourdon the case was different. He understood himself and the +wilderness. For him the wind was fair, and there was no necessity for +his touching at Mackinaw at all. It is true, he usually passed several +days on that pleasant and salubrious island, and frequently disposed of +lots of honey there; but he could dispense with the visit and the sales. +There was certainly danger now to be apprehended from the Ottawas, who +would be very apt to be out on the lake after this maritime excursion +against the fort; but it was possible even to elude their vigilance. In +a word, the bee-hunter did not believe in the prudence of returning to +the Openings, but thought it by far the wisest for the whole party to +make the best of its way by water to the settlements. All this he urged +warmly on his white companions, taking them aside for that purpose, and +leaving Peter and Pigeonswing together while he did so. + +But Parson Amen would as soon have believed that his old congregation in +Connecticut was composed of Philistines, as not to believe that the +red men were the lost tribes, and that Peter, in particular, was not +especially and elaborately described in the Old Testament. He had become +so thoroughly possessed by this crotchet as to pervert everything that +he saw, read, or heard, into evidence, of some sort or other, of the +truth of his notions. In this respect there was nothing peculiar in the +good missionary's weakness, it being a failing common to partisans of a +theory, to discover proofs of its truths in a thousand things in which +indifferent persons can find even no connection with the subject at all. +In this frame of mind the missionary would as soon think of letting go +his hold on the Bible itself, as think of separating from an Indian who +might turn out any day to be a direct representative of Abraham, and +Isaac, and Jacob. Not to speak irreverently, but to use language that +must be familiar to all, the well-meaning missionary wished to be in at +the death. + +Corporal Flint, too, had great faith in Peter. It was a part of +the scheme of the savage to make this straight for-ward soldier an +instrument in placing many scalps in hit power; and though he had +designed from the first to execute his bloody office on the corporal +himself, he did not intend to do so until he had made the most of him +as a stool-pigeon. Here were four more pale-faces thrown in his power, +principally by means of the confidence he had awakened in the minds of +the missionary and the soldier; and that same confidence might be made +instrumental in adding still more to the number. Peter was a sagacious, +even a far-seeing savage, but he labored under the curse of ignorance. +Had his information been of a more extended nature, he would have seen +the utter fallacy of his project to destroy the pale-faces altogether, +and most probably would have abandoned it. + +It is a singular fact that, while such men as Tecumseh, his brother the +Prophet, and Peter, were looking forward to the downfall of the republic +on the side of the forest, so many, who ought to have been better +informed on such a subject, were anxiously expecting, nay confidently +predicting it, from beyond the Atlantic. Notwithstanding these sinister +soothsayers, the progress of the nation has, by a beneficent Providence, +been onward and onward, until it is scarcely presumptuous to suppose +that even England has abandoned the expectation of classing this country +again among her dependencies. The fortunes of America, under God, depend +only on herself. America may destroy America; of that there is danger; +but it is pretty certain that Europe united could make no serious +impression on her. Favored by position, and filled with a population +that we have ever maintained was one of the most military in existence, +a truth that recent events are hourly proving to be true, it much +exceeds the power of all the enemies of her institutions to make any +serious impression on her. There is an enemy who may prove too much for +her; it exists in her bosom; and God alone can keep him in subjection, +and repress his desolation. + +These were facts, however, of which Wa-wa-nosh, or Onoah, was as +ignorant as if he were an English or French minister of state, and had +got his notions of the country from English or French travellers, who +wished for what they predicted. He had heard of the towns and population +of the republic; but one gets a very imperfect notion of any fact of +this sort by report, unless previous experience has prepared the mind +to make the necessary comparisons, and fitted it to receive the images +intended to be conveyed. No wonder, then, that Peter fell into a mistake +common to those who had so many better opportunities of forming just +opinions, and of arriving at truths that were sufficiently obvious to +all who did not wilfully shut their eyes to their existence. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + Hearest thou voices on the shore + That our ears perceive no more, + Deafened by the cataract's roar? + + Bear, through sorrow, wrong, and ruth, + In thy heart the dew of youth, + On thy lips the smile of truth. + --LONGFELLOW. + + +From all that has been stated, the reader will, probably, be prepared to +learn that Boden did not succeed in his effort to persuade Gershom, +and the other Christians, to accompany him on his voyage round by Lake +Huron. Corporal Flint was obdurate, and Parson Amen confiding. As for +Gershom, he did not like the thought of retracing his steps so soon, and +the females were obliged to remain with the husband and brother. + +"You had better get out of the river while all the canoes are on this +side," said Margery, as she and le Bourdon walked toward the boats in +company, the council having ended, and everything beginning to assume +the appearance of action. "Remember you will be quite alone, and have a +long, long road to travel!" + +"I do remember all this, Margery, and see the necessity for all of us +getting back to the settlements as fast as we can. I don't half like +this Peter; his name is a bad one in the garrisons, and it makes me +miserable to think that you may be in his power." + +"The missionary and the corporal, as well as my brother, seem willing to +trust him--what can two females do, when their male protector has made +up his mind in such a matter?" + +"One who would very gladly be your protector, pretty Margery, has not +made up his mind to the prudence of trusting Peter at all. Put yourself +under my care, and my life shall be lost, or I will carry you safe to +your friends in Detroit." + +This might be deemed tolerably explicit; yet was it not sufficiently so +to satisfy female scruples, or female rights. Margery blushed, and +she looked down, while she did not look absolutely displeased. But her +answer was given firmly, and with a promptitude that showed she was +quite in earnest. + +"I cannot quit Dorothy, placed as she is--and it is my duty to die with +brother," she said. + +"Have you thought enough of this, Margery? may not reflection change +your mind?" + +"This is a duty on which a girl is not called to reflect; she must FEEL, +in a matter of conscience." + +The bee-hunter fairly sighed, and from a very resolute he became a very +irresolute sort of person. As was natural to one in his situation, he +let out the secret current his thoughts had taken, in the remarks which +followed. + +"I do not like the manner in which Peter and Pigeonswing are now talking +together," he said. "When an Injin is so earnest, there is generally +mischief brewing. Do you see Peter's manner?" + +"He seems to be telling the young warrior something that makes both +forget themselves. I never saw two men who seem so completely to forget +all the rest of the world as them two savages! What can be the meaning, +Bourdon, of so much fierce earnestness?" + +"I would give the world to know-possibly the Chippewa may tell me. We +understand each other tolerably well, and, just as you spoke, he gave +me a secret sign that I have a right to think means confidence and +friendship. That savage is either a fast friend, or a thorough villain." + +"Is it safe to trust any of them, Bourdon? No--no--your best way will +be to go down the lakes, and get back to Detroit as soon as you can. Not +only your property, but your LIFE, is at risk." + +"Go, and leave you here, Margery--here, with a brother whose failing you +know as well as I do, and who may, at any moment, fall back into his old +ways! I should not be a man to do it!" + +"But brother can get no liquor, now, for it is all emptied. When himself +for a few days, Gershom is a good protector, as well as a good provider. +You must not judge brother too harshly, from what you have seen of him, +Bourdon." + +"I do not wish to judge him at all, Margery. We all have our failin's, +and whiskey is his. I dare say mine are quite as bad, in some other way. +It's enough for me, Margery, that Gershom is your brother, to cause me +to try to think well of him. We must not trust to there being no more +liquor among us; for, if that so'ger is altogether without his rations, +he's the first so'ger I ever met with who was!" + +"But this corporal is a friend of the minister, and ministers ought not +to drink!" + +"Ministers are like other men, as them that live much among 'em will +soon find out. Hows'ever, if you WILL stay, Margery, there is no more to +be said. I must cache [Footnote: A Western term, obviously derived from +cacher, to conceal. Cache is much used by the Western adventurers.] +my honey, and get the canoe ready to go up stream again. Where you go, +Margery, I go too, unless you tell me that you do not wish my company." + +This was said quietly, but in the manner of one whose mind was made up. +Margery scarce knew how to take it. That she was secretly delighted, +cannot be denied; while, at the same time, that she felt a generous and +lively concern for the fortunes of le Bourdon, is quite as certain. As +Gershom just then called to her to lend her assistance in preparing to +embark, she had no leisure for expostulation, nor do we know that she +now seriously wished to divert the bee-hunter from his purpose. + +It was soon understood by every one that the river was to be crossed, +in order that Gershom might get his household effects, previously to +ascending the Kalamazoo. This set all at--work but the Chippewa, who +appeared to le Bourdon to be watchful and full of distrust. As the +latter had a job before him, that would be likely to consume a couple +of hours, the others were ready for a start long before he had his hole +dug. It was therefore arranged that the bee-hunter should complete +his task, while the others crossed the stream, and went in quest of +Gershom's scanty stock of household goods. Pigeonswing, however, was +not to be found, when the canoes were ready, and Peter proceeded without +him. Nor did le Bourdon see anything of his friend until the adventurers +were fairly on the north shore, when he rejoined le Bourdon, sitting +on a log, a curious spectator of the latter's devices to conceal +his property, but not offering to aid him in a single movement. The +bee-hunter too well understood an Indian warrior's aversion to labor of +all sorts, unless it be connected with his military achievements, to be +surprised at his companion's indifference to his own toil. As the work +went on, a friendly dialogue was kept up between the parties. + +"I didn't know, Pigeonswing, but you had started for the openings, +before us," observed le Bourdon. "That tribeless old Injin made +something of a fuss about your being out of the way; I dare say he +wanted you to help back the furniture down to the canoes." + +"Got squaw--what he want--better to do dat?" + +"So you would put that pretty piece of work on such persons as Margery +and Dolly!" + +"Why not, no? Bot' squaw-bot know how. Dere business to work for +warrior." + +"Did you keep out of the way, then, lest old Peter should get you at a +job that is onsuitable to your manhood?" + +"Keep out of way of Pottawattamie," returned the Chippewa; "no want to +lose scalp-radder take his'n." + +"But Peter says the Pottawattamies are all gone, and that we have no +longer any reason to fear them; and this medicine-priest tells us, that +what Peter says we can depend on for truth." + +"Dat good medicine-man, eh? T'ink he know a great deal, eh?" + +"That is more than I can tell you, Pigeonswing; for though I've been +a medicine-man myself, so lately, it is in a different line altogether +from that of Parson Amen's." + +As the bee-hunter uttered this answer, he was putting the last of his +honey-kegs into the cache, and as he rose from completing the operation, +he laughed heartily, like one who saw images in the occurrences of the +past night, that tended to divert himself, if they had not the same +effect on the other spectators. + +"If you medicine-man, can tell who Peter be? Winnebagoe, Sioux, Fox, +Ojebway, Six Nations all say don't know him. Medicine-man ought to +know--who he be, eh?" + +"I am not enough of a medicine-man to answer your question, Pigeonswing. +Set me at finding a whiskey-spring, or any little job of that sort, +and I'll turn my back to no other whiskey-spring finder on the whole +frontier; but, as for Peter, he goes beyond my calculations, quite. Why +is he called Scalping Peter in the garrisons, if he be so good an Injin, +Chippewa?" + +"You ask question--you answer. Don't know, 'less he take a good many +scalps. Hear he do take all he can find--den hear he don't." + +"But you take all you can find, Pigeonswing; and that which is good in +you, cannot be so bad in Peter." + +"Don't take scalp from friend. When you hear Pigeonswing scalp FRIEND, +eh?" + +"I never did hear it; and hope I never shall. But when did you hear that +Peter is so wicked?" + +"S'pose he don't, 'cause he got no friend among pale-face. Bes' take +care of dat man?" + +"I'm of your way of thinking, myself, Chippewa; though the corporal and +the priest think him all in all. When I asked Parson Amen how he came to +be the associate of one who went by a scalping name, even he told me it +was all name; that Peter hadn't touched a hair of a human head, in the +way of scalping, since his youth, and that most of his notions and ways +were quite Jewish, The parson has almost as much faith in Peter, as he +has in his religion; I'm not quite sure he has not even more." + +"No matter. Bes' always for pale-face to trust pale-face, and Injin to +trust Injin. Dat most likely to be right." + +"Nevertheless, I trust YOU Pigeonswing; and, hitherto, you have not +deceived me!" + +The Chippewa cast a glance of so much meaning on the bee-hunter, that +the last was troubled by it. For many a day did le Bourdon remember that +look; and painful were the apprehensions to which it gave birth. Until +that morning, the intercourse between the two had been of the most +confidential character; but something like a fierce hatred was blended +in that look. Could it be that the feelings of the Chippewa were +changed? and was it possible that Peter was in any way connected with +this alteration in looks and sentiments? All these suspicions passed +through le Bourdon's mind, as he finished his cache; and sufficiently +disagreeable did he find it to entertain them. The circumstances, +however, did not admit of any change of plan; and, in a few minutes, the +two were in the canoe, and on their way to join their companions. + +Peter had dealt fairly enough with those who accompanied him. The +Pottawattamies were nowhere to be seen, and Gershom led the corporal +to the place where his household goods had been secreted, in so much +confidence, that both the men left their arms behind them. Such was the +state of things when le Bourdon reached the north shore. The young man +was startled, when his eyes fell on the rifles; but, on looking around, +there did not really appear to be any sufficient reason why they might +not be laid aside for a few minutes. + +The bee-hunter, having disposed of all his honey, had now a nearly empty +canoe; accordingly, he received a portion of Gershom's effects; all of +which were safely transported from their place of concealment to the +water side. Their owner was slowly recovering the use of his body and +mind, though still a little dull, from his recent debauch. The females +supplied his place, however, in many respects; and two hours after the +party had landed, it was ready again to proceed on its journey into the +interior. The last article was stowed in one of the canoes, and Gershom +announced his willingness to depart. + +At this moment, Peter led the bee-hunter aside, telling his friends that +he would speedily rejoin them. Our hero followed his savage leader along +the foot of the declivity, in the rear of the hut, until the former +stopped at the place where the first, and principal fire of the past +night, had been lighted. Here Peter made a sweeping gesture of his hand, +as if to invite his companion to survey the different objects around. As +this characteristic gesture was made, the Indian spoke. + +"My brother is a medicine-man," he said. "He knows where whiskey +grows--let him tell Peter where to find the spring." + +The recollection of the scene of the previous night came so fresh +and vividly over the imagination of the bee-hunter, that, instead of +answering the question of the chief, he burst into a hearty fit of +laughter. Then, fearful of giving offence, he was about to apologize +for a mirth so ill-timed, when the Indian smiled, with a gleam of +intelligence on his swarthy face, that seemed to say, "I understand it +all," and continued-- + +"Good--the chief with three eyes"--in allusion to the spy--glass that +le Bourdon always carried suspended from his neck--"is a very great +medicine-man; he knows when to laugh, and when to look sad. The +Pottawattamies were dry, and he wanted to find them some whiskey to +drink, but could not--our brother, in the canoe, had drunk it all. +Good." + +Again the bee-hunter laughed; and though Peter did not join in his +mirth, it was quite plain that he understood its cause. With this +good-natured sort of intelligence between them, the two returned to the +canoes; the bee-hunter always supposing that the Indian had obtained +his object, in receiving his indirect admission, that the scene of the +previous night had been merely a piece of ingenious jugglery. So much of +a courtier, however, was Peter, and so entire his self-command, that +on no occasion, afterward, did he ever make any further allusion to the +subject. + +The ascent of the river was now commenced. It was not a difficult matter +for le Bourdon to persuade Margery, that her brother's canoe would be +too heavily loaded for such a passage, unless she consented to quit +it for his own. Pigeonswing took the girl's place, and was of material +assistance in forcing the light, but steady craft, up stream. The three +others continued in the canoe in which they had entered the river. With +this arrangement, therefore, our adventurers commenced this new journey. + +Every reader will easily understand, that ascending such a stream as the +Kalamazoo was a very difficult thing from descending it. The progress +was slow, and at many points laborious. At several of the "rifts," it +became necessary to "track" the canoes up; and places occurred at which +the only safe way of proceeding was to unload them altogether, and +transport boats, cargoes, and all, on the shoulders of the men, +across what are called, in the language of the country, "portages," or +"carrying-places." In such toil as this, the corporal was found to be +very serviceable; but neither of the Indians declined to lend their +assistance, in work of this manly character. By this time, moreover, +Gershom had come round, and was an able-bodied, vigorous assistant, once +more. If the corporal was the master of any alcohol, he judiciously kept +it a secret; for not a drop passed any one's lips during the whole of +that toilsome journey. + +Although the difficult places in the river were sufficiently numerous, +most of the reaches were places having steady, but not swift currents +toward the lake. In these reaches the paddles, and those not very +vigorously applied, enabled the travellers to advance as fast as was +desirable; and such tranquil waters were a sort of resting-places +to those who managed the canoes. It was while ascending these easy +channels, that conversation most occurred; each speaker yielding, as +was natural, to the impulses of the thoughts uppermost in his mind. The +missionary talked much of the Jews; and, as the canoes came near each +other, he entered at large, with their different occupants, into the +reasons he had for believing that the red men of America were the +lost tribes of Israel. "The very use of the word 'tribes,'" would this +simple-minded, and not very profound expounder of the word of God, say, +"is one proof of the truth of what I tell you. Now, no one thinks of +dividing the white men of America into 'tribes.' Who ever heard of the +'tribe' of New England, or of the 'tribe' of Virginia, or of the +'tribe' of the Middle States? [Footnote: The reader is not to infer any +exaggeration in this picture. There is no end to the ignorance and folly +of sects and parties, when religious or political zeal runs high. The +writer well remembers to have heard a Universalist, of more zeal +than learning, adduce, as an argument in favor of his doctrine, the +twenty-fifth chapter and forty-sixth verse of St. Matthew, where we are +told that the wicked "shall go away into ever-lasting punishment; but +the righteous into Vis eternal"; by drawing a distinction between the +adjectives, and this so much the more, because the Old Testament speaks +of "everlasting hills," and "everlasting valleys "; thus proving, from +the Bible, a substantial difference between "everlasting" and "eternal." +Now, every Sophomore knows that the word used in Matthew is the same +in both cases, being "aionion," or "existing forever."] Even among the +blacks, there are no tribes. There is a very remarkable passage in the +sixty-eighth Psalm, that has greatly struck me, since my mind has turned +to this subject; 'God shall wound the head his enemies.' saith the +Psalmist, 'and the hairy scalp of such a one as goeth on still in his +wickedness.' Here is a very obvious allusion to a well-known, and what +we think, a barbarous practice of the red men; but, rely on it, friends, +nothing that is permitted on earth is permitted in vain. The attentive +reader of the inspired book, by gleaning here and there, can collect +much authority for this new opinion about the lost tribes; and the day +will come, I do not doubt, when men will marvel that the truth hath +been so long hidden from them. I can scarcely open a chapter, in the Old +Testament, that some passage does not strike me as going to prove +this identity, between the red men and the Hebrews; and, were they all +collected together, and published in a book, mankind would be astonished +at their lucidity and weight. As for scalping, it is a horrid thing in +our eyes, but it is honorable with the red men; and I have quoted to you +the words of the Psalmist, in order to show the manner in which divine +wisdom inflicts penalties on sin. Here is plain justification of +the practice, provided always that the sufferer be in the bondage of +transgression, and obnoxious to divine censure. Let no man, therefore, +in the pride of his learning, and, perhaps, of his prosperity, disdain +to believe things that are so manifestly taught and foretold; but let us +all bow in humble submission to the will of a Being who, to our finite +understanding, is so perfectly incomprehensible." + +We trust that no one of our readers will be disposed to deride Parson +Amen's speculations on this interesting subject, although this may +happen to be the first occasion on which he has ever heard the practice +of taking scalps justified by Scripture. Viewed in a proper spirit, they +ought merely to convey a lesson of humility, by rendering apparent +the wisdom, nay the necessity, of men's keeping them-selves within +the limits of the sphere of knowledge they were designed to fill, and +convey, when rightly considered, as much of a lesson to the Puseyite, +with abstractions that are quite as unintelligible to himself as they +are to others; to the high-wrought and dogmatical Calvinist, who in the +midst of his fiery zeal, forgets that love is the very essence of the +relation between God and man; to the Quaker, who seems to think the cut +of a coat essential to salvation; to the descendant of the Puritan, who +whether he be Socinian, Calvinist, Universalist, or any other "1st," +appears to believe that the "rock" on which Christ declared he would +found his church was the "Rock of Plymouth"; and to the unbeliever, +who, in deriding all creeds, does not know where to turn to find one +to substitute in their stead. Humility, in matters of this sort, is the +great lesson that all should teach and learn; for it opens the way to +charity, and eventually to faith, and through both of these to hope; +finally, through all of these, to heaven. + +The journey up the Kalamazoo lasted many days, the ascent being often +so painful, and no one seeming in a hurry. Peter waited for the time set +for his council to approach, and was as well content to remain in his +canoe, as to "camp out" in the openings. Gershom never was in haste, +while the bee-hunter would have been satisfied to pass the summer in so +pleasant a manner, Margery being seated most of the time in his +canoe. In his ordinary excursions, le Bourdon carried the mastiff as a +companion; but, now that his place was so much better filled, Hive was +suffered to roam the woods that lined most of the river-banks, joining +his master from time to time at the portages or landings. As for the +missionary and the corporal, impatience formed no part of their present +disposition. The first had been led, by the artful Peter, to expect +great results to his theory from the assembly of chiefs which was to +meet in the "openings"; and the credulous parson was, in one sense, +going as blindly on the path of destruction, as any sinner it had ever +been his duty to warn of his fate, was proceeding in the same direction +in another. The corporal, too, was the dupe of Peter's artifices. +This man had heard so many stories to the Indian's prejudice, at the +different posts where he had been stationed, as at first to render him +exceedingly averse to making the present journey in his company. The +necessity of the case, as connected with the preservation of his own +life after the massacre of Fort Dearborn, and the influence of the +missionary, had induced him to overlook his ancient prejudices, and to +forget opinions that, it now occurred to him, had been founded in error. +Once fairly within the influence of Peter's wiles, a simple-minded +soldier like the corporal, was soon completely made the Indian's dupe. +By the time the canoe reached the mouth of the Kalamazoo, as has been +related, each of these men placed the most implicit reliance on the good +faith and friendly feelings of the very being whose entire life, both +sleeping and waking thoughts, were devoted, not only to his destruction, +but to that of the whole white race on the American continent. So bland +was the manner of this terrible savage, when it comported with his +views to conceal his ruthless designs, that persons more practised and +observant than either of his two companions might have been its dupes, +not to say its victims. While the missionary was completely mystified +by his own headlong desire to establish a theory, and to announce to the +religious world where the lost tribes were to be found, the corporal had +aided in deceiving himself, also, by another process. With him, Peter +had privately conversed of war, and had insinuated that he was secretly +laboring in behalf of his great father at Washington, and against the +other great father down at Montreal. As between the two, Peter professed +to lean to the interests of the first; though, had he laid bare his +in-most soul, a fiery hatred of each would have been found to be its +predominant feeling. But Corporal Flint fondly fancied he was making +a concealed march with an ally, while he thus accompanied one of the +fiercest enemies of his race. + +Peter is not to be judged too harshly. It is always respectable to +defend the fireside, and the land of one's nativity, although the cause +connected with it may be sometimes wrong. This Indian knew nothing of +the principles of colonization, and had no conception that any +other than its original owners--original so far as his traditions +reached--could have a right to his own hunting-grounds. Of the slow but +certain steps by which an overruling Providence is extending a knowledge +of the true God, and of the great atonement through the death of his +blessed Son, Peter had no conception; nor would it probably have seemed +right to his contracted mind, had he even seen and understood this +general tendency of things. To him, the pale-face appeared only as +a rapacious invader, and not a creature obeying the great law of his +destiny, the end of which is doubtless to help knowledge to abound, +until it shall "cover the whole earth as the waters cover the sea." +Hatred, inextinguishable and active hatred, appeared to be the law +of this man's being; and he devoted all the means, aided by all +the intelligence he possessed, to the furtherance of his narrow and +short-sighted means of vengeance and redress. In all this, he acted in +common with Tecumseh and his brother, though his consummate art kept him +behind a veil, while the others were known and recognized as open and +active foes. No publication speaks of this Peter, nor does any orator +enumerate his qualities, while the other two chiefs have been the +subjects of every species of descriptive talent, from that of the poet +to that of the painter. + +As day passed after day, the feeling of distrust in the bosom of the +bee-hunter grew weaker and weaker, and Peter succeeded in gradually +worming himself into his confidence also. This was done, moreover, +without any apparent effort. The Indian made no professions of +friendship, laid himself out for no particular attention, nor ever +seemed to care how his companions regarded his deportment. His secret +purposes he kept carefully smothered in his own breast, it is true; but, +beyond that, no other sign of duplicity could have been discovered even +by one who knew his objects and schemes. So profound was his art, that +it had the aspect of nature. Pigeonswing alone was alive to the +danger of this man's company; and he knew it only by means of certain +semi-confidential communications received in his character of a red man. +It was no part of Peter's true policy to become an ally to either of the +great belligerents of the day. On the contrary, his ardent wish was to +see them destroy each other, and it was the sudden occurrence of +the present war that had given a new impulse to his hopes, and a new +stimulus to his efforts, as a time most propitious to his purposes. He +was perfectly aware of the state of the Chippewa's feelings, and he knew +that this man was hostile to the Pottawattamies, as well as to most +of the tribes of Michigan; but this made no difference with him. If +Pigeonswing took the scalp of a white man, he cared not whether it grew +on an English or an American head; in either case it was the destruction +of his enemy. With such a policy constantly in view, it cannot be matter +of surprise that Peter continued on just as good terms with Pigeonswing +as with Crowsfeather. But one precaution was observed in his intercourse +with the first. To Crowsfeather, then on the war-path in quest of +Yankee scalps, he had freely communicated his designs on his own white +companions, while he did not dare to confide to the Chippewa this +particular secret, since that Indian's relations with the bee-hunter +were so amicable as to be visible to every observer. Peter felt the +necessity of especial caution in his communication with this savage, +therefore; and this was the reason why the Chippewa was in so much +painful uncertainty as to the other's intentions. He had learned enough +to be distrustful, but not enough to act with decision. + +Once, and once only, during their slow passage up the Kalamazoo, did +the bee-hunter observe something about Peter to awaken his original +apprehensions. The fourth day after leaving the mouth of the river, +and when the whole party were resting after the toil of passing a +"carrying-place," our hero had observed the eyes of that tribeless +savage roaming from one white face to another, with an expression in +them so very fiendish, as actually to cause his heart to beat quicker +than common. The look was such a one as le Bourdon could not remember to +have ever before beheld in a human countenance. In point of fact, he had +seen Peter in one of those moments when the pent fires of the volcano, +that ceaselessly raged within his bosom, were becoming difficult to +suppress; and when memory was busiest in recalling to his imagination +scenes of oppression and wrong, that the white man is only too apt to +forget amid the ease of his civilization, and the security of his power. +But the look, and the impression produced by it on le Bourdon, soon +passed away, and were forgotten by him to whom it might otherwise have +proved to be a most useful warning. + +It was a little remarkable that Margery actually grew to be attached to +Peter, often manifesting toward the chief attentions and feelings such +as a daughter is apt to exhibit toward a father. This arose from the +high and courteous bearing of this extraordinary savage. At all times, +an Indian warrior is apt to maintain the dignified and courteous bearing +that has so often been remarked in the race, but it is very seldom that +he goes out of his way to manifest attention to the squaws. Doubtless +these men have the feelings of humanity, and love their wives and +offspring like others; but it is so essential a part of their training +to suppress the exhibition of such emotions, that it is seldom the mere +looker-on has occasion to note them. Peter, however, had neither wife +nor child; or if they existed, no one knew where either was to be found. +The same mystery shrouded this part of his history as veiled all the +rest. In his hunts, various opportunities occurred for exhibiting to the +females manly attentions, by offering to them the choicest pieces of +his game, and pointing out the most approved Indian modes of cooking the +meats, so as to preserve their savory properties. This he did sparingly +at first, and as a part of a system of profound deception; but day by +day, and hour after hour, most especially with Margery, did his manner +become sensibly less distant, and more natural. The artlessness, the +gentle qualities, blended with feminine spirit as they were, and the +innocent gayety of the girl, appeared to win on this nearly remorseless +savage, in spite of his efforts to resist her influence. Perhaps the +beauty of Margery contributed its share in exciting these novel emotions +in the breast of one so stern. We do not mean that Peter yielded to +feelings akin-to love; of this, he was in a manner incapable; but a man +can submit to a gentle regard for woman that shall be totally free from +passion. This sort of regard Peter certainly began to entertain for +Margery; and like begetting like, as money produces money, it is not +surprising that the confidence of the girl herself, as well as her +sympathies, should continue to increase in the favor of this terrible +Indian. + +But the changes of feeling, and the various little incidents to which we +have alluded, did not occur in a single moment of time. Day passed after +day, and still the canoes were working their way up the winding channels +of the Kalamazoo, placing at each setting sun longer and longer reaches +of its sinuous stream between the travellers and the broad sheet of +Michigan. As le Bourdon had been up and down the river often, in his +various excursions, he acted as the pilot of the navigation; though all +worked, even to the missionary and the Chippewa. On such an expedition, +toil was not deemed to be discreditable to a warrior, and Pigeonswing +used the paddle and the pole as willingly, and with as much dexterity, +as any of the party. + +It was only on the eleventh day after quitting the mouth of the river, +that the canoes came to in the little bay where le Bourdon was in the +habit of securing his light bark, when in the openings. Castle Meal was +in full view, standing peacefully in its sweet solitude; and Hive, who, +as he came within the range of his old hunts, had started off, and got +to the spot the previous evening, now stood on the bank of the river +to welcome his master and his friends to the chiente. It wanted a few +minutes of sunset as the travellers landed, and the parting rays of the +great luminary of our system were glancing through the various glades of +the openings, imparting a mellow softness to the herbage and flowers. +So far as the bee-hunter could perceive, not even a bear had visited +the place in his absence. On ascending to his abode and examining the +fastenings, and on entering the hut, storehouse, etc., le Bourdon became +satisfied that all the property he had left behind was safe, and that +the foot of man--he almost thought of beast too--had not visited the +spot at all during the last fortnight. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + Hope in your mountains, and hope in your streams, + Bow down in their worship, and loudly pray; + Trust in your strength, and believe in your dreams, + But the wind shall carry them all away. + --BRAINARD. + + +The week which succeeded the arrival of our party at Chateau au Miel, +or Castle Meal, as le Bourdon used to call his abode, was one of very +active labor. It was necessary to house the adventurers, and the little +habitation already built was quite insufficient for such a purpose. +It was given to the females, who used it as a private apartment for +themselves, while the cooking, eating, and even sleeping, so far as the +males were concerned, were all done beneath the trees of the openings. +But a new chiente was soon constructed, which, though wanting in the +completeness and strength of Castle Meal, was sufficient for the wants +of these sojourners in the wilderness. It is surprising with how little +of those comforts which civilization induces us to regard as necessaries +we can get along, when cast into the midst of the western wilds. The +female whose foot has trodden, from infancy upward, on nothing harder +than a good carpet-who has been reared amid all the appliances of +abundance and art, seems at once to change her nature, along with her +habits, and often proves a heroine, and an active assistant, when there +was so much reason to apprehend she might turn out to be merely an +encumbrance. In the course of a life that is now getting to be well +stored with experience of this sort, as well as of many other varieties, +we can recall a hundred cases of women, who were born and nurtured +in affluence and abundance, who have cheerfully quitted the scenes of +youth, their silks and satins, their china and plate, their mahogany and +Brussels, to follow husbands and fathers into the wilderness, there +to compete with the savage, often for food, and always for the final +possession of the soil! + +But in the case of Dorothy and Blossom, the change had never been of +this very broad character, and habit had long been preparing them for +scenes even more savage than that into which they were now cast. Both +were accustomed to work, as, blessed be God! the American woman +usually works; that is to say, within doors, and to render home neat, +comfortable, and welcome. As housewives, they were expert and willing, +considering the meagreness of their means; and le Bourdon told +the half-delighted, half-blushing Margery, ere the latter had been +twenty-four hours in his chiente, that nothing but the presence of such +a one as herself was wanting to render it an abode fit for a prince! +Then, the cooking was so much improved! Apart from cleanliness, the +venison was found to be more savory; the cakes were lighter; and the +pork less greasy. On this subject of grease, however, we could wish that +a sense of right would enable us to announce its utter extinction in +the American kitchen; or, if not absolutely its extinction, such a +subjection of the unctuous properties, as to bring them within the +limits of a reasonably accurate and healthful taste. To be frank, +Dorothy carried a somewhat heavy hand, in this respect; but pretty +Margery was much her superior. How this difference in domestic +discipline occurred, is more than we can say; but of its existence there +can be no doubt There are two very respectable sections of the civilized +world to which we should imagine no rational being would ever think of +resorting in order to acquire the art of cookery, and these are Germany +and the land of the Pilgrims. One hears, and reads in those elegant +specimens of the polite literature of the day, the letters from +Washington, and from various travellers, who go up and down this river +in steamboats, or along that railway, gratis, much in honor of the good +things left behind the several writers, in the "region of the kock"; +but, woe betide the wight who is silly enough to believe in all this +poetical imagery, and who travels in that direction, in the expectation +of finding a good table! It is extraordinary that such a marked +difference does exist, on an interest of this magnitude, among such +near neighbors; but, of the fact, we should think no intelligent and +experienced man can doubt. Believing as we do, that no small portion +of the elements of national character can be, and are, formed in the +kitchen, the circumstance may appear to us of more moment than to some +of our readers. The vacuum left in cookery, between Boston and Baltimore +for instance, is something like that which exists between Le Verrier's +new planet and the sun. + +But Margery could even fry pork without causing it to swim in grease, +and at a venison steak, a professed cook was not her superior. She also +understood various little mysteries, in the way of converting their +berries and fruits of the wilderness into pleasant dishes; and Corporal +Flint soon affirmed that it was a thousand pities she did not live in +a garrison, which, agreeably to his view of things, was something like +placing her at the comptoir of the Cafe de Paris, or of marrying her to +some second Vatel. + +With the eating and drinking, the building advanced pari passu. +Pigeonswing brought in his venison, his ducks, his pigeons, and his game +of different varieties, daily, keeping the larder quite as well supplied +as comported with the warmth of the weather; while the others worked on +the new chiente. In order to obtain materials for this building, one so +much larger than his old abode, Ben went up the Kalamazoo about half a +mile, where he felled a sufficient number of young pines, with trunks of +about a foot in diameter, cutting them into lengths of twenty and thirty +feet, respectively. These lengths, or trunks, were rolled into the +river, down which they slowly floated, until they arrived abreast of +Castle Meal, where they were met by Peter, in a canoe, who towed each +stick, as it arrived, to the place of landing. In this way, at the end +of two days' work, a sufficient quantity of materials was collected to +commence directly on the building itself. + +Log-houses are of so common occurrence, as to require no particular +description of the one now put up, from us. It was rather less than +thirty feet in length, and one-third narrower than it was long. The logs +were notched, and the interstices were filled by pieces of the pine, +split to a convenient size. The roof was of bark, and of the simplest +construction, while there was neither door nor window; though one +aperture was left for the first, and two for the last. Corporal Flint, +however, was resolved that not only a door should be made, as well +as shutters for the windows, but that the house should, in time, be +picketed. When le Bourdon remonstrated with him on the folly of +taking so much unnecessary pains, it led to a discussion, in which the +missionary even felt constrained to join. + +"What's the use--what's the use?" exclaimed le Bourdon a little +impatiently, when he found the corporal getting to be in earnest in +his proposal. "Here have I lived, safely, two seasons in Castle Meal, +without any pickets or palisades; and yet you want to turn this new +house into a regular garrison!" + +"Aye, Bourdon, that was in peaceable times; but these is war times. +I've seen the fall of Fort Dearborn, and I don't want to see the fall of +another post this war. The Pottawattamies is hostile, even Peter owns; +and the Pottawattamies has been here once, as you say yourself, and may +come ag'in." + +"The only Pottawattamie who has ever been at this spot, to my knowledge, +is dead, and his bones are bleaching up yonder in the openings. No fear +of him, then." + +"His body is gone," answered the corporal; "and what is more the rifle +is gone with it. I heard that his rifle had been forgotten, and went +to collect the arms left on the field of battle, but found nothing. No +doubt his friends have burned, or buried, the chief, and they will be +apt to take another look in this quarter of the country, having l'arnt +the road." + +Boden was struck with this intelligence, as well as with the reasoning, +and after a moment's pause, he answered in a way that showed a wavering +purpose. + +"It will take a week's work, to picket or palisade the house," he +answered, "and I wish to be busy among the bees, once more." + +"Go to your bees, Bourdon, and leave me to fortify and garrison, as +becomes my trade. Parson Amen, here, will tell you that the children of +Israel are often bloody-minded and are not to be forgotten." + +"The corporal is right," put in the missionary; "the corporal is quite +right. The whole history of the ancient Jews gives us this character +of them; and even Saul of Tarsus was bent on persecution and slaughter, +until his hand was stayed by the direct manifestation of the power of +God. I can see glimmerings of this spirit in Peter, and this at a moment +when he is almost ready to admit that he's a descendant of Israel." + +"Is Peter ready to allow that?" asked the bee-hunter, with more interest +in the answer than he would have been willing to allow. + +"As good as that-yes, quite as good as that. I can see, plainly, that +Peter has some heavy mystery on his mind; sooner, or later, we shall +learn it. When it does come out, the world may be prepared to learn the +whole history of the Ten Tribes!" + +"In my judgment," observed the corporal, "that chief could give the +history of twenty, if he was so minded." + +"There were but ten of them, brother Flint--but ten; and of those ten he +could give us a full and highly interesting account. One of these days, +we shall hear it all; in the mean time, it may be well enough to turn +one of these houses into some sort of a garrison." + +"Let it, then, be Castle Meal," said le Bourdon; "surely, if any one is +to be defended and fortified in this way, it ought to be the women. You +may easily palisade that hut, which is so much stronger than this, and +so much smaller." + +With this compromise, the work went on. The corporal dug a trench four +feet deep, encircling the "castle," as happy as a lord the whole time; +for this was not the first time he had been at such work, which +he considered to be altogether in character, and suitable to his +profession. No youthful engineer, fresh from the Point, that seat of +military learning to which the republic is even more indebted for its +signal successes in Mexico, than to the high military character of this +population-no young aspirant for glory, fresh from this useful +school, could have greater delight in laying out his first bastion, +or counter-scarp, or glacis, than Corporal Flint enjoyed in fortifying +Castle Meal. It will be remembered that this was the first occasion he +was ever actually at the head of the engineering department Hitherto, it +had been his fortune to follow; but now it had become his duty to lead. +As no one else, of that party, had ever been employed in such a work +on any previous occasion, the corporal did not affect to conceal the +superior knowledge with which he was overflowing. Gershom he found a +ready and active assistant; for, by this time, the whiskey was well out +of him; and he toiled with the greater willingness, as he felt that the +palisades would add to the security of his wife and sister. Neither +did Parson Amen disdain to use the pick and shovel; for, while the +missionary had the fullest reliance in the fact that the red men of that +region were the descendants of the children of Israel, he regarded them +as a portion of the chosen people who were living under the ban of the +divine displeasure, and as more than usually influenced by those evil +spirits, whom St. Paul mentions as the powers of the air. In a word, +while the good missionary had all faith in the final conversion and +restoration of these children of the forests, he did not overlook the +facts of their present barbarity, and great propensity to scalp. He +was not quite as efficient as Gershom, at this novel employment, but +a certain inborn zeal rendered him both active and useful. As for the +Indians, neither of them deigned to touch a tool. Pigeonswing had little +opportunity for so doing, indeed, being usually, from the rising to +the setting sun, out hunting for the support of the party; while Peter +passed most of his time in ruminations and solitary walks. This last +paid little attention to the work about the castle, either knowing it +would, at any moment, by an act of treachery, be in his power to render +all these precautions of no avail; or, relying on the amount of savage +force that he knew was about to collect in the openings. Whenever he +cast a glance on the progress of the work, it was with an eye of great +indifference; once he even carried his duplicity so far, as to make a +suggestion to the corporal, by means of which, as he himself expressed +it, in his imperfect English--"Injin no get inside, to use knife and +tomahawk." This seeming indifference, on the part of Peter, did +not escape the observation of the bee-hunter, who became still less +distrustful of that mysterious savage, as he noted his conduct in +connection with the dispositions making for defence. + +Le Bourdon would not allow a tree of any sort to be felled anywhere near +his abode. While the corporal and his associates were busy in digging +the trench, he had gone to a considerable distance, quite out of sight +from Castle Meal, and near his great highway, the river, where he cut +and trimmed the necessary number of burr-oaks for the palisades. Boden +labored the more cheerfully at this work, for two especial reasons. One +was the fact that the defences might be useful to himself, hereafter, +as much against bears as against Indians; and the other, because Margery +daily brought her sewing or knitting, and sat on the fallen trees, +laughing and chatting, as the axe performed its duties. On three several +occasions Peter was present, also, accompanying Blossom, with a kindness +of manner, and an attention to her pretty little tastes in culling +flowers, that would have done credit to a man of a higher school of +civilization. + +The reader is not to suppose, however, because the Indian pays but +little outward attention to the squaws, that he is without natural +feeling, or manliness of character. In some respects his chivalrous +devotion to the sex is, perhaps, in no degree inferior to that of the +class which makes a parade of such sentiments, and this quite as much +from convention and ostentation, as from any other motive. The red man +is still a savage beyond all question, but he is a savage with so many +nobler and more manly qualities, when uncorrupted by communion with the +worst class of whites, and not degraded by extreme poverty, as justly to +render him a subject of our admiration, in self-respect, in dignity, and +in simplicity of deportment. The Indian chief is usually a gentleman; +and this, though he may have never heard of Revelation, and has not the +smallest notion of the Atonement, and of the deep obligations it has +laid on the human race. + +Amid the numberless exaggerations of the day, one of particular capacity +has arisen connected with the supposed character of a gentleman. Those +who regard all things through the medium of religious feeling, are apt +to insist that he who is a Christian, is necessarily a gentleman; while +he can be no thorough gentleman, who has not most of the qualities of +the Christian character. This confusion in thought and language, can +lead to no really useful result, while it embarrasses the minds of many, +and renders the expression of our ideas less exact and comprehensive +than they would otherwise be. + +We conceive that a man may be very much of a Christian, and very little +of a gentleman; or very much of a gentleman, and very little of a +Christian. There is, in short, not much in common between the two +characters, though it is possible for them to become united in the same +individual. That the finished courtesies of polished life may wear some +of the aspects of that benevolence which causes the Christian "to love +his neighbor as himself," is certainly true, though the motives of the +parties are so very different as to destroy all real identity between +them. While the moving principle of a gentleman is self-respect, that +of a Christian is humility. The first is ready to lay down his life +in order to wipe away an imaginary dishonor, or to take the life of +another; the last is taught to turn the other cheek, when smitten. In a +word, the first keeps the world, its opinions and its estimation, ever +uppermost in his thoughts; the last lives only to reverence God, and to +conform to his will, in obedience to his revealed mandates. Certainly, +there is that which is both grateful and useful in the refined +deportment of one whose mind and manners have been polished even in the +schools of the world; but it is degrading to the profoundly beautiful +submission of the truly Christian temper, to imagine that anything like +a moral parallel can justly be run between them. + +Of course, Peter had none of the qualities of him who sees and feels +his own defects, and relies only on the merits of the atonement for +his place among the children of light, while he had so many of those +qualities which depend on the estimate which man is so apt to place on +his own merits. In this last sense, this Indian had a great many of +the essentials of a gentleman; a lofty courtesy presiding over all his +intercourse with others, when passion or policy did not thrust in new +and sudden principles of action. Even the missionary was so much struck +with the gentleness of this mysterious savage's deportment in connection +with Margery, as at first to impute it to a growing desire to make a +wife of that flower of the wilderness. But closer observation induced +greater justice to the Indian in this respect Nothing like the +uneasiness, impatience, or distrust of passion could be discerned in his +demeanor; and when Parson Amen perceived that the bee-hunter's marked +devotion to the beautiful Blossom rather excited a benevolent and kind +interest in the feelings of Peter, so far at least as one could judge +of the heart by external appearances, than anything that bore the fierce +and uneasy impulses of jealousy, he was satisfied that his original +impression was a mistake. + +As le Bourdon flourished his axe, and Margery plied her needles, making +a wholesome provision for the coming winter, the mysterious Indian would +stand, a quarter of an hour at a time, immovable as a statue, his eyes +riveted first on one, and then on the other. What passed at such moments +in that stern breast, it exceeds the penetration of man to say: but that +the emotions thus pent within barriers that none could pass or destroy, +were not always ferocious and revengeful, a carefully observant +spectator might possibly have suspected, had such a person been there to +note all the signs of what was uppermost in the chiefs thoughts. Still, +gleamings of sudden, but intense ferocity did occasionally occur; and, +at such instants, the countenance of this extraordinary being was +truly terrific. Fortunately, such bursts of uncontrollable feeling were +transient, being of rare occurrence, and of very short duration. + +By the time the corporal had his trenches dug, le Bourdon was prepared +with his palisades, which were just one hundred in number, being +intended to enclose a space of forty feet square. The men all united in +the transportation of the timber, which was floated down the river on a +raft of white pine, the burr-oak being of a specific gravity that fresh +water would not sustain. A couple of days, however, sufficed for the +transportation by water, and as many more for that by land, between +the place of landing and Castle Meal. This much accomplished, the +whole party rested from their labors, the day which succeeded being the +Sabbath. + +Those who dwell habitually amid the haunts of men, alone thoroughly +realize the vast importance that ought to be attached to the great day +of rest. Men on the ocean, and men in the forest, are only too apt +to overlook the returns of the Sabbath; thus slowly, but inevitably +alienating themselves more and more from the dread Being who established +the festival, as much in his own honor as for the good of man. When we +are told that the Almighty is jealous of his rights, and desires to +be worshipped, we are not to estimate this wish by any known human +standard, but are ever to bear in mind that it is exactly in proportion +as we do reverence the Creator and Ruler of heaven and earth that we are +nearest, or farthest, from the condition of the blessed. It is probably +for his own good, that the adoration of man is pleasing in the eyes of +God. + +The missionary, though a visionary and an enthusiast, as respected the +children of Israel, was a zealous observer of his duties. On Sundays, +he never neglected to set up his tabernacle, even though it were in +a howling wilderness, and went regularly through the worship of God, +according to the form of the sect to which he belonged. His influence, +on the present occasion, was sufficient to cause a suspension of +all labor, though not without some remonstrances on the part of the +corporal. The latter contended that, in military affairs, there was no +Sunday known, unless it might be in peaceable times, and that he had +never heard of intrenchments "resting from their labors," on the part +of either the besieger or the besieged. Work of that sort, he thought, +ought to go on, day and night, by means of reliefs; and, instead of +pausing to hold church, he had actually contemplated detailing fatigue +parties to labor through, not only that day, but the whole of the +succeeding night. + +As for Peter, he never offered the slightest objection to any of Parson +Amen's sermons or prayers. He listened to both with unmoved gravity, +though no apparent impression was ever made on his feelings. The +Chippewa hunted on the Sabbaths as much as on any other day; and it was +in reference to this fact that the following little conversation took +place between Margery and the missionary, as the party sat beneath the +oaks, passing a tranquil eventide at midsummer. + +"How happens it, Mr. Amen," said Margery, who had insensibly adopted the +missionary's sobriquet, "that no red man keeps the Sabbath-day, if they +are all descended from the Jews? This is one of the most respected of +all the commandments, and it does not seem natural"--Margery's use of +terms was necessarily influenced by association and education-"that any +of that people should wholly forget the day of rest." + +"Perhaps you are not aware, Margery, that the Jews, even in civilized +countries, do not keep the same Sabbath as the Christians," returned +the missionary. "They have public worship on a Saturday, as we do on +a Sunday. Now, I did think I saw some signs of Peter's privately +worshipping yesterday, while we were all so busy at our garrison. You +may have observed how thoughtful and silent the chief was in the middle +of the afternoon." + +"I DID observe it," said the bee-hunter, "but must own I did not suspect +him of holding meeting for any purposes within himself. That was one of +the times when I like the manners and behavior of this Injin the least." + +"We do not know--we do not know--perhaps his spirit struggled with the +temptations of the Evil One. To me he appeared to be worshipping, and I +set the fact down as a proof that the red men keep the Jewish Sabbath." + +"I did not know that the Jews keep a Sabbath different from our own, +else I might have thought the same. But I never saw a Jew, to my +knowledge. Did you, Margery?" + +"Not to know him for one," answered the girl; and true enough was the +remark of each. Five-and-thirty years ago, America was singularly not +only a Christian but a Protestant nation. Jews certainly did exist in +the towns, but they were so blended with the rest of the population, +and were so few in number, as scarcely to attract attention to them as +a sect. As for the Romanists, they too had their churches and their +dioceses; but what untravelled American had then ever seen a nun? From +monks, Heaven be praised, we are yet spared; and this is said without +any prejudice against the denomination to which they usually belong. He +who has lived much in a country where that sect prevails, if a man of +a particle of liberality, soon learns that piety and reverence for God, +and a deep sense of all the Christian obligations, can just as well, +nay better, exist in a state of society where a profound submission to +well-established dogmas is to be found, than in a state of society where +there is so much political freedom as to induce the veriest pretenders +to learning to imagine that each man is a church and a hierarchy in his +own person! All this is rapidly changing. Romanists abound, and spots +that half a century since, appeared to be the most improbable place in +the world to admit of the rites of the priests of Rome, now hear the +chants and prayers of the mass-books. All this shows a tendency toward +that great commingling of believers, which is doubtless to precede the +final fusion of sects, and the predicted end. + +On the Monday that succeeded the Sabbath mentioned, the corporal had all +his men at work, early, pinning together his palisades, making them up +into manageable bents, and then setting them up on their legs. As the +materials were all there, and quite ready to be put together, the work +advanced rapidly; and by the time the sun drew near the western horizon +once more, Castle Meal was surrounded by its bristling defences. The +whole was erect and stay-lathed, waiting only for the earth to be +shovelled back into the trench, and to be pounded well down. As it +was, the palisades offered a great increase of security to those in +the chiente, and both the females expressed their obligations to their +friends for having taken this important step toward protecting them from +the enemy. When they retired for the night, everything was arranged, +so that the different members of the party might know where to assemble +within the works. Among the effects of Gershom, were a conch and a horn; +the latter being one of those common instruments of tin, which are so +much used in and about American farm-houses, to call the laborers from +the field. The conch was given to the men, that, in case of need, they +might sound the alarm from without, while the horn, or trumpet of tin, +was suspended by the door of the chiente, in order that the females +might have recourse to it, at need. + +About midnight, long after the whole party had retired to rest, and when +the stillness of the hours of deepest repose reigned over the openings, +the bee-hunter was awoke from his sleep by an unwonted call. At first, +he could scarce believe his senses, so plaintive, and yet so wild, +was the blast. But there could be no mistake: it was the horn from +the chiente, and, in a moment, he was on his feet. By this time, the +corporal was afoot, and presently all the men were in motion. On this +occasion, Gershom manifested a readiness and spirit that spoke equally +well for his heart and his courage. He was foremost in rushing to the +assistance of his wife and sister, though le Bourdon was very close on +his heels. + +On reaching the gate of the palisade, it was found closed, and barred +within; nor did any one appear, until Dorothy was summoned, by repeated +calls, in the well-known voice of her husband. When the two females came +out of the chiente, great was their wonder and alarm! No horn had been +blown by either of them, and there the instrument itself hung, on its +peg, as quiet and mute as if a blast had never been blown into it The +bee-hunter, on learning this extraordinary fact, looked around him +anxiously, in order to ascertain who might be absent. Every man was +present, and each person stood by his arms, no one betraying the +slightest consciousness of knowing whence the unaccountable summons had +proceeded! + +"This has been done by you, corporal, in order to bring us together, +under arms, by way of practice," le Bourdon at length exclaimed. + +"False alarms is useful, if not overdone; especially among raw troops," +answered Flint, coolly; "but I have given none to-night. I will own I +did intend to have you all out in a day or two by way of practice, but +I have thought it useless to attempt too much at once. When the +garrison is finished, it will be time enough to drill the men to the +alarm-posts." + +"What is your opinion, Peter?" continued le Bourdon. "You understand the +wilderness, and its ways. To what is this extr'or'nary call owing? Why +have we been brought here, at this hour?" + +"Somebody blow horn, most likely," answered Peter, in his unmoved, +philosophical manner. "'Spose don't know; den can't tell. Warrior often +hear 'larm on war-path." + +"This is an onaccountable thing! If I ever heard a horn, I heard one +to-night; yet this is the only horn we have, and no one has touched it! +It was not the conch I heard; there is no mistaking the difference in +sound between a shell and a horn; and there is the conch, hanging at +Gershom's neck, just where it has been the whole night." + +"No one has touched the conch--I will answer for THAT," returned +Gershom, laying a hand on the shell, as if to make certain all was +right. + +"This is most extr'or'nary! I heard the horn, if ears of mine ever heard +such an instrument!" + +Each of the white men added as much, for every one of them had +distinctly heard the blast. Still neither could suggest any probable +clue to the mystery. The Indians said nothing; but it was so much in +conformity with their habits for red men to maintain silence, whenever +any unusual events awakened feelings in others, that no one thought +their deportment out of rule. As for Peter, a statue of stone could +scarcely have been colder in aspect than was this chief, who seemed to +be altogether raised above every exhibition of human feeling. Even the +corporal gaped, though much excited, for he had been suddenly aroused +from a deep sleep; but Peter was as much superior to physical, as to +moral impressions, on this occasion. He made no suggestion, manifested +no concern, exhibited no curiosity; and when the men withdrew, again, to +their proper habitation, he walked back with them, in the same silence +and calm, as those with which he had advanced. Gershom, however, entered +within the palisade, and passed the remainder of the night with his +family. + +The bee-hunter and the Chippewa accidentally came together, as the men +moved slowly toward their own hut, when the following short dialogue +occurred between them. + +"Is that you, Pigeonswing?" exclaimed le Bourdon, when he found his +friend touching an elbow, as if by chance. + +"Yes, dis me--want better friend, eh?" + +"No, I'm well satisfied to have you near me, in an alarm, Chippewa. +We've stood by each other once, in troublesome times; and I think we can +do as much, ag'in." + +"Yes; stand by friend--dat honor. Nebber turn back on friend; dat my +way." + +"Chippewa, who blew the blast on the horn?--can you tell me THAT?" + +"Why don't you ask Peter? He wise chief--know eb-beryt'ing. Young Injin +ask ole Injin when don't know--why not young pale-face ask ole man, too, +eh?" + +"Pigeonswing, if truth was said, I believe it would be found that you +suspect Peter of having a hand in this business?" + +This speech was rather too idiomatic for the comprehension of the +Indian, who answered according to his own particular view of the matter. + +"Don't blow horn wid hand," he said--"Injin blow wid mout', just like +pale-face." + +The bee-hunter did not reply; but his companion's remark had a tendency +to revive in his breast certain unpleasant and distrustful feelings +toward the mysterious savage, which the incidents and communications of +the last two weeks had had a strong tendency to put to sleep. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + None knows his lineage, age, or name; + His looks are like the snows of Caucasus; his eyes + Beam with the wisdom of collected ages + In green, unbroken years he sees, 'tis said, + The generations pass like autumn fruits, + Garner'd, consumed, and springing fresh to life, + Again to perish-- + --HILLHOUSE + + +No further disturbance took place that night, and the men set about +filling up the trenches in the morning steadily, as if nothing had +happened. They talked a little of the extraordinary occurrence, but more +was THOUGHT than SAID. Le Bourdon observed, however, that Pigeonswing +went earlier than usual to the hunt, and that he made his preparations +as if he expected to be absent more than the customary time. + +As there were just one hundred feet of ditch to fill with dirt, the task +was completed, and that quite thoroughly, long ere the close of the day. +The pounding down of the earth consumed more time, and was much more +laborious than the mere tumbling of the earth back into its former bed; +but even this portion of the work was sufficiently attended to. When all +was done, the corporal himself, a very critical sort of person in what +he called "garrisons," was fain to allow that it was as "pretty a piece +of palisading" as he had ever laid eyes on. The "garrison" wanted only +one thing, now, to render it a formidable post--and that was water--no +spring or well existing within its narrow limit; however, he procured +two or three empty barrels, portions of le Bourdon's effects, placed +them within the works, and had them filled with sweet water. By emptying +this water two or three times a week, and refilling the barrels, it was +thought that a sufficient provision of that great necessary would be +made and kept up. Luckily the corporal's "garrison" did not drink, and +the want was so much the more easily supplied for the moment. + +In truth, the chiente was now converted into a place of some strength, +when it is considered that artillery had never yet penetrated to those +wilds. More than half the savages of the west fought with arrows +and spears in that day, as most still do when the great prairies are +reached. A rifleman so posted as to have his body in a great measure +covered by the trunk of a burr-oak tree, would be reasonably secure +against the missives of an Indian, and, using his own fatal instrument +of death, under a sense of personal security, he would become a +formidable opponent to dislodge. Nor was the smallness of the work any +objection to its security. A single well-armed man might suffice +to defend twenty-five feet of palisades, when he would have been +insufficient to make good his position with twice the extent. Then le +Bourdon had cut loops on three sides of the hut itself, in order to fire +at the bears, and sometimes at the deer, which had often approached +the building in its days of solitude and quiet, using the window on +the fourth side for the same purpose. In a word, a sense of increased +security was felt by the whole party when this work was completed, +though one arrangement was still wanting to render it perfect. By +separating the real garrison from the nominal garrison during the night, +there always existed the danger of surprise; and the corporal, now that +his fortifications were finished, soon devised a plan to obviate this +last-named difficulty. His expedient was very simple, and had somewhat +of barrack-life about it. + +Corporal Flint raised a low platform along one side of the chiente, +by placing there logs of pine that were squared on one of their sides. +Above, at the height of a man's head, a roof of bark was reared on +poles, and prairie grass, aided by skins, formed very comfortable +barrack-beds beneath. As the men were expected to lie with their heads +to the wall of the hut, and their feet outward, there was ample space +for twice their number. Thither, then, were all the homely provisions +for the night transported; and when Margery closed the door of the +chiente, after returning the bee-hunter's cordial good night, it was +with no further apprehension for the winding of the mysterious horn. + +The first night that succeeded the new arrangement passed without any +disturbance. Pigeonswing did not return, as usual, at sunset, and +a little uneasiness was felt on his account; but, as he made his +appearance quite early in the morning, this source of concern ceased. +Nor did the Chippewa come in empty-handed; he had killed not only a +buck, but he had knocked over a bear in his rambles, besides taking a +mess of famously fine trout from a brawling stream at no great distance. +The fish were eaten for breakfast, and immediately after that meal was +ended, a party. + +"I know no more than he has himself told me. By his account there is +to be a great council of red men on the prairie, a few miles from this +spot; he is waiting for the appointed day to come, in order to go and +make one of the chiefs that will be there. Is not this true, Chippewa?" + +"Yes, dat true--what dat council smoke round fire for, eh? You know?" + +"No, I do not, and would be right glad to have you tell me, Pigeonswing. +Perhaps the tribe mean to have a meetin' to determine in their own minds +which side they ought to take in this war." + +"Not dat nudder. Know well 'nough which side take. Got message and +wampum from Canada fadder, and most all Injin up this-a way look for +Yankee scalp. Not dat nudder." + +"Then I have no notion what is at the bottom of this council. Peter +seems to expect great things from it; that I can see by his way of +talking and looking whenever he speaks of it." + +"Peter want to see him very much. Smoke at great many sich council +fire." + +"Do you intend to be present at this council on Prairie Round?" asked +the bee-hunter, innocently enough. Pigeonswing turned to look at his +companion, in a way that seemed to inquire how far he was really the +dupe of the mysterious Indian's wiles. Then, suddenly aware of the +importance of not betraying all he himself knew, until the proper moment +had arrived, he bent his eyes forward again, continuing onward and +answering somewhat evasively. + +"Don't know," he replied. "Hunter nebber tell. Chief want venison, and +he must hunt. Just like squaw in pale-face wigwam--work, +work--sweep, sweep--cook, cook--never know when work done. So hunter +hunt--hunt--hunt." + +"And for that matter, Chippewa, just like squaw in the red man's +village, too. Hoe, hoe--dig, dig--carry, carry--so that she never knows +when she may sit down to rest." + +"Yes," returned Pigeonswing, coolly nodding his assent as he moved +steadily forward. "Dat do right way wid squaw--juss what he good +for--juss what he MADE for--work for warrior and cook his dinner. +Pale-face make too much of squaw." + +"Not accordin' to your account of their manner of getting along, Injin. +If the work of our squaws is never done, we can hardly make too much of +them. Where does Peter keep HIS squaw?" + +"Don't know," answered the Chippewa. "Nobody know. Don't know where his +tribe even." + +"This is very extraor'nary, considering the influence the man seems to +enjoy. How is it that he has so completely got the ears of all the red +men, far and near?" + +To this question Pigeonswing gave no answer. His own mind was so far +under Peter's control that he did not choose to tell more than might be +prudent. He was fully aware of the mysterious chief's principal design, +that of destroying the white race altogether, and of restoring the red +men to their ancient rights, but several reasons prevented his entering +into the plot heart and hand. In the first place, he was friendly to +the "Yankees," from whom he, personally, had received many favors and +no wrongs; then, the tribe, or half-tribe, to which he belonged had +been employed, more or less, by the agents of the American government +as runners, and in other capacities, ever since the peace of '83; and, +lastly, he himself had been left much in different garrisons, where +he had not only acquired his English, but a habit of thinking of the +Americans as his friends. It might also be added that Pigeonswing, +though far less gifted by nature than the mysterious Peter, had formed +a truer estimate of the power of the "Yankees," and did not believe they +were to be annihilated so easily. How it happened that this Indian had +come to a conclusion so much safer than that of Peter's, a man of twice +his capacity, is more than we can explain; though it was probably owing +to the accidental circumstances of his more intimate associations with +the whites. + +The bee-hunter was by nature a man of observation, a faculty that his +habits had both increased and stimulated. Had it not been for the manner +in which he was submitting to the influence of Margery, he would long +before have seen that in the deportment of the Chippewa which would have +awakened his distrust; not that Margery in any way endeavored to blind +him to what was passing before his face, but that he was fast getting to +have eyes only for her. By this time she filled not only his waking, but +many of his sleeping thoughts; and when she was not actually before him, +charming him with her beauty, enlivening him with her artless gayety, +and inspiring him with her innocent humor, he fancied she was there, +imagination, perhaps, heightening all those advantages which we have +enumerated. When a man is thoroughly in love, he is quite apt to be +fit for very little else but to urge his suit. Such, in a certain +way, proved to be the case with le Bourdon, who allowed things to pass +unheeded directly before his eyes that previously to his acquaintance +with Margery would not only have been observed, but which would have +most probably led to some practical results. The conduct of Pigeonswing +was among the circumstances that were thus over-looked by our hero. In +point of fact, Peter was slowly but surely working on the mind of the +Chippewa, changing all his opinions radically, and teaching him to +regard every pale-face as an enemy. The task, in this instance, was not +easy; for Pigeonswing, in addition to his general propensities in favor +of the "Yankees," the result of mere accident, had conceived a real +personal regard for le Bourdon, and was very slow to admit any views +that tended to his injury. The struggle in the mind of the young warrior +was severe; and twenty times was he on the point of warning his friend +of the danger which impended over the whole party, when a sense of good +faith toward Peter, who held his word to the contrary, prevented his so +doing. This conflict of feeling was now constantly active in the breast +of the young savage. + +Pigeonswing had another source of uneasiness, to which his companions +were entirely strangers. While hunting, his keen eyes had detected the +presence of warriors in the openings. It is true he had not seen even +one, but he knew that the signs he had discovered could not deceive him. +Not only were warriors at hand, but warriors in considerable numbers. +He had found one deserted lair, from which its late occupants could not +have departed many hours when it came under his own notice. By means of +that attentive sagacity which forms no small portion of the education +of an American Indian, Pigeonswing was enabled to ascertain that this +party, of itself, numbered seventeen, all of whom were men and warriors. +The first fact was easily enough to be seen, perhaps, there being just +seventeen different impressions left in the grass; but that all these +persons were armed men, was learned by Pigeonswing through evidence that +would have been overlooked by most persons. By the length of the lairs +he was satisfied none but men of full stature had been there; and he +even examined sufficiently close to make out the proofs that all but +four of these men carried firearms. Strange as it may seem to those who +do not know how keen the senses become when whetted by the apprehensions +and wants of savage life, Pigeonswing was enabled to discover signs +which showed that the excepted were provided with bows and arrows, and +spears. + +When the bee-hunter and his companion came in sight of the carcase of +the bear, which they did shortly after the last remark which we have +given in the dialogue recorded, the former exclaimed with a little +surprise: + +"How's this, Chippewa! You have killed this beast with your bow! Did you +not hunt with the rifle yesterday?" + +"Bad fire rifle off now-a-day," answered Pigeonswing, sententiously. +"Make noise--noise no good." + +"Noise!" repeated the perfectly unsuspecting bee-hunter. "Little good +or little harm can noise do in these openings, where there is neither +mountain to give back an echo, or ear to be startled. The crack of my +rifle has rung through these groves a hundred times and no harm come of +it." + +"Forget war-time now. Bess nebber fire, less can't help him. +Pottawattamie hear great way off." + +"Oh! That's it, is it! You're afraid our old friends the Pottawattamies +may find us out, and come to thank us for all that happened down at +the river's mouth. Well," continued le Bourdon, laughing, "if they wish +another whiskey-spring, I have a small jug left, safely hid against a +wet day; a very few drops will answer to make a tolerable spring. You +redskins don't know everything, Pigeonswing, though you are so keen and +quick-witted on a trail." + +"Bess not tell Pottawattamie any more 'bout springs," answered the +Chippewa, gravely; for by this time he regarded the state of things in +the openings to be so serious as to feel little disposition to mirth. +"Why you don't go home, eh? Why don't med'cine-man go home, too? Bess +for pale-face to be wid pale-face when red man go on war-path. Color +bess keep wid color." + +"I see you want to be rid of us, Pigeonswing; but the parson has no +thought of quitting this part of the world until he has convinced all +the red-skins that they are Jews." + +"What he mean, eh?" demanded the Chippewa, with more curiosity than it +was usual for an Indian warrior to betray. "What sort of a man Jew, eh? +Why call red man Jew?" + +"I know very little more about it than you do yourself, Pigeonswing; but +such as my poor knowledge is, you're welcome to it. You've heard of the +Bible, I dare say?" + +"Sartain--med'cine-man read him Sunday. Good book to read, some t'ink." + +"Yes, it's all that, and a great companion have I found my Bible, when +I've been alone with the bees out here in the openings. It tells us of +our God, Chippewa; and teaches us how we are to please him, and how we +may offend. It's a great loss to you red-skins not to have such a book +among you." + +"Med'cine-man bring him--don't do much good, yet; some day, p'r'aps, do +better. How dat make red man Jew?" + +"Why, this is a new idea to me, though Parson Amen seems fully possessed +with it. I suppose you know what a Jew is?" + +"Don't know anything 'bout him. Sort o' nigger, eh?" + +"No, no, Pigeonswing, you're wide of the mark this time. But, that we +may understand each other, we'll begin at the beginning like, which will +let you into the whole history of the pale-face religion. As we've had a +smart walk, however, and here is the bear's meat safe and sound, just as +you left it, let us sit down a bit on this trunk of a tree, while I give +you our tradition from beginning to end, as it might be. In the first +place, Chippewa, the earth was made without creatures of any sort to +live on it--not so much as a squirrel or a woodchuck." + +"Poor country to hunt in, dat," observed the Chippewa quietly, while le +Bourdon was wiping his forehead after removing his cap. "Ojebways stay +in it very little time." + +"This, according to our belief, was before any Ojebway lived. At length, +God made a man, out of clay, and fashioned him, as we see men fashioned +and living all around us." + +"Yes," answered the Chippewa, nodding his head in assent. "Den Manitou +put plenty blood in him--dat make red warrior. Bible good book, if tell +dat tradition." + +"The Bible says nothing about any colors; but we suppose the man first +made to have been a pale-face. At any rate, the pale-faces have got +possession of the best parts of the earth, as it might be, and I +think they mean to keep them. First come, first served, you know. The +pale-faces are many, and are strong." + +"Stop!" exclaimed Pigeonswing, in a way that was very unusual for an +Indian to interrupt another when speaking; "want to ask question--how +many pale-face you t'ink is dere? Ebber count him?" + +"Count him!--Why, Chippewa, you might as well count the bees, as +they buzz around a fallen tree. You saw me cut down the tree I last +discovered, and saw the movement of the little animals, and may judge +what success tongue or eye would have in counting THEM; now, just as +true would it be to suppose that any man could count the pale-faces on +this earth." + +"Don't want count ALL," answered Pigeonswing. "Want to know how many dis +side of great salt lake." + +"That's another matter, and more easily come at. I understand you now, +Chippewa; you wish to know how many of us there are in the country we +call America?" + +"Juss so," returned Pigeonswing, nodding in assent. "Dat juss it--juss +what Injin want to know." + +"Well, we do have a count of our own people, from time to time, and +I suppose come about as near to the truth as men can come in such a +matter. There must be about eight millions of us altogether; that is, +old and young, big and little, male and female." + +"How many warrior you got?--don't want hear about squaw and pappoose." + +"No, I see you're warlike this morning, and want to see how we are +likely to come out of this struggle with your great Canada father. +Counting all round, I think we might muster hard on upon a million of +fighting men--good, bad, and indifferent; that is to say, there must be +a million of us of proper age to go into the wars." + +Pigeonswing made no answer for near a minute. Both he and the bee-hunter +had come to a halt alongside of the bear's meat, and the latter was +beginning to prepare his own portion of the load for transportation, +while his companion stood thus motionless, lost in thought. Suddenly, +Pigeonswing recovered his recollection, and resumed the conversation, by +saying: + +"What million mean, Bourdon? How many time so'ger at Detroit, and so'ger +on lakes?" + +"A million is more than the leaves on all the trees in these +openings"--le Bourdon's notions were a little exaggerated, perhaps, but +this was what he SAID--"yes, more than the leaves on all these oaks, far +and near. A million is a countless number, and I suppose would make a +row of men as long as from this spot to the shores of the great salt +lake, if not farther." + +It is probable that the bee-hunter himself had no very clear notion +of the distance of which he spoke, or of the number of men it would +actually require to fill the space he mentioned; but his answer sufficed +deeply to impress the imagination of the Indian, who now helped le +Bourdon to secure his load to his back, in silence, receiving the same +service in return. When the meat of the bear was securely bestowed, each +resumed his rifle, and the friends commenced their march in, toward the +chiente; conversing, as they went, on the matter which still occupied +their minds. When the bee-hunter again took up the history of the +creation, it was to speak of our common mother. + +"You will remember, Chippewa," he said, "that I told you nothing on the +subject of any woman. What I have told you, as yet, consarned only the +first MAN, who was made out of clay, into whom God breathed the breath +of life." + +"Dat good--make warrior fuss. Juss right. When breat' in him, fit to +take scalp, eh?" + +"Why, as to that, it is not easy to see whom he was to scalp, seeing +that he was quite alone in the world, until it pleased his Creator to +give him a woman for a companion." + +"Tell 'bout dat," returned Pigeonswing, with interest--"tell how he got +squaw." + +"Accordin' to the Bible, God caused this man to fall into a deep sleep, +when he took one of his ribs, and out of that he made a squaw for him. +Then he put them both to live together, in a most beautiful garden, in +which all things excellent and pleasant was to be found--some such place +as these openings, I reckon." + +"Any bee dere?" asked the Indian, quite innocently. "Plenty honey, eh?" + +"That will I answer for! It could hardly be otherwise, when it was the +intention to make the first man and first woman perfectly happy. I dare +say, Chippewa, if the truth was known, it would be found that bees was a +sipping at every flower in that most delightful garden!" + +"Why pale-face quit dat garden, eh? Why come here to drive poor Injin +'way from game? Tell me dat, Bourdon, if he can? Why pale-face ever +leave DAT garden, when he so han'some, eh?" + +"God turned him out of it, Chippewa--yes, he was turned OUT of it, with +shame on his face, for having disobeyed the commandments of his Creator. +Having left the garden, his children have scattered over the face of the +earth." + +"So come here to drive off Injin! Well, dat 'e way wid pale-face I Did +ever hear of red man comin' to drive off pale-face?" + +"I have heard of your red warriors often coming to take our scalps, +Chippewa. More or less of this has been done every year, since our +people have landed in America. More than that they have not done, for +we are too many to be driven very far in, by a few scattering tribes of +Injins." + +"T'ink, den, more pale-face dan Injin, eh?" asked the Chippewa, with an +interest so manifest that he actually stopped in his semi-trot, in order +to put the question. "More pale-face warrior dan red men?" + +"More! Aye, a thousand times more, Chippewa. Where you could show one +warrior, we could show a thousand!" + +Now, this was not strictly true, perhaps, but it answered the purpose +of deeply impressing the Chippewa with the uselessness of Peter's plans, +and sustained as it was by his early predilections, it served to +keep him on the right side, in the crisis which was approaching. The +discourse continued, much in the same strain, until the men got in with +their bear's meat, having been preceded some time by the others, with +the venison. + +It is a little singular that neither the questions, nor the manner of +Pigeonswing, awakened any distrust in the bee-hunter. So far from this, +the latter regarded all that had passed as perfectly natural, and as +likely to arise in conversation, in the way of pure speculation, as in +any other manner. Pigeonswing intended to be guarded in what he said and +did, for, as yet, he had not made up his mind which side he would really +espouse, in the event of the great project coming to a head. He had the +desire, natural to a red man, to avenge the wrongs committed against +his race; but this desire existed in a form a good deal mitigated by his +intercourse with the "Yankees," and his regard for individuals. It had, +nevertheless, strangely occurred to the savage reasoning of this young +warrior that possibly some arrangement might be effected, by means of +which he should take scalps from the Canadians, while Peter and his +other followers were working their will on the Americans. In this +confused condition was the mind of the Chippewa, when he and his +companion threw down their loads, near the place where the provision of +game was usually kept. This was beneath the tree, near the spring and +the cook-house, in order that no inconvenience should arise from its +proximity to the place where the party dwelt and slept. For a siege, +should there be occasion to shut themselves up within the "garrison," +the men depended on the pickled pork, and a quantity of dried meat; of +the latter of which the missionary had brought a considerable supply +in his own canoe. Among these stores were a few dozen of buffaloes' +or bisons' tongues, a delicacy that would honor the best table in the +civilized world, though then so common among the western hunters, as +scarce to be deemed food as good as the common salted pork and beef of +the settlements. + +The evening that followed proved to be one of singular softness and +sweetness. The sun went down in a cloudless sky, and gentle airs from +the southwest fanned the warm cheeks of Margery, as she sat, resting +from the labors of the day, with le Bourdon at her side, speaking of the +pleasures of a residence in such a spot. The youth was eloquent, for he +felt all that he said, and the maiden was pleased. The young man could +expatiate on bees in a way to arrest any one's attention; and Margery +delighted to hear him relate his adventures with these little creatures; +his successes, losses, and journeys. + +"But are you not often lonely, Bourdon, living here in the openings, +whole summers at a time, without a living soul to speak to?" demanded +Margery, coloring to the eyes, the instant the question was asked, +lest it should subject her to an imputation against which her modesty +revolted, that of wishing to draw the discourse to a discussion on the +means of preventing this solitude in future. + +"I have not been, hitherto," answered le Bourdon, so frankly as at once +to quiet his companion's sensitiveness, "though I will not answer for +the future. Now that I have so many with me, we may make some of them +necessary. Mind--I say SOME, not all of my present guests. If I could +have my pick, pretty Margery, the present company would give me ALL I +can desire, and more too. I should not think of going to Detroit for +that companion, since she is to be found so much nearer." + +Margery blushed, and looked down--then she raised her eyes, smiled, +and seemed grateful as well as pleased. By this time she had become +accustomed to such remarks, and she had no difficulty in discovering her +lover's wishes, though he had never been more explicit. The reflections +natural to her situation threw a shade of gentle seriousness over her +countenance, rendering her more charming than ever, and causing the +youth to plunge deeper and deeper into the meshes that female influence +had cast around him, In all this, however, one of the parties was +governed by a manly sincerity, and the other by girlish artlessness. +Diffidence, one of the most certain attendants of a pure passion, alone +kept le Bourdon from asking Margery to become his wife; while Margery +herself sometimes doubted whether it were possible that any reputable +man could wish to connect himself and his fortunes with a family that +had sunk as low as persons could well sink, in this country, and not +lose their characters altogether. With these doubts and distrusts, so +naturally affecting the mind of each, these young people were rapidly +becoming more and more enamored; the bee-hunter betraying his passion +in the close, absorbed attentions that more properly belong to his sex, +while that of Margery was to be seen in sudden blushes, the thoughtful +brow, the timid glance, and a cast of tenderness that came over her +whole manner, and, as it might be, her whole being. + +While our young folk were thus employed, now conversing cheerfully, now +appearing abstracted and lost in thought, though seated side by side, +le Bourdon happened to look behind him, and saw that Peter was regarding +them with one of those intense, but mysterious expressions of the +countenance, that had, now, more than once attracted his attention; +giving reason, each time, for a feeling in which doubt, curiosity, and +apprehension were singularly mingled, even in himself. + +At the customary hour, which was always early, in that party of simple +habits, the whole family sought its rest; the females withdrew within +the chiente, while the males arranged their skins without. Ever since +the erection of the palisades, le Bourdon had been in the habit of +calling Hive within the defences, leaving him at liberty to roam about +inside, at pleasure. Previously to this new arrangement, the dog had +been shut up in his kennel, in order to prevent his getting on the track +of a deer, or in close combat with some bear, when his master was not +present to profit by his efforts. As the palisades were too high for +his leap, this putting him at liberty within them answered the double +purpose of giving the mastiff room for healthful exercise, and of +possessing a most vigilant sentinel against dangers of all sorts. On the +present occasion, however, the dog was missing, and after calling and +whistling for him some time, the bee-hunter was fain to bar the gate, +and leave him on the outside. This done, he sought his skin, and was +soon asleep. + +It was midnight, when the bee-hunter felt a hand laid on his own arm. +It was the corporal, making this movement, in order to awake him. In an +instant the young man was on his feet, with his rifle in his hand. + +"Did you not hear it, Bourdon?" demanded the corporal, in a tone so low +as scarce to exceed a whisper. + +"Hear what! I've been sleeping, sound as a bee in winter." + +"The horn!--The horn has been blown twice, and, I think, we shall soon +hear it again." + +"The horn was hanging at the door of the chiente, and the conch, too. It +will be easy to see if they are in their places." + +It was only necessary to walk around the walls of the hut, to its +opposite side, in order to ascertain this fact. Le Bourdon did so, +accompanied by the corporal, and just as each laid a hand on the +instruments, which were suspended in their proper places, a heavy rush +was made against the gate, as if to try its fastenings. These pushes +were repeated several times, with a violence that menaced the bars. Of +course, the two men stepped to the spot, a distance of only a few +paces, the gateway of the palisades and the door of the chiente being +contiguous to each other, and immediately ascertained that it was the +mastiff, endeavoring to force his way in. The bee-hunter admitted the +dog, which had been trained to suppress his bark, though this animal was +too brave and large to throw away his breath when he had better rely on +his force. Powerful animals, of this race, are seldom noisy, it being +the province of the cur, both among dogs and men, to be blustering and +spitting out their venom, at all hours and seasons. Hive, however, in +addition to his natural disposition, had been taught, from the time he +was a pup, not to betray his presence unnecessarily by a bark; and it +was seldom that his deep throat opened beneath the arches of the oaks. +When it did, it told like the roaring of the lion in the desert. + +Hive was no sooner admitted to the "garrison," than he manifested just +as strong a desire to get out, as a moment before he had manifested +to get in. This, le Bourdon well knew, indicated the presence of some +thing, or creature, that did not properly belong to the vicinity. After +consulting with the corporal, Pigeonswing was called; and leaving him as +a sentinel at the gate, the two others made a sortie. The corporal +was as brave as a lion, and loved all such movements, though he fully +anticipated encountering savages, while his companion expected an +interview with bears. + +As this movement was made at the invitation of the dog, it was +judiciously determined to let him act as pioneer, on the advance. +Previously to quitting the defences, however, the two adventurers looked +closely to their arms. Each examined the priming, saw that his horn +and pouch were accessible, and loosened his knife in its sheath. The +corporal, moreover, fixed his "baggonet," as he called the formidable, +glittering instrument that usually embellished the end of his musket--a +MUSKET being the weapon he chose to carry, while the bee-hunter himself +was armed with a long western RIFLE. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + The raptures of a conqueror's mood + Rushed burning through his frame; + The depths of that green solitude + Its torrents could not tame, + Though stillness lay, with eve's last smile, + Round those far fountains of the Nile + --MRS HEMANS. + + +When the bee-hunter and Corporal Flint thus went forth in midnight, from +the "garrison" of Castle Meal (Chateau au Miel), as the latter would +have expressed it, it was with no great apprehension of meeting any +other than a four-footed enemy, notwithstanding the blast of the horn +the worthy corporal supposed he had heard. The movements of the dog +seemed to announce such a result rather than any other, for Hive was +taken along as a sort of guide. Le Bourdon, however, did not permit his +mastiff to run off wide, but, having the animal at perfect command, it +was kept close to his own person. + +The two men first moved toward the grove of the Kitchen, much to Hive's +discontent. The dog several times halted, and he whined, and growled, +and otherwise manifested his great dislike to proceed in that direction. +At length so decided did his resistance become, that his master said to +his companion: + +"It seems to me best, corporal, to let the mastiff lead us. I have never +yet seen him so set on not going in one way, and on going in another. +Hive has a capital nose, and we may trust him." + +"Forward," returned the corporal, wheeling short in the direction of +the dog; "one thing should be understood, however, Bourdon, which is +this--you must act as light troops in this sortie, and I as the main +body. If we come on the inimy, it will be your duty to skrimmage in +front as long as you can, and then fall back on your resarves. I shall +depend chiefly on the baggonet, which is the best tool to put an Injin +up with; and as he falls back, before my charge, we must keep him under +as warm a fire as possible. Having no cavalry, the dog might be made +useful in movements to the front and on our flanks." + +"Pooh, pooh, corporal, you're almost as much set in the notions of your +trade as Parson Amen is set in his idees about the lost tribes. In +my opinion there'll be more tribes FOUND in these openings before the +summer is over than we shall wish to meet. Let us follow the dog, and +see what will turn up." Hive WAS followed, and he took a direction that +led to a distant point in the openings, where not only the trees were +much thicker than common, but where a small tributary of the Kalamazoo +ran through a ravine, from the higher lands adjacent into the main +artery of all the neighboring watercourses. The bee-hunter knew the +spot well, having often drank at the rivulet, and cooled his brow in the +close shades of the ravine, when heated by exertions in the more +open grounds. In short, the spot was one of the most eligible for +concealment, coolness, and pure water, within several miles of Castle +Meal. The trees formed a spacious grove around it, and, by means of the +banks, their summits and leaves answered the purpose of a perfect screen +to those who might descend into the ravine, or, it would be better to +say, to the bottom. Le Bourdon was no sooner satisfied that his mastiff +was proceeding toward the great spring which formed the rivulet at the +head of the ravine mentioned, than he suspected Indians might be there. +He had seen signs about the spot, which wore an appearance of its having +been used as a place of encampment--or for "camping out," as it is +termed in the language of the west--and, coupling the sound of the horn +with the dog's movements, his quick apprehension seized on the facts as +affording reasonable grounds of distrust. Consequently he resorted to +great caution, as he and the corporal entered the wood which surrounded +the spring, and the small oval bit of bottom that lay spread before it, +like a little lawn. Hive was kept close at his master's side, though +he manifested a marked impatience to advance. "Now, corporal," said the +bee-hunter in a low tone, "I think we have lined some savages to their +holes. We will go round the basin and descend to the bottom, in a close +wood which grows there. Did you see that?" + +"I suppose I did," answered the corporal, who was as firm as a rock. +"You meant to ask me if I saw fire?" + +"I did. The red men have lighted their council fire in this spot, +and have met to talk around it. Well, let 'em hearken to each other's +thoughts, if they will; we shall be neither the better nor the worse for +it." + +"I don't know that. When the commander-in-chief calls together his +principal officers, something usually comes of it. Who knows but this +very council is called in order to take opinions on the subject of +besieging or of storming our new garrison? Prudent soldiers should +always be ready for the worst." + +"I have no fear, so long as Peter is with us. That chief is listened to +by every red-skin; and while we have him among us there will be little +to care for. But we are getting near to the bottom and must work our way +through these bushes with as little noise as possible. I will keep the +dog quiet." + +The manner in which that sagacious animal now behaved was truly +wonderful. Hive appeared to be quite as much aware of the necessity +of extreme caution as either of the men, and did not once attempt to +precede his master his own length. On one or two occasions he actually +discovered the best passages, and led his companions through them with +something like the intelligence of a human being. Neither growl nor bark +escaped him; on the contrary, even the hacking breathing of an impatient +dog was suppressed, precisely as if the animal knew how near he was +getting to the most watchful ears in the world. + +After using the greatest care, the bee-hunter and the corporal got just +such a station as they desired. It was within a very few feet of the +edge of the cover, but perfectly concealed, while small openings enabled +them to see all that was passing in their front. A fallen tree, a relic +of somewhat rare occurrence in the openings of Michigan, even furnished +them with a seat, while it rendered their position less exposed. Hive +placed himself at his master's side, apparently trusting to other senses +than that of sight for his information, since he could see nothing of +what was going on in front. + +As soon as the two men had taken their stations, and began to look about +them, a feeling of awe mingled with their curiosity. Truly, the scene +was one so very remarkable and imposing that it might have filled more +intellectual and better fortified minds with some such sensation. +The fire was by no means large, nor was it particularly bright; but +sufficient to cast a dim light on the objects within reach of its rays. +It was in the precise centre of a bit of bottom land of about half an +acre in extent, which was so formed and surrounded, as to have something +of the appearance of the arena of a large amphitheatre. There was one +break in the encircling rise of ground, it is true, and that was at +a spot directly opposite the station of le Bourdon and his companion, +where the rill which flowed from the spring found a passage out toward +the more open ground. Branches shaded most of the mound, but the arena +itself was totally free from all vegetation but that which covered the +dense and beautiful sward with which it was carpeted. Such is a brief +description of the natural accessories of this remarkable scene. + +But it was from the human actors, and their aspects, occupations, +movements, dress, and appearance generally, that the awe which came +over both the bee-hunter and the corporal had its origin. Of these, near +fifty were present, offering a startling force by their numbers alone. +Each man was a warrior, and each warrior was in his paint. These were +facts that the familiarity of the two white men with Indian customs +rendered only too certain. What was still more striking was the fact +that all present appeared to be chiefs; a circumstance which went to +show that an imposing body of red men was most likely somewhere in the +openings, and that too at no great distance. It was while observing and +reflecting on all these things, a suspicion first crossed the mind of le +Bourdon that this great council was about to be held, at that midnight +hour, and so near his own abode, for the purpose of accommodating Peter, +whose appearance in the dark crowd, from that instant, he began to +expect. + +The Indians already present were not seated. They stood in groups +conversing, or stalked across the arena, resembling so many dark and +stately spectres. No sound was heard among them, a circumstance that +added largely to the wild and supernatural aspect of the scene. If any +spoke, it was in a tone so low and gentle, as to carry the sound no +farther than to the ears that were listening; two never spoke at +the same time and in the same group, while the moccasin permitted no +footfall to be audible. Nothing could have been more unearthly than the +picture presented in that little, wood-circled arena, of velvet-like +grass and rural beauty. The erect, stalking forms, half naked, if not +even more; the swarthy skins; the faces fierce in the savage conceits +which were intended to strike terror into the bosoms of enemies, and the +glittering eyes that fairly sparkled in their midst, all contributed to +the character of the scene, which le Bourdon rightly enough imagined was +altogether much the most remarkable of any he had ever been in the way +of witnessing. + +Our two spectators might have been seated on the fallen tree half an +hour, all of which time they had been gazing at what was passing before +their eyes; with positively not a human sound to relieve the unearthly +nature of the picture. No one spoke, coughed, laughed, or exclaimed, in +all that period. Suddenly, every chief stood still, and all the faces +turned in the same direction. It was toward the little gateway of the +rill, which being the side of the arena most remote from the bee-hunter +and the corporal, lay nearly in darkness as respected them. With the red +men it must have been different, for THEY all appeared to be in intent +expectation of some one from that quarter. Nor did they have to wait +long; for, in half a minute, two forms came out of the obscurity, +advancing with a dignified and deliberate tread to the centre of +the arena. As these newcomers got more within the influence of the +flickering light, le Bourdon saw that they were Peter and Parson Amen. +The first led, with a slow, imposing manner, while the other followed, +not a little bewildered with what he saw. It may be as well to explain +here, that the Indian was coming alone to this place of meeting, when +he encountered the missionary wandering among the oaks, looking for le +Bourdon and the corporal, and, instead of endeavoring to throw off this +unexpected companion, he quietly invited him to be of his own party. + +It was evident to le Bourdon, at a glance, that Peter was expected, +though it was not quite so clear that such was the fact as regarded +his companion. Still, respect for the great chief prevented any +manifestations of surprise or discontent, and the medicine-man of the +pale-faces was received with as grave a courtesy as if he had been an +invited guest. Just as the two had entered the dark circle that formed +around them, a young chief threw some dry sticks on the fire, which +blazing upward, cast a stronger light on a row of as terrifically +looking countenances as ever gleamed on human forms. This sudden +illumination, with its accompanying accessories, had the effect to +startle all the white spectators, though Peter looked on the whole with +a calm like that of the leafless tree, when the cold is at its height, +and the currents of the wintry air are death-like still Nothing appeared +to move HIM, whether expected or not; though use had probably accustomed +his eye to all the aspects in which savage ingenuity could offer savage +forms. He even smiled, as he made a gesture of recognition, which +seemed to salute the whole group. It was just then, when the fire burned +brightest, and when the chiefs pressed most within its influence, that +le Bourdon perceived that his old acquaintances, the head-men of the +Pottawattamies, were present, among the other chiefs so strangely and +portentously assembled in these grounds, which he had so long possessed +almost entirely to himself. + +A few of the oldest of the chiefs now approached Peter, and a low +conversation took place between them. What was said did not reach le +Bourdon, of course; for it was not even heard in the dark circle of +savages who surrounded the fire. The effect of this secret dialogue, +however, was to cause all the chiefs to be seated, each taking his place +on the grass; the whole preserving the original circle around the fire. +Fortunately, for the wishes of le Bourdon, Peter and his companions took +their stations directly opposite to his own seat, thus enabling him to +watch every lineament of that remarkable chief's still more remarkable +countenance. Unlike each and all of the red men around him, the face of +Peter was not painted, except by the tints imparted by nature; which, in +his case, was that of copper a little tarnished, or rendered dull by the +action of the atmosphere. The bee-hunter could distinctly trace every +lineament; nor was the dark roving eye beyond the reach of his own +vision. Some attention was given to the fire, too, one of the younger +chiefs occasionally throwing on it a few dried sticks, more to keep +alive the flame, and to renew the light, than from any need of warmth. +One other purpose, however, this fire DID answer; that of enabling +the young chiefs to light the pipes that were now prepared; it seldom +occurring that the chiefs thus assembled without SMOKING around their +council-fire. + +As this smoking was just then more a matter of ceremony than for any +other purpose, a whiff or two suffices for each chief; the smoker +passing the pipe to his neighbor as soon as he had inhaled a few puffs. +The Indians are models of propriety, in their happiest moods, and every +one in that dark and menacing circle was permitted to have his turn +with the pipe, before any other step was taken. There were but two pipes +lighted, and mouths being numerous, some time was necessary in order +to complete this ceremony. Still, no sign of impatience was seen, the +lowest chief having as much respect paid to his feelings, as related +to his attention, as the highest. At length the pipes completed their +circuit, even Parson Amen getting, and using, his turn, when a dead +pause succeeded. The silence resembled that of a Quaker meeting, and +was broken only by the rising of one of the principal chiefs, evidently +about to speak. The language of the great Ojebway nation was used on +this occasion, most of the chiefs present belonging to some one of the +tribes of that stock, though several spoke other tongues, English and +French included. Of the three whites present, Parson Amen alone fully +comprehended all that was said, he having qualified himself in this +respect, to preach to the tribes of that people; though le Bourdon +understood nearly all, and even the corporal comprehended a good deal. +The name of the chief who first spoke at this secret meeting, which was +afterward known among the Ojebways by the name of the "Council of the +Bottom Land, near to the spring of gushing water," was Bear's Meat, an +appellation that might denote a distinguished hunter, rather than an +orator of much renown. + +"Brothers of the many tribes of the Ojebways," commenced this personage, +"the Great Spirit has permitted us to meet in council. The Manitou of +our fathers is now among these oaks, listening to our words, and looking +in at our hearts. Wise Indians will be careful what they say in such a +presence, and careful of what they think. All should be said and thought +for the best. We are a scattered nation, and the time is come when we +must stop in our tracks, or travel beyond the sound of each other's +cries. If we travel beyond the hearing of our people, soon will our +children learn tongues that Ojebway ears cannot understand. The mother +talks to her child, and the child learns her words. But no child can +hear across a great lake. Once we lived near the rising sun. Where are +we now? Some of our young men say they have seen the sun go down in the +lakes of sweet water. There can be no hunting-grounds beyond THAT spot; +and if we would live, we must stand still in our tracks. How to do this, +we have met to consider. + +"Brothers, many wise chiefs and braves are seated at this council-fire. +It is pleasant to my eyes to look upon them. Ottawas, Chippeways, +Pottawattamies, Menominees, Hurons, and all. Our father at Quebec has +dug up the hatchet against the Yankees. The war-path is open between +Detroit and all the villages of the red men. The prophets are speaking +to our people, and we listen. One is here; he is about to speak. The +council will have but a single sense, which will be that of hearing." + +Thus concluding, Bear's Meat took his seat, in the same composed +and dignified manner as that in which he had risen, and deep silence +succeeded. So profound was the stillness, that, taken in connection with +the dark lineaments, the lustrous eyeballs that threw back the light +of the fire, the terrific paint and the armed hands of every warrior +present, the picture might be described as imposing to a degree that +is seldom seen in the assemblies of the civilized. In the midst of this +general but portentous calm, Peter arose. The breathing of the circle +grew deeper, so much so as to be audible, the only manner in which +the intensity of the common expectation betrayed itself. Peter was an +experienced orator, and knew how to turn every minutiae of his art to +good account. His every movement was deliberate, his attitude highly +dignified--even his eye seemed eloquent. + +Oratory! what a power art thou, wielded, as is so often the case, as +much for evil as for good. The very reasoning that might appear to +be obtuse, or which would be over looked entirely when written and +published, issuing from the mouth, aided by the feelings of sympathy and +the impulses of the masses, seems to partake of the wisdom of divinity. +Thus is it, also, with the passions, the sense of wrong, the appeals +to vengeance, and all the other avenues of human emotion. Let them be +addressed to the cold eye of reason and judgment, in the form of written +statements, and the mind pauses to weigh the force of arguments, the +justice of the appeals, the truth of facts: but let them come upon the +ear aided by thy art, with a power concentrated by sympathy, and the +torrent is often less destructive in its course, than that of the +whirlwind that thou canst awaken! + +"Chiefs of the great Ojebway nation, I wish you well," said Peter, +stretching out his arms toward the circle, as if desirous of embracing +all present. "The Manitou has been good to me. He has cleared a path to +this spring, and to this council-fire. I see around it the faces of many +friends. Why should we not all be friendly? Why should a red man ever +strike a blow against a red man? The Great Spirit made us of the same +color, and placed us on the same hunting-grounds. He meant that we +should hunt in company; not take each other's scalps. How many warriors +have fallen in our family wars? Who has counted them? Who can say? +Perhaps enough, had they not been killed, to drive the pale-faces into +the sea!" + +Here Peter, who as yet had spoken only in a low and barely audible +voice, suddenly paused, in order to allow the idea he had just thrown +out to work on the minds of his listeners. That it was producing its +effect was apparent by the manner in which one stern face turned toward +another, and eye seemed to search in eye some response to a query that +the mind suggested, though no utterance was given to it with the tongue. +As soon, however, as the orator thought time sufficient to impress +that thought on the memories of the listeners had elapsed, he resumed, +suffering his voice gradually to increase in volume, as he warmed with +his subject. + +"Yes," he continued, "the Manitou has been very kind. Who is the +Manitou? Has any Indian ever seen him? Every Indian has seen him. No one +can look on the hunting-grounds, on the lakes, on the prairies, on the +trees, on the game, without seeing his hand. His face is to be seen in +the sun at noonday; his eyes in the stars at night. Has any Indian +ever heard the Manitou? When it thunders, he speaks. When the crash is +loudest, then he scolds. Some Indian has done wrong. Perhaps one red man +has taken another red man's scalp!" + +Another pause succeeded, briefer, and less imposing than the first, but +one that sufficed to impress on the listeners anew, the great evil of an +Indian's raising his hand against an Indian. + +"Yes, there is no one so deaf as not to hear the voice of the Great +Spirit when he is angry," resumed Peter. "Ten thousands of buffalo +bulls, roaring together, do not make as much noise as his whisper. +Spread the prairies, and the openings, and the lakes, before him, and he +can be heard in all, and on all, at the same time. + +"Here is a medicine-priest of the pale-faces; he tells me that the voice +of the Manitou reaches into the largest villages of his people, beneath +the rising sun, when it is heard by the red man across the great lakes, +and near the rocks of the setting sun. It is a loud voice; woe to him +who does not remember it. It speaks to all colors, and to every people, +and tribe, and nation. + +"Brothers, that is a lying tradition which says, there is one Manitou +for a Sac, and another for the Ojebway--one Manitou for the red man, and +another for the pale-face. In this, we are alike. One Great Spirit +made all; governs all; rewards all; punishes all. He may keep the happy +hunting-grounds of an Indian separate from the white man's heaven, +for he knows that their customs are different, and what would please a +warrior would displease a trader; and what would please a trader would +displease a warrior. He has thought of these things, and has made +several places for the spirits of the good, let their colors be what +they may. Is it the same with the places of the spirits of the bad? I +think not. To me it would seem best to let THEM go together, that they +may torment one another. A wicked Indian and a wicked pale-face would +make a bad neighborhood. I think the Manitou will let THEM go together. + +"Brothers, if the Manitou keeps the good Indian and the good pale-face +apart in another world, what has brought them together in this? If he +brings the bad spirits of all colors together in another world, why +should they come together here, before their time? A place for wicked +spirits should not be found on earth. This is wrong; it must be looked +into. + +"Brothers, I have now done; this pale-face wishes to speak, and I have +said that you would hear his words. When he has spoken his mind, I +may have more to tell you. Now, listen to the stranger. He is a +medicine-priest of the white men, and says he has a great secret to tell +our people--when he has told it, I have another for their ears too. Mine +must be spoken when there is no one near but the children of red clay." + +Having thus opened the way for the missionary, Peter courteously took +his seat, producing a little disappointment among his own admirers, +though he awakened a lively curiosity to know what this medicine-priest +might have to say on an occasion so portentous. The Indians in the +regions of the great lakes had long been accustomed to missionaries, and +it is probable that even some of their own traditions, so far as they +related to religious topics, had been insensibly colored by, if not +absolutely derived from, men of this character; for the first whites +who are known to have penetrated into that portion of the continent were +Jesuits, who carried the cross as their standard and emblem of peace. +Blessed emblem! that any should so confound their own names and +denunciatory practices with the revealed truth, as to imagine that a +standard so appropriate should ever be out of season and place, when it +is proper for man to use aught, at all, that is addressed to his senses, +in the way of symbols, rites, and ceremonies! To the Jesuits succeeded +the less ceremonious and less imposing priesthood of America, as America +peculiarly was in the first years that followed the Revolution. There is +reason to believe that the spirit of God, in a greater or less degree, +accompanied all; for all were self-denying and zealous, though the +fruits of near two centuries of labor have, as yet, amounted to little +more than the promise of the harvest at some distant day. Enough, +however, was known of the missionaries, and their views in general, +to prepare the council, in some small degree, for the forthcoming +exhibition. + +Parson Amen had caught some of the habits of the Indians, in the course +of years of communication and intercourse. Like them he had learned to +be deliberate, calm, and dignified in his exterior; and, like them, he +had acquired a sententious mode of speaking. + +"My children," he said, for he deemed it best to assume the parental +character, in a scene of so great moment, "as Peter has told you, the +spirit of God is among you! Christians know that such has he promised +to be always with his people, and I see faces in this circle that I am +ready to claim as belonging to those who have prayed with me, in days +that are long past. If your souls are not touched by divine love, it +does not kill the hope I entertain of your yet taking up the cross, and +calling upon the Redeemer's name. But, not for this have I come with +Peter, this night. I am now here to lay before you an all-important +fact, that Providence has revealed to me, as the fruit of long labor in +the vineyard of study and biblical inquiry. It is a tradition--and red +men love traditions--it is a tradition that touches your own history, +and which it will gladden your hearts to hear, for it will teach you how +much your nation and tribes have been the subject of the especial care +and love of the Great Spirit. When my children say, speak, I shall be +ready to speak." + +Here the missionary took his seat, wisely awaiting a demonstration on +the part of the council, ere he ventured to proceed any further. This +was the first occasion on which he had ever attempted to broach, in a +direct form, his favorite theory of the "lost tribes." Let a man get +once fairly possessed of any peculiar notion, whether it be on religion, +political economy, morals, politics, arts, or anything else, and he sees +little beside his beloved principle, which he is at all times ready to +advance, defend, demonstrate, or expatiate on. Nothing can be simpler +than the two great dogmas of Christianity, which are so plain that all +can both comprehend them and feel their truth. They teach us to love +God, the surest way to obey him, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. +Any one can understand this; all can see how just it is, and how much of +moral sublimity it contains. It is Godlike, and brings us near the very +essence of the Divinity, which is love, mercy, and truth. Yet how few +are content to accept the teachings of the Saviour in this respect, +without embarrassing them with theories that have so much of their +origin in human fancies. We do not mean by this, however, that Parson +Amen was so very wrong in bestowing a part of his attention on that +wonderful people, who, so early set apart by the Creator as the +creatures of his own especial ends, have already played so great a +part in the history of nations, and who are designed, so far as we can +penetrate revelation, yet to enact their share in the sublime drama of +human events. + +As for the council, its members were moved by more than ordinary +curiosity to hear what further the missionary might have to say, though +all present succeeded admirably in suppressing the exhibition of +any interest that might seem weak and womanly. After a decent delay, +therefore, Bear's Meat intimated to the parson that it would be +agreeable to the chiefs present to listen to him further. + +"My children, I have a great tradition to tell you," the missionary +resumed, as soon as on his feet again; "a very great and divine +tradition; not a tradition of man's, but one that came direct from the +Manitou himself. Peter has spoken truth; there is but one Great Spirit; +he is the Great Spirit of all colors, and tribes, and nations. He made +all men of the same clay." Here a slight sensation was perceptible among +the audience, most of whom were very decidedly of a different opinion, +on this point of natural history. But the missionary was now so far +warmed with his subject as to disregard any slight interruption, and +proceeded as if his listeners had betrayed no feeling. "And he divided +them afterward into nations and tribes. It was then he caused the color +of his creatures to change. Some he kept white, as he had made them. +Some he put behind a dark cloud, and they became altogether black. Our +wise men think that this was done in punishment for their sins. Some he +painted red, like the nations on this continent." Here Peter raised a +finger, in sign that he would ask a question; for, without permission +granted, no Indian would interrupt the speaker. Indeed, no one of less +claims than Peter would hardly have presumed to take the step he now +did, and that because he saw a burning curiosity gleaming in the bright +eyes of so many in the dark circle. + +"Say on, Peter," answered the missionary to this sign; "I will reply." + +"Let my brother say WHY the Great Spirit turned the Indian to a red +color. Was he angry with him? or did he paint him so out of love?" + +"This is more than I can tell you, friends. There are many colors among +men, in different parts of the world, and many shades among people of +the same color. There are pale-faces fair as the lily, and there are +pale-faces so dark, as scarcely to be distinguished from blacks. The +sun does much of this; but no sun, nor want of sun, will ever make a +pale-face a red-skin, or a red skin a pale-face." + +"Good--that is what we Indians say. The Manitou has made us different; +he did not mean that we should live on the same hunting-grounds," +rejoined Peter, who rarely failed to improve every opportunity in order +to impress on the minds of his followers the necessity of now crushing +the serpent in its shell. + +"No man can say that," answered Parson Amen. "Unless my people had come +to this continent, the word of God could not have been preached by +me, along the shores of these lakes. But I will now speak of our great +tradition. The Great Spirit divided mankind into nations and tribes. +When this was done, he picked out one for his chosen people. The +pale-faces call that favorite, and for a long time much-favored people, +Jews. The Manitou led them through a wilderness, and even through a salt +lake, until they reached a promised land, where he permitted them to +live for many hundred winters. A great triumph was to come out of that +people--the triumphs of truth and of the law, over sin and death. In the +course of time--" + +Here a young chief rose, made a sign of caution, and crossing the circle +rapidly, disappeared by the passage through which the rill flowed. +In about a minute he returned, showing the way into the centre of the +council to one whom all present immediately recognized as a runner, by +his dress and equipments. Important news was at hand; yet not a man of +all that crowd either rose or spoke, in impatience to learn what it was! + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + Who will believe that, with a smile whose blessing + Would, like the patriarch's, soothe a dying hour; + With voice as low, as gentle, and caressing + As e'er won maiden's lips in moonlight bower; + + With look like patient Job's, eschewing evil; + With motions graceful as the birds in air; + Thou art, in sober truth, the veriest devil + That e'er clinched fingers in a captive's hair? + --HALLECK'S Red-Jacket. + + +Although the arrival of the runner was so totally unexpected, it +scarcely disturbed the quiet of that grave assembly. His approaching +step had been heard, and he was introduced in the manner mentioned, when +the young chief resumed his seat, leaving the messenger standing near +the centre of the circle, and altogether within the influence of the +light. He was an Ottawa, and had evidently travelled far and fast. At +length he spoke; no one having put a single question to him, or betrayed +the least sign of impatient curiosity. + +"I come to tell the chiefs what has happened," said the runner. "Our +Great Father from Quebec has sent his young men against the Yankees. Red +warriors, too, were there in hundreds--" here a murmur of interest was +slightly apparent among the chiefs--"their path led them to Detroit; it +is taken." + +A low murmur, expressive of satisfaction, passed round the circle, +for Detroit was then the most important of all the posts held by the +Americans, along the whole line of the great lakes. Eye met eye in +surprise and admiration; then one of the older chiefs yielded to his +interest in the subject, and inquired: + +"Have our young men taken many pale-face scalps?" + +"So few that they are not worth counting. I did not see one pole that +was such as an Indian loves to look on." + +"Did our young men keep back, and let the warriors from Quebec do all +the fighting?" + +"No one fought. The Yankees asked to be made prisoners, without using +their rifles. Never before have so many captives been led into the +villages with so little to make their enemies look on them with friendly +eyes." + +A gleam of fierce delight passed athwart the dark features of Peter. It +is probable that he fell into the same error, on hearing these tidings, +as that which so generally prevailed for a short time among the natives +of the old world, at the commencement of both of the two last wars of +the republic, when the disasters with which they opened induced so +many to fall into the fatal error of regarding Jonathan as merely +a "shopkeeper." A shopkeeper, in a certain sense, he may well be +accounted; but among his wares are arms, that he has the head, the +heart, and the hands to use, as man has very rarely been known to use +them before. Even at this very instant, the brilliant success which has +rendered the armed citizens of this country the wonder of Europe, is +reacting on the masses of the old world, teaching them their power, and +inciting them to stand up to the regularly armed bands of their rulers, +with a spirit and confidence that, hitherto, has been little known in +their histories. Happy, thrice happy will it be, if the conquerors use +their success in moderation, and settle down into the ways of practical +reason, instead of suffering their minds to be led astray in quest +of the political jack-o'-lanterns, that are certain to conduct their +followers into the quagmires of impracticable and visionary theories. +To abolish abuses, to set in motion the car of state on the track of +justice and economy, and to distinguish between that which is really +essential to human happiness and human rights, and that which is merely +the result of some wild and bootless proposition in political economy, +are the great self-imposed tasks that the European people seem now to +have assumed; and God grant that they may complete their labors with the +moderation and success with which they would appear to have commenced +them! + +As for Peter, with the curse of ignorance weighing on his mind, it is to +be presumed that he fancied his own great task of destroying the whites +was so much the lighter, in consequence of the feeble defence of the +Yankees at Detroit. The runner was now questioned by the different +chiefs for details, which he furnished with sufficient intelligence and +distinctness. The whole of that discreditable story is too prominent in +history, and of too recent occurrence, to stand in need of repetition +here. When the runner had told his tale, the chiefs broke the order of +their circle, to converse the more easily concerning the great events +which had just occurred. Some were not backward in letting their +contempt for the "Yankees" be known. Here were three of their strong +places taken, in quick succession, and almost without a blow. Detroit, +the strongest of them all, and defended by an army, had fallen in a way +to bring the blush to the American face, seemingly leaving the whole +of the northwestern frontier of the country ravished from the red man, +exposed to his incursions and depredations. + +"What does my father think of this?" asked Bear's Meat of Peter, as the +two stood apart, in a cluster of some three or four of the principal +personages present. "Does the news make his heart stronger?" + +"It is always strong when this business is before it. The Manitou has +long looked darkly upon the red men, but now his face brightens. The +cloud is passing from before his countenance, and we can begin again to +see his smile. It will be with our sons as it was with our fathers. Our +hunting-grounds will be our own, and the buffalo and deer will be plenty +in our wigwams. The fire-water will flow after them that brought it into +the country, and the red man will once more be happy, as in times past!" + +The ignis fatuus of human happiness employs all minds, all faculties, +all pens, and all theories, just at this particular moment. A thousand +projects have been broached, will continue to be broached, and will +fail, each in its time, showing the mistakes of men, without remedying +the evils of which they complain. This is not because a beneficent +Providence has neglected to enlighten their minds, and to show them the +way to be happy, here and hereafter; but because human conceit runs, +pari passu, with human woes, and we are too proud to look for our +lessons of conduct, in that code in which they have been set before us +by unerring wisdom and ceaseless love. If the political economists, +and reformers, and revolutionists of the age, would turn from their +speculations to those familiar precepts which all are taught and so few +obey, they would find rules for every emergency; and, most of all, would +they learn the great secret which lies so profoundly hid from them and +their philosophy, in the contented mind. Nothing short of this will ever +bring the mighty reform that the world needs. The press may be declared +free, but a very brief experience will teach those who fancy that this +one conquest will secure the victory, that they have only obtained King +Stork in the lieu of King Log; a vulgar and most hideous tyrant for one +of royal birth and gentle manners. They may set up the rule of patriots +by profession, in place of the dominion of those who have so long +pretended that the art of governing descends from male to male, +according to the order of primogeniture, and live to wonder that love +of country should have so many weaknesses in common with love of itself. +They may rely on written charters for their liberties, instead of +the divine right of kings, and come perchance to learn, that neither +language, nor covenants, nor signatures, nor seals avail much, as +against the necessities of nations, and the policy of rulers. Do we then +regard reform as impossible, and society to be doomed to struggle on in +its old sloughs of oppression and abuses? Far from it. We believe and +hope, that at each effort of a sage character, something is gained, +while much more than had been expected is lost; and such we think will +continue to be the course of events, until men shall reach that period +in their history when, possibly to their wonder, they will find that a +faultless code for the government of all their affairs has been lying +neglected, daily and hourly, in their very hands, for eighteen centuries +and a half, without their perceiving the all-important truth. In due +season this code will supersede all others, when the world will, for the +first time, be happy and truly free. + +There was a marked resemblance between the hopes and expectations of +Peter, in reference to the overthrow of his pale-face enemies on the +American continent, and those of the revolutionists of the old world in +reference to the overthrow of their strong-intrenched foes on that of +Europe. Each fancies success more easy of attainment than the end is +likely to show; both overlook the terrible power of their adversaries; +and both take the suggestions of a hope that is lively rather than +enlightened, as the substitute for the lessons of wisdom. + +It was some little time ere the council had so far regained its calm, +as to think of inviting the missionary to resume his discourse. The last +had necessarily heard the news, and was so much troubled by it, as to +feel no great disposition to proceed; but Peter intimating that "the +ears of his friends were open," he was of opinion it would be wisest to +go on with his traditions. + +"Thus it was, my children," Parson Amen continued, the circle being just +as quiet and attentive as if no interruption had occurred--"the Great +Spirit, selecting from among the nations of the earth, one to be his +chosen people. I cannot stop, now, to tell you all he did for this +nation, in the way of wonders and powers; but, finally, he placed them +in a beautiful country, where milk and honey abounded, and made them +its masters. From that people, in his earthly character, came the Christ +whom we missionaries preach to you, and who is the great head of our +church. Although the Jews, or Israelites, as we call that people, were +thus honored and thus favored of the Manitou, they were but men, they +had the weaknesses of men. On more than one occasion they displeased the +Great Spirit, and that so seriously as to draw down condign punishment +on themselves, and on their wives and children. In various ways were +they visited for their backsliding and sins, each time repenting and +receiving forgiveness. At length the Great Spirit, tired of their +forgetfulness and crimes, allowed an army to come into their land, +and to carry away as captives no less than ten of their twelve tribes; +putting their people in strange hunting-grounds. Now, this happened many +thousands of moons since, and no one can say with certainty what has +become of those captives, whom Christians are accustomed to call 'the +lost tribes of Israel.'" + +Here the missionary paused to arrange his thoughts, and a slight murmur +was heard in the circle as the chiefs communed together, in interested +comments on what had just been said. The pause, however, was short, +and the speaker again proceeded, safe from any ungracious interruption, +among auditors so trained in self-restraint. + +"Children, I shall not now say anything touching the birth of Christ, +the redemption of the world, and the history of the two tribes that +remained in the land where God had placed his people; for that is a +part of the subject that comes properly within the scope of my ordinary +teaching. At present I wish only to speak of yourselves; of the red man +of America, of his probable origin and end, and of a great discovery +that many of us think we have made, on this most interesting topic in +the history of the good book. Does any one present know aught of the ten +lost tribes of whom I have spoken?" + +Eye met eye, and expectation was lively among those primitive and +untaught savages. At length Crowsfeather arose to answer, the missionary +standing the whole time, motionless, as if waiting for a reply. + +"My brother has told us a tradition," said the Pottawattamie. "It is +a good tradition. It is a strange tradition. Red men love to hear such +traditions. It is wonderful that so many as ten tribes should be LOST, +at the same time, and no one know what has become of them! My brother +asks us if WE know what has become of these ten tribes. How should poor +red men, who live on their hunting-grounds, and who are busy when the +grass grows in getting together food for their squaws and pappooses, +against a time when the buffalo can find nothing to eat in this part of +the world, know anything of a people that they never saw? My brother has +asked a question that he only can answer. Let him tell us where these +ten tribes are to be found, if he knows the place. We should like to go +and look at them." + +"Here!" exclaimed the missionary, the instant Crowsfeather ceased +speaking, and even before he was seated. "Here--in this council--on +these prairies--in these openings--here, on the shores of the great +lakes of sweet water, and throughout the land of America, are these +tribes to be found. The red man is a Jew; a Jew is a red man. The +Manitou has brought the scattered people of Israel to this part of the +world, and I see his power in the wonderful fact. Nothing but a miracle +could have done this!" + +Great was the admiration of the Indians at this announcement! None of +their own traditions gave this account of their origin; but there is +reason to believe, on the other hand, that none of them contradict +it. Nevertheless, here was a medicine-priest of the pale-faces boldly +proclaiming the fact, and great was the wonder of all who heard, +thereat! Having spoken, the missionary again paused, that his words +might produce their effect. Bear's Meat now became his interrogator, +rising respectfully, and standing during the colloquy that succeeded. + +"My brother has spoken a great tradition," said the Menominee. "Did he +first hear it from his fathers?" + +"In part, only. The history of the lost tribes has come down to us from +our fathers; it is written in the good book of the pale-faces; the book +that contains the word of the Great Spirit." + +"Does the good book of the pale-faces say that the red men are the +children of the people he has mentioned?" + +"I cannot say that it does. While the good book tells us so much, +it also leaves very much untold. It is best that we should look for +ourselves, that we may find out some of its meanings. It is in thus +looking, that many Christians see the great truth which makes the +Indians of America and the Jews beyond the great salt lake, one and the +same people." + +"If this be so, let my brother tell us how far it is from our +hunting-grounds to that distant land across the great salt lake." + +"I cannot give you this distance in miles exactly; but I suppose it may +be eleven or twelve times the length of Michigan." + +"Will my brother tell us how much of this long path is water, and how +much of it is dry land?" + +"Perhaps one-fourth is land, as the traveller may choose; the rest must +be water, if the journey be made from the rising toward the setting +sun, which is the shortest path; but, let the journey be made from +the setting toward the rising sun, and there is little water to cross; +rivers and lakes of no great width, as is seen here, but only a small +breadth of salt lake." + +"Are there, then, two roads to that far-off land, where the red men are +thought to have once lived? + +"Even so. The traveller may come to this spot from that land by way of +the rising sun, or by way of the setting sun." + +The general movement among the members of the council denoted the +surprise with which this account was received. As the Indians, until +they have had much intercourse with the whites, very generally believe +the earth to be flat, it was not easy for them to comprehend how a given +point could be reached by directly opposite routes. Such an apparent +contradiction would be very likely to extort further questions. + +"My brother is a medicine-man of the pale-faces; his hairs are gray," +observed Crowsfeather. "Some of your medicine-men are good, and some +wicked. It is so with the medicine-men of the red-skins. Good and bad +are to be found in all nations. A medicine-man of your people cheated my +young men by promising to show them where fire-water grows. He did not +show them. He let them smell, but he did not let them drink. That was a +wicked medicine-man. His scalp would not be safe did my young men see it +again"--here the bee-hunter, insensibly to himself, felt for his rifle, +making sure that he had it between his legs; the corporal being a little +surprised at the sudden start he gave. "His hair does not grow on his +head closer than the trees grow to the ground. Even a tree can be +cut down. But all medicine-men are not alike. My brother is a GOOD +medicine-man. All he says may not be just as he thinks, but he BELIEVES +what he says. It is wonderful how men can look two ways; but it is +more wonderful that they should go to the same place by paths that lead +before and behind. This we do not understand; my brother will tell us +how it can be." + +"I believe I understand what it is that my children would know. They +think the earth is flat, but the pale-faces know that it is round. He +who travels and travels toward the setting sun would come to this very +spot, if he travelled long enough. The distance would be great, but the +end of every straight path in this world is the place of starting." + +"My brother says this. He says many curious things. I have heard a +medicine-man of his people say that the palefaces have seen their Great +Spirit, talked with him, walked with him. It is not so with us Indians. +Our Manitou speaks to us in thunder only. We are ignorant, and wish to +learn more than we now know. Has my brother ever travelled on that path +which ends where it begins? Once, on the prairies, I lost my way. There +was snow, and glad was I to find tracks. I followed the tracks. But one +traveller had passed. After walking an hour, two had passed. Another +hour, and the three had passed, Then I saw the tracks were my own, and +that I had been walking, as the squaws reason, round and round, but not +going ahead." + +"I understand my friend, but he is wrong. It is no matter which path the +lost tribes travelled to get here. The main question is, whether they +came at all. I see in the red men, in their customs, their history, +their looks, and even in their traditions, proof that they are these +Jews, once the favored people of the Great Spirit." + +"If the Manitou so well loves the Indians, why has he permitted the +pale-faces to take away their hunting-grounds? Why has he made the red +man poor, and the white man rich? Brother, I am afraid your tradition is +a lying tradition, or these things would not be so." + +"It is not given to men to understand the wisdom that cometh from above. +That which seemeth so strange to us may be right. The lost tribes had +offended God; and their scattering, and captivity, and punishment, are +but so many proofs of his displeasure. But, if lost, we have reason to +believe that one day they will be found. Yes, my children, it will be +the pleasure of the Great Spirit, one day, to restore you to the land +of your fathers, and make you again, what you once were, a great and +glorious people!" + +As the well-meaning but enthusiastic missionary spoke with great fervor, +the announcement of such an event, coming as it did from one whom they +respected, even while they could not understand him, did not fail to +produce a deep sensation. If their fortunes were really the care of the +Great Spirit, and justice was to be done to them by his love and wisdom, +then would the projects of Peter, and those who acted and felt with +him, be unnecessary, and might lead to evil instead of to good. That +sagacious savage did not fail to discover this truth; and he now +believed it might be well for him to say a word, in order to lessen the +influence Parson Amen might otherwise obtain among those whom it was his +design to mould in a way entirely to meet his own wishes. So intense +was the desire of this mysterious leader to execute vengeance on the +pale-faces, that the redemption of the tribes from misery and poverty, +unaccompanied by this part of his own project, would have given him pain +in lieu of pleasure. His very soul had got to be absorbed in this one +notion of retribution, and of annihilation for the oppressors of his +race; and he regarded all things through a medium of revenge, thus +created by his feelings, much as the missionary endeavored to bend every +fact and circumstance, connected with the Indians, to the support of his +theory touching their Jewish origin. + +When Peter arose, therefore, fierce and malignant passions were at work +in his bosom; such as a merciful and a benignant deity never wishes to +see in the breast of man, whether civilized or savage. The self-command +of the Tribeless, however, was great, and he so far succeeded in +suppressing the volcano that was raging within, as to speak with his +usual dignity and an entire calmness of exterior. + +"My brothers have heard what the medicine-man had to say," Peter +commenced. "He has told them that which was new to them. He has told +them an Indian is not an Indian. That a red man is a pale-face, and that +we are not what we thought we were. It is good to learn. It makes the +difference between the wise and the foolish. The palefaces learn more +than the red-skins. That is the way they have learned how to get our +hunting-grounds. That is the way they have learned to build their +villages on the spots where our fathers killed the deer. That is the way +they have learned how to come and tell us that we are not Indians, but +Jews. I wish to learn. Though old, my mind craves to know more. That I +may know more, I will ask this medicine-man questions, and my brothers +can open their ears, and learn a little, too, by what he answers. +Perhaps we shall believe that we are not red-skins, but pale-faces. +Perhaps we shall believe that our true hunting-grounds are not near the +great lakes of sweet water, but under the rising sun. Perhaps we shall +wish to go home, and to leave these pleasant openings for the pale faces +to put their cabins on them, as the small-pox that they have also given +to us, puts its sores on our bodies. Brother--" turning toward the +missionary--"listen. You say we are no longer Indians, but Jews: is this +true of ALL red men, or only of the tribes whose chiefs are HERE?" + +"Of ALL red men, as I most sincerely believe. You are now red, but once +all of your people were fairer than the fairest of the pale-faces. It is +climate, and hardships, and sufferings that have changed your color." + +"If suffering can do THAT," returned Peter, with emphasis, "I wonder we +are not BLACK. When ALL our hunting-grounds are covered with the farms +of your people, I think we shall be BLACK." + +Signs of powerful disgust were now visible among the listeners, an +Indian having much of the contempt that seems to weigh so heavily on +that unfortunate class, for all of the color mentioned. At the south, as +is known, the red man has already made a slave of the descendants of the +children of Africa, but no man has ever yet made a slave of a son of +the American forests! THAT is a result which no human power has yet been +able to accomplish. Early in the settlement of the country, attempts +were indeed MADE, by sending a few individuals to the islands; but so +unsuccessful did the experiment turn out to be, that the design was soon +abandoned. Whatever may be his degradation, and poverty, and ignorance, +and savage ferocity, it would seem to be the settled purpose of the +American Indians of our own territories--unlike the aborigines who are +to be found farther south--to live and die free men. + +"My children," answered the missionary, "I pretend not to say what will +happen, except as it has been told to us in the word of God. You know +that we pale-faces have a book, in which the Great Spirit has told us +his laws, and foretold to us many of the things that are to happen. Some +of these things HAVE happened, while some remain TO happen. The loss +of the ten tribes was foretold, and HAS happened; but their being FOUND +again, has not YET happened, unless indeed I am so blessed as to be one +of those who have been permitted to meet them in these openings. Here is +the book--it goes where I go, and is my companion and friend, by day and +by night; in good and evil; in season and out of season. To this book I +cling as to my great anchor, that is to carry me through the storms in +safety! Every line in it is precious; every word true!" + +Perhaps half the chiefs present had seen books before, while those who +now laid eyes on one for the first time, had heard of this art of the +pale-faces, which enabled them to set down their traditions in a way +peculiar to themselves. Even the Indians have their records, however, +though resorting to the use of natural signs, and a species of +hieroglyphics, in lieu of the more artistical process of using words and +letters, in a systemized written language. The Bible, too, was a book of +which all had heard, more or less; though not one of those present had +ever been the subject of its influence. A Christian Indian, indeed--and +a few of those were to be found even at that day--would hardly have +attended a council convened for the objects which had caused this to be +convened. Still, a strong but regulated curiosity existed, to see, and +touch, and examine the great medicine-book of the pale-faces. There was +a good deal of superstition blended with the Indian manner of regarding +the sacred volume; some present having their doubts about touching +it, even while most excited by admiration, and a desire to probe its +secrets. + +Peter took the little volume, which the missionary extended as if +inviting any one who might so please, to examine it also. It was the +first time the wary chief had ever suffered that mysterious book to +touch him. Among his other speculations on the subject of the manner in +which the white men were encroaching, from year to year, on the lands of +the natives, it had occurred to his mind that this extraordinary volume, +which the pale-faces all SEEMED to reverence, even to the drunkards of +the garrisons, might contain the great elements of their power. Perhaps +he was not very much out of the way in this supposition; though they who +use the volume habitually, are not themselves aware, one-half the time, +why it is so. + +On the present occasion, Peter saw the great importance of not betraying +apprehension, and he turned over the pages awkwardly, as one would +be apt to handle a book for the first time, but boldly and without +hesitation. Encouraged by the impunity that accompanied this hardihood, +Peter shook the leaves open, and held the volume on high, in a way that +told his own people that he cared not for its charms or power. There +was more of seeming than of truth, however, in this bravado; for never +before had this extraordinary being made so heavy a draft on his courage +and self-command, as in the performance of this simple act. He did not, +could not know what were the virtues of the book, and his imagination +very readily suggested the worst. As the great medicine-volume of the +pale-faces, it was quite likely to contain that which was hostile to the +red men; and this fact, so probable to his eyes, rendered it likely that +some serious evil to himself might follow from the contact. It did +not, however; and a smile of grim satisfaction lighted his swarthy +countenance, as, turning to the missionary, he said with point-- + +"Let my brother open his eyes. I have looked into his medicine-book, but +do not see that the red man is anything but a red man. The Great Spirit +made him; and what the Great Spirit makes, lasts. The pale-faces have +made their book, and it lies." + +"No, no--Peter, Peter, thou utterest wicked words. But the Lord will +pardon thee, since thou knowest not what thou sayest. Give me the sacred +volume, that I may place it next my heart, where I humbly trust so many +of its divine precepts are already entrenched." + +This was said in English, under the impulse of feeling, but being +understood by Peter, the latter quietly relinquished the Bible, +preparing to follow up the advantage he perceived he had gained, on the +spot. + +"My brother has his medicine-book, again," said Peter, "and the red men +live. This hand is not withered like the dead branch of the hemlock; yet +it has held his word of the Great Spirit! It may be that a red-skin and +a pale-face book cannot do each other harm. I looked into my brother's +great charm, but did not see or hear a tradition that tells me we are +Jews. There is a bee-hunter in these openings. I have talked with him. +He has told me who these Jews are. He says they are people who do not +go with the pale-faces, but live apart from them, like men with the +small-pox. It is not right for my brother to come among the red men, and +tell them that their fathers were not good enough to live, and eat, and +go on the same paths as his fathers." + +"This is all a mistake, Peter--a great and dangerous mistake. The +bee-hunter has heard the Jews spoken of by those who do not sufficiently +read the good book. They have been, and are still, the chosen people of +the Great Spirit, and will one day be received back to his favor. +Would that I were one of them, only enlightened by the words of the +New Testament! No real Christian ever can, or does now despise a son of +Israel, whatever has been done in times past. It is an honor, and not a +disgrace, to be what I have said my friends are." + +"If this be so, why do not the pale-faces let us keep out +hunting-grounds to ourselves? We are content. We do not wish to be Jews. +Our canoes are too small to cross the great salt lake. They are hardly +large enough to cross the great lakes of sweet water. We should be +tired of paddling so far. My brother says there is a rich land under the +rising sun, which the Manitou gave to the red men. Is this so?" + +"Beyond all doubt. It was given to the children of Israel, for a +possession forever; and though you have been carried away from it for +a time, there the land still is, open to receive you, and waiting the +return of its ancient masters. In good season that return must come; for +we have the word of God for it, in our Christian Bible." + +"Let my brother open his ears very wide, and hear what I have to say. +We thank him for letting us know that we are Jews. We believe that he +thinks what he says. Still, we think we are red men, and Injins, and not +Jews. We never saw the place where the sun rises. We do not wish to see +it. Our hunting-grounds are nearer to the place where he sets. If the +pale-faces believe we have a right to that distant land, which is so +rich in good things, we will give it to them, and keep these openings, +and prairies, and woods. We know the game of this country, and have +found out how to kill it. We do not know the game under the rising sun, +which may kill us. Go to your friends and say, 'The Injins will give +you that land near the rising sun, if you will let them alone on their +hunting-grounds, where they have so long been. They say that your canoes +are larger than their canoes, and that one can carry a whole tribe. They +have seen some of your big canoes on the great lakes, and have measured +them. Fill all you have got with your squaws and pappooses, put your +property in them, and go back by the long path through which you came. +Then will the red man thank the pale-face and be his friend. The white +man is welcome to that far-off land. Let him take it, and build his +villages on it, and cut down its trees. This is all the Injins ask. If +the pale-faces can take away with them the small-pox and the fire-water, +it will be better still. They brought both into this country, it is +right that they should take them away.' Will my brother tell this to his +people?" + +"It would do no good. They know that the land of Judea is reserved by +God for his chosen people, and they are not Jews. None but the children +of Israel can restore that land to its ancient fertility. It would be +useless for any other to attempt it. Armies have been there, and it +was once thought that a Christian kingdom was set up on the spot; but +neither the time nor the people had come. Jews alone can make Judea what +it was, and what it will be again. If my people owned that land, they +could not use it. There are also too many of us now, to go away in +canoes." + +"Did not the fathers of the pale-faces come in canoes?" demanded Peter, +a little sternly. + +"They did; but since that time their increase has been so great, that +canoes enough to hold them could not be found. No; the Great Spirit, +for his own wise ends, has brought my people hither; and here must they +remain to the end of time. It is not easy to make the pigeons fly south +in the spring." + +This declaration, quietly but distinctly made, as it was the habit of +the missionary to speak, had its effect. It told Peter, and those with +him, as plainly as language could tell them, that there was no reason +to expect the pale-faces would ever willingly abandon the country, and +seemed the more distinctly, in all their uninstructed minds, to +place the issue on the armed hand. It is not improbable that some +manifestation of feeling would have escaped the circle, had not an +interruption to the proceedings occurred, which put a stop to all other +emotions but those peculiar to the lives of savages. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + Nearer the mount stood Moses; in his hand + The rod which blasted with strange plagues the realm + Of Misraim, and from its time-worn channels + Upturned the Arabian sea. Fair was his broad + High front, and forth from his soul-piercing eye + Did legislation look; which full he fixed + Upon the blazing panoply undazzled. + --HILLHOUSE. + +It often happens in the recesses of the wilderness, that, in the +absence of men, the animals hunt each other. The wolves, in particular, +following their instincts, are often seen in packs, pressing upon the +heels of the antelope, deer, and other creatures of that family, which +depend for safety more on their speed than on their horns. On the +present occasion, a fine buck, with a pack of fifty wolves close after +it, came bounding through the narrow gorge that contained the rill, and +entered the amphitheatre of the bottom-land. Its headlong career was +first checked by the sight of the fire; then arose a dark circle of men, +each armed and accustomed to the chase. In much less time than it has +taken to record the fact, that little piece of bottom-land was crowded +with wolves, deer, and men. The headlong impetuosity of the chase +and flight had prevented the scent from acting, and all were huddled +together, for a single instant, in a sort of inextricable confusion. +Brief as was this melee, it sufficed to allow of a young hunter's +driving his arrow through the heart of the buck, and enabled others +among the Indians to kill several of the wolves; some with arrows, +others with knives, etc. No rifle was used, probably from a wish not to +give an alarm. + +The wolves were quite as much astonished at this unexpected rencontre, +as the Indians. They were not a set of hungry and formidable beasts, +that famine might urge to any pass of desperation; but a pack hunting, +like gentlemen, for their own amusement. Their headlong speed was +checked less by the crowd of men, than by the sight of fire. In their +impetuosity, it is probable that they would have gone clean through five +hundred men, but no wild beast will willingly encounter fire. Three or +four of the chiefs, aware of this dread, seized brands, and throwing +themselves, without care, into the midst of the pack, the animals went +howling off, scattering in all directions. Unfortunately for its own +welfare, one went directly through the circle, plunged into the thicket +beyond, and made its way quite up to the fallen tree, on which +the bee-hunter and the corporal had taken their stations. This was +altogether too much for the training, or for the philosophy of Hive. +Perceiving a recognized enemy rushing toward him, that noble mastiff +met him in a small cleared spot, open-mouthed, and for a few moments +a fierce combat was the consequence. Dogs and wolves do not fight in +silence, and loud were the growls and yells on this occasion. In vain +did le Bourdon endeavor to drag his mastiff off; the animal was on the +high-road to victory, when it is ever hard to arrest the steps of the +combatant. Almost as a matter of course, some of the chiefs rushed +toward the spot, when the presence of the two spectators first became +known to them. At the next moment the wolf lay dead at the feet of Hive; +and the parties stood gazing at each other, equally taken by surprise, +and equally at a loss to know what to do next. + +It was perhaps fortunate for the bee-hunter, that neither Crowsfeather, +nor any other of the Pottawattamies, was present at this first +rencontre, or he might have fallen on the spot, a victim to their +disappointed hopes of drinking at a whiskey-spring. The chiefs present +were strangers to le Bourdon, and they stared at him, in a way to show +that his person was equally unknown to them. But it was necessary, now, +to follow the Indians back to their circle, where the whole party soon +collected again, the wolves having gone off on their several routes, to +put up some other animal, and run him to death. + +During the whole of that excited and tumultuous scene, which would +probably now be termed a "stampede" in the Mexican-Americo-English of +the day, Peter had not stirred. Familiar with such occurrences, he felt +the importance of manifesting an unmoved calm, as a quality most likely +to impress the minds of his companions with a profound sense of his +dignity and self-command. While all around him was in a tumult, he stood +in his tracks, motionless as a statue. Even the fortitude of the worthy +missionary was shaken by the wild tempest that momentarily prevailed; +and the good man forgot the Jews in his alarm at wolves, forgot the +mighty past in his apprehensions for the uncomfortable and ill-boding +present time. All this, however, was soon over, and order, and quiet, +and a dignified calm once more reigned in the circle. Fagots were thrown +on the fire; and the two captives, or spectators, stood as near it, the +observed of all observers, as the heat rendered comfortable. It was just +then that Crowsfeather and his companions first recognized the magician +of the whiskey-spring. + +Peter saw the discovery of the two spectators with some uneasiness. The +time had not come when he intended to strike his blow; and he had seen +signs among those Pottawattamies, when at the mouth of the river, which +had told him how little they were disposed to look with favor on one who +had so grievously trifled with their hopes. His first care, therefore, +was to interpose his authority and influence between le Bourdon and +any project of revenge, which Crowsfeather's young men might be apt to +devise, as soon as they, too, laid eyes on the offender. This was done +in a characteristic and wily manner. + +"Does my brother love honey?" asked the tribeless chief of the leader of +the Pottawattamies present, who sat near him, gazing on le Bourdon much +as the cat looks upon the mouse, ere it makes it its prey. "Some Injins +are fond of that sweet food: if my brother is one of that sort, I can +tell him how to fill his wigwam with honey with little trouble." + +At this suggestion, coming from such a source, Crowsfeather could not +do less than express his thanks, and his readiness to hear what further +might be in reserve for him. Peter then alluded to le Bourdon's art, +describing him as being the most skilful bee-hunter of the West. So +great was his art in that way, that no Indian had ever yet seen his +equal. It was Peter's intention to make him exercise his craft soon, for +the benefit of the chiefs and warriors present, who might then return to +their village, carrying with them stores of honey to gladden the hearts +of their squaws and pappooses. This artifice succeeded; for the Indians +are not expert in taking this article of food, which so much abounds in +the forests, both on account of the difficulty they find in felling the +trees, and on account of the "angle-ing" part of the process, which much +exceeds their skill in mathematics. On the other hand, the last is just +the sort of skill a common white American would be likely to manifest, +his readiness and ingenuity in all such processes almost amounting to an +instinct. + +Having thus thrown his mantle around le Bourdon for the moment, Peter +then deemed it the better course to finish the historical investigation +in which the council had been so much interested, when the strange +interruption by the wolves occurred. With this view, therefore, he +rose himself, and recalled the minds of all present to this interesting +subject, by a short speech. This he did, especially to prevent any +premature attack on the person of le Bourdon. + +"Brothers," said this mysterious chief, "it is good for Injins to learn. +When they learn a thing, they know it; then they may learn another. It +is in this way that the pale-faces do; it makes them wise, and puts +it in their power to take away our hunting-grounds. A man that knows +nothing is only a child that has grown up too fast. He may be big--may +take long steps--may be strong enough to carry burdens--may love venison +and buffaloes' humps; but his size is only in the way; his steps he does +not know where to direct; his burdens he does not know how to choose; +and he has to beg food of the squaws, instead of carrying it himself to +their wigwams. He has not learned how to take game. We must all learn. +It is right. When we have learned how to take game, and how to strike +the enemy, and how to keep the wigwam filled, then we may learn +traditions. Traditions tell us of our fathers. We have many traditions. +Some are talked of, even to the squaws. Some are told around the fires +of the tribes. Some are known only to the aged chiefs. This is right, +too. Injins ought not to say too much, nor too little. They should say +what is wise--what is best. But my brother, the medicine-man of the +pale-faces, says that our traditions have not told us everything. +Something has been kept back. If so, it is best to learn that too. If we +are Jews, and not Injins, we ought to know it. If we are Injins, and not +Jews, our brother ought to know it, and not call us by a wrong name. Let +him speak. We listen." + +Here Peter slowly resumed his seat. As the missionary understood all +that had been said, he next arose, and proceeded to make good, as far +as he was able, and in such language as his knowledge of Indian habits +suggested, his theory of the lost tribes. + +"I wish my children to understand," resumed the missionary, "that it +is an honor to be a Jew. I have not come here to lessen the red men in +their own eyes, but to do them honor. I see that Bear's Meat wishes to +say something; my ears are open, and my tongue is still." + +"I thank my brother for the opportunity to say what is on my mind," +returned the chief mentioned. "It is true I have something to say; it +is this: I wish to ask the medicine-man if the pale-faces honor and show +respect to the Jews?" + +This was rather an awkward question for the missionary, but he was much +too honest to dissemble. With a reverence for truth that proceeded from +his reverence for the Father of all that is true, he replied honestly, +though not altogether without betraying how much he regretted the +necessity of answering at all. Both remained standing while the dialogue +proceeded; or in parliamentary language, each may be said to have had +the floor at the same time. + +"My brother wishes to know if the pale-faces honor the Jews," returned +the missionary. "I wish I could answer 'yes'; but the truth forces me to +say 'no.' The pale-faces have traditions that make against the Jews, and +the judgments of God weigh heavy on the children of Israel. But all +good Christians, now, look with friendly eyes on this dispersed and +persecuted people, and wish them well. It will give the white men very +great pleasure to learn that I have found the lost tribes of Israel in +the red men of America." + +"Will my brother tell us WHY this will give his people pleasure? Is it +because they will be glad to find old enemies, poor, living on narrow +hunting-grounds, off which the villages and farms of the pale-faces +begin to push them still nearer to the setting sun; and toward whom the +small-pox has found a path to go, but none to come from?" + +"Nay, nay, Bear's Meat, think not so unkindly of us of the white race! +In crossing the great salt lake, and in coming to this quarter of the +world, our fathers were led by the finger of God. We do but obey the +will of the Great Spirit, in pressing forward into this wilderness, +directed by his wisdom how to spread the knowledge of his name among +those who, as yet, have never heard it; or, having heard, have not +regarded it. In all this, the wisest men are but babes; not being able +to say whither they are to go, or what is to be done." + +"This is strange," returned the unmoved Indian. "It is not so with the +red men. Our squaws and pappooses do know the hunting-ground of one +tribe from the hunting-ground of another. When they put their feet on +strange hunting-grounds, it is because they INTENDED to go there, and to +steal game. This is sometimes right. If it is right to take the scalp of +an enemy, it is right to get his deer and his buffalo, too. But we +never do this without knowing it. If we did, we should be unfit to go at +large, unfit to sit in council. This is the first time I have heard that +the pale-faces are so weak, and they have such feeble minds, too, that +they do not know where they go." + +"My brother does not understand me. No man can see into the future--no +man can say what will happen to-morrow. The Great Spirit only can tell. +It is for him, then, to guide his children in their wanderings. When our +fathers first came out of their canoes upon the land, on this side of +the great salt lake, not one among them knew anything of this country +between the great lakes of sweet water. They did not know that red men +lived here. The Great Spirit did know, and intended then, that I should +this night stand up in this council, and speak of his power and of his +name, and do him reverence. It was the Great Spirit that put it into my +mind to come among the Indians; and it is the Great Spirit who has led +me, step by step, as warriors move toward the graves of their fathers, +to make the discovery, that the Indians are, in truth, the children of +Israel, a part of his own chosen and once much-favored people. Let me +ask my friends one or two questions. Do not your traditions say that +your fathers once came from a far-off land?" + +Bear's Meat now took his seat, not choosing to answer a question of +this nature, in the presence of a chief so much respected as Peter. He +preferred to let the last take up the dialogue where he now saw fit to +abandon it. As the other very well understood the reason of this sudden +movement, he quietly assumed the office of spokesman; the whole affair +proceeding much as if there had been no change. + +"Our traditions DO tell us that our fathers came from a far-off land," +answered Peter, without rising. + +"I thought so!--I thought so!" exclaimed the simple-minded and confiding +missionary. "How wonderful are the ways of God! Yes, my brother, Judea +is a far-off land, and your traditions say that your fathers came from +such a distance! This, then, is something proved. Do not your traditions +say, that once your tribes were more in favor with the Great Spirit than +they are now?" + +"Our traditions do say this: once our tribes did not see the face of +the Manitou looking dark upon them, as it now does. That was before +the pale-faces came in their big canoes, across the great salt lake, to +drive the Indians from their hunting-grounds. It was when the small-pox +had not found the path to their villages. When fire-water was unknown to +them, and no Indian had ever burned his throat with it." + +"Oh, but I speak of a time much more distant than that. Of a time when +your prophets stood face to face with God, and talked with the Creator. +Since that day a great change has come over your people. Then your color +was light, like that of the fairest and handsomest of the Circassian +race; now, it has become red. When even the color is changed, it is not +wonderful that men should no longer be the same in other particulars. +Yes; once all the races of men were of the same color and origin." + +"This is not what our traditions say. We have heard from our fathers +that the Great Spirit made men of different colors; some he made light, +like the pale-faces; some red, like the Injins; some black, like the +pale-faces' slaves. To some he gave high noses; to some low noses: to +some flat noses. To the pale-faces he gave eyes of many colors. This is +the reason why they see so many things, and in so many different ways. +To the red men he gave eyes of the same color, and they always see +things of the same color. To a red man there is no change. Our fathers +have always been red. This we know. If them Jews, of whom my brother +speaks, were ever white, they have not been our fathers. We tell this to +the medicine-man, that he may know it, too. We do not wish to lead him +on a crooked path, or to speak to him with a forked tongue. What we have +said, is so. Now, the road is open to the wigwam of the pale-faces, and +we wish them safe on their journey home. We Injins have a council to +hold around this fire, and will stay longer." + +At this plain intimation that their presence was no longer desirable, it +became necessary for them to depart. The missionary, filled with zeal, +was reluctant to go, for, in his eyes, the present communications with +the savages promised him not only the conversion of pagans, but the +restoration of the Jews! Nevertheless, he was compelled to comply; and +when le Bourdon and the corporal took their departure, he turned, and +pronounced in solemn tone the Christian benediction on the assembly. +The meaning of this last impressive office was understood by most of the +chiefs, and they rose as one man, in acknowledgment. + +The three white men, on retiring from the circle, held their way toward +Castle Meal. Hive followed his master, having come out of the combat but +little injured. As they got to a point where a last look could be had of +the bottom-land of the council, each turned to see what was now in the +course of proceeding. The fire glimmered just enough to show the circlet +of dark faces, but not an Indian spoke or moved. There they all sat, +patiently waiting for the moment when the "strangers" might "withdraw" +to a sufficient distance, to permit them to proceed with their own +private affairs without fear of interruption. + +"This has been to me a most trying scene," observed the missionary, +as the three pursued their way toward the garrison. "How hard it is to +convince men against their wishes. Now, I am as certain as a man can be, +that every one of these Injins is in fact a Jew; and yet, you have seen +how small has been my success in persuading them to be of the right way +of thinking, on this subject." + +"I have always noticed that men stick even to their defects, when +they're nat'ral," returned the bee-hunter. "Even a nigger will stand up +for his color, and why shouldn't an Injin? You began wrong, parson. Had +you just told these chiefs that they were Jews, they might have stood +THAT, poor creatures, for they hardly know how mankind looks upon a +Jew; but you went to work to skin them, in a lump, making so many poor, +wishy-washy pale-faces of all the red-skins, in a body. You and I may +fancy a white face better than one of any other color; but nature colors +the eye when it colors the body, and there's not a nigger in America who +doesn't think black the pink of beauty." + +"Perhaps it was proceeding too fast to say anything about the change of +color, Bourdon. But what can a Christian minister do, unless he tell +the truth? Adam could have been but of one color; and all the races on +earth, one excepted, must have changed from that one color." + +"Aye, and my life on it, that all the races on 'arth believe that +one color to have been just that which has fallen to the luck of each +partic'lar shade. Hang me if I should like to be persuaded out of my +color, any more than these Injins. In America, color goes for a great +deal; and it may count for as much with an Injin as among us whites. No, +no, parson; you should have begun with persuading these savages into +the notion that they're Jews; if you could get along with THAT, the rest +might be all the easier." + +"You speak of the Jews, not as if you considered them a chosen people +of the Lord, but as a despised and hateful race. This is not right, +Bourdon. I know that Christians are thus apt to regard them; but it does +not tell well for their charity or their knowledge." + +"I know very little about them, Parson Amen; not being certain of ever +having seen a Jew in my life. Still, I will own that I have a sort of +grudge against them, though I can hardly tell you why. Of one thing I +feel certain--no man breathing should ever persuade me into the notion +that I'M a Jew, lost or found; ten tribes or twenty. What say you, +corporal, to this idea?" + +"Just as you say, Bourdon. Jews, Turks, and infidels, I despise: so was +I brought up, and so I shall remain." + +"Can either of you tell me WHY you look in this uncharitable light, on +so many of your fellow-creatures? It cannot be Christianity, for such +are not its teachings or feelings. Nor is either of you very remarkable +for his observance of the laws of God, as they have been revealed to +Christian people. MY heart yearns toward these Injins, who are infidels, +instead of entertaining any of the feelings that the corporal has just +expressed." + +"I wish there were fewer of them, and that them few were farther from +Castle Meal," put in le Bourdon, with point. "I have known all along +that Peter meant to have a great council; but will own, now that I have +seen something of it, I do not find it quite as much to my mind as I had +expected it would be." + +"There's a strong force on 'em," said the corporal, "and a hard set +be they to look at. When a man's a young soldier, all this paint, and +shaving of heads, and rings in noses and ears, makes some impression; +but a campaign or two ag'in' the fellows soon brings all down to one +color and one uniform, if their naked hides can be so called. I told 'em +off, Bourdon, and reconn'itred 'em pretty well, while they was a making +speeches; and, in my judgment, we can hold good the garrison ag'in' 'em +all, if so be we do not run short of water. Provisions and water is what +a body may call fundamentals, in a siege." + +"I hope we shall have no need of force--nay, I feel persuaded there will +not be," said Parson Amen. "Peter is our friend; and his command +over these savages is wonderful! Never before have I seen red men so +completely under the control of a chief. Your men at Fort Dearborn, +corporal, were scarcely more under the orders of their officers, than +these red-skins are under the orders of this chief!" + +"I will not go to compare rig'lars with Injins, Mr. Parson," answered +the corporal, a little stiffly. "They be not of the same natur' at all, +and ought not to be put on a footing, in any particular. These savages +may obey their orders, after a fashion of their own; but I should like +to see them manoeuvre under fire. I've fit Injins fourteen times, in +my day, and have never seen a decent line, or a good, honest, manly, +stand-up charge, made by the best among 'em, in any field, far or near. +Trees and covers is necessary to their constitutions, just as sartain as +a deer chased will take to water to throw off the scent. Put 'em up with +the baggonet, and they'll not stand a minute." + +"How should they, corporal," interrupted le Bourdon laughing, "when +they've no baggonets of their own to make a stand with? You put one +in mind of what my father used to say. He was a soldier in revolution +times, and sarved his seven years with Washington. The English used +to boast that the Americans wouldn't 'stand up to the rack,' if +the baggonet was set to work; 'but this was before we got our own +toothpicks,' said the old man. 'As soon as they gave US baggonets, too, +there was no want of standing up to the work.' It seems to me, corporal, +you overlook the fact that Injins carry no baggonets." + +"Every army uses its own weapons. If an Injin prefers his knife and his +tomahawk to a baggonet, it is no affair of mine. I speak of a charge +as I see it; and the soldier who relies on a tomahawk instead of a +baggonet, should stand in his tracks, and give tomahawk play. No, no, +Bourdon, seeing is believing. These red-skins can do nothing with our +people, when our people is properly regimented, well officered, and +thoroughly drilled. They're skeary to new beginners--THAT I must +acknowledge--but beyond that I set them down as nothing remarkable as +military men." + +"Good or bad, I wish there were fewer of them, and that they were +farther off. This man Peter is a mystery to me: sometimes he seems quite +friendly; then, ag'in, he appears just ready to take all our scalps. Do +you know much of his past history, Mr. Amen?" + +"Not as much as I wish I did," the missionary replied. "No one can tell +me aught concerning Peter, beyond the fact of his being a sort of a +prophet, and a chief of commanding influence. Even his tribe is unknown; +a circumstance that points us to the ancient history of the Jews for the +explanation. It is my own opinion that Peter is of the race of Aaron, +and that he is designed by Divine Providence to play an important +part in the great events on which we touch. All that is wanting is, to +persuade HIM into this belief, himself. Once persuade a man that he is +intended to be something, and your work is half done to your hands. But +the world is so full of ill-digested and random theories, that truth has +as much as it can do to obtain a sober and patient hearing!" + +Thus is it with poor human nature. Let a man get a crotchet into his +head--however improbable it may be, however little supported by reason +or fact, however ridiculous, indeed--and he becomes indisposed to +receive any evidence but that which favors his theory; to see any truths +but such as he fancies will harmonize with HIS truths; or to allow +of any disturbing causes in the great workings of his particular +philosophy. This notion of Parson Amen's concerning the origin of +the North American savage, did not originate with that simple-minded +enthusiast, by any means. In this way are notions formed and nurtured. +The missionary had read somewhat concerning the probability that the +American Indians were the lost tribes of Israel; and possessed with the +idea, everything he saw was tortured into evidence in support of his +theory. There is just as much reason for supposing that any, and all, of +the heathen savages that are scattered up and down the earth have this +origin, as to ascribe it to our immediate tribes; but to this truth the +good parson was indifferent, simply because it did not come within the +circle of his particular belief. + +Thus, too, was it with the corporal. Unless courage, and other military +qualities, were manifested precisely in the way in which HE had been +trained, they were not courage and military qualities at all. Every +virtue has its especial and conventional accessories, according to this +school of morals; nothing of the sort remaining as it came from above, +in the simple abstract qualities of right and wrong. On such feelings +and principles as these, do men get to be dogmatical, narrow-minded, and +conceited! + +Our three white men pursued their way back to the "garrison," conversing +as they went, much in the manner they did in the dialogue we have just +recorded. Neither Parson Amen nor the corporal seemed to apprehend +anything, not-withstanding the extraordinary scene in which one had been +an actor, and of which the other had been a witness. Their wonder and +apprehensions, no doubt, were much mitigated by the fact, that it was +understood Peter was to meet a large collection of the chiefs in the +Openings, and the minds of all were, more or less, prepared to see some +such assemblage as had that night got together. The free manner in which +the mysterious chief led the missionary to the circle, was, of itself, +some proof that HE did not desire concealment; and even le Bourdon +admitted, when they came to discuss the details, that this was a +circumstance that told materially in favor of the friendliness of his +intentions. Still, the bee-hunter had his doubts; and most sincerely did +he wish that all in Castle Meal, Blossom in particular, were safe within +the limits of civilized settlements. + +On reaching the "garrison," all was safe. Whiskey Centre watched the +gate--a sober man, now, perforce, if not by inclination; for being +in the Openings, in this respect, is like being at sea with an empty +spirit-room. He was aware that several had passed out, but was surprised +to learn that Peter was of the number. That gate Peter had not passed, +of a certainty; and how else he could quit the palisades was not easily +understood. It was possible to climb over them, it is true; but the feat +would be attended with so great an exertion, and would be so likely +to lead to a noise which would expose the effort, that all had great +difficulty in believing a man so dignified and reserved in manner as +this mysterious chief would be apt to resort to such means of quitting +the place. + +As for the Chippewa, Gershom reported his return a few minutes before; +and the bee-hunter entered, to look for that tried friend, as soon as he +learned the fact. He found Pigeonswing laying aside his accoutrements, +previously to lying down to take his rest. + +"So, Chippewa, YOU have come back, have you?" exclaimed le Bourdon. "So +many of your red-skin brethren are about, that I didn't expect to see +you again for these two or three days." + +"No want to eat, den, eh? How you all eat, if hunter don't do he +duty? S'pose squaw don't cook vittles, you no like it, eh? Juss so wid +hunter--no KILL vittles, don't like it nudder." + +"This is true enough. Still, so many of your people are about, just now, +that I thought it probable you might wish to remain outside with them +for a day or two." + +"How know red man about, eh? You SEE him--you COUNT him eh?" + +"I have seen something like fifty, and may say I counted that many. +They were chiefs, however, and I take it for granted, a goodly number of +common warriors are not far off. Am I right, Pigeonswing?" + +"S'pose don't know--den, can't tell? Only tell what he know." + +"Sometimes an Injin GUESSES, and comes as near the truth as a white man +who has seen the thing with his own Pigeonswing made no answer; though +le Bourdon fancied, from his manner, that he had really something on his +mind, and that, too, of importance, which he wished to communicate. + +"I think you might tell me some news that I should like to hear, +Chippewa, if you was so minded." + +"Why you stay here, eh?" demanded the Indian, abruptly. "Got plenty +honey--bess go home, now. Always bess go home, when hunt up. Home good +place, when hunter well tired." + +"My home is here, in the Openings, Pigeonswing. When I go into the +settlements, I do little but loaf about among the farm-houses on the +Detroit River, having neither squaw nor wigwam of my own to go to. I +like this place well enough, if your red brethren will let me keep it in +peace." + +"Dis bad place for pale-face, juss now. Better go home, dan stay in +Openin'. If don't know short path to Detroit, I show you. Bess go, soon +as can; and bess go ALONE. No good to be trouble wid squaw, when in +hurry." + +The countenance of le Bourdon changed at this last intimation; though +the Indian might not have observed it in the darkness. After a brief +pause, the first answered in a very determined way. + +"I believe I understand you, Chippewa," he said. "I shall do nothing of +the sort, however. If the squaws can't go, too, I shall not quit them. +Would you desert YOUR squaws because you thought them in trouble?" + +"An't your squaw yet. Bess not have squaw at all, when Openin' so full +of Injin. Where you t'ink is two buck I shoot dis mornin', eh? Skin +'em, cut 'em up, hang 'em on tree, where wolf can't get 'em. Well, go +on after anudder; kill HIM, too. Dere he is, inside of palisade, but no +tudder two. He bot' gone, when I get back to tree. Two good buck as ever +see! How you like dat, eh?" + +"I care very little about it, since we have food enough, and are not +likely to want. So the wolves got your venison from the trees, after all +your care; ha! Pigeonswing." + +"Wolf don't touch him--wolf CAN'T touch him. Moccasin been under tree. +See him mark. Bess do as I tell you; go home, soon as ever can. Short +path to Detroit; an't two hundred pale-face mile." + +"I see how it is, Pigeonswing; I see how it is, and thank you for this +hint, while I honor your good faith to your own people. But I cannot go +to Detroit, in the first place, for that town and fort have fallen into +the hands of the British. It might be possible for a canoe to get past +in the night, and to work its way through into Lake Erie, but I cannot +quit my friends. If you can put us ALL in the way of getting away from +this spot, I shall be ready to enter into the scheme. Why can't we all +get into the canoe, and go down stream, as soon as another night sets +in? Before morning we could be twenty miles on our road." + +"No do any good," returned Pigeonswing, coldly. "If can't go alone, +can't go at all. Squaw no keep up when so many be on trail. No good to +try canoe. Catch you in two days--p'raps one. Well, I go to sleep--can't +keep eye open all night." + +Hereupon, Pigeonswing coolly repaired to his skins, lay down, and was +soon fast asleep. The bee-hunter was fain to do the same, the night +being now far advanced; but he lay awake a long time, thinking of the +hint he had received, and pondering on the nature of the danger which +menaced the security of the family. At length, sleep asserted its power +over even him, and the place lay in the deep stillness of night. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + And stretching out, on either hand, + O'er all that wide and unshorn land, + Till weary of its gorgeousness, + The aching and the dazzled eye + Rests, gladdened, on the calm, blue sky. + --WHITTIER. + + +No other disturbance occurred in the course of the night. With the dawn, +le Bourdon was again stirring; and as he left the palisades to repair +to the run, in order to make his ablutions, he saw Peter returning to +Castle Meal. The two met; but no allusion was made to the manner in +which the night had passed. The chief paid his salutations courteously; +and, instead of repairing to his skins, he joined le Bourdon, seemingly +as little inclined to seek for rest, as if just arisen from his lair. +When the bee-hunter left the spring, this mysterious Indian, for the +first time, spoke of business. + +"My brother wanted to-day to show Injin how to find honey," said Peter, +as he and Bourdon walked toward the palisades, within which the whole +family was now moving. "I nebber see honey find, myself, ole as I be." + +"I shall be very willing to teach your chiefs my craft," answered the +bee-hunter, "and this so much the more readily, because I do not expect +to pracTYSE it much longer, myself; not in this part of the country, at +least." + +"How dat happen?--expec' go away soon?" demanded Peter, whose keen, +restless eye would, at one instant, seem to read his companion's soul, +and then would glance off to some distant object, as if conscious of its +own startling and fiery expression. "Now Br'ish got Detroit, where my +broder go? Bess stay here, I t'ink." + +"I shall not be in a hurry, Peter; but my season will soon be up, and I +must get ahead of the bad weather, you know, or a bark canoe will have +but a poor time of it on Lake Huron. When am I to meet the chiefs, to +give them a lesson in finding bees?" + +"Tell by-'em-by. No hurry for dat. Want to sleep fuss. See so much +better, when I open eye. So you t'ink of makin' journey on long path. If +can't go to Detroit, where can go to?" + +"My proper home is in Pennsylvania, on the other side of Lake Erie. It +is a long path, and I'm not certain of getting safely over it in these +troubled times. Perhaps it would be best for me, however, to shape at +once for Ohio; if in that state I might find my way round the end of +Erie, and so go the whole distance by land." + +The bee-hunter said this, by way of throwing dust into the Indian's +eyes, for he had not the least intention of travelling in the direction +named. It is true, it was HIS most direct course, and the one that +prudence would point out to him, under all the circumstances, had he +been alone. But le Bourdon was no longer alone--in heart and feelings, +at least. Margery now mingled with all his views for the future; and he +could no more think of abandoning her in her present situation, than he +could of offering his own person to the savages for a sacrifice. It was +idle to think of attempting such a journey in company with the +females, and most of all to attempt it in defiance of the ingenuity, +perseverance, and hostility of the Indians. The trail could not be +concealed; and, as for speed, a party of the young men of the wilderness +would certainly travel two miles to Margery's one. + +Le Bourdon, notwithstanding Pigeonswing's remonstrances, still had his +eye on the Kalamazoo. He remembered the saying, "that water leaves no +trail," and was not without hopes of reaching the lake again, where he +felt he should be in comparative security; his own canoe, as well as +that of Gershom, being large, well fitted, and not altogether unsuited +to those waters in the summer months. As it would be of the last +importance, however, to get several hours' start of the Indians, in the +event of his having recourse to such a mode of flight, it was of the +utmost importance also to conceal his intentions, and, if possible, to +induce Peter to imagine his eyes were turned in another direction. + +"Well, s'pose go dat way," answered the chief, quietly, as if suspecting +no artifice. "Set 'bout him by-'em-by. Today muss teach Injin how to +find honey. Dat make him good friend; and maybe he help my pale-face +broders back to deir country. Been better for ebbery body, if none come +here, at all." + +Thus ended the discourse for that moment. Peter was not fond of much +talking, when he had not his great object in view, but rather kept his +mind occupied in observation. For the next hour, every one in and +about Castle Meal was engaged in the usual morning avocations, that of +breaking their fasts included; and then it was understood that all were +to go forth to meet the chiefs, that le Bourdon might give a specimen of +his craft. + +One, ignorant of the state of political affairs on the American +continent, and who was not aware of the vicinity of savages, would +have seen nothing that morning, as the party proceeded on its little +excursion, in and around that remote spot, but a picture of rural +tranquillity and peace. A brighter day never poured its glories on the +face of the earth; and the Openings, and the glades, and even the dark +and denser forests, were all bathed in the sunlight, as that orb is +known to illuminate objects in the softer season of the year, and in the +forty-third degree of latitude. Even the birds appeared to rejoice in +the beauties of the time, and sang and fluttered among the oaks, in +numbers greater than common. Nature usually observes a stern fitness in +her adaptation of means to ends. Birds are to be found in the forests, +on the prairies, and in the still untenanted openings of the west--and +often in countless numbers; more especially those birds which fly in +flocks, and love the security of unoccupied regions--unoccupied by +man is meant--wherein to build their nests, obey the laws of their +instincts, and fulfil their destinies. Thus, myriads of pigeons, and +ducks, and geese, etc., are to be found in the virgin woods, while the +companionable and friendly robin, the little melodious wren, the thrush, +the lark, the swallow, the marten, and all those pleasant little winged +creatures, that flit about our dwellings and grounds, and seem to be +sent by Providence, expressly to chant their morning and evening hymns +to God in our ears, most frequent the peopled districts. It has been +said by Europeans that the American birds are mute, in comparison with +those of the Old World. This is true, to a certain extent, as respects +those which are properly called forest birds, which do, in general, +appear to partake of the sombre character that marks the solemn +stillness of their native haunts. It is not true, however, with the +birds which live in our fields, and grounds, and orchards, each of which +sings its song of praise, and repeats its calls and its notes, as richly +and as pleasantly to the ear, as the birds of other lands. One large +class, indeed, possesses a faculty that enables it to repeat every note +it has ever heard, even to some of the sounds of quadrupeds. Nor is this +done in the discordant tones of the parrot; but in octaves, and trills, +and in rich contra-altos, and all the other pleasing intonations known +to the most gifted of the feathered race. Thus it is, that one American +mocking-bird can outsing all the birds of Europe united. + +It seemed that morning as if every bird that was accustomed to glean its +food from the neighborhood of Castle Meal was on the wing, and ready to +accompany the party that now sallied forth to catch the bee. This party +consisted of le Bourdon, himself, as its chief and leader; of Peter, the +missionary, and the corporal. Margery, too, went along; for, as yet, she +had never seen an exhibition of Boden's peculiar skill. As for Gershom +and his wife, they remained behind, to make ready the noontide meal; +while the Chippewa took his accoutrements, and again sallied out on +a hunt. The whole time of this Indian appeared to be thus taken up; +though, in truth, venison and bear's meat both abounded, and there was +much less necessity for those constant efforts than he wished to make it +appear. In good sooth, more than half his time was spent in making those +observations, which had led to the advice he had been urging on his +friend, the bee-hunter, in order to induce him to fly. Had Pigeonswing +better understood Peter, and had he possessed a clearer insight into the +extent and magnitude of his plans of retributive vengeance, it is not +probable his uneasiness, at the moment, would have been so great, or the +urgency for an immediate decision on the part of le Bourdon would have +appeared as urgently pressing as it now seemed to be. + +The bee-hunter took his way to a spot that was at some distance from +his habitation, a small prairie of circular form, that is now generally +known in that region of the country by the name of Prairie Round. Three +hours were necessary to reach it, and this so much the more, because +Margery's shorter steps were to be considered. Margery, however, was +no laggard on a path. Young, active, light of foot, and trained in +exertions of this nature, her presence did not probably retard the +arrival many minutes. + +The extraordinary part of the proceedings was the circumstance, that the +bee-hunter did not tell any one whither he was going, and that Peter did +not appear to care about putting the question to him. Notwithstanding +this reserve on one side, and seeming indifference on the other, when +the party reached Prairie Round, every one of the chiefs who had been +present at the council of the previous night, was there before it. The +Indians were straggling about, but remained sufficiently near the point +where the bee-hunter and his followers reached the prairie, to assemble +around the group in a very few minutes after it made its appearance. + +All this struck le Bourdon as fearfully singular, since it proved how +many secret means of communication existed between the savages. That +the inmates of the habitations were closely observed, and all their +proceedings noted, he could not but suspect, even before receiving this +proof of Peter's power; but he was not aware until now, how completely +he and all with him were at the mercy of these formidable foes. What +hope could there be for escape, when hundreds of eyes were thus watching +their movements, and every thicket had its vigilant and sagacious +sentinel? Yet must flight be attempted, in some way or other, or Margery +and her sister would be hopelessly lost--to say nothing of himself and +the three other men. + +But the appearance of the remarkable little prairie that he had just +reached, and the collection of chiefs, now occupied all the present +thoughts of le Bourdon. As for the first, it is held in repute, even +at the present hour, as a place that the traveller should see, though +covered with farms, and the buildings that belong to husbandry. It +is still visited as a picture of ancient civilization, placed in the +setting of a new country. It is true that very little of this part +of Michigan wears much, if any, of that aspect of a rough beginning, +including stubs, stumps, and circled trees, that it has so often +fallen to our share to describe. There are dense forests, and those of +considerable extent; and wherever the axe is put into them, the progress +of improvement is marked by the same steps as elsewhere; but the lovely +openings form so many exceptions, as almost to compose the rule. + +On Prairie Round there was even a higher stamp of seeming +civilization--seeming, since it was nature, after all, that had mainly +drawn the picture. In the first place, the spot had been burnt so +recently, as to leave the entire expanse covered with young grasses and +flowers, the same as if it were a well-kept park. This feature, at +that advanced period of the summer, was in some degree accidental, the +burning of the prairies depending more or less on contingencies of that +sort. We have now less to do with the cause, than with its consequences. +These were most agreeable to the eye, as well as comfortable to the +foot, the grass nowhere being of a height to impede movement, or, +what was of still more importance to le Bourdon's present pursuit, to +overshadow the flowers. Aware of this fact, he had led his companions +all that distance, to reach this scene of remarkable rural beauty, in +order that he might make a grand display of his art, in presence of the +assembled chiefs of that region. The bee-hunter had pride in his craft, +the same as any other skilful workman who had gained a reputation by +his cunning, and he now trod the prairie with a firmer step, and a more +kindling eye, than was his wont in the commoner haunts of his calling. +Men were there whom it might be an honor to surprise, and pretty Margery +was there also, she who had so long desired to see this very exhibition. + +But to revert once more to the prairie, ere we commence the narrative +of what occurred on it. This well-known area is of no great extent, +possessing a surface about equal to that of one of the larger parks +of Europe. Its name was derived from its form, which, without being +absolutely regular, had so near an approach to a circle as to justify +the use of the appellation. The face of this charming field was neither +waving, or what is called "rolling," nor a dead flat, as often occurs +with river bottoms. It had just enough of undulation to prevent too much +moisture, and to impart an agreeable variety to its plain. As a whole, +it was clear of the forest; quite as much so as if the axe had done its +work there a thousand years before, though wood was not wanting. On the +contrary, enough of the last was to be seen, in addition to that which +formed the frame of this charming landscape, to relieve the view from +all appearance of monotony, and to break it up into copses, thickets, +trees in small clusters, and in most of the varieties that embellish +native scenery. One who had been unexpectedly transferred to the spot, +might well have imagined that he was looking on the site of some old +and long-established settlement, from which every appliance of human +industry had been suddenly and simultaneously abstracted. Of houses, +out-buildings, fences, stacks, and husbandry, there were no signs; +unless the even and verdant sward, that was spread like a vast carpet, +sprinkled with flowers, could have been deemed a sign of the last. There +were the glades, vistas, irregular lawns, and woods, shaped with the +pleasing outlines of the free hand of nature, as if consummate art +had been endeavoring to imitate our great mistress in one of her most +graceful moods. + +The Indians present served largely to embellish this scene. Of late +years, horses have become so common among the western tribes, the vast +natural meadows of those regions furnishing the means necessary to keep +them, that one can now hardly form a picture of those savages, with-out +representing them mounted, and wielding the spear; but such was not the +fact with the time of which we are writing, nor was it ever the general +practice to go mounted, among the Indians in the immediate vicinity +of the great lakes. Not a hoof of any sort was now visible, with the +exception of those which belonged to a herd of deer, that were grazing +on a favorite spot, less than a league distant from the place where le +Bourdon and his companions reached the prairie. All the chiefs were on +foot, and very few were equipped with more than the knife and tomahawk, +the side-arms of a chief; the rifles having been secreted, as it might +be, in deference to the festivities and peaceful character of the +occasion. As le Bourdon's party was duly provided with rifles, the +missionary and Margery excepted, this was a sign that no violence was +contemplated on that occasion at least. "Contemplated," however, is a +word very expressive, when used in connection with the out-breakings +of human passions, as they are wont to exhibit themselves among the +ignorant and excited. It matters not whether the scene be the capital of +some ancient European monarchy, or the wilds of America, the workings of +such impulses are much the same. Now, a throne is overturned, perhaps, +before they who do it are yet fully aware of what they ought to set up +in its place; and now the deadly rifle, or the murderous tomahawk is +used, more in obedience to the incentives of demons, than in furtherance +of justly recognized rules of conduct. Le Bourdon was aware of all +this, and did not so far confide in appearances, as to overlook the +watchfulness that he deemed indispensable. + +The bee-hunter was not long in selecting a place to set up his +apparatus. In this particular, he was mainly governed by a lovely +expanse of sweet-scented flowers, among which bees in thousands were +humming, sipping of their precious gifts at will. Le Bourdon had a care, +also, not to go far from the forests which encircled the prairies, for +among its trees he knew he had to seek the habitations of the insects. +Instead of a stump, or a fallen tree, he had prepared a light framework +of lath, which the corporal bore to the field for him, and on which he +placed his different implements, as soon as he had selected the scene of +operations. + +It will not be necessary for us to repeat the process, which has already +been described in our opening chapters; but we shall only touch such +parts of it as have a direct connection with the events of the legend. +As le Bourdon commenced his preparations, however, the circle of chiefs +closed around him, in mute but close attention to every-thing that +passed. Although every one of them had heard of the bee-hunters of the +pale-faces, and most of them had heard of this particular individual +of their number, not an Indian present had ever seen one of these men +practise his craft. This may seem strange, as respects those who so +much roamed the woods; but we have already remarked that it exceeded the +knowledge of the red man to make the calculations that are necessary to +take the bee by the process described. Usually, when he obtains honey, +it is the result of some chance meeting in the forest, and not the +fruits of that far-sighted and persevering industry, which enables the +white man to lay in a store large enough to supply a neighborhood, in +the course of a few weeks' hunting. + +Never was a juggler watched with closer attention, than was le Bourdon, +while setting up his stand, and spreading his implements. Every grave, +dark countenance was turned toward him, and each keen, glistening eye +was riveted on his movements. As the vessel with the comb was set down, +the chiefs nearest recognizing the substance murmured their admiration; +for to them it seemed as if the operator were about to make honey with +honey. Then the glass was a subject of surprise: for half of those +present had never seen such an utensil before. Though many of the chiefs +present had visited the "garrisons" of the northwest, both American and +English, many had not; and, of those who had, not one in ten got any +clear idea of the commonest appliances of civilized life. Thus it was, +then, that almost every article used by the bee-hunter, though so simple +and homely, was the subject of a secret, but well-suppressed admiration. + +It was not long ere le Bourdon was ready to look for his bee. The +insects were numerous on the flowers, particularly on the white clover, +which is indigenous in America, springing up spontaneously wherever +grasses are permitted to grow. The great abundance of the bees, however, +had its usual effect, and our hero was a little difficult to please. At +length, a fine and already half-loaded little animal was covered by the +glass and captured. This was done so near the group of Indians, that +each and all noted the process. It was curious, and it was inexplicable! +Could the pale-faces compel bees to reveal the secret of their hives, +and was that encroaching race about to drive all the insects from the +woods and seize their honey, as they drove the Indians before them and +seized their lands? Such was the character of the thoughts that passed +through the minds of more than one chief, that morning, though all +looked on in profound stillness. + +When the imprisoned bee was put over the comb, and le Bourdon's cap +was placed above all, these simple-minded children of the woods and the +prairies gazed, as if expecting a hive to appear beneath the covering, +whenever the latter should be removed. It was not long before the bee +"settled," and not only the cap, but the tumbler was taken away. For the +first time since the exhibition commenced, le Bourdon spoke, addressing +himself to Peter. + +"If the tribeless chief will look sharply," he said, "he will soon see +the bee take flight. It is filling itself with honey, and the moment +it is loaded--look--look--it is about to rise--there, it is up--see +it circling around the stand, as if to take a look that it may know it +again--there it goes!" + +There it did go, of a truth, and in a regular bee-line, or as straight +as an arrow. Of all that crowd, the bee-hunter and Margery alone saw +the insect in its flight. Most of those present lost sight of it, +while circling around the stand; but the instant it darted away, to +the remainder it seemed to vanish into air. Not so with le Bourdon and +Margery, however. The former saw it from habit; the latter from a +quick eye, intense attention, and the wish not to miss anything that le +Bourdon saw fit to do, for her information or amusement. The animal flew +in an air-line toward a point of wood distant fully half a mile, and on +the margin of the prairie. + +Many low exclamations arose among the savages. The bee was gone, but +whither they knew not, or on what errand. Could it have been sent on a +message by the pale-face, or had it flown off to give the alarm to its +companions, in order to adopt the means of disappointing the bee-hunter? +As for the last, he went coolly to work to choose another insect; and he +soon had three at work on the comb--all in company, and all uncovered. +Had the number anything to do with the charm, or were these three to be +sent to bring back the one that had already gone away? Such was the sort +of reasoning, and such the queries put to themselves, by several of the +stern children of nature who were drawn up around the stand. + +In the mean time le Bourdon proceeded with his operations in the utmost +simplicity. He now called Peter and Bear's Meat and Crowsfeather nearer +to his person, where they might share with Margery the advantage of more +closely seeing all that passed. As soon as these three chiefs were +near enough, Ben pointed to one bee in particular, saying in the Indian +dialect: + +"My brothers see that bee in the centre--he is about to go away. If he +go after the one that went before him, I shall soon know where to look +for honey." + +"How can my brother tell which bee will first fly away?" demanded Bear's +Meat. + +The bee-hunter was able to foresee this, by knowing which insect had +been longest on the comb; but so practised had his eye become, that he +knew with tolerable accuracy, by the movements of the creatures, those +that had filled themselves with honey from those that had not. As it did +not suit his purpose, however, to let all the minutiae of his craft be +known, his answer was evasive. Just at that moment a thought occurred to +him, which it might be well to carry out in full. He had once saved his +life by necromancy, or what seemed to the simple children of the woods +to be necromancy, and why might he not turn the cunning of his regular +art to account, and render it the means of rescuing the females, as well +as himself, from the hands of their captors? This sudden impulse from +that moment controlled his conduct; and his mind was constantly +casting about for the means of effecting what was now his one great +purpose-escape. Instead of uttering in reply to Bear's Meat's question +the simple truth, therefore, he rather sought for such an answer as +might make the process in which he was engaged appear imposing and +mystical. + +"How do the Injins know the path of the deer?" he asked, by way of +reply. "They look at the deer, get to know him, and understand his ways. +This middle bee will soon fly." + +"Which way will he go?" asked Peter. "Can my brother tell us THAT?" + +"To his hive," returned le Bourdon, carelessly, as if he did not fully +understand the question. "All of them go to their hives, unless I tell +them to go in another direction. See, the bee is up!" + +The chiefs now looked with all their eyes. They saw, indeed, that the +bee was making its circles above the stand. Presently they lost sight of +the insect, which to them seemed to vanish; though le Bourdon distinctly +traced its flight for a hundred yards. It took a direction at right +angles to that of the first bee, flying off into the prairie, and +shaping its course toward an island of wood, which might have been of +three or four acres in extent, and distant rather less than a mile. + +While le Bourdon was noting this flight, another bee arose. This +creature flew toward the point of forest, already mentioned as the +destination of the insect that had first risen. No sooner was this third +little animal out of sight, than the fourth was up, humming around the +stand. Ben pointed it out to the chiefs; and this time they succeeded in +tracing the flight for, perhaps, a hundred feet from the spot where they +stood. Instead of following either of its companions, this fourth bee +took a course which led it off the prairie altogether, and toward the +habitations. + +The suddenly conceived purpose of le Bourdon, to attempt to mystify the +savages, and thus get a hold upon their minds which he might turn to +advantage, was much aided by the different directions taken by these +several bees. Had they all gone the same way, the conclusion that +all went home would be so very natural and obvious, as to deprive +the discovery of a hive of any supernatural merit, at least; and to +establish this was just now the great object the bee-hunter had in view. +As it was, the Indians were no wiser, now all the bees were gone, than +they had been before one of them had flown. On the contrary, they could +not understand how the flights of so many insects, in so many different +directions, should tell the bee-hunter where honey was to be found. Le +Bourdon saw that the prairie was covered with bees, and well knew that, +such being the fact, the inmates of perhaps a hundred different hives +must be present. All this, however, was too novel and too complicated +for the calculations of savages; and not one of those who crowded near, +as observers, could account for so many of the bees going different +ways. + +Le Bourdon now intimated a wish to change his ground. He had noted two +of the bees, and the only question that remained to be decided, as IT +respected THEM, was whether they belonged to the precise points toward +which they had flown, or to points beyond them. The reader will easily +understand that this is the nature of the fact determined by taking an +angle, the point of intersection between any two of the lines of flight +being necessarily the spot where the hive is to be found. So far from +explaining this to those around him, however, Boden kept it a secret in +his own breast. Margery knew the whole process, for to HER he had often +gone over it in description, finding a pleasure in instructing one so +apt, and whose tender, liquid blue eyes seemed to reflect every movement +of his own soul and feelings. Margery he could have taught forever, or +fancied for the moment he could; which is as near the truth as men under +the influence of love often get. But, as for the Indians, so far from +letting them into any of his secrets, his strong desire was now to +throw dust into their eyes, in all possible ways, and to make their +well-established character for superstition subservient to his own +projects. + +Boden was far from being a scholar, even for one in his class in life. +Down to this hour, the neglect of the means of public instruction +is somewhat of a just ground of reproach against the venerable and +respectable commonwealth of which he was properly a member, though her +people have escaped a knowledge of a great deal of small philosophy and +low intriguing, which it is fair to presume that evil spirits thrust +in among the leaves of a more legitimate information, when the book of +knowledge is opened for the instruction of those who, by circumstances, +are prevented from doing more than bestowing a few hurried glances at +its contents. Still, Ben had read everything about bees on which he +could lay his hands. He had studied their habits personally, and he +had pondered over the various accounts of their communities--a sort of +limited monarchy in which the prince is deposed occasionally, or +when matters go very wrong--some written by really very observant and +intelligent persons, and others again not a little fanciful. Among other +books that had thus fallen in le Bourdon's way, was one which somewhat +minutely described the uses that were made of bees by the ancient +soothsayers in their divinations. Our hero had no notion of reviving +those rites, or of attempting to imitate the particular practices of +which he had read and heard; but the recollection of them occurred +most opportunely to strengthen and encourage the design, so suddenly +entertained, of making his present operation aid in opening the way to +the one great thing of the hour--an escape into Lake Michigan. + +"A bee knows a great deal," said le Bourdon, to his nearest companions, +while the whole party was moving some distance to take up new ground. "A +bee often knows more than a man." + +"More than pale-face?" demanded Bear's Meat, a chief who had attained +his authority more by means of physical than of intellectual qualities. + +"Sometimes. Pale-faces have gone to bees to ask what will happen. Let me +ask our medicine-man this question. Parson Amen, have YOU any knowledge +of the soothsayers of old using bees when they wished to know what was +about to happen?" + +Now, the missionary was not a learned man, any more than the bee-hunter; +but many an unlearned man has heard of this, and he happened to be one +of the number. Of Virgil, for instance, Parson Amen knew but little; +though in the progress of a very loose, but industrious course of +reading, he had learned that the soothsayers put great faith in bees. +His answer was given in conformity with this fact, and in the most +perfect good faith, for he had not the smallest suspicion of what Boden +wished to establish. + +"Certainly--most certainly," answered the well-meaning missionary--"the +fortune-tellers of old times often went to their bees when they wished +to look into the future. It has been a subject much talked of among +Christians, to account for the soothsaying, and witchcraft, and other +supernatural dealings of those who lived in the times of the prophets; +and most of them have held the opinion that evil spirits have been--nay, +still are permitted to work their will on certain men in the flesh. But +bees were in much favor with the soothsayers of old." + +This answer was given in English, and little of it was comprehended by +Peter, and the others who had more or less knowledge of that language, +beyond the part which asserted the agency of bees in witchcraft. +Luckily, this was all le Bourdon desired, and he was well satisfied at +seeing that the idea passed from one chief to another; those who did not +know the English at all, being told by those who had some knowledge +of the tongue, that "bees were thought to be 'medicine' among the +pale-faces." + +Le Bourdon gained a great deal of ground by this fortunate corroboration +of his own still more fortunate thought Matters were pretty nearly +desperate with him, and with all his friends, should Peter really +meditate evil; and as desperate diseases notoriously require remedies of +the same character, he was ready to attempt anything that promised even +the smallest chance of success. + +"Yes, yes--" the bee-hunter pursued the discourse by saying--"bees know +a great deal. I have sometimes thought that bees know more than bears, +and my brother must be able to tell something of them?" + +"Yes; my name is Bear's Meat," answered that chief, complacently. "Injin +always give name that mean somet'ing. Kill so many bear one winter, got +dat name." + +"A good name it is! To kill a bear is the most honorable thing a hunter +can do, as we all know. If my brother wishes to hear it, I will ask my +bees when he is to kill another." + +The savage to whom this was addressed fairly started with delight. He +was eagerly signifying his cheerful assent to the proposal, when Peter +quietly interposed, and changed the discourse to himself, in a way that +he had, and which would not easily admit of denial. It was apparent +to le Bourdon that this mysterious Indian was not content that one so +direct and impetuous in his feelings as Bear's Meat, and who was at the +same time so little qualified to manage his portion of an intellectual +conversation, should be foremost any longer. For that reason he brought +himself more into the foreground, leaving to his friend the capacity +of listener and observer, rather than that of a speaker and actor. What +took place under this new arrangement, will appear as the narrative +proceeds. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + --Therefore, go with me; + I'll give the fairies to attend on thee; + And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, + --Peas-blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard-seed, + --Midsummer-Night's Dream + + +As le Bourdon kept moving across the prairie, while the remarks were +made that have been recorded in the preceding chapter, he soon reached +the new position where he intended to again set up his stand. Here he +renewed his operations; Peter keeping nearest his person, in jealous +watchfulness of the least movement he made. Bees were caught, and scarce +a minute elapsed ere the bee-hunter had two of them on the piece of +comb, uncovered and at liberty. The circumstance that the cap was +momentarily placed over the insects, struck the savages as a piece of +necromancy, in particular. The reader will understand that this is done +in order to darken the tumbler, and induce the bee to settle down on the +honey so much the sooner. To one who understood the operation and its +reason, the whole was simple enough; but it was a very different matter +with men as little accustomed to prying into the habits of creatures +as insignificant as bees. Had deer, or bisons, or bears, or any of the +quadrupeds of those regions, been the subject of the experiment, it is +highly probable that individuals could have been found in that attentive +and wondering crowd, who could have enlightened the ablest naturalists +on the subject of the animals under examination; but when the inquiry +descended to the bee, it went below the wants and usages of savage life. + +"Where you t'ink dis bee go?" demanded Peter, in English, as soon as le +Bourdon raised the tumbler. + +"One will go in this direction, the other in that," answered the +bee-hunter, pointing first toward the corner of the woods, then toward +the island in the prairie--the two points toward which two of the other +bees had flown. + +The predictions might or might not prove true. If they did, the effect +must be great; if they did not, the failure would soon be forgotten in +matters of more interest. Our hero, therefore, risked but little, while +he had the chance of gaining a very great advantage. By a fortunate +coincidence, the result completely justified the prediction. A bee +rose, made its circles around the stand, and away it went toward the +island-like copse in the prairie; while its companion soon imitated +its example, but taking the other prescribed direction. This time Peter +watched the insects so closely that he was a witness of their movements, +and with his own eyes he beheld the flight, as well as the direction +taken by each. + +"You tell bee do dis?" demanded Peter, with a surprise that was so +sudden, as well as so great, that it overcame in some slight degree his +habitual self-command. + +"To be sure I did," replied le Bourdon, carelessly. "If you wish to see +another, you may." + +Here the young man coolly took another bee, and put it on the comb. +Indifferent as he appeared, however, he used what was perhaps the +highest degree of his art in selecting this insect. It was taken from +the bunch of flowers whence one of his former captives had been taken, +and there was every chance of its belonging to the same hive as its +companion. Which direction it might take, should it prove to be a bee +from either of the two hives of which the positions were now known, +it altogether exceeded Boden's art to tell, so he dexterously avoided +committing himself. It was enough that Peter gazed attentively, and +that he saw the insect dart away, disappearing in the direction of the +island. By this time more of the savages were on the alert, and now +knowing how and where to look for the bee, they also saw its course. + +"You tell him ag'in go dere?" asked Peter, whose interest by this time +was so manifest, as to defy all attempts at concealment. + +"To be sure I did. The bees obey ME, as your young men obey YOU. I am +their chief, and they KNOW me. I will give you further proof of this. We +will now go to that little bit of wood, when you shall all see what it +contains. I have sent three of my bees there; and here, one of them is +already back, to let me know what he has seen." + +Sure enough, a bee was buzzing around the head of le Bourdon, probably +attracted by some fragment of comb, and he cunningly converted it into +a messenger from the copse! All this was wonderful to the crowd, and +it even greatly troubled Peter. This man was much less liable to the +influence of superstition than most of his people; but he was very far +from being altogether above it. This is the fact with very few civilized +men; perhaps with no man whatever, let his philosophy and knowledge be +what they may; and least of all, is it true with the ignorant. There is +too much of the uncertain, of the conjectural in our condition as human +beings, to raise us altogether above the distrusts, doubts, wonder, and +other weaknesses of our present condition. To these simple savages, the +manner in which the bees flew, seemingly at le Bourdon's bidding, to +this or that thicket, was quite as much a matter of astonishment, as +any of our most elaborate deceptions are wonders to our own ignorant and +vulgar. Ignorant! And where is the line to be drawn that is to place men +beyond the pale of ignorance? Each of us fails in some one, if not +in very many of the important branches of the knowledge that is even +reduced to rules Among us. Here is seen the man of books, so ignorant +of the application of his own beloved theories, as to be a mere child in +practice; and there, again, can be seen the expert in practice, who is +totally unacquainted with a single principle of the many that lie at +the root of his very handicraft. Let us not, then, deride these poor +children of the forest, because that which was so entirely new to them, +should also appear inexplicable and supernatural. + +As for Peter, he was more confounded than convinced. His mind was so +much superior to those of the other chiefs, as to render him far more +difficult to mislead; though even he was not exempt from the great +weaknesses of ignorance, superstition, and its concomitants--credulity, +and a love of the marvellous. His mind was troubled, as was quite +apparent to Ben, who watched HIM quite as narrowly as he was observed +himself, in all he did. Willing to deepen the impression, our artist +now determined to exhibit some of the higher fruits of his skill. The +production of a considerable quantity of honey would of itself be a sort +of peace-offering, and he now prepared to turn the certainty of there +being a hive in the little wood to account--certainty, because three +bees had taken wing for it, and a very distinct angle had been made with +two of them. + +"Does my brother wish any honey?" asked le Bourdon carelessly; "or shall +I send a bee across Lake Michigan, to tell the Injins further west that +Detroit is taken?" + +"Can Bourdon find honey, NOW?" demanded Peter. + +"Easily. Several hives are within a mile of us. The bees like this +prairie, which is so well garnished with flowers, and I am never at a +loss for work, in this neighborhood. This is my favorite bee-ground; and +I have got all the little creatures so that they know me, and are ready +to do everything that I tell them. As I see that the chiefs love honey, +and wish to eat some, we will now go to one of my hives." + +Thus saying, le Bourdon prepared for another march. He moved with +all his appliances, Margery keeping close at his side, carrying the +honey-comb and honey. As the girl walked lightly, in advance of the +Indians, some fifteen or twenty bees, attracted by the flavor of what +she carried, kept circling around her head, and consequently around that +of Boden; and Peter did not fail to observe the circumstance. To him it +appeared as if these bees were so many accompanying agents, who attended +their master in order to do his bidding. In a word, Peter was fast +getting into that frame of mind, when all that is seen is pressed into +the support of the theory we have adopted. The bee-hunter had some +mysterious connection with, and control over the bees, and this was +one among the many other signs of the existence of his power. All this, +however, Boden himself disregarded. His mind was bent on throwing dust +into the eyes of the Indians; and he was cogitating the means of so +doing, on a much larger scale than any yet attempted. + +"Why dem bee fly 'round young squaw?" demanded Peter--"and fly round +you, too?" + +"They know us, and go with us to their hive; just as Injins would come +out of their villages to meet and honor visitors." + +This was a ready reply, but it scarcely satisfied the wily savage to +whom it was given. Just then Crowsfeather led Peter a little aside, +and began talking earnestly to that chief, both continuing on with +the crowd. Le Bourdon felt persuaded that the subject of this private +conference was some of his own former backslidings in the character of +conjuror, and that the Pottawattamie would not deal very tenderly with +his character. Nevertheless, it was too late to retrace his steps, and +he saw the necessity of going on. + +"I wish you had not come out with us," the bee-hunter found an occasion +to say to Margery. "I do not half like the state of things, and this +conjuration about the bees may all fall through." + +"It is better that I should be here, Bourdon," returned the spirited +girl. "My being here may make them less unfriendly to you. When I am by, +Peter always seems more human, and less of a savage, they all tell me, +than when I am not by." + +"No one can be more willing to own your power, Margery, than I; but +Injins hold the squaws too cheap, to give you much influence over this +old fellow." + +"You do not know--he may have had a daughter of about my age, or size, +or appearance; or with my laugh, or voice, or something else that +reminds him of her, when he sees me. One thing I am sure of--Peter is no +enemy of MINE!" + +"I hope this may prove to be true! I do not see, after all, why an Injin +should not have the feelin's you name. He is a man, and must feel for +his wife and children, the same as other--" + +"Bourdon, what ails the dog? Look at the manner in which Hive is +behaving!" + +Sure enough, the appearance of Hive was sufficiently obvious to attract +his master's attention. By this time the crowd had got within twenty +rods of the little island-like copse of wood, the mastiff being nearly +half that distance in advance. Instead of preceding the party, however, +Hive had raised his form in a menacing manner, and moved cautiously +from side to side, like one of his kind that scents a foe. There was no +mistaking these movements; and all the principal chiefs soon had their +attention also drawn to the behavior of the dog. + +"Why he do so?" asked Peter. "He 'fraid of bee, eh?" + +"He waits for me to come up," answered le Bourdon. "Let my brother and +two other chiefs come with me, and let the rest stay here. Bees do not +like crowds. Corporal, I put Margery in your keeping, and Parson Amen +will be near you. I now go to show these chiefs what a bee can tell a +man." + +Thus saying, le Bourdon advanced, followed by Peter, Bear's Meat, and +Crowsfeather. Our hero had made up his mind that something more than +bees were to be found in the thicket; for, the place being a little +marshy, bushes as well as trees were growing on it, and he fully +expected a rencontre with bears, the creatures most disposed to prey on +the labors of the bee--man excepted. Being well armed, and accompanied +by men accustomed to such struggles, he had no apprehensions, and led +the way boldly, feeling the necessity of manifesting perfect confidence +in all his own acts, in order to command the respect of the observers. +As soon as the bee-hunter passed the dog, the latter growled, showed +his teeth fiercely, and followed, keeping closely at his side. The +confidence and alacrity with which le Bourdon moved into the thicket, +compelled his companions to be on the alert; though the first broke +through the belt of hazels which enclosed the more open area within, +a few instants before the Indians reached the place. Then it was that +there arose such a yell, such screechings and cries, as reached far over +the prairie, and might have appalled the stoutest heart. The picture +that was soon offered to the eye was not less terrific than the sounds +which assailed the ear. Hundreds of savages, in their war-paint, armed, +and in a crowded maze, arose as it might be by one effort, seemingly out +of the earth, and began to leap and play their antics amid the +trees. The sudden spectacle of a crowd of such beings, nearly naked, +frightfully painted, and tossing their arms here and there, while +each yelled like a demon, was enough to overcome the nerves of a very +resolute man. But le Bourdon was prepared for a conflict and even felt +relieved rather than alarmed, when he saw the savages. His ready mind at +once conceived the truth. This band belonged to the chiefs, and composed +the whole, or a principal part of the force which he knew they must +have outlying somewhere on the prairies, or in the openings. He had +sufficiently understood the hints of Pigeonswing to be prepared for such +a meeting, and at no time, of late, had he approached a cover, without +remembering the possibility of its containing Indians. + +Instead of betraying alarm, therefore, when this cloud of phantom-like +beings rose before his eyes, le Bourdon stood firm, merely turning +toward the chiefs behind him, to ascertain if they were taken by +surprise, as well as himself. It was apparent that they were; for, +understanding that a medicine-ceremony was to take place on the prairie, +these young men had preceded the party from the hut, and had, ununknown +to all the chiefs, got possession of this copse, as the best available +cover, whence to make their observations on what was going on. + +"My brother sees his young men," said le Bourdon, quietly, the instant a +dead calm had succeeded to the outcries with which he had been greeted. +"I thought he might wish to say something to them, and my bees told me +where to find them. Does my brother wish to know anything else?" + +Great was the wonder of the three chiefs, at this exhibition of medicine +power! So far from suspecting the truth, or of detecting the lucky +coincidence by which le Bourdon had been led to the cover of their +warriors, it all appeared to them to be pure necromancy. Such an art +must be of great service; and how useful it would be to the warrior on +his path, to be accompanied by one who could thus command the vigilance +of the bees. + +"You find enemy all same as friend?" demanded Peter, letting out the +thought that was uppermost, in the question. + +"To be sure. It makes no difference with a bee; he can find an enemy as +easily as he can find a friend.' + +"No whiskey-spring dis time?" put in Crowsfeather, a little +inopportunely, and with a distrust painted in his swarthy face that le +Bourdon did not like. + +"Pottawattamie, you do not understand medicine-men. OUGHT I to have +shown your young men where whiskey was to be had for nothing? Ask +yourself that question. Did you wish to see your young men wallowing +like hogs in such a spring? What would the great medicine-priest of the +pale-faces, who is out yonder, have said to THAT?" + +This was a coup de maitre on the part of the bee-hunter. Until that +moment, the affair of the whiskey-spring had weighed heavily in the +balance against him; but now, it was suddenly changed over in the +scales, and told as strongly in his favor. Even a savage can understand +the morality which teaches men to preserve their reason, and not to +lower themselves to the level of brutes, by swallowing "fire-water"; and +Crowsfeather suddenly saw a motive for regarding our hero with the eyes +of favor, instead of those of distrust and dislike. + +"What the pale-face says is true," observed Peter to his companion. "Had +he opened his spring, your warrior would have been weaker than women. He +is a wonderful medicine-man, and we must not provoke him to anger. How +COULD he know, but through his bees, that our young men were here?" + +This question could not be answered; and when the chiefs, followed by +the whole band of warriors, some three or four hundred in number came +out upon the open prairie, all that had passed was communicated to those +who awaited their return, in a few brief, but clear explanations. Le +Bourdon found a moment to let Margery comprehend his position and views, +while Parson Amen and the corporal were put sufficiently on their guard +not to make any unfortunate blunder. The last was much more easily +managed than the first. So exceedingly sensitive was the conscience +of the priest, that had he clearly understood the game le Bourdon was +playing, he might have revolted at the idea of necromancy, as touching +on the province of evil spirits; but he was so well mystified as to +suppose all that passed was regularly connected with the art of taking +bees. In this respect, he and the Indians equally resembled one of those +familiar pictures, in which we daily see men, in masses, contributing +to their own deception and subjection, while they fondly but blindly +imagine that they are not only inventors, but masters. This trade +of mastery, after all, is the property of a very few minds; and no +precaution of the prudent, no forethought of the wary, nor any expedient +of charters, constitutions, or restrictions, will prevent the few from +placing their feet on the neck of the many. We may revive the fable of +King Log and King Stork, as often, and in as many forms as we will; it +will ever be the fable of King Log and King Stork. We are no admirers +of political aristocracies, as a thousand paragraphs from our pen will +prove; and, as for monarchs, we have long thought they best enact their +parts, when most responsible to opinion; but we cannot deceive ourselves +on the subject of the atrocities that are daily committed by those +who are ever ready to assume the places of both, making their +fellow-creatures in masses their dupes, and using those that they affect +to serve. + +Ben Boden was now a sort of "gouvernement provisoire" among the +wondering savages who surrounded him. He had got them to believe in +necromancy--a very considerable step toward the exercise of despotic +power. It is true, he hardly knew, himself, what was to be done next; +but he saw quite distinctly that he was in a dilemma, and must manage to +get out of it by some means or other. If he could only succeed in this +instance, as well as he had succeeded in his former essay in the black +art, all might be well, and Margery be carried in triumph into the +settlements. Margery, pro haec vice, was his goddess of liberty, and he +asked for no higher reward, than to be permitted to live the remainder +of his days in the sunshine of her smiles. Liberty! a word that is, just +now, in all men's mouths, but in how few hearts in its purity and +truth! What a melancholy mistake, moreover, to suppose that, could it +be enjoyed in that perfection with which the imaginations of men love to +cheat their judgments, it is the great good of life! One hour spent +in humble veneration for the Being that gave it, in common with all of +earth, its vacillating and uncertain existence, is of more account +than ages passed in its service; and he who fancies that in worshipping +liberty, he answers the great end of his existence, hugs a delusion +quite as weak, and infinitely more dangerous, than that which now +came over the minds of Peter and his countrymen, in reference to the +intelligence of the bee. It is a good thing to possess the defective and +qualified freedom, which we term "liberty"; but it is a grave error to +set it up as an idol to be worshipped. + +"What my brother do next?" demanded Bear's Meat, who, being a +somewhat vulgar-minded savage, was all for striking and wonder-working +exhibitions of necromancy. "P'raps he find some honey now?" + +"If you wish it, chief. What says Peter?--shall I ask my bees to tell +where there is a hive?" + +As Peter very readily assented, le Bourdon next set about achieving this +new feat in his art. The reader will recollect that the positions of two +hives were already known to the bee-hunter, by means of that very simple +and every-day process by which he earned his bread. One of these hives +was in the point of wood already mentioned, that lay along the margin of +the prairie; while the other was in this very copse, where the savages +had secreted themselves. Boden had now no thought of giving any further +disturbance to this last-named colony of insects; for an insight into +their existence might disturb the influence obtained by the jugglery of +the late discovery, and he at once turned his attention toward the other +hive indicated by his bees. + +Nor did le Bourdon now deem it necessary to resort to his usual means of +carrying on his trade. These were not necessary to one who knew already +where the hive was to be found, while it opened the way to certain +mummeries that might be made to tell well in support of his assumed +character. Catching a bee, then, and keeping it confined within his +tumbler, Ben held the last to his ear, as if listening to what the +fluttering insect had to say. Having seemingly satisfied himself on this +point, he desired the chiefs once more to follow him, having first let +the bee go, with a good deal of ceremony. This set all in motion again; +the party being now increased by the whole band of savages who had been +"put up" from their cover. + +By this time, Margery began to tremble for the consequences. She had +held several short conferences with le Bourdon, as they walked together, +and had penetrated far enough into his purposes to see that he was +playing a ticklish game. It might succeed for a time, but she feared +it must fail in the end; and there was always the risk of incurring the +summary vengeance of savages. Perhaps she did not fully appreciate +the power of superstition, and the sluggishness of the mind that once +submits to its influence; while her woman's heart made her keenly +alive to all those frightful consequences that must attend an exposure. +Nevertheless, nothing could now be done to avert the consequences. It +was too late to recede, and things must take their course, even at all +the hazards of the case. That she might not be wholly useless, when her +lover was risking so much for herself--Margery well understanding +that her escape was the only serious difficulty the bee-hunter +apprehended--the girl turned all her attention to Peter, in whose favor +she felt that she had been daily growing, and on whose pleasure so much +must depend. Changing her position a little, she now came closer to the +chief than she had hitherto done. + +"Squaw like medicine-man?" asked Peter, with a significance of +expression that raised a blush in Margery's cheek. + +"You mean to ask me if I like to SEE medicine-men perform," answered +Margery, with the readiness of her sex. "White women are always curious, +they say--how is it with the women of the red men?" + +"Juss so--full of cur'osity. Squaw is squaw--no matter what color." + +"I am sorry, Peter, you do not think better of squaws. Perhaps you never +had a squaw--no wife, or daughter?" + +A gleam of powerful feeling shot athwart the dark countenance of the +Indian, resembling the glare of the electric fluid flashing on a cloud +at midnight; but it passed away as quickly as it appeared, leaving +in its stead the hard, condensed expression, which the intensity of +a purpose so long entertained and cultivated, had imprinted there, as +indelibly as if cut in stone. + +"All chief have squaw--all chief have pappoose--" was the answer that +came at last. "What he good for, eh?" + +"It is always good to have children, Peter; especially when the children +themselves are good." + +"Good for pale-face, maybe--no good for Injin. Pale-face glad when +pappoose born--red-skin sorry." + +"I hope this is not so. Why should an Injin be sorry to see the laugh of +his little son?" + +"Laugh when he little--p'raps so; he little, and don't know what happen. +But Injin don't laugh any more when he grow up. Game gone; land gone; +corn-field gone. No more room for Injin--pale-face want all. Pale-face +young man laugh--red-skin young man cry. Dat how it is." + +"Oh! I hope not, Peter! I should be sorry to think it was so. The red +man has as good a right--nay, he has a BETTER right to this country than +we whites; and God forbid that he should not always have his full share +of the land!" + +Margery probably owed her life to that honest, natural burst of feeling, +which was uttered with a warmth and sincerity that could leave no doubt +that the sentiment expressed came from the heart. Thus singularly are we +constructed! A minute before, and no exemption was made in the mind of +Peter, in behalf of this girl, in the plan he had formed for cutting off +the whites; on the contrary, he had often be-thought him of the number +of young pale-faces that might be, as it were, strangled in their +cradles, by including the bee-hunter and his intended squaw in the +contemplated sacrifice. All this was changed, as in the twinkling of an +eye, by Margery's honest and fervent expression of her sense of right, +on the great subject that occupied all of Peter's thoughts. These sudden +impulses in the direction of love for our species, the second of the +high lessons left by the Redeemer to his disciples, are so many proofs +of the creation of man in the image of his maker. They exert their power +often when least expected, and are ever stamped by the same indelible +impression of their divine origin. Without these occasional glimpses at +those qualities which are so apt to lie dormant, we might indeed despair +of the destinies of our race. We are, however, in safe and merciful +hands; and all the wonderful events that are at this moment developing +themselves around us, are no other than the steps taken by Providence +in the progress it is steadily making toward the great and glorious end! +Some of the agencies will be corrupt; others deluded; and no one of them +all, perhaps, will pursue with unerring wisdom the precise path that +ought to be taken; but even the crimes, errors, and delusions, will +be made instrumental in achieving that which was designed before the +foundations of this world were laid! + +"Does my daughter wish this?" returned Peter, when Margery had thus +frankly and sincerely given vent to her feelings. "Can a pale-face squaw +wish to leave an Injin any of his hunting-grounds?" + +"Thousands of us wish it, Peter, and I for one. Often and often have we +talked of this around our family fire, and even Gershom, when his head +has not been affected by fire-water, has thought as we all have thought. +I know that Bourdon thinks so, too; and I have heard him say that he +thought Congress ought to pass a law to prevent white men from getting +any more of the Injin's lands." + +The face of Peter would have been a remarkable study, during the few +moments that his fierce will was in the process of being brought +in subjugation to the influence of his better feelings. At first he +appeared bewildered; then compunction had its shade; and human sympathy +came last, asserting its long dormant, but inextinguishable power. +Margery saw some of this, though it far exceeded her penetration to read +all the workings of that stern and savage mind; yet she felt encouraged +by what she did see and understand. + +While an almighty and divine Providence was thus carrying out its +own gracious designs in its own way, the bee-hunter continued bent on +reaching a similar end by means of his own. Little did he imagine how +much had been done for him within the last few moments, and how +greatly all he had in view was jeoparded and put at risk by his own +contrivances--contrivances which seemed to him so clever, but which were +wanting in the unerring simplicity and truth that render those that come +from above infallible. Still, the expedients of le Bourdon may have had +their agency in bringing about events, and may have been intended to be +a part of that moral machinery, which was now at work in the breast of +Peter, for good. + +It will be remembered that the bee-hunter habitually carried a small +spy-glass, as a part of the implements of his calling. It enabled him +to watch the bees, as they went in and came out of the hives, on the +highest trees, and often saved him hours of fruitless search. This glass +was now in his hand; for an object on a dead tree, that rose a little +apart from those around it, and which stood quite near the extreme point +in the forest, toward which they were all proceeding, had caught his +attention. The distance was still too great to ascertain by the naked +eye what that object was; but a single look with the glass showed +that it was a bear. This was an old enemy of the bee-hunter, who often +encountered the animal, endeavoring to get at the honey, and he had on +divers occasions been obliged to deal with these plunderers, before he +could succeed in his own plans of pilfering. The bear now seen continued +in sight but an instant; the height to which he had clambered being so +great, most probably, as to weary him with the effort, and to compel him +to fall back again. All this was favorable to le Bourdon's wishes, who +immediately called a halt. The first thing that Bourdon did, when all +the dark eyes were gleaming on him in fierce curiosity, was to catch a +bee and hold it to his ear, as it buzzed about in the tumbler. + +"You t'ink dat bee talk?" Peter asked of Margery, in a tone of +confidence, as if a newly-awakened principle now existed between them. + +"Bourdon must think so, Peter," the girl evasively answered, "or he +would hardly listen to hear what it says." + +"It's strange, bee should talk! Almos' as strange as pale-face wish to +leave Injin any land! Sartain, bee talk, eh?" + +"I never heard one talk, Peter, unless it might be in its buzzing. That +may be the tongue of a bee, for anything I know to the contrary." + +By this time le Bourdon seemed to be satisfied, and let the bee go; the +savages murmuring their wonder and admiration. + +"Do my brothers wish to hunt?" asked the bee-hunter in a voice so loud +that all near might hear what he had to say. + +This question produced a movement at once. Skill in hunting, next to +success on the war-path, constitutes the great merit of an Indian; and +it is ever his delight to show that he possesses it. No sooner did le +Bourdon throw out his feeler, therefore, than a general exclamation +proclaimed the readiness of all the young men, in particular, to join in +the chase. + +"Let my brothers come closer," said Ben, in an authoritative manner; +"I have something to put into their ears. They see that point of wood, +where the dead basswood has fallen on the prairie. Near that basswood +is honey, and near that honey are bears. This my bees have told me. Now, +let my brothers divide, and some go into the woods, and some stay on the +prairie; then they will have plenty of sweet food." + +As all this was very simple, and easily to be comprehended, not a moment +was lost in the execution. With surprising order and aptitude, the +chiefs led off their parties; one line of dark warriors penetrating the +forest on the eastern side of the basswood, and another on its western; +while a goodly number scattered themselves on the prairie itself, in its +front. In less than a quarter of an hour, signals came from the forest +that the battue was ready, and Peter gave the answering sign to proceed. + +Down to this moment, doubts existed among the savages concerning the +accuracy of le Bourdon's statement. How was it possible that his bees +should tell him where he could find bears? To be sure, bears were the +great enemies of bees--this every Indian knew--but could the bees have a +faculty of thus arming one enemy against another? These doubts, however, +were soon allayed by the sudden appearance of a drove of bears, eight +or ten in number, that came waddling out of the woods, driven before the +circle of shouting hunters that had been formed within. + +Now commenced a scene of wild tumult and of fierce delight. The +warriors on the prairie retired before their enemies until all of their +associates were clear of the forest, when the circle swiftly closed +again, until it had brought the bears to something like close quarters. +Bear's Meat, as became his appellation, led off the dance, letting fly +an arrow at the nearest animal. Astounded by the great number of their +enemies, and not a little appalled by their yells, the poor quadrupeds +did not know which way to turn. Occasionally, attempts were made to +break through the circle, but the flight of arrows, aimed directly at +their faces, invariably drove the creatures back. Fire-arms were not +resorted to at all in this hunt, spears and arrows being the weapons +depended on. Several ludicrous incidents occurred, but none that were +tragical. One or two of the more reckless of the hunters, ambitious of +shining before the representatives of so many tribes, ran rather greater +risks than were required, but they escaped with a few smart scratches. +In one instance, however, a young Indian had a still narrower SQUEEZE +for his life. Literally a SQUEEZE it was, for, suffering himself to get +within the grasp of a bear, he came near being pressed to death, ere his +companions could dispatch the creature. As for the prisoner, the only +means he had to prevent his being bitten, was to thrust the head of his +spear into the bear's mouth, where he succeeded in holding it, spite of +the animal's efforts to squeeze him into submission. By the time this +combat was terminated, the field was strewn with the slain; every one of +the bears having been killed by hunters so much practised in the art of +destroying game. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + She was an only child--her name Ginevra, + The joy, the pride of an indulgent father; + And in her fifteenth year became a bride, + Marrying an only son, Francesco Dona, + Her playmate from her birth, and her first love. + --ROGERS. + + + During the hunt there was little leisure for reflection on the +seemingly extraordinary manner in which the bee-hunter had pointed out +the spot where the bears were to be found. No one of the Indians had +seen him apply the glass to his eye, for, leading the party, he had been +able to do this unobserved; but, had they witnessed such a procedure, +it would have been as inexplicable as all the rest. It is true, +Crowsfeather and one or two of his companions had taken a look +through that medicine-glass, but it rather contributed to increase +the conjuror's renown, than served to explain any of the marvels he +performed. + +Peter was most struck with all that had just occurred. He had often +heard of the skill of those who hunted bees, and had several times met +with individuals who practised the art, but this was the first occasion +on which he had ever been a witness, in his own person, of the exercise +of a craft so wonderful! Had the process been simply that of catching a +bee, filling it with honey, letting it go, and then following it to its +hive, it would have been so simple as to require no explanation. But +Peter was too intelligent, as well as too observant, not to have seen +that a great deal more than this was necessary. On the supposition that +the bee flew TOWARD the forest, as had been the fact with two of the +bees taken that morning, in what part of that forest was the hunter to +look for the bee-tree? It was the angle that perplexed Peter, as it did +all the Indians; for that angle, to be understood, required a degree +of knowledge and calculation that entirely exceeded all he had ever +acquired. Thus is it with us ever. The powers, and faculties, and +principles that are necessary fully to comprehend all that we see +and all that surrounds us, exist and have been bestowed on man by his +beneficent Creator. Still, it is only by slow degrees that he is to +become their master, acquiring knowledge, step by step, as he has need +of its services, and learns how to use it. Such seems to be the design +of Providence, which is gradually opening to our inquiries the arcana of +nature, in order that we may convert their possession into such uses as +will advance its own wise intentions. Happy are they who feel this truth +in their character of individuals! Thrice happy the nations which can +be made to understand, that the surest progress is that which is made +on the clearest principles, and with the greatest caution! The notion of +setting up anything new in morals, is as fallacious in theory as it will +be found to be dangerous in practice. + +It has been said that a sudden change had come over the fierce purposes +of Peter. For some time, the nature, artlessness, truth, feminine +playfulness and kindness, not to say personal beauty of Margery, had +been gradually softening the heart of this stern savage, as it respected +the girl herself. Nothing of a weak nature was blended with this +feeling, which was purely the growth of that divine principle that is +implanted in us all. The quiet, earnest manner in which the girl +had, that day, protested her desire to see the rights of the red man +respected, completed her conquest; and, so far as the great chief was +concerned, secured her safety. It may seem singular, however, that +Peter, with all his influence, was unable to say that even one that he +was so much disposed to favor, should be spared. By means of his own +eloquence, and perseverance, and deep desire for vengeance, however, he +had aroused a spirit among his followers that was not so easily quelled. +On several occasions, he had found it difficult to prevent the younger +and more impetuous of the chiefs from proceeding at once to secure the +scalps of those who were in their power; and this he had done, only +by promising to increase the number of the victims. How was he then +to lessen that number? and that, too, when circumstances did not seem +likely to throw any more immediately into his power, as he had once +hoped. This council must soon be over, and it would not be in his power +to send the chiefs away without enumerating the scalps of the pale-faces +present among those which were to make up the sum of their race. + +Taking the perplexity produced by the bee-hunter's necromancy, and +adding it to his concern for Margery, Peter found ample subject for +all his reflections. While the young men were dressing their bears, and +making the preparations for a feast, he walked apart, like a man whose +thoughts had little in common with the surrounding scene. Even the +further proceedings of le Bourdon, who had discovered his bee-tree, had +felled it, and was then distributing the honey among the Indians, could +not draw him from his meditations. The great council of all was to be +held that very day--there, on Prairie Round--and it was imperative on +Peter to settle the policy he intended to pursue, previously to the +hour when the fire was to be lighted, and the chiefs met in final +consultation. + +In the mean time, le Bourdon, by his distribution of the honey, no less +than by the manner in which he had found it, was winning golden opinions +of those who shared in his bounty. One would think that the idea of +property is implanted in us by nature, since men in all conditions +appear to entertain strong and distinct notions of this right. Natural +it may not be, in the true signification of the term; but it is a +right so interwoven with those that are derived from nature, and +more particularly with our wants, as almost to identify it with the +individual being. It is certain that all we have of civilization is +dependent on a just protection of this right; for, without the assurance +of enjoying his earnings, who would produce beyond the supply necessary +for his own immediate wants? Among the American savages the rights of +property are distinctly recognized, so far as their habits and resources +extend. The hunting-ground belongs to the tribe, and occasionally the +field; but the wigwam, and the arms, and the skins, both for use and +for market, and often the horses, and all other movables, belong to the +individual. So sacred is this right held to be, that not one of those +who stood by, and saw le Bourdon fell his tree, and who witnessed the +operation of bringing to light its stores of honey, appeared to dream of +meddling with the delicious store, until invited so to do by its lawful +owner. It was this reserve, and this respect for a recognized principle, +that enabled the bee-hunter to purchase a great deal of popularity, +by giving away liberally an article so much prized. None, indeed, was +reserved; Boden seeing the impossibility of carrying it away. Happy +would he have been, most happy, could he have felt the assurance of +being able to get Margery off, without giving a second thought to any of +his effects, whether present or absent. + +As has been intimated, the bee-hunter was fast rising in the favor of +the warriors; particularly of those who had a weakness on the score of +the stomach. This is the first great avenue to the favor of man--the +belly ruling all the other members, the brains included. All this Peter +noted, and was now glad to perceive; for, in addition to the favor that +Margery had found in his eyes, that wary chief had certain very serious +misgivings on the subject of the prudence of attempting to deal harshly +with a medicine man of Boden's calibre. Touching the whiskey-spring he +had been doubtful, from the first; even Crowsfeather's account of +the wonderful glass through which that chief had looked, and seen +men reduced to children and then converted into giants, had failed to +conquer his scepticism; but he was not altogether proof against what he +had that day beheld with his own eyes. These marvels shook his previous +opinion touching the other matters; and, altogether, the effect was to +elevate the bee-hunter to a height, that it really appeared dangerous to +assail. + +While Peter was thus shaken with doubts--and that, too, on a point on +which he had hitherto stood as firm as a rock--there was another in the +crowd, who noted the growing favor of le Bourdon with deep disgust. +This man could hardly be termed a chief, though he possessed a malignant +power that was often wielded to the discomfiture of those who were. He +went by the significant appellation of "The Weasel," a sobriquet that +had been bestowed on him for some supposed resemblance to the little +pilfering, prowling quadruped after which he was thus named. In person, +and in physical qualities generally, this individual was mean and +ill-favored; and squalid habits contributed to render him even less +attractive than he might otherwise have been. He was, moreover, +particularly addicted to intemperance; lying, wallowing like a hog, +for days at a time, whenever his tribe received any of the ample +contribution of fire-water, which it was then more the custom than it is +to-day, to send among the aborigines. A warrior of no renown, a hunter +so indifferent as to compel his squaw and pappooses often to beg for +food in strange lodges, of mean presence, and a drunkard, it may seem +extraordinary that the Weasel should possess any influence amid so many +chiefs renowned for courage, wisdom, deeds in arms, on the hunt, and for +services around the council-fire. It was all due to his tongue. Ungque, +or the Weasel, was eloquent in a high degree--possessing that variety of +his art which most addresses itself to the passions; and, strange as +it may seem, men are oftener and more easily led by those who do little +else than promise, than by those who actually perform. A lying and +fluent tongue becomes a power of itself, with the masses; subverting +reason, looking down justice, brow-beating truth, and otherwise placing +the wrong before the right. This quality the Weasel possessed in a +high degree, and was ever willing to use, on occasions that seemed most +likely to defeat the wishes of those he hated. Among the last was Peter, +whose known ascendancy in his own particular tribe had been a source +of great envy and uneasiness to this Indian. He had struggled hard to +resist it, and had even dared to speak in favor of the pale-faces, +and in opposition to the plan of cutting them all off, purely with a +disposition to oppose this mysterious stranger. It had been in vain, +however; the current running the other way, and the fiery eloquence of +Peter proving too strong even for him. Now, to his surprise, from a few +words dropped casually, this man ascertained that their greatest leader +was disposed so far to relent, as not to destroy ALL the pale-faces in +his power. Whom, and how many he meant to spare, Ungque could not tell; +but his quick, practised discernment detected the general disposition, +and his ruthless tendency to oppose, caused him to cast about for the +means of resisting this sudden inclination to show mercy. With the +Weasel, the moving principle was ever that of the demagogue; it was to +flatter the mass that he might lead it; and he had an innate hostility +to whatever was frank, manly, and noble. + +The time had now come when the Indians wished to be alone. At this +council it was their intention to come to an important decision; +and even the "young men," unless chiefs, were to be merely distant +spectators. Peter sent for le Bourdon, accordingly, and communicated his +wish that all the whites would return to the castle, whither he promised +to join them about the setting of the sun, or early the succeeding day. + +"One of you, you know--dat my wigwam," said the grim chief, smiling on +Margery with a friendly eye, and shaking hands with the bee-hunter, who +thought his manner less constrained than on former similar occasions. +"Get good supper for ole Injin, young squaw; dat juss what squaw good +for." + +Margery laughingly promised to remember his injunction, and went her +way, closely attended by her lover. The corporal followed, armed to the +teeth, and keeping at just such a distance from the young people, +as might enable them to converse without being overheard. As for the +missionary, he was detained a moment by Peter, the others moving slowly, +in order to permit him to come up, ere they had gone their first mile. +Of course, the mysterious chief had not detained Parson Amen without a +motive. + +"My brother has told me many curious things," said Peter, when +alone with the missionary, and speaking now in the language of the +Ojebways--"many very curious things. I like to listen to them. Once he +told me how the pale-face young men take their squaws." + +"I remember to have told you this. We ask the Great Spirit to bless our +marriages, and the ceremony is commonly performed by a priest. This is +our practice, Peter; though not necessary, I think it good." + +"Yes; good alway for pale-face to do pale-face fashion, and for Injin +to do Injin fashion. Don't want medicine-man to get red-skin squaw. Open +wigwam door, and she come in. Dat 'nough. If she don't wish to come +in, can't make her. Squaw go to warrior she likes; warrior ask squaw +he likes. But it is best for pale-face to take his wife in pale-face +fashion. Does not my brother see a young man of his people, and a young +maiden, that he had better bring together and bless?" + +"You must mean Bourdon and Margery," answered the missionary, in +English, after a moment's reflection. "The idea is a new one to me; +for my mind has been much occuoccupied of late, with other and more +important matters; though I now plainly see what you mean!" + +"That flower of the Openings would soon fade, if the young bee-hunter +should leave it alone on the prairies. This is the will of the Great +Spirit. He puts it into the minds of the young squaws to see all things +well that the hunters of their fancy do. Why he has made the young with +this kindness for each other, perhaps my brother knows. He is wise, and +has books. The poor Injins have none. They can see only with the eyes +they got from Injins, like themselves. But one thing they know. What the +Great Spirit has commanded, is good. Injins can't make it any better. +They can do it harm, but they can do it no good. Let my brother bless +the couple that the Manitou has brought together." + +"I believe I understand you. Peter, and will think of this. And now that +I must leave you for a little while, let me beg you to think of this +matter of the origin of your tribes, candidly, and with care. Everything +depends on your people's not mistaking the truth, in this great matter. +It is as necessary for a nation to know its duties, as for a single man. +Promise me to think of this, Peter." + +"My brother's words have come into my ears--they are good," returned +the Indian, courteously. "We will think of them at the council, if my +brother will bless his young man and young maiden, according to the law +of his people." + +"I will promise to do this, Peter; or to urge Bourdon and Margery to do +it, if you will promise to speak to-day, in council, of the history of +your forefathers, and to take into consideration, once more, the great +question of your being Hebrews." + +"I will speak as my brother wishes--let him do as I wish. Let him tell +me that I can say to the chiefs before the sun has fallen the length +of my arm, that the young pale-face bee-hunter has taken the young +pale-face squaw into his wigwam." + +"I do not understand your motive, Peter; but that which you ask is wise, +and according to God's laws, and it shall be done. Fare you well, then, +for a season. When we again meet, Bourdon and Margery shall be one, if +my persuasions can prevail, and you will have pressed this matter of the +lost tribes, again, home to your people. Fare you well, Peter; fare you +well." + +They separated; the Indian with a cold smile of courtesy, but with his +ruthless intentions as respected the missionary in no degree changed. +Boden and Margery alone were exempt from vengeance, according to his +present designs. An unaccountable gentleness of feeling governed him, as +connected with the girl; while superstition, and the dread of an unknown +power, had its full influence on his determination to spare her lover. +There might be some faint ray of human feeling glimmering among the +fierce fires that so steadily burned in the breast of this savage; but +they were so much eclipsed by the brighter light that gleamed around +them, as to be barely perceptible, even to himself. The result of all +these passions was, a determination in Peter to spare those whom he had +advised the missionary to unite--making that union a mysterious argument +in favor of Margery--and to sacrifice all the rest. The red American +is so much accustomed to this species of ruthless proceeding, that the +anguish he might occasion the very beings to whom he now wished to be +merciful, gave the stern chief very little concern. Leaving the Indians +in the exclusive possession of Prairie Round, we will return to the rest +of the party. + +The missionary hastened after his friends as fast as he could go. Boden +and Margery had much to say to each other in that walk, which had a +great deal about it to bring their thoughts within the circle of their +own existence. As has been said, the fire had run through that region +late, and the grasses were still young, offering but little impediment +to their movements. As the day was now near its heat, le Bourdon led his +spirited, but gentle companion, through the groves, where they had the +benefit of a most delicious shade, a relief that was now getting to be +very grateful. Twice had they stopped to drink at cool, clear springs, +in which the water seemed to vie with the air in transparency. As this +is not the general character of the water of that region, though marked +exceptions exist, Margery insisted that the water was eastern and not +western water. + +"Why do we always think the things we had in childhood better than +those we enjoy afterward?" asked Margery, after making one of these +comparisons, somewhat to the disadvantage of the part of the country in +which she then was. "I can scarce ever think of home--what I call home, +and which was so long a home to me--without shedding tears. Nothing here +seems as good of its kind as what I have left behind me. Do you have the +same longings for Pennsylvania that I feel for the sea-coast and for the +rocks about Quincy?" + +"Sometimes. When I have been quite alone for two or three months, I have +fancied that an apple, or a potato, or even a glass of cider that came +from the spot where I was born, would be sweeter than all the honey bees +ever gathered in Michigan." + +"To me it has always seemed strange, Bourdon, that one of your kind +feelings should ever wish to live alone, at all; yet I have heard you +say that a love of solitude first drew you to your trade." + +"It is these strong cases which get a man under, as it might be, and +almost alter his nature. One man will pass his days in hunting deer; +another in catching fish; my taste has been for the bees, and for such +chances with other creatures as may offer. What between hunting, and +hiving, and getting the honey to market, I have very little time to long +for company. But my taste is altering, Margery; HAS altered." + +The girl blushed, but she also smiled, and, moreover, she looked +pleased. + +"I am afraid that you are not as much altered as you think," she +answered, laughingly, however. "It may seem so now; but when you come to +LIVE in the settlements again, you will get tired of crowds." + +"Then I will come with you, Margery, into these Openings, and we can +live TOGETHER here, surely, as well, or far better than I can live here +ALONE. You and Gershom's wife have spoiled my housekeeping. I really did +not know, until you came up here, how much a woman can do in a chiente. + +"Why, Bourdon, you have lived long enough in the settlements to know +THAT!" + +"That is true; but I look upon the settlements as one thing, and on the +Openings as another. What will do there isn't needed here; and what +will do here won't answer there. But these last few days have so changed +Castle Meal, that I hardly know it myself." + +"Perhaps the change is for the worse, and you wish it undone, Bourdon," +observed the girl, in the longing she had to hear an assurance to the +contrary, at the very moment she felt certain that assurance would be +given. + +"No, no, Margery. Woman has taken possession of my cabin, and woman +shall now always command there, unless you alter your mind, and refuse +to have me. I shall speak to the missionary to marry us, as soon as I +can get him alone. His mind is running so much on the Jews, that he has +hardly a moment left for us Christians." + +The color on Margery's cheek was not lessened by this declaration; +though, to admit the truth, she looked none the less pleased. She was a +warm-hearted and generous girl, and sometimes hesitated about separating +herself and her fortunes from those of Gershom and Dorothy; but the +bee-hunter had persuaded her this would be unnecessary, though she did +accept him for a husband. The point had been settled between them on +previous occasions, and much conversation had already passed, in that +very walk, which was confined to that interesting subject. But Margery +was not now disposed to say more, and she adroitly improved the hint +thrown out by Boden, to change the discourse. + +"It is the strangest notion I ever heard of," she cried, laughing, "to +believe Injins to be Jews!" + +"He tells me he is by no means the first who has fancied it. Many +writers have said as much before him, and all he claims is, to have been +among them, and to have seen these Hebrews with his own eyes. But here +he comes, and can answer for himself." + +Just as this was said, Parson Amen joined the party, Corporal Flint +closing to the front, as delicacy no longer required him to act as a +rear-guard. The good missionary came up a little heated; and, in order +that he might have time to cool himself, the rate of movement was +slightly reduced. In the mean time the conversation did not the less +proceed. + +"We were talking of the lost tribes," said Margery, half smiling as she +spoke, "and of your idea, Mr. Amen, that these Injins are Jews. It seems +strange to me that they should have lost so much of their ancient ways, +and notions, and appearances, if they are really the people you think." + +"Lost! It is rather wonderful that, after the lapse of two thousand +years and more, so much should remain. Whichever way I look, signs of +these people's origin beset me. You have read your Bible, Margery--which +I am sorry to say all on this frontier have not--but you have read your +Bible, and one can make an allusion to you with some satisfaction. Now, +let me ask you if you remember such a thing as the scape-goat of the +ancient Jews. It is to be found in Leviticus, and is one of those +mysterious customs with which that extraordinary book is full." + +"Leviticus is a book I never read but once, for we do not read it in our +New England schools. But I do remember that the Jews were commanded to +let one of two goats go, from which practice it has, I believe, been +called a scape-goat." + +"Well," said le Bourdon, simply, "what a thing is 'l'arnin'!' Now, this +is all news to me, though I have heard of 'scape-goats,' and TALKED of +'scape-goats' a thousand times! There's a meanin' to everything, I find; +and I do not look upon this idea of the lost tribes as half as strange +as I did before I l'arnt this!" + +Margery had not fallen in love with the bee-hunter for his biblical +knowledge, else might her greater information have received a rude shock +by this mark of simplicity; but instead of dwelling on this proof of le +Bourdon's want of "schooling," her active mind was more disposed to push +the allusion to scape-goats to some useful conclusion. + +"And what of the goat, Mr. Amen?" she asked; "and how can it belong to +anything here?" + +"Why were all those goats turned into the woods and deserts, in the +olden time, Margery? Doubtless to provide food for the ten tribes, when +these should be driven forth by conquerors and hard task-masters. Time, +and climate, and a difference of food, has altered them, as they have +changed the Jews themselves, though they still retain the cleft hoof, +the horns, the habits, and the general characteristics of the goats of +Arabia. Yes; naturalists will find in the end, that the varieties of the +deer of this continent, particularly the antelope, are nothing but +the scape-goats of the ancient world, altered and perhaps improved by +circumstances." + +As this was much the highest flight the good missionary had ever yet +taken, not trifling was the astonishment of his young friends thereat. +Touching the Jews, le Bourdon did not pretend to, or in fact did not +possess much knowledge; but when the question was reduced down to one +of venison, or bears' meat, or bisons' humps, with the exception of the +professed hunters and trappers, few knew more about them all than he did +himself. That the deer, or even the antelopes of America ever had been +goats, he did not believe; nor was he at all backward in letting his +dissent to such a theory be known. + +"I'm sorry, Parson Amen, you've brought in the deer," he cried. "Had +you stuck to the Jews, I might have believed all that you fancy, in +this business; but the deer have spoiled all. As for scape-goats, since +Margery seems to agree with you, I suppose you are right about THEM +though my notion of such creatures has been to keep clear of them, +instead of following them up, as you seem to think these Hebrews have +done. But if you are no nearer right in your doctrine about the Injins +than you are about their game, you'll have to change your religion." + +"Do not think that my religion depends on any thread so slight, Bourdon. +A man may be mistaken in interpreting prophecy, and still be a devout +Christian. There are more reasons than you may at first suppose, for +believing in this theory of the gradual change of the goat into the +deer, and especially into the antelope. We do not any of us believe that +Noah had with him, in the ark, all the animals that are now to be found, +but merely the parent-stems, in each particular case, which would be +reducing the number many fold. If all men came from Adam, Bourdon, why +could not all deer come from goats?" + +"Why this matter about men has a good deal puzzled me, Parson, and I +hardly know what answer to give. Still, men are men, wherever you find +them. They may be lighter or darker, taller or shorter, with hair or +wool, and yet you can see they are MEN. Perhaps food, and climate, and +manner of living, may have made all the changes we see in them; but +Lord, Parson, a goat has a beard!" + +"What has become of the thousands of scape-goats that the ancient +Hebrews must have turned loose in the wilderness? Answer me that, +Bourdon?" + +"You might as well ask me, sir, what has become of the thousands of +Hebrews who turned them loose. I suppose all must be dead a thousand +years ago. Scape-goats are creatures that even Injins would not like." + +"All this is a great mystery, Bourdon--a much greater mystery than our +friend Peter, whom you have so often said was a man so unaccountable. By +the way, he has given me a charge to perform an office between you and +Margery, that I had almost forgotten. From what he said to me, I rather +think it may have some connection with our safety. We have enemies among +these savages, I feel very certain; though I believe we have also warm +friends." + +"But what have you in charge that has anything to do with Bourdon +and me?" asked the wondering Margery, who was quick to observe the +connection, though utterly at a loss to comprehend it. + +The missionary now called a halt, and finding convenient seats, he +gradually opened the subject with which he had been charged by Peter to +his companions. The reader is probably prepared to learn that there was +no longer any reserve between le Bourdon and Margery on the subject of +their future marriage. The young man had already pressed an immediate +union, as the wisest and safest course to be pursued. Although the +savage American is little addicted to abusing his power over female +captives, and seldom takes into his lodge an unwilling squaw, the +bee-hunter had experienced a good deal of uneasiness on the score of +what might befall his betrothed. Margery was sufficiently beautiful +to attract attention, even in a town; and more than one fierce-looking +warrior had betrayed his admiration that very day, though it was in a +very Indian-like fashion. Rhapsody, and gallant speeches, and sonnets, +form no part of Indian courtship; but the language of admiration is +so very universal, through the eyes, that it is sufficiently easy of +comprehension. It was possible that some chief, whose band was too +formidable to be opposed, might take it into his head to wish to see a +pale-face squaw in his wigwam; and, while it was not usual to do much +violence to a female's inclinations on such occasions, it was not common +to offer much opposition to those of a powerful warrior. The married +tie, if it could be said to exist at all, however, was much respected; +and it was far less likely that Margery, a wife, would thus be +appropriated, than Margery, unmarried. It is true, cases of unscrupulous +exercise of power are to be found among Indians, as well as among +civilized men, but they are rare, and usually are much condemned. + +The bee-hunter, consequently, was well disposed to second Peter's +project. As for Margery herself, she had half yielded all her objections +to her lover's unaided arguments, and was partly conquered before this +reinforcement was brought into the field against her. Peter's motive was +much canvassed, no one of them all being able to penetrate it. Boden, +however, had his private opinion on the subject, nor was it so very much +out of the way. He fancied that the mysterious chief was well disposed +to Margery, and wished to put her as far as possible beyond the chances +of an Indian wigwam; marriage being the step of all others most likely +to afford her this protection. Now this was not exactly true, but it was +right enough in the main. Peter's aim was to save the life of the girl; +her gentle attractions, and kind attentions to himself having wrought +this much in her favor; and he believed no means of doing so as +certain as forming a close connection for her with the great +medicine-bee-hunter. Judging of them by himself, he did not think the +Indians would dare to include so great a conjurer in their schemes +of vengeance, and was willing himself that le Bourdon should escape, +provided Margery could go free and unharmed with him. As for the +bee-hunter's powers, he had many misgivings; they might be dangerous to +the red men, and they might not. On this subject, he was in the painful +doubts of ignorance, and had the wide area of conjecture open before his +mind. He saw; but it was "as in a glass, darkly." + +Margery was disposed to delay the ceremony, at least until her brother +and sister might be present. But to this le Bourdon himself was not +much inclined. It had struck him that Gershom was opposed to an early +marriage, most probably because he fancied himself more secure of +the bee-hunter's ingenious and important aid in getting back to the +settlements, so long as this strong inducement existed to cling to +himself, than if he should release his own hold of Margery, by giving +her at once to her lover. Right or wrong, such was the impression taken +up by le Bourdon, and he was glad when the missionary urged his request +to be permitted to pronounce the nuptial benediction on the spot. + +Little ceremony is generally used in an American marriage. In a vast +many cases no clergyman is employed at all; and where there is, most +of the sects have no ring, no giving away, nor any of those observances +which were practised in the churches of old. There existed no +impediment, therefore; and after a decent interval spent in persuasions, +Margery consented to plight her vows to the man of her heart before they +left the spot. She would fain have had Dorothy present, for woman loves +to lean on her own sex on such occasions, but submitted to the necessity +of proceeding at once, as the bee-hunter and the missionary chose to +term it. + +A better altar could not have been selected in all that vast region. It +was one of nature's own erecting; and le Bourdon and his pretty bride +placed themselves before it, with feelings suited to the solemnity of +the occasion. The good missionary stood within the shade of a burr oak +in the centre of those park-like Openings, every object looking fresh, +and smiling, and beautiful. The sward was gieen, and short as that of +a well-tended lawn; the flowers were, like the bride herself, soft, +modest, and sweet; while charming rural vistas stretched through the +trees, much as if art had been summoned in aid of the great mistress who +had designed the landscape. When the parties knelt in prayer--which all +present did, not excepting the worthy corporal--it was on the verdant +ground, with first the branches of the trees, and then the deep, +fathomless vault of heaven for a canopy. In this manner was the marriage +benediction pronounced on the bee-hunter and Margery Waring, in the +venerable Oak Openings. No gothic structure, with its fretted aisles and +clustered columns, could have been onehalf as appropriate for the union +of such a couple. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + + No shrift the gloomy savage brooks, + As scowling on the priest he looks; + Cowesass--cowesass--tawkich wessasseen! + Let my father look on Bornazeen-- + My father's heart is the heart of a squaw, + But mine is so hard that it does not thaw, + --WHITTIER. + + +Leaving the newly-married couple to pursue their way homeward, it is now +our province to return to Prairie Round. One accustomed to such +scenes would easily have detected the signs of divided opinions and of +agitating doubts among the chiefs, though nothing like contention or +dispute had yet manifested itself. Peter's control was still in the +ascendant, and he had neglected none of his usual means of securing +influence. Perhaps he labored so much the harder, from the circumstance +that he now found himself so situated, as to be compelled to undo much +that he had previously done. + +On the other hand, Ungque appeared to have no particular cause of +concern. His manner was as much unoccupied as usual; and to his habit of +referring all his influence to sudden and powerful bursts of eloquence, +if design of any sort was entertained, he left his success. + +We pass over the details of assembling the council. The spot was not +exactly on the prairie, but in a bit of lovely "Opening" on its margin, +where the eye could roam over a wide extent of that peculiar natural +meadow, while the body enjoyed the shades of the wood. The chiefs alone +were in the circle, while the "braves" and the "young men" generally +formed a group on the outside; near enough to hear what passed, and to +profit by it, if so disposed. The pipe was smoked, and all the ordinary +customs observed, when Bear's Meat arose, the first speaker on that +momentous occasion. + +"Brothers," he said, "this is the great council on Prairie Round to +which we have been called. We have met before, but not here. This is our +first meeting here. We have travelled a long path to get here. Some +of our brethren have travelled farther. They are at Detroit. They went +there to meet our great Canada father, and to take Yankee scalps. How +many scalps they have taken I do not know, or I would tell you. It is +pleasant to me to count Yankee scalps. I would rather count them, than +count the scalps of red men. There are still a great many left. The +Yankees are many, and each Yankee has a scalp. There should not be so +many. When the buffaloes came in the largest droves, our fathers used to +go out to hunt them in the strongest parties. Their sons should do the +same. We are the sons of those fathers. They say we look like them, talk +like them, live like them--we should ACT like them. Let another speak, +for I have done." + +After this brief address, which bore some resemblance to a chairman's +calling a meeting of civilized men to order, there was more smoking. +It was fully expected that Peter would next arise, but he did not. +Perceiving this, and willing to allow time to that great chief to +arrange his thoughts, Crowsfeather assumed the office of filling the +gap. He was far more of a warrior than of an orator, and was listened +to respectfully, but less for what he said, than for what he had done. +A good deal of Indian boasting, quite naturally, was blended with HIS +discourse. + +"My brother has told you of the Yankee scalps," he commenced. "He says +they are many. He says there ought to be fewer. He did not remember who +sat so near him. Perhaps he does not know that there are three less now +than there were a moon since. Crowsfeather took three at Chicago. Many +scalps were taken there. The Yankees must be plentier than the buffaloes +on the great prairies, if they can lose so many scalps often, and send +forth their warriors. I am a Pottawattamie. My brothers know that tribe. +It is not a tribe of Jews, but a tribe of Injins. It is a great tribe. +It never was LOST. It CANNOT be lost. No tribe better knows all the +paths, and all the best routes to every point where it wishes to go. +It is foolish to say you can lose a Pottawattamie. A duck would be +as likely to lose itself as a Pottawattamie. I do not speak for the +Ottawas: I speak for the Pottawattamies. We are not Jews. We do not wish +to be Jews; and what we do not wish to be, we will not be. Our father +who has come so far to tell us that we are not Injins, but Jews, is +mistaken. I never heard of these Jews before. I do not wish to hear of +them again. When a man has heard enough, he does not keep his ears +open willingly. It is then best for the speaker to sit down. The +Pottawattamies have shut their ears to the great medicine-priest of the +pale-faces. What he says may be true of other tribes, but it is not true +of the Pottawatttamies. We are not lost; we are not Jews. I have done." + +This speech was received with general favor. The notion that the Indians +were not Indians, but Jews, was far from being agreeable to those +who had heard what had been said on the subject; and the opinions of +Crowsfeather possessed the great advantage of reflecting the common +sentiment on this interesting subject. When this is the case, a very +little eloquence or logic goes a great way; and, on the whole, the +address of the last speaker was somewhat better received than that of +the first. + +It was now confidently believed that Peter would rise. But he did +not. That mysterious chief was not yet prepared to speak, or he was +judiciously exciting expectation by keeping back. There were at least +ten minutes of silent smoking, ere a chief, whose name rendered into +English was Bough of the Oak, arose, evidently with a desire to help +the time along. Taking his cue from the success of Crows-feather, he +followed up the advantage obtained by that chief, assailing the theory +of the missionary from another quarter. + +"I am an Injin," said Bough of the Oak; "my father was an Injin, and my +mother was the daughter of an Injin. All my fathers were red men, +and all their sons. Why should I wish to be anything else? I asked my +brother, the medicine-priest, and he owned that Jews are pale-faces. +This he should not have owned if he wished the Injins to be Jews. My +skin is red. The Manitou of my fathers so painted it, and their child +will not try to wash out the color. Were the color washed out of my +face, I should be a pale-face! There would not be paint enough to hide +my shame. No; I was born red, and will die a red man. It is not good to +have two faces. An Injin is not a snake, to cast his skin. The skin in +which he was born he keeps. He plays in it when a child; he goes in it +to his first hunt; the bears and the deer know him by it; he carries it +with him on the warpath, and his enemies tremble at the sight of it; his +squaw knows him by that skin when he comes back to his wigwam; and when +he dies, he is put aside in the same skin in--which he was born. There +is but one skin, and it has but one color. At first, it is little. The +pappoose that wears it is little. There is not need of a large skin. +But it grows with the pappoose, and the biggest warrior finds his skin +around him. This is because the Great Spirit fitted it to him. Whatever +the Manitou does is good. + +"My brothers have squaws--they have pappooses. When the pappoose is put +into their arms, do they get the paint-stones, and paint it red? They do +not. It is not necessary. The Manitou painted it red before it was born. +How this was done I do not know. I am nothing but a poor Injin, and only +know what I see. I have seen that the pappooses are red when they are +born, and that the warriors are red when they die. They are also +red while living. It is enough. Their fathers could never have been +pale-faces, or we should find some white spots on their children. There +are none. + +"Crowsfeather has spoken of the Jews as lost. I am not surprised to hear +it. It seems to me that all pale-faces get lost. They wander from +their own hunting-grounds into those of other people. It is not so with +Injins. The Pottawattamie does not kill the deer of the Iowa, nor the +Ottawa the deer of the Menomenees. Each tribe knows its own game. This +is because they are not lost. My pale-face father appears to wish us +well. He has come on a long and weary path to tell us about his Manitou. +For this I thank him. I thank all who wish to do me good. Them that wish +to do me harm I strike from behind. It is our Injin custom. I do not +wish to hurt the medicine-priest, because I think he wishes to do me +good, and not to do me harm. He has a strange law. It is to do good to +them that do harm to you. It is not the law of the red men. It is not +good law. I do not wonder that the tribes which follow such a law get +lost. They cannot tell their friends from their enemies. They can have +no people to scalp. What is a warrior if he cannot find someone to +scalp? No; such a law would make women of the bravest braves in the +Openings, or on the prairie. It may be a good law for Jews, who get +lost; but it is a bad law for Injins, who know the paths they travel. +Let another speak." + +This brief profession of faith, on the subject that had been so recently +broached in the council, seemed to give infinite satisfaction. All +present evidently preferred being red men, who knew where they were, +than to be pale-faces who had lost their road. Ignorance of his path is +a species of disgrace to an American savage, and not a man there would +have confessed that his particular division of the great human family +was in that dilemma. The idea that the Yankees were "lost," and had got +materially astray, was very grateful to most who heard it; and Bough of +the Oak gained a considerable reputation as an orator, in consequence of +the lucky hits made on this occasion. + +Another long, ruminating pause, and much passing of the pipe of peace +succeeded. It was near half an hour after the last speaker had resumed +his seat, ere Peter stood erect. In that long interval expectation had +time to increase, and curiosity to augment itself. Nothing but a very +great event could cause this pondering, this deliberation, and this +unwillingness to begin. When, however, the time did come for the +mysterious chief to speak, the man of many scalps to open his mouth, +profound was the attention that prevailed among all present. Even after +he had arisen, the orator stood silently looking around him, as if the +throes of his thoughts had to be a little suppressed before he could +trust his tongue to give them utterance. + +"What is the earth?" commenced Peter, in a deep, guttural tone of voice, +which the death-like stillness rendered audible even to the outermost +boundaries of the circle of admiring and curious countenances. "It is +one plain adjoining another; river after river; lake after lake; prairie +touching prairie; and pleasant woods, that seem to have no limits, all +given to men to dwell in. It would seem that the Great Spirit parcelled +out this rich possession into hunting-grounds for all. He colored men +differently. His dearest children he painted red, which is his own +color. Them that he loved less he colored less, and they had red only in +spots. Them he loved least he dipped in a dark dye, and left them black. +These are the colors of men. If there are more, I have not seen them. +Some say there are. I shall think so, too, when I see them. + +"Brothers, this talk about lost tribes is a foolish talk. We are not +lost. We know where we are, and we know where the Yankees have come to +seek us. My brother has well spoken. If any are lost, it is the Yankees. +The Yankees are Jews; they are lost. The time is near when they will be +found, and when they will again turn their eyes toward the rising sun. +They have looked so long toward the setting sun, that they cannot see +clearly. It is not good to look too long at the same object. The Yankees +have looked at our hunting-grounds, until their eyes are dim. They see +the hunting-grounds, but they do not see all the warriors that are in +them. In time, they will learn to count them. + +"Brothers, when the Great Spirit made man, he put him to live on the +earth. Our traditions do not agree in saying of what he was made. +Some say it was of clay, and that when his spirit starts for the happy +hunting-grounds, his body becomes clay again. I do not say that this is +so, for I do not know. It is not good to say that which we do not +know to be true. I wish to speak only the truth. This we do know. If a +warrior die, and we put him in the earth, and come to look for him many +years afterward, nothing but bones are found. All else is gone. I have +heard old men say that, in time, even these bones are not to be found. +It is so with trees; it may be so with men. But it is not so with +hunting-grounds. They were made to last forever. + +"Brothers, you know why we have come together on this prairie. It was +to count the pale-faces, and to think of the way of making their number +less. Now is a good time for such a thing. They have dug up the hatchet +against each other, and when we hear of scalps taken among them, it +is good for the red men. I do not think our Canada father is more our +friend than the great Yankee, Uncle Sam. It is true, he gives us more +powder, and blankets, and tomahawks, and rifles than the Yankee, but it +is to get us to fight his battles. We will fight his battles. They are +our battles, too. For this reason we will fight his enemies. + +"Brothers, it is time to think of our children. A wise chief once told +me how many winters it is since a pale-face was first seen among red +men. It was not a great while ago. Injins are living who have seen +Injins, whose own fathers saw the first pale-faces. They were few. +They were like little children, then; but now they are grown to be men. +Medicine-men are plenty among them, and tell them how to raise children. +The Injins do not understand this. Small-pox, fire-water, bad hunting, +and frosts, keep us poor, and keep our children from growing as fast as +the children of the pale-faces. Brothers, all this has happened within +the lives of three aged chiefs. One told to another, and he told it to a +third. Three chiefs have kept that tradition. They have given it to +me. I have cut notches on this stick (holding up a piece of ash, neatly +trimmed, as a record) for the winters they told me, and every winter +since I have cut one more. See; there are not many notches. Some of our +people say that the pale-faces are already plentier than leaves on the +trees. I do not believe this. These notches tell us differently. It is +true the pale-faces grow fast, and have many children, and small-pox +does not kill many of them, and their wars are few; but look at this +stick. Could a canoe-full of men become as many as they say, in so few +winters? No; it is not so. The stories we have heard are not true. A +crooked tongue first told them. We are strong enough still to drive +these strangers into the great salt lake, and get back all our +hunting-grounds. This is what I wish to have done. + +"Brothers, I have taken many scalps. This stick will tell the number." +Here one of those terrible gleams of ferocity to which we have before +alluded, passed athwart the dark countenance of the speaker, causing +all present to feel a deeper sympathy in the thoughts he would express. +"There are many. Every one has come from the head of a pale-face. It is +now twenty winters since I took the scalp of a red man. I shall never +take another. We want all of our own warriors, to drive back the +strangers. + +"Brothers, some Injins tell us of different tribes. They talk about +distant tribes as strangers. I tell you we are all children of the same +father. All our skins are red. I see no difference between an Ojebway, +and a Sac, or a Sioux. I love even a Cherokee." Here very decided signs +of dissatisfaction were manifested by several of the listeners; parties +of the tribes of the great lakes having actually marched as far as +the Gulf of Mexico to make war on the Indians of that region, who were +generally hated by them with the most intense hatred. "He has the blood +of our fathers in him. We are brothers, and should live together as +brothers. If we want scalps, the pale-faces have plenty. It is sweet to +take the scalp of a pale-face. I know it. My hand has done it often, +and will do it again. If every Injin had taken as many scalps as I have +taken, few of these strangers would now remain. + +"Brothers, one thing more I have to say. I wish to hear others, and will +not tell all I know this time. One thing more I have to say, and I +now say it. I have told you that we must take the scalps of all the +pale-faces who are now near us. I thought there would have been more, +but the rest do not come. Perhaps they are frightened. There are only +six. Six scalps are not many. I am sorry they are so few. But we can go +where there will be more. One of these six is a medicine-man. I do not +know what to think. It may be good to take his scalp. It may be bad. +Medicine-men have great power. You have seen what this bee-hunter can +do. He knows how to talk with bees. Them little insects can fly into +small places, and see things that Injins cannot see. The Great Spirit +made them so. When we get back all the land, we shall get the bees with +it, and may then hold a council to say what it is best to do with them. +Until we know more, I do not wish to touch the scalp of that bee-hunter. +It may do us great harm. I knew a medicine-man of the pale-faces to lose +his scalp, and small-pox took off half the band that made him prisoner +and killed him. It is not good to meddle with medicine-men. A few days +ago, and I wanted this young man's scalp, very much. Now, I do not want +it. It may do us harm to touch it. I wish to let him go, and to take his +squaw with him. The rest we can scalp." + +Peter cunningly made no allusion to Margery, until just before he +resumed his seat, though now deeply interested in her safety. As for le +Bourdon, so profound was the impression he had made that morning, that +few of the chiefs were surprised at the exemption proposed in his favor. +The superstitious dread of witchcraft is very general among the American +savages; and it certainly did seem to be hazardous to plot the death +of a man, who had even the bees that were humming on all sides of them +under his control. He might at that very moment be acquainted with all +that was passing; and several of the grim-looking and veteran warriors +who sat in the circle, and who appeared to be men able and willing to +encounter aught human, did not fail to remember the probability of a +medicine-man's knowing who were his friends, and who his enemies. + +When Peter sat down, there was but one man in the circle of chiefs who +was resolved to oppose his design of placing Boden and Margery without +the pale of the condemned. Several were undecided, scarce knowing what +to think of so sudden and strange a proposition, but could not be said +to have absolutely adhered to the original scheme of cutting off all. +The exception was Ungque. This man--a chief by a sort of sufferance, +rather than as a right--was deadly hostile to Peter's influence, as has +been said, and was inclined to oppose all his plans, though compelled by +policy to be exceedingly cautious how he did it. Here, however, was an +excellent opportunity to strike a blow, and he was determined not to +neglect it. Still, so wily was this Indian, so much accustomed to put a +restraint on his passions and wishes, that he did not immediately arise, +with the impetuous ardor of frank impulses, to make his reply, but +awaited his time. + +An Indian is but a man, after all, and is liable to his weaknesses, +notwithstanding the self-command he obtains by severe drilling. Bough of +the Oak was to supply a proof of this truth. He had been so unexpectedly +successful in his late attempt at eloquence, that it was not easy to +keep him off his feet, now that another good occasion to exhibit his +powers offered. He was accordingly the next to speak. + +"My brothers," said Bough of the Oak, "I am named after a tree. You all +know that tree. It is not good for bows or arrows; it is not good for +canoes; it does not make the best fire, though it will burn, and is hot +when well lighted. There are many things for which the tree after which +I am named is not good. It is not good to eat. It has no sap that Injins +can drink, like the maple. It does not make good brooms. But it has +branches like other trees, and they are tough. Tough branches are good. +The boughs of the oak will not bend, like the boughs of the willow, or +the boughs of the ash, or the boughs of the hickory. + +"Brothers, I am a bough of the oak. I do not like to bend. When my mind +is made up, I wish to keep it where it was first put. My mind has been +made up to take the scalps of ALL the pale-faces who are now in the +Openings. I do not want to change it. My mind can break, but it can not +bend. It is tough." + +Having uttered this brief but sententious account of his view of the +matter at issue, the chief resumed his seat, reasonably well satisfied +with this, his second attempt to be eloquent that day. His success +this time was not as unequivocal as on the former occasion, but it +was respectable. Several of the chiefs saw a reasonable, if not a very +logical analogy, between a man's name and his mind; and to them it +appeared a tolerably fair inference that a man should act up to his +name. If his name was tough, he ought to be tough, too. In this it does +not strike us that they argued very differently from civilized beings, +who are only too apt to do that which their better judgments really +condemn, because they think they are acting "in character," as it is +termed. + +Ungque was both surprised and delighted with this unexpected support +from Bough of the Oak. He knew enough of human nature to understand +that a new-born ambition, that of talking against the great, mysterious +chief, Peter, was at the bottom of this unexpected opposition; but +with this he was pleased, rather than otherwise. An opposition that +is founded in reason, may always be reasoned down, if reasons exist +therefor; but an opposition that has its rise in any of the passions, +is usually somewhat stubborn. All this the mean-looking chief, or the +Weasel, understood perfectly, and appreciated highly. He thought the +moment favorable, and was disposed to "strike while the iron was hot." +Rising after a decent interval had elapsed, this wily Indian looked +about him, as if awed by the presence in which he stood, and doubtful +whether he could venture to utter his thoughts before so many wise +chiefs. Having made an impression by this air of diffidence, he +commenced his harangue. + +"I am called the Weasel," he said, modestly. "My name is not taken from +the mightiest tree of the forest, like that of my brother; it is taken +from a sort of rat--an animal that lives by its wits. I am well named. +When my tribe gave me that name, it was just. All Injins have not names. +My great brother, who told us once that we ought to take the scalp of +every white man, but WHO now tells us that we ought not to take the +scalp of every white man, has no name. He is called Peter, by the +pale-faces. It is a good name. But it is a pale-face name. I wish we +knew the real name of my brother. We do not know his nation or his +tribe. Some say he is an Ottawa, some an Iowa, some even think him a +Sioux. I have heard he was a Delaware, from toward the rising sun. +Some, but they must be Injins with forked tongues, think and say he is +a Cherokee! I do not believe this. It is a lie. It is said to do my +brother harm. Wicked Injins will say such things. But we do not mind +what THEY say. It is not necessary. + +"My brothers, I wish we knew the tribe of this great chief, who tells +us to take scalps, and then tells us not to take scalps. Then we might +understand why he has told us two stories. I believe all he says, but I +should like to know WHY I believe it. It is good to know why we believe +things. I have heard what my brother has said about letting this +bee-hunter go to his own people, but I do not know why he believes this +is best. It is because I am a poor Injin, perhaps; and because I am +called the Weasel. I am an animal that creeps through small holes. That +is my nature. The bison jumps through open prairies, and a horse is +wanted to catch him. It is not so with the weasel; he creeps through +small holes. But he always looks where he goes. + +"The unknown chief, who belongs to no tribe, talks of this bee-hunter's +squaw. He is afraid of so great a medicine-man, and wishes him to go, +and take all in his wigwam with him. He has no squaw. There is a young +squaw in his lodge, but she is not HIS squaw. There is no need of +letting her go, on his account. If we take her scalp, he cannot hurt us. +In that, my brother is wrong. The bees have buzzed too near his ears. +Weasels can hear, as well as other animals; and I have heard that this +young squaw is not this bee-hunter's squaw. + +"If Injins are to take the scalps of all the pale-faces, why should we +not begin with these who are in our hands? When the knife is ready, and +the head is ready, nothing but the hand is wanting. Plenty of hands are +ready, too; and it does not seem good to the eyes of a poor, miserable +weasel, who has to creep through very small holes to catch his game, to +let that game go when it is taken. If my great brother, who has told us +not to scalp this bee-hunter and her he calls his squaw, will tell us +the name of his tribe, I shall be glad. I am an ignorant Injin, and like +to learn all I can; I wish to learn that. Perhaps it will help us to +understand why he gave one counsel yesterday, and another to-day. There +is a reason for it. I wish to know what it is." + +Ungque now slowly seated himself. He had spoken with great moderation, +as to manner; and with such an air of humility as one of our own +demagogues is apt to assume, when he tells the people of their virtues, +and seems to lament the whole time that he, himself, was one of the +meanest of the great human family. Peter saw, at once, that he had +a cunning competitor, and had a little difficulty in suppressing +all exhibition of the fiery indignation he actually felt, at meeting +opposition in such a quarter. Peter was artful, and practised in all +the wiles of managing men, but he submitted to use his means to attain a +great end. The virtual extinction of the white race was his object, and +in order to effect it, there was little he would have hesitated to do. +Now, however, when for the first time in many years a glimmering of +human feeling was shining on the darkness of his mind, he found himself +unexpectedly opposed by one of those whom he had formerly found so +difficult to persuade into his own dire plans! Had that one been a chief +of any renown, the circumstances would have been more tolerable; but +here was a man presuming to raise his voice against him, who, so far as +he knew anything of his past career, had not a single claim to open his +mouth in such a council. With a volcano raging within, that such a state +of things would be likely to kindle in the breast of a savage who had +been for years a successful and nearly unopposed leader, the mysterious +chief rose to reply. + +"My brother says he is a weasel," observed Peter, looking round at the +circle of interested and grave countenances by which he was surrounded. +"That is a very small animal. It creeps through very small holes, but +not to do good. It is good for nothing. When it goes through a small +hole, it is not to do the Injins a service, but for its own purposes. I +do not like weasels. + +"My brother is not afraid of a bee-hunter. Can HE tell us what a bee +whispers? If he can, I wish he would tell us. Let him show our young men +where there is more honey--where they can find bear's meat for another +feast--where they can find warriors hid in the woods. + +"My brother says the bee-hunter has no squaw. How does he know this? Has +he lived in the lodge with them--paddled in the same canoe--eat of +the same venison? A weasel is very small. It might steal into the +bee-hunter's lodge, and see what is there, what is doing, what is eaten, +who is his squaw, and who is not--has this weasel ever done so? I never +saw him there. + +"Brothers, the Great Spirit has his own way of doing things. He does not +stop to listen to weasels. He knows there are such animals--there are +snakes, and toads, and skunks. The Great Spirit knows them all, but he +does not mind them. He is wise, and hearkens only to his own mind. So +should it be with a council of great chiefs. It should listen to its own +mind. That is wisdom. To listen to the mind of a weasel is folly. + +"Brothers, you have been told that this weasel does not know the tribe +of which I am born. Why should you know it? Injins once were foolish. +While the pale-faces were getting one hunting-ground after another from +them, they dug up the hatchet against their own friends. They took each +other's scalps. Injin hated Injin--tribe hated tribe. I am of no tribe, +and no one can hate me for my people. You see my skin. It is red. That +is enough. I scalp, and smoke, and talk, and go on weary paths for all +Injins, and not for any tribe. I am without a tribe. Some call me the +Tribeless. It is better to bear that name, than to be called a weasel. I +have done." + +Peter had so much success by this argumentum ad hominem, that most +present fancied that the weasel would creep through some hole, and +disappear. Not so, however, with Ungque. He was a demagogue, after an +Indian fashion; and this is a class of men that ever "make capital" of +abuses, as we Americans say, in our money-getting habits. Instead of +being frightened off the ground, he arose to answer as promptly as if a +practised debater, though with an air of humility so profound, that no +one could take offence at his presumption. + +"The unknown chief has answered," he said, "I am glad. I love to hear +his words. My ears are always open when he speaks, and my mind is +stronger. I now see that it is good he should not have a tribe. He may +be a Cherokee, and then our warriors would wish him ill." This was a +home-thrust, most artfully concealed; a Cherokee being the Indian of all +others the most hated by the chiefs present;--the Carthaginians of those +western Romans. "It is better he should not have a tribe, than be a +Cherokee. He might better be a weasel. + +"Brothers, we have been told to kill ALL the pale-faces. I like that +advice. The land cannot have two owners. If a pale-face owns it, an +Injin cannot. If an Injin owns it, a pale-face cannot. But the chief +without a tribe tells us not to kill all. He tells us to kill all but +the bee-hunter and his squaw. He thinks this bee-hunter is a medicine +bee-hunter, and may do us Injins great harm. He wishes to let him go. + +"Brothers, this is not my way of thinking. It is better to kill the +bee-hunter and his squaw while we can, that there may be no more such +medicine bee-hunters to frighten us Injins. If one bee-hunter can do so +much harm, what would a tribe of bee-hunters do? I do not want to see +any more. It is a dangerous thing to know how to talk with bees. It +is best that no one should have that power. I would rather never taste +honey again, than live among pale-faces that can talk with bees. + +"Brothers, it is not enough that the pale-faces know so much more than +the red men, but they must get the bees to tell them where to find +honey, to find bears, to find warriors. No; let us take the scalp of the +bee-talker, and of his squaw, that there may never be such a medicine +again. I have spoken." + +Peter did not rise again. He felt that his dignity was involved in +maintaining silence. Various chiefs now uttered their opinions, in +brief, sententious language. For the first time since he began to preach +his crusade, the current was setting against the mysterious chief. The +Weasel said no more, but the hints he had thrown out were improved on +by others. It is with savages as with civilized men; a torrent must find +vent. Peter had the sagacity to see that by attempting further to save +le Bourdon and Margery, he should only endanger his own ascendancy, +without effecting his purpose. Here he completely overlaid the art of +Ungque, turning his own defeat into an advantage. After the matter had +been discussed for fully an hour, and this mysterious chief perceived +that it was useless to adhere to his new resolution, he gave it up +with as much tact as the sagacious Wellington himself could manifest +in yielding Catholic emancipation, or parliamentary reform; or, just in +season to preserve an appearance of floating in the current, and with a +grace that disarmed his opponents. + +"Brothers," said Peter, by way of closing the debate, "I have not seen +straight. Fog sometimes gets before the eyes, and we cannot see. I have +been in a fog. The breath of my brother has blown it away. I now see +clearly. I see that bee-hunters ought not to live. Let this one die--let +his squaw die, too!" + +This terminated the discussion, as a matter of course. It was solemnly +decided that all the pale-faces then in the Openings should be cut off. +In acquiescing in this decision, Peter had no mental reservations. He +was quite sincere. When, after sitting two hours longer, in order to +arrange still more important points, the council arose, it was with +his entire assent to the decision. The only power he retained over the +subject was that of directing the details of the contemplated massacre. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + Why is that graceful female here + With yon red hunter of the deer? + Of gentle mien and shape, she seems + For civil halls design'd; + Yet with the stately savage walks, + As she were of his kind. + --Pinkney. + + +The family at Castle Meal saw nothing of any Indian until the day that +succeeded the council. Gershom and Dorothy received the tidings of +their sister's marriage with very little emotion. It was an event they +expected; and as for bride-cake and ceremonies, of one there was none at +all, and of the other no more than has been mentioned. The relatives of +Margery did not break their hearts on account of the neglect with which +they had been treated, but received the young couple as if one had given +her away, and the other "had pulled off her glove," as young ladies now +express it, in deference to the act that generally gives the coup de +grace to youthful female friendships. On the Openings, neither time nor +breath is wasted in useless compliments; and all was held to be well +done on this occasion, because it was done legally. A question might +have been raised, indeed, whether that marriage had taken place +under the American, or under the English flag; for General Hull, in +surrendering Detroit, had included the entire territory of Michigan, as +well as troops present, troops absent, and troops on the march to join +him. Had he been in possession of Peter's ruthless secret, which we +happen to know he was not, he could not have been more anxious to throw +the mantle of British authority around all of his race on that remote +frontier, than he proved himself to be. Still, it is to be presumed that +the marriage would have been regarded as legal; conquered territories +usually preserving their laws and usages for a time, at least. A little +joking passed, as a matter of course; for this is de rigueur in all +marriages, except in the cases of the most cultivated; and certainly +neither the corporal nor Gershom belonged to the elite of human society. + +About the hour of breakfast Pigeonswing came in, as if returning from +one of his ordinary hunts. He brought with him venison, as well as +several wild ducks that he had killed in the Kalamazoo, and three or +four prairie hens. The Chippewa never betrayed exultation at the success +of his exertions, but on this occasion he actually appeared sad. Dorothy +received his game, and as she took the ducks and other fowls, she spoke +to him. + +"Thank you, Pigeonswing," said the young matron. "No pale-face could be +a better provider, and many are not one-half as good." + +"What provider mean, eh?" demanded the literal-minded savage. "Mean +good; mean bad, eh?" + +"Oh! it means good, of course. I could say nothing against a hunter who +takes so good care of us all." + +"What he mean, den?" + +"It means a man who keeps his wife and children well supplied with +food." + +"You get 'nough, eh?" + +"I get enough, Pigeonswing, thanks to your industry, such as it is. +Injin diet, however, is not always the best for Christian folk, though +a body may live on it. I miss many things, out here in the Openings, to +which I have been used all the early part of my life." + +"What squaw miss, eh? P'raps Injin find him sometime." + +"I thank you, Pigeonswing, with all my heart, and am just as grateful +for your good intentions, as I should be was you to do all you wish. It +is the mind that makes the marcy, and not always the deed. But you can +never find the food of a pale-face kitchen out here in the Openings of +Michigan. When a body comes to reckon up all the good things of Ameriky, +she don't know where to begin, or where to stop. I miss tea as much as +anything. And milk comes next. Then there's buckwheat and coffee--though +things may be found in the woods to make coffee of, but tea has no +substitute. Then, I like wheaten bread, and butter, and potatoes, and +many other such articles, that I was used to all my life, until I came +out here, close to sunset. As for pies and custards, I can't bear to +think of 'em now!" + +Pigeonswing looked intently at the woman, as she carefully enumerated +her favorites among the dishes of her home-kitchen. When she had ended, +he raised a finger, looked still more significantly at her, and said: + +"Why don't go back, get all dem good t'ings? Better for pale-face to eat +pale-face food, and leave Injin Injin food." + +"For my part, Pigeonswing, I wish such had ever been the law. Venison, +and prairie-fowls, and wild ducks, and trout, and bear's meat, and wild +pigeons, and the fish that are to be found in these western rivers, are +all good for them that was brought up on 'em, but they tire an eastern +palate dreadfully. Give me roast beef any day before buffalo's hump, and +a good barn-yard fowl before all the game-birds that ever flew." + +"Yes; dat de way pale-face squaw feel. Bess go back, and get what she +like. Bess go quick as she can--go today." + +"I'm in no such hurry, Pigeonswing, and I like these Openings well +enough to stay a while longer, and see what all these Injins, that they +tell me are about 'em, mean to do. Now we are fairly among your people, +and on good terms with them, it is wisest to stay where we are. These +are war-times, and travelling is dangerous, they tell me. When Gershom +and Bourdon are ready to start, I shall be ready." + +"Bess get ready, now," rejoined Pigeonswing; who, having given this +advice with point, as to manner, proceeded to the spring, where he knelt +and slaked his thirst. The manner of the Chippewa was such as to attract +the attention of the missionary, who, full of his theory, imagined +that this desire to get rid of the whites was, in some way or other, +connected with a reluctance in the Indians to confess themselves Jews. +He had been quite as much surprised as he was disappointed, with the +backwardness of the chiefs in accepting this tradition, and was now in +a state of mind that predisposed him to impute everything to this one +cause. + +"I hope, Pigeonswing," he said to the Chippewa, whom he had followed to +the spring--"I hope, Pigeonswing, that no offence has been taken by the +chiefs on account of what I told them yesterday, concerning their being +Jews. It is what I think, and it is an honor to belong to God's chosen +people, and in no sense a disgrace. I hope no offence has been taken on +account of my telling the chief they are Jews." + +"Don't care any t'ing 'bout it," answered the literal Indian, rising +from his kneeling position, and wiping his mouth with the back of his +hand. "Don't care wedder Jew, or wedder Indian." + +"For my own part, gladly would I have it to say that I am descended from +Israel." + +"Why don't say him, if he make you grad? Good to be grad. All Injin love +to be grad." + +"Because I cannot say it with truth. No; I come of the Gentiles, and not +of the Hebrews, else would I glory in saying I am a Jew, in the sense +of extraction, though not now in the sense of faith. I trust the chiefs +will not take offence at my telling them just what I think." + +"Tell you he don't care," returned Pigeonswing, a little crustily. +"Don't care if Jew--don't care if Injin. Know dat make no difference. +Hunting-ground just same--game just same--scalps just same. Make no +difference, and don't care." + +"I am glad of this--but why did you advise Dorothy to quit the Openings +in the hasty manner you did, if all is right with the chiefs? It is not +good to start on a journey without preparation and prayer. Why, then, +did you give this advice to Dorothy to quit the Openings so soon?" + +"Bess for squaw to go home, when Injin dig up hatchet. Openin' full of +warrior--prairie full of warrior--wood full of warrior. When dat so, +bess for squaw to go home." + +"This would be true, were the Indians our enemies. Heaven be praised, +they are our friends, and will not harm us. Peter is a great chief, and +can make his young men do what he tells them; and Peter is our friend. +With Peter to stand by us, and a merciful Providence to direct us where, +when, and how to go, we can have nothing to fear. I trust in Divine +Providence." + +"Who he be?" asked Pigeonswing, innocently, for his knowledge of English +did not extend far enough to comprehend a phrase so complicated, though +so familiar to ourselves. "He know all paths, eh?" + +"Yes; and directs us on all paths--more especially such as are for our +good." + +"Bess get him to tell you path into Detroit. Dat good path, now, for all +pale-faces." + +On uttering this advice, which he did also somewhat pointedly, the +Chippewa left the spring, and walked toward the kennel of Hive, where +the bee-hunter was busy feeding his old companion. + +"You're welcome back, Pigeonswing," the last cordially remarked, without +pausing in his occupation, however. "I saw that you came in loaded, as +usual. Have you left any dead game in the Openings, for me to go and +back in with you?" + +"You open ear, Bourdon--you know what Injin say," returned the Chippewa, +earnestly. "When dog get 'nough come wid me. Got somet'ing to tell. Bess +hear it, when he CAN hear it." + +"You'll find me ready enough in a minute. There, Hive, my good fellow, +that ought to satisfy any reasonable dog, and I've never found +you unreasonable yet. Well, Chippewa, here I am, with my ears wide +open--stop, I've a bit of news, first, for your ears. Do you know, +Pigeonswing, my good fellow, that I am married?" + +"Marry, eh? Got squaw, eh? Where you get him?" + +"Here, to be sure--where else should I get her? There is but one girl in +these Openings that I would ask to be my wife, and she has been asked, +and answered, yes. Parson Amen married us, yesterday, on our way in +from Prairie Round; so that puts me on a footing with yourself. When you +boast of your squaw that you've left in your wigwam, I can boast of mine +that I have here. Margery is a girl to boast of, too!" + +"Yes; good squaw, dat. Like dat squaw pretty well. Nebber see better. +Bess keep squaw alway in his own wigwam." + +"Well, mine is in my own wigwam. Castle Meal is my property, and she +does it honor." + +"Dat an't what Injin mean. Mean dis. Bess have wigwam at home, dere, +where pale-face lives, and bess keep squaw in DAT wigwam. Where my +squaw, eh? She home, in my wigwam--take care of pappoose, hoe corn, and +keep ground good. So bess wid white squaw--bess home, at work." + +"I believe I understand what you mean, Pigeon. Well, home we mean to go, +before the winter sets in, and when matters have a little settled down +between the English and Yankees. It isn't safe travelling, just now, in +Michigan--you must own that, yourself, my good fellow." + +The Indian appeared at a loss, now, how to express himself further. +On one side was his faith to his color, and his dread of Peter and the +great chiefs; on the other, his strong regard for the bee-hunter. He +pondered a moment, and then took his own manner of communicating that +which he wished to say. The fact that his friend was married made no +great difference in his advice, for the Indian was much too shrewd an +observer not to have detected the bee-hunter's attachment. He had not +supposed it possible to separate his friend from the family of Gershom, +though he did suppose there would be less difficulty in getting him to +go on a path different from that which the missionary and corporal might +take. His own great purpose was to serve le Bourdon, and how many or how +few might incidentally profit by it he did not care. The truth compels +us to own, that even Margery's charms, and nature, and warm-hearted +interest in all around her, had failed to make any impression on his +marble-like feelings; while the bee-hunter's habits, skill in his craft, +and close connection with himself at the mouth of the river, and more +especially in liberating him from his enemies, had united him in a +comrade's friendship with her husband. It was a little singular that +this Chippewa did not fall into Peter's superstitious dread of the +bee-hunter's necromancy, though he was aware of all that had passed +the previous day on the prairie. Either on account of his greater +familiarity with le Bourdon's habits, or because he was in the secret of +the trick of the whiskey-spring, or from a closer knowledge of white men +and their ways, this young Indian was freer from apprehensions of this +nature, perhaps, than any one of the same color and origin within many +miles of the spot. In a word, Pigeons-wing regarded the bee-hunter as +his friend, while he looked upon the other pale-faces as so many persons +thrown by accident in his company. Now that Margery had actually become +his friend's squaw, his interest in her was somewhat increased; though +she had never obtained that interest in his feelings that she had +awakened in the breast of Peter, by her attentions to him, her +gentleness, light-hearted gayety, and womanly care, and all without the +least design on her own part. + +"No," answered the Chippewa, after a moment's reflection, "no very safe +for Yankee, or Yankee Injin. Don't t'ink my scalp very safe, if +chief know'd I'm Yankee runner. Bess alway to keep scalp safe. Dem +Pottawattamie I take care not to see. Know all about 'em, too. Know what +he SAY--know what he DO--b'lieve I know what he T'INK." + +"I did not see you, Pigeon, among the red young men, yesterday, out on +Prairie Round." + +"Know too much to go dere. Crowsfeather and Pottawattamie out dere. Bess +not go near dem when dey have eye open. Take 'em asleep. Dat bess way +wid sich Injin. Catch 'em some time! But your ear open, Bourdon?" + +"Wide open, my good friend--what have you to whisper in it?" + +"You look hard at Peter when he come in. If he t'ink good deal, and +don't say much, when he DO speak, mind what he say. If he smile, and +very much friend, must hab his scalp." + +"Chippewa, Peter is my friend, lives in my cabin, and eats of my bread! +The hand that touches him, touches me." + +"Which bess, eh--HIS scalp, or your'n? If he VERY much friend when he +comes in, his scalp muss come off, or your'n. Yes, juss so. Dat de way. +Know Injin better dan you know him, Bourdon. You good bee-hunter, but +poor Injin. Ebbery body hab his way--Injin got his. Peter laugh and very +much friend, when he come home, den he mean to hab YOUR scalp. If don't +smile, and don't seem very much friend, but look down, and t'ink, t'ink, +t'ink, den he no mean to hurt you, but try to get you out of hand of +chiefs. Dat all." + +As Pigeonswing concluded, he walked coolly away, leaving his friend to +ruminate on the alternative of scalp or no scalp! The bee-hunter now +understood the Chippewa perfectly. He was aware that this man had means +of his own to ascertain what was passing around him in the Openings, and +he had the utmost confidence in his integrity and good wishes. If a red +man is slow to forget an injury, he never forgets a favor. In this he +was as unlike as possible to most of the pale-faces who were supplanting +his race, for these last had, and have, as extraordinary a tenacity in +losing sight of benefits, as they have in remembering wrongs. + +By some means or other, it was now clear that Pigeonswing foresaw that a +crisis was at hand. Had le Bourdon been as disconnected and solitary as +he was when he first met the Chippewa, it is not probable that +either the words or the manner of his friend would have produced much +impression on him, so little accustomed was he to dwell on the hazards +of his frontier position. But the case was now altogether changed. +Margery and her claims stood foremost in his mind; and through Margery +came Dolly and her husband. There was no mistaking Pigeonswing's +intention. It was to give warning of some immediate danger, and a danger +that, in some way, was connected with the deportment of Peter. It was +easy enough to comprehend the allusions to the mysterious chief's smiles +and melancholy; and the bee-hunter understood that he was to watch +that Indian's manner, and take the alarm or bestow his confidence +accordingly. + +Le Bourdon was not left long in doubt. Peter arrived about half-an-hour +after Pigeonswing had gone to seek his rest; and from the instant he +came in sight, our hero discerned the thoughtful eye and melancholy +manner. These signs were still more obvious when the tribeless Indian +came nearer; so obvious, indeed, as to strike more than one of those who +were interested observers of all that this extraordinary being said and +did. Among others, Margery was the first to see this change, and the +first to let it influence her own manner. This she did, notwithstanding +le Bourdon had said nothing to her on the subject, and in defiance of +the bashful feelings of a bride; which, under circumstances less marked, +might have induced her to keep more in the background. As Peter stopped +at the spring to quench his thirst, Margery was, in truth, the first to +approach and to speak to him. + +"You seem weary, Peter," said the young wife, somewhat timidly as to +voice and air, but with a decided and honest manifestation of interest +in what she was about. Nor had Margery gone empty-handed. She took with +her a savory dish, one of those that the men of the woods love--meat +cooked in its own juices, and garnished with several little additions, +that her skill in the arts of civilized life enabled her to supply. + +"You seem tired, Peter, and if I did not fear to say it, I should tell +you that you also seem sad," said Margery, as she placed her dish on a +rude table that was kept at the spot, for the convenience of those who +seldom respected hours, or regularity of any sort in their meals. "Here +is food that you like, which I have cooked with my own hands." + +The Indian looked intently at the timid and charming young creature, +who came forward thus to contribute to his comforts, and the saddened +expression of his countenance deepened. He was fatigued and hungry, +and he ate for some time without speaking, beyond uttering a brief +expression of his thanks. When his appetite was appeased, however, and +she who had so sedulously attended to his wants was about to remove the +remains of the dish, he signed with his finger for her to draw nearer, +intimating that he had something to say. Margery obeyed without +hesitation, though the color flitted in her face like the changes in +an evening sky. But so much good will and confidence had been awakened +between these two, that a daughter would not have drawn near to a father +with more confidence than Margery stood before Peter. + +"Medicine-man do what I tell him, young squaw, eh?" demanded Peter, +smiling slightly, and for the first time since they had met. + +"By medicine-man do you mean Mr. Amen, or Bourdon?" the bride asked in +her turn, her whole face reflecting the confusion she felt, scarcely +knowing why. + +"Bot'. One medicine-man say his prayer; t'odder medicine-man take young +squaw's hand, and lead her into his wigwam. Dat what I mean." + +"I am married to Bourdon," returned Margery, dropping her eyes to the +ground, "if that be what you wish to know. I hope you think I shall have +a good husband, Peter." + +"Hope so, too--nebber know till time come. All good for little +while--Injin good, squaw good. Juss like weadder. Sometime +rain--sometime storm--sometime sunshine. Juss so wid Injin, juss so wid +pale-face. No difference. All same. You see dat cloud?--he little now; +but let wind blow, he grow big, and you see nuttin' but cloud. Let him +have plenty of sunshine, and he go away; den all clear over head. Dat +bess way to live wid husband." + +"And that is the way which Bourdon and I WILL always live together. When +we get back among our own people, Peter, and are living comfortably in a +pale-face wigwam, with pale-face food, and pale-face drinks, and all the +other good things of pale-face housekeeping about us, then I hope you +will come and see how happy we are, and pass some time with us. Every +year I wish you to come and see us, and to bring us venison, and Bourdon +will give you powder, and lead, and blankets, and all you may want, +unless it be fire-water. Fire-water he has promised never again to give +to an Injin." + +"No find any more whiskey-spring, eh?" demanded Peter, greatly +interested in the young woman's natural and warm-hearted manner of +proposing her hospitalities. "So bess--so bess. Great curse for Injin. +Plenty honey, no fire-water. All dat good. And I come, if--" + +Here Peter stopped, nor could all Margery's questions induce him to +complete the sentence. His gaze at the earnest countenance of the bride +was such as to give her an indefinite sort of uneasiness, not to say a +feeling of alarm. + +Still no explanation passed between them. Margery remained near Peter +for some time, administering to his wants, and otherwise demeaning +herself much as a daughter might have done. At length le Bourdon +joined them. The salutations were friendly, and the manner in which the +mysterious chief regarded the equally mysterious bee-hunter, was not +altogether without a certain degree of awe. Boden perceived this, and +was not slow to comprehend that he owed this accession of influence to +the scene which had occurred on the prairie. + +"Is the great council ended, Peter?" asked the bee-hunter, when the +little interval of silence had been observed. + +"Yes, it over. No more council, now, on Prairie Round." + +"And the chiefs--have they all gone on their proper paths? What has +become of my old acquaintance, Crowsfeather? and all the rest of +them--Bear's Meat, in particular?" + +"All gone. No more council now. Agree what to do and so go away." + +"But are red men always as good as their words? do they PERFORM always +what they PROMISE?" + +"Sartain. Ebbery man ought do what he say. Dat Injin law--no pale-face +law, eh?" + +"It may be the LAW, Peter, and a very good law it is; but we white men +do not always MIND our own laws." + +"Dat bad--Great Spirit don't like dat," returned Peter, looking grave, +and slowly shaking his head. "Dat very bad. When Injin say he do it, +den he do it, if he can. If can't, no help for it. Send squaw away now, +Bourdon--bess not to let squaw hear what men say, or will always want to +hear." + +Le Bourdon laughed, as he turned to Margery and repeated these words. +The young wife colored, but she took it in good part, and ran up toward +the palisaded lodge, like one who was glad to be rid of her companions. +Peter waited a few moments, then turning his head slowly in all +directions, to make sure of not being overheard, he began to lay open +his mind. + +"You been on Prairie Round, Bourdon--you see Injin dere--chief, warrior, +young men, hunter, all dere." + +"I saw them all, Peter, and a goodly sight it was--what between paint, +and medals, and bows and arrows and tomahawks, and all your bravery!" + +"You like to see him, eh? Yes; he fine t'ing to look at. Well, dat +council call togedder by ME--you know dat, too, Bourdon?" + +"I have heard you say that such was your intention, and I suppose you +did it, chief. They tell me you have great power among your own people, +and that they do very much as you tell them to do." + +Peter looked graver than ever at this remark; and one of his startling +gleams of ferocity passed over his dark countenance. Then he answered +with his customary self-command. + +"Sometime so," he said; "sometime not so. Yesterday, not so. Dere is +chief dat want to put Peter under his foot! He try, but he no do it! I +know Peter well, and know dat chief, too." + +"This is news to me, Peter, and I am surprised to hear it. I did think +that even the great Tecumthe was scarcely as big a chief as you are +yourself." + +"Yes, pretty big chief; dat true. But, among Injin, ebbery man can +speak, and nebber know which way council go. Sometime he go one way; +sometime he go tudder. You hear Bough of Oak speak, eh? Tell me dat?" + +"You will remember that I heard none of your speakers on Prairie Round, +Peter. I do not remember any such orator as this Bough of Oak." + +"He great rascal," said Peter, who had picked up some of the garrison +expressions among those from whom he acquired the knowledge of English +he possessed, such as it was. "Listen, Bourdon. Nebber bess stand too +much in Peter's way." + +The bee-hunter laughed freely at this remark; for his own success the +previous day, and the impression he had evidently made on that occasion, +emboldened him to take greater liberties with the mysterious chief than +had been his wont. + +"I should think that, Peter," cried the young man, gayly--"I should +think all that. For one, I should choose to get out of it. The path you +travel is your own, and all wise men will leave you to journey along it +in your own fashion." + +"Yes; dat bess way," answered the great chief, with admirable +simplicity. "Don't like, when he says yes, to hear anudder chief say no. +Dat an't good way to do business." + +These were expressions caught from the trading whites, and were often +used by those who got their English from them. "I tell you one t'ing, +Bourdon--dat Bough of Oak very foolish Injin if he put foot on my path." + +"This is plain enough, Peter," rejoined le Bourdon, who was +unconcernedly repairing some of the tools of his ordinary craft. "By +the way, I am greatly in your debt, I learn, for one thing. They tell me +I've got my squaw in my wigwam a good deal sooner, by your advice, than +I might have otherwise done. Margery is now my wife, I suppose you know; +and I thank you heartily, for helping me to get married so much sooner +than I expected to be." + +Here Peter grasped Bourdon by the hand, and poured out his whole soul, +secret hopes, fears, and wishes. On this occasion he spoke in the Indian +dialect--one of those that he knew the bee-hunter understood. And we +translate what he said freely into English, preserving as much of the +original idiom as the change of language will permit. + +"Listen, hunter of the bee, the great medicine of the pale-faces, and +hear what a chief that knows the red men is about to tell you. Let my +words go into your ears; let them stay in your mind. They are words that +will do you good. It is not wise to let such words come out again by the +hole through which they have just entered. + +"My young friend knows our traditions. They do not tell us that the +Injins were Jews; they tell us that the Manitou created them red men. +They tell us that our fathers used these hunting-grounds ever since the +earth was placed on the back of the big tortoise which upholds it. The +pale-faces say the earth moves. If this be true, it moves as slowly +as the tortoise walks. It cannot have gone far since the Great Spirit +lifted his hand off it. If it move, the hunting-grounds move with it, +and the tribes move with their own hunting-grounds. It may be that some +of the pale-faces are lost, but no Injin is lost--the medicine-priest is +mistaken. He has looked so often in his book, that he sees nothing but +what is there. He does not see what is before his eyes, at his side, +behind his back, all around him. I have known such Injins. They see but +one thing; even the deer jump across their paths, and are not seen. + +"Such are our traditions. They tell us that this land was given to the +red men, and not to pale-faces. That none but red men have any right to +hunt here. The Great Spirit has laws. He has told us these laws. They +teach us to love our friends, and to hate our enemies. You don't believe +this, Bourdon?" observing the bee-hunter to wince a little, as if he +found the doctrine bad. + +"This is not what our priests tell US," answered le Bourdon. "They tell +us that the white man's God commands us to love all alike--to do GOOD to +our enemies, to LOVE them that wish us HARM, and to treat all men as +we would wish men to treat us." Peter was a good deal surprised at this +doctrine, and it was nearly a minute before he resumed the discourse. He +had recently heard it several times, and it was slowly working its way +into his mind. + +"Such are our traditions, and such are our laws. Look at me. Fifty +winters have tried to turn my hair white. Time can do that. The hair is +the only part of an Injin that ever turns white; all the rest of him is +red. That is his color. The game knows an Injin by his color. The tribes +know him. Everything knows him by his color. He knows the things which +the Great Spirit has given him, in the same way. He gets used to them, +and they are his acquaintances. He does not like strange things. He does +not like strangers. White men are strangers, and he does not like to +see them on his hunting-ground. If they come singly, to kill a few +buffaloes, or to look for honey, or to catch beaver, the Injins would +not complain. They love to give of their abundance. The pale-faces +do not come in this fashion. They do not come as guests; they come as +masters. They come and they stay. Each year of my fifty have I heard of +new tribes that have been driven by them toward the setting sun. + +"Bourdon, for many seasons I have thought of this. I have tried to find +a way to stop them. There is but one. That way must the Injins try, or +give up their hunting-grounds to the strangers. No nation likes to give +up its hunting-grounds. They come from the Manitou, and one day he may +ask to have them back again. What could the red men say, if they let the +pale-faces take them away? No; this we cannot do. We will first try the +one thing that is to be done." + +"I believe I understand you, Peter," observed le Bourdon, finding +that his companion paused. "You mean war. War, in the Injin mode of +redressing all wrongs; war against man, woman, and child!" + +Peter nodded in acquiescence, fixing his glowing eyes on the +bee-hunter's face, as if to read his soul. + +"Am I to understand, then, that you and your friends, the chiefs and +their followers, that I saw on Prairie Round, mean to begin with US, +half-a-dozen whites, of whom two are women, who happen to be here in +your power--that OUR scalps are to be the first taken?" + +"First!--no, Bourdon. Peter's hand has taken a great many, years since. +He has got a name for his deeds, and no longer dare go to the white +men's forts. He does not look for Yankees, he looks for pale-faces. When +he meets a pale-face on the prairies, or in the woods, he tries to get +his scalp. This has he done for years, and many has he taken." + +"This is a bloody account you are giving of yourself, Peter, and I +would rather you should not have told it. Some such account I have heard +before; but living with you, and eating, and drinking, and sleeping, and +travelling in your company, I had not only hoped, but begun to think, it +was not true." + +"It is true. My wish is to cut off the pale-faces. This must be done, or +the pale-faces will cut off the Injins. There is no choice. One nation +or the other must be destroyed. I am a red man; my heart tells me that +the pale-faces should die. They are on strange hunting-grounds, not +the red men. They are wrong, we are right. But, Bourdon, I have friends +among the pale-faces, and it is not natural to scalp our friends. I do +not understand a religion that tells us to love our enemies, and to do +good to them that do harm to us--it is a strange religion. I am a poor +Injin, and do not know what to think! I shall not believe that any do +this, till I see it. I understand that we ought to love our friends. +Your squaw is my daughter. I have called her daughter--she knows it, and +my tongue is not forked, like a snake's. What it says, I mean. Once I +meant to scalp your young squaw, because she was a pale-face squaw, and +might be the mother of more. Now I do not mean to scalp her; my hand +shall never harm her. My wisdom shall tell her to escape from the hands +of red men who seek her scalp. You, too; now you are her husband, +and are a great medicine-man of the bees, my hand shall not hurt you, +either. Open your ears wide, for big truths must go into them." + +Peter then related in full his attempt to procure a safe passage for +le Bourdon and Margery into the settlements, and its total failure. He +owned that by his previous combinations he had awakened a spirit among +the Indians that his present efforts could not quell. In a word, he told +the whole story as it must have been made apparent to the reader, and he +now came with his plans to defeat the very schemes that he had himself +previously projected. One thing, however, that he did not conceal, +filled the mind of his listener with horror, and created so strong an +aversion to acting in concert with one who could even allude to it so +coolly, that there was danger of breaking off all communications between +the parties, and placing the result purely on force; a course that must +have proved totally destructive to all the whites. The difficulty arose +from a naive confession of Peter's, that he did not even wish to save +any but le Bourdon and Margery, and that he still desired the deaths of +all the others, himself! + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + + For thou wert born of woman! Thou didst come, + O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, + Not in thy dread omnipotent array; + And not by thunders strewed + Was thy tempestuous road, + Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way. + But thee, a soft and naked child, + Thy mother undefiled, + In the rude manger laid to rest + From off her virgin breast. + + +The blood of the bee-hunter curdled in his veins as he listened to +Peter's business-like and direct manner of treating this terrible +subject. Putting the most favorable view on his situation, it was +frightful to look on. Admitting that this fanatical savage were sincere +in all his professions of a wish to save him and Margery, and le +Bourdon did not, nay, COULD not doubt this, after his calm but ferocious +revelations; but, admitting all this to be true, how was he to escape +with his charming bride, environed as they were by so large a band of +hostile Indians? Then the thought of abandoning his other companions, +and attempting, in cold selfishness, to escape with Margery alone, was +more than he could bear. Never before, in his adventurous and bold life, +had le Bourdon been so profoundly impressed with a sense of his danger, +or so much overcome. + +Still, our hero was not unmanned. He saw all the hazards, as it were, at +a glance, and felt how terrible might be the result should they really +fall into the hands of the warriors, excited to exercise their ingenuity +in devising the means of torture; and he gazed into the frightful +perspective with a manly steadiness that did him credit, even while he +sickened at the prospect. + +Peter had told his story in a way to add to its horrible character. +There was a manner of truth, of directness, of WORK, if one may use such +an expression on such a subject, that gave a graphic reality to all he +said. As if his task was done, the mysterious chief now coolly arose, +and moved away to a little grove, in which the missionary and the +corporal had thrown themselves on the grass, where they lay speculating +on the probable course that the bands in their neighborhood would next +pursue. So thoroughly possessed was the clergyman with his one idea, +however, that he was expressing regret at his failure in the attempt to +convince the savages that they were Jews, when Peter joined them. + +"You tired--you lie down in daytime, like sick squaw, eh?" asked the +Indian, in a slightly satirical manner. "Bess be up, sich fine day, and +go wid me to see some more chief." + +"Most gladly, Peter," returned the missionary, springing to his feet +with alacrity--"and I shall have one more opportunity to show your +friends the truth of what I have told them." + +"Yes, Injin love to hear trut'--hate to hear lie. Can tell 'em all you +want to say. He go too, eh?" pointing to the corporal, who rather hung +back, as if he saw that in the invitation which was not agreeable to +him. + +"I will answer for my friend," returned the confiding missionary, +cheerfully. "Lead on, Peter, and we will follow." + +Thus pledged, the corporal no longer hesitated; but he accompanied +Parson Amen, as the latter fell into the tracks of the chief, and +proceeded rapidly in the direction of the spring in the piece of +bottom-land, where the council first described had been held. This spot +was about two miles from the palisaded house, and quite out of view, as +well as out of reach of sound. As they walked side by side, taking the +footsteps of the great chief for their guides, the corporal, however, +expressed to his companion his dislike of the whole movement. + +"We ought to stand by our garrison in times like these, Mr. Amen," said +the well-meaning soldier. "A garrison is a garrison; and Injins seldom +do much on a well-built and boldly-defended spot of that natur'. They +want artillery, without which their assaults are never very formidable." + +"Why talk you of warlike means, corporal, when we are in the midst of +friends? Is not Peter our known and well-tried associate, one with whom +you and I have travelled far; and do we not know that we have friends +among these chiefs, whom we are now going to visit? The Lord has led +me into these distant and savage regions, to carry his word, and to +proclaim his name; and a most unworthy and unprofitable servant should +I prove, were I to hesitate about approaching them I am appointed to +teach. No, no; fear nothing. I will not say that you carry Caesar and +his fortunes, as I have heard was once said of old, but I will say you +follow one who is led of God, and who marches with the certainty of +being divinely commanded." + +The corporal was ashamed to oppose so confident an enthusiasm, and he +offered no further resistance. Together the two followed their leader, +who, turning neither to the right hand nor to the left, soon had them +out of sight of the castle, and well on their way toward the spring. +When about half the distance was made, the direction took the +party through a little thicket, or rather along its margin, and the +missionary, a good deal to his surprise, saw Pigeonswing within the +cover, seemingly preparing for another hunt. This young warrior had +so lately returned from one excursion of this nature, that he was not +expected to go forth so soon on another. Nor was he accustomed to go out +so early in the day. This was the hour in which he ordinarily slept; but +there he was, beyond a question, and apparently looking at the party as +it passed. So cold was his manner, however, and so indifferent did he +seem, that no one would have suspected that he knew aught of what was in +contemplation. Having satisfied himself that his friend, the bee-hunter, +was not one of those who followed Peter, the Chippewa turned coldly +away, and began to examine the flint of his rifle. The corporal noted +this manner, and it gave him additional confidence to proceed; for +he could not imagine that any human being would manifest so much +indifference, when sinister designs existed. + +Peter turned neither to the right hand nor to the left, until he had led +the way down upon the little arena of bottom-land already described, and +which was found well sprinkled with savages. A few stood, or sat about +in groups, earnestly conversing; but most lay extended at length on the +green sward, in the indolent repose that is so grateful to an Indian +warrior in his hours of inaction. The arrival of Peter, however, +instantly put a new face on the appearance of matters. Every man started +to his feet, and additions were made to those who were found in the +arena by those who came out of the adjacent thickets, until some two +or three hundred of the red men were assembled in a circle around the +newly-arrived pale-faces. + +"There," said Peter, sternly, fastening his eye with a hostile +expression on Bough of the Oak and Ungque, in particular--"there are +your captives. Do with them as you will. As for them that have dared to +question my faith, let them own that they are liars!" + +This was not a very amicable salutation, but savages are accustomed to +plain language. Bough of the Oak appeared a little uneasy, and Ungque's +countenance denoted dissatisfaction; but the last was too skilful an +actor to allow many of the secrets of his plotting mind to shine through +the windows of his face. As for the crowd at large, gleams of content +passed over the bright red faces, illuminating them with looks of savage +joy. Murmurs of approbation were heard, and Crowsfeather addressed the +throng, there, where it stood, encircling the two helpless and as yet +but half-alarmed victims of so fell a plot. + +"My brothers and my young men can now see," said this Pottawattamie, +"that the tribeless chief has an Injin heart. His heart is NOT a +pale-face heart--it is that of a red man. Some of our chiefs have +thought that he had lived too much with the strangers, and that he had +forgotten the traditions of our fathers, and was listening to the song +of the medicine priest. Some thought that he believed himself lost, and +a Jew, and not an Injin. This is not so. Peter knows the path he is on. +He knows that he is a redskin, and he looks on the Yankees as enemies. +The scalps he has taken are so numerous they cannot be counted. He is +ready to take more. Here are two that he gives to us. When we have done +with these two captives, he will bring us more. He will continue to +bring them, until the pale-faces will be as few as the deer in their own +clearings. Such is the will of the Manitou." + +The missionary understood all that was said, and he was not a little +appalled at the aspect of things. For the first time he began +to apprehend that he was in danger. So much was this devout and +well-intentioned servant of his church accustomed to place his +dependence on a superintending Providence, that apprehension of personal +suffering seldom had any influence on his exertions. He believed himself +to be an object of especial care; though he was ever ready to admit that +the wisdom which human minds cannot compass, might order events that, +at first sight, would seem to be opposed to that which ought to be +permitted to come to pass. In this particular Parson Amen was a model of +submission, firmly believing that all that happened was in furtherance +of the great scheme of man's regeneration and eventual salvation. + +With the corporal it was very different. Accustomed to war with red +men, and most acquainted with them in their worst character, he ever +suspected treachery, and had followed Peter with a degree of reluctance +he had not cared to express. He now thoroughly took the alarm, however, +and stood on his guard. Although he did not comprehend more than half of +that which Peter had said, he understood quite enough to see that he and +the missionary were surrounded by enemies, if not by executioners. + +"We have fallen into a sort of ambush here, Parson Amen," cried the +corporal, rattling his arms as he looked to their condition, "and it's +high time we beat the general. If there were four on us we might form +a square; but being only two, the best thing we can do will be to stand +back to back, and for one to keep an eye on the right flank, while he +nat'rally watches all in front; and for the other to keep an eye on the +left flank, while he sees to the rear. Place your back close to mine, +and take the left flank into your part of the lookout. Closer, closer, +my good sir; we must stand solid as rooted trees, to make anything of a +stand." + +The missionary, in his surprise, permitted the corporal to assume the +position described, though conscious of its uselessness in their actual +condition. As for the Indians, the corporal's manner and the rattling of +his arms induced the circle to recede several paces; though nothing like +alarm prevailed among them. The effect, nevertheless, was to leave the +two captives space for their evolutions, and a sort of breathing time. +This little change had the appearance of something like success, and it +greatly encouraged the corporal. He began to think it even possible to +make a retreat that would be as honorable as any victory. + +"Steady--keep shoulder to shoulder, Parson Amen, and take care of your +flank. Our movement must be by our left flank, and everything depends +on keeping that clear. I shall have to give you my baggonet, for you're +entirely without arms, which leaves my rear altogether exposed." + +"Think nothing of your arms, Brother Flint--they would be useless in my +hands in any case; and, were we made of muskets, they could be of no use +against these odds. My means of defence come from on high; my armor is +faith; and my only weapon, prayer. I shall not hesitate to use the last +on this, as on all other occasions." + +The missionary then called on the circle of curious savages by whom he +was surrounded, and who certainly contemplated nothing less than his +death, in common with those of all his white companions, to unite with +him in addressing the Throne of Grace. Accustomed to preach and pray +to these people in their own dialect, the worthy parson made a strong +appeal to their charities, while supplicating the favors of Divine +Providence in behalf of himself and his brother captive. He asked for +all the usual benedictions and blessings on his enemies, and made a very +happy exposition of those sublime dogmas of Christianity, which teach us +to "bless them that curse us," and to "pray for those who despitefully +use us." Peter, for the first time in his life, was now struck with +the moral beauty of such a sentiment, which seldom fails, when duly +presented, of producing an effect on even the dullest minds. His +curiosity was touched, and instead of turning coldly, as had been his +intention, and leaving the captives in the hands of those to whom he +had delivered them, he remained in the circle, and paid the closest +attention to all of the proceedings. He had several times previously +heard the missionary speak of this duty as a command of God's, but never +before had he deemed it possible to realize such a thing in practice. + +The Indians, if not absolutely awe-struck by the singular spectacle +before them, seemed well disposed to let the missionary finish his +appeal; some wondering, others doubting, and all more or less at a +loss to know what to make of an exhibition so unusual. There stood the +corporal, with his back pressed closely to that of his companion, his +musket at "make ready," and his whole mien that of a man with every +nerve screwed to the sticking-point; while the missionary, the other +side of the picture, with outstretched arms, was lifting his voice +in prayer to the throne of the Most High. As this extraordinary scene +continued, the corporal grew excited; and ere long his voice was +occasionally heard, blended with that of the clergyman, in terms of +advice and encouragement. + +"Blaze away, Mr. Amen," shouted the soldier. "Give 'em another +volley--you're doing wonders, and their front has given ground! One +more such volley as the last, and we'll make a forward movement, +ourselves--attention!--prepare to march by the left flank, as soon as +there is a good opening!" + +That good opening, however, was never made. The savages, though +astonished, were by no means frightened, and had not the smallest idea +of letting their captives escape. On the contrary, Bear's Meat, who +acted as commander-in-chief on this occasion, was quite self-possessed, +and so far from being impressed with the missionary's prayer, he +listened to it only in the hope of hearing some admission of weakness +escape. But the excitement of the corporal soon produced a crisis. His +attempts to make a movement "by the left flank," caused his column of +defence to be broken, and obtaining no assistance from Parson Amen, who +was still pouring out his soul in prayer, while endeavoring to +bring things back to their original state, he suddenly found himself +surrounded and disarmed. From that instant, the corporal changed +his tactics. So long as he was armed, and comparatively free, he had +bethought him only of the means of resistance; now that these were +denied him, he submitted, and summoned all his resolution to bear the +penalties of his captivity, in a manner that might not do discredit to +his regiment. This was the third time that Corporal Flint had been a +prisoner among the Indians, and he was not now to learn the nature of +their tender mercies. His forebodings were not of the most pleasant +character; but that which could not be helped, he was disposed to bear +with manly fortitude. His greatest concern, at that fearful moment, was +for the honor of his corps. + +All this time, Parson Amen continued his prayer. So completely was his +spirit occupied with the duty of offering up his petition, that he was +utterly unconscious of what else had passed; nor had he heard one of the +corporal's appeals for "attention," and to be "steady," and to march "by +the left flank." In a word, the whole man was intent on prayer; and when +thus employed, a six-pounder discharged in the circle would hardly +have disconcerted him. He persevered, therefore, uninterrupted by his +conquerors, until he concluded in his own way. Having thus fortified his +soul, and asked for succor where he had now so long been accustomed to +seek and to find it, the worthy missionary took his seat quietly on a +log, on which the corporal had been previously placed by his captors. + +The time had arrived for the chiefs to proceed in the execution of their +purposes. Peter, profoundly struck with the prayers of the missionary in +behalf of his enemies, had taken a station a little on one side, where +he stood ruminating on what he had just heard. If ever precept bore the +stamp of a divine origin, it is this. The more we reflect on it, the +clearer do our perceptions of this truth become. The whole scheme of +Christ's redemption and future existence is founded in love, and such a +system would be imperfect while any were excluded from its benefits. +To love those who reciprocate our feelings is so very natural, that +the sympathies which engender this feeling are soonest attracted by a +knowledge of their existence, love producing love, as power increases +power. But to love those who hate us, and to strive to do good to those +who are plotting evil against ourselves, greatly exceeds the moral +strength of man, unaided from above. This was the idea that puzzled +Peter, and he now actually interrupted the proceedings, in order +to satisfy his mind on a subject so totally new to him. Previously, +however, to taking this step, he asked the permission of the principal +chiefs, awakening in their bosoms by means of his explanations some of +the interest in this subject that he felt himself. + +"Brother medicine-man," said the mysterious chief, drawing nearer to the +missionary, accompanied himself by Bear's Meat, Crowsfeather, and one or +two more, "you have been talking to the Great Spirit o! the pale-faces. +We have heard your words, and think them well. They are good words for +a man about to set out on the path that leads to the unknown lands. +Thither we must all go some time, and it matters little when. We may not +all travel the same path. I do not think the Manitou will crowd tribes +of different colors together there, as they are getting to be crowded +together here. + +"Brother, you are about to learn how all these things really are. If red +men, and pale-faces, and black men are to live in the same land, after +death, you will shortly know it. My brother is about to go there. He and +his friend, this warrior of his people, will travel on that long path in +company. I hope they will agree by the way, and not trouble each other. +It will be convenient to my brother to have a hunter with him; the path +is so long, he will be hungry before he gets to the end. This warrior +knows how to use a musket, and we shall put his arms with him in his +grave. + +"Brother, before you start on this journey, from which no traveller ever +returns, let his color be what it may, we wish to hear you speak further +about loving our enemies. This is not the Indian rule. The red men hate +their enemies, and love their friends. When they ask the Manitou to +do anything to their enemies, it is to do them harm. This is what our +fathers taught us: it is what we teach our children. Why should we love +them that hate us: why should we do good to them that do us harm? Tell +us now, or we may never hear the reason." + +"Tell you I will, Peter, and the Lord so bless my words that they may +soften your hearts, and lead you all to the truth, and to dependence on +the mediation of his blessed Son! We should do good to them that do evil +to us, because the Great Spirit has commanded us so to do. Ask your own +heart if this is not right. If they sound like words that are spoken by +any but those who have been taught by the Manitou, himself. The devils +tell us to revenge, but God commands us to forgive. It is easy to do +good to them that do good to us; but it tries the heart sorely to do +good to them that do us evil. I have spoken to you of the Son of the +Great Spirit. He came on earth, and told us with his own mouth all these +great truths. He said that next to the duty of loving the Manitou, was +the duty of loving our neighbors. No matter whether friend or enemy, it +was our duty to love them, and do them all the good we can. If there is +no venison in their wigwams, we should take the deer off our own poles, +and carry it and put on theirs. Why have I come here to tell you this? +When at home, I lived under a good roof, eat of abundance, and slept in +a soft and warm bed. You know how it is here. We do not know to-day what +we shall eat to-morrow. Our beds are hard, and our roofs are of bark. I +come, because the Son of the Manitou, he who came and lived among men, +told us to do all this. His commands to his medicine-men were, to go +forth, and tell all nations, and tribes, and colors, the truth--to +tell them to 'love them that sought to do them harm, and to do good for +evil.'" + +Parson Amen pausing a moment to take breath, Ungque, who detected the +wavering of Peter's mind, and who acted far more in opposition to the +mysterious and tribeless chief than from any other motive, profited by +the occasion thus afforded to speak. Without this pause, however, the +breeding of an Indian would have prevented any interruption. + +"I open my mouth to speak," said The Weasel, in his humblest manner. +"What I say is not fit for the wise chiefs to hear. It is foolish, but +my mind tells me to say it. Does the medicine-man of the pale-faces tell +us that the Son of the Great Spirit came upon earth, and lived among +men?" + +"I do; such is our belief; and the religion we believe and teach cometh +directly from his mouth." + +"Let the medicine-man tell the chiefs how long the Son of the Great +Spirit stayed on earth, and which way he went when he left it." + +Now, this question was put by Ungque through profound dissimulation. He +had heard of the death of Christ, and had obtained some such idea of +the great sacrifice as would be apt to occur to the mind of a savage. +He foresaw that the effect of the answer would be very likely to destroy +most of the influence that the missionary had just been building up, by +means of his doctrine and his prayers. Parson Amen was a man of singular +simplicity of character, but he had his misgivings touching the effect +of this reply. Still he did not scruple about giving it, or attempt in +any manner to mystify or to deceive. + +"It is a humiliating and sad story, my brethren, and one that ought to +cause all heads to be bowed to the earth in shame," he answered. "The +Son of the Great Spirit came among men; he did nothing but good; told +those who heard him how to live and how to die. In return for all this, +wicked and unbelieving men put him to death. After death his body +was taken up into Heaven--the region of departed spirits, and the +dwelling-place of his Father--where he now is, waiting for the time +when he is to return to the earth, to reward the good and to punish the +wicked. That time will surely come; nor do I believe the day to be very +distant." + +The chiefs listened to this account with grave attention. Some of them +had heard outlines of the same history before. Accounts savoring of the +Christian history had got blended with some of their own traditions, +most probably the fruits of the teachings of the earlier missionaries, +but were so confused and altered as to be scarcely susceptible of being +recognized. To most of them, however, the history of the incarnation +of the Son of God was entirely new; and it struck THEM as a most +extraordinary thing altogether that any man should have injured such +a being! It was, perhaps, singular that no one of them all doubted +the truth of the tradition itself. This they supposed to have been +transmitted with the usual care, and they received it as a fact not to +be disputed. The construction that was put on its circumstances will +best appear in the remarks that followed. + +"If the pale-faces killed the Son of the Great Spirit," said Bough of +the Oak, pointedly, "we can see why they wish to drive the red men from +their lands. Evil spirits dwell in such men, and they do nothing but +what is bad. I am glad that our great chief has told us to put the foot +on this worm and crush it, while yet the Indian foot is large enough to +do it. In a few winters they would kill us, as they killed the Spirit +that did them nothing but good!" + +"I am afraid that this mighty tradition hath a mystery in it that +your Indian minds will scarcely be willing to receive," resumed the +missionary, earnestly. "I would not, for a thousand worlds, or to save +ten thousand lives as worthless as my own, place a straw in the way of +the faith of any; yet must I tell the thing as it happened. This Son of +the Great Spirit was certainly killed by the Jews of that day, so far as +he COULD be killed. He possessed two natures, as indeed do all men: the +body and soul. In his body he was man, as we all are men; in his soul he +was a part of the Great Spirit himself. This is the great mystery of our +religion. We cannot tell how it can happen, but we believe it. We see +around us a thousand things that we cannot understand, and this is one +of them." + +Here Bear's Meat availed himself of another pause to make a remark. This +he did with the keenness of one accustomed to watch words and events +closely, but with a simplicity that showed no vulgar disposition to +scepticism. + +"We do not expect that all the Great Spirit does can be clear to us +Indians," he said. "We know very little; he knows everything. Why +should we think to know all that he knows? We do not. That part of the +tradition gives us no trouble. Indians can believe without seeing. They +are not squaws, that wish to look behind every bush. But my brother has +told too much for his own good. If the pale-faces killed their Great +Spirit, they can have no Manitou, and must be in the hands of the Evil +Spirit This is the reason they want our hunting-grounds. I will not let +them come any nearer to the setting sun. It is time to begin to kill +them, as they killed their Great Spirit. The Jews did this. My brother +wishes us to think that red men are Jews! No; red men never harmed the +Son of the Great Spirit, They would receive him as a friend, and treat +him as a chief. Accursed be the hand that should be raised to harm him. +This tradition is a wise tradition. It tells us many things. It tells us +that Injins are not Jews. They never hurt the Son of the Great Spirit. +It tells us that the red men have always lived on these hunting-grounds, +and did not come from toward the rising sun. It tells us that pale-faces +are not fit to live. They are too wicked. Let them die." + +"I would ask a question," put in Peter. "This tradition is not new. I +have heard it before. It entered but a little way into my ears. I did +not think of it. It has now entered deeper, and I wish to hear more. Why +did not the Son of the Great Spirit kill the Jews?--why did he let the +Jews kill him? Will my brother say?" + +"He came on earth to die for man, whose wickedness was so deep that the +Great Spirit's justice could not be satisfied with less. WHY this is so +no one knows. It is enough that it should be so. Instead of thinking of +doing harm to his tormentors and murderers, he died for them, and died +asking for benefits on them, and on their wives and children, for all +time to come. It was he who commanded us to do good to them that do harm +to us." + +Peter gave the utmost attention to this answer, and when he had received +it, he walked apart, musing profoundly. It is worthy of being observed +that not one of these savages raised any hollow objections to the +incarnation of the Son of the Great Spirit, as would have been the case +with so many civilized men. To them this appeared no more difficult and +incomprehensible than most of that which they saw around them. It is +when we begin to assume the airs of philosophy, and to fancy, because +we know a little, that the whole book of knowledge is within our grasp, +that men become sceptics. There is not a human being now in existence +who does not daily, hourly see that which is just as much beyond his +powers of comprehension as this account of the incarnation of the Deity, +and the whole doctrine of the Trinity; and yet he acquiesces in that +which is before his eyes, because it is familiar and he sees it, while +he cavils at all else, though the same unknown and inexplicable cause +lies behind everything. The deepest philosophy is soon lost in this +general mystery, and, to the eye of a meek reason, all around us is a +species of miracle, which must be referred to the power of the Deity. + +While thus disposed to receive the pale-face traditions with respect, +however, the red men did not lose sight of their own policy and +purposes. The principal chiefs now stepped aside, and held a brief +council. Though invited to do so, Peter did not join them; leaving to +Bough of the Oak, Ungque, and Bear's Meat the control of the result +The question was whether the original intention of including this +medicine-priest among those to be cut off should, or should not, be +adhered to. One or two of the chiefs had their doubts, but the opinion +of the council was adverse. + +"If the pale-faces killed the Son of their Great Spirit, why should we +hesitate about killing them?" The Weasel asked, with malicious point, +for he saw that Peter was now sorely troubled at the probability of his +own design being fully carried out. "There is no difference. This is +a medicine-priest--in the wigwam is a medicine-bee-hunter, and that +warrior may be a medicine-warrior. We do not know. We are poor Injins +that know but little. It is not so with the pale-faces; they talk with +the conjurer's bees, and know much. We shall not have ground enough to +take even a muskrat, soon, unless we cut off the strangers. The Manitou +has given us these; let us kill them." + +As no one very strenuously opposed the scheme, the question was soon +decided, and Ungque was commissioned to communicate the result to +the captives. One exception, however, was to be made in favor of the +missionary. His object appeared to be peaceful, and it was determined +that he should be led a short distance into the surrounding thicket, and +be there put to death, without any attempt to torture, or aggravate his +sufferings. As a mark of singular respect, it was also decided not to +scalp him. + +As Ungque, and those associated with him, led the missionary to the +place of execution, the former artfully invited Peter to follow. This +was done simply because the Weasel saw that it would now be unpleasant +to the man he hated--hated merely because he possessed an influence that +he coveted for himself. + +"My father will see a pleasant sight," said the wily Weasel, as he +walked at Peter's side, toward the indicated spot; "he will see a +pale-face die, and know that his foot has been put upon another worm." + +No answer was made to this ironical remark, but Peter walked in silence +to the place where the missionary was stationed, surrounded by a guard. +Ungque now advanced and spoke. + +"It is time for the medicine-priest of the pale-faces to start after the +spirits of his people who have gone before him," he said. "The path is +long, and unless he walks fast, and starts soon, he may not overtake +them. I hope he will see some of them that helped to kill the Son of his +Great Spirit, starving, and foot-sore, on the way." + +"I understand you," returned the missionary, after a few moments passed +in recovering from the shock of this communication. "My hour is come. I +have held my life in my hand ever since I first put foot in this heathen +region, and if it be the Creator's will that I am now to die, I bow to +the decree. Grant me a few minutes for prayer to my God." + +Ungque signed that the delay should be granted. The missionary uncovered +his head, knelt, and again lifted up his voice in prayer. At first the +tones were a little tremulous; but they grew firmer as he proceeded. +Soon they became as serene as usual. He first asked mercy for himself, +threw all his hopes on the great atonement, and confessed how far he was +from that holiness which alone could fit him to see God. When this duty +was performed, he prayed for his enemies. The language used was his +mother tongue, but Peter comprehended most of that which was said. He +heard his own people prayed for; he heard his own name mentioned, as the +condemned man asked the mercy of the Manitou in his behalf. Never before +was the soul of this extraordinary savage so shaken. The past seemed +like a dream to him, while the future possessed a light that was still +obscured by clouds. Here was an exemplification in practice of that +divine spirit of love and benevolence which had struck him, already, +as so very wonderful. There could be no mistake. There was the kneeling +captive, and his words, clear, distinct, and imploring, ascended through +the cover of the bushes to the throne of God. + +As soon as the voice of the missionary was mute, the mysterious chief +bowed his head and moved away. He was then powerless. No authority of +his could save the captive, and the sight that so lately would have +cheered his eyes was now too painful to bear. He heard the single blow +of the tomahawk which brained the victim, and he shuddered from head to +foot. It was the first time such a weakness had ever come over him. As +for the missionary, in deference to his pursuits, his executioners dug +him a grave, and buried him unmutilated on the spot where he had fallen. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + + Brutal alike in deed and word, + With callous heart and hand of strife. + How like a fiend may man be made, + Plying the foul and monstrous trade + Whose harvest-field is human life. + --WHITTIER. + + +A veil like that of oblivion dropped before the form of the missionary. +The pious persons who had sent him forth to preach to the heathen, +never knew his fate; a disappearance that was so common to that class of +devoted men, as to produce regret rather than surprise. Even those who +took his life felt a respect for him; and, strange as it may seem, it +was to the eloquence of the man who now would have died to save him, +that his death was alone to be attributed. Peter had awakened fires that +he could not quench, and aroused a spirit that he could not quell. In +this respect, he resembled most of those who, under the guise of reform, +or revolution, in moments of doubt, set in motion a machine that is +found impossible to control, when it is deemed expedient to +check exaggeration by reason. Such is often the case with even +well-intentioned leaders, who constantly are made to feel how much +easier it is to light a conflagration, than to stay its flames when +raging. + +Corporal Flint was left seated on the log, while the bloody scene of the +missionary's death was occurring. He was fully alive to all the horrors +of his own situation, and comprehended the nature of his companion's +movements. The savages usually manifested so much respect for +missionaries, that he was in no degree surprised. Parson Amen had been +taken apart for his execution, and when those who had caused his removal +returned, the corporal looked anxiously for the usual but revolting +token of his late companion's death. As has been said, however, the +missionary was suffered to lie in his wild grave, without suffering a +mutilation of his remains. + +Notwithstanding this moderation, the Indians were getting to be incited +by this taste of blood. The principal chiefs became sterner in their +aspects, and the young men began to manifest some such impatience as +that which the still untried pup betrays, when he first scents his +game. All these were ominous symptoms, and were well understood by the +captive. + +Perhaps it would not have been possible, in the whole range of human +feelings, to find two men under influences more widely opposed to each +other than were the missionary and the corporal, in this, their last +scene on earth. The manner of Parson Amen's death has been described. He +died in humble imitation of his Divine Master, asking for blessings on +those who were about to destroy him, with a heart softened by Christian +graces, and a meekness that had its origin in the consciousness of his +own demerits. On the other hand, the corporal thought only of vengeance. +Escape he knew to be impossible, and he would fain take his departure +like a soldier, or as he conceived a soldier should die, in the midst of +fallen foes. + +Corporal Flint had a salutary love of life, and would very gladly +escape, did the means offer; but, failing of these, all his thoughts +turned toward revenge. Some small impulses of ambition, or what it is +usual to dignify with that term, showed themselves even at that serious +moment. He had heard around the camp-fires, and in the garrisons, so +many tales of heroism and of fortitude manifested by soldiers who had +fallen into the hands of the Indians, that a faint desire to enroll his +own name on the list of these worthies was beginning to arise in his +breast. But truth compels us to add that the predominant feeling was +the wish to revenge his own fate, by immolating as many of his foes +as possible. To this last purpose, therefore, his thoughts were mainly +directed, during that interval which his late companion had employed in +prayers for those under whose blows he was about to fall. Such is the +difference in man, with his heart touched, or untouched, by the power of +the Holy Spirit. + +It was, however, much easier for the corporal to entertain designs of +the nature mentioned than to carry them out: unarmed, surrounded by +watchful enemies, and totally without support of any sort, the chances +of effecting his purpose were small indeed. Once, for a minute only, +the veteran seriously turned his thoughts to escape. It occurred to him, +that he might possibly reach the castle, could he get a little start; +and should the Indians compel him to run the gauntlet, as was often +their practice, he determined to make an effort for life in that mode. +Agreeably to the code of frontier warfare, a successful flight of this +nature was scarcely less creditable than a victory in the field. + +Half an hour passed after the execution of the missionary before the +chiefs commenced their proceedings with the corporal. The delay was +owing to a consultation, in which The Weasel had proposed despatching +a party to the castle, to bring in the family, and thus make a common +destruction of the remaining pale-faces known to be in that part of the +Openings. Peter did not dare to oppose this scheme, himself; but he so +managed as to get Crowsfeather to do it, without bringing himself into +the foreground. The influence of the Pottawattamie prevailed, and it +was decided to torture this one captive, and to secure his scalp, before +they proceeded to work their will on the others. Ungque, who had gained +ground rapidly by his late success, was once more commissioned to state +to the captive the intentions of his captors. + +"Brother," commenced The Weasel, placing himself directly in front of +the corporal, "I am about to speak to you. A wise warrior opens his +ears, when he hears the voice of his enemy. He may learn something it +will be good for him to know. It will be good for you to know what I am +about to say. + +"Brother, you are a pale-face, and we are Injins. You wish to get our +hunting-grounds, and we wish to keep them. To keep them, it has become +necessary to take your scalp. I hope you are ready to let us have it." + +The corporal had but an indifferent knowledge of the Indian language, +but he comprehended all that was uttered on this occasion. Interest +quickened his faculties, and no part of what was said was lost. The +gentle, slow, deliberate manner in which The Weasel delivered himself, +contributed to his means of understanding. He was fortunately prepared +for what her heard, and the announcement of his approaching fate did not +disturb him to the degree of betraying weakness. This last was a +triumph in which the Indians delighted, though they ever showed the +most profound respect for such of their victims as manifested a manly +fortitude. It was necessary to reply, which the corporal did in English, +knowing that several present could interpret his words. With a view to +render this the more easy, he spoke in fragments of sentences, and with +great deliberation. + +"Injins," returned the corporal, "you surrounded me, and I have been +taken prisoner--had there been a platoon on us, you mightn't have made +out quite so well. It's no great victory for three hundred warriors to +overcome a single man. I count Parson Amen as worse than nothing, for +he looked to neither rear nor flank. If I could have half an hour's work +upon you, with only half of our late company, I think we should lower +your conceit. But that is impossible, and so you may do just what you +please with me. I ask no favors." + +Although this answer was very imperfectly translated, it awakened a good +deal of admiration. A man who could look death so closely in the face, +with so much steadiness, became a sort of hero in Indian eyes; and +with the North American savage, fortitude is a virtue not inferior to +courage. Murmurs of approbation were heard, and Ungque was privately +requested to urge the captive further, in order to see how far present +appearances were likely to be maintained. + +"Brother, I have said that we are Injins," resumed The Weasel, with an +air so humble, and a voice so meek, that a stranger might have supposed +he was consoling, instead of endeavoring to intimidate, the prisoner. +"It is true. We are nothing but poor, ignorant Injins. We can only +torment our prisoners after Injin fashion. If we were pale-faces, we +might do better. We did not torment the medicine-priest. We were afraid +he would laugh at our mistakes. He knew a great deal. We know but +little. We do as well as we know how. + +"Brother, when Injins do as well as they know how, a warrior should +forget their mistakes. We wish to torment you, in a way to prove that +you are all over man. We wish so to torment you that you will stand up +under the pain in such a way that it will make our young men think your +mother was not a squaw--that there is no woman in you. We do this for +our own honor, as well as for yours. It will be an honor to us to have +such a captive; it will be an honor to you to be such a captive. We +shall do as well as we know how. + +"Brother, it is most time to begin. The tormenting will last a long +time. We must not let the medicine-priest get too great a start on the +path to the happy hunting-grounds of your--" + +Here, a most unexpected interruption occurred, that effectually put a +stop to the eloquence of Ungque. In his desire to make an impression, +the savage approached within reach of the captive's arm, while his +own mind was intent on the words that he hoped would make the prisoner +quail. The corporal kept his eye on that of the speaker, charming him, +as it were, into a riveted gaze, in return. Watching his opportunity, he +caught the tomahawk from The Weasel's belt, and by a single blow, felled +him dead at his feet. Not content with this, the old soldier now bounded +forward, striking right and left, inflicting six or eight wounds on +others, before he could be again arrested, disarmed, and bound. While +the last was doing, Peter withdrew, unobserved. + +Many were the "hughs" and other exclamations of admiration that +succeeded this display of desperate manhood! The body of The Weasel was +removed, and interred, while the wounded withdrew to attend to their +hurts; leaving the arena to the rest assembled there. As for the +corporal, he was pretty well blown, and, in addition to being now bound +hand and foot, his recent exertions, which were terrific while they +lasted, effectually incapacitated him from making any move, so long as +he was thus exhausted and confined. + +A council was now held by the principal chiefs. Ungque had few friends. +In this, he shared the fate of most demagogues, who are commonly +despised even by those they lead and deceive. No one regretted him +much, and some were actually glad of his fate. But the dignity of the +conquerors must be vindicated. It would never do to allow a pale-face +to obtain so great an advantage, and not take a signal vengeance for +his deeds. After a long consultation, it was determined to subject the +captive to the trial by saplings, and thus see if he could bear the +torture without complaining. + +As some of our readers may not understand what this fell mode of +tormenting is, it may be necessary to explain. + +There is scarcely a method of inflicting pain, that comes within, the +compass of their means, that the North American Indians have not essayed +on their enemies. When the infernal ingenuity that is exercised on these +occasions fails of its effect, the captives themselves have been heard +to suggest other means of torturing that THEY have known practised +successfully by their own people. There is often a strange strife +between the tormentors and the tormented; the one to manifest skill in +inflicting pain, and the other to manifest fortitude in enduring it. +As has just been said, quite as much renown is often acquired by the +warrior, in setting all the devices of his conquerors at defiance, while +subject to their hellish attempts, as in deeds of arms. It might be more +true to say that such WAS the practice among the Indians, than to say, +at the present time, that such IS; for it is certain that civilization +in its approaches, while it has in many particulars even degraded the +red man, has had a silent effect in changing and mitigating many of his +fiercer customs--this, perhaps, among the rest. It is probable that the +more distant tribes still resort to all these ancient usages; but it is +both hoped and believed that those nearer to the whites do not. + +The "torture by saplings" is one of those modes of inflicting pain that +would naturally suggest themselves to savages. Young trees that do not +stand far apart are trimmed of their branches, and brought nearer to +each other by bending their bodies; the victim is then attached to both +trunks, sometimes by his extended arms, at others by his legs, or by +whatever part of the frame cruelty can suggest, when the saplings are +released, and permitted to resume their upright positions. Of course, +the sufferer is lifted from the earth, and hangs suspended by his limbs, +with a strain on them that soon produces the most intense anguish. The +celebrated punishment of the "knout" partakes a good deal of this same +character of suffering. Bough of the Oak now approached the corporal, to +let him know how high an honor was in reserve for him. + +"Brother," said this ambitious orator, "you are a brave warrior. You +have done well. Not only have you killed one of our chiefs, but you have +wounded several of our young men. No one but a brave could have done +this. You have forced us to bind you, lest you might kill some more. +It is not often that captives do this. Your courage has caused us to +consult HOW we might best torture you, in a way most to manifest your +manhood. After talking together, the chiefs have decided that a man of +your firmness ought to be hung between two young trees. We have found +the trees, and have cut off their branches. You can see them. If they +were a little larger their force would be greater, and they would give +you more pain--would be more worthy of you; but these are the largest +saplings we could find. Had there been any larger, we would have let +you have them. We wish to do you honor, for you are a bold warrior, and +worthy to be well tormented. + +"Brother, look at these saplings! They are tall and straight. When they +are bent by many hands, they will come together. Take away the hands, +and they will become straight again. Your arms must then keep them +together. We wish we had some pappooses here, that they might shoot +arrows into your flesh. That would help much to torment you. You cannot +have this honor, for we have no pappooses. We are afraid to let our +young men shoot arrows into your flesh. They are strong, and might kill +you. We wish you to die between the saplings, as is your right, being so +great a brave. + +"Brother, we think much better of you since you killed The Weasel, and +hurt our young men. If all your warriors at Chicago had been as bold +as you, Black-Bird would not have taken that fort. You would have saved +many scalps. This encourages us. It makes us think the Great Spirit +means to help us, and that we shall kill all the pale-faces. When we get +further into your settlements, we do not expect to meet many such braves +as you. They tell us we shall then find men who will run, and screech +like women. It will not be a pleasure to torment such men. We had +rather torment a bold warrior, like you, who makes us admire him for his +manliness. We love our squaws, but not in the warpath. They are best +in the lodges; here we want nothing but men. You are a man--a brave--we +honor you. We think, notwithstanding, we shall yet make you weak. It +will not be easy, yet we hope to do it. We shall try. We may not think +quite so well of you, if we do it; but we shall always call you a brave. +A man is not a stone. We can all feel, and when we have done all that is +in our power, no one can do more. It is so with Injins; we think it must +be so with pale-faces. We mean to try and see how it is." + +The corporal understood very little of this harangue, though he +perfectly comprehended the preparations of the saplings, and Bough of +the Oak's allusions to THEM. He was in a cold sweat at the thought, for +resolute as he was, he foresaw sufferings that human fortitude could +hardly endure. In this state of the case, and in the frame of mind he +was in, he had recourse to an expedient of which he had often heard, +and which he thought might now be practised to some advantage. It was to +open upon the savages with abuse, and to exasperate them, by taunts and +sarcasm, to such a degree as might induce some of the weaker members +of the tribe to dispatch him on the spot. As the corporal, with the +perspective of the saplings before his eyes, manifested a good deal of +ingenuity on this occasion, we shall record some of his efforts. + +"D'ye call yourselves chiefs and warriors?" he began, upon a pretty high +key. "I call ye squaws! There is not a man among ye. Dogs would be the +best name. You are poor Injins. A long time ago, the pale-faces came +here in two or three little canoes. They were but a handful, and you +were plentier than prairie wolves. Your bark could be heard throughout +the land. Well, what did this handful of pale-faces? It drove your +fathers before them, until they got all the best of the hunting-grounds. +Not an Injin of you all, now, ever get down on the shores of the great +salt lake, unless to sell brooms and baskets, and then he goes sneaking +like a wolf after a sheep. You have forgotten how clams and oysters +taste. Your fathers had as many of them as they could eat; but not one +of YOU ever tasted them. The pale-faces eat them all. If an Injin asked +for one, they would throw the shell at his head, and call him a dog. + +"Do you think that my chiefs would hang one of you between two such +miserable saplings as these? No! They would scorn to practice such +pitiful torture. They would bring the tops of two tall pines together, +trees a hundred and fifty feet high, and put their prisoner on the +topmost boughs, for the crows and ravens to pick his eyes out. But you +are miserable Injins! You know nothing. If you know'd any better, would +you act such poor torment ag'in' a great brave? I spit upon ye, and call +you squaws. The pale-faces have made women of ye. They have taken out +your hearts, and put pieces of dog's flesh in their places." + +Here the corporal, who delivered himself with an animation suited to his +language, was obliged to pause, literally for want of breath. Singular +as it may seem, this tirade excited great admiration among the savages. +It is true, that very few understood what was said; perhaps no one +understood ALL, but the manner was thought to be admirable. When some of +the language was interpreted, a deep but smothered resentment was felt; +more especially at the taunts touching the manner in which the whites +had overcome the red men. Truth is hard to be borne, and the individual, +or people, who will treat a thousand injurious lies with contempt, feel +all their ire aroused at one reproach that has its foundation in fact. +Nevertheless, the anger that the corporal's words did, in truth, awaken, +was successfully repressed, and he had the disappointment of seeing that +his life was spared for the torture. + +"Brother," said Bough of the Oak, again placing himself before the +captive, "you have a stout heart. It is made of stone, and not of flesh. +If our hearts be of dog's meat, yours is of stone. What you say is true. +The pale-faces DID come at first in two or three canoes, and there were +but few of them. We are ashamed, for it is true, A few pale-faces drove +toward the setting sun many Injins. But we cannot be driven any further. +We mean to stop here, and begin to take all the scalps we can. A great +chief, who belongs to no one tribe, but belongs to all tribes, who +speaks all tongues, has been sent by the Great Spirit to arouse us. He +has done it. You know him. He came from the head of the lake with you, +and kept his eye on your scalp. He has meant to take it from the first. +He waited only for an opportunity. That opportunity has come, and we now +mean to do as he has told us we ought to do. This is right. Squaws are +in a hurry; warriors know how to wait. We would kill you at once, and +hang your scalp on our pole, but it would not be right We wish to do +what is right. If we ARE poor Injins, and know but little, we know what +is right. It is right to torment so great a brave, and we mean to do +it. It is only just to you to do so. An old warrior who has seen so many +enemies, and who has so big a heart, ought not to be knocked in the +head like a pappoose or a squaw. It is his right to be tormented. We are +getting ready, and shall soon begin. If my brother can tell us a new way +of tormenting, we are willing to try it. Should we not make out as well +as pale-faces, my brother will remember who we are. We mean to do our +best, and we hope to make his heart soft. If we do this, great will be +our honor. Should we not do it, we cannot help it. We shall try." + +It was now the corporal's turn to put in a rebutter. + +This he did without any failure in will or performance. By this time he +was so well warmed as to think or care very little about the saplings, +and to overlook the pain they might occasion. + +"Dogs can do little but bark; 'specially Injin dogs," he said. "Injins +themselves are little better than their own dogs. They can bark, but +they don't know how to bite. You have many great chiefs here. Some +are panthers, and some bears, and some buffaloes; but where are your +weasels? I have fit you now these twenty years, and never have I known +ye to stand up to the baggonet. It's not Injin natur' to do THAT." + +Here the corporal, without knowing it, made some such reproach to the +aboriginal warriors of America as the English used to throw into the +teeth of ourselves--that of not standing up to a weapon which neither +party possessed. It was matter of great triumph that the Americans would +not stand the charge of the bayonet at the renowned fight on Breed's, +for instance, when it is well known that not one man in five among the +colonists had any such weapon at all to "stand up" with. A different +story was told at Guildford, and Stony Point, and Eutaw, and Bennington, +and Bemis' Heights, and fifty other places that might be named, after +the troops were furnished with bayonets. THEN it was found that the +Americans could use them as well as others, and so might it have proved +with the red men, though their discipline, or mode of fighting, scarce +admitted of such systematic charges. All this, however, the corporal +overlooked, much as if he were a regular historian who was writing to +make out a case. + +"Harkee, brother, since you WILL call me brother; though, Heaven be +praised, not a drop of nigger or Injin blood runs in my veins," resumed +the corporal. "Harkee, friend redskin, answer me one thing. Did you ever +hear of such a man as Mad Anthony? He was the tickler for your infernal +tribes! You pulled no saplings together for him. He put you up with 'the +long-knives and leather-stockings,' and you outrun his fleetest horses. +I was with him, and saw more naked backs than naked faces among your +people, that day. Your Great Bear got a rap on his nose that sent him to +his village yelping like a cur." + +Again was the corporal compelled to stop to take breath. The allusion to +Wayne, and his defeat of the Indians, excited so much ire, that several +hands grasped knives and tomahawks, and one arrow was actually drawn +nearly to the head; but the frown of Bear's Meat prevented any outbreak, +or actual violence. It wa's deemed prudent, however, to put an end to +this scene, lest the straightforward corporal, who laid it on heavily, +and who had so much to say about Indian defeats, might actually succeed +in touching some festering wound that would bring him to his death at +once. It was, accordingly, determined to proceed with the torture of the +saplings without further delay. + +The corporal was removed accordingly, and placed between the two bended +trees, which were kept together by withes around their tops. An arm of +the captive was bound tightly at the wrist to the top of each tree, so +that his limbs were to act as the only tie between the saplings, as soon +as the withes should be cut. The Indians now worked in silence, and the +matter was getting to be much too serious for the corporal to indulge in +any more words. The cold sweat returned, and many an anxious glance +was cast by the veteran on the fell preparations. Still he maintained +appearances, and when all was ready, not a man there was aware of the +agony of dread which prevailed in the breast of the victim. It was not +death that he feared as much as suffering. A few minutes, the corporal +well knew, would make the pain intolerable, while he saw no hope of +putting a speedy end to his existence. A man might live hours in such a +situation. Then it was that the teachings of childhood were revived in +the bosom of this hardened man, and he remembered the Being that died +for HIM, in common with the rest of the human race, on the tree. The +seeming similarity of his own execution struck his imagination, and +brought a tardy but faint recollection of those lessons that had lost +most of their efficacy in the wickedness and impiety of camps. His soul +struggled for relief in that direction, but the present scene was too +absorbing to admit of its lifting itself so far above his humanity. + +"Warrior of the pale-faces," said Bough of the Oak, "we are going to cut +the withe. You will then be where a brave man will want all his courage. +If you are firm, we will do you honor; if you faint and screech, our +young men will laugh at you. This is the way with Injins. They honor +braves; they point the finger at cowards." + +Here a sign was made by Bear's Meat, and a warrior raised the tomahawk +that was to separate the fastenings, His hand was in the very act of +descending, when the crack of a rifle was heard, and a little smoke rose +out of the thicket, near the spot where the bee-hunter and the corporal, +himself, had remained so long hid, on the occasion of the council first +held in that place. The tomahawk fell, however, the withes were parted, +and up flew the saplings, with a violence that threatened to tear the +arms of the victim out of their sockets. + +The Indians listened, expecting the screeches and groans;--they +gazed, hoping to witness the writhings of their captive. But they were +disappointed. There hung the body, its arms distended, still holding +the tops of the saplings bowed, but not a sign of life was seen. A small +line of blood trickled down the forehead, and above it was the nearly +imperceptible hole made by the passage of a bullet. The head itself had +fallen forward, and a little on one shoulder. The corporal had escaped +the torments reserved for him, by this friendly blow. + +It was so much a matter of course for an Indian to revenge his own +wounds--to alleviate his smarts, by retaliating on those who inflicted +them--that the chiefs expressed neither surprise nor resentment at the +manner of the corporal's death. There was some disappointment, it is +true; but no anger was manifested, since it was supposed that some one +of those whom the prisoner had wounded had seen fit, in this mode, +to revenge his own hurts. In this, however, the Indians deceived +themselves. The well-intentioned and deadly shot that saved the corporal +from hours of agony came from the friendly hand of Pigeonswing, who had +no sooner discharged his rifle than he stole away through the thicket, +and was never discovered. This he did, too, at the expense of Ungque's +scalp, on which he had set his heart. + +As for the Indians, perceiving that their hopes of forcing a captive +to confess his weakness were frustrated, they conferred together on the +course of future proceedings. There was an inquiry for Peter, but Peter +was not to be found. Bough of the Oak suggested that the mysterious +chief must have gone to the palisaded hut, in order to get the remaining +scalps, his passion for this symbol of triumphs over pale-faces being +well known. It was, therefore, incumbent on the whole band to follow, +with the double view of sharing in the honor of the assault, and of +rendering assistance. + +Abandoning the body of the corporal where it hung, away went these +savages, by this time keenly alive to the scent of blood. Something like +order was observed, however, each chief leading his own particular part +of the band, in his own way, but on a designated route. Bear's Meat +acted as commander-in-chief, the subordinate leaders following his +instructions with reasonable obedience. Some went in one direction, +others in another; until the verdant bottom near the sweet spring was +deserted. + +In less than half an hour the whole band was collected around Castle +Meal, distant, however, beyond the range of a rifle. The different +parties, as they arrived, announced their presence by whoops, which were +intended to answer the double purpose of signals, and of striking terror +to the hearts of the besieged; the North American Indians making ample +use of this great auxiliary in war. + +All this time no one was seen in or about the fortified hut The gate +was closed, as were the doors and windows, manifesting preparations for +defence; but the garrison kept close. Nor was Peter to be seen. He might +be a prisoner, or he might not have come in this direction. It was just +possible that he might be stealing up to the building, to get a nearer +view, and a closer scout. + +Indian warfare is always stealthy. It is seldom, indeed, that the +aboriginal Americans venture on an open assault of any fortified place, +however small and feeble it may be. Ignorant of the use of artillery, +and totally without that all-important arm, their approaches to any +cover, whence a bullet may be sent against them, are ever wary, slow, +and well concerted. They have no idea of trenches--do not possess the +means of making them, indeed--but they have such substitutes of their +own as usually meet all their wants, more particularly in portions of +the country that are wooded. In cases like this before our present band, +they had to exercise their wits to invent new modes of effecting their +purposes. + +Bear's Meat collected his principal chiefs, and, after a considerable +amount of consultation, it was determined, in the present instance, to +try the virtue of fire. The only sign of life they could detect about +the hut was an occasional bark from Hive, who had been taken within the +building, most probably to protect him from the bullets and arrows of +the enemy. Even this animal did not howl like a dog in distress; but he +barked, as if aware of the vicinity of strangers. The keenest scrutiny +could not detect an outlet of any sort about the hut. Everything was +tightly closed, and it was impossible to say when, or whence, a bullet +might not be sent against the unwary. + +The plan was soon formed, and was quite as rapidly executed. Bough of +the Oak, himself, supported by two or three other braves, undertook to +set the buildings on fire. This was done by approaching the kitchen, +dodging from tree to tree, making each movement with a rapidity that +defeated aim, and an irregularity that defied calculation. In this way +the kitchen was safely reached, where there was a log cover to conceal +the party. Here also was fire, the food for dinner being left, just as +it had been put over to boil, not long before. The Indians had prepared +themselves with arrows and light wood, and soon they commenced sending +their flaming missiles toward the roof of the hut. Arrow after arrow +struck, and it was not long before the roof was on fire. + +A yell now arose throughout the Openings. Far and near the Indians +exulted at their success. The wood was dry, and it was of a very +inflammable nature. The wind blew, and in half an hour Castle Meal +was in a bright blaze. Hive now began to howl, a sign that he knew his +peril. Still, no human being appeared. Presently the flaming roof fell +in and the savages listened intently to hear the screeches of their +victims. The howls of the dog increased, and he was soon seen, with his +hair burned from his skin, leaping on the unroofed wall, and thence into +the area within the palisades. A bullet terminated his sufferings as he +alighted. + +Bear's Meat now gave the signal, and a general rush was made. No rifle +opposed them, and a hundred Indians were soon at the palisades. To the +surprise of all, the gate was found unfastened. Rushing within, the +door of the hut was forced, and a view obtained of the blazing furnace +within. The party had arrived in sufficient season to perceive fragments +of le Bourdon's rude furniture and stores yet blazing, but nowhere was +a human corpse visible. Poles were got, and the brands were removed, in +the expectation of finding bones beneath them; but without success. It +was now certain that no pale-face had perished in that hut. Then the +truth flashed on the minds of all the savages: le Bourdon and his +friends had taken the alarm in time, and had escaped! + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + + Behold, O Lord! the heathen tread + The branches of thy fruitful vine, + That its luxurious tendrils spread + O'er all the hills of Palestine. + And now the wild boar comes to waste + Even us, the greenest boughs and last. + That, drinking of its choicest dew, + On Zion's hill in beauty grew. + --MILMAN. + + The change in Peter had been gradually making itself apparent, ever +since he joined the party of the bee-hunter. When he entered the +Kalamazoo, in the company of the two men who had now fallen the victims +of his own designs, his heart was full of the fell intention of cutting +off the whole white race. Margery had first induced him to think of +exceptions. He had early half-decided that she should be spared, to be +carried to his own lodge, as an adopted daughter. When he became aware +of the state of things between his favorite and her lover, there was a +severe struggle in his breast on the subject of sparing the last. He +saw how strongly the girl was attached to him, and something like human +sentiments forced their way among his savage plans. The mysterious +communication of le Bourdon with the bees, however, had far more +influence in determining him to spare so great a medicine-man, than +Margery's claims; and he had endeavored to avail himself of a marriage +as a means of saving the bride, instead of saving the bridegroom. +All the Indians entertained a species of awe for le Bourdon, and all +hesitated about laying hands on one who appeared so gifted. It was, +therefore, the expectation of this extraordinary being that the wife +might be permitted to escape with the husband. The effect of The +Weasel's cunning has been described. Such was the state of Peter's mind +when he met the band in the scenes last described. There he had been all +attention to the demeanor of the missionary. A hundred times had he seen +warriors die uttering maledictions on their enemies; but this was the +first occasion on which he had ever known a man to use his latest breath +in asking for blessings on those "who persecuted him." At first, Peter +was astounded. Then the sublime principles had their effect, and his +heart was deeply touched with what he heard. How far the Holy Spirit +aided these better feelings, it might be presumptuous, on the one hand, +to say; while, on the other, it will be equally presuming to think of +denying the possibility--nay, the probability--that the great change +which so suddenly came over the heart of Peter was produced by more than +mere human agencies. We know that this blessed Spirit is often poured +out, in especial cases, with affluent benevolence, and there can be no +sufficient reason for supposing this savage might not have been thus +signally favored, as soon as the avenues of his heart opened to the +impulses of a generous humanity. The very qualities that would induce +such a being to attempt the wild and visionary scheme of vengeance and +retribution, that had now occupied his sleeping and waking thoughts for +years, might, under a better direction, render him eminently fit to be +the subject of divine grace. A latent sense of right lay behind all his +seeming barbarity, and that which to us appears as a fell ferocity, was, +in his own eyes, no less than a severe justice. + +The words, the principles, the prayers, and, more than all, the EXAMPLE +of the missionary, wrought this great change, so far as human agencies +were employed; but the power of God was necessary to carry out and +complete this renewal of the inner man. We do not mean that a miracle +was used in the sudden conversion of this Indian to better feelings, for +that which is of hourly occurrence, and which may happen to all, comes +within the ordinary workings of a Divine Providence, and cannot thus be +designated with propriety; but we do wish to be understood as saying, +that no purely human power could have cleared the moral vision, changed +all the views, and softened the heart of such a man, as was so promptly +done in the case of Peter. The way had been gradually preparing, +perhaps, by the means already described, but the great transformation +came so suddenly and so powerfully as to render him a different being, +as it might almost be, in the twinkling of an eye! Such changes often +occur, and though it may suit the self-sufficiency of the worldling +to deride them, he is the wisest who submits in the meekest spirit to +powers that exceed his comprehension. + +In this state of mind, then, Peter left the band as soon as the fate of +the missionary was decided. His immediate object was to save the +whites who remained, Gershom and Dorothy now having a place in his +good intentions, as well as le Bourdon and Margery. Although he moved +swiftly, and nearly by an air-line, his thoughts scarce kept company +with his feet. During that rapid walk, he was haunted with the image of +a man, dying while he pronounced benedictions on his enemies! + +There was little in common between the natural objects of that placid +and rural scene and the fell passions that were so actively at work +among the savages. The whole of the landscape was bathed in the light +of a clear, warm summer's day. These are the times when the earth truly +seems a sanctuary, in spots remote from the haunts of men, and least +exposed to his abuses. The bees hum around the flowers, the birds carol +on the boughs and from amid their leafy arbors, while even the leaping +and shining waters appear to be instinct with the life that extols the +glory of God. + +As for the family near the palisaded hut, happiness had not, for many +a month, been so seated among them, as on this very occasion. Dorothy +sympathized truly in the feelings of the youthful and charming bride, +while Gershom had many of the kind and affectionate wishes of a brother +in her behalf. The last was in his best attire, as indeed were the +females, who were neatly though modestly clad, and Gershom had that air +of decent repose and of quiet enjoyment, which is so common of a Sabbath +with the men of his class, among the people from whom he sprung. The +fears lately excited were momentarily forgotten. Everything around them +wore an air so placid; the vault above them was so profoundly tranquil; +the light of day was so soft and yet so bright; the Openings seemed so +rural and so much like pictures of civilization, that apprehension had +been entirely forgotten in present enjoyment. Such was the moment when +Peter suddenly stood before le Bourdon and Margery, as the young couple +sat beneath the shade of the oaks, near the spring. One instant the +Indian regarded this picture of young wedded life with a gleam of +pleasure on his dark face; then he announced his presence by speaking. + +"Can't sit here lookin' at young squaw," said this literal being. +"Get up, and put thing in canoe. Time come to go on path dat lead to +pale-face country." + +"What has happened, Peter?" demanded the bee-hunter, springing to his +feet. "You come like a runner rushing in with his bad tidings. Has +anything happened to give an alarm?" + +"Up, and off, tell you. No use talkin' now. Put all he can in canoe, +and paddle away fast as can." There was no mistaking Peter's manner. The +bee-hunter saw the uselessness of questioning such a man, at a time like +that, and he called to Gershom to join him. + +"Here is the chief, to warn us to move," said the bee-hunter, +endeavoring to appear calm, in order that he might not needlessly alarm +the females, "and what he advises, we had better do. I know there is +danger, by what has fallen from Pigeonswing as well as from himself; so +let us lose no time, but stow the canoes, and do as he tells us." + +As Gershom assented, it was not two minutes ere all were at work. For +several days, each canoe had been furnished with provisions for a hasty +flight. It remained only to add such of the effects as were too valuable +and necessary to be abandoned, and which had not been previously exposed +without the palisades. For half an hour le Bourdon and Gershom worked +as for life. No questions were asked, nor was a single moment lost, in +a desire to learn more. The manner in which Peter bore himself satisfied +Boden that the emergency was pressing, and it is seldom that more was +done by so few hands in so short a period. Fortunately, the previous +preparation greatly aided the present object, and nearly everything of +any value was placed in the canoes within the brief space mentioned. It +then became necessary to decide concerning the condition in which Castle +Meal was to be left. Peter advised closing every aperture, shutting +the gate, and leaving the dog within. There is no doubt that these +expedients prevented the parties falling early into the hands of their +enemies; for the time lost by the savages in making their approaches to +the hut was very precious to the fugitives. + +Just as the canoes were loaded, Pigeonswing came in. He announced that +the whole band was in motion, and might be expected to reach the grove +in ten minutes. Placing an arm around the slender waist of Margery, le +Bourdon almost carried her to his own canoe, Gershom soon had Dorothy in +his little bark, while Peter entered that to the ownership of which he +may be said to have justly succeeded by the deaths of the corporal and +the missionary. Pigeonswing remained behind, in order to act as a scout, +having first communicated to Peter the course the last ought to steer. +Before the Chippewa plunged into the cover in which it was his intention +to conceal himself, he made a sign that the band was already in sight. + +The heart of le Bourdon sunk within him, when he learned how near were +the enemy. To him, escape seemed impossible; and he now regretted having +abandoned the defences of his late residence. The river was sluggish for +more than a mile at that spot, and then occurred a rift, which could +not be passed without partly unloading the canoes, and where there must +necessarily be a detention of more than an hour. Thus, it was scarcely +possible for canoes descending that stream to escape from so large a +band of pursuers. The sinuosities, themselves, would enable the last +to gain fifty points ahead of them, where ambushes, or even open +resistance, must place them altogether at the mercy of the savages. + +Peter knew all this, as well as the bee-hunter, and he had no intention +of trusting his new friends in a flight down the river. Pigeonswing, +with the sententious brevity of an Indian, had made an important +communication to him, while they were moving, for the last time, toward +the canoes, and he now determined to profit by it. Taking the lead, +therefore, with his own canoe, Peter paddled UP, instead of DOWN the +stream, going in a direction opposite to that which it would naturally +be supposed the fugitives had taken. In doing this, also, he kept +close under the bank which would most conceal the canoes from those who +approached it on its southern side. + +It will be remembered that the trees for the palisades had been cut from +a swamp, a short distance above the bee-hunter's residence. They had +grown on the margin of the river, which had been found serviceable in +floating the logs to their point of destination. The tops of many of +these trees, resinuous, and suited by their nature to preserve their +leaves for a considerable time, lay partly in the stream and partly on +its banks; and Pigeonswing, foreseeing the necessity of having a place +of refuge, had made so artful a disposition of several of them, that, +while they preserved all the appearance of still lying where they had +fallen, it was possible to haul canoes up beneath them, between the +branches and the bank, in a way to form a place of perfect concealment. +No Indian would have trusted to such a hiding-place, had it not been +matter of notoriety that the trees had been felled for a particular +purpose, or had their accidental disposition along the bank been +discernibly deranged. But such was not the case, the hand of Pigeonswing +having been so skilfully employed that what he had done could not +be detected. He might be said to have assisted nature, instead of +disturbing her. + +The canoes were actually paddling close under the bank, in the Castle +Meal reach of the river, when the band arrived at the grove, and +commenced what might be called the investment of the place. Had not all +the attention of the savages been drawn toward the hut, it is probable +that some wandering eye might have caught a glimpse of some one of them, +as inequalities in the bank momentarily exposed each, in succession, +to view. This danger, however, passed away, and by turning a point, +the fugitives were effectually concealed from all who did not actually +approach the river at that particular point. Here it was, however, that +the swamp commenced, and the ground being wet and difficult, no one +would be likely to do this. The stream flowed through this swamp, having +a dense wood on each side, though one of no great extent. The reach, +moreover, was short, making a completely sheltered haven of the +Kalamazoo, within its limits. + +Once in this wooded reach, Peter tossed an arm, and assumed an air of +greater security. He felt infinitely relieved, and knew that they were +safe, for a time, unless some wanderer should have taken to the swamp--a +most improbable thing of itself. When high enough, he led the way across +the stream, and entering below, he soon had all the canoes in their +place of concealment. + +"Dis good place," observed the great chief, as soon as all were fast; +"bess take care, dough. Bess not make track too much on land; Injin got +sharp eye, and see ebbery t'ing. Now, I go and talk wid chief. Come back +by-'em-by. You stay here. Good-bye." + +"Stop, Peter--one word before we part. If you see Parson Amen, or the +corporal, it might be well to tell THEM where we are to be found. They +would be glad to know." + +Peter looked grave; even sad. He did not answer for fully a minute. When +he did, it was in a low, suppressed voice, such as one is apt to use +when there is a weight felt on his mind. + +"Nebber know any t'ing ag'in," returned the chief. "Both dem pale-face +dead." + +"Dead!" echoed all within hearing. + +"Juss so; Injin kill him. Mean to kill you, too--dat why I run away. +Saw medicine-priest die. What you t'ink, Blossom?--What you t'ink, +Bourdon?--Dat man die asking Great Spirit to do good to Injin!" + +"I can believe it, Peter, for he was a good man, and such are our +Christian laws, though few of us obey them. I can easily believe that +Parson Amen was an exception, however." + +"Yes, Peter, such are our Christian laws," put in Margery, earnestly. +"When Christ, the Son of God, came on earth to redeem lost men, he +commanded his followers to do good to them that did evil to us, and to +pray for them that tried to harm us. We have his very words, written in +our bibles." + +"You got him?" said Peter, with interest. "See you read him, of'en. Got +dat book here?" + +"To be sure I have--it is the last thing I should have forgotten. Dolly +has one, and I have another; we read in them every day, and we hope +that, before long, brother and Bourdon will read in them, too." + +"Why, I'm no great scholar, Margery," returned her husband, scratching +his full, curling head of hair, out of pure awkwardness; "to please YOU, +however, I'd undertake even a harder job. It was so with the bees, when +I began; I thought I should never succeed in lining the first bee to his +hive; but, since that time, I think I've lined a thousand!" + +"It's easy, it's easy, dear Benjamin, if you will only make a +beginning," returned the much interested young wife. "When we get to a +place of safety, if it be God's will that we ever shall, I hope to have +you join me in reading the good book, daily. See, Peter, I keep it in +this little bag, where it is safe, and always at hand." + +"You read dem word for me, Blossom: I want to hear him, out of dis book, +himself." + +Margery did as he desired. She was very familiar with the New Testament, +and, turning to the well-known and God-like passage, she read several +verses, in a steady, earnest voice. Perhaps the danger they were in, +and the recent communication of the death of their late companions, +increased her earnestness and solemnity of manner, for the effect +produced on Peter was scarcely less than that he had felt when he +witnessed a practical obedience to these sublime principles, in the +death of the missionary. Tears actually started to this stern savage's +eyes, and he looked back on his late projects and endeavors to immolate +a whole race with a shudder. Taking Margery's hand, he courteously +thanked her, and prepared to quit the place. Previously to leaving +his friends, however, Peter gave a brief account of the manner of the +missionary's death, and of the state in which he had left the corporal. +Pigeonswing had told him of the fate of the last, as well as of the +eagerness with which the band had set out in quest of more white scalps. + +"Peter, we can count on you for a friend, I hope?" said the bee-hunter, +as the two were about to part, on the bank of the river. "I fear you +were, once, our enemy!" + +"Bourdon," said Peter, with dignity, and speaking in the language of his +own people, "listen. There are Good Spirits, and there are Bad Spirits. +Our traditions tell us this. Our own minds tell us this, too. For twenty +winters a Bad Spirit has been whispering in my ear. I listened to +him; and did what he told me to do. I believed what he said. His words +were--'Kill your enemies--scalp all the pale-faces--do not leave a +squaw, or a pappoose. Make all their hearts heavy. This is what an Injin +should do.' So has the Bad Spirit been whispering to me, for twenty +winters. I listened to him. What he said, I did. It was pleasant to me +to take the scalps of the pale-faces. It was pleasant to think that no +more scalps would be left among them, to take. I was Scalping Peter. + +"Bourdon, the Good Spirit has, at last, made himself heard. His whisper +is so low, that at first my ears did not hear him. They hear him now. +When he spoke loudest, it was with the tongue of the medicine-priest of +your people. He was about to die. When we are about to die, our voices +become strong and clear. So do our eyes. We see what is before, and we +see what is behind. We feel joy for what is before--we feel sorrow for +what is behind. Your medicine-priest spoke well. It sounded in my ears +as if the Great Spirit, himself, was talking. They say it was his Son. +I believe them. Blossom has read to me out of the good book of your +people, and I find it is so. I feel like a child, and could sit down, in +my wigwam, and weep. + +"Bourdon, you are a pale-face, and I am an Injin. You are strong, and +I am weak. This is because the Son of the Great Spirit has talked with +your people, and has not talked with mine. I now see why the pale-faces +overrun the earth and take the hunting-grounds. They know most, and have +been told to come here, and to tell what they know to the poor ignorant +Injins. I hope my people will listen. What the Son of the Great Spirit +says must be true. He does not know how to do wrong. + +"Bourdon, once it seemed sweet to me to take the scalps of my enemies. +When an Injin did me harm, I took his scalp. This was my way. I could +not help it, then. The Wicked Spirit told me to do this. The Son of the +Manitou has now told me better. I have lived under a cloud. The breath +of the dying medicine-priest of your people has blown away that cloud. +I see clearer. I hear him telling the Manitou to do me good, though +I wanted his scalp. He was answered in my heart. Then my ears opened +wider, and I heard what the Good Spirit whispered. The ear in which the +Bad Spirit had been talking for twenty winters shut, and was deaf. I +hear him no more. I do not want to hear him again. The whisper of the +Son of the Manitou is very pleasant to me. It sounds like the wren +singing his sweetest song. I hope he will always whisper so. My ear +shall never again be shut to his words. + +"Bourdon, it is pleasant to me to look forward. It is not pleasant to me +to look back. I see how many things I have done in one way, that ought +to have been done in another way. I feel sorry, and wish it had not been +so. Then I hear the Son of the Manitou asking His Father, who liveth +above the clouds, to do good to the Jews who took his life. I do not +think Injins are Jews. In this, my brother was wrong. It was his own +notion, and it is easy for a man to think wrong. It is not so with the +Son of the Manitou. He thinketh always as His Father thinketh, which is +right. + +"Bourdon, I am no longer Peter--I must be another Injin. I do not feel +the same. A scalp is a terrible thing in my eyes--I wish never to take +another--never to see another--a scalp is a bad thing. I now LOVE the +Yankees. I wish to do them good, and not to do them harm. I love +most the Great Spirit, that let his own Son die for all men. The +medicine-priest said he died for Injins, as well as for pale-faces. This +we did not know, or we should have talked of him more in our traditions. +We love to talk of good acts. But we are such ignorant Injins! The Son +of the Manitou will have pity on us, and tell us oftener what we ought +to do. In time, we shall learn. Now, I feel like a child: I hope I shall +one day be a man." + +Having made this "confession of faith," one that would have done credit +to a Christian church, Peter shook the bee-hunter kindly by the hand, +and took his departure. He did not walk into the swamp, though it was +practicable with sufficient care, but he stepped into the river, and +followed its margin, knowing that "water leaves no trail." Nor did Peter +follow the direct route toward the now blazing hut, the smoke from +which was rising high above the trees, but he ascended the stream, until +reaching a favorable spot, he threw aside all of his light dress, made +it into a bundle, and swam across the Kalamazoo, holding his clothes +above the element with one hand. On reaching the opposite shore, he +moved on to the upper margin of the swamp, where he resumed his clothes. +Then he issued into the Openings, carrying neither rifle, bow, tomahawk, +nor knife. All his weapons he had left in his canoe, fearful that they +might tempt him to do evil, instead of good, to his enemies. Neither +Bear's Meat, nor Bough of the Oak, was yet regarded by Peter with the +eye of love. He tried not to hate them, and this he found sufficiently +difficult; conscious of this difficulty, he had laid aside his arms, +accordingly. This mighty change had been gradually in progress, ever +since the chief's close communication with Margery, but it had received +its consummation in the last acts, and last words, of the missionary! + +Having got out into the Openings, it was not difficult for Peter to join +his late companions without attracting observation from whence he came. +He kept as much under cover as was convenient, and reached the kitchen, +just as the band broke into the defences, and burst open the door of the +blazing and already roofless hut. Here Peter paused, unwilling to +seem inactive in such a scene, yet averse to doing anything that a +sensitively tender conscience might tell him was wrong. He knew there +was no human being there to save, and cared little for the few effects +that might be destroyed. He did not join the crowd, therefore, until it +was ascertained that the bee-hunter and his companions had escaped. + +"The pale-faces have fled," said Bear's Meat to the great chief, when +the last did approach him. "We have looked for their bones among the +ashes, but there are none. That medicine-bee-hunter has told them that +their scalps were wanted, and they have gone off!" + +"Have any of the young men been down to the river, to look for their +canoes?" quietly demanded Peter. "If the canoes are gone, too, they have +taken the route toward the Great Lake." + +This was so obvious and probable, that a search was immediately set on +foot. The report was soon made, and great was the eagerness to pursue. +The Kalamazoo was so crooked, that no one there doubted of overtaking +the fugitives, and parties were immediately organized for the chase. +This was done with the customary intelligence and shrewdness of Indians. +The canoes that belonged to Crowsfeather and his band had been brought +up the river, and they lay concealed in rushes, not a mile from the hut. +A party of warriors brought them to the landing, and they carried one +division of the party to the opposite shore, it being the plan to follow +each bank of the river, keeping close to the stream, even to its mouth, +should it prove necessary. Two other parties were sent in direct lines, +one on each side of the river, also, to lay in ambush at such distant +points, ahead, as would be almost certain to anticipate the arrival of +the fugitives. The canoes were sent down the stream, to close the net +against return, while Bear's Meat, Bough of the Oak, Crowsfeather, and +several others of the leading chiefs, remained near the still burning +hut, with a strong party, to examine the surrounding Openings for +foot-prints and trails. It was possible that the canoes had been sent +adrift, in order to mislead them, while the pale-faces had fled by land. + +It has been stated that the Openings had a beautiful sward, near Castle +Meal, This was true of that particular spot, and was the reason why +le Bourdon had selected it for his principal place of residence. The +abundance of flowers drew the bees there, a reason of itself why he +should like the vicinity. Lest the reader should be misled, however, +it may be well to explain that an absence of sward is characteristic of +these Openings, rather than the reverse, it being, to a certain degree, +a cause of complaint, now that the country is settled, that the lands of +the Oak Openings are apt to be so light that the grasses do not readily +form as firm a turf as is desirable for meadows and pastures. We +apprehend this is true, however, less as a rule than as exceptions; +there being variety in the soils of these Openings, as well as in other +quarters. + +Nevertheless, the savages were aware that the country around the burned +hut, for a considerable extent, differed, in this particular, from most +of that which lay farther east, or more inland. On the last a trail +would be much more easily detected than on the first, and a party, +under the direction of a particularly experienced leader, was dispatched +several miles to the eastward, to look for the usual signs of the +passage of any toward Detroit, taking that route. This last expedient +troubled Peter exceedingly, since it placed a body of enemies in the +rear of the fugitives; thereby rendering their position doubly perilous. +There was no help for the difficulty, however; and the great chief saw +the party depart without venturing on remonstrance, advice, or any +other expedient to arrest the movement. Bear's Meat now called the head +chiefs, who remained, into a circle, and asked for opinions concerning +the course that ought next to be taken. + +"What does my brother, the tribeless chief, say?" he asked, looking at +Peter, in a way to denote the expectation which all felt, that he ought +to be able to give useful counsel in such a strait. "We have got but +two scalps from six heads; and one of THEM is buried with the +medicine-priest." + +"Scalps cannot be taken from them that get off," returned Peter, +evasively. "We must first catch these pale-faces. When they are found +it will be easy to scalp them. If the canoes are gone, I think the +medicine-bee-hunter and his squaws have gone in them. We may find the +whole down the river." + +To this opinion most of the chiefs assented, though the course of +examining for a trail farther east was still approved. The band was so +strong, while the pale-faces were so few, that a distribution of their +own force was of no consequence, and it was clearly the most prudent to +send out young men in all directions. Every one, however, expected that +the fugitives would be overtaken on, or near, the river, and Bear's Meat +suggested the propriety of their moving down stream, themselves, very +shortly. + +"When did my brother last see the pale-faces?" asked Crowsfeather. "This +bee-hunter knows the river well, and may have started yesterday; or even +after he came from the Great Council of the Prairie." + +This was a new idea, but one that seemed probable enough. All eyes +turned toward Peter, who saw, at once, that such a notion must greatly +favor the security of the fugitives, and felt a strong desire to +encourage it. He found evasion difficult, however, and well knew the +danger of committing himself. Instead of giving a straightforward +answer, therefore, he had recourse to circumlocution and subterfuge. + +"My brother is right," he answered. "The pale-faces HAVE had time to +get far down the stream. As my brothers know, I slept among them at the +Round Prairie. To-day, they know I was with them at the council of the +spring of gushing waters." + +All this was true, as far as it went, although the omissions were very +material. No one seemed to suspect the great chief, whose fidelity +to his own principles was believed to be of a character amounting to +enthusiasm. Little did any there know of the power of the unseen Spirit +of God to alter the heart, producing what religionists term the new +birth. We do not wish, however, to be understood that Peter had, as +yet, fully experienced this vast change. It is not often the work of a +moment, though well-authenticated modern instances do exist, in which we +have every reason to believe that men have been made to see and feel +the truth almost as miraculously as was St. Paul himself. As for this +extraordinary savage, he had entered into the strait and narrow way, +though he was not far advanced on its difficult path. + +When men tell us of the great progress that the race is making toward +perfection, and point to the acts which denote its wisdom, its power to +control its own affairs, its tendencies toward good when most left +to its own self-control, our minds are filled with scepticism. The +every-day experience of a life now fast verging toward threescore, +contradicts the theory and the facts. We believe not in the possibility +of man's becoming even a strictly rational being, unaided by a power +from on high; and all that we have seen and read goes to convince us +that HE is most of a philosopher, the most accurate judge of his real +state, the most truly learned, who most vividly sees the necessity of +falling back on the precepts of revelation for all his higher principles +and practice. We conceive that this mighty truth furnishes unanswerable +proof of the unceasing agency of a Providence, and when we once admit +this, we concede that our own powers are insufficient for our own wants. + +That the world, as a whole, is advancing toward a better state of +things, we as firmly believe as we do that it is by ways that have not +been foreseen by man; and that, whenever the last has been made the +agent of producing portions of this improvement, it has oftener been +without design, or calculation, than with it. Who, for instance, +supposes that the institutions of this country, of which we boast so +much, could have stood as long as they have, without the conservative +principles that are to be found in the Union; and who is there so vain +as to ascribe the overshadowing influence of this last great power to +any wisdom in man? We all know that perfectly fortuitous circumstances, +or what appear to us to be such, produced the Federal Government, and +that its strongest and least exceptionable features are precisely those +which could not be withstood, much less invented, as parts of the theory +of a polity. + +A great and spasmodic political movement is, at this moment, convulsing +Christendom. That good will come of it, we think is beyond a question; +but we greatly doubt whether it will come in the particular form, or by +the specified agencies, that human calculations would lead us to expect. +It must be admitted that the previous preparations, which have induced +the present effort, are rather in opposition to, than the consequences +of, calculated agencies; overturning in their progress the very +safeguards which the sagacity of men had interposed to the advance of +those very opinions that have been silently, and by means that would +perhaps baffle inquiry, preparing the way for the results that have been +so suddenly and unexpectedly obtained. If the course is onward, it is +more as the will of God, than from any calculations of man; and it is +when the last are the most active, that there is the greatest reason to +apprehend the consequences. + +Of such a dispensation of the Providence of Almighty God, do we believe +Peter to have been the subject. Among the thousand ways that are +employed to touch the heart, he had been most affected by the sight of +a dying man's asking benedictions on his enemies! It was assailing his +besetting sin; attacking the very citadel of his savage character, and +throwing open, at once, an approach into the deepest recesses of his +habits and dispositions. It was like placing a master-key in the hands +of him who would go through the whole tenement, for the purpose of +purifying it. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + + Thou to whom every faun and satyr flies + For willing service; whether to surprise + The squatted hare, while in half sleeping fits, + Or upward ragged precipices flit + To save poor lambkins from the eagle's maw; + Or by mysterious enticement draw + Bewildered shepherds to their path again;-- + --KEATS. + + +It can easily be understood that the party with the canoes were left by +Peter in a state of great anxiety. The distance between the site of the +hut and their place of concealment was but little more than a quarter +of a mile, and the yell of the savages had often reached their ears, +notwithstanding the cover of the woods. This proximity, of itself, was +fearful; but the uncertainty that le Bourdon felt on the subject of +Peter's real intentions added greatly to his causes of concern. Of +course, he knew but little of the sudden change that had come over this +mysterious chief's feelings; nor is it very likely that he would have +been able to appreciate it, even had the fact been more fully stated. +Our hero had very little acquaintance with the dogmas of Christianity, +and would have, most probably, deemed it impossible that so great a +revolution of purpose could have been so suddenly wrought in the mind of +man, had the true state of the case been communicated to him. He would +have been ready enough to allow that, with God, nothing is impossible; +but might have been disposed to deny the influence of His Holy Spirit, +as exhibited in this particular form, for a reason no better than the +circumstance that he himself had never been the subject of such a power. +All that Peter had said, therefore, served rather to mystify him, than +to explain, in its true colors, what had actually occurred. With Margery +it was different. Her schooling had been far better than that of any +other of the party, and, while she admired the manly appearance, and +loved the free, generous character of her husband, she had more than +once felt pained at the passing thoughts of his great indifference to +sacred things. This feeling in le Bourdon, however, was passive rather +than active, and gave her a kind interest in his future welfare, rather +than any present pain through acts and words. + +But, as respects their confidence in Peter, this young couple were much +farther apart than in their religious notions. The bee-hunter had never +been without distrust, though his apprehensions had been occasionally +so far quieted as to leave him nearly free of them altogether; while +his wife had felt the utmost confidence in the chief, from the very +commencement of their acquaintance. It would be useless, perhaps, to +attempt to speculate on the causes; but it is certain that there are +secret sources of sympathy that draw particular individuals toward each +other and antipathies that keep them widely separated. Men shall meet +for the first time, and feel themselves attracted toward each other, +like two drops of water, or repelled, like the corks of an electric +machine. + +The former had been the case with Peter and Margery. They liked each +other from the first, and kind orifices had soon come to increase this +feeling. The girl had now seen so much of the Indians, as to regard +them much as she did others, or with the discriminations, and tastes, +or distastes, with which we all regard our fellow-creatures; feeling no +particular cause of estrangement. It is true that Margery would not have +been very likely to fall in love with a young Indian, had one come in +her way of a suitable age and character; for her American notions on the +subject of color might have interposed difficulties; but, apart from the +tender sentiments, she could see good and bad qualities in one of the +aborigines, as well as in a white man. As a consequence of this sympathy +between Peter and Margery, the last had ever felt the utmost confidence +in the protection and friendship of the first. This she did, even while +the struggle was going on in his breast on the subject of including her +in his fell designs, or of making an exception in her favor. It +shows the waywardness of our feelings that Margery had never reposed +confidence in Pigeonswing, who was devotedly the friend of le Bourdon, +and who remained with them for no other reason than a general wish to be +of use. Something BRUSQUE in his manner, which was much less courteous +and polished than that of Peter, had early rendered her dissatisfied +with him, and once estranged, she had never felt disposed to be on terms +of intimacy sufficient to ascertain his good or bad qualities. + +The great change of feeling in Peter was not very clearly understood by +Margery, any more than it was by her husband; though, had her attention +been drawn more strictly to it, she would have best known how to +appreciate it. But this knowledge was not wanting to put HER perfectly +at peace, so far as apprehension of his doing her harm was concerned. +This sense of security she now manifested in a conversation with le +Bourdon, that took place soon after Peter had left them. + +"I wish we weren't in the hands of this red-skin, Margery," said her +husband, a little more off his guard than was his wont. + +"Of Peter! You surprise me, Benjamin. I think we could not be in better +hands, since we have got this risk to run with the savages. If it was +Pigeonswing that you feared, I could understand it." + +"I will answer for Pigeonswing with my life." + +"I am glad to hear you say so, for _I_ do not half like HIM. Perhaps I +am prejudiced against him. The scalp he took down at the mouth of the +river set me against him from the first." + +"Do you not know, Margery, that your great friend goes by the name of +'Scalping Peter'?" + +"Yes, I know it very well; but I do not believe he ever took a scalp in +his life." + +"Did he ever tell you as much as that?" + +"I can't say that he did; but he has never paraded anything of the sort +before my eyes, like Pigeonswing. I do not half like that Chippewa, dear +Bourdon." + +"No fear of him, Margery; nor, when I come to think it all over, do I +see why Peter should have brought us here, if he means anything wrong. +The man is so mysterious, that I cannot line him down to his hole." + +"My word for it, Bourdon, that when you DO, it will take you to a +friendly hive. I have put almost as much faith in Peter as in you or +Gershom. You heard what he said about Parson Amen and the corporal." + +"And how coolly he took it all," answered her husband, shaking his head. +"It has been a sudden departure for them, and one would think even an +Injin might have felt it more." + +Margery's cheek grew pale, and her limbs trembled a little. It was a +minute ere she could pursue the discourse. + +"This is terrible, but I will not, cannot believe it," she said. "I'm +sure, Bourdon, we ought to be very thankful to Peter for having +brought us here. Remember how earnestly he listened to the words of the +Saviour." + +"If he has brought us here with a good intention, I thank him for it. +But I scarce know what to think. Pigeonswing has given me many a hint, +which I have understood to mean that we ought not to trust this unknown +Injin too much." + +"So has he given me some of his hints, though I would sooner trust Peter +than trust him, any time." + +"Our lives are in the care of Providence, I see. If we can really rely +on these two Injins, all may be well; for Peter has brought us to an +admirable cover, and he says that the Chippewa prepared it." + +The young husband and his wife now landed, and began to examine +more particularly into the state of the swamp, near their place of +concealment. Just at that spot, the bank of the river was higher than +in most of the low land, and was dry, with a soil that approached sand. +This was the place where the few young pines had grown. The dry ground +might have covered four or five acres, and so many trees having been +felled, light and air were admitted, in a way to render the place +comparatively cheerful. The branches of the felled trees made a +sufficient cover in all directions, though the swamp itself was more +than that, almost a defence, toward the Openings. The bee-hunter found +it was possible, though it was exceedingly difficult, to make his +way through it. He ascertained the fact, however, since it might be +important to their future movements to know it. + +In a word, le Bourdon made a complete RECONNAISSANCE of his position. He +cleared a spot for the females, and made a sort of hut, that would +serve as a protection against rain, and in which they all might sleep at +night. There was little doubt that this place must be occupied for some +days, if Peter was acting in good faith, since an early movement would +infallibly lead to detection. Time must be given to the Indians to +precede them, or the great numbers of the savages would scarce leave a +hope of escape. A greater sense of security succeeded this examination, +and these arrangements. The danger was almost entirely to be apprehended +on the side of the river. A canoe passing up-stream might, indeed, +discover their place of concealment, but it was scarcely to be +apprehended that one would wade through the mud and water of the swamp +to approach them in any other direction. + +Under these circumstances, le Bourdon began to feel more security in +their position. Could he now be certain of Peter, his mind would be +comparatively at ease, and he might turn his attention altogether to +making the party comfortable. Margery, who seldom quitted his side, +reasoned with him on the subject of the mysterious chief's good faith, +and by means of her own deep reliance on him, she came at last to the +point of instilling some of her own confidence into the mind of her +husband. From that time he worked at the shelter for the females, and +the other little arrangements their situation rendered necessary, with +greater zest, and with far more attention to the details. So long as +we are in doubt of accomplishing good, we hesitate about employing our +energies; but once let hope revive within us, in the shape of favorable +results, and we become new men, bracing every nerve to the task, and +working with redoubled spirit; even should it be at the pump of the +sinking ship, which, we believe, ranks the highest among the toils that +are inflicted on the unfortunate. + +For three days and nights did le Bourdon and his friends remain on that +dry land of the swamp, without hearing or seeing anything of either +Peter or Pigeonswing. The time was growing long, and the party anxious; +though the sense of security was much increased by this apparent +exemption from danger. Still, uncertainty, and the wish to ascertain the +precise state of things in the Openings, were gradually getting to be +painful, and it was with great satisfaction that the bee-hunter met his +young wife as she came running toward him, on the morning of the fourth +day, to announce that an Indian was approaching, by wading in the margin +of the river, keeping always in the water so as to leave no trail. +Hurrying to a point whence their visitor might be seen, le Bourdon soon +perceived it was no other than Pigeonswing. In a few minutes this Indian +arrived, and was gladly received by all four of the fugitives, who +gathered around him, eager to hear the news. + +"You are welcome, Chippewa," cried le Bourdon, shaking his friend +cordially by the hand. "We were half afraid we might never see you +again. Do you bring us good or evil tidings?" + +"Mustn't be squaw, and ask too much question, Bourdon," returned the +red-skin, carefully examining the priming of his rifle, in order to make +sure it was not wet. "Got plenty venison, eh?" + +"Not much venison is left, but we have caught a good many fish, which +have helped us along. I have killed a dozen large squirrels, too, with +your bow and arrows, which I find you left in your canoe. But--" + +"Yes, he good bow, dat--might kill hummin'-bird wid dat bow. Fish good +here, eh?" + +"They are eatable, when a body can get no better. But NOW, I should +think, Pigeonswing, you might give us some of the news." + +"Mustn't be squaw, Bourdon--bad for warrior be squaw. Alway bess be man, +and be patient, like man. What you t'ink, Bourdon? Got him at last!" + +"Got WHAT my good fellow? I see nothing about you, but your arms and +ammunition." + +"Got scalp of dat Weasel! Wasn't dat well done? Nebber no young warrior +take more scalp home dan Pigeonswing carry dis time! Got t'ree; all +hid, where Bear's Meat nebber know. Take 'em away, when he get ready to +march." + +"Well, well, Chippewa--I suppose it will not be easy to reason you out +of this feelin'--but what has become of the red-skins who burned my +cabin, and who killed the missionary and the corporal?" + +"All about--dough must go down river. Look here, Bourdon, some of dem +chief fool enough to t'ink bee carry you off on his wing!" + +Here the Chippewa looked his contempt for the credulity and ignorance of +the others, though he did not express it after the boisterous manner in +which a white man of his class might have indulged. To him le Bourdon +was a good fellow, but no conjuror, and he understood the taking of the +bee too well to have any doubts as to the character of that process. +His friend had let him amuse himself by the hour in looking through his +spy-glass, so that the mind of this one savage was particularly well +fortified against the inroads of the weaknesses that had invaded those +of most of the members of the great council. Consequently, he was amused +with the notion taken up by some of the others, that le Bourdon had +been carried off by bees, though he manifested his amusement in a very +Indian-like fashion. + +"So much the better," answered le Bourdon; "and I hope they have +followed to line me down to my hive in the settlements." + +"Most on 'em go--yes, dat true. But some don't go. Plenty of Injins +still about dis part of Opening." + +"What are we then to do? We shall soon be in want of food. The fish do +not bite as they did, and I have killed all the squirrels I can find. +You know I dare not use a rifle." + +"Don't be squaw, Bourdon. When Injin get marry he grows good deal like +squaw at fuss; but dat soon go away. I spose it's just so wid pale-face. +Mustn't be squaw, Bourdon. Dat bad for warrior. What you do for eat? +Why, see dere," pointing to an object that was floating slowly down the +river, the current of which was very sluggish just in that reach. "Dere +as fat buck as ever did see, eh?" + +Sure enough the Indian had killed a deer, of which the Openings were +full, and having brought it to the river, he had constructed a raft of +logs, and placing the carcase on it, he had set his game adrift, taking +care to so far precede it as to be in readiness to tow it into port. +When this last operation was performed, it was found that the Chippewa +did not heedlessly vaunt the quality of his prize. What was more, so +accurately had he calculated the time, and the means of subsistence in +the possession of the fugitives, that his supply came in just as it +was most needed. In all this he manifested no more than the care of +an experienced and faithful hunter. Next to the war-path, the +hunting-ground is the great field for an Indian's glory; deeds and facts +so far eclipsing purely intellectual qualifications with savages, as to +throw oratory, though much esteemed by them, and wisdom at the Council +Fires, quite into the shade. In all this, we find the same propensity +among ourselves. The common mind, ever subject to these impulses, looks +rather to such exploits as address themselves to the senses and the +imagination, than to those qualities which the reason alone can best +appreciate; and in this, ignorance asserts its negative power over all +conditions of life. + +Pigeonswing now condescended to enter on such explanations as the state +of the case rendered necessary. His account was sufficiently clear, +and it manifested throughout the sagacity and shrewdness of a practised +hunter and scout. We shall not attempt to give his words, which would +require too much space, but the substance of his story was briefly this: + +As has been alluded to already, the principal chiefs, on a suggestion +of Bear's Meat, had followed the young men down the Kalamazoo, dividing +themselves by a part of their body's crossing the stream at the first +favorable spot. In this way the Indians proceeded, sweeping the river +before them, and examining every place that seemed capable of concealing +a canoe. Runners were kept in constant motion between the several +parties, in order to let the state of the search be known to all; and, +feigning to be one of these very men, Pigeonswing had held communication +with several whom he purposely met, and to whom he imparted such +invented information as contributed essentially to send the young men +forward on a false scent. In this way, the main body of the savages +descended the river some sixty miles, following its windings, in the +first day and a half. Here Pigeonswing left them, turning his own face +up stream, in order to rejoin his friends. Of Peter he had no knowledge; +neither knowing, nor otherwise learning, what had become of the great +chief. On his way up stream, Pigeonswing met several more Indians; +runners like himself, or as he seemed to be; or scouts kept on the +lookout for the fugitives. He had no difficulty in deceiving these men. +None of them had been of Crowsfeather's party, and he was a stranger to +them all. Ignorant of his real character, they received his information +without distrust, and the orders he pretended to convey were obeyed by +them without the smallest hesitation. In this way, then, Pigeonswing +contrived to send all the scouts he met away from the river, by telling +them that there was reason to think the pale-faces had abandoned the +stream, and that it was the wish of Bear's Meat that their trail should +be looked for in the interior. This was the false direction that he gave +to all, thereby succeeding better even than he had hoped in clearing +the banks of the Kalamazoo of observers and foes. Nevertheless, many of +those whom he knew to be out, some quite in the rear of the party, and +others in its front, and at no great distance from them, he did not +meet; of course he could not get his false directions to their ears. +There were, in fact, so many of the Indians and so few of the whites, +that it was an easy matter to cover the path with young warriors, any +one party of whom would be strong enough to capture two men and as many +women. + +Having told the tale of his own doings, Pigeonswing next came to his +proposition for the mode of future proceeding. He proposed that the +family should get into the canoes that very night, and commence its +flight by going down the stream directly toward its foes! This sounded +strangely, but there did not seem to be any alternative. A march across +the peninsula would be too much for the females, and there was the +certainty that their trail would be found. It may seem strange to +those who are unacquainted with the American Indian, and his habits, +to imagine that, in so large an expanse, the signs of the passage of so +small a party might not escape detection; but such was the case. To one +unaccustomed to the vigilance and intelligence of these savages, it must +appear just as probable that the vessel could be followed through the +wastes of the ocean, by means of its wake, as that the footprints should +be so indelible as to furnish signs that can be traced for days. Such, +however, is the fact, and no one understood it better than the Chippewa. +He was also aware that the country toward Ohio, whither the fugitives +would naturally direct their course, now that the English were in +possession of Detroit, must soon be a sort of battle-ground, to which +most of the warriors of that region would eagerly repair. Under all the +circumstances, therefore, he advised the flight by means of the river. +Le Bourdon reasoned on all he heard, and, still entertaining some of his +latent distrust of Peter, and willing to get beyond his reach, he soon +acquiesced in the proposition, and came fully into the plan. + +It was now necessary to reload the canoes. This was done in the course +of the day, and every arrangement was made, so as to be ready for a +start as soon as the darkness set in. Everybody was glad to move, though +all were aware of the extent of the hazard they ran. The females, in +particular, felt their hearts beat, as each, in her husband's canoe, +issued out of the cover into the open river. Pigeonswing took the lead, +paddling with a slow, but steady sweep of his arm, and keeping as +close as was convenient to one bank. By adopting this precaution, he +effectually concealed the canoes from the eyes of all on that side of +the river, unless they stood directly on its margin, and had the aid of +the shadows to help conceal them from any who might happen to be on the +other. In this way, then, the party proceeded, passing the site of +the hut, and the grove of Openings around it, undetected. As the river +necessarily flowed through the lowest land, its banks were wooded much +of the way, which afforded great protection to the fugitives; and this +so much the more because these woods often grew in swamps where the +scouts would not be likely to resort. + +About midnight the canoes reached the first rift. An hour was lost in +unloading and in reloading the canoes, and in passing the difficulties +at that point. As soon as this was done, the party re-embarked, +and resorted once more to the use of the paddle, in order to gain a +particular sheltered reach of the river previously to the return of +light. This was effected successfully, and the party landed. + +It now appeared that Pigeonswing had chosen another swamp as a place +of concealment for the fugitives to use during the day. These swamps, +through which the river wound its way in short reaches, were admirably +adapted to such purposes. Dark, sombre, and hardly penetrable on the +side of the land, they were little likely to be entered after a first +examination. Nor was it at all probable that females, in particular, +would seek a refuge in such a place. But the Chippewa had found the +means to obviate the natural obstacles of the low land. There were +several spots where the water from the river set back into the swamp, +forming so many little creeks; and into the largest of one of these he +pushed his canoe, the others following where he led. By resorting to +such means, the shelter now obtained was more complete, perhaps, than +that previously left. + +Pigeonswing forced his light boat up the shallow inlet, until he +reached a bit of dry land, where he brought up, announcing THAT as the +abiding-place during the day. Glad enough was every one to get on shore, +in a spot that promised security, after eight hours of unremitting +paddling and of painful excitement. Notwithstanding the rifts and +carrying-places they had met, and been obliged to overcome, le Bourdon +calculated that they had made as many as thirty miles in the course of +that one night. This was a great movement, and to all appearances it had +been made without detection. As for the Chippewa, he was quite content, +and no sooner was his canoe secured, than he lighted his pipe and sat +down to his enjoyment with an air of composure and satisfaction. + +"And here, you think, Pigeonswing, that we shall be safe during the +day?" demanded le Bourdon, approaching the fallen tree on which the +Indian had taken his seat. + +"Sartain--no Pottawattamie come here. Too wet. Don't like wet. An't +duck, or goose--like dry land, juss like squaw. Dis good 'baccy, +Bourdon--hope you got more for friend." + +"I have enough for us all, Pigeonswing, and you shall have a full share. +Now, tell me; what will be your next move, and where do you intend to +pass the morrow?" + +"Juss like diss. Plenty of swamp, Bourdon, on Kekalamazoo. [Footnote: +This is the true Indian word, though the whites have seen fit to omit +the first syllable.] Run canoe in swamp; den safe 'nough. Injins won't +look 'ere, 'cause he don't know whereabout look. Don't like swamp. Great +danger down at mouth of river." + +"So it has seemed to me, Chippewa. The Injins must be there in a strong +force, and we shall find it no easy matter to get through them. How do +you propose to do it?" + +"Go by in night. No udder way. When can't see, can't see. Dere plenty of +rush dere; dat good t'ing, and, p'raps, dat help us. Rush good cover for +canoe. Expec', when we get down 'ere, to get some scalp, too. Plenty of +Pottawattamie about dat lodge, sartain; and it very hard if don't get +some on him scalp. You mean stop, and dig up cache; eh, Bourdon?" + +The cool, quiet manner in which Pigeonswing revealed his own plans, and +inquired into those of his friend, had, at least, the effect to revive +the confidence of le Bourdon. He could not think the danger very great +so long as one so experienced as the Chippewa felt so much confidence in +his own future proceedings; and, after talking a short time longer with +this man, the bee-hunter went to seek Margery, in order to impart to her +a due portion of his own hopes. + +The sisters were preparing the breakfast. This was done without the use +of fire, it being too hazardous to permit smoke to rise above the tops +of the trees. Many is the camp that has been discovered by the smoke, +which can be seen at a great distance; and it is a certain sign of the +presence of man, when it ascends in threads, or such small columns as +denote a domestic fire beneath. This is very different from the clouds +that float above the burning prairies, and which all, at once, impute +to their true origin. The danger of using fire had been so much guarded +against by our fugitives, that the cooking of the party had been done +at night; the utmost caution having been used to prevent the fire itself +from being seen, and care taken to extinguish it long before the return +of day. A supply of cold meat was always on hand, and had it not been, +the fugitives would have known how to live on berries, or, at need, to +fast; anything was preferable, being exposed to certain capture. + +As soon as the party had broken their fast, arrangements were made for +recruiting nature by sleep. As for Pigeonswing, Indian-like, he had +eaten enormously, no reasonable quantity of venison sufficing to appease +his appetite; and when he had eaten, he lay down in the bottom of his +canoe and slept. Similar dispositions were made of their persons by the +rest, and half an hour after the meal was ended, all there were in a +profound sleep. No watch was considered necessary, and none was kept. + +The rest of the weary is sweet. Long hours passed, ere any one there +awoke; but no sooner did the Chippewa move than all the rest were afoot. +It was now late in the day, and it was time to think of taking the +meal that was to sustain them through the toil and fatigues of another +arduous night. This was done; the necessary preparations being made for +a start ere the sun had set. The canoes were then shoved as near the +mouth of the inlet as it was safe to go, while the light remained. +Here they stopped, and a consultation took place, as to the manner of +proceeding. + +No sooner did the shades of evening close around the place than the +fugitives again put forth. The night was clouded and dark, and so much +of the way now lay through forests that there was little reason to +apprehend detection. The chief causes of delay were the rifts, and the +portages, as had been the case the night before. Luckily, le Bourdon had +been up and down the stream so often as to be a very tolerable pilot +in its windings. He assumed the control, and by midnight the greatest +obstacle to that evening's progress was overcome. At the approach of +day, Pigeonswing pointed out another creek, in another swamp, where the +party found a refuge for the succeeding day. In this manner four nights +were passed on the river, and as many days in swamps, without discovery. +The Chippewa had nicely calculated his time and his distances, and +not the smallest mistake was made. Each morning a place of shelter was +reached in sufficient season; and each night the fugitives were ready +for the start as the day shut in. In this manner, most of the river was +descended, until a distance that could be easily overcome in a couple of +hours of paddling alone remained between the party and the mouth of the +stream. Extreme caution was now necessary, for signs of Indians in the +neighborhood had been detected at several points in the course of the +last night's work. On one occasion, indeed, the escape was so narrow as +to be worth recording. + +It was at a spot where the stream flowed through a forest denser than +common, that Pigeonswing heard voices on the river, ahead of him. One +Indian was calling to another, asking to be set across the stream in a +canoe. It was too late to retreat, and so much uncertainty existed as +to the nearness, or distance, of the danger, that the Chippewa deemed it +safest to bring all three of his canoes together, and to let them float +past the point suspected, or rather KNOWN, to be occupied by enemies. +This was done, with the utmost care. The plan succeeded, though not +without running a very great risk. The canoes did float past unseen, +though there was a minute of time when le Bourdon fancied by the sounds +that savages were talking to each other, within a hundred feet of his +ears. Additional security, however, was felt in consequence of the +circumstance, since the pursuers must imagine the river below them to be +free from the pursued. + +The halt that morning was made earlier than had been the practice +previously. This was done because the remaining distance was so small +that, in continuing to advance, the party would have incurred the risk +of reaching the mouth of the river by daylight. This was to be avoided +on every account, but principally because it was of great importance to +conceal from the savages the direction taken. Were the chiefs certain +that their intended victims were on Lake Michigan, it would be possible +for them to send parties across the isthmus, that should reach points +on Lake Huron, days in advance of the arrival of the bee-hunter and his +friends in the vicinity of Saginaw, or Pointe aux Barques, for instance, +and where the canoes would be almost certain to pass near the shore, +laying their ambushes to accomplish these ends. It was thought very +material, therefore, to conceal the movements, even after the lake +might be reached, though le Bourdon had not a doubt of his canoes much +outsailing those of the savages. The Indians are not very skilful in the +use of sails, while the bee-hunter knew how to manage a bark canoe in +rough water, with unusual skill. In the common acceptation, he was no +sailor; but, in his own peculiar craft, there was not a man living who +could excel him in dexterity or judgment. + +The halting-place that morning was not in a swamp, for none offered at +a suitable distance from the mouth of the river. On the contrary, it +was in a piece of Opening, that was tolerably well garnished with trees, +however, and through which ran a small brook that poured its tribute +into the Kalamazoo. The Chippewa had taken notice of this brook, which +was large enough to receive the canoes, where they might be concealed +in the rushes. A favorable copse, surrounded with elders, afforded +a covered space on shore, and these advantages were improved for an +encampment. + +Instead of seeking his rest as usual, on reaching this cover, +Pigeonswing left the party on a scout. He walked up the brook some +distance, in order to conceal his trail, and then struck across the +Opening, taking the direction westward, or toward the river's mouth. +As for le Bourdon and his friends, they ate and slept as usual, +undisturbed; but arose some hours before the close of day. + +Thus far, a great work had been accomplished. The canoes had descended +the stream with a success that was only equalled by the hardihood of the +measure, conducted by an intelligence that really seemed to amount to +an instinct Pigeonswing carried a map of the Kalamazoo in his head, and +seemed never at a loss to know where to find the particular place he +sought. It is true, he had roamed through those Openings ever since he +was a child; and an Indian seldom passes a place susceptible of being +made of use to his habits, that he does not take such heed of its +peculiarities, as to render him the master of all its facilities. + +Margery was now full of hope, while the bee-hunter was filled with +apprehensions. She saw all things couleur de rose, for she was young, +happy, and innocent; but he better understood that they were just +approaching the most serious moment of their flight. He knew the +vigilance of the American savage, and could not deceive himself on the +subject of the danger they must run. The mouth of the river was just the +place that, of all others, would be the closest watched, and to pass it +would require not only all their skill and courage, but somewhat of the +fostering care of Providence. It might be done with success, though the +chances were much against. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + + Yes! we have need to bid our hopes repose + On some protecting influence; here confined + Life hath no healing balm for mental woes; + Earth is too narrow for the immortal mind. + Our spirits burn to mingle with the day, + As exiles panting for their native coast; + Yet lured by every wild-flower from their way, + And shrinking from the gulf that must be crossed. + Death hovers round us--in the zephyr's sigh + As in the storm he comes--and lo! Eternity! + --MRS. HEMANS. + + +It was probably that inherent disposition to pry into unknown things, +which is said to mark her sex, and which was the weakness assailed by +the serpent when he deluded Eve into disobedience, that now tempted +Margery to go beyond the limits which Pigeonswing had set for her, with +a view to explore and ascertain what might be found without. In doing +this, however, she did not neglect a certain degree of caution, and +avoided exposing her person as much as possible. + +Margery had got to the very verge of prudence, so far as the cover was +concerned, when her steps were suddenly arrested by a most unexpected +and disagreeable sight. An Indian was seated on a rock within twenty +feet of the place where she stood. His back was toward her, but she +was certain it could not be Pigeonswing, who had gone in a contrary +direction, while the frame of this savage was much larger and heavier +than that of the Chippewa. His rifle leaned against the rock, near his +arm, and the tomahawk and knife were in his belt; still Margery thought, +so far as she could ascertain, that he was not in his war-paint, as she +knew was the fact with those whom she had seen at Prairie Round. The +attitude and whole deportment of this stranger, too, struck her as +remarkable. Although our heroine stood watching him for several minutes, +almost breathless with terror and anxiety to learn his object, he never +stirred even a limb in all that time. There he sat, motionless as +the rock on which he had placed himself; a picture of solitude and +reflection. + +It was evident, moreover, that this stranger also sought a species of +concealment, as well as the fugitives. It is true he had not buried +himself in a cover of bushes; but his seat was in a hollow of the ground +where no one could have seen him, from the rear or on either side, at a +distance a very little greater than that at which Margery stood, while +his front was guarded from view by a line of bushes that fringed the +margin of the stream. Marius, pondering on the mutations of fortune, +amid the ruins of Carthage, could scarcely have presented a more +striking object than the immovable form of this stranger. At length +the Indian slightly turned his head, when his observer, to her great +surprise, saw the hard, red, but noble and expressive profile of the +well-known features of Peter. + +In an instant all Margery's apprehensions vanished, and her hand was +soon lightly laid on the shoulder of her friend. Notwithstanding the +suddenness of this touch, the great chief manifested no alarm. He turned +his head slowly, and when he saw the bright countenance of the charming +bride, his smile met hers in pleased recognition. There was no start, no +exclamation, no appearance of surprise; on the contrary, Peter seemed to +meet his pretty young friend much as a matter of course, and obviously +with great satisfaction. + +"How lucky this is, Peter!" exclaimed the breathless Margery. "Bourdon's +mind will now be at rest, for he was afraid you had gone to join our +enemies, Bear's Meat and his party." + +"Yes; go and stay wid 'em. So bess. Now dey t'ink Peter all on deir +side. But never forget you, young Blossom." + +"I believe you, Peter; for I FEEL as if you are a true friend. How lucky +that we should meet here!" + +"No luck at all. Come a purpose. Pigeonswing tell me where you be, so +come here. Juss so." + +"Then you expected to find us in this cover! and what have you to tell +us of our enemies?" + +"Plenty of DEM. All about mout' of river. All about woods and Openings +here. More dan you count. T'ink of nuttin' but get your scalp." + +"Ah! Peter;--why is it that you red men wish so much to take our +lives?--and why have you destroyed the missionary, a pious Christian, +who wished for nothing but your good?" + +Peter bent his eyes to the earth, and for more than a minute he made no +reply. He was much moved, however, as was visible in his countenance, +which plainly denoted that strong emotions were at work within. + +"Blossom, listen to my words," he, at length, answered. "They are such +as a fader would speak to his da'ghter. You my da'ghter. Tell you so, +once; and what Injin say once, he say alway. Poor, and don't know much, +but know how to do as he say he do. Yes, you my da'ghter! Bear's Meat +can't touch YOU, widout he touch ME. Bourdon your husband; you his +squaw. Husband and squaw go togedder, on same path. Dat right. But, +Blossom, listen. Dere is Great Spirit. Injin believe dat as well as +pale-face. See dat is so. Dere is Great WICKED Spirit, too. Feel dat, +too; can't help it. For twenty winter dat Great Wicked Spirit stay close +to my side. He put his hand before one of my ear, and he put his mout' +to tudder. Keep whisper, whisper, day and night, nebber stop whisper. +Tell me to kill pale-face, wherever I find him. Bess to kill him. If +didn't kill pale-face, pale-face kill Injin. No help for it. Kill ole +man, kill young man; kill squaws, pappoose and all. Smash eggs and break +up 'e nest. Dat what he whisper, day and night, for twenty winters. +Whisper so much, was force to b'lieve him. Bad to have too much whisper +of same t'ing in ear. Den I want scalp. Couldn't have too much scalp. +Took much scalp. All pale-face scalp. Heart grow hard. Great pleasure +was to kill pale-face. Dat feeling last, Blossom, till I see you. Feel +like fader to you, and don't want your scalp. Won'er great deal why I +feel so, but do feel so. Dat my natur'. Still want all udder pale-face +scalp. Want Bourdon scalp, much as any." + +A slight exclamation from his companion, which could scarcely be called +a scream, caused the Indian to cease speaking, when the two looked +toward each other, and their eyes met. Margery, however, saw none of +those passing gleams of ferocity which had so often troubled her in the +first few weeks of their acquaintance; in their stead, an expression of +subdued anxiety, and an earnestness of inquiry that seemed to say how +much the chief's heart yearned to know more on that mighty subject +toward which his thoughts had lately been turned. The mutual glance +sufficed to renew the confidence our heroine was very reluctant to +relinquish, while it awakened afresh all of Peter's parental concern in +the welfare of the interesting young woman at his side. + +"But this feeling has left you, Peter, and you no longer wish Bourdon's +scalp," said Margery, hastily. "Now he is my husband, he is your son." + +"Dat good, p'raps," answered the Injin, "but dat not a reason, nudder, +Blossom. You right, too. Don't want Bourdon scalp any longer. Dat true. +But don't want ANY scalp, any more. Heart grow soft--an't hard, now." + +"I wish I could let you understand, Peter, how much I rejoice to hear +this! I have never felt afraid of you, on my own account, though I will +own that I have sometimes feared that the dreadful cruel stories which +are told of your enmity to my color are not altogether without truth. +Now, you tell me you are the white man's friend, and that you no longer +wish to injure him. These are blessed words, Peter; and humbly do I +thank God, through his blessed Son, that I have lived to hear them!" + +"Dat Son make me feel so," returned the Indian, earnestly. "Yes, juss +so. My heart was hard, till medicinepriest tell dat tradition of Son of +Great Spirit--how he die for all tribes and nations, and ask his fader +to do good to dem dat take his life--dat won'erful tradition, Blossom! +Sound like song of wren in my ear--sweeter dan mocking-bird when he do +his bess. Yes, dat won'erful. He true, too; for medicine-priest ask his +Manitou to bless Injin, juss as Injins lift tomahawk to take his life. I +see'd and heard dat, myself. All, won'erful, won'erful!" + +"It was the Spirit of God that enabled poor Amen to do that, Peter; and +it is the Spirit of God that teaches you to see and feel the beauty +of such an act. Without the aid of that Spirit, we are helpless as +children; with it, strong as giants. I do not wonder, at all, that the +good missionary was able to pray for his enemies with his dying breath. +God gave him strength to do so." + +Margery spoke as she felt, earnestly, and with emphasis. Her cheeks +flushed with the strength of her feelings, and Peter gazed on her with a +species of reverence and wonder. The beauty of this charming young woman +was pleasing rather than brilliant, depending much on expression for +its power. A heightened color greatly increased it, and when, as in this +instance, the eyes reflected the tints of the cheeks, one might have +journeyed days in older regions, without finding her equal in personal +attractions. Much as he admired her, however, Peter had now that on his +mind which rendered her beauty but a secondary object with him. His +soul had been touched by the unseen, but omnipresent, power of the Holy +Spirit, and his companion's language and fervor contributed largely in +keeping alive his interest in what he felt. + +"Nebber know Injin do dat," said Peter, in a slow, deliberative sort of +way; "no, nebber know Injin do so. Always curse and hate his enemy, and +most when about to lose his scalp. Den, feelin's hottest. Den, most want +to use tomahawk on his enemy. Den, most feel dat he hate him. But not so +wid medicine-priest. Pray for Injin; ask Great Spirit to do him all +'e good he can; juss as Injin was goin' to strike. Won'erful--most +won'erful DAT, in my eyes. Blossom, you know Peter. He your fader. He +take you, and make you his da'ghter. His heart is soft to you, Blossom. +But, he nuttin' but poor Injin, dough a great chief. What he know? +Pale-face pappoose know more dan Injin chief. Dat come from Great Spirit +too. He wanted it so, and it is so. Our chiefs say dat Great Spirit love +Injin. May be so. T'ink he love ebbery body; but he can't love Injin as +much as he love pale-face, or he wouldn't let red man know so little. +Don't count wigwams, and canoes, and powder, and lead, as proof of Great +Spirit's love. Pale-face got more of dese dan Injin. Dat I see and know, +and dat I feel. But it no matter. Injin used to be poor, and don't care. +When used to be poor, den used to it. When used to be rich, den it hard +not to be rich. All use. Injin don't care. But it bad not to know. I'm +warrior--I'm hunter--I'm great chief. You squaw--you young--you know +so much as squaw of chief. But you know most. I feel ashamed to know so +little. Want to know more. Want to know most how 'e Son of Great Spirit +die for all tribe, and pray to his fader to bless 'em dat kill him. Dat +what Peter now want most to know!" + +"I wish I was better able to teach you, Peter, from the bottom of my +heart; but the little I do know you shall hear. I would not deny you for +a thousand worlds, for I believe the Holy Spirit has touched your heart, +and that you will become a new man. Christians believe that all must +become new men, who are to live in the other world, in the presence of +God." + +"How can dat be? Peter soon be ole--how can ole man grow young ag'in?" + +"The meaning of this is that we must so change in feelings, as no longer +to be the same persons. The things that we loved we must hate, and the +things that we hated, or at least neglected, we must love. When we feel +this change in our hearts, then may we hope that we love and reverence +the Great Spirit, and are living under his holy care." + +Peter listened with the attention of an obedient and respectful child. +If meekness, humility, a wish to learn the truth, and a devout sentiment +toward the Creator, are so many indications of the "new birth," then +might this savage be said to have been truly "born again." Certainly he +was no longer the same man, in a moral point of view, and of this he was +himself entirely conscious. To him the wonder was what had produced so +great and so sudden a change! But the reply he made to Margery will, of +itself, sufficiently express his views of his own case. + +"An Injin like a child," he said, meekly; "nebber know. Even pale-face +squaw know more dan great chief, Nebber feel as do now. Heart soft as +young squaw's. Don't hate any body, no more. Wish well to all tribe, +and color, and nation. Don't hate Bri'sh, don't hate Yankee; don't hate +Cherokee, even. Wish 'em all well. Don't know dat heart is strong enough +to ask Great Spirit to do 'em all good, if dey want my scalp--p'rap +dat too much for poor Injin; but don't want nobody's scalp, myself. Dat +somet'in', I hope, for me." + +"It is, indeed, Peter; and if you will get down on your knees, and +humble your thoughts, and pray to God to strengthen you in these good +feelings, he will be sure to do it, and make you, altogether, a new +man." + +Peter looked wistfully at Margery, and then turned his eyes toward +the earth. After sitting in a thoughtful mood for some time, he again +regarded his companion, saying, with the simplicity of a child: + +"Don't know how to do dat, Blossom. Hear medicine-priest of pale-faces +pray, sometime, but poor Injin don't know enough to speak to Great +Spirit. You speak to Great Spirit for him. He know your voice, Blossom, +and listen to what you say; but he won't hear Peter, who has so long +hated his enemy. P'raps he angry if he hear Peter speak." + +"In that you are mistaken, Peter. The ears of the Lord are ever open to +our prayers, when put up in sincerity, as I feel certain that yours will +now be. But, after I have told you the meaning of what I am about to +say, I will pray with you and for you. It is best that you should begin +to do this, as soon as you can." + +Margery then slowly repeated to Peter the words of the Lord's prayer. +She gave him its history, and explained the meaning of several of +its words that might otherwise have been unintelligible to him, +notwithstanding his tolerable proficiency in English--a proficiency +that had greatly increased in the last few weeks, in consequence of his +constant communications with those who spoke it habitually. The word +"trespasses," in particular, was somewhat difficult for the Indian to +comprehend, but Margery persevered until she succeeded in giving her +scholar tolerably accurate ideas of the meaning of each term. Then she +told the Indian to kneel with her, and, for the first time in his life, +that man of the Openings and prairies lifted his voice in prayer to the +one God. It is true that Peter had often before mentally asked favors +of his Manitou; but the requests were altogether of a worldly character, +and the being addressed was invested with attributes very different from +those which he now understood to belong to the Lord of heaven and earth. +Nor was the spirit in asking at all the same. We do not wish to be +understood as saying that this Indian was already a full convert to +Christianity, which contains many doctrines of which he had not the most +distant idea; but his heart had undergone the first step in the great +change of conversion, and he was now as humble as he had once been +proud; as meek, as he had formerly been fierce; and he felt that certain +proof of an incipient love of the Creator, in a similar feeling toward +all the works of his hands. + +When Peter arose from his knees, after repeating the prayer to Margery's +slow leading, it was with the dependence of a child on the teaching of +its mother. Physically, he was the man he ever had been. He was as able +to endure fatigue, as sinewy in his frame, and as capable of fasting and +of sustaining fatigue, as in his most warlike days; but, morally, the +change was great, indeed. Instead of the obstinate confidence in himself +and his traditions, which had once so much distinguished this chief, +there was substituted an humble distrust of his own judgment, that +rendered him singularly indisposed to rely on his personal views, in +any matter of conscience, and he was truly become a child in all +that pertained to his religious belief. In good hands, and under more +advantageous circumstances, the moral improvement of Peter would have +been great; but, situated as he was, it could not be said to amount to +much more than a very excellent commencement. + +All this time both Peter and Margery had been too intent on their +feelings and employment, to take much heed to the precautions necessary +to their concealment. The sun was setting ere they arose, and then it +was that Peter made the important discovery that they were observed by +two of the young men of the Pottawattamies--scouts kept out by Bear's +Meat to look for the fugitives. + +The time was when Peter would not have hesitated to use his rifle on +these unwelcome intruders; but the better spirit that had come over him, +now led him to adopt a very different course. Motioning to the young +men, he ordered them to retire, while he led Margery within the cover +of the bushes. Formerly, Peter would not have scrupled to resort to +deception, in order to throw these two young men on a wrong scent, and +get rid of them in that mode; but now he had a reluctance to deceive; +and, no sooner did they fall back at his beckoning, than he followed +Margery to the camp. The latter was giving her husband a hurried account +of what had just happened, as Peter joined them. + +"Our camp is known!" exclaimed the bee-hunter the instant he beheld the +Indian. + +"Juss so. Pottawattamie see squaw, and go and tell his chief. Dat +sartain," answered Peter. + +"What is there to be done?--Fight for our lives, or fly?" + +"Get in canoe quick as can. It take dem young men half-hour to reach +place where chief be. In dat half-hour we muss go as far as we can. No +good to stay here. Injin come in about one hour." + +Le Bourdon knew his position well enough to understand this. +Nevertheless, there were several serious objections to an immediate +flight. Pigeonswing was absent, and the bee-hunter did not like the +notion of leaving him behind, for various reasons. Then it was not yet +dark; and to descend the river by daylight, appeared like advancing into +the jaws of the lion designedly. Nor was le Bourdon at his ease on the +subject of Peter. His sudden appearance, the insufficient and far from +clear account of Margery, and the extraordinary course advised, served +to renew ancient distrusts, and to render him reluctant to move. But of +one thing there could be no doubt. Their present position must be known, +for Margery had seen the two strange Indians with her own eyes, and a +search might soon be expected. Under all the circumstances, therefore, +our hero reluctantly complied with Margery's reiterated solicitations, +and they all got into the canoes. + +"I do not like this movement, Peter," said le Bourdon, as he shoved his +own light craft down the brook, previously to entering the river. "I +hope it may turn out to be better than it looks, and that you can keep +us out of the hands of our enemies. Remember, it is broad daylight, and +that red men are plenty two or three miles below us." + +"Yes, know dat; but muss go. Injin too plenty here, soon. Yes, muss go. +Bourdon, why you can't ask bee, now, what bess t'ing for you to do, eh? +Good time, now, ask bee to tell what he know." + +The bee-hunter made no reply, but his pretty wife raised her hand, +involuntarily, as if to implore the Indian to forbear. Peter was a +little bewildered; for as yet, he did not understand that a belief in +necromancy was not exactly compatible with the notions of the Christian +Providence. In his ignorance, how much was he worse off than the wisest +of our race? Will any discreet man who has ever paid close attention to +the power of the somnambule, deny that there is a mystery about such a +person that exceeds all our means of explanation? That there are degrees +in the extent of this power--that there are false, as well as true +somnambules--all who have attended to the subject must allow; but, a +deriding disbeliever in our own person once, we have since seen that +which no laws, known to us, can explain, and which we are certain is +not the subject of collusion, as we must have been a party to the fraud +ourselves, were any such practised. To deny the evidence of our senses +is an act of greater weakness than to believe that there are mysteries +connected with our moral and physical being that human sagacity has not +yet been able to penetrate; and we repudiate the want of manliness +that shrinks from giving its testimony when once convinced, through an +apprehension of being derided, as weaker than those who withhold their +belief. We KNOW that our own thoughts have been explained and rendered, +by a somnambule, under circumstances that will not admit of any +information by means known to us by other principles; and whatever +others may think on the subject, we are perfectly conscious that no +collusion did or could exist. Why, then, are we to despise the poor +Indian because he still fancied le Bourdon could hold communication with +his bees? We happen to be better informed, and there may be beings +who are aware of the as yet hidden laws of animal magnetism--hidden +as respects ourselves, though known to them--and who fully comprehend +various mistakes and misapprehensions connected with our impressions on +this subject, that escape our means of detection. It is not surprising, +therefore, that Peter, in his emergency, turned to those bees, in the +hope that they might prove of assistance, or that Margery silently +rebuked him for the weakness, in the manner mentioned. + +Although it was still light, the sun was near setting when the canoes +glided into the river. Fortunately for the fugitives, the banks were +densely wooded, and the stream of great width--a little lake, in +fact--and there was not much danger of their being seen until they got +near the mouth; nor then, even, should they once get within the cover +of the wild rice, and of the rushes. There was no retreat, however; and +after paddling some distance, in order to get beyond the observation of +any scout who might approach the place where they had last been seen, +the canoes were brought close together, and suffered to float before +a smart breeze, so as not to reach the mouth of the stream before the +night closed around them. Everything appeared so tranquil, the solitude +was so profound, and their progress so smooth and uninterrupted, that a +certain amount of confidence revived in the breasts of all, and even the +bee-hunter had hopes of eventual escape. + +A conversation now occurred, in which Peter was questioned concerning +the manner in which he had been occupied during his absence; an absence +that had given le Bourdon so much concern. Had the chief been perfectly +explicit, he would have confessed that fully one-half of his waking +thoughts had been occupied in thinking of the death of the Son of God, +of the missionary's prayer for his enemies, and of the sublime morality +connected with such a religion. It is true Peter did not--could not, +indeed--enter very profoundly into the consideration of these subjects; +nor were his notions either very clear or orthodox; but they were +sincere, and the feelings to which they gave birth were devout. +Peter did not touch on these circumstances, however, confining his +explanations to the purely material part of his proceedings. He had +remained with Bear's Meat, Crowsfeather, and the other leading chiefs, +in order to be at the fountain-head of information, and to interpose his +influence should the pale-faces unhappily fall into the hands of those +who were so industriously looking for them. Nothing had occurred to call +his authority out, but a strange uncertainty seemed to reign among the +warriors, concerning the manner in which their intended victims eluded +their endeavors to overtake them. No trail had been discovered, scout +after scout coming in to report a total want of success in their +investigations inland. This turned the attention of the Indians still +more keenly on the river's mouth, it being certain that the canoes could +not have passed out into the lake previously to the arrival of the two +or three first parties of their young men, who had been sent so early to +watch that particular outlet. + +Peter informed le Bourdon that his cache had been discovered, opened, +and rifled of its stores. This was a severe loss to our hero, and one +that would have been keenly felt at any other time; but just then he had +interests so much more important to protect, that he thought and said +little about this mishap. The circumstance which gave him the most +concern was this: Peter stated that Bear's Meat had directed about a +dozen of his young men to keep watch, day and night, in canoes, near +the mouth of the river, lying in wait among the wild rice, like so many +snakes in the grass. + +The party was so much interested in this conversation that, almost +insensibly to themselves, they had dropped down to the beginning of the +rushes and rice, and had got rather dangerously near to the critical +point of their passage. As it was still daylight, Peter now proposed +pushing the canoes in among the plants, and there remaining until it +might be safer to move. This was done accordingly, and in a minute or +two all three of the little barks were concealed within the cover. + +The question now was whether the fugitives had been observed, but +suffered to advance, as every foot they descended the stream was taking +them nearer to their foes. Peter did not conceal his apprehension on +this point, since he deemed it improbable that any reach near the mouth +of the Kalamazoo was without its lookouts, at a moment so interesting. +Such was, indeed, the fact, as was afterward ascertained; but the young +men who had seen Peter and Margery had given the alarm, passing the +word where the fugitives were to be found, and the sentinels along this +portion of the stream had deserted their stations, in order to be in at +the capture. By such delicate and unforeseen means does Providence often +protect those who are the subjects of its especial care, baffling the +calculations of art by its own quiet control of events. + +The bee-hunter had a feverish desire to be moving. After remaining +in the cover about half an hour, he proposed that they should get the +canoes into one of the open passages, of which there were many among the +plants, and proceed. Peter had more of the patience of an Indian, and +deemed the hour too early. But le Bourdon was not yet entirely free +from distrust of his companion, and telling Gershom to follow, he +began paddling down one of the passages mentioned. This decisive step +compelled the rest to follow, or to separate from their companions. They +chose to do the first. + +Had le Bourdon possessed more self-command, and remained stationary a +little longer, he would, in all probability, have escaped altogether +from a very serious danger that he was now compelled to run. Although +there were many of the open places among the plants, they did not always +communicate with each other, and it became necessary to force the +canoes through little thickets, in order to get out of one into another, +keeping the general direction of descending the river. It was while +effecting the first of these changes, that the agitation of the tops +of the plants caught the eye of a lookout on the shore. By signals, +understood among themselves, this man communicated his discovery to a +canoe that was acting as one of the guard-boats, thus giving a general +alarm along the whole line of sentinels, as well as to the chiefs down +at the hut or at the mouth of the river. The fierce delight with which +this news was received, after so long a delay, became ungovernable, and +presently yells and cries filled the air, proceeding from both sides of +the stream, as well as from the river itself. + +There was not a white person in those canoes who did not conceive that +their party was lost, when this clamor was heard. With Peter it was +different. Instead of admitting of alarm, he turned all his faculties to +use. While le Bourdon himself was nearly in despair, Peter was listening +with his nice ears, to catch the points on the river whence the yells +arose. For the banks he cared nothing. The danger was from the canoes. +By the keenness of his faculties, the chief ascertained that there were +four canoes out, and that they would have to run the gauntlet between +them, or escape would be hopeless. By the sounds he also became certain +that these four canoes were in the rice, two on each side of the river, +and there they would probably remain, in expectation that the fugitives +would be most likely to come down in the cover. + +The decision of Peter was made in a moment. It was now quite dark, and +those who were in canoes within the rice could not well see the middle +of the stream, even by daylight. He determined, therefore, to take the +very centre of the river, giving his directions to that effect with +precision and clearness. The females he ordered to lie down, each in +her own canoe, while their husbands alone were to remain visible. Peter +hoped that, in the darkness, le Bourdon and Gershom might pass for +Indians, on the lookout, and under his own immediate command. + +One very important fact was ascertained by le Bourdon, as soon as these +arrangements were explained and completed. The wind on the lake was +blowing from the south, and of course was favorable to those who desired +to proceed in the opposite direction. This he communicated to Margery in +a low tone, endeavoring to encourage her by all the means in his power. +In return, the young wife muttered a few encouraging words to her +husband. Every measure was understood between the parties. In the event +of a discovery, the canoes were to bury themselves in the rice, taking +different directions, each man acting for himself. A place of rendezvous +was appointed outside, at a headland known to Gershom and le Bourdon, +and signals were agreed on, by which the latest arrival might know that +all was safe there. These points were settled as the canoes floated +slowly down the stream. + +Peter took and kept the lead. The night was star-lit and clear, but +there was no moon. On the water, this made but little difference, +objects not being visible at any material distance. The chief governed +the speed, which was moderate, but regular. At the rate he was now +going, it would require about an hour to carry the canoes into the lake. +But nearly all of that hour must pass in the midst of enemies! + +Half of the period just mentioned elapsed, positively without an alarm +of any sort. By this time, the party was abreast of the spot where +Gershom and le Bourdon had secreted the canoes in the former adventure +at the mouth of the river. On the shores, however, a very different +scene now offered. Then, the fire burned brightly in the hut, and the +savages could be seen by its light. Now, all was not only dark, but +still as death. There was no longer any cry, sound, alarm, or foot-fall, +audible. The very air seemed charged with uncertainty, and its +offspring, apprehension. + +As they approached nearer and nearer to what was conceived to be the +most critical point in the passage, the canoes got closer together; so +close, indeed, that le Bourdon and Gershom might communicate in very +guarded tones. The utmost care was taken to avoid making any noise, +since a light and careless blow from a paddle, on the side of a canoe, +would be almost certain, now, to betray them. Margery and Dorothy could +no longer control their feelings, and each rose in her seat, raising her +body so as to bring her head above the gunwale of the canoe, if a bark +canoe can be said to have a gunwale at all. They even whispered to each +other, endeavoring to glean encouragement by sympathy. At this instant +occurred the crisis in their attempt to escape. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + + For an Indian isle she shapes her way + With constant mind both night and day: + She seems to hold her home in view + And sails as if the path she knew, + So calm and stately in her motion + Across the unfathomed, trackless ocean. + -- WILSON. + + +It has been said that Peter was in advance. When his canoe was nearly +abreast of the usual landing at the hut, he saw two canoes coming out +from among the rice, and distant from him not more than a hundred +yards. At a greater distance, indeed, it would not have been easy to +distinguish such an object on the water at all. Instead of attempting to +avoid these two canoes, the chief instantly called to them, drawing the +attention of those in them to himself, speaking so loud as to be easily +overheard by those who followed. + +"My young men are too late," he said. "The pale-faces have been seen in +the openings above by our warriors, and must soon be here. Let us land, +and be ready to meet them at the wigwam." + +Peter's voice was immediately recognized. The confident, quiet, natural +manner in which he spoke served to mislead those in the canoes; and when +he joined them, and entered the passage among the rice that led to the +landing, preceding the others, the last followed him as regularly as the +colt follows its dam. Le Bourdon heard the conversation, and understood +the movement, though he could not see the canoes. Peter continued +talking aloud, as he went up the passage, receiving answers to all he +said from his new companions, his voice serving to let the fugitives +know precisely where they were. All this was understood and improved by +the last, who lost no time in turning the adventure to account. + +The first impulse of le Bourdon had been to turn and fly up stream. +But, ascertaining that these dangerous enemies were so fully occupied +by Peter as not to see the canoes behind, he merely inclined a little +toward the other side of the channel, and slackened his rate of +movement, in order not to come too near. The instant he was satisfied +that all three of the canoes in advance had entered the passage +mentioned, and were moving toward the landing, he let out, and glided +down stream like an arrow. It required but half a minute to cross the +opening of the passage, but Peter's conversation kept his followers +looking ahead, which greatly lessened the risk. Le Bourdon's heart was +in his mouth several times, while thus running the gauntlet, as it might +be; but fortune favored them; or, as Margery more piously understood the +circumstances, a Divine Providence led them in safety past the danger. + +At the mouth of the river both le Bourdon and Gershom thought it highly +probable that they should fall in with more lookouts, and each prepared +his arms for a fight. But no canoe was there, and the fugitives were +soon in the lake. Michigan is a large body of water, and a bark canoe is +but a frail craft to put to sea in, when there is any wind or commotion. +On the present occasion, there was a good deal of both; so much as +greatly to terrify the females. Of all the craft known, however, one +of these egg-shells is really the safest, if properly managed, among +breakers or amid the combing of seas. We have ourselves ridden in them +safely through a surf that would have swamped the best man-of-war cutter +that ever floated; and done it, too, without taking on board as much +water as would serve to wash one's hands. The light vessel floats on so +little of the element, indeed, that the foam of a large sea has scarce +a chance of getting above it, or aboard it; the great point in the +handling being to prevent the canoe from falling broadside to. By +keeping it end on to the sea, in our opinion, a smart gale might be +weathered in one of these craft, provided the endurance of a man could +bear up against the unceasing watchfulness and incessant labor of +sweeping with the paddle, in order to prevent broaching to. + +Le Bourdon, it has been said, was very skilful in the management of his +craft; and Gershom, now perforce a sober and useful man, was not +much behind him in this particular. The former had foreseen this very +difficulty, and made all his arrangements to counteract it. No sooner, +therefore, did he find the canoes in rough water than he brought them +together, side by side, and lashed them there. This greatly lessened the +danger of capsizing, though it increased the labor of managing the craft +when disposed to turn broadside to. It only remained to get sail on the +catamaran, for some such thing was it now, in order to keep ahead of the +sea as much as possible. Light cotton lugs were soon spread, one in each +canoe, and away they went, as sailors term it, wing and wing. + +It was now much easier steering, though untiring vigilance was still +necessary. A boat may appear to fly, and yet the "send of the sea" +shall glance ahead of it with the velocity of a bird. Nothing that goes +through, or ON, the water--and the last is the phrase best suited to +the floating of a bark canoe--can ever be made to keep company with +that feathery foam, which, under the several names of "white-caps"--an +in-shore and lubber's term--"combs," "breaking of the seas," "the wash," +etc., etc., glances by a vessel in a blow, or comes on board her even +when she is running before it. We have often watched these clouds of +water, as they have shot ahead of us, when ploughing our own ten or +eleven knot through the brine, and they have ever appeared to us as so +many useful admonishers of what the power of God is, as compared to the +power of man. The last shall construct his ship, fit her with all the +appliances of his utmost art, sail her with the seaman's skill, and +force her through her element with something like railroad speed; +yet will the seas "send" their feathery crests past her, like so +many dolphins, or porpoises, sporting under her fore-foot. It is this +following sea which becomes so very dangerous in heavy gales, and which +compels the largest ships frequently to heave to, in order that they may +present their bows to its almost resistless power. + +But our adventurers had no such gales as those we mean, or any such seas +to withstand. The wind blew fresh from the south, and Michigan can get +up a very respectable swell at need. Like the seas in all the great +lakes, it was short, and all the worse for that. The larger the expanse +of water over which the wind passes, the longer is the sea, and the +easier is it for the ship to ride on it. Those of Lake Michigan, +however, were quite long enough for a bark canoe, and glad enough were +both Margery and Dorothy when they found their two little vessels lashed +together, and wearing an air of more stability than was common to them. +Le Bourdon's sail was first spread, and it produced an immediate relief +from the washing of the waves. The drift of a bark canoe, in a smart +blow, is considerable, it having no hold on the water to resist it; but +our adventurers fairly flew as soon as the cotton cloth was opened. The +wind being exactly south, by steering due north, or dead before it, it +was found possible to carry the sail in the other canoe, borne out +on the opposite side; and from the moment that was opened, all the +difficulty was reduced to steering so "small," as seamen term it, as +to prevent one or the other of the lugs from jibing. Had this occurred, +however, no very serious consequences would have followed, the +precaution taken of lashing the craft together rendering capsizing next +to impossible. + +The Kalamazoo and its mouth were soon far behind, and le Bourdon no +longer felt the least apprehension of the savages left in it. The +Indians are not bold navigators, and he felt certain that the lake was +too rough for the savages to venture out, while his own course gradually +carried him off the land, and out of the track of anything that kept +near the shore. A short time produced a sense of security, and the +wind appearing to fall, instead of increasing in violence, it was soon +arranged that one of the men should sleep, while the other looked to the +safety of the canoes. + +It was about nine o'clock when the fugitives made sail, off the mouth of +the Kalamazoo; and, at the return of light, seven hours later, they were +more than forty miles from the place of starting. The wind still stood, +with symptoms of growing fresher again as the sun rose, and the land +could just be seen in the eastern board, the coast in that direction +having made a considerable curvature inland. This had brought the canoes +farther from the land than le Bourdon wished to be, but he could not +materially change his course without taking in one of his sails. As much +variation was made, however, as was prudent, and by nine o'clock, or +twelve hours after entering the lake, the canoes again drew near to the +shore, which met them ahead. By the bee hunter's calculations, they were +now about seventy miles from the mouth of the Kalamazoo, having passed +the outlets of two or three of the largest streams of those regions. + +The fugitives selected a favorable spot, and landed behind a headland +that gave them a sufficient lee for the canoes. They had now reached a +point where the coast trends a little to the eastward, which brought the +wind in a slight degree off the land. This change produced no very +great effect on the seas, but it enabled the canoes to keep close to +the shore, making something of a lee for them. This they did about noon, +after having lighted a fire, caught some fish in a small stream, killed +a deer and dressed it, and cooked enough provisions to last for two +or three days. The canoes were now separated again; it being easier to +manage them in that state than when lashed together, besides enabling +them to carry both sails. The farther north they got the more of a lee +was found, though it was in no place sufficient to bring smooth water. + +In this manner several more hours were passed, and six times as many +more miles were made in distance. When le Bourdon again landed, which +he did shortly before the sun set, he calculated his distance from +the mouth of the Kalamazoo to be rather more than a hundred miles. His +principal object was to ascend a bluff and to take a look at the coast, +in order to examine it for canoes. This his glass enabled him to do with +some accuracy, and when he rejoined the party, he was rejoiced to have +it in his power to report that the coast was clear. After refreshing +themselves, the canoes were again brought together, in order to divide +the watches, and a new start was made for the night. In this manner did +our adventurers make their way to the northward for two nights and days, +landing often, to fish, hunt, rest, and cook, as well as to examine the +coast. At the end of the time mentioned, the celebrated straits of the +Michillimackinac, or Mackinaw, as they are almost universally termed, +came in sight. The course had been gradually changing toward the +eastward, and, luckily for the progress of the fugitives, the wind with +it, leaving them always a favorable breeze. But it was felt to be no +longer safe to use a sail, and recourse was had to the paddles, until +the straits and island were passed. This caused some delay, and added a +good deal to the labor; but it was deemed so dangerous to display +their white cotton sails, objects that might be seen for a considerable +distance, that it was thought preferable to adopt this caution. Nor +was it useless. In consequence of this foresight, a fleet of canoes was +passed in safety, which were crossing from the post at Mackinaw to ward +the main land of Michigan. The number of the canoes in this fleet could +not have been less than fifty, but getting a timely view of them, le +Bourdon hid his own craft in a cove, and remained there until the danger +was over. + +The course now changed still more, while the wind got quite round to the +westward. This made a fair wind at first, and gave the canoes a good lee +as they advanced. Lake Huron, which was the water the fugitives were now +on, lies nearly parallel to Michigan, and the course was southeasterly. +As le Bourdon had often passed both ways on these waters, he had his +favorite harbors, and knew those signs which teach navigators how to +make their prognostics of the weather. On the whole, the fugitives did +very well, though they lost two days between Mackinaw and Saginaw Bay; +one on account of the strength of the wind, and one on account of rain. +During the last, they remained in a hut that le Bourdon had himself +constructed in one of his many voyages, and which he had left standing. +These empty cabins, or chientes, are of frequent occurrence in new +countries, being used, like the Refuges in the Alps, by every traveller +as he has need of them. + +The sight of the fleet of canoes, in the straits of Michillimackinac, +caused the fugitives the only real trouble they had felt, between the +time when they left the mouth of the Kalamazoo, and the ten days that +succeeded. By the end of that period the party had crossed Saginaw, +and was fast coming up with Point au Barques, a landmark for all who +navigate the waters of Huron, when a canoe was seen coming out from +under the land, steering as if to intercept them. This sight gave both +concern and pleasure; concern, as it might lead to a hostile encounter, +and pleasure, because the bee-hunter hoped for information that might be +useful in governing his future course. Here his glass came in play, with +good effect. By means of that instrument, it was soon ascertained that +the strange canoe contained but two men, both Indians, and as that was +just their own force no great danger was apprehended from the meeting. +The craft, therefore, continued to approach each other, le Bourdon +keeping his glass levelled on the strangers much of the time. + +"As I live, yonder are Peter and Pigeonswing," suddenly exclaimed our +hero. "They have crossed the Peninsula, and have come out from the +point, in that canoe, to meet us." + +"With important news, then, depend on it, Benjamin," answered the wife. +"Tell this to brother, that he and Dolly may not feel more alarm than is +necessary." + +The bee-hunter called out to his friends in the other canoe, and +communicated the discovery just made, the two craft keeping always +within hailing distance of each other. + +"Them Injins are not here for nothing," answered Dorothy. "You will find +they have something serious to say." + +"We shall soon know," called out le Bourdon. "Ten minutes will bring us +alongside of them." + +The ten minutes did that much, and before the expiration of the short +space, the three canoes were fastened together, that of Peter being in +the centre. The bee-hunter saw, at a glance, that the expedition of +the Indians had been hurried; for their canoe, besides being of +very indifferent qualities, was not provided with the implements and +conveniences usual to a voyage of any length. Still, he would not ask +a question, but lighting his pipe, after a few puffs, he passed it +courteously over to Peter. The great chief smoked a while, and gave it +to Pigeonswing, in his turn, who appeared to enjoy it quite as much as +any of the party. + +"My father does not believe he is a Jew?" said le Bourdon, smiling; +willing to commence a discourse, though still determined not to betray a +womanish curiosity. + +"We are poor Injins, Bourdon; just as the Great Spirit made us. Dat +bess. Can't help what Manitou do. If he don't make us Jew, can't be Jew. +If he make us Injin, muss be Injin. For my part, b'lieve I'm Injin, and +don't want to be pale-face. Can love pale-face, now, juss as well as +love Injin." + +"Oh, I hope this is true, Peter," exclaimed Margery, her handsome face +flushing with delight, at hearing these words. "So long as your heart +tells you this, be certain that the Spirit of God is in you." + +Peter made no answer, but he looked profoundly impressed with the novel +feeling that had taken possession of his soul. As for the bee-hunter, he +did not meddle with Margery's convictions or emotions on such subjects, +resembling, in this particular, most men, who, however indifferent to +religion in their own persons, are never sorry to find that their wives +profoundly submit to its influence. After a short pause, a species +of homage involuntarily paid to the subject, he thought he might now +inquire into the circumstances that brought the Indians on their route, +without incurring the imputation of a weak and impatient curiosity. In +reply, Peter's story was soon told. He had rejoined the chiefs without +exciting distrust, and all had waited for the young men to bring in the +captives. As soon as it was ascertained that the intended victims had +escaped, and by water, parties proceeded to different points, in order +to intercept them. Some followed in canoes, but, being less bold in +their navigation than the bee-hunter, they did not make the straits +until some time after the fugitives had passed. Peter, himself, +had joined Bear's Meat and some twenty warriors who had crossed the +Peninsula, procured canoes at the head of Saginaw Bay, and had come out +at Point au Barques, the very spot our party was now approaching, three +days before its arrival. + +Tired with waiting, and uncertain whether his enemies had not got the +start of him, Bear's Meat had gone into the river below, intending to +keep his watch there, leaving Peter at the Point, with three young men +and one canoe, to have a lookout. These young men the great chief had +found an excuse for sending to the head of the Bay, in quest of another +canoe, which left him, of course, quite alone on the Point. Scarce had +the young man got out of sight, ere Pigeonswing joined his confederate, +for it seems that this faithful friend had kept on the skirts of the +enemy the whole time, travelling hundreds of miles, and enduring hunger +and fatigue, besides risking his life at nearly every step, in order to +be of use to those whom he considered himself pledged to serve. + +Of course, Peter and Pigeonswing understood each other. One hour after +they joined company, the canoes of the fugitives came in sight, and +were immediately recognized by their sails. They were met, as has been +mentioned, and the explanations that we have given were made before the +party landed at the Point. + +It was something to know where the risk was to be apprehended; but le +Bourdon foresaw great danger. He had brought his canoes, already, quite +five hundred miles, along a hazardous coast--though a little craft, like +one of those he navigated, ran less risk, perhaps, than a larger +vessel, since a shelter might, at any time, be found within a reasonable +distance for it. From Pointe au Barques to the outlet of the lake +was less than a hundred miles more. This outlet was a river, as it is +called--a strait, in fact--which communicates with the small shallow +lake of St. Clair, by a passage of some thirty miles in length. Then +the lake St. Clair was to be crossed about an equal distance, when the +canoes would come out in what is called the Detroit River, a strait +again, as its name indicates. Some six or eight miles down this passage, +and on its western side, stands the city of Detroit, then a village of +no great extent, with a fort better situated to repel an attack of the +savages, than to withstand a siege of white men. This place was now in +the possession of the British, and, according to le Bourdon's notion, it +was scarcely less dangerous to him than the hostility of Bear's Meat and +his companions. + +Delay, however, was quite as dangerous as anything else. After cooking +and eating, therefore, the canoes continued their course, Peter and +Pigeonswing accompanying them, though they abandoned their own craft. +Peter went with the bee-hunter and Margery, while the Chippewa took a +seat and a paddle in the canoe of Gershom. This change was made in +order to put a double power in each canoe, since it was possible that +downright speed might become the only means of safety. + +The wind still stood at the westward, and the rate of sailing was rapid. +About the close of the day the party drew near to the outlet, when Peter +directed the sails to be taken in. This was done to prevent their being +seen, a precaution that was now aided by keeping as near to the shore +as possible, where objects so small and low would be very apt to be +confounded with others on the land. + +It was quite dark when the canoes entered the St. Clair river. Favored +by the current and the wind, their progress was rapid, and ere the day +returned, changing his direction from the course ordinarily taken, Peter +entered the lake by a circuitous passage; one of the many that lead from +the river to the lake, among aquatic plants that form a perfect shelter. +This detour saved the fugitives from falling into the hands of one party +of their enemies, as was afterward ascertained by the Indians. Bear's +Meat had left two canoes, each manned by five warriors, to watch the +principal passages into Lake St. Clair, not anticipating that any +particular caution would be used by the bee-hunter and his friends, at +this great distance from the place where they had escaped from their +foes. But the arrival of Peter, his sagacity, and knowledge of Indian +habits, prevented the result that was expected. The canoes got into +the lake unseen, and crossed it a little diagonally, so as to reach the +Canada shore in the middle of the afternoon of the succeeding day, using +their sails only when far from land, and not exposed to watchful eyes. + +The bee-hunter and his friends landed that afternoon at the cabin of +a Canadian Frenchman, on the shore of the lake, and at a safe distance +from the outlet which led still farther south. Here the females were +hospitably received, and treated with that kindness which marks the +character of the Canadian French. It mattered little to these simple +people, whether the travellers were of the hostile nation or not. It is +true, they did not like the "Yankees," as all Americans are termed by +them, but they were not particularly in love with their English masters. +It was well enough to be repossessed of both banks of the Detroit, +for both banks were then peopled principally by their own race, the +descendants of Frenchmen of the time of Louis XIV., and who still +preserved much of the language, and many of the usages, of the French +of that period. They spoke then, as now, only the language of their +fathers. + +The bee-hunter left the cottage of these simple and hospitable people, +as soon as the night was fairly set in; or, rather, as soon as a young +moon had gone down. Peter now took the command, steering the canoe of +le Bourdon, while Gershom followed so close as to keep the bow of his +little craft within reach of the Indian's arm. In less than an hour the +fugitives reached the opening of the river, which is here divided into +two channels by a large island. On that very island, and at that precise +moment, was Bear's Meat lying in wait for their appearance, provided +with three canoes, each having a crew of six men. It would have been +easy for this chief to go to Detroit, and give the alarm to the savages +who were then collected there in a large force, and to have made such +a disposition of the canoes as would have rendered escape by water +impossible; but this would have been robbing himself and his friends of +all the credit of taking the scalps, and throwing away what is termed +"honor" among others as well as among savages. He chose, therefore, to +trust to his own ability to succeed; and supposing the fugitives would +not be particularly on their guard at this point, had little doubt of +intercepting them here, should they succeed in eluding those he had left +above. + +The bee-hunter distrusted that island, and used extra caution in passing +it. In the first place, the two canoes were brought together, so as to +give them, in the dark, the appearance of only one; while the four men +added so much to the crew as to aid the deception. In the end it proved +that one of Bear's Meat's canoes that was paddling about in the middle +of the river had actually seen them, but mistook the party for a canoe +of their own, which ought to have been near that spot, with precisely +six persons in it, just at that time. These six warriors had landed, and +gone up among the cottages of the French to obtain some fruit, of which +they were very fond, and of which they got but little in their own +villages. Owing to this lucky coincidence, which the pretty Margery ever +regarded as another special interposition of Providence in their favor, +the fugitives passed the island without molestation, and actually got +below the last lookouts of Bear's Meat, though without their knowledge. + +It was by no means a difficult thing to go down the river, now that so +many canoes were in motion on it, at all hours. The bee-hunter knew what +points were to be avoided, and took care not to approach a sentinel. The +river, or strait, is less than a mile wide, and by keeping in the centre +of the passage, the canoes, favored by both wind and current, drove by +the town, then an inconsiderable village, without detection. As soon as +far enough below, the canoes were again cast loose from each other, and +sail was made on each. The water was smooth, and some time before +the return of light the fugitives were abreast of Malden, but in the +American channel. Had it been otherwise, the danger could not have been +great. So completely were the Americans subdued by Hull's capitulation, +and so numerous were the Indian allies of the British, that the passage +of a bark canoe, more or less, would hardly have attracted attention. At +that time, Michigan was a province of but little more than a name. The +territory was wide, to be sure, but the entire population was not larger +than that of a moderately sized English market town, and Detroit was +then regarded as a distant and isolated point. It is true that Mackinac +and Chicago were both more remote, and both more isolated, but an +English force, in possession of Detroit, could be approached by the +Americans on the side of the land only by overcoming the obstacles of a +broad belt of difficult wilderness. This was done the succeeding year, +it is true, but time is always necessary to bring out Jonathan's latent +military energies. When aroused, they are not trifling, as all his +enemies have been made to feel; but a good deal of miscalculation, +pretending ignorance, and useless talking must be expended, before the +really efficient are allowed to set about serving the country in their +own way. + +In this respect, thanks to West Point, a well-organized staff, and +well-educated officers, matters are a little improving. Congress has +not been able to destroy the army, in the present war, though it did its +best to attain that end; and all because the nucleus was too powerful +to be totally eclipsed by the gas of the usual legislative tail of the +Great National Comet, of which neither the materials nor the orbit can +any man say he knows. One day, it declares war with a hurrah; the next, +it denies the legislation necessary to carry it on, as if it distrusted +its own acts, and already repented of its patriotism. And this is +the body, soulless, the very school of faction, as a whole of very +questionable quality in the outset, that, according to certain +expounders of the constitution, is to perform all the functions of a +government; which is not only to pass laws, but is to interpret them; +which is to command the army, aye, even to wheeling its platoons; +which reads the constitution as an abbe mumbles his aves and paters, or +looking at everything but his texts; and which is never to have its +acts vetoed, unless in cases where the Supreme Court would spare the +Executive that trouble. We never yet could see either the elements or +the fruits of this great sanctity in the National Council. In our eyes +it is scarcely ever in its proper place on the railway of the Union, has +degenerated into a mere electioneering machine, performing the little +it really does convulsively, by sudden impulses, equally without +deliberation or a sense of responsibility. In a word, we deem it the +power of all others in the state that needs the closest watching, and +were we what is termed in this country "politicians," we should go for +the executive who is the most ready to apply the curb to these vagaries +of faction and interested partisans! Vetoes. Would to Heaven we could +see the days of Good Queen Bess revived for one session of Congress at +least, and find that more laws were sent back for the second thoughts +of their framers than were approved! Then, indeed, might the country be +brought back to a knowledge of the very material constitutional facts +that the legislature is not commander-in-chief, does not negotiate +or make treaties, and has no right to do that which it has done so +often--appoint to office by act of Congress. + +As a consequence of the little apprehension entertained by the English +of being soon disturbed in their new conquests, le Bourdon and his +friends got out of the Detroit River, and into Lake Erie, without +discovery or molestation. There still remained a long journey before +them. In that day the American side of the shores of all the Great Lakes +was little more than a wilderness. There were exceptions at particular +points, but these were few and far asunder. The whole coast of +Ohio--for Ohio has its coast as well as Bohemia [Footnote: See +Shakespeare--Winter's Tale.]--was mostly in a state of nature, as was +much of those of Pennsylvania and New York, on the side of the fresh +water. The port which the bee-hunter had in view was Presque Isle, now +known as Erie, a harbor in Pennsylvania, that has since become somewhat +celebrated in consequence of its being the port out of which the +American vessels sailed, about a year later than the period of which we +are writing, to fight the battle that gave them the mastery of the lake. +This was a little voyage of itself, of near two hundred miles, following +the islands and the coast, but it was safely made in the course of +the succeeding week. Once in Lake Erie and on the American side, our +adventurers felt reasonably safe against all dangers but those of the +elements. It is true that a renowned annalist, whose information is +sustained by the collected wisdom of a State Historical Society, does +tell us that the enemy possessed both shores of Lake Erie in 1814; but +this was so small a mistake, compared with some others that this Nestor +in history had made, that we shall not stop to explain it. Le Bourdon +and his party found all the south shore of Lake Erie in possession +of the Americans, so far as it was in the possession of any one, and +consequently ran no risks from this blunder of the historian and his +highly intelligent associates! + +Peter and Pigeonswing left their friends before they reached Presque +Isle. The bee-hunter gave them his own canoe, and the parting was not +only friendly, but touching. In the course of their journey, and during +their many stops, Margery had frequently prayed with the great chief. +His constant and burning desire, now, was to learn to read, that he +might peruse the word of the Great Spirit, and regulate his future life +by its wisdom and tenets. Margery promised, should they ever meet again, +and under circumstances favorable to such a design, to help him attain +his wishes. + +Pigeonswing parted from his friend with the same light-hearted vivacity +as he had manifested in all their intercourse. Le Bourdon gave him his +own rifle, plenty of ammunition, and various other small articles that +were of value to an Indian, accepting the Chippewa's arms in return. The +exchange, however, was greatly to the advantage of the savage. As for +Peter, he declined all presents. He carried weapons now, indeed, merely +for the purpose of hunting; but the dignity of his character and station +would have placed him above such compensations, had the fact been +otherwise. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + + Come to the land of peace! + Come where the tempest hath no longer sway, + The shadow passes from the soul away-- + The sounds of weeping cease. + + Fear hath no dwelling there! + Come to the mingling--of repose and love, + Breathed by the silent spirit of the dove, + Through the celestial air. + --MRS. HEMANS. + +It is now more than thirty-three years since the last war with the +English terminated, and about thirty-six to the summer in which the +events recorded in this legend occurred. This third of a century has +been a period of mighty changes in America. Ages have not often brought +about as many in other portions of the earth, as this short period of +time has given birth to among ourselves. We had written, thus far, on +the evidence of documents sent to us, when an occasion offered to +verify the truth of some of our pictures, at least, by means of personal +observation. + +Quitting our own quiet and secluded abode in the mountains, in the +pleasant month of June, and in this current year of 1848, we descended +into the valley of the Mohawk, got into the cars, and went flying by +rails toward the setting sun. Well could we remember the time when an +entire day was required to pass between that point on the Mohawk where +we got on the rails, and the little village of Utica. On the present +occasion, we flew over the space in less than three hours, and dined in +a town of some fifteen thousand souls. + +We reached Buffalo, at the foot of Lake Erie, in about twenty hours +after we had entered the cars. This journey would have been the labor of +more than a week, at the time in which the scene of this tale occurred. +Now, the whole of the beautiful region, teeming with its towns and +villages, and rich with the fruits of a bountiful season, was almost +brought into a single landscape by the rapidity of our passage. + +At Buffalo, we turned aside to visit the cataract. Thither, too, we went +on rails. Thirty-eight years had passed away since we had laid eyes on +this wonderful fall of water. In the intervening time we had travelled +much, and had visited many of the renowned falls of the old world, to +say nothing of the great number which are to be found in other parts of +our own land. Did this visit, then, produce disappointment? + +Did time, and advancing years, and feelings that had become deadened by +experience, contribute to render the view less striking, less grand, in +any way less pleasing than we had hoped to find it? So far from this, +all our expectations were much more than realized. In one particular, +touching which we do not remember ever to have seen anything said, we +were actually astonished at the surpassing glory of Niagara. It was the +character of sweetness, if we can so express it, that glowed over the +entire aspect of the scene. We were less struck with the grandeur of +this cataract, than with its sublime softness and gentleness. To water +in agitation, use had so long accustomed us, perhaps, as in some slight +degree to lessen the feeling of awe that is apt to come over the +novice in such scenes; but we at once felt ourselves attracted by the +surpassing loveliness of Niagara. The gulf below was more imposing than +we had expected to see it, but it was Italian in hue and softness, amid +its wildness and grandeur. Not a drop of the water that fell down that +precipice inspired terror; for everything appeared to us to be filled +with attraction and love. Like Italy itself, notwithstanding so much +that is grand and imposing, the character of softness, and the witchery +of the gentler properties, is the power we should ascribe to Niagara, in +preference to that of its majesty. We think this feeling, too, is more +general than is commonly supposed, for we find those who dwell near the +cataract playing around it, even to the very verge of its greatest fall, +with a species of affection, as if they had the fullest confidence in +its rolling waters. Thus it is that we see the little steamer, the Maid +of the Mist, paddling up quite near to the green sheet of the Horse-Shoe +itself, and gliding down in the current of the vortex, as it is +compelled to quit the eddies, and come more in a line with the main +course of the stream. Wires, too, are suspended across the gulf below, +and men pass it in baskets. It is said that one of these inventions is +to carry human beings over the main fall, so that the adventurer may +hang suspended in the air, directly above the vortex. In this way do +men, and even women, prove their love for the place, all of which we +impute to its pervading character of sweetness and attraction. + +At Buffalo we embarked in a boat under the English flag, which is called +the Canada, This shortened our passage to Detroit, by avoiding all the +stops at lateral ports, and we had every reason to be satisfied with our +selection. Boat, commander, and the attendance were such as would have +done credit to any portion of the civilized world. There were many +passengers, a motley collection, as usual, from all parts of the +country. + +Our attention was early drawn to one party, by the singular beauty of +its females. They seemed to us to be a grandmother, in a well-preserved, +green old age; a daughter, but a matron of little less than forty; and +two exceedingly pretty girls of about eighteen and sixteen, whom we took +to be children of the last. The strong family likeness between these +persons led us early to make this classification, which we afterward +found was correct. + +By occasional remarks, I gathered that the girls had been to an +"Eastern" boarding-school, that particular feature in civilization not +yet flourishing in the Northwestern States. It seemed to us that we +could trace in the dialect of the several members of this family, +the gradations and peculiarities that denote the origin and habits of +individuals. Thus, the grandmother was not quite as Western in her forms +of speech as her matronly daughter, while the grandchildren evidently +spoke under the influence of boarding-school correction, or like girls +who had been often lectured on the subject "First rate," and "Yes, sir," +and "That's a fact," were often in the mouth of the pleasing mother, and +even the grandmother used them all, though not as often as her daughter, +while the young people looked a little concerned and surprised, whenever +they came out of the mouth of their frank-speaking mother. That these +persons were not of a very high social class was evident enough, even in +their language. There was much occasion to mention New York, we found, +and they uniformly called it "the city." By no accident did either of +them happen to use the expression that she had been "in town," as one of +us would be apt to say. "He's gone to the city," or "She's in the city," +are awkward phrases, and tant soit peu vulgar; but even our pretty +young boarding-school eleves would use them. We have a horror of the +expression "city," and are a little fastidious, perhaps, touching its +use. + +But these little peculiarities were spots on the sun. The entire family, +taken as a whole, was really charming; and long before the hour for +retiring came, we had become much interested in them all. We found +there was a fifth person belonging to this party, who did not make his +appearance that night. From the discourse of these females, however, it +was easy to glean the following leading facts: This fifth person was +a male; he was indisposed, and kept his berth; and he was quite +aged. Several nice little dishes were carried from the table into his +state-room that evening, by one or the other of the young sisters, +and each of the party appeared anxious to contribute to the invalid's +comfort. All this sympathy excited our interest, and we had some +curiosity to see this old man, long ere it was time to retire. As +for the females, no name was mentioned among them but that of a Mrs. +Osborne, who was once or twice alluded to in full. It was "grandma," and +"ma," and "Dolly," and "sis." We should have liked it better had it been +"mother," and "grandmother," and that the "sis" had been called Betsey +or Molly; but we do not wish to be understood as exhibiting these +amiable and good-looking strangers as models of refinement. "Ma" and +"sis" did well enough, all things considered, though "mamma" would have +been better if they were not sufficiently polished to say "mother." + +We had a pleasant night of it, and all the passengers appeared next +morning with smiling faces. It often blows heavily on that lake, but +light airs off the land were all the breezes we encountered. We were +among the first to turn out, and on the upper deck forward, a place +where the passengers are fond of collecting, as it enables them to look +ahead, we found a single individual who immediately drew all of our +attention to himself. It was an aged man, with hair already as white as +snow. Still there was that in his gait, attitudes, and all his movements +which indicated physical vigor, not to say the remains, at least, of +great elasticity and sinewy activity. Aged as he was, and he must have +long since passed his fourscore years, his form was erect as that of +a youth. In stature he was of rather more than middle height, and in +movements deliberate and dignified. His dress was quite plain, being +black, and according to the customs of the day. The color of his face +and hands, however, as well as the bold outlines of his countenance, and +the still keen, restless, black eye, indicated the Indian. + +Here, then, was a civilized red man, and it struck us at once, that he +was an ancient child of the forest, who had been made to feel the truths +of the gospel. One seldom hesitates about addressing an Indian, and we +commenced a discourse with our venerable fellow-passenger, with very +little circumlocution or ceremony. + +"Good-morning, sir," we observed--"a charming time we have of it, on +the lake." + +"Yes--good time--" returned my red neighbor, speaking short and clipped, +like an Indian, but pronouncing his words as if long accustomed to the +language. + +"These steamboats are great inventions for the western lakes, as are the +railroads for this vast inland region. I dare say you can remember Lake +Erie when it was an unusual thing to see a sail of any sort on it; and +now, I should think, we might count fifty." + +"Yes--great change--great change, friend!--all change from ole time." + +"The traditions of your people, no doubt, give you reason to see and +feel all this?" + +The predominant expression of this red man's countenance was that of +love. On everything, on every human being toward whom he turned his +still expressive eyes, the looks he gave them would seem to indicate +interest and affection. This expression was so decided and peculiar, +that we early remarked it, and it drew us closer and closer to the old +chief, the longer we remained in his company. That expression, however, +slightly changed when we made this allusion to the traditions of +his people, and a cloud passed before his countenance. This change, +nevertheless, was as transient as it was sudden, the benevolent and +gentle look returning almost as soon as it had disappeared. He seemed +anxious to atone for this involuntary expression of regrets for the +past, by making his communications to me as free as they could be. + +"My tradition say a great deal," was the answer, "It say some good, some +bad." + +"May I ask of what tribe you are?" + +The red man turned his eyes on us kindly, as if to lessen anything +ungracious there might be in his refusal to answer, and with an +expression of benevolence that we scarcely remember ever to have seen +equalled. Indeed, we might say with truth, that the love which shone out +of this old man's countenance habitually, surpassed that which we can +recall as belonging to any other human face. He seemed to be at peace +with himself, and with all the other children of Adam. + +"Tribe make no difference," he answered. "All children of same Great +Spirit." + +"Red men and pale-faces?" I asked, not a little surprised with his +reply. + +"Red man and pale-face. Christ die for all, and his Fadder make all. No +difference, excep' in color. Color only skin deep." + +"Do you, then, look on us pale-faces as having a right here? Do you +not regard us as invaders, as enemies who have come to take away your +lands?" + +"Injin don't own 'arth. 'Arth belong to God, and he send whom he like +to live on it. One time he send Injin; now he send pale-face. His 'arth, +and he do what he please wid it. Nobody any right to complain. Bad to +find fault wid Great Spirit. All he do, right; nebber do anyt'ing bad. +His blessed Son die for all color, and all color muss bow down at his +holy name. Dat what dis good book say," showing a small pocket Bible, +"and what dis good book say come from Great Spirit, himself." + +"You read the Holy Scriptures, then--you are an educated Indian?" + +"No; can't read at all. Don't know how. Try hard, but too ole to begin. +Got young eyes, however, to help me," he added, with one of the fondest +smiles I ever saw light a human face, as he turned to meet the pretty +Dolly's "Good-morning, Peter," and to shake the hand of the elder +sister. "She read good book for old Injin, when he want her; and when +she off at school, in 'city,' den her mudder or her gran'mudder read for +him. Fuss begin wid gran'mudder; now get down to gran'da'ghter. But good +book all de same, let who will read it." + +This, then, was "Scalping Peter," the very man I was travelling into +Michigan to see, but how wonderfully changed! The Spirit of the Most +High God had been shed freely upon his moral being, and in lieu of the +revengeful and vindictive savage, he now lived a subdued, benevolent +Christian! In every human being he beheld a brother, and no longer +thought of destroying races, in order to secure to his own people the +quiet possession of their hunting-grounds. His very soul was love; and +no doubt he felt himself strong enough to "bless those who cursed him," +and to give up his spirit, like the good missionary whose death had +first turned him toward the worship of the one true God, praying for +those who took his life. + +The ways of Divine Providence are past the investigations of human +reason. How often, in turning over the pages of history, do we find +civilization, the arts, moral improvement, nay, Christianity itself, +following the bloody train left by the conqueror's car, and good pouring +in upon a nation by avenues that at first were teeming only with the +approaches of seeming evils! In this way, there is now reason to hope +that America is about to pay the debt she owes to Africa; and in this +way will the invasion of the forests, and prairies and "openings," +of the red man be made to atone for itself by carrying with it the +blessings of the Gospel, and a juster view of the relations which man +bears to his Creator. Possibly Mexico may derive lasting benefits from +the hard lesson that she has so recently been made to endure. + +This, then, was Peter, changed into a civilized man and a Christian! I +have found, subsequently, that glimmerings of the former being existed +in his character; but they showed themselves only at long intervals, and +under very peculiar circumstances. The study of these traits became a +subject of great interest with us, for we now travelled in company the +rest of our journey. The elder lady, or "grandma," was the Margery of +our tale; still handsome, spirited, and kind. The younger matron was her +daughter and only child, and "sis," another Margery, and Dorothy, were +her grandchildren. There was also a son, or a grandson rather, Ben, +who was on Prairie Round, "with the general." The "general" was our old +friend, le Bourdon, who was still as often called "General Bourdon," +as "General Boden." This matter of "generals" at the West is a little +overdone, as all ranks and titles are somewhat apt to be in new +countries. It causes one often to smile, at the East; and no wonder that +an Eastern habit should go down in all its glory, beneath the +"setting sun." In after-days, generals will not be quite as "plenty as +blackberries." + +No sooner did Mrs. Boden, or Margery, to use her familiar name, learn +that we were the very individual to whom the "general" had sent the +notes relative to his early adventures, which had been prepared by +the "Rev. Mr. Varse," of Kalamazoo, than she became as friendly and +communicative as we could possibly desire. + +Her own life had been prosperous, and her marriage happy. Her brother, +however, had fallen back into his old habits, and died ere the war of +1812 was ended. Dorothy had returned to her friends in Massachusetts, +and was still living, in a comfortable condition, owing to a legacy from +an uncle. The bee-hunter had taken the field in that war, and had seen +some sharp fighting on the banks of the Niagara. No sooner was peace +made, however, than he returned to his beloved Openings, where he had +remained, "growing with the country," as it is termed, until he was now +what is deemed a rich man in Michigan. He has a plenty of land, and that +which is good; a respectable dwelling, and is out of debt. He meets +his obligations to an Eastern man just as promptly as he meets those +contracted at home, and regards the United States, and not Michigan, as +his country. All these were good traits, and we were glad to learn that +they existed in one who already possessed so much of our esteem. At +Detroit we found a fine flourishing town, of a healthful and natural +growth, and with a population that was fast approaching twenty thousand. +The shores of the beautiful strait on which it stands, and which, by a +strange blending of significations and languages, is popularly called +the "Detroit River," were alive with men and their appliances, and we +scarce know where to turn to find a more agreeable landscape than that +which was presented to us, after passing the island of "Bobolo" (Bois +Blanc), near Maiden. Altogether, it resembled a miniature picture of +Constantinople, without its Eastern peculiarities. + +At Detroit commenced our surprise at the rapid progress of Western +civilization. It will be remembered that at the period of our tale, the +environs of Detroit excepted, the whole peninsula of Michigan lay in +a state of nature. Nor did the process of settlement commence actively +until about twenty years since; but, owing to the character of +the country, it already possesses many of the better features of a +long-inhabited region. There are stumps, of course, for new fields are +constantly coming into cultivation; but on the whole, the appearance is +that of a middle-aged, rather than that of a new region. + +We left Detroit on a railroad, rattling away toward the setting sun, at +a good speed even for that mode of conveyance. It seemed to us that +our route was well garnished with large villages, of which we must have +passed through a dozen, in the course of a few hours' "railing," These +are places varying in size from one to three thousand inhabitants. The +vegetation certainly surpassed that of even West New York, the trees +alone excepted. The whole country was a wheat-field, and we now began +to understand how America could feed the world. Our road lay among the +"Openings" much of the way, and we found them undergoing the changes +which are incident to the passage of civilized men. As the periodical +fires had now ceased for many years, underbrush was growing in lieu of +the natural grass, and in so much those groves are less attractive than +formerly; but one easily comprehends the reason, and can picture to +himself the aspect that these pleasant woods must have worn in times of +old. + +We left the railroad at Kalamazoo--an unusually pretty village, on the +banks of the stream of that name. Those who laid out this place, some +fifteen years since, had the taste to preserve most of its trees; +and the houses and grounds that stand a little apart from the busiest +streets--and they are numerous for a place of rather more than two +thousand souls--are particularly pleasant to the eye, on account of the +shade, and the rural pictures they present. Here Mrs. Boden told us we +were within a mile or two of the very spot where once had stood Castle +Meal (Chateau au Miel), though the "general" had finally established +himself at Schoolcraft, on Prairie Ronde. + +The first prairie we had ever seen was on the road between Detroit and +Kalamazoo; distant from the latter place only some eight or nine miles. +The axe had laid the country open in its neighborhood; but the spot was +easily to be recognized by the air of cultivation and age that pervaded +it. There was not a stump on it, and the fields were as smooth as any on +the plains of Lombardy, and far more fertile, rich as the last are known +to be. In a word, the beautiful perfection of that little natural meadow +became apparent at once, though seated amid a landscape that was by no +means wanting in interest of its own. + +We passed the night at the village of Kalamazoo; but the party of +females, with old Peter, proceeded on to Prairie Round, as that +particular part of the country is called in the dialect of Michigan, it +being a corruption of the old French name of la prairie ronde. The Round +Meadow does not sound as well as Prairie Round, and the last being quite +as clear a term as the other, though a mixture of the two languages, +we prefer to use it. Indeed, the word "prairie" may now be said to +be adopted into the English; meaning merely a natural instead of an +artificial meadow, though one of peculiar and local characteristics. We +wrote a note to General Boden, as I found our old acquaintance Ben Boden +was universally termed, letting him know I should visit Schoolcraft next +day; not wishing to intrude at the moment when that charming family was +just reunited after so long a separation. + +The next day, accordingly, we got into a "buggy" and went our way. +The road was slightly sandy a good part of the twelve miles we had +to travel, though it became less so as we drew near to the celebrated +prairie. And celebrated, and that by an abler pen than ours, does this +remarkable place deserve to be! We found all our expectations concerning +it fully realized, and drove through the scene of abundance it presented +with an admiration that was not entirely free from awe. + +To get an idea of Prairie Round, the reader must imagine an oval plain +of some five-and-twenty or thirty thousand acres in extent, of the most +surpassing fertility, without an eminence of any sort--almost without an +inequality. There are a few small cavities, howevers in which there are +springs that form large pools of water that the cattle will drink. This +plain, so far as we saw it, is now entirely fenced and cultivated. The +fields are large, many containing eighty acres, and some one hundred and +sixty; most of them being in wheat. We saw several of this size in +that grain. Farm-houses dotted the surface, with barns, and the other +accessories of rural life. In the centre of the prairie is an "island" +of forest, containing some five or six hundred acres of the noblest +native trees we remember ever to have seen. In the centre of this wood +is a little lake, circular in shape, and exceeding a quarter of a mile +in diameter. The walk in this wood-which is not an Opening, but an +old-fashioned virgin forest--we found delightful of a warm summer's day. +One thing that we saw in it was characteristic of the country. Some +of the nearest farmers had drawn their manure into it, where it lay in +large piles, in order to get it out of the way of doing any mischief. +Its effect on the land, it was thought, would be to bring too much +straw! + +On one side of this island of wood lies the little village or large +hamlet of Schoolcraft. Here we were most cordially welcomed by General +Boden, and all of his fine descendants. The head of this family is +approaching seventy, but is still hale and hearty. His head is as white +as snow, and his face as red as a cherry. A finer old man one seldom +sees. Temperance, activity, the open air, and a good conscience, have +left him a noble ruin; if ruin he can yet be called. He owes the last +blessing, as he told us himself, to the fact that he kept clear of +the whirlwind of speculation that passed over this region some ten or +fifteen years since. His means are ample; and the harvest being about to +commence, he invited me to the field. + +The peculiar ingenuity of the American has supplied the want of +laborers, in a country where agriculture is carried on by wholesale, +especially in the cereals, by an instrument of the most singular and +elaborate construction. This machine is drawn by sixteen or eighteen +horses, attached to it laterally, so as to work clear of the standing +grain, and who move the whole fabric on a moderate but steady walk. A +path is first cut with the cradle on one side of the field, when the +machine is dragged into the open place. Here it enters the standing +grain, cutting off its heads with the utmost accuracy as it moves. Forks +beneath prepare the way, and a rapid vibratory motion of a great number +of two-edged knives effect the object. The stalks of the grain can be +cut as low or as high as one pleases, but it is usually thought best to +take only the heads. Afterward the standing straw is burned, or fed off, +upright. + +The impelling power which causes the great fabric to advance also sets +in motion the machinery within it As soon as the heads of the grain are +severed from the stalks, they pass into a receptacle, where, by a very +quick and simple process, the kernels are separated from the husks. +Thence all goes into a fanning machine, where the chaff is blown away. +The clean grain falls into a small bin, whence it is raised by a screw +elevator to a height that enables it to pass out at an opening to which +a bag is attached. Wagons follow the slow march of the machine, and the +proper number of men are in attendance. Bag after bag is renewed, until +a wagon is loaded, when it at once proceeds to the mill, where the grain +is soon converted into flour. Generally the husbandman sells to the +miller, but occasionally he pays for making the flour, and sends the +latter off, by railroad, to Detroit, whence it finds its way to Europe, +possibly, to help feed the millions of the old world. Such, at least, +was the course of trade the past season. As respects this ingenious +machine, it remains only to say that it harvests, cleans, and bags +from twenty to thirty acres of heavy wheat, in the course of a single +summer's day! Altogether it is a gigantic invention, well adapted to +meet the necessities of a gigantic country. + +Old Peter went afield with us that day. There he stood, like a striking +monument of a past that was still so recent and wonderful. On that very +prairie, which was now teeming with the appliances of civilization, +he had hunted and held his savage councils. On that prairie had he +meditated, or consented to the deaths of the young couple, whose +descendants were now dwelling there, amid abundance, and happy. Nothing +but the prayers of the dying missionary, in behalf of his destroyers, +had prevented the dire consummation. + +We were still in the field, when General Boden's attention was drawn +toward the person of another guest. This, too, was an Indian, old like +himself, but not clad like Peter, in the vestments of the whites. The +attire of this sinewy old man was a mixture of that of the two races. He +wore a hunting-shirt, moccasins, and a belt; but he also wore trousers, +and otherwise had brought himself within the habits of conventional +decency. It was Pigeonswing, the Chippewa, come to pay his annual visit +to his friend, the bee-hunter, The meeting was cordial, and we afterward +ascertained that when the old man departed, he went away loaded with +gifts that would render him comfortable for a twelvemonth. + +But Peter, after all, was the great centre of interest with us. We could +admire the General's bee-hives, which were numerous and ingenious; could +admire his still handsome Margery, and all their blooming descendants; +and were glad when we discovered that our old friend--made so by means +of a knowledge of his character, if not by actual acquaintance--was much +improved in mind, was a sincere Christian, and had been a Senator of his +own State; respected and esteemed by all who knew him. Such a career, +however, has nothing peculiar in America; it is one of every-day +occurrence, and shows the power of man when left free to make his own +exertions; while that of the Scalping Peter indicated the power of God. +There he was, living in the midst of the hated race, loving and beloved; +wishing naught but blessings on all colors alike; looking back upon his +traditions and superstitions with a sort of melancholy interest, as +we all portray in our memories the scenes, legends, and feelings of an +erring childhood. + +We were walking in the garden, after dinner, and looking at the hives. +There were the general, Margery, Peter, and ourselves. The first was +loud in praise of his buzzing friends, for whom it was plain he still +entertained a lively regard. The old Indian, at first, was sad. Then +he smiled, and, turning to us, he spoke earnestly and with some of his +ancient fire and eloquence. + +"Tell me you make a book," he said. "In dat book tell trut'. You see +me--poor old Injin. My fadder was chief--I was great chief, but we was +children. Knowed nuttin'. Like little child, dough great chief. +Believe tradition. T'ink dis 'arth flat--t'ink Injin could scalp all +pale-face--t'ink tomahawk, and war-path, and rifle, bess t'ings in +whole world. In dat day, my heart was stone. Afraid of Great Spirit, but +didn't love him. In dat time I t'ink General could talk wid bee. Yes; +was very foolish den. Now, all dem cloud blow away, and I see my Fadder +dat is in heaven. His face shine on me, day and night, and I never get +tired of looking at it. I see him smile, I see him lookin' at poor ole +Injin, as if he want him to come nearer; sometime I see him frown and +dat scare me. Den I pray, and his frown go away. + +"Stranger, love God. B'lieve his blessed Son, who pray for dem dat kill +him. Injin don't do that. Injin not strong enough to do so good t'ing. +It want de Holy Spirit to strengthen de heart, afore man can do so great +t'ing. When he got de force of de Holy Spirit, de heart of stone is +changed to de heart of woman, and we all be ready to bless our enemy and +die. I have spoken. Let dem dat read your book understand." + + +THE END. + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Oak Openings, by James Fenimore Cooper + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OAK OPENINGS *** + +***** This file should be named 4215.txt or 4215.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/4/2/1/4215/ + +Produced by Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +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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