English
Brief,Iprayforyou;foryousee,‘tisabusytimewithme.
—MuchAdoAboutNothing
Thetribe,orratherhalftribe,ofDelawares,whichhasbeensooftenmentioned,andwhosepresentplaceofencampmentwassonighthetemporaryvillageoftheHurons,couldassembleaboutanequalnumberofwarriorswiththelatterpeople.
Liketheirneighbors,theyhadfollowedMontcalmintotheterritoriesoftheEnglishcrown,andweremakingheavyandseriousinroadsonthehunting–groundsoftheMohawks;thoughtheyhadseenfit,withthemysteriousreservesocommonamongthenatives,towithholdtheirassistanceatthemomentwhenitwasmostrequired.
TheFrenchhadaccountedforthisunexpecteddefectiononthepartoftheirallyinvariousways.
Itwastheprevalentopinion,however,thattheyhadbeeninfluencedbyvenerationfortheancienttreaty,thathadoncemadethemdependentontheSixNationsformilitaryprotection,andnowrenderedthemreluctanttoencountertheirformermasters.
Asforthetribeitself,ithadbeencontenttoannouncetoMontcalm,throughhisemissaries,withIndianbrevity,thattheirhatchetsweredull,andtimewasnecessarytosharpenthem.
ThepoliticcaptainoftheCanadashaddeemeditwisertosubmittoentertainapassivefriend,thanbyanyactsofill–judgedseveritytoconverthimintoanopenenemy.
OnthatmorningwhenMagualedhissilentpartyfromthesettlementofthebeaversintotheforests,inthemannerdescribed,thesunroseupontheDelawareencampmentasifithadsuddenlyburstuponabusypeople,activelyemployedinallthecustomaryavocationsofhighnoon.
Thewomenranfromlodgetolodge,someengagedinpreparingtheirmorning’smeal,afewearnestlybentonseekingthecomfortsnecessarytotheirhabits,butmorepausingtoexchangehastyandwhisperedsentenceswiththeirfriends.
Thewarriorswereloungingingroups,musingmorethantheyconversedandwhenafewwordswereuttered,speakinglikemenwhodeeplyweighedtheiropinions.
Theinstrumentsofthechaseweretobeseeninabundanceamongthelodges;butnonedeparted.
Hereandthereawarriorwasexamininghisarms,withanattentionthatisrarelybestowedontheimplements,whennootherenemythanthebeastsoftheforestisexpectedtobeencountered.
Andoccasionally,theeyesofawholegroupwereturnedsimultaneouslytowardalargeandsilentlodgeinthecenterofthevillage,asifitcontainedthesubjectoftheircommonthoughts.
Duringtheexistenceofthisscene,amansuddenlyappearedatthefurthestextremityofaplatformofrockwhichformedthelevelofthevillage.
Hewaswithoutarms,andhispainttendedrathertosoftenthanincreasethenaturalsternnessofhisausterecountenance.
WheninfullviewoftheDelawareshestopped,andmadeagestureofamity,bythrowinghisarmupwardtowardheaven,andthenlettingitfallimpressivelyonhisbreast.
Theinhabitantsofthevillageansweredhissalutebyalowmurmurofwelcome,andencouragedhimtoadvancebysimilarindicationsoffriendship.
Fortifiedbytheseassurances,thedarkfigureleftthebrowofthenaturalrockyterrace,whereithadstoodamoment,drawninastrongoutlineagainsttheblushingmorningsky,andmovedwithdignityintotheverycenterofthehuts.
Asheapproached,nothingwasaudiblebuttherattlingofthelightsilverornamentsthatloadedhisarmsandneck,andthetinklingofthelittlebellsthatfringedhisdeerskinmoccasins.
Hemade,asheadvanced,manycourteoussignsofgreetingtothemenhepassed,neglectingtonoticethewomen,however,likeonewhodeemedtheirfavor,inthepresententerprise,ofnoimportance.
Whenhehadreachedthegroupinwhichitwasevident,bythehaughtinessoftheircommonmien,thattheprincipalchiefswerecollected,thestrangerpaused,andthentheDelawaressawthattheactiveanderectformthatstoodbeforethemwasthatofthewell–knownHuronchief,LeRenardSubtil.
Hisreceptionwasgrave,silent,andwary.
Thewarriorsinfrontsteppedaside,openingthewaytotheirmostapprovedoratorbytheaction;onewhospokeallthoselanguagesthatwerecultivatedamongthenorthernaborigines.
“ThewiseHuroniswelcome,”saidtheDelaware,inthelanguageoftheMaquas;“heiscometoeathis‘succotash’,withhisbrothersofthelakes.”
Adishcomposedofcrackedcornandbeans.Itismuchusedalsobythewhites.Bycornismeantmaise.
“Heiscome,”repeatedMagua,bendinghisheadwiththedignityofaneasternprince.
Thechiefextendedhisarmandtakingtheotherbythewrist,theyoncemoreexchangedfriendlysalutations.
ThentheDelawareinvitedhisguesttoenterhisownlodge,andsharehismorningmeal.
Theinvitationwasaccepted;andthetwowarriors,attendedbythreeorfouroftheoldmen,walkedcalmlyaway,leavingtherestofthetribedevouredbyadesiretounderstandthereasonsofsounusualavisit,andyetnotbetrayingtheleastimpatiencebysignorword.
Duringtheshortandfrugalrepastthatfollowed,theconversationwasextremelycircumspect,andrelatedentirelytotheeventsofthehunt,inwhichMaguahadsolatelybeenengaged.
Itwouldhavebeenimpossibleforthemostfinishedbreedingtowearmoreoftheappearanceofconsideringthevisitasathingofcourse,thandidhishosts,notwithstandingeveryindividualpresentwasperfectlyawarethatitmustbeconnectedwithsomesecretobjectandthatprobablyofimportancetothemselves.
Whentheappetitesofthewholewereappeased,thesquawsremovedthetrenchersandgourds,andthetwopartiesbegantopreparethemselvesforasubtletrialoftheirwits.
“IsthefaceofmygreatCanadafatherturnedagaintowardhisHuronchildren?”demandedtheoratoroftheDelawares.
“Whenwasiteverotherwise?”returnedMagua.“Hecallsmypeople‘mostbeloved’.”
TheDelawaregravelybowedhisacquiescencetowhatheknewtobefalse,andcontinued:
“Thetomahawksofyouryoungmenhavebeenveryred.”
“Itisso;buttheyarenowbrightanddull;fortheYengeesearedead,andtheDelawaresareourneighbors.”
Theotheracknowledgedthepacificcomplimentbyagestureofthehand,andremainedsilent.ThenMagua,asifrecalledtosucharecollection,bytheallusiontothemassacre,demanded:
“Doesmyprisonergivetroubletomybrothers?”
“Sheiswelcome.”
“ThepathbetweentheHuronsandtheDelawaresisshortanditisopen;letherbesenttomysquaws,ifshegivestroubletomybrother.”
“Sheiswelcome,”returnedthechiefofthelatternation,stillmoreemphatically.
ThebaffledMaguacontinuedsilentseveralminutes,apparentlyindifferent,however,totherepulsehehadreceivedinthishisopeningefforttoregainpossessionofCora.
“DomyyoungmenleavetheDelawaresroomonthemountainsfortheirhunts?”heatlengthcontinued.
“TheLenapearerulersoftheirownhills,”returnedtheotheralittlehaughtily.
“Itiswell.Justiceisthemasterofared–skin.
Whyshouldtheybrightentheirtomahawksandsharpentheirknivesagainsteachother?
Arenotthepalefacesthickerthantheswallowsintheseasonofflowers?”
“Good!”exclaimedtwoorthreeofhisauditorsatthesametime.
Maguawaitedalittle,topermithiswordstosoftenthefeelingsoftheDelawares,beforeheadded:
“Havetherenotbeenstrangemoccasinsinthewoods?Havenotmybrothersscentedthefeetofwhitemen?”
“LetmyCanadafathercome,”returnedtheother,evasively;“hischildrenarereadytoseehim.”
“Whenthegreatchiefcomes,itistosmokewiththeIndiansintheirwigwams.TheHuronssay,too,heiswelcome.
ButtheYengeesehavelongarms,andlegsthatnevertire!
MyyoungmendreamedtheyhadseenthetrailoftheYengeesenighthevillageoftheDelawares!”
“TheywillnotfindtheLenapeasleep.”
“Itiswell.Thewarriorwhoseeyeisopencanseehisenemy,”saidMagua,oncemoreshiftinghisground,whenhefoundhimselfunabletopenetratethecautionofhiscompanion.“Ihavebroughtgiftstomybrother.
Hisnationwouldnotgoonthewarpath,becausetheydidnotthinkitwell,buttheirfriendshaverememberedwheretheylived.”
Whenhehadthusannouncedhisliberalintention,thecraftychiefarose,andgravelyspreadhispresentsbeforethedazzledeyesofhishosts.
Theyconsistedprincipallyoftrinketsoflittlevalue,plunderedfromtheslaughteredfemalesofWilliamHenry.
InthedivisionofthebaublesthecunningHurondiscoverednolessartthanintheirselection.
Whilehebestowedthoseofgreatervalueonthetwomostdistinguishedwarriors,oneofwhomwashishost,heseasonedhisofferingstotheirinferiorswithsuchwell–timedandappositecompliments,asleftthemnogroundofcomplaint.
Inshort,thewholeceremonycontainedsuchahappyblendingoftheprofitablewiththeflattering,thatitwasnotdifficultforthedonorimmediatelytoreadtheeffectofagenerositysoaptlymingledwithpraise,intheeyesofthoseheaddressed.
Thiswell–judgedandpoliticstrokeonthepartofMaguawasnotwithoutinstantaneousresults.
TheDelawareslosttheirgravityinamuchmorecordialexpression;andthehost,inparticular,aftercontemplatinghisownliberalshareofthespoilforsomemomentswithpeculiargratification,repeatedwithstrongemphasis,thewords:
“Mybrotherisawisechief.Heiswelcome.”
“TheHuronslovetheirfriendstheDelawares,”returnedMagua.“Whyshouldtheynot?
theyarecoloredbythesamesun,andtheirjustmenwillhuntinthesamegroundsafterdeath.
Thered–skinsshouldbefriends,andlookwithopeneyesonthewhitemen.
Hasnotmybrotherscentedspiesinthewoods?”
TheDelaware,whosenameinEnglishsignified“HardHeart,”anappellationthattheFrenchhadtranslatedinto“leCoeur–dur,”forgotthatobduracyofpurpose,whichhadprobablyobtainedhimsosignificantatitle.
Hiscountenancegrewverysensiblylesssternandhenowdeignedtoanswermoredirectly.
“Therehavebeenstrangemoccasinsaboutmycamp.Theyhavebeentrackedintomylodges.”
“Didmybrotherbeatoutthedogs?”askedMagua,withoutadvertinginanymannertotheformerequivocationofthechief.
“Itwouldnotdo.ThestrangerisalwayswelcometothechildrenoftheLenape.”
“Thestranger,butnotthespy.”
“WouldtheYengeesesendtheirwomenasspies?DidnottheHuronchiefsayhetookwomeninthebattle?”
“Hetoldnolie.TheYengeesehavesentouttheirscouts.
Theyhavebeeninmywigwams,buttheyfoundtherenoonetosaywelcome.
ThentheyfledtotheDelawares—for,saythey,theDelawaresareourfriends;theirmindsareturnedfromtheirCanadafather!”
Thisinsinuationwasahomethrust,andonethatinamoreadvancedstateofsocietywouldhaveentitledMaguatothereputationofaskillfuldiplomatist.
Therecentdefectionofthetribehad,astheywellknewthemselves,subjectedtheDelawarestomuchreproachamongtheirFrenchallies;andtheywerenowmadetofeelthattheirfutureactionsweretoberegardedwithjealousyanddistrust.
Therewasnodeepinsightintocausesandeffectsnecessarytoforeseethatsuchasituationofthingswaslikelytoprovehighlyprejudicialtotheirfuturemovements.
Theirdistantvillages,theirhunting–groundsandhundredsoftheirwomenandchildren,togetherwithamaterialpartoftheirphysicalforce,wereactuallywithinthelimitsoftheFrenchterritory.
Accordingly,thisalarmingannunciationwasreceived,asMaguaintended,withmanifestdisapprobation,ifnotwithalarm.
“Letmyfatherlookinmyface,”saidLeCoeur–dur;“hewillseenochange.
Itistrue,myyoungmendidnotgooutonthewar–path;theyhaddreamsfornotdoingso.
Buttheyloveandveneratethegreatwhitechief.”
“Willhethinksowhenhehearsthathisgreatestenemyisfedinthecampofhischildren?
WhenheistoldabloodyYengeesmokesatyourfire?
ThatthepalefacewhohasslainsomanyofhisfriendsgoesinandoutamongtheDelawares?Go!mygreatCanadafatherisnotafool!”
“WhereistheYengeethattheDelawaresfear?”returnedtheother;“whohasslainmyyoungmen?WhoisthemortalenemyofmyGreatFather?”
“LaLongueCarabine!”
TheDelawarewarriorsstartedatthewell–knownname,betrayingbytheiramazement,thattheynowlearned,forthefirsttime,onesofamousamongtheIndianalliesofFrancewaswithintheirpower.
“Whatdoesmybrothermean?”demandedLeCoeur–dur,inatonethat,byitswonder,farexceededtheusualapathyofhisrace.
“AHuronneverlies!”returnedMagua,coldly,leaninghisheadagainstthesideofthelodge,anddrawinghisslightrobeacrosshistawnybreast.
“LettheDelawarescounttheirprisoners;theywillfindonewhoseskinisneitherrednorpale.”
Alongandmusingpausesucceeded.Thechiefconsultedapartwithhiscompanions,andmessengersdespatchedtocollectcertainothersofthemostdistinguishedmenofthetribe.
Aswarriorafterwarriordroppedin,theywereeachmadeacquainted,inturn,withtheimportantintelligencethatMaguahadjustcommunicated.
Theairofsurprise,andtheusuallow,deep,gutturalexclamation,werecommontothemall.
Thenewsspreadfrommouthtomouth,untilthewholeencampmentbecamepowerfullyagitated.
Thewomensuspendedtheirlabors,tocatchsuchsyllablesasunguardedlyfellfromthelipsoftheconsultingwarriors.
Theboysdesertedtheirsports,andwalkingfearlesslyamongtheirfathers,lookedupincuriousadmiration,astheyheardthebriefexclamationsofwondertheysofreelyexpressedthetemerityoftheirhatedfoe.
Inshort,everyoccupationwasabandonedforthetime,andallotherpursuitsseemeddiscardedinorderthatthetribemightfreelyindulge,aftertheirownpeculiarmanner,inanopenexpressionoffeeling.
Whentheexcitementhadalittleabated,theoldmendisposedthemselvesseriouslytoconsiderthatwhichitbecamethehonorandsafetyoftheirtribetoperform,undercircumstancesofsomuchdelicacyandembarrassment.
Duringallthesemovements,andinthemidstofthegeneralcommotion,Maguahadnotonlymaintainedhisseat,buttheveryattitudehehadoriginallytaken,againstthesideofthelodge,wherehecontinuedasimmovable,and,apparently,asunconcerned,asifhehadnointerestintheresult.
Notasingleindicationofthefutureintentionsofhishosts,however,escapedhisvigilanteyes.
Withhisconsummateknowledgeofthenatureofthepeoplewithwhomhehadtodeal,heanticipatedeverymeasureonwhichtheydecided;anditmightalmostbesaid,that,inmanyinstances,heknewtheirintentions,evenbeforetheybecameknowntothemselves.
ThecounciloftheDelawareswasshort.Whenitwasended,ageneralbustleannouncedthatitwastobeimmediatelysucceededbyasolemnandformalassemblageofthenation.
Assuchmeetingswererare,andonlycalledonoccasionsofthelastimportance,thesubtleHuron,whostillsatapart,awilyanddarkobserveroftheproceedings,nowknewthatallhisprojectsmustbebroughttotheirfinalissue.
He,therefore,leftthelodgeandwalkedsilentlyforthtotheplace,infrontoftheencampment,whitherthewarriorswerealreadybeginningtocollect.
Itmighthavebeenhalfanhourbeforeeachindividual,includingeventhewomenandchildren,wasinhisplace.
Thedelayhadbeencreatedbythegravepreparationsthatweredeemednecessarytososolemnandunusualaconference.
Butwhenthesunwasseenclimbingabovethetopsofthatmountain,againstwhosebosomtheDelawareshadconstructedtheirencampment,mostwereseated;andashisbrightraysdartedfrombehindtheoutlineoftreesthatfringedtheeminence,theyfelluponasgrave,asattentive,andasdeeplyinterestedamultitude,aswasprobablyeverbeforelightedbyhismorningbeams.
Itsnumbersomewhatexceededathousandsouls.
Inacollectionofsoserioussavages,thereisnevertobefoundanyimpatientaspirantafterprematuredistinction,standingreadytomovehisauditorstosomehasty,and,perhaps,injudiciousdiscussion,inorderthathisownreputationmaybethegainer.
Anactofsomuchprecipitancyandpresumptionwouldsealthedownfallofprecociousintellectforever.
Itrestedsolelywiththeoldestandmostexperiencedofthementolaythesubjectoftheconferencebeforethepeople.
Untilsuchaonechosetomakesomemovement,nodeedsinarms,nonaturalgifts,noranyrenownasanorator,wouldhavejustifiedtheslightestinterruption.
Onthepresentoccasion,theagedwarriorwhoseprivilegeitwastospeak,wassilent,seeminglyoppressedwiththemagnitudeofhissubject.
Thedelayhadalreadycontinuedlongbeyondtheusualdeliberativepausethatalwaysprecededaconference;butnosignofimpatienceorsurpriseescapedeventheyoungestboy.
Occasionallyaneyewasraisedfromtheearth,wherethelooksofmostwereriveted,andstrayedtowardaparticularlodge,thatwas,however,innomannerdistinguishedfromthosearoundit,exceptinthepeculiarcarethathadbeentakentoprotectitagainsttheassaultsoftheweather.
Atlengthoneofthoselowmurmurs,thataresoapttodisturbamultitude,washeard,andthewholenationarosetotheirfeetbyacommonimpulse.
Atthatinstantthedoorofthelodgeinquestionopened,andthreemen,issuingfromit,slowlyapproachedtheplaceofconsultation.
Theywereallaged,evenbeyondthatperiodtowhichtheoldestpresenthadreached;butoneinthecenter,wholeanedonhiscompanionsforsupport,hadnumberedanamountofyearstowhichthehumanraceisseldompermittedtoattain.
Hisframe,whichhadoncebeentallanderect,likethecedar,wasnowbendingunderthepressureofmorethanacentury.
Theelastic,lightstepofanIndianwasgone,andinitsplacehewascompelledtotoilhistardywayovertheground,inchbyinch.
Hisdark,wrinkledcountenancewasinsingularandwildcontrastwiththelongwhitelockswhichfloatedonhisshoulders,insuchthickness,astoannouncethatgenerationshadprobablypassedawaysincetheyhadlastbeenshorn.
Thedressofthispatriarch—forsuch,consideringhisvastage,inconjunctionwithhisaffinityandinfluencewithhispeople,hemightveryproperlybetermed—wasrichandimposing,thoughstrictlyafterthesimplefashionsofthetribe.
Hisrobewasofthefinestskins,whichhadbeendeprivedoftheirfur,inordertoadmitofahieroglyphicalrepresentationofvariousdeedsinarms,doneinformerages.
Hisbosomwasloadedwithmedals,someinmassivesilver,andoneortwoeveningold,thegiftsofvariousChristianpotentatesduringthelongperiodofhislife.
Healsoworearmlets,andcincturesabovetheankles,ofthelatterpreciousmetal.
Hishead,onthewholeofwhichthehairhadbeenpermittedtogrow,thepursuitsofwarhavingsolongbeenabandoned,wasencircledbyasortofplateddiadem,which,initsturn,borelesserandmoreglitteringornaments,thatsparkledamidtheglossyhuesofthreedroopingostrichfeathers,dyedadeepblack,intouchingcontrasttothecolorofhissnow–whitelocks.
Histomahawkwasnearlyhidinsilver,andthehandleofhisknifeshonelikeahornofsolidgold.
Sosoonasthefirsthumofemotionandpleasure,whichthesuddenappearanceofthisveneratedindividualcreated,hadalittlesubsided,thenameof“Tamenund”waswhisperedfrommouthtomouth.
MaguahadoftenheardthefameofthiswiseandjustDelaware;areputationthatevenproceededsofarastobestowonhimtheraregiftofholdingsecretcommunionwiththeGreatSpirit,andwhichhassincetransmittedhisname,withsomeslightalteration,tothewhiteusurpersofhisancientterritory,astheimaginarytutelarsaintofavastempire.
TheHuronchief,therefore,steppedeagerlyoutalittlefromthethrong,toaspotwhencehemightcatchanearerglimpseofthefeaturesoftheman,whosedecisionwaslikelytoproducesodeepaninfluenceonhisownfortunes.
TheAmericanssometimescalledtheirtutelarsaintTamenay,acorruptionofthenameoftherenownedchiefhereintroduced.
TherearemanytraditionswhichspeakofthecharacterandpowerofTamenund.
Theeyesoftheoldmanwereclosed,asthoughtheorganswereweariedwithhavingsolongwitnessedtheselfishworkingsofthehumanpassions.
Thecolorofhisskindifferedfromthatofmostaroundhim,beingricheranddarker,thelatterhavingbeenproducedbycertaindelicateandmazylinesofcomplicatedandyetbeautifulfigures,whichhadbeentracedovermostofhispersonbytheoperationoftattooing.
NotwithstandingthepositionoftheHuron,hepassedtheobservantandsilentMaguawithoutnotice,andleaningonhistwovenerablesupportersproceededtothehighplaceofthemultitude,whereheseatedhimselfinthecenterofhisnation,withthedignityofamonarchandtheairofafather.
Nothingcouldsurpassthereverenceandaffectionwithwhichthisunexpectedvisitfromonewhobelongsrathertoanotherworldthantothis,wasreceivedbyhispeople.
Afterasuitableanddecentpause,theprincipalchiefsarose,and,approachingthepatriarch,theyplacedhishandsreverentlyontheirheads,seemingtoentreatablessing.
Theyoungermenwerecontentwithtouchinghisrobe,orevendrawingnighhisperson,inordertobreatheintheatmosphereofonesoaged,sojust,andsovaliant.
Nonebutthemostdistinguishedamongtheyouthfulwarriorsevenpresumedtofarastoperformthelatterceremony,thegreatmassofthemultitudedeemingitasufficienthappinesstolookuponaformsodeeplyvenerated,andsowellbeloved.
Whentheseactsofaffectionandrespectwereperformed,thechiefsdrewbackagaintotheirseveralplaces,andsilencereignedinthewholeencampment.
Afterashortdelay,afewoftheyoungmen,towhominstructionshadbeenwhisperedbyoneoftheagedattendantsofTamenund,arose,leftthecrowd,andenteredthelodgewhichhasalreadybeennotedastheobjectofsomuchattentionthroughoutthatmorning.
Inafewminutestheyreappeared,escortingtheindividualswhohadcausedallthesesolemnpreparationstowardtheseatofjudgment.
Thecrowdopenedinalane;andwhenthepartyhadre–entered,itclosedinagain,formingalargeanddensebeltofhumanbodies,arrangedinanopencircle.
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