'It is there cut in plain marble; but it should have been written in letters of gold!' 'Show me the name, boy,' said Natty, with simple eagerness; let me see my own name placed in such honor. 'Tis a gin'rous gift to a man who leaves none of his name and family behind him, in a country where he has tarried so long.' Effingham guided his finger to the spot, and Natty followed the windings of the letters to the end with deep interest, when he raised himself from the tomb, and said 'I suppose it's all right; and it's kindly 15 he stooped to lift a large pack from bethought, and kindly done! But what have ye put over the Red-skin?' You shall hear ' "This stone is raised to the memory of hind the tomb, which he placed deliberately on his shoulders. Go!' exclaimed Elizabeth, approaching him with a hurried step; 'you should an Indian Chief, of the Delaware tribe, 20 not venture so far in the woods alone, at 25 30 your time of life, Natty; indeed, it is imprudent. He is bent, Effingham, on some distant hunting.' 'What Mrs. Effingham tells you is true, Leather-stocking,' said Edwards; there can be no necessity for your submitting to such hardships now! So throw aside your pack, and confine your hunt to the mountains near us, if you will go.' 'Hardship! 'tis a pleasure, children, and the greatest that is left me on this side the grave.' 'No, no; you shall not go to such a distance,' cried Elizabeth, laying her white 35 hand on his deer-skin pack-I am right! I feel his camp-kettle, and a canister of powder! he must not be suffered to wander so far from us, Oliver; remember how suddenly Mohegan dropped away.' 'You never said truer word, Mr. Oliver; ah's me! if you had know'd him as I did, in his prime, in that very battle where the old gentleman, who sleeps by his side, saved his life, when them thieves, the 40 Iroquois, had him at the stake, you'd have said all that and more too. I cut the thongs with this very hand, and gave him my own tomahawk and knife, seeing that the rifle was always my fav'rite 45 weapon. He did lay about him like a man! I met him as I was coming home from the trail, with eleven Mingo scalps on his pole. You need n't shudder, Madam Effingham, for they was all from 50 shaved heads and warriors. When I look about me, at these hills, where I used to could count sometimes twenty smokes, curling over the tree-tops, from the Delaware camps, it raises mournful thoughts 55 to think that not a Red-skin is left of them all; unless it be a drunken vagabond from the Oneidas, or them Yankee Indians, 'I know'd the parting would come hard. children; I know'd it would!' said Natty, and so I got aside to look at the graves by myself, and thought if I left ye the keepsake which the Major gave me, when we first parted in the woods, ye would n't take it unkind, but would know, that, let the old man's body go where it might, his feelings stayed behind him.' 'This means something more than common!' exclaimed the youth; where is it, Natty, that you purpose going?' The hunter drew nigh him with a confident, reasoning air, as if what he had to say would silence all objections, and replied Why, lad, they tell me, that on the Big-lakes there's the best of hunting, and a great range, without a white man on it, and hounds should be gaunty to run well. The meanest of God's creaters be made for some use, and I'm formed for the wilderness; if ye love me, let me go 5 where my soul craves to be ag'in!' The appeal was decisive; and not another word of entreaty for him to remain was then uttered; but Elizabeth bent her head to her bosom and wept, 10 while her husband dashed away the tears from his eyes; and, with hands that almost refused to perform their office, he produced his pocket-book, and extended a parcel of bank-notes to the hunter. 'Ah! child, these be nothing to a man that's used to the wilderness. I have took but little comfort sin' your father come on with his settlers; but I would n't go far, while the life was in the body that 15 lies under the sod there. But now he's gone, and Chingachgook is gone; and you be both young and happy. Yes! the big house has rung with merriment this month past! And now, I thought, was the time 20 to try to get a little comfort in the close of my days. Woods! indeed! I does n't call these woods, Madam Effingham, where I lose myself every day of my life in the clearings.' 'If there be anything wanting to your comfort, name it, Leather-stocking; if it be attainable it is yours.' Take these,' he said, at least take these; secure them about your person, and in the hour of need, they will do you good service.' The old man took the notes, and examined them with a curious eye. 'This, then, is some of the new-fashioned money that they 've been making at Albany, out of paper! It can't be worth much to they that has n't larning! No, 25 no, lad-take back the stuff; it will do me no sarvice. I took kear to get all the Frenchman's powder afore he broke up, and they say lead grows where I'm going. It is n't even fit for wads, seeing that I use none but leather!- Madam Effingham, let an old man kiss your hand, and wish God's choicest blessings on you and your'n.' 'You mean all for the best, lad; I know it; and so does Madam, too: but your 30 ways is n't my ways. 'Tis like the dead there, who thought, when the breath was in them, that one went east, and one went west, to find their heavens; but they'll meet at last; and so shall we, children. 35 cried Elizabeth. Do not, Leather-stockYes, ind as you've begun, and we shall meet in the land of the just at last.' This is so new! so unexpected!' said 'Words are of no avail,' exclaimed her Once more let me beseech you, stay!' ing, leave me to grieve for the man who has twice rescued me from death, and who has served those I love so faithfully. For my sake, if not for your own, stay. I shall see you in those frightful dreams that still haunt my nights, dying in poverty and age, by the side of those terrific beasts you slew. There will be no evil, that sickness, want, and solitude can inflict, that my fancy will not conjure as your fate. Stay with us, old man, if not for your own sake, at least for ours.' 'Such thoughts and bitter dreams, Madam Effingham,' returned the hunter, 'Don't fear for the Leather-stocking, 50 solemnly, will never haunt an innocent children; God will see that his days be provided for, and his ind happy. I know you mean all for the best, but our ways does n't agree. I love the woods, and ye relish the face of man; I eat when hungry, 55 and drink when a-dry; and ye keep stated hours and rules: nay, nay, you even overfeed the dogs, lad, from pure kindness; parson long. They'll pass away with God's pleasure. And if the cat-a-mounts be yet brought to your eyes in sleep, 'tis not for my sake, but to show you the power of Him that led me there to save you. Trust in God, Madam, and your honorable husband, and the thoughts for an old man like me can never be long nor THE PRAIRIE bitter. I pray that the Lord will keep Elizabeth raised her head, and offered her colorless cheek to his salute, when 10 he lifted his cap and touched it respectfully. His hand was grasped with convulsive fervor by the youth, who continued silent. The hunter prepared himself for his journey, drawing his belt tighter, and 15 wasting his moments in the little reluctant movements of a sorrowful departure. Once or twice he essayed to speak, but a rising in his throat prevented it. At length he shouldered his rifle, and cried 20 with a clear huntsman's call that echoed through the woods 'He-e-re, he-e-e-re, pups away, dogs, away; ye'll be foot-sore afore ye see the ind of the journey!' 25 The hounds leaped from the earth at this cry, and scenting around the graves and the silent pair, as if conscious of their own destination, they followed humbly at the heels of their master. A 30 short pause succeeded, during which even the youth concealed his face on his grandfather's tomb. When the pride of manhood, however, had suppressed the feelings of nature, he turned to renew his 35 entreaties, but saw that the cemetery was occupied only by himself and his wife. 'He is gone!' cried Effingham. Elizabeth raised her face, and saw the old hunter standing looking back for a 40 moment, on the verge of the wood. As he caught their glances, he drew his hard hand hastily across his eyes again, waved it on high for an adieu, and uttering a forced cry to his dogs, who were crouch- 45 ing at his feet, he entered the forest. This was the last that they ever saw of the Leather-stocking, whose rapid movements preceded the pursuit which Judge Temple both ordered and conducted. He 50 had gone far towards the setting sun.the foremost in that band of pioneers who are opening the way for the march of the nation across the continent. (1823) CHAPTER XXVIII The witch, in Smithfield, shall be burned And you three shall be strangled on the re The Siouxes had awaited the issue of the foregoing dialogue with commendable patience. Most of the band were strained by the secret awe with which they regarded the mysterious character of Obed; while a few of the more intelligent chiefs gladly profited by the opportunity to arrange their thoughts for the struggle that was plainly foreseen. Mahtoree, influenced by neither of these feelings, was content to show the trapper how much he conceded to his pleasure; and when the old man discontinued the discourse, he received from the chief a glance that was intended to remind him of the patience with which he had awaited his movements. A profound and motionless silence succeeded the short interruption. Then Mahtoree arose, evidently prepared to speak. First placing himself in an attitude of dignity, he turned a steady and severe look on the whole assembly. The expression of his eye, however, changed as it glanced across the different countenances of his supporters and of his opponents. To the former the look, though stern, was not threatening, while it seemed to tell the latter all the hazards they incurred, in daring to brave the resentment of one so powerful. Still, in the midst of so much hauteur and confidence, the sagacity and cunning of the Teton did not desert him. When he had thrown the gauntlet, as it were, to the whole tribe, and sufficiently asserted his claim to superiority, his mien became more affable and his eye less angry. Then it was that he raised his voice, in the midst of a death-like stillness, varying its tones to suit the changing character of his images, and of his eloquence. 'What is a Sioux?' the chief sagaciously began: he is ruler of the prairies, and master of its beasts. The fishes in 55 the "river of troubled waters "know him, and come at his call. He is a fox in counsel; an eagle in sight; a grizzly bear in combat. A Dahcotah is a man!' 2 5 regret and resentment which followed so abasing a declaration, the chief took his seat, as if determined to speak no more. But the murmurs grew louder and more general, and there were threatening symptoms that the council would dissolve itself in confusion; and he arose and resumed his speech, by changing his manner to the fierce and hurried enunciation of a warrior bent on revenge. After waiting for a low murmur of appro- of their biting contempt. The old man If 'My brothers, a little child has spoken to you. He tells you his hair is not gray, but frozen; that the grass will not grow 45 where a pale-face has died? Does he know the color of the blood of a Bigknife? No! I know he does not; he has never seen it. What Dahcotah besides Mahtoree has ever struck a pale-face? 50 But Mahtoree must be silent. Every Teton will shut his ears when he speaks. The scalps over his lodge were taken by the women. They were taken by Mahtoree, and he is a woman. His mouth 55 is shut; he waits for the feasts, to sing among the girls!' Not one. Notwithstanding the exclamations of 'Let my young men go look for Tetao!' he cried; they will find his scalp drying in Pawnee smoke. Where is the son of Bohrecheena? His bones are whiter than asleep in his lodge? You know it is many moons since he started for the blessed prairies would he were here, that he might say of what color was the hand that took his scalp!' In this strain the artful chief continued for many minutes, calling those warriors by name who were known to have met their deaths in battle with the Pawnees, or in some of those lawless frays which so often occurred between the Sioux bands and a class of white men who were but little removed from them in the qualities of civilization. Time was not given to reflect on the merits, or rather the demerits, of most of the different individuals to whom he alluded, in consequence of the rapid manner in which he ran over their names; but so cunningly did he time his events, and so thrillingly did he make his appeals, aided as they were by the power of his deep-toned and stirring voice, that each of them struck an answering chord in the breast of some one of his auditors. It was in the midst of one of his highest flights of eloquence, that a man, so aged as to walk with the greatest difficulty, entered the very center of the circle, and took his stand directly in front of the speaker. An ear of great acuteness might possibly have detected that the tones of the orator faltered a little, as his flashing look first fell on this unexpected object; though the change was so trifling, that none but such as thoroughly knew the parties would have suspected it. The stranger had once been as distinguished for his beauty and proportions, as had been his eagle eye for its irresistible and terrible glance. But his skin was now wrinkled, and his features furrowed with so many scars as to have obtained for him, half a century before, from the French of the Canadas, a title which has been borne by so many of the heroes of France, and which had now been adopted into the language of the wild horde of whom we are writing, as the one most expressive of the deeds of their own brave. The murmur of 'Le Balafré,' that ran through the assembly when he appeared, announced not only his name, and the 10 high estimation of his character, but how extraordinary his visit was considered. As he neither spoke nor moved, however, the sensation created by his appearance soon subsided, and then every eye was 15 again turned upon the speaker, and every ear once more drank in the intoxication of his maddening appeals. It would have been easy to have traced the triumph of Mahtoree in the reflecting 20 countenances of his auditors. It was not long before a look of ferocity and of revenge was to be seen seated on the grim visages of most of the warriors, and each new and crafty allusion to the policy of 25 extinguishing their enemies was followed by fresh and less restrained bursts of approbation. In the height of this success the Teton closed his speech by a rapid appeal to the pride and hardihood of his 30 native band, and suddenly took his seat. In the midst of the murmurs of applause which succeeded so remarkable an effort of eloquence, a low, feeble, and hollow voice was heard rising on the ear, as if 35 it rolled from the inmost cavities of the human chest, and gathered strength and energy as it issued into the air. A solemn stillness followed the sounds, and then the lips of the aged man were first seen to 40 move. The day of Le Balafré is near its end,' were the first words that were distinctly audible. He is like a buffalo on whom the hair will grow no longer. He 45 will soon be ready to leave his lodge, to go in search of another, that is far from the villages of the Siouxes; therefore, what he has to say concerns not him, but those he leaves behind him. His words 50 are like the fruit on the tree, ripe, and fit to be given to chiefs. 'Many snows have fallen since Le Balafré has been found on the war-path. His blood has been very hot, but it has had 55 time to cool. The Wahcondah gives him dreams of war no longer; he sees that it is better to live in peace. 'My brothers, one foot is turned to the happy hunting-grounds, the other will soon follow, and then an old chief will be seci looking for the prints of his father's moccasins, that he may make no mistake, but be sure to come before the Master of Life by the same path as so many good Indians have already traveled. But who will follow? Le Balafré has no son. His oldest has ridden too many Pawnee horses; the bones of the youngest have been gnawed by Konza dogs. Le Balafré has come to look for a young arm on which he may lean, and to find a son, that when he is gone his lodge may not be empty. Tachechana, the skipping fawn of the Tetons, is too weak to prop a warrior who is old. She looks before her, and not backwards. Her mind is in the lodge of her husband.' The enunciation of the veteran warrior had been calm, but distinct and decided. His declaration was received in silence; and though several of the chiefs, who were in the counsels of Mahtoree, turned their eyes on their leader, none presumed to oppose so aged and so venerated a brave in a resolution that was strictly in conformity to the usages of the nation. The Teton himself was content to await the result with seeming composure, though the gleams of ferocity that played about his eye occasionally betrayed the nature of those feelings with which he witnessed a procedure that was likely to rob him of that one of all his intended victims whom he most hated. In the mean time Le Balafré moved with a slow and painful step towards the captives. He stopped before the person of Hard-Heart, whose faultless form, unchanging eye, and lofty mien he contemplated long, with high and evident satisfaction. Then, making a gesture of authority, he waited until his order had been obeyed, and the youth was released from the post and his bonds by the same blow of the knife. When the young warrior was led nearer to his dimmed and failing sight, the examination was renewed with strictness of scrutiny, and that admiration which physical excellence is so apt to excite in the breast of a sav age. 'It is good,' the wary veteran murmured, when he found that all his skill in the requisites of a brave could detect no blemish; this is a leaping panther! |
