Elkswatawa : $b or, The prophet of the west. A tale of the frontierFrench, James Strange
General
Elkswatawa : $b or, The prophet of the west. A tale of the frontier
French, James Strange
Tippecanoe, Battle of, Ind., 1811 -- Fiction
“Thou didst well,” said Elkswatawa:—“at first be indifferent whether
they believe or not. Let it satisfy thee that thou believest; but when
once we have power, who is there that will then dare doubt? The
Prophet has only preached to small numbers. He must have a large
crowd;—he must tell them all together, what the Great Spirit will do
for them, if they follow his words.—And listen, Tecumseh, fear must
seize upon their hearts, and we must make them believe.”
“Yes,” said Tecumseh;—“the words of the Prophet must move their
hearts, as the wind stirs the leaves on the trees. Tell them who they
are;—tell them that the stranger came among us, and begged for
bread,—we gave it; he asked for a wigwam,—we made him one; he wanted
lands,—we told him to take them. Was he satisfied? Tell them to ask
the bones of their fathers! Or, point to a son, whose father's blood
was spilled by the whites! Ask, where does he sleep? Tell him the
white man's house is built over his grave! And thus speak, if you wish
to stir them to the bottom. It would be well that they should fear.
Let the place of meeting alarm them. Canst thou do it?”
Elkswatawa was for a moment silent; he pressed his hands to his head,
then suddenly smiling as if a happy thought had struck him, replied,
“I have it; hast thou forgotten the Ween-bah-sho-ke-kah?”
“What, the haunted cavern?” said Tecumseh.
“The same,” replied Elkswatawa. “Fear will seize upon their hearts as
soon they enter it. It will suit our purpose.”
“It will,” said Tecumseh, animated by the thought; “you visit it, and
prepare for the coming assembly. I will spread far and wide the
tidings that the Prophet of the Great Spirit will hold a talk with the
red men in the haunted cavern.”
“Then do so,” said Elkswatawa, “name the time of meeting the twentieth
day from this. The Indians are troubled and they will come, though
they fear. Terror shall seize upon their hearts, for none as yet have
penetrated its recesses, and they shall say, ‘Elkswatawa is the true
Prophet.’”
“I augur well,” said Tecumseh, “the cave alone will fill them with
fear; Elkswatawa knows how to make them tremble.”
“Trust me,” said Elkswatawa, “even Tecumseh himself shall tremble.
Hast thou ventured far into the Ween-bah-sho-ke-kah?”
“No; never to its end,” said Tecumseh.
“Then thou dost not know how well it suits. A word more. When we meet,
Prophets must be made. Let them travel to the farthest tribes. Think
of those best suited, and name them to me. I will clothe them with the
prophetic spirit, and they shall wander forth believing what they
preach. Say, that Prophets will be made, and more will come to the
cavern. Now, farewell, play well your part, Tecumseh, and trust to
Elkswatawa for his.” They then separated.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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