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
Netnokwa having now succeeded in her request, took the hand of the
weeping girl, and was leaving the Prophet, when, in an authoritative
manner, he again urged her to set out early, and on no account to
leave any clue by which the maiden might be traced. Bowing, she
departed, and returned with the captive to her bower, and, though in
common with most of the Indians, she felt a fear of the Prophet, yet
her opinions of his character had been materially changed by the
interview.
With the first gray light of morning, Netnokwa and Miskwa rose and
began to prepare to set out upon their journey. Waking a warrior,
Netnokwa ordered him to bring their horses, and she began to get ready
her bundles, while Miskwa was sent to arouse the captive, to whom she
had extended all the little comforts of which she was possessed, and
whom she now found overpowered by fatigue, and sleeping away as
sweetly as innocence could do. But the hour having arrived at which
they were to set out, she bent close over her, and hesitated, as if
fearing to break a slumber so soft and quiet; when after a moment, she
said in her own beautiful language, “Great Spirit! can a pale face who
looks as she does, delight in hunting us as dogs, taking away our
lands, and driving us far from the graves of our fathers? it cannot
be.” Then, recollecting how lonely and unprotected was her situation,
she was still more softened in her manner, and laying her hands gently
on the captive, she continued, “Sweet Flower, arise, arise, we must be
moving.” Her mother, who saw how much her feelings were interested,
stood apart in silence waiting for her; when the maiden awoke she
gazed about her with a vacant stare, and rubbed her eyes and looked
again, and when the recollection of her situation crossed her mind,
she called upon her father and mother, and began to weep.
Miskwa was now all tenderness, and throwing her arms around the
maiden, she spoke as though each word was understood, saying, “Sweet
Flower, weep not, I will love thee, I will take care of thee, thou
shalt dwell with me.” Even Netnokwa was affected by the scene, but she
was anxious to be off, for the rosy light of morn was now just peering
forth, and she ordered her horses to her tent. Miskwa expressed a wish
that “Sweet Flower,” for so she continued to call the maiden, should
ride with her; in accordance with it, both were mounted on one horse,
while Netnokwa on another leading the way, plunged at once into the
forest.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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