American fiction -- 19th century; Historical fiction; Indians of North America -- Fiction
“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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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