American fiction -- 19th century; Historical fiction; Indians of North America -- Fiction
“Don't be squaw, Bourdon. When Injin get marry he grows good deal like
squaw at fuss; but dat soon go away. I spose it's just so wid pale-face.
Mustn't be squaw, Bourdon. Dat bad for warrior. What you do for eat?
Why, see dere,” pointing to an object that was floating slowly down the
river, the current of which was very sluggish just in that reach. “Dere
as fat buck as ever did see, eh?”
Sure enough the Indian had killed a deer, of which the Openings were
full, and having brought it to the river, he had constructed a raft of
logs, and placing the carcase on it, he had set his game adrift, taking
care to so far precede it as to be in readiness to tow it into port.
When this last operation was performed, it was found that the Chippewa
did not heedlessly vaunt the quality of his prize. What was more, so
accurately had he calculated the time, and the means of subsistence in
the possession of the fugitives, that his supply came in just as it
was most needed. In all this he manifested no more than the care of
an experienced and faithful hunter. Next to the war-path, the
hunting-ground is the great field for an Indian's glory; deeds and facts
so far eclipsing purely intellectual qualifications with savages, as to
throw oratory, though much esteemed by them, and wisdom at the Council
Fires, quite into the shade. In all this, we find the same propensity
among ourselves. The common mind, ever subject to these impulses, looks
rather to such exploits as address themselves to the senses and the
imagination, than to those qualities which the reason alone can best
appreciate; and in this, ignorance asserts its negative power over all
conditions of life.
Pigeonswing now condescended to enter on such explanations as the state
of the case rendered necessary. His account was sufficiently clear,
and it manifested throughout the sagacity and shrewdness of a practised
hunter and scout. We shall not attempt to give his words, which would
require too much space, but the substance of his story was briefly this:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account