American fiction -- 19th century; Historical fiction; Indians of North America -- Fiction
The instant the canoe touched the shore, and it was only a moment after
it broke through the cover, le Bourdon arose, and extending his hand
to the nearest Indian, saluted him with the mongrel term of “Sago.” A
slight exclamation from this warrior communicated to his companion an
arrival that was quite as much a matter of surprise to the Indians as to
their guest, and through this second warrior to the whole party on the
hill-side. A little clamor succeeded, and presently the bee-hunter was
surrounded with savages.
The meeting was marked by the self-command and dignified quiet that are
so apt to distinguish the deportment of Indian warriors, when they are
on the war-path, and alive to the duties of manhood. The bee-hunter
shook hands with several, who received his salutations with perfect
calmness, if not with absolute confidence and amity. This little
ceremony gave our hero an opportunity to observe the swarthy
countenances by which he was surrounded, most of which were fierce in
their paint, as well as to reflect a little on his own course. By a
fortunate inspiration he now determined to assume the character of a
“medicine man,” and to connect his prophecies and juggleries with this
lucky accident of the whiskey. Accordingly, he inquired if any one spoke
English, not wishing to trust his explanations to his own imperfect
knowledge of the Ojebway tongue, which is spoken by all the numerous
tribes of that widely-extended nation. Several could render
themselves intelligible in English, and one was so expert as to render
communication with him easy, if not very agreeable. As the savages,
however, soon insisted on examining the canoe, and taking a look at its
contents, previously to listening to their visitor's explanations,
le Bourdon was fain to submit, and to let the young men satisfy their
curiosity.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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