"Braves," said Philip, and his voice sounded full and clear as a
trumpet, "look upon this lady, and remember that so long as a man of our
tribe lives she is his charge. The white man may yet become her foe as
he is ours. She may be driven into the woods, as other women have been,
but I charge you, wherever she is found, in forest or settlement, obey
her and guard her as if she were a prophet of our people."
The groan of approval that followed this speech swelled almost into a
shout, and went rolling off into the forest like the smothered howl of
wild beasts.
Terrified and distressed, Barbara pleaded with the young chief to send
her away. Her face was white, her lips trembled as she spoke. She was
completely overcome by the shock of this unexpected scene.
"Braves," cried Philip, standing up in his stirrups, "on this spot,
where he was born, Metacomet has kindled his first great council-fire:
light your pipes and smoke while he rides with this lady on her way
through the woods, and let no man forget that from this hour she is a
daughter of our tribe."
Again that hoarse, growl-like shout answered as he wished, and while it
swelled along her path Barbara rode from the encampment, followed by
Wahpee and accompanied by Philip. During all the waning night he kept by
her side, and she made no protest. The wild grandeur of the scene she
had left still impressed her with awe to which she could give no words,
and a ride of so many hours had almost exhausted her strength when she
came to the encampment. An hour before dawn Philip left her and rode
back to the beacon fire at her own urgent request.
The first flush of morning was scattering rose leaves in the east and
turning the far-off waves to liquid opals when Barbara came in sight of
Samuel Parris's dwelling. She would have dismounted within the shelter
of the trees, but was so overcome with fatigue that it seemed impossible
for her to walk across the open space that lay in front of the
meeting-house. But old Wahpee drew up his horse, and motioned
obstinately that he intended to go no farther.
"But what shall I do with the horse?" questioned the lady, wearily.
"Turn him loose: he will know Wahpee's call," answered the Indian.
Barbara rode on, so worn and weary that she could hardly keep her
saddle.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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