HARRISON. Tut! Arms are scarce as soldiers in our town, And I am sick of requisitioning. Nay, we must trust to something else than arms. Tecumseh is a savage but in name--Let's trust to him! What says he of our treaties? BARRON. O, he discharges them as heavy loads, Which borne by red men only, break their backs. All lands, he says, are common to his race; Not to be sold but by consent of all. HARRISON. Absurd! This proposition would prevent All purchase and all progress. No, indeed; We cannot tie our hands with such conditions. What of the Prophet? Comes he with the rest? BARRON. The Prophet stays behind. HARRISON. He is a foil Used by Tecumseh to augment his greatness; And, by good husbandry of incantation, And gloomy charms by night, this Prophet works So shrewdly on their braves that every man, Inflamed by auguries of victory, Would rush on death. 1ST OFFICER. Why, General, I heard He over-trumpt you once and won the trick. HARRISON. How so? 1ST OFFICER. Well, once, before his braves, 'tis said, You dared him to a trial of his spells, Which challenge he accepted, having heard From white men of a coming sun-eclipse. Then, shrewdly noting day and hour, he called Boldly his followers round him, and declared That he would hide the sun. They stood and gazed, And, when the moon's colossal shadow fell, They crouched upon the ground, and worshipped him. HARRISON. He caught me there, and mischief came of it. Oh, he is deep. How different those brothers! One dipt in craft, the dye of cruelty, The other frank and open as the day. _Enter an_ ORDERLY. ORDERLY. Tecumseh and his braves have reached the landing! [_Excitement. All rise hastily_.] HARRISON. This room is smaller than our audience: Take seats and benches to the portico-- There we shall treat with him. [_Exeunt all but_ GENERAL HARRISON.] Could I but strain My charge this chief might be our trusty friend. Yet I am but my nation's servitor; Gold is the king who overrides the right, And turns our people from the simple ways, And fair ideal of our fathers' lives. [_Exit_.] SCENE FOURTH.--THE SAME. THE PORTICO OF GENERAL HARRISON'S HOUSE. AN OPEN GROVE AT A LITTLE DISTANCE IN FRONT. [_Curtain rises and discovers_ GENERAL HARRISON, _army officers and citizens, of various quality, including_ TWANG, SLAUGH, GERKIN _and_ BLOAT, _seated in the portico. A sergeant and guard of soldiers near by. Enter_ TECUMSEH _and his followers with_ LEFROY _in Indian dress. They all stop at the grove_.] HARRISON. Why halts he there? Go tell him he is welcome to our house. [_An Orderly goes down with message_.] 1ST OFFICER. How grave and decorous they look-- "the mien Of pensive people born in ancient woods." But look at him! Look at Tecumseh there-- How simple in attire! that eagle, plume Sole ornament, and emblem of his spirit. And yet, far-scanned, there's something in his face That likes us not. Would we were out of this!