[_Taking up a letter_.] Now, here is news, Fresh from the South, of bold Tecumseh's work, The Creeks and Seminoles have conjoined, Which means a general union of the tribes, And ravage of our Southern settlements. Tecumseh's master hand is seen in this, And these fresh tidings tally with his threats Before he left Vincennes. 3RD COUNCILLOR. You had a close Encounter with him here. HARRISON. Not over close, Nor dangerous--I saw he would not strike. His thoughts outran his threats, and looked beyond To wider fields and trials of our strength. 4TH COUNCILLOR. Our tree is now too bulky for his axe. HARRISON. Don't underrate his power! But for our States This man would found an empire to surpass Old Mexico's renown, or rich Peru. Allied with England, he is to be feared More than all other men. 1ST COUNCILLOR. You had some talk In private, ere he vanished to the South? HARRISON. Mere words, yet ominous. Could we restore Our purchases, and make a treaty line, All might be well; but who would stand to it? 2ND COUNCILLOR. It is not to be thought of. OTHER COUNCILLORS. No, no, no. HARRISON. In further parley at the river's edge, Scenting a coming war, he clapped his hands, And said the English whooped his people on, As if his braves were hounds to spring at us; Compared our nation to a whelming flood, And called his scheme a dam to keep it back-- Then proffered the old terms; whereat I urged A peaceful mission to the President. But, by apt questions, gleaning my opinion, Ere I was ware, of such a bootless trip, He drew his manly figure up, then smiled, And said our President might drink his wine In safety in his distant town, whilst we-- Over the mountains here--should fight it out: Then entering his bark, well-manned with braves, Bade me let matters rest till he returned From his far mission to the distant tribes, Waved an adieu, and, in a trice, was gone. 2ND COUNCILLOR. Your news is but an earnest of his work. 4TH COUNCILLOR. This Chief's dispatch should be our own example. Let matters rest, forsooth, till he can set Our frontier in a blaze! Such cheap advice Pulls with the President's, not mine. HARRISON. Nor mine! The sum of my advice is to attack The Prophet ere Tecumseh can return. 5TH COUNCILLOR. But what about the breach of your instructions? HARRISON. If we succeed we need not fear the breach-- In the same space we give and heal the wound. [_Enter a Messenger, who hands letters to_ HARRISON.] Thank you, Missouri and good Illinois-- Your governors are built of western clay. Howard and Edwards both incline with me, And urge attack upon the Prophet's force. This is the nucleus of Tecumseh's strength-- His bold scheme's very heart. Let's cut it out. Yes! yes! and every other part will fail. 1ST COUNCILLOR. Let us prepare to go at once! 2ND COUNCILLOR. Agreed. 3RD COUNCILLOR. I vote for war. 5TH COUNCILLOR. But should the Prophet win? 4TH COUNCILLOR. Why then, the Prophet, not Tecumseh, kills us-- Which has the keener axe?