TECUMSEH. There is the Long-Knive's fort, within whose walls We lose our lives, or find our lands to-day. Fight for that little space--'tis wide domain! That small enclosure shuts us from our homes. There are the victors in the Prophet's strife-- Within that fort they lie--those bloody men Who burnt your town, to light their triumph up, And drove your women to the withered woods To shudder through the cold slow-creeping night, And help their infants to out-howl the wolf. Oh, the base Long-Knife grows to head, not heart-- A pitiless and murdering minister To his desires! But let us now be strong, And, if we conquer, merciful as strong! Swoop like the eagles on their prey, but turn In victory your taste to that of doves; For ever it has been reproach to us That we have stained our deeds with cruelty, And dyed our axes in our captives' blood. So, here, retort not on a vanquished foe, But teach him lessons in humanity. Now let the big heart, swelling in each breast, Strain every rib for lodgment! Warriors! Bend to your sacred task, and follow me. STAYETA. Lead on! We follow you! KICKAPOO CHIEF. Advance ye braves! TECUMSEH. Stay! make a circuit in the open woods-- Cross, and recross, and double on the path-- So shall the Long-Knives overcount our strength. Do this, Stayeta, whilst I meet my friend-- My brave white brother, and confer with him. _Enter_ GENERAL BROCK, PROCTOR, NICHOL, MACDONELL _and other Officers and Forces, on the highway_. TECUMSEH _goes down to meet them._ BROCK. Now by God's providence we face Detroit, Either to sleep within its walls to-night, Or in deep beds dug by exulting foes. Go, Nichol, make a swift reconnaissance-- We'll follow on. NICHOL. I shall, but, ere I go I do entreat you, General, take the rear; Those guns are shrewdly placed without the gate-- One raking fire might rob us of your life, And, this lost, all is lost. BROCK. Well meant, my friend! But I am here to lead, not follow, men Whose confidence has come with me thus far! Go, Nichol, to your task! [_Exit_ NICHOL. TECUMSEH _advances_.] Tecumseh, hail! Brave chieftain, you have made your promise good. TECUMSEH. My brother stands to his! and I but wait His orders to advance--my warriors Are ripe for the assault. BROCK. Deploy them, then, Upon our landward flank, and skirt the woods, Whilst we advance in column to attack. [TECUMSEH _rejoins his warriors_.] Signal our batteries on the farther shore To play upon the Fort! Be steady friends-- Be steady! Now upon your country turn Your multiplying thoughts, and strike for her! Strike for your distant and inviolate homes, Perfumed with holy prayer at this hour! Strike! with your fathers' virtue in your veins You must prevail--on, on, to the attack! [BROCK _and forces advance towards the Port. A heavy cannonading from the British batteries.] Re-enter_ NICHOL _hastily_. NICHOL Stay, General! I saw a flag of truce Cross from the Fort to the Canadian shore.