The lost hunter: A tale of early timesAdams, John Turvill
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The lost hunter: A tale of early times
Adams, John Turvill
Adventure stories; Indians of North America -- Fiction; New England -- Fiction
"Magisaunikwa," said the Sachem, "the fire of your eyes melts not the
snow around the heart of Leelinau, and it is because she looks upon
your hands and sees they were never painted with the blood of an
enemy."
"Can Leelinau be happier." asked the young hunter, "because another is
made miserable? Were I to kill a warrior for her sake, would not her
dreams be disturbed by the groans of his mother?"
The eyes of the Sachem flashed when he heard such language.
"Go," he said, "if thou art a dove, seek not to mate with the hawk."
But the resolution of Wampum-hair was not to be shaken by threats or
reproaches, nor weakened by the seductions of love. In the long and
final fast which revealed to him his guardian spirit, twelve days
with unshaken fortitude, to the wonder of the tribe, had he remained
without food before the vision came. He then beheld a child white as
the water-lily leading a little animal unknown to the country. It was
the size of the beaver, and covered all over with long white hair
that curled closely to its body. Its eyes were mild and sweet, and the
expression of its face gentler than anything ever seen on earth.
The child laid his hand on the heart of the fainting youth, and an
influence soft as the breath of the south wind streamed through his
frame, and he was strengthened, and stood upon his feet and partook
of food. Since then the war-song had been hateful to the ears of
Wampum-hair, and he loathed the vauntings of the braves. He preached
peace to his people, and endeavored to convince them of the folly of
killing their fellow men. But prejudices old as the mountains were not
to be removed by the exhortations or arguments of an obscure youth;
and although the old men listened, and some few approved, yet the
young men scoffed and burned to distinguish themselves after the
manner of their ancestors. It was fortunate for the young man that
opportunities had occurred to test his courage, and that he had never
hesitated when others flinched. His tribe therefore ascribed his
conduct to no want of bravery, but to a delusion sent by his guardian
genius. Hence, though his influence was impaired, it was not entirely
destroyed.
Thus things continued for some time, till one day the Sachem again
addressed Wampum-hair.
"Does the heart of Magisaunikwa still beat softly, like the heart of a
deer!"
"It beats like a man's," said the young hunter, "and not like that of
a vile wild beast. The Indian should imitate the Good Spirit in his
actions, and not destroy his brothers and sisters"
"Yes," said the Sachem, "his heart is a man's, though it is soft. Does
Wampum-hair still love Leelinau?"
"The breath of Thequan is not more welcome to the wood-flower which it
wakes up to life, or the song of the bird dearer to its mate, than the
sight of Leelinau to Magisaunikwa."
"What would Wampum-hair do to obtain her love?"
"He would climb the sky, or dive to the bottom of the salt lake; all
that the Great Spirit could ask would he do."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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