The Poetical Works of Thomas CampbellCampbell, Thomas
General
The Poetical Works of Thomas Campbell
Campbell, Thomas
English poetry -- Scottish authors
far as his eager pursuers were two days in reaching. There he rested
till he happily discovered five of those Indians who had pursued him:—he
lay hid a little way off their camp, till they were sound asleep. Every
circumstance of his situation occurred to him, and inspired him with
heroism. He was naked, torn, and hungry, and his enraged enemies were
come up with him;—but there was now every thing to relieve his wants,
and a fair opportunity to save his life, and get great honour and sweet
revenge by cutting them off. Resolution, a convenient spot, and sudden
surprise, would effect the main object of all his wishes and hopes. He
accordingly creeped, took one of their tomahawks, and killed them all on
the spot,—clothed himself, took a choice gun, and as much ammunition and
provisions as he could well carry in a running march. He set off afresh
with a light heart, and did not sleep for several successive nights,
only when he reclined, as usual, a little before day, with his back to a
tree. As it were by instinct, when he found he was free from the pursuing
enemy, he made directly to the very place where he had killed seven of
his enemies and was taken by them for the fiery torture. He digged them
up, burnt their bodies to ashes, and went home in safety with singular
triumph. Other pursuing enemies came, on the evening of the second day,
to the camp of their dead people, when the sight gave them a greater
shock than they had ever known before. In their chilled war-council they
concluded, that as he had done such surprising things in his defence
before he was captivated, and since that in his naked condition, and
now was well-armed, if they continued the pursuit he would spoil them
all, for he surely was an enemy wizard,—and therefore they returned
home.”—Adair’s _General Observations on the American Indians_, p. 394.
“It is surprising,” says the same author, “to see the long continued
speed of the Indians. Though some of us have often run the swiftest of
them out of sight for about the distance of twelve miles, yet afterwards,
without any seeming toil, they would stretch on, leave us out of sight,
and outwind any horse.”—_Ibid._ p. 318.
“If an Indian were driven out into the extensive woods, with only a
knife and a tomahawk, or a small hatchet, it is not to be doubted but he
would fatten even where a wolf would starve. He would soon collect fire
by rubbing two dry pieces of wood together, make a bark hut, earthen
vessels, and a bow and arrows; then kill wild game, fish, fresh-water
tortoises, gather a plentiful variety of vegetables, and live in
affluence.”—_Ibid._ p. 410.
NOTE TO PAGE 51.
_Sleep, wearied one! and in the dreaming land_
_Shouldst thou to-morrow with thy mother meet._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account