The Story of Isaac Brock: Hero, Defender and Saviour of Upper Canada, 1812Nursey, Walter R.
History
The Story of Isaac Brock: Hero, Defender and Saviour of Upper Canada, 1812
Nursey, Walter R.
Brock, Isaac, Sir, 1769-1812; Canada -- History -- 1763-1867; United States -- History -- War of 1812
"This, sir," said Elliott, "is Tecumseh, the Shawanese chief of whom you
have heard, and who desires to be presented to you."
The General, who had removed the stains of travel and was in uniform,
rose to his full height, bowed, extended his hand and explained in manly
fashion the reason for asking that the firing be stopped. The contrast
presented by the two men was striking. The old world and the new, face
to face--a scene for the brush of an impressionist. Brock, tall, fair,
big-limbed, a blue-eyed giant, imposing in scarlet coat and blue-white
riding trousers, tasselled Hessian boots, and cocked-hat in hand. On his
benevolent face was an irresistible smile.
The Indian, though of middle height, was of most perfect proportions, an
athlete in bronze, lithe and supple as a panther. His oval face, set in
a frame of glistening black hair, shone like a half-polished copper
relief. Overlooking the nose, straight as one of his own arrows, and
from which some tinkling silver coins were suspended, a pair of
hawk-like eyes, hazel-black and unflinching--in which the secrets of the
world seemed slumbering--gleamed upon Brock. His dress, a hunting
jacket of tanned deer-skin and close-fitting leggings. Fringed mocassins
of the same material, richly embroidered in silk and porcupine quills
dyed in divers colours, encased his feet. The light from the open log
fire flickered fitfully, half revealing the antlered heads of moose and
caribou and other trophies of the chase that, hanging from the rafters,
looked down upon the group, adding weirdness to the picture.
Brock briefly explained that he had come to fight the King's enemies,
enemies who so far had never seen his back, and who were Tecumseh's
enemies also. "Would Tecumseh maintain an honourable warfare?"
Perhaps no eulogy of Brock was ever penned that so well summed up his
qualities as did the terse, four-worded certificate of character uttered
by the Indian before replying to the British general's appeal. Tecumseh
looked "Master Isaac's" commanding physique up and over, over and
down--Brock's caution as to waste of powder doubtless weighing with
him--until eye met eye, and then, impulsively extending his thin brown
hand, turned to his followers, exclaiming in tones of highest
admiration:
"_This_ is a man!"
Assenting "Ughs" and "Ho-hos" followed in rapid succession, and in
response to Brock's invitation the headmen, painted and plumed and in
striped blankets, squatted on their stained reed mats and wild-beast
skins on the basswood log floor. Questioned as to the nature of the
country westward, Tecumseh took a roll of elm-bark and with the point of
his scalping-knife traced on its white inner surface the features of the
region--hills, forests, trails, rivers, muskegs and clearings. Rough,
perhaps, but as accurate, he said, as if drawn by a pale-face
_teebahkee-wayninni_ (surveyor).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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