Historical fiction; King Philip's War, 1675-1676 -- Fiction; War stories
"But the sun rose again!" said the great chief pointing at the evidences
of prosperity which were everywhere apparent in the settlement, casting at
the same time an uneasy and suspicious glance at his youngest companion.
"The morning was clear, though the night was so dark. The cunning of a
Pale-face knows how to make corn grow on a rock. The foolish Indian eats
roots, when crops fail and is scarce."
"God ceased to be angry;" returned Content meekly, folding his arms in a
manner to show he wished to speak no more.
The great chief was about to continue, when his younger associate laid a
finger on his naked shoulder, and, by a sign, indicated that he wished to
hold communication with him apart. The former met the request with
respect, though it might be discovered that he little liked the expression
of his companion's features, and that he yielded with reluctance, if not
with disgust. But the countenance of the youth was firm, and it would have
needed more than usual hardihood to refuse a request seconded by so steady
and so meaning an eye. The elder spoke to the warrior nearest his elbow,
addressing him by the name of Anna won, and then, by a gesture so natural
and so dignified that it might have graced the air of a courtier, he
announced his readiness to proceed. Notwithstanding the habitual reverence
of the aborigines for age, the others gave way for the passage of the
young man, in a manner to proclaim that merit or birth, or both, had
united to purchase for him a personal distinction, which far exceeded that
shown, in common, to men of his years. The two chiefs left the piazza in
the noiseless manner of the moccasoned foot.
The passage of these dignified warriors towards the grounds in the rear of
the dwelling, as it was characteristic of their habits, is worthy of being
mentioned. Neither spoke, neither manifested any womanish impatience to
pry into the musings of the other's mind, and neither failed in those
slight but still sensible courtesies by which the path was rendered
commodious and the footing sure. They had reached the summit of the
elevation so often named, ere they believed themselves sufficiently
retired to indulge in a discourse which might otherwise have enlightened
profane ears. When beneath the shade of the fragrant orchard which grew on
the hill, the senior of the two stopped, and throwing about him one of
those quick, nearly imperceptible, and yet wary glances, by which an
Indian understands his precise position, as it were by instinct, he
commenced the dialogue. The discourse was in the dialect of their race,
but as it is not probable that many who read these pages would be much
enlightened were we to record it in the precise words in which it has been
transmitted to us, a translation into English, as freely as the subject
requires, and the geniuses of the two languages will admit, shall be
attempted.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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