The Grey Cloak - Page 195/256

"'If,' he said, 'the Great Spirit is determined upon our destruction,

we shall not escape by removal, nor evade his decrees.'"

"And he was an Indian who expressed that thought?" said madame,

wonderingly.

The boat drifted: not down stream as was natural, but up against the

current, contrary to the laws of nature. Had they all been less

interested in what was going on in their minds, they would have at once

remarked this phenomenal performance.

"There is a mysterious particle of God in every savage," replied

Brother Jacques, mentally comparing Anne's eyes with flashing water.

"Well, to go on. Hiawatha's daughter modestly acquiesced to her kind

parent's advice, and with patient submission awaited the catastrophe.

All this was but the work of an instant; for no sooner had the

resolution of the wise man become fixed and his latest words uttered

than an immense bird, with long and pointed beak, with wide extended

wings, came down with a mighty swoop and crushed the beautiful girl to

the earth. With such force did the monster fall, and so great was the

commotion of the air, that when it struck the ground, the whole

assemblage was forced violently back several rods. Hiawatha alone

remained unmoved, and silently witnessed the melancholy end of his

beloved. 'Ai, ai, ai, agatondichou! Alas, alas, alas, my beloved!

His darling had been killed before his eyes and her destroyer had been

killed with her. His own time on earth was at an end.

"It was found upon examining the bird that it was covered with

beautiful white plumage; and every warrior as he advanced plucked a

plume from this singular bird, and with it adorned his crown. And

forever after the braves of the confederate nations made choice of the

plumes of the white herons as their most appropriate military ornament.

"Hiawatha was not to be consoled. He remained prostrate three nights

and days, neither eating nor drinking. Then he roused and delivered

the great harangue to the multitude, gave them the advice which made

them so powerful. To the Mohawks he said that they should be called

the first nation, because they were warlike and mighty; the Oneidas

should be second, because of their wisdom; the Onondagas should be

third, because they were mightiest of tongue and swiftest of foot; the

Cayugas should be fourth, because of their superior cunning in hunting;

and the Senecas should be fifth, because of their thrift in the art of

raising corn and making cabins. To avoid all internal wars, all civil

strife, they must band together in this wise, and they should conquer

all their enemies and become great forever.

"'Lastly,' he said, 'I have now assisted you to form a mighty league, a

covenant of strength and friendship. If you preserve it, without

admission of other people, you will always be free, numerous and

mighty. If other nations are admitted into your councils, they will

sow jealousies among you, and you will become enslaved, few and feeble.

Remember these words; they are the last you will hear from Hiawatha.

Listen, my friends, the Great Master of Breath calls me to go. I have

patiently awaited his summons. I am ready; farewell.' "And as the wise man closed his speech, there burst upon the air the

sound of wondrous music. The whole sky was filled with sweetest

melody. Amid the general confusion which prevailed, Hiawatha was seen

majestically seated in his white canoe, gracefully rising higher and

higher above their heads through the air, until the clouds obscured it

from view. Thus, as he came, he left them; but he had brought wisdom

and had not taken it away, the godlike Taounyawatha, and son of the

Great and Good Spirit Hawahneu. It is the learning of these poetical

legends that has convinced us that some day we shall convert these

heretics into Christians. It is . . ." Brother Jacques seemed turned

into stone.