第7章

Glickhicanwounduphislongdiscoursesbydeclaringhehadneverliedinthewholecourseofhisseventyyears,hadneverstolen,neverbetrayed,nevermurdered,neverkilled,saveinself—defence。Gazingatthechief"sfinefeatures,nowcalm,yetshowingtracesofpaststorms,Jimbelievedhespokethetruth。

Whentheyoungministercame,however,tostudythehostileIndiansthatflockedtothevillage,anyconclusivedelineationofcharacter,oranysatisfactoryanalysisoftheirmentalstateinregardtothepalefacereligion,eludedhim。Theirpassive,silent,sphinx—likesecretivenesswasbaffling。Glickhicanhadtaughthimhowtopropitiatethefriendlybraves,andwiththesehewassuccessful。Littlehelearned,however,fromtheunfriendlyones。Whenmakinggiftstotheseredmenhecouldneverbecertainthathisofferingswereappreciated。ThejewelsandgoldhehadbroughtwestwithhimwenttotheFrenchtraders,whoinexchangegavehimtrinkets,baubles,braceletsandweapons。Jimmadehundredsofpresents。Boldlygoinguptobefeatheredandbefringedchieftains,heofferedthemknives,hatchets,orstringsofsilverybeads。Sometimeshiskindlyofferingswererepelledwithahaughtystare;atothertimestheywouldbeacceptedcoldly,suspiciously,asifthegiftsbroughtsomeunknownobligation。

Forawhitemanitwasanever—to—be—forgottenexperiencetoseeeightortenofthesegrim,slowlysteppingforestkings,arrayedinalltherichsplendoroftheircostume,stalkingamongtheteepeesoftheVillageofPeace。Somehow,suchaprocessionalwaysmadeJimshiver。Thesinging,prayingandpreachingtheyheardunmoved。Noemotionwasvisibleontheirbronzedfaces;nothingchangedtheirunalterablemien。Hadtheynotmoved,orgazedwithburningeyes,theywouldhavebeenstatues。WhenthesechieftainslookedattheconvertedIndians,someofwhomwerebravesoftheirnations,thecontemptintheirglancesbetrayedthattheynowregardedtheseChristianIndiansasbelongingtoanalienrace。

AmongthechiefsGlickhicanpointedouttoJimwereWingenund,theDelaware;

Tellane,theHalf—King;ShingissandKotoxen——alloftheWolftribeoftheDelawares。

GlickhicanwascarefultoexplainthattheDelawarenationhadbeendividedintotheWolfandTurtletribes,theformerwarlikepeople,andthelatterpeaceable。FewoftheWolftribehadgoneovertothenewfaith,andthosewhohadwerescorned。Wingenund,thegreatpoweroftheDelawares——indeed,thegreatestofallthewesterntribes——maintainedaneutralattitudetowardtheVillageofPeace。Butitwaswellknownthathisright—handwar—chiefs,PipeandWishtonah,remainedcoldlyopposed。

Jimturnedallhehadlearnedoverandoverinhismind,tryingtoconstructpartofittofitintoasermonthatwouldbedifferentfromanytheIndianshadeverheard。Hedidnotwanttopreachfarovertheirheads。Ifpossible,hedesiredtokeeptotheirideals——forhedeemedthemmorebeautifulthanhisown——andtoconducthisteachingalongthesimplelinesoftheirbelief,sothatwhenhestimulatedanddevelopedtheirmindshecouldpassfromwhattheyknewtotheunknownChristianityofthewhiteman。

HisfirstaddresstotheIndianswasmadeonedayduringtheindispositionofMr。Wells——whohadbeenover—workinghimself—andtheabsenceoftheothermissionaries。Hedidnotconsiderhimselfatallreadyforpreaching,andconfinedhiseffortstosimple,earnesttalk,arecitalofthethoughtshehadassimilatedwhilelivinghereamongtheIndians。

Amazementwouldnothavedescribedthestateofhisfeelingswhenhelearnedthathehadmadeapowerfulimpression。Theconvertswereloudinhispraise;

theunbelieverssilentandthoughtful。Inspiteofhimself,longbeforehehadbeenprepared,hewaslaunchedonhisteaching。Everydayhewascalledupontospeak;everydayonesavage,atleast,wasconvinced;everydaythethrongofinterestedIndianswasaugmented。Theeldermissionarieswerequiteovercomewithjoy;theypressedhimdayafterdaytospeak,untilatlengthhealonepreachedduringtheafternoonservice。

Thenewsflewapace;theVillageofPeaceentertainedmoreredmenthaneverbefore。Daybydaythefaithgainedastrongerfoothold。AkindofreligioustranceaffectedsomeoftheconvertedIndians,andthisgreatlyinfluencedthedoubtingones。ManyofthemhalfbelievedtheGreatManitouhadcome。

Heckewelder,theacknowledgedleaderofthewesternMoravianMission,visitedthevillageatthistime,and,struckbytheyoungmissionary"ssuccess,arrangedathreedays"religiousfestival。Indianrunnerswereemployedtocarryinvitationstoallthetribes。TheWyandotsinthewest,theShawneesinthesouth,andtheDelawaresinthenorthwereespeciallyrequestedtocome。

NodeceptionwaspracticedtolurethedistantsavagestotheVillageofPeace。Theywereaskedtocome,partakeofthefeasts,andlistentothewhiteman"steaching。

ChapterXII。

"TheGrovesWereGod"sFirstTemples。"

FromdawnuntilnoononSundaybandsofIndiansarrivedattheVillageofPeace。Hundredsofcanoesglideddowntheswiftstreamandbumpedtheirprowsintothepebblybeach。Groupsofmountedwarriorsrodeoutoftheforestsintotheclearing;squawswithpapooses,maidenscarryingwickerbaskets,andchildrenplayingwithrudetoys,cametroopingalongthebridle—paths。

Giftswerepresentedduringthemorning,afterwhichthevisitorswerefeasted。Intheafternoonallassembledinthegrovetohearthepreaching。

ThemaplegrovewhereintheservicewastobeconductedmighthavebeenintendedbyNatureforjustsuchapurposeasitnowfulfilled。Thesetreeswerelarge,spreading,andsituatedfarapart。Mossystonesandthethickcarpetofgrassaffordedseatsforthecongregation。

Heckewelder——atall,spare,andkindlyappearingman——directedthearrangingofthecongregation。HeplacedtheconvertedIndiansjustbehindtheknolluponwhichthepresidingministerwastostand。Inahalfcirclefacingtheknollheseatedthechieftainsandimportantpersonagesofthevarioustribes。

HethenmadeashortaddressintheIndianlanguage,speakingoftheworkofthemission,whatwondersithadaccomplished,whatmoregoodworkithopedtodo,andconcludedbyintroducingtheyoungmissionary。

WhileHeckewelderspoke,Jim,whostoodjustbehind,employedthefewmomentsinrunninghiseyeoverthemultitude。Thesightwhichmethisgazewasonehethoughthewouldneverforget。Aninvoluntarywordescapedhim。

"Magnificent！"heexclaimed。

Theshadygladehadbeentransformedintoatheater,fromwhichgazedathousanddark,stillfaces。Athousandeagleplumeswaved,andtenthousandbright—huedfeathersquiveredinthesoftbreeze。Thefantasticallydressedscalpspresentedacontrasttothesmooth,unadornedheadsoftheconvertedredmen。TheseproudplumesanddefiantfeatherstoldthedifferencebetweensavageandChristian。

Infrontoftheknollsatfiftychiefs,attentiveanddignified。

RepresentativesofeverytribeasfarwestastheSciotoRiverwerenumberedinthatcircle。Therewerechiefsrenownedforwar,forcunning,forvalor,forwisdom。Theirstatelypresencegavethemeetingtenfoldimportance。Couldthesechiefsbeinterested,moved,thewholewesternworldofIndiansmightbecivilized。

Hepote,aMaumeechief,ofwhomitwassaidhehadneverlistenedtowordsofthepaleface,hadthecentralpositioninthiscircle。Onhisrightandleft,respectively,satShaushotoandPipe,implacablefoesofallwhitemen。Thelatter"saspectdidnotbeliehisreputation。Hiscopper—colored,repulsivevisagecompelledfear;itbreathedvindictivenessandmalignity。Asingularactionofhiswasthathealways,inwhatmusthavebeenhisarrogantvanity,turnedhisprofiletothosewhowatchedhim,anditwasaremarkableone;itslopedinanobliquelinefromthetopofhisforeheadtohisprotrudingchin,resemblingsomewhatthecarvedbowlofhispipe,whichwasofflintandafamedinheritancefromhisancestors。Fromithetookhisname。Onesolitaryeagleplume,itstipstainedvermilion,stuckfromhisscalp—lock。Itslatedbackwardonalinewithhisprofile。

Amongallthesechiefs,strikingastheywere,thefigureofWingenund,theDelaware,stoodoutalone。

Hispositionwasattheextremeleftofthecircle,whereheleanedagainstamaple。Along,blackmantle,trimmedwithspotlesswhite,envelopedhim。Onebronzedarm,circledbyaheavybraceletofgold,heldthemantlecloseabouthisloftyform。Hisheaddress,whichtrailedtotheground,wasexceedinglybeautiful。Theeagleplumeswereofuniformlengthandpurewhite,excepttheblack—pointedtips。

Athisfeetsathisdaughter,WhisperingWinds。Hermaidensweregatheredroundher。Sheraisedhersoft,blackeyes,shiningwithawondrouslightofsurpriseandexpectation,totheyoungmissionary"sface。

BeyondthecircletheIndiansweremassedtogether,evenbeyondthelimitsoftheglade。Underthetreesoneverysidesatwarriorsastridetheirsteeds;

someloungedonthegreenturf;manyreclinedinthebranchesoflow—spreadingmaples。

AsJimlookedoutovertheseaoffaceshestartedinsurprise。Thesuddenglanceoffieryeyeshadimpelledhisgaze。HerecognizedSilvertip,theShawneechief。TheIndiansatmotionlessonapowerfulblackhorse。Jimstartedagain,forthehorsewasJoe"sthoroughbred,Lance。ButJimhadnofurthertimetothinkofJoe"senemy,forHeckeweldersteppedback。

Jimtookthevacatedseat,and,withafar—reaching,resonantvoicebeganhisdiscoursetotheIndians。

"Chieftains,warriors,maidens,childrenoftheforest,listen,andyourearsshallhearnolie。IamcomefromwherethesunrisestotellyouoftheGreatSpiritofthewhiteman。

"Many,manymoonsago,asmanyasbladesofgrassgrowonyonderplain,theGreatSpiritofwhomIshallspeakcreatedtheworld。Hemadethesparklinglakesandswiftrivers,theboundlessplainsandtangledforests,overwhichHecausedthesuntoshineandtheraintofall。Hegavelifetothekinglyelk,thegracefuldeer,therollingbison,thebear,thefox——allthebeastsandbirdsandfishes。ButHewasnotcontentfornothingHemadewasperfectinHissight。HecreatedthewhitemaninHisownimage,andfromthisfirstman"sribHecreatedhismate——awoman。Heturnedthemfreeinabeautifulforest。

"Lifewasfairinthebeautifulforest。Thesunshonealways,thebirdssang,thewatersflowedwithmusic,theflowerscastsweetfragranceontheair。Inthisforest,wherefruitbloomedalways,wasonetree,theTreeofLife,theappleofwhichtheymustnoteat。Inallthisbeautifulforestofabundancethisapplealonewasforbiddenthem。

"Nowevilwasbornwithwoman。AserpenttemptedhertoeatoftheappleofLife,andshetemptedthemantoeat。FortheirsintheGreatSpiritcommandedtheserpenttocrawlforeveronhisbelly,andHedrovethemfromthebeautifulforest。Thepunishmentfortheirsinwastobevisitedontheirchildren"schildren,always,untiltheendoftime。Thetwowentafarintothedarkforest,tolearntoliveasbesttheymight。Fromthemalltribesdescended。Theworldiswide。Awarriormightrunallhisdaysandnotreachthesettingsun,wheretribesofyellow—skinslive。Hemighttravelhalfhisdaystowardthesouth—wind,wheretribesofblack—skinsabound。Peopleofallcolorsinhabitedtheworld。Theylivedinhatredtowardoneanother。Theyshedeachother"sblood;theystoleeachother"slands,gold,andwomen。Theysinned。

"ManymoonsagotheGreatSpiritsorrowedtoseeHischosentribe,thepalefaces,livinginignoranceandsin。HesentHisonlySontoredeemthem,andsaidiftheywouldlistenandbelieve,andteachtheothertribes,Hewouldforgivetheirsinandwelcomethemtothebeautifulforest。

"Thatwasmoonsandmoonsago,whenthepalefacekilledhisbrotherforgoldandlands,andbeathiswomenslavestomakethemplanthiscorn。TheSonoftheGreatSpiritliftedthecloudfromthepalefaces"eyes,andtheysawandlearned。SopleasedwastheGreatSpiritthatHemadethepalefaceswiserandwiser,andmasteroftheworld。Hebidthemgoafartoteachtheignoranttribes。

"Toteachyouiswhytheyoungpalefacejourneyedfromtherisingsun。Hewantsnolandsorpower。Hehasgivenallthathehad。Hewalksamongyouwithoutgunorknife。Hecangainnothingbutthehappinessofopeningtheredmen"seyes。

"TheGreatSpiritofwhomIteachandtheGreatManitou,youridol,arethesame;thehappyhuntinggroundoftheIndianandthebeautifulforestofthepalefacearethesame;thepalefaceandtheredmanarethesame。ThereisbutoneGreatSpirit,thatisGod;butoneeternalhome,thatisheaven;butonehumanbeing,thatisman。

"TheIndianknowsthehabitsofthebeaver;hecanfollowthepathsoftheforests;hecanguidehiscanoethroughthefoamingrapids;heishonest,heisbrave,heisgreat;butheisnotwise。Hiswisdomiscloudedwiththeoriginalsin。Helivesinidleness;hepaintshisface;hemakeshissquawlaborforhim,insteadoflaboringforher;hekillshisbrothers。Heworshipsthetreesandrocks。Ifhewerewisehewouldnotmakegodsoftheswiftarrowandboundingcanoe;ofthefloweringashandtheflamingflint。Forthesethingshavenotlife。Inhisdreamsheseeshisarrowspeedtothereelingdeer;inhisdreamsheseeshiscanoeshootoverthecrestofshiningwaves;

andinhismindhegivesthemlife。Whenhiseyesareopenedhewillseetheyhavenospirit。Thespiritisinhisownheart。Itguidesthearrowtotherunningdeer,andsteersthecanoeovertheswirlingcurrent。Thespiritmakeshimfindtheuntroddenpaths,anddobravedeeds,andlovehischildrenandhishonor。Itmakeshimmeethisfoefacetoface,andifheistodieitgiveshimstrengthtodie——aman。Thespiritiswhatmakeshimdifferentfromthearrow,thecanoe,themountain,andallthebirdsandbeasts。ForitisbornoftheGreatSpirit,thecreatorofall。Himyoumustworship。

"Redmen,thisworshipisunderstandingyourspiritandteachingittodogooddeeds。ItiscalledChristianity。Christianityislove。IfyouwilllovetheGreatSpirityouwillloveyourwives,yourchildren,yourbrothers,yourfriends,yourfoes——youwilllovethepalefaces。Nomorewillyouidleinwinterandwagewarsinsummer。Youwillwearyourknifeandtomahawkonlywhenyouhuntformeat。Youwillbekind,gentle,loving,virtuous——youwillhavegrownwise。Whenyourdaysaredoneyouwillmeetallyourlovedonesinthebeautifulforest。There,wheretheflowersbloom,thefruitsripenalways,wherethepleasantwaterglidesandthesummerwindswhispersweetly,therepeacewilldwellforever。

"Comrades,bewise,thinkearnestly。Forgetthewickedpaleface;fortherearemanywickedpalefaces。Theyselltheserpentfirewater;theylieandstealandkill。Thesepalefaces"eyesarestillclouded。Iftheydonotopentheywillneverseethebeautifulforest。Youhavemuchtoforgive,butthosewhoforgivepleasetheGreatSpirit;youmustgiveyourselvestolove,butthosewholoveareloved;youmustwork,butthosewhoworkarehappy。

"BeholdtheVillageofPeace！Onceitcontainedfew;nowtherearemany。

Whereoncethedarkforestshadedtheland,seethecabins,thefarms,thehorses,thecattle！Fieldonfieldofwaving,goldengrainshinethereunderyoureyes。Theearthhasblossomedabundance。Idlingandfightingmadenottheserichharvests。Beliefmadelove;lovemadewiseeyes;wiseeyessaw,andlo！therecameplenty。

"Theproofofloveishappiness。TheseChristianIndiansarehappy。Theyareatpeacewiththeredmanandthepaleface。Theytillthefieldsandworkintheshops。Indaystocomecabinsandfarmsandfieldsofcornwillbetheirs。

Theywillbringuptheirchildren,nottohideintheforesttoslay,buttowalkhandinhandwiththepalefacesasequals。

"Oh,openyourears！Godspeakstoyou;peaceawaitsyou！Castthebitternessfromyourhearts;itistheserpent—poison。Whileyouhate,GodshutsHiseyes。Youaregreatonthetrail,inthecouncil,inwar;nowbegreatinforgiveness。Forgivethepalefaceswhohaverobbedyouofyourlands。Thenwillcomepeace。Ifyoudonotforgive,thewarwillgoon;youwillloselandsandhomes,tofindunmarkedgravesundertheforestleaves。Revengeissweet;butitisnotwise。Thepriceofrevengeisbloodandlife。Rootitoutofyourhearts。LovetheseChristianIndians;lovethemissionariesastheyloveyou;lovealllivingcreatures。Yourdaysarebutfew;therefore,ceasethethestrife。Letussay,"Brothers,thatisGod"sword,Hislaw;thatislove;thatisChristianity！"Ifyouwillsayfromyourheart,brother,youareaChristian。

"Brothers,thepalefaceteacherbeseechesyou。Thinknotofthislong,bloodywar,ofyourdishonoreddead,ofyoursilencedwigwams,ofyournamelessgraves,ofyourhomelesschildren。Thinkofthefuture。Onewordfromyouwillmakepeaceoverallthisbroadland。ThepalefacemusthonoraChristian。HecanstealnoChristian"sland。Allthepalefaces,asmanyasthestarsofthegreatwhitepath,darenotinvadetheVillageofPeace。ForGodsmileshere。

ListentoHiswords:"Comeuntomeallthatarewearyandheavyladen,andI

willgiveyourest。""

Overthemultitudebroodedanimpressive,solemnsilence。ThenanagedDelawarechiefrose,withamienofprofoundthought,andslowlypacedbeforethecircleofchiefs。Presentlyhestopped,turnedtotheawaitingIndians,andspoke:

"NetawatweesisalmostpersuadedtobeaChristian。"Heresumedhisseat。

Anotherintervalofpenetratingquietensued。Atlengthavenerable—lookingchieftaingotup:

"WhiteEyeshearstherumblingthunderinhisears。Thesmokeblowsfromhiseyes。WhiteEyesistheoldestchiefoftheLenni—Lenape。Hisdaysaremany;

theyarefull;theydrawneartheeveningofhislife;herejoicesthatwisdomiscomebeforehissunisset。

"WhiteEyesbelievestheyoungWhiteFather。ThewaysoftheGreatSpiritaremanyastheflutteringleaves;theyarestrangeandsecretastheflightofaloon;WhiteEyesbelievestheredman"shappyhuntinggroundsneednotbeforgottentolovethepalefaces"God。Asayoungbravepantsandpuzzlesoverhisfirsttrail,sothegrownwarriorfeelsinhisunderstandingofhisGod。

Hegropesblindlythroughdarkravines。

"WhiteEyesspeaksfewwordsto—day,forheislearningwisdom;hebidshispeoplehearkentothevoiceoftheWhiteFather。Wariswrong;peaceisbest。

Loveisthewaytopeace。ThepalefaceadvancesonestepnearerhisGod。Helaborsforhishome;hekeepsthepeace;heasksbutlittle;hefreeshiswomen。Thatiswell。WhiteEyeshasspoken。"

TheoldchiefslowlyadvancedtowardtheChristianIndians。Helaidasidehisknifeandtomahawk,andthenhiseagleplumesandwar—bonnet。Bareheaded,heseatedhimselfamongtheconvertedredmen。Theybeganchantinginlow,murmuringtones。

Amidthebreathlesssilencethatfollowedthisactofsuchgreatsignificance,Wingenundadvancedtowardtheknollwithslow,statelystep。Hisdarkeyesweptthegladewithlightningscorn;hisglancealonerevealedthepassionthatswayedhim。

"Wingenund"searsarekeen;theyhaveheardafeatherfallinthestorm;nowtheyhearasoft—voicedthrush。Wingenundthunderstohispeople,tohisfriends,tothechiefsofothertribes:"Donotburythehatchet！"TheyoungWhiteFather"stonguerunssmoothliketheglidingbrook;itsingsasthethrushcallsitsmate。Listen;butwait,wait！Lettimeprovehisbeautifultale;letthemoonsgobyovertheVillageofPeace。

"Wingenunddoesnotflaunthiswisdom。Hehasgrownoldamonghiswarriors;helovesthem;hefearsforthem。Thedreamofthepalefaces"beautifulforestglimmersastherainbowglowsoverthelaughingfallsoftheriver。Thedreamofthepalefaceistoobeautifultocometrue。Inthedaysoflongago,whenWingenund"sforefathersheardnotthepaleface"sax,theylivedinloveandhappinesssuchastheyoungWhiteFatherdreamsmaycomeagain。Theywagednowars。Awhitedovesatineverywigwam。Thelandsweretheirsandtheywererich。Thepalefacecamewithhisleadendeath,hisburningfirewater,hisringingax,andthegloryoftheredmenfadedforever。

"Wingenundseeksnottoinflamehisbravestoanger。Heissickofblood—spilling——notfromfear;forWingenundcannotfeelfear。Butheaskshispeopletowait。Remember,thegiftsofthepalefaceevercontainedapoisonedarrow。Wingenund"sheartissore。Thedayoftheredmanisgone。Hissunissetting。Wingenundfeelsalreadythegrayshadesofevening。"

Hestoppedonelongmomentasiftogatherbreathforhisfinalchargetohislisteners。Thenwithamagnificentgesturehethundered:

"IstheDelawareafool？WhenWingenundcancrossunarmedtotheBigWaterheshallchangehismind。WhenDeathwindceasestoblowhisbloodytrailoverthefallenleavesWingenundwillbelieve。"

ChapterXIII。

Asthesummerwaned,eachsucceedingday,withitsmelancholycalm,itschanginglightsandshades,itscool,dampeveningwinds,growingmoreandmoresuggestiveofautumn,thelittlecolonyofwhitepeopleintheVillageofPeaceledbusy,eventfullives。

UpwardsoffiftyIndians,severalofthemimportantchiefs,hadbecomeconvertedsincetheyoungmissionarybeganpreaching。Heckewelderdeclaredthatthiswasawonderfulshowing,andifitcouldbekeptupwouldresultingainingaholdontheIndiantribeswhichmightnotbeshaken。HeckewelderhadsucceededininterestingthesavageswestoftheVillageofPeacetotheextentofpermittinghimtoestablishmissionarypostsintwootherlocalities——onenearGoshhocking,aDelawaretown;andoneontheMuskingong,theprincipalriverrunningthroughcentralOhio。Hehad,withhishelpers,YoungandEdwards,journeyedfromtimetotimetothesepoints,preaching,makinggifts,andsolicitinghelpfromchiefs。

Themostinterestingfeature,perhaps,ofthevariedlifeofthemissionarypartywasarivalrybetweenYoungandEdwardsfortheelderMissWells。

UsuallyNell"sattractivenessappealedmoretomenthanKate"s;however,inthisinstance,althoughthesoberteachersofthegospeladmiredNell"swinsomebeauty,theyfellinlovewithKate。Themissionarieswerebothunderforty,andgood,honestmen,devotedtotheworkwhichhadengrossedthemforyears。Althoughtheywereardentlovers,certainlytheywerenotpicturesque。

Twohomeliermencouldhardlyhavebeenfound。Moreover,thesacrificeoftheirlivestomissionaryworkhadtakenthemfarfromthecompanionshipofwomenoftheirownrace,sothattheylackedtheeaseofmannerwhichwomenliketoseeinmen。YoungandEdwardswereawkward,almostuncouth。

EmbarrassmentwouldnothavedonejusticetotheirstateoffeelingwhilebaskingintheshineofKate"squietsmile。Theywerehappy,foolish,andspeechless。

IfKatesharedinthemerrimentoftheothers——Heckeweldercouldnotconcealhis,andNelldidnottryveryhardtohidehers——sheneverallowedasuspicionofittoescape。Shekepttheeasy,eventenorofherlife,alwayskindandgraciousinherquaintway,andpreciselythesametobothherlovers。Nodoubtshewellknewthateachpossessed,underallhisroughexterior,aheartofgold。

OnedaythegenialHeckewelderlost,orpretendedtolose,hispatience。

"Say,youworthygentlemenarebecomingornamentalinsteadofuseful。Allthischangingofcoats,trimmingofmustaches,andeloquentsighingdoesn"tseemtohaveaffectedtheyounglady。I"veanotiontosendyoubothtoMaumeetown,onehundredmilesaway。Thisyoungladyischarming,Iadmit,butifsheistokeeponseriouslyhinderingtheworkoftheMoravianMissionImustobject。Asforthatmatter,Imighttryconclusionsmyself。I"masyoungaseitherofyou,and,Iflattermyself,muchhandsomer。You"llhaveadangerousrivalpresently。Settleit！Youcan"tbothhaveher;settleit！"

Thisoutburstfromtheirusuallykindleaderplacedtheearnestbutawkwardgentlemeninaterribleplight。

OntheafternoonfollowingthecrisisHeckeweldertookMr。WellstooneoftheIndianshops,andJimandNellwentcanoeing。YoungandEdwards,afterconferringforonelong,tryinghour,determinedonsettlingthequestion。

Youngwasapale,slightman,veryhomelyexceptwhenhesmiled。Hissmilenotonlybrokeuptheplainnessofhisface,butseemedtochaseawayaseriousshadow,allowinghiskindly,gentlespirittoshinethrough。Hewasnervous,andhadatimidmanner。Edwardswashisopposite,beingamanofrobustframe,withaheavyface,andamannerthatwouldhavesuggestedself—confidenceinanotherman。

Theyweretrueandtriedfriends。

"Dave,Icouldn"taskher,"saidYoung,tremblingattheverythought。

"Besides,there"snohopeforme。Iknowit。That"swhyI"mafraid,whyI

don"twanttoaskher。What"dsuchagloriouscreatureseeinapoor,punylittlethinglikeme？"

"George,you"renotover—handsome,"admittedDave,shakinghishead。"Butyoucannevertellaboutwomen。Sometimestheylikeevenlittle,insignificantfellows。Don"tbetooscaredaboutaskingher。Besides,itwillmakeiteasierforme。Youmighttellheraboutme——youknow,sortoffeelherout,soI"d———"

Dave"svoicefailedhimhere;buthehadsaidenough,andthatwasmostdiscouragingtopoorGeorge。Davewassobusyscrewinguphiscouragethatheforgotallabouthisfriend。

"No;Icouldn"t,"gaspedGeorge,fallingintoachair。Hewasghastlypale。"I

couldn"taskhertoacceptme,letalonedoanotherman"swooing。Shethinksmoreofyou。She"llacceptyou。"

"Youreallythinkso？"whisperedDave,nervously。

"Iknowshewill。You"resuchafine,bigfigureofaman。She"lltakeyou,andI"llbeglad。Thisfeverandfrettinghasaboutfinishedme。Whenshe"syoursI"llnotbesobad。I"llbehappyinyourhappiness。But,Dave,you"llletmeseeheroccasionally,won"tyou？Go！Hurry——getitover！"

"Yes;wemusthaveitover,"repliedDave,gettingupwithabrave,effort。

Truly,ifhecarriedthatdeterminedfronttohislady—lovehewouldlooklikeamasterfullover。Butwhenhegottothedoorhedidnotatallresembleaconqueror。

"You"resureshe——caresforme？"askedDave,forthehundredthtime。Thistime,asalways,hisfriendwasfaithfulandconvincing。

"Iknowshedoes。Go——hurry。ItellyouIcan"tstandthisanylonger,"criedGeorge,pushingDaveoutofthedoor。

"Youwon"tgo——first？"whisperedDave,clingingtothedoor。

"Iwon"tgoatall。Icouldn"taskher——Idon"twanther——go！Getout！"

Davestartedreluctantlytowardtheadjoiningcabin,fromtheopenwindowofwhichcamethesongoftheyoungwomanwhowasresponsibleforallthistrouble。Georgeflunghimselfonhisbed。Whatarelieftofeelitwasallover！Helaytherewithevesshutforhours,asitseemed。AfteratimeDavecamein。Georgeleapedtohisfeetandsawhisfriendstumblingoverachair。

Somehow,Davedidnotlookasusual。Heseemedchanged,orshrunken,andhisfaceworeadiscomfited,miserableexpression。

"Well？"criedGeorge,sharply。Eventohishighlyexcitedimaginationthisdidnotseemtheproperconditionforavictoriouslover。

"Sherefused——refusedme,"falteredDave。"Shewasverysweetandkind;saidsomethingaboutbeingmysister——Idon"trememberjustwhat——butshewouldn"thaveme。"

"Whatdidyousaytoher？"whisperedGeorge,aparalyzinghopealmostrenderinghimspeechless。

"I——ItoldhereverythingIcouldthinkof,"repliedDave,despondently;"evenwhatyousaid。"

"WhatIsaid？Dave,whatdidyoutellherIsaid？"

"Why,youknow——aboutshecaredforme——thatyouweresureofit,andthatyoudidn"twanther———"

"Jackass！"roaredGeorge,risingoutofhismeeknesslikealionrousedfromslumber。

"Didn"tyou——sayso？"inquiredDave,weakly。

"No！No！No！Idiot！"

Asonepossessed,Georgerushedoutofthecabin,andamomentlaterstooddisheveledandfranticbeforeKate。

"DidthatfoolsayIdidn"tloveyou？"hedemanded。

Katelookedup,startled;butasanunderstandingofGeorge"swildaspectandwilderwordsdawneduponher,sheresumedherusualcalmdemeanor。LookingagaintoseeifthispassionateyoungmanwasindeedGeorge,sheturnedherfaceasshesaid:

"IfyoumeanMr。Edwards,yes;Ibelievehedidsayasmuch。Indeed,fromhismanner,heseemedtohavemonopolizedalltheloveneartheVillageofPeace。"

"Butit"snottrue。Idoloveyou。Iloveyoutodistraction。IhavelovedyoueversinceIfirstsawyou。ItoldDavethat。Heckewelderknowsit;eventheIndiansknowit,"criedGeorge,protestingvehementlyagainstthedisparagingallusiontohisaffections。Hedidnotrealizehewasmakingamostimpassioneddeclarationoflove。Whenhewasquiteoutofbreathhesatdownandwipedhismoistbrow。

ApinkbloomtingedKate"scheeks,andhereyesglowedwithahappylight;butGeorgeneversawthesewomanlyevidencesofpleasure。

"OfcourseIknowyoudon"tcareforme———"

"DidMr。Edwardstellyouso？"askedKate,glancingupquickly。

"Why,yes,hehasoftensaidhethoughtthat。Indeed,healwaysseemedtoregardhimselfasthefortunateobjectofyouraffections。Ialwaysbelievedhewas。"

"Butitwasn"ttrue。"

"What？"

"It"snottrue。"

"What"snottrue？"

"Oh——aboutmy——notcaring。"

"Kate！"criedGeorge,quiteovercomewithrapture。Hefellovertwochairsgettingtoher;buthesucceeded,andfellonhiskneestokissherhand。

"Foolishboy！Ithasbeenyouallthetime,"whisperedKate,withherquietsmile。

"Lookhere,Downs;cometothedoor。Seethere,"saidHeckeweldertoJim。

SomewhatsurprisedatHeckewelder"sgravetone,Jimgotupfromthesupper—tableandlookedoutofthedoor。HesawtwotallIndianspacingtoandfrounderthemaples。Itwasstillearlytwilightandlightenoughtoseeclearly。OneIndianwasalmostnaked;thelithe,gracefulsymmetryofhisdarkfigurestandingoutinsharpcontrasttothegaunt,gaudily—costumedformoftheother。

"Silvertip！Girty！"exclaimedJim,inalowvoice。