CHAPTER XXIV.
For thou wert born of woman! Thou didst come, O Holiest! to this world of sin and gloom, Not in thy dread omnipotent array; And not by thunders strewed Was thy tempestuous road, Nor indignation burnt before thee on thy way. But thee, a soft and naked child, Thy mother undefiled, In the rude manger laid to rest From off her virgin breast.
The blood of the bee-hunter curdled in his veins as he listened toPeter's business-like and direct manner of treating this terriblesubject. Putting the most favorable view on his situation, it wasfrightful to look on. Admitting that this fanatical savage were sincerein all his professions of a wish to save him and Margery, and leBourdon did not, nay, COULD not doubt this, after his calm but ferociousrevelations; but, admitting all this to be true, how was he to escapewith his charming bride, environed as they were by so large a band ofhostile Indians? Then the thought of abandoning his other companions,and attempting, in cold selfishness, to escape with Margery alone, wasmore than he could bear. Never before, in his adventurous and bold life,had le Bourdon been so profoundly impressed with a sense of his danger,or so much overcome.
Still, our hero was not unmanned. He saw all the hazards, as it were, ata glance, and felt how terrible might be the result should they reallyfall into the hands of the warriors, excited to exercise their ingenuityin devising the means of torture; and he gazed into the frightfulperspective with a manly steadiness that did him credit, even while hesickened at the prospect.
Peter had told his story in a way to add to its horrible character.There was a manner of truth, of directness, of WORK, if one may use suchan expression on such a subject, that gave a graphic reality to all hesaid. As if his task was done, the mysterious chief now coolly arose,and moved away to a little grove, in which the missionary and thecorporal had thrown themselves on the grass, where they lay speculatingon the probable course that the bands in their neighborhood would nextpursue. So thoroughly possessed was the clergyman with his one idea,however, that he was expressing regret at his failure in the attempt toconvince the savages that they were Jews, when Peter joined them.
"You tired--you lie down in daytime, like sick squaw, eh?" asked theIndian, in a slightly satirical manner. "Bess be up, sich fine day, andgo wid me to see some more chief."
"Most gladly, Peter," returned the missionary, springing to his feetwith alacrity--"and I shall have one more opportunity to show yourfriends the truth of what I have told them."
"Yes, Injin love to hear trut'--hate to hear lie. Can tell 'em all youwant to say. He go too, eh?" pointing to the corporal, who rather hungback, as if he saw that in the invitation which was not agreeable tohim.
"I will answer for my friend," returned the confiding missionary,cheerfully. "Lead on, Peter, and we will follow."
Thus pledged, the corporal no longer hesitated; but he accompaniedParson Amen, as the latter fell into the tracks of the chief, andproceeded rapidly in the direction of the spring in the piece ofbottom-land, where the council first described had been held. This spotwas about two miles from the palisaded house, and quite out of view, aswell as out of reach of sound. As they walked side by side, taking thefootsteps of the great chief for their guides, the corporal, however,expressed to his companion his dislike of the whole movement.
"We ought to stand by our garrison in times like these, Mr. Amen," saidthe well-meaning soldier. "A garrison is a garrison; and Injins seldomdo much on a well-built and boldly-defended spot of that natur'. Theywant artillery, without which their assaults are never very formidable."
"Why talk you of warlike means, corporal, when we are in the midst offriends? Is not Peter our known and well-tried associate, one with whomyou and I have travelled far; and do we not know that we have friendsamong these chiefs, whom we are now going to visit? The Lord has ledme into these distant and savage regions, to carry his word, and toproclaim his name; and a most unworthy and unprofitable servant shouldI prove, were I to hesitate about approaching them I am appointed toteach. No, no; fear nothing. I will not say that you carry Caesar andhis fortunes, as I have heard was once said of old, but I will say youfollow one who is led of God, and who marches with the certainty ofbeing divinely commanded."
The corporal was ashamed to oppose so confident an enthusiasm, and heoffered no further resistance. Together the two followed their leader,who, turning neither to the right hand nor to the left, soon had themout of sight of the castle, and well on their way toward the spring.When about half the distance was made, the direction took theparty through a little thicket, or rather along its margin, and themissionary, a good deal to his surprise, saw Pigeonswing within thecover, seemingly preparing for another hunt. This young warrior hadso lately returned from one excursion of this nature, that he was notexpected to go forth so soon on another. Nor was he accustomed to go outso early in the day. This was the hour in which he ordinarily slept; butthere he was, beyond a question, and apparently looking at the party asit passed. So cold was his manner, however, and so indifferent did heseem, that no one would have suspected that he knew aught of what was incontemplation. Having satisfied himself that his friend, the bee-hunter,was not one of those who followed Peter, the Chippewa turned coldlyaway, and began to examine the flint of his rifle. The corporal notedthis manner, and it gave him additional confidence to proceed; forhe could not imagine that any human being would manifest so muchindifference, when sinister designs existed.
Peter turned neither to the right hand nor to the left, until he had ledthe way down upon the little arena of bottom-land already described, andwhich was found well sprinkled with savages. A few stood, or sat aboutin groups, earnestly conversing; but most lay extended at length on thegreen sward, in the indolent repose that is so grateful to an Indianwarrior in his hours of inaction. The arrival of Peter, however,instantly put a new face on the appearance of matters. Every man startedto his feet, and additions were made to those who were found in thearena by those who came out of the adjacent thickets, until some twoor three hundred of the red men were assembled in a circle around thenewly-arrived pale-faces.
"There," said Peter, sternly, fastening his eye with a hostileexpression on Bough of the Oak and Ungque, in particular--"there areyour captives. Do with them as you will. As for them that have dared toquestion my faith, let them own that they are liars!"
This was not a very amicable salutation, but savages are accustomed toplain language. Bough of the Oak appeared a little uneasy, and Ungque'scountenance denoted dissatisfaction; but the last was too skilful anactor to allow many of the secrets of his plotting mind to shine throughthe windows of his face. As for the crowd at large, gleams of contentpassed over the bright red faces, illuminating them with looks of savagejoy. Murmurs of approbation were heard, and Crowsfeather addressed thethrong, there, where it stood, encircling the two helpless and as yetbut half-alarmed victims of so fell a plot.
"My brothers and my young men can now see," said this Pottawattamie,"that the tribeless chief has an Injin heart. His heart is NOT apale-face heart--it is that of a red man. Some of our chiefs havethought that he had lived too much with the strangers, and that he hadforgotten the traditions of our fathers, and was listening to the songof the medicine priest. Some thought that he believed himself lost, anda Jew, and not an Injin. This is not so. Peter knows the path he is on.He knows that he is a redskin, and he looks on the Yankees as enemies.The scalps he has taken are so numerous they cannot be counted. He isready to take more. Here are two that he gives to us. When we have donewith these two captives, he will bring us more. He will continue tobring them, until the pale-faces will be as few as the deer in their ownclearings. Such is the will of the Manitou."
The missionary understood all that was said, and he was not a littleappalled at the aspect of things. For the first time he beganto apprehend that he was in danger. So much was this devout andwell-intentioned servant of his church accustomed to place hisdependence on a superintending Providence, that apprehension of personalsuffering sel
dom had any influence on his exertions. He believed himselfto be an object of especial care; though he was ever ready to admit thatthe wisdom which human minds cannot compass, might order events that,at first sight, would seem to be opposed to that which ought to bepermitted to come to pass. In this particular Parson Amen was a model ofsubmission, firmly believing that all that happened was in furtheranceof the great scheme of man's regeneration and eventual salvation.
With the corporal it was very different. Accustomed to war with redmen, and most acquainted with them in their worst character, he eversuspected treachery, and had followed Peter with a degree of reluctancehe had not cared to express. He now thoroughly took the alarm, however,and stood on his guard. Although he did not comprehend more than half ofthat which Peter had said, he understood quite enough to see that he andthe missionary were surrounded by enemies, if not by executioners.
"We have fallen into a sort of ambush here, Parson Amen," cried thecorporal, rattling his arms as he looked to their condition, "and it'shigh time we beat the general. If there were four on us we might forma square; but being only two, the best thing we can do will be to standback to back, and for one to keep an eye on the right flank, while henat'rally watches all in front; and for the other to keep an eye on theleft flank, while he sees to the rear. Place your back close to mine,and take the left flank into your part of the lookout. Closer, closer,my good sir; we must stand solid as rooted trees, to make anything of astand."
The missionary, in his surprise, permitted the corporal to assume theposition described, though conscious of its uselessness in their actualcondition. As for the Indians, the corporal's manner and the rattling ofhis arms induced the circle to recede several paces; though nothing likealarm prevailed among them. The effect, nevertheless, was to leave thetwo captives space for their evolutions, and a sort of breathing time.This little change had the appearance of something like success, and itgreatly encouraged the corporal. He began to think it even possible tomake a retreat that would be as honorable as any victory.
"Steady--keep shoulder to shoulder, Parson Amen, and take care of yourflank. Our movement must be by our left flank, and everything dependson keeping that clear. I shall have to give you my baggonet, for you'reentirely without arms, which leaves my rear altogether exposed."
"Think nothing of your arms, Brother Flint--they would be useless in myhands in any case; and, were we made of muskets, they could be of no useagainst these odds. My means of defence come from on high; my armor isfaith; and my only weapon, prayer. I shall not hesitate to use the laston this, as on all other occasions."
The missionary then called on the circle of curious savages by whom hewas surrounded, and who certainly contemplated nothing less than hisdeath, in common with those of all his white companions, to unite withhim in addressing the Throne of Grace. Accustomed to preach and prayto these people in their own dialect, the worthy parson made a strongappeal to their charities, while supplicating the favors of DivineProvidence in behalf of himself and his brother captive. He asked forall the usual benedictions and blessings on his enemies, and made a veryhappy exposition of those sublime dogmas of Christianity, which teach usto "bless them that curse us," and to "pray for those who despitefullyuse us." Peter, for the first time in his life, was now struck withthe moral beauty of such a sentiment, which seldom fails, when dulypresented, of producing an effect on even the dullest minds. Hiscuriosity was touched, and instead of turning coldly, as had been hisintention, and leaving the captives in the hands of those to whom hehad delivered them, he remained in the circle, and paid the closestattention to all of the proceedings. He had several times previouslyheard the missionary speak of this duty as a command of God's, but neverbefore had he deemed it possible to realize such a thing in practice.
The Indians, if not absolutely awe-struck by the singular spectaclebefore them, seemed well disposed to let the missionary finish hisappeal; some wondering, others doubting, and all more or less at aloss to know what to make of an exhibition so unusual. There stood thecorporal, with his back pressed closely to that of his companion, hismusket at "make ready," and his whole mien that of a man with everynerve screwed to the sticking-point; while the missionary, the otherside of the picture, with outstretched arms, was lifting his voicein prayer to the throne of the Most High. As this extraordinary scenecontinued, the corporal grew excited; and ere long his voice wasoccasionally heard, blended with that of the clergyman, in terms ofadvice and encouragement.
"Blaze away, Mr. Amen," shouted the soldier. "Give 'em anothervolley--you're doing wonders, and their front has given ground! Onemore such volley as the last, and we'll make a forward movement,ourselves--attention!--prepare to march by the left flank, as soon asthere is a good opening!"
That good opening, however, was never made. The savages, thoughastonished, were by no means frightened, and had not the smallest ideaof letting their captives escape. On the contrary, Bear's Meat, whoacted as commander-in-chief on this occasion, was quite self-possessed,and so far from being impressed with the missionary's prayer, helistened to it only in the hope of hearing some admission of weaknessescape. But the excitement of the corporal soon produced a crisis. Hisattempts to make a movement "by the left flank," caused his column ofdefence to be broken, and obtaining no assistance from Parson Amen, whowas still pouring out his soul in prayer, while endeavoring tobring things back to their original state, he suddenly found himselfsurrounded and disarmed. From that instant, the corporal changedhis tactics. So long as he was armed, and comparatively free, he hadbethought him only of the means of resistance; now that these weredenied him, he submitted, and summoned all his resolution to bear thepenalties of his captivity, in a manner that might not do discredit tohis regiment. This was the third time that Corporal Flint had been aprisoner among the Indians, and he was not now to learn the nature oftheir tender mercies. His forebodings were not of the most pleasantcharacter; but that which could not be helped, he was disposed to bearwith manly fortitude. His greatest concern, at that fearful moment, wasfor the honor of his corps.
All this time, Parson Amen continued his prayer. So completely was hisspirit occupied with the duty of offering up his petition, that he wasutterly unconscious of what else had passed; nor had he heard one of thecorporal's appeals for "attention," and to be "steady," and to march "bythe left flank." In a word, the whole man was intent on prayer; and whenthus employed, a six-pounder discharged in the circle would hardlyhave disconcerted him. He persevered, therefore, uninterrupted by hisconquerors, until he concluded in his own way. Having thus fortified hissoul, and asked for succor where he had now so long been accustomed toseek and to find it, the worthy missionary took his seat quietly on alog, on which the corporal had been previously placed by his captors.
The time had arrived for the chiefs to proceed in the execution of theirpurposes. Peter, profoundly struck with the prayers of the missionary inbehalf of his enemies, had taken a station a little on one side, wherehe stood ruminating on what he had just heard. If ever precept bore thestamp of a divine origin, it is this. The more we reflect on it, theclearer do our perceptions of this truth become. The whole scheme ofChrist's redemption and future existence is founded in love, and such asystem would be imperfect while any were excluded from its benefits.To love those who reciprocate our feelings is so very natural, thatthe sympathies which engender this feeling are soonest attracted by aknowledge of their existence, love producing love, as power increasespower. But to love those who hate us, and to strive to do good to thosewho are plotting evil against ourselves, greatly exceeds the moralstrength of man, unaided from above. This was the idea that puzzledPeter, and he now actually interrupted the proceedings, in orderto satisfy his mind on a subject so totally new to him. Previously,however, to taking this step, he asked the permission of the principalchiefs, awakening in their bosoms by means of his explanations some ofthe interest in this subject that he felt himself.
"Brother medicine-man," said the mysterious chief, drawing nearer to themissiona
ry, accompanied himself by Bear's Meat, Crowsfeather, and one ortwo more, "you have been talking to the Great Spirit o! the pale-faces.We have heard your words, and think them well. They are good words fora man about to set out on the path that leads to the unknown lands.Thither we must all go some time, and it matters little when. We may notall travel the same path. I do not think the Manitou will crowd tribesof different colors together there, as they are getting to be crowdedtogether here.
"Brother, you are about to learn how all these things really are. If redmen, and pale-faces, and black men are to live in the same land, afterdeath, you will shortly know it. My brother is about to go there. He andhis friend, this warrior of his people, will travel on that long path incompany. I hope they will agree by the way, and not trouble each other.It will be convenient to my brother to have a hunter with him; the pathis so long, he will be hungry before he gets to the end. This warriorknows how to use a musket, and we shall put his arms with him in hisgrave.
"Brother, before you start on this journey, from which no traveller everreturns, let his color be what it may, we wish to hear you speak furtherabout loving our enemies. This is not the Indian rule. The red men hatetheir enemies, and love their friends. When they ask the Manitou todo anything to their enemies, it is to do them harm. This is what ourfathers taught us: it is what we teach our children. Why should we lovethem that hate us: why should we do good to them that do us harm? Tellus now, or we may never hear the reason."
"Tell you I will, Peter, and the Lord so bless my words that they maysoften your hearts, and lead you all to the truth, and to dependence onthe mediation of his blessed Son! We should do good to them that do evilto us, because the Great Spirit has commanded us so to do. Ask your ownheart if this is not right. If they sound like words that are spoken byany but those who have been taught by the Manitou, himself. The devilstell us to revenge, but God commands us to forgive. It is easy to dogood to them that do good to us; but it tries the heart sorely to dogood to them that do us evil. I have spoken to you of the Son of theGreat Spirit. He came on earth, and told us with his own mouth all thesegreat truths. He said that next to the duty of loving the Manitou, wasthe duty of loving our neighbors. No matter whether friend or enemy, itwas our duty to love them, and do them all the good we can. If there isno venison in their wigwams, we should take the deer off our own poles,and carry it and put on theirs. Why have I come here to tell you this?When at home, I lived under a good roof, eat of abundance, and slept ina soft and warm bed. You know how it is here. We do not know to-day whatwe shall eat to-morrow. Our beds are hard, and our roofs are of bark. Icome, because the Son of the Manitou, he who came and lived among men,told us to do all this. His commands to his medicine-men were, to goforth, and tell all nations, and tribes, and colors, the truth--totell them to 'love them that sought to do them harm, and to do good forevil.'"
Parson Amen pausing a moment to take breath, Ungque, who detected thewavering of Peter's mind, and who acted far more in opposition to themysterious and tribeless chief than from any other motive, profited bythe occasion thus afforded to speak. Without this pause, however, thebreeding of an Indian would have prevented any interruption.
"I open my mouth to speak," said The Weasel, in his humblest manner."What I say is not fit for the wise chiefs to hear. It is foolish, butmy mind tells me to say it. Does the medicine-man of the pale-faces tellus that the Son of the Great Spirit came upon earth, and lived amongmen?"
"I do; such is our belief; and the religion we believe and teach comethdirectly from his mouth."
"Let the medicine-man tell the chiefs how long the Son of the GreatSpirit stayed on earth, and which way he went when he left it."
Now, this question was put by Ungque through profound dissimulation. Hehad heard of the death of Christ, and had obtained some such idea ofthe great sacrifice as would be apt to occur to the mind of a savage.He foresaw that the effect of the answer would be very likely to destroymost of the influence that the missionary had just been building up, bymeans of his doctrine and his prayers. Parson Amen was a man of singularsimplicity of character, but he had his misgivings touching the effectof this reply. Still he did not scruple about giving it, or attempt inany manner to mystify or to deceive.
"It is a humiliating and sad story, my brethren, and one that ought tocause all heads to be bowed to the earth in shame," he answered. "TheSon of the Great Spirit came among men; he did nothing but good; toldthose who heard him how to live and how to die. In return for all this,wicked and unbelieving men put him to death. After death his bodywas taken up into Heaven--the region of departed spirits, and thedwelling-place of his Father--where he now is, waiting for the timewhen he is to return to the earth, to reward the good and to punish thewicked. That time will surely come; nor do I believe the day to be verydistant."
The chiefs listened to this account with grave attention. Some of themhad heard outlines of the same history before. Accounts savoring of theChristian history had got blended with some of their own traditions,most probably the fruits of the teachings of the earlier missionaries,but were so confused and altered as to be scarcely susceptible of beingrecognized. To most of them, however, the history of the incarnationof the Son of God was entirely new; and it struck THEM as a mostextraordinary thing altogether that any man should have injured sucha being! It was, perhaps, singular that no one of them all doubtedthe truth of the tradition itself. This they supposed to have beentransmitted with the usual care, and they received it as a fact not tobe disputed. The construction that was put on its circumstances willbest appear in the remarks that followed.
"If the pale-faces killed the Son of the Great Spirit," said Bough ofthe Oak, pointedly, "we can see why they wish to drive the red men fromtheir lands. Evil spirits dwell in such men, and they do nothing butwhat is bad. I am glad that our great chief has told us to put the footon this worm and crush it, while yet the Indian foot is large enough todo it. In a few winters they would kill us, as they killed the Spiritthat did them nothing but good!"
"I am afraid that this mighty tradition hath a mystery in it thatyour Indian minds will scarcely be willing to receive," resumed themissionary, earnestly. "I would not, for a thousand worlds, or to saveten thousand lives as worthless as my own, place a straw in the way ofthe faith of any; yet must I tell the thing as it happened. This Son ofthe Great Spirit was certainly killed by the Jews of that day, so far ashe COULD be killed. He possessed two natures, as indeed do all men: thebody and soul. In his body he was man, as we all are men; in his soul hewas a part of the Great Spirit himself. This is the great mystery of ourreligion. We cannot tell how it can happen, but we believe it. We seearound us a thousand things that we cannot understand, and this is oneof them."
Here Bear's Meat availed himself of another pause to make a remark. Thishe did with the keenness of one accustomed to watch words and eventsclosely, but with a simplicity that showed no vulgar disposition toscepticism.
"We do not expect that all the Great Spirit does can be clear to usIndians," he said. "We know very little; he knows everything. Whyshould we think to know all that he knows? We do not. That part of thetradition gives us no trouble. Indians can believe without seeing. Theyare not squaws, that wish to look behind every bush. But my brother hastold too much for his own good. If the pale-faces killed their GreatSpirit, they can have no Manitou, and must be in the hands of the EvilSpirit This is the reason they want our hunting-grounds. I will not letthem come any nearer to the setting sun. It is time to begin to killthem, as they killed their Great Spirit. The Jews did this. My brotherwishes us to think that red men are Jews! No; red men never harmed theSon of the Great Spirit, They would receive him as a friend, and treathim as a chief. Accursed be the hand that should be raised to harm him.This tradition is a wise tradition. It tells us many things. It tells usthat Injins are not Jews. They never hurt the Son of the Great Spirit.It tells us that the red men have always lived on these hunting-grounds,and did not come from toward the rising sun. It tells us that pale-facesar
e not fit to live. They are too wicked. Let them die."
"I would ask a question," put in Peter. "This tradition is not new. Ihave heard it before. It entered but a little way into my ears. I didnot think of it. It has now entered deeper, and I wish to hear more. Whydid not the Son of the Great Spirit kill the Jews?--why did he let theJews kill him? Will my brother say?"
"He came on earth to die for man, whose wickedness was so deep that theGreat Spirit's justice could not be satisfied with less. WHY this is sono one knows. It is enough that it should be so. Instead of thinking ofdoing harm to his tormentors and murderers, he died for them, and diedasking for benefits on them, and on their wives and children, for alltime to come. It was he who commanded us to do good to them that do harmto us."
Peter gave the utmost attention to this answer, and when he had receivedit, he walked apart, musing profoundly. It is worthy of being observedthat not one of these savages raised any hollow objections to theincarnation of the Son of the Great Spirit, as would have been the casewith so many civilized men. To them this appeared no more difficult andincomprehensible than most of that which they saw around them. It iswhen we begin to assume the airs of philosophy, and to fancy, becausewe know a little, that the whole book of knowledge is within our grasp,that men become sceptics. There is not a human being now in existencewho does not daily, hourly see that which is just as much beyond hispowers of comprehension as this account of the incarnation of the Deity,and the whole doctrine of the Trinity; and yet he acquiesces in thatwhich is before his eyes, because it is familiar and he sees it, whilehe cavils at all else, though the same unknown and inexplicable causelies behind everything. The deepest philosophy is soon lost in thisgeneral mystery, and, to the eye of a meek reason, all around us is aspecies of miracle, which must be referred to the power of the Deity.
While thus disposed to receive the pale-face traditions with respect,however, the red men did not lose sight of their own policy andpurposes. The principal chiefs now stepped aside, and held a briefcouncil. Though invited to do so, Peter did not join them; leaving toBough of the Oak, Ungque, and Bear's Meat the control of the resultThe question was whether the original intention of including thismedicine-priest among those to be cut off should, or should not, beadhered to. One or two of the chiefs had their doubts, but the opinionof the council was adverse.
"If the pale-faces killed the Son of their Great Spirit, why should wehesitate about killing them?" The Weasel asked, with malicious point,for he saw that Peter was now sorely troubled at the probability of hisown design being fully carried out. "There is no difference. This isa medicine-priest--in the wigwam is a medicine-bee-hunter, and thatwarrior may be a medicine-warrior. We do not know. We are poor Injinsthat know but little. It is not so with the pale-faces; they talk withthe conjurer's bees, and know much. We shall not have ground enough totake even a muskrat, soon, unless we cut off the strangers. The Manitouhas given us these; let us kill them."
As no one very strenuously opposed the scheme, the question was soondecided, and Ungque was commissioned to communicate the result tothe captives. One exception, however, was to be made in favor of themissionary. His object appeared to be peaceful, and it was determinedthat he should be led a short distance into the surrounding thicket, andbe there put to death, without any attempt to torture, or aggravate hissufferings. As a mark of singular respect, it was also decided not toscalp him.
As Ungque, and those associated with him, led the missionary to theplace of execution, the former artfully invited Peter to follow. Thiswas done simply because the Weasel saw that it would now be unpleasantto the man he hated--hated merely because he possessed an influence thathe coveted for himself.
"My father will see a pleasant sight," said the wily Weasel, as hewalked at Peter's side, toward the indicated spot; "he will see apale-face die, and know that his foot has been put upon another worm."
No answer was made to this ironical remark, but Peter walked in silenceto the place where the missionary was stationed, surrounded by a guard.Ungque now advanced and spoke.
"It is time for the medicine-priest of the pale-faces to start after thespirits of his people who have gone before him," he said. "The path islong, and unless he walks fast, and starts soon, he may not overtakethem. I hope he will see some of them that helped to kill the Son of hisGreat Spirit, starving, and foot-sore, on the way."
"I understand you," returned the missionary, after a few moments passedin recovering from the shock of this communication. "My hour is come. Ihave held my life in my hand ever since I first put foot in this heathenregion, and if it be the Creator's will that I am now to die, I bow tothe decree. Grant me a few minutes for prayer to my God."
Ungque signed that the delay should be granted. The missionary uncoveredhis head, knelt, and again lifted up his voice in prayer. At first thetones were a little tremulous; but they grew firmer as he proceeded.Soon they became as serene as usual. He first asked mercy for himself,threw all his hopes on the great atonement, and confessed how far he wasfrom that holiness which alone could fit him to see God. When this dutywas performed, he prayed for his enemies. The language used was hismother tongue, but Peter comprehended most of that which was said. Heheard his own people prayed for; he heard his own name mentioned, as thecondemned man asked the mercy of the Manitou in his behalf. Never beforewas the soul of this extraordinary savage so shaken. The past seemedlike a dream to him, while the future possessed a light that was stillobscured by clouds. Here was an exemplification in practice of thatdivine spirit of love and benevolence which had struck him, already,as so very wonderful. There could be no mistake. There was the kneelingcaptive, and his words, clear, distinct, and imploring, ascended throughthe cover of the bushes to the throne of God.
As soon as the voice of the missionary was mute, the mysterious chiefbowed his head and moved away. He was then powerless. No authority ofhis could save the captive, and the sight that so lately would havecheered his eyes was now too painful to bear. He heard the single blowof the tomahawk which brained the victim, and he shuddered from head tofoot. It was the first time such a weakness had ever come over him. Asfor the missionary, in deference to his pursuits, his executioners dughim a grave, and buried him unmutilated on the spot where he had fallen.
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