CHAPTER XXII.
"O nymph, with loosely flowing hair, With buskined leg, and bosom bare, Thy waist with myrtle girdle bound, Thy brow with Indian feathers crowned, Waving in thy snowy hand An all-commanding magic wand Of power, to bid fresh gardens blow, Mid cheerless Lapland's barren snow!"
JOSEPH WARTON.
Bernard and his sister, on their arrival, found only Mr. Armstrongand his daughter, but were joined, in the course of the evening, byPownal, at whose arrival all expressed pleasure. The whole companyunited with Miss Armstrong in requesting Bernard to read the legend,who, at last, produced the manuscript from his pocket.
"I must entreat your indulgence," he said, "for the defects of whichthe piece is full. The author is an inexperienced writer, andunable, like an accomplished hand, to atone by elegance of style forimprobability or poverty of incident. You will expect no more thanthat he should observe the proprieties of his subject, nor require himto introduce into a tale of the children of Nature the refinementof language or delicacy of sentiment, to be met with in the modernromance. The stories of an uncivilized people must be rude, evenapproaching in simplicity tales designed for children."
"The writer could not have an audience more ready to be pleased," saidMr. Armstrong; "and are we not all children of various growths?"
"I do not believe any excuses are necessary," said Faith, "and amexpecting a great deal of pleasure."
"The more extravagant, the better," cried Anne. "What can equal theArabian Nights Entertainment?"
"We are all attention," said Pownal; "so whistle your apprehensions,Bernard, to the wind."
Thus encouraged, the young man opened his manuscript, and commencedreading.
THE LEGEND OF MAGISAUNIKWA AND LEELINAU.
Where the clear Sakimau mingles its waters with the great salt lake,which would be too salt, but for the innumerable rivers that pourthemselves into its bosom, the mighty Aishkwagon-ai-bee, whose name,rendered into the language of the pale faces, is the 'Feather ofHonor,' had erected his lodge. He was the war-chief of a tribe whosename is lost in the mists of antiquity. He boasted his descent fromthe great Ojeeg, of whom it is related that he opened a hole in theblue sky and let out the soft, warm air of Paradise, so that itpoured down upon the earth, and bestowed summer upon a region beforecondemned to perpetual cold. He also liberated the singing-birdsfrom the mocucks, or basket-cages, where they were confined, which,descending through the aperture, have since enlivened the woods andfields with their melodies. He was unable to return to this world, andmay still be seen in the heavens, being changed into the stars calledOjeeg Annung, known to the wise men among the pale faces as theConstellation of the Plough.
Nor was Aishkwagon-ai-bee unworthy of his noble descent. The grandeurof his thoughts and the boldness of his achievements proved thepurity of his blood. A skillful hunter, a successful warrior, equallyrenowned for wisdom in council and bravery in action, he enjoyed thehighest consideration, not only in his own tribe, but as far as thegreat lakes to the North, and the river Delaware to the South. When hepointed to the beautiful scalps that adorned the sides of his wigwam,he could with truth say, there was not one of them but had graced thehead of a warrior.
The Sachem had several children, sons and daughters, and among thelatter, the lovely Leelinau was the darling of his heart. The maidenhad attained the age of eighteen, and was the admiration of the youthfor many days' journey round. Her cheeks were the color of thewild honey-suckle, her lips like strawberries, and the juice of themilk-weed was not whiter than her teeth. Her form was lith as thewillow, her eyes sparkled like the morning star, her step was that ofa bounding fawn, and her fingers were skilful in weaving the quills ofthe porcupine. What wonder if hearts both young and old beat quickerat her approach?
Many, it may well be supposed, were the offers of marriage made to thebeautiful Leelinau. Innumerable were the legs of venison, andchoice pieces of bear's meat, which the mothers of the young hunterspresented for acceptance at her lodge, being careful to mention whoseskill in the chase procured them, but in vain did they look for thebowl of succatash or embroidered moccasins--the products of woman'slabor--in token that their gifts were pleasing to the coy beauty.In vain, when the shades of evening fell, the softly breathed flutelamented in melancholy tones her cruelty. In vain, with tastefulhand, the sighing lover painted his face and person to heighten hisattractions and draw attention. The insensible Leelinau relished notthe venison or bear's meat, nor would she listen to the flute, or lookoften at the painted suitors.
Among her admirers none was more deeply smitten by the power of hercharms nor cherished a truer love than Magisaunikwa or Wampum-hair,so called from the gentleness of his disposition and love of peace.He was only a few years the senior of the maiden, and of an obscurefamily compared with that of the famous Aishkwagon-ai-bee. But lovelevels all distinctions, and, impelled by an influence he could notwithstand, he dared to aspire to the hand of Leelinau. Besides, therewas one superiority he enjoyed which made the claim less presumptuous.Young as he was no hunter of the tribe could be compared with him inskill or daring. Other lodges might be destitute, but there was alwaysabundance of meat in that of Magisaunikwa and those of his friends.Happy, thought most of the girls, would she be who should lie in thebosom of the young hunter, and cook his food.
But notwithstanding his devotion, Leelinau would not accept his gifts.Still he fancied he had made some impression. She would listen tohis conversation by the light of the evening star, though whenever hehinted at his passion, she would hastily retire; and twice orthrice he had caught her eyes fixed on him, when she thought herselfunobserved. Hope lives on scanty aliment, and the young man did notdespair.
Aishkwagon-ai-bee had noticed the liking of Magisaunikwa for hisdaughter, and was not displeased. The noble youth had found favor inhis eyes, and he did not disdain his alliance. There was only a singlecause of hesitation in his mind. Wampum-hair had never been on awar-path, and had always shown a disinclination to shed human blood.Yet his courage was undoubted. None encountered with more audacity thepanther and the bear, and several were the lives he had saved at thehazard of his own. A successful war expedition only was necessary tocomplete his claims to the highest honors. Save the bloody scalp, noornament was lacking in his wigwam.
"Magisaunikwa," said the Sachem, "the fire of your eyes melts not thesnow around the heart of Leelinau, and it is because she looks uponyour hands and sees they were never painted with the blood of anenemy."
"Can Leelinau be happier." asked the young hunter, "because another ismade miserable? Were I to kill a warrior for her sake, would not herdreams be disturbed by the groans of his mother?"
The eyes of the Sachem flashed when he heard such language.
"Go," he said, "if thou art a dove, seek not to mate with the hawk."
But the resolution of Wampum-hair was not to be shaken by threats orreproaches, nor weakened by the seductions of love. In the long andfinal fast which revealed to him his guardian spirit, twelve dayswith unshaken fortitude, to the wonder of the tribe, had he remainedwithout food before the vision came. He then beheld a child white asthe water-lily leading a little animal unknown to the country. It wasthe size of the beaver, and covered all over with long white hairthat curled closely to its body. Its eyes were mild and sweet, and theexpression of its face gentler than anything ever seen on earth.The child laid his hand on the heart of the fainting youth, and aninfluence soft as the breath of the south wind streamed through hisframe, and he was strengthened, and stood upon his feet and partookof food. Since then the war-song had been hateful to the ears ofWampum-hair, and he loathed the vauntings of the braves. He preachedpeace to his people, and endeavored to convince them of the folly ofkilling their fellow men. But prejudices old as the mountains were notto be removed by the exhortations or arguments of an obscure youth;and although the old men listened, and some few approved, yet theyoung men scoffed and burned to distinguish themselves after themanner of their ancestors. It was fortunate
for the young man thatopportunities had occurred to test his courage, and that he had neverhesitated when others flinched. His tribe therefore ascribed hisconduct to no want of bravery, but to a delusion sent by his guardiangenius. Hence, though his influence was impaired, it was not entirelydestroyed.
Thus things continued for some time, till one day the Sachem againaddressed Wampum-hair.
"Does the heart of Magisaunikwa still beat softly, like the heart of adeer!"
"It beats like a man's," said the young hunter, "and not like that ofa vile wild beast. The Indian should imitate the Good Spirit in hisactions, and not destroy his brothers and sisters"
"Yes," said the Sachem, "his heart is a man's, though it is soft. DoesWampum-hair still love Leelinau?"
"The breath of Thequan is not more welcome to the wood-flower which itwakes up to life, or the song of the bird dearer to its mate, than thesight of Leelinau to Magisaunikwa."
"What would Wampum-hair do to obtain her love?"
"He would climb the sky, or dive to the bottom of the salt lake; allthat the Great Spirit could ask would he do."
"A chief cannot compel the affection of his daughter, but he cangive his own consent, and the young bird listens to the voice of itsparent."
"Let the great chief say what he would have, and the arm ofWampum-hair shall be strong to do his will. For the sake of Leelinauhe would please her father."
The Sachem paused, and gazed with pleasure on the kindling featuresof the young man. He was a wise chief, and desired the good of hispeople. In those days the panthers, driven from the north by a severewinter, infested the country in great numbers, and threatened todestroy the game, on which the Indians depended for subsistence.Although many had been killed, there still remained enough to ravagethe land and do serious injury; and they had become so cunning bybeing frequently hunted that they almost uniformly succeeded ineluding the chase. It would be a public service, though a difficultundertaking, to exterminate the ravenous animals. He therefore said:--
"Let Magisaunikwa bring me a conaus made of the scalps of panthers,and another for Leelinau, and he shall have the strong word of a chiefto whisper commendations of the hunter in the ears of the maiden."
"It is well. The words of the great chief are pleasant, and my earsdrink them up as the thirsty sand the drops of rain. The feet ofWampum-hair are swift; his arrows are true, and they shall pierce thescreaming panther."
That same day, so eager was the young hunter to commence the chase, hestarted for those parts of the forest where the game was most likelyto be found. Many were the beasts destroyed by him, so that a littlechild might wander in security ten days' journey, in every direction,from the lodge of the Sachem, and narrow were the escapes from deathof the intrepid hunter, and yet scarcely scalps enough were obtainedto make a conaus or wrapper for the sloping shoulders of Leelinau. Invain, the enamored youth extended his hunt still further, even twentydays' journey from his starting point. Only at long intervals was abeast discovered, but, finally, not one was to be found, and the youthawoke to the conviction that he had been made a dupe to the cunning ofthe Sachem.
After a fruitless chase he was musing one day sorrowfully over hisdisappointed hopes, ashamed to go back to his village, to which hehad never returned without success before, when, suddenly, a man ofmajestic presence stood before him. His nose was like the beak of aneagle, and his eyes resembled fires in a dark night. Strange feathers,of brilliant colors, were woven into his scalp-lock; a magnificentrobe of skins depended from his shoulders; and in his hand he held along spear, tipped with a pointed stone.
"My brother is sad," he said. "Let my brother give me the half of hisgrief to bear."
Thus exhorted, Magisaunikwa disclosed the cause of his dejection tohis sympathizing friend.
"Is that all?" said the stranger. "Return, and thou shalt find theconaus in thy lodge, and when thou beholdest them, remember they arethe gift of Manabozho. I am Manabozho."
He spoke, and before the astonished hunter had time to thank him,vanished from his sight. Then the young man knew that he had conversedwith the capricious Manito, and with full faith and light heart, hedirected his steps homeward.
He found the two conaus in his wigwam, according to the promise of theManito. One he presented to the chief, and the other he offered to themaiden, but she refused to accept the tribute of his devotion.
The astonishment of Aishkwagon-ai-bee, and of the whole tribe, is notto be conceived, and the fame of Wampum-hair mounted to the stars. Thetruthful chief spoke earnestly to his daughter, of the merits ofher lover, and proposed him for her husband, but Leelinau showed thestrongest aversion to the union. The haughty maiden inherited thefierce temper of her father, without his wisdom, and she looked withcontempt on all not distinguished by high descent or bloody deeds,nor in her soaring pride was there one of the young men of the tribeworthy of her hand. Not that there were not youthful warriors whocould point to the evidences of their prowess, and whose names werefamiliar to the song, but in every instance the difficult beauty hadfound some objection, and turned away her head. The truth is, the westwind, that entices the flowers from the ground in spring, and leadsthe bird to its mate, had never breathed upon the heart of Leelinau.
But the time finally came when the maiden was constrained to make achoice. Her family had become impatient of delay, and Leelinau yieldedto their remonstrances. It was only in appearance, however, that sheacquiesced in the wishes of her relatives. She determined to propose,as the price of her hand, some enterprise too difficult to beaccomplished. She represented to her father that lightly won, waslightly prized, and that the daughter of a great chief like him, wasnot to be wooed like other maidens, and obtained from him, to whom hervoice was sweeter than the notes of the mocking-bird, his consent toher scheme.
The conditions on which Leelinau consented to follow a husband to hislodge were soon known. Only him would she acknowledge for her lord,who should guide his canoe in safety from the head of the Falls ofthe Yaupaae to the little islands below. The old men shook their headswhen they heard the terms, and the squaws said, her heart must be madeof stone, but the young men felt warm, and thought of trying theirfortunes.
The enterprise was more difficult than any Manabozho had undertaken.When the river was low, it poured almost perpendicularly down, aheight of twenty feet, on rocks, thrusting sharp points into the air,then bounded in sinuous windings through rifts and basins, made by theconstant beating of the water, and the attrition of stones, whirledround in the cavities, to dash over a declivity of yet other rocks,before it reached its calm welcome below. When swollen by rains therocks were all hidden, the perpendicular fall disappeared, it was asif the Great Salt Lake were pouring down the side of the mountain,and from top to bottom was all one vast mass of foam, lashing thehuge rock at the throat, around which the torrent turned with a suddenbend. No canoe could live on such a cataract. It must be overturnedand engulfed long before reaching the bottom, or if those perils were,by any wonderful chance, escaped, inevitable destruction awaited thepresumptuous adventurer, dashed against the rock at the bottom.
The lovers of Leelinau gazed at the Fall, but the more they consideredthe less inclination they felt to encounter the danger. In a low stageof the water the canoe would be overturned, and pierced by the sharprocks, while mangled limbs certainly, if not death, must be the doomof the rash aspirant, and who would dare to brave the terrors of theswollen river?
The eyes of Leelinau were bright, and her smile sweet, but there wereother maidens with bright eyes and sweet smiles, and less difficult toplease.
But not thus felt Magisaunikwa. The absorbing passion swallowed upall considerations of prudence, and he resolved to undertake theadventure. If he perished, the Great Spirit would be pleased with hiscourage, and what was life without Leelinau? While thoughts like thesepassed through his mind, he remembered Manabozho. He had assisted himonce, although in vain, why not a second time? He sought once morethe recesses of the forest, where he had met him, and ca
lled upon hisname, but no answer was returned. He kindled a fire and threw uponit the fragrant tobacco, and called again, "Ho! Manabozho!" and themajestic figure stood before him, but there was anger on his brow. Tohis stern demand the hunter made known what had happened, and beggedhis assistance. But the Manito showed no disposition to grant it. Infact, the task was beyond his powers, but he was unwilling that itshould be known.
"Fool!" he said, "is a scornful squaw worth the hazard of death andthe shame that attends defeat? Seek thy lodge and blow away thesethoughts as the wind disperses the winged seeds of the stingingnettle." It was evident Manabozho had never been in love, for then hewould not have thrown away his advice. He stayed not for a reply, butwith a gesture of disdain disappeared.
Wampum-hair sought his wigwam, melancholy but not discouraged. Itwas, indeed, impossible to follow the counsel of the friendly Manito.Sleeping or waking the image of Leelinau swam before his eyes, andsometimes smiled as if to incite him to the enterprise.
He resolved to undertake a solemn fast. He therefore sought a retiredplace and built a pointed lodge.
Six days and nights he fasted, lying on the ground, and on the seventhday, at the rising of the sun, his guardian spirit, the child withthe white beaver, slowly descended from the sky. His face was kind andgentle as at the first, but not as before did he lay his hand on theheart of Wampum-hair. Now he pressed his palm upon the forehead of thehunter, and strange thoughts and determinations, like rising storms,passed through his mind: slowly, then, up through the pointed roof,which opened for his passage, mounted the child till he disappeared inthe blue field.
Magisaunikwa arose from the ground, and a frown was upon his brow. Heate and was refreshed, and returned to his lodge.
It was the last month of snows, and great rains had fallen, and thetorrents were shouting from the mountains, and the Yaupaae pouring outa mightier flood than had ever been seen rushing through betweenthe cleft rocks. It was then Wampum-hair announced his intention toundertake the adventure of the Falls, and invited the tribe to gathertogether to witness its performance. It is said that the heart ofLeelinau, touched by so much constancy, was inclined to relent andexcuse her lover the terrible ordeal, but this is probably the dreamof some soft-hearted girl, and only indicates what she would have donein like circumstances.
On the day selected, the tribe was collected at the outpouring of thewaters, to witness the achievement of Magisaunikwa, and lament hisdeath. In great numbers they lined the banks of the stream, seekingthose positions from which the best views could be obtained, while hisfriends watched at the foot of the cataract in canoes to rescue thebody should it be thrown up by the raging water. Leelinau, too, wasthere, unyielding, yet proud of a devotion unheard of in the annalsof her nation. She looked haughtily as on a spectacle devised in herhonor, of which she should be celebrated as the heroine, long afterher feet should have travelled the path that leads to the Spirit-land.No regret for the destruction to which her lover was doomed appearedto touch her heart, nor did pity moisten her eyes as she looked uponthe preparations for the sacrifice.
At length Magisaunikwa appeared, and never before had he attractedsuch admiration. He moved like one returning from victory. No warpaint, such as warriors are accustomed to use when upon the war-pathin order to strike terror into the foe, or when commencing anenterprise of great peril, stained his person. His dress was theconaus of panther scalps, and he walked amid a company of young men ofhis own age, above the tallest of whom he rose by a head.
Before commencing the adventure, he performed the customary ceremonyto propitiate the Great Spirit, pointing to the heavens, the earth,and the four winds, and invoking with a loud voice the Master of Lifeto smile upon the undertaking. This being done, he cast his eyes overthe assembled crowd, till they fell upon Leelinau. Long he gazed,as if he desired to carry her image with him to the Spirit-land, norafter that last look did he allow his glance to rest upon anotherhuman being. Then, at a little distance above the head of thecataract, he entered the canoe and grasped the paddle.
The motion of the frail bark was at first gentle, but only for a shorttime: every moment its speed became accelerated, until, even before itreached the plunge, it seemed to fly like the swallow. Calmly guidingits fearful course sat the young man, his eyes fixed upon the narrowopening between the rocks. And now the canoe is at the brink of theFalls--it leaps like the salmon when he journeys up the stream--it isgone!--the raging waters have devoured it--no, I see it again--the armof Magisaunikwa is strong, and the paddle unbroken. Help, Manito! heis dashed against the rock at the throat--no, the canoe is whirledround and darts away, and I behold it gliding with the youth over thequiet water. The Great Spirit hath protected him.
A shout, rivalling the roar of the Falls, went up from the assembledmultitude, and they rose with songs such as welcome returned warriorsto greet the successful hero.
But Wampum-hair received their congratulations and their praises withindifference. With eyes fixed on the ground, he suffered himself to beborne in triumph to the spot, where, on a platform of rock, stood thebeautiful Leelinau. What were the thoughts that passed through hermind? Was she proud of being the object of a love so true and daring,or did she lament the necessity of accepting a lord? Wampum-hairapproached, and before his calm, sorrowing eyes, her own sunk to theground. Searching was his look, as if to descry the secrets of hersoul, and at last he spoke.
"Leelinau," he said, "the Great Spirit created thee loveliest amongthe daughters of women; wherefore gave he thee not a heart?
"Leelinau, Wampum-hair will sigh no more for thee. Henceforth, thouart to him only a flower or a painted bird.
"Leelinau, the waters of the Yaupaae have extinguished the fire thatburned here," and he laid his hand on his heart. He turned upon hisheel and left the assemblage.
Astonishment at the address of Magisaunikwa at first held all mute,but presently a cry for revenge arose among the kinsmen ofthe slighted maiden. But the commanding voice of the wiseAishkwagon-ai-bee stilled the tumult.
"The blood of the mighty Ojeeg," he said, "cannot mingle with water.The Great Spirit hath taken this way to release Leelinau from apromise which He is displeased that she made."
Whatever might have been the vindictive feelings of the relations ofLeelinau, their resentment was never visited on the head of the younghunter. Once, it is said, two brothers of the rejected maiden lay inambush to take his life; but as he passed unconsciously near them, andthe fatal arrows were drawn to the head against his bosom, Manabozhoappeared and forbade the deed.
Magisaunikwa continued to cherish through a long life his love ofpeace. He obtained a great influence over his own and the neighboringtribes, and succeeded in spreading widely his pacific views. At thetime of his death, which happened at an advanced age, the calumetof peace was everywhere smoked among the northern tribes, and theirnumbers had greatly increased. Wampum-hair was universally honored,and regarded as the cause of this felicity. But no wife ever cookedthe venison in his lodge. With the dream of his youth vanished allpredilection for the softer sex. He had loved and been disappointed.Where he expected to meet gentleness he had found pride. He looked forthe yielding willow, and behold the inflexible oak!
But in Leelinau also a revolution had been effected. Her whole beingwas transformed. What devoted love that anticipated every wish wasincapable of accomplishing, indifference achieved. Her soul from thatmoment flew on the wings of desire after Magisaunikwa. At first shethought his conduct caused by some temporary pique or resentment, andtrusted to the power of her fascinations to restore him to hernets. As time, however, wore on, her hopes became fainter, until theterrible conviction settled like a night upon her soul, that she hadtrifled with the noblest heart of her nation and driven it for everaway. Then it was she felt the desolation no language can express. Asettled melancholy took possession of her. Her eyes lost their fire,her lip its smile, and her voice the song. She would wander alone,far away into the recesses of the forest, speaking to herself inlow tones, and
weeping at the remembrance of happy days. Her healthdeclined rapidly until she became too weak to leave without assistancethe couch, where day after day reclined her fading form. One softsummer morning she begged two of her mates to support her to therock, whence she beheld the exploit of Wampum-hair. She sank down, andremoving, with her wasted hand, the long hair that had fallen overher eyes, gazed sadly on the foaming river. With a wistful look shefollowed the course of the cataract from top to bottom, probablyrecalling at the moment her lover's danger for her sake and her ownrepented scorn, then heavily sighed, and leaning her head on the bosomof one of her companions, expired.
The Lost Hunter Page 23