Part 90 (1/2)
”Now we Oneidas are depressed in our minds. You were a prophetess. You foretold events. You were a warrior. We were your clansmen of the Little Red Foot. You were a sorceress. Empty moccasins danced when you touched the witch-drum. Now, in white plumes, you have mounted to the stars like morning mist.
”_Oyaneh! Continue to listen._
”Our lodge is empty without you. Our fire is lonely without you. Our hearts are desolate, O Thiohero Oyaneh!
”_Little Sister, continue to listen!_
”We have heard your voice at this hour coming to us through the Wood of Brakabeen. It comes in darkness like light when the gates of morning open.
”Thiohero Oyaneh, virgin warrior of the People of the Rock, we are come to the Wood of Brakabeen to greet and thank you.
”We give you grat.i.tude and love. You were a warrior and wore the Little Red Foot. You struck your enemies where you found them. They are dead and without scalps, your enemies. The Canienga howl. Your war-axe sticks in their heads. The Hessians are swine. Your scarlet arrows turn them into porcupines. The green-coats flee and your bullets burn their bowels.
”_O my little sister, listen now!_
”Our trail is very lonely without you. We are dejected. We move like old men and sick. We need your wisdom. We are less wise than those littlest ones still strapped to the cradle board.
”_Thiohero!_
”We have placed food and a cup of water for you lest you hunger and thirst.
”We have laid a bow and scarlet arrows near you so that you shall hunt when you wish.
”We have given you moccasins so that the strange, bright trail shall not hurt your feet.
”We have placed paint for you so that Tharon shall know you by your clan. And we have made for your grave a cross of silver-birch, so that our white Lord Christ shall meet you and take you by the hand in a land so new and strange.
”_Oyaneh!_
”We have said what is in our hearts and minds. We think that is all we have to say. We turn our eyes to the morning. When the gates open we shall depart.”
As I ended, the three Oneidas rose and faced the east in silence. All the sky had become golden. Minute after minute pa.s.sed. Suddenly a blinding lance of light pierced the Wood of Brakabeen.
”Haih!” they exclaimed softly. ”Nai Thiohero Oyaneh!”
Tahioni covered the fire. The Screech-owl marked us all with a coal still warm.
Then, in silence, I led my people from the misty Wood of Brakabeen.
CHAPTER x.x.x
A LONG GOOD-BYE
On the evening of the 15th of August, the Commandant of Johnstown Fort stood aghast to see a forest-running ragam.u.f.fin and three scare-crow Indians stagger into headquarters at the jail.
”Gad a-mercy!” says he as I offered the salute, ”is it _you_, Mr.
Drogue!”