NIGHT AND MORNING
Deerfoot made known his purpose to take his friends across the
Mississippi on the morrow in his canoe, after which he would keep
them company for some distance along the trail, though he would be
forced to leave them long before reaching their destination.
Jack Carleton naturally felt a deep interest in the youthful
warrior, and expected him to give some facts in his wonderful
history, as well as an intimation of what his life was likely to be
in the new country to which he had removed, but much to the young
Kentuckian's disappointment, he carefully avoided all reference to
himself. His conversation being of such a nature that it is hardly
worth recording in this place.
When the evening was well along, Otto threw more wood on the flames
which crackled and gave out a cheerful glow. Deerfoot rose to his
feet, and without a word passed out into the gloom. The hour for
retiring was close at hand, and he preferred to make a
reconnaissance before trusting themselves to slumber.
He returned as noiselessly as he went, remarking as he resumed his
seat that no danger whatever threatened them, and they could slumber
in peace. While speaking, he drew from a pocket within the skirt of
his bunting-shirt, the little Bible which had been presented to him
months before by Mrs. Preston of Wild Oaks, after the other volume
was destroyed by the bullet that was aimed at the heart of the
youth, by the hostile chieftain.
Adjusting himself in an easy posture on the ground, so that the
ruddy fire-light came over his shoulders and fell upon the page with
its minute letters, the young Shawanoe read for several minutes to
himself. The others held their peace, impressed with the singular
sight. Neither could doubt that he clearly comprehended every word
of the sublime volume, and they felt that it was wrong to break in
upon his meditation.
All at once he raised his head and asked, "Would my brothers wish to
hear Deerfoot read?"
"We would, indeed," was the reply of Jack Carleton; "I never saw an
Indian who could read from a, printed book, but I have been told
that you can write an excellent hand."
Deerfoot shook his head disparagingly.
"My brother mistakes, but Deerfoot will try and read the words which
the Great Spirit speaks to all his people, whether they are pale
faces or red men."
And then, in a low musical voice, tremulous with emotion and
impressive beyond description, the Shawanoe read an entire chapter
from the book of Revelations, his favorite portion of the blessed
Book, the others listening spellbound. Even Otto Relstaub, who saw
and heard little of genuine Christian teachings in his cheerless
home, was touched as never before by the indescribably solemn story
of the apocalyptic vision.
The silence which succeeded lasted several minutes, when Jack said
in a low voice:
"Deerfoot, I wish you would speak some sentences from the Bible in
your own tongue."
"Does my brother wish to learn the Shawanoe language?"
"I have heard Shawanoes, Hurons and Miamis talk, but I can't
understand a word; I have a curiosity to know how it will sound to
hear some parts of the Bible with which I am familiar tittered in an
unknown tongue."
"What part of the book can my brother repeat without reading the
words?"
"Well--that is--I don't know," replied Jack, confused by the
question of Deerfoot, who fixed his eyes inquiringly upon him; "I
mean any sentence."
"Does my brother not read the Bible every day?" asked the Indian, in
a grieved rather than a reproving voice; "he must know the Lord's
Prayer--"
"O yes, yes," replied Jack, desperately clutching at the single
straw. "I meant to ask you to repeat that."
In the same low, reverent voice he had used while reading, the
warrior uttered the inspired petition, which shall last through all
time. When he had finished, he said:
"My brother would like to remember the words as Deerfoot has spoken
them; Deerfoot will print them for him."
And drawing a species of red chalk from the same pocket which held
the Bible, he wrote for several minutes on one of the fly-leaves of
the bock. When he had finished he glanced over the words, carefully
tore out the leaf and handed it across to Jack.
The latter examined the paper, and saw written in a fine, delicate
hand the following words, which are preserved to this day, and
which, when properly pronounced, constitute the Lord's Prayer as it
has been uttered many a time by the dusky lips of the Shawanoe
warrior, when his fiery nature was subdued by its blessed teachings:
"Coe-thin-a, spim-i-key yea-taw-yan-ee, O wes-sa-yeg
yey-sey-tho-yan-ae; Day-pale-i-tum-any-pay-itch tha-key,
yea-issi-tay-hay-yon-ae, issi-nock-i-key, yoe-ma assis-key-kie
pie-sey spin-I-key. Me-li-na-key oe noo-ki cos-si-kie ta-wa-it-ihin
oe yea-wap-a-ki tuck-whan-a; puck-i-tum-I-wa-loo
kne-won-ot-i-they-way. Yea-se-puck-I-tum-a-ma-chil-i-tow-e-ta
thick-i na-chaw-ki tussy-neigh-puck-sin-a wa-pun-si-loo wau po
won-ot-i-they ya key-la tay pale-i-tum-any way wis-sa kie
was-si-sut-i-we-way thay-pay-wo-way."
Jack studied the singular words several minutes, and then, with some
hesitation, undertook to pronounce them. He did only fairly, even
when corrected by Deerfoot, who added the rebuke:
"Let my brother say them over many times in his own language, for
the Great Spirit knows all tongues when he who speaks the words
speaks them with his heart."
The consciousness that these words were uttered by one who belonged
to what is generally regarded its a pagan race, brought a blush to
the face of the sturdy youth that had listened to the same appeal
more than once from the lips of his mother.
Under the assurance of Deerfoot, the boys stretched themselves on
the leaves and branches and soon sunk into a refreshing slumber.
Jack recalled that his last remembrance was of Deerfoot resting his
head on his elbow, while he seemed absorbed in his book. He lay as
motionless as a figure in bronze, but no matter how much he might be
enchained by the words, he could not be insensible of what was going
on around him.
Both Jack and Otto slept until the light of morning was stealing
through the woods. Then, when they arose to their feet, they saw
the Shawanoe broiling a couple of whitefish which he had managed to
coax from the Mississippi. He had almost finished before his
friends suspected what was doing.
After greeting the warrior, the others passed through the woods to
the margin of the mighty river, where they bathed their faces and
hands, took a slight swallow of the somewhat muddy water and then
rejoined Deerfoot, who had their breakfast ready.
"Did my brothers see any signs that frightened them?" asked
Deerfoot, when the three had seated themselves on the ground and
were partaking of their meal.
"I took the best survey I could of the river," replied Jack, "but
saw nothing of friend or foe. I don't suppose, as a rule, there are
many Indians in this section."
"The Shawanoes often hunt to the river, but do not cross; the Miamis
come down from the north, and Deerfoot sees their footprints in the
Woods."
"What tribes are we likely to meet on the other side of the
Mississippi?" asked the young Kentuckian, who naturally felt much
interest in the land wherein he expected to make his home.
"There are many red men, even to the mountains which stretch far
beyond the rivers and prairies, and raise their heads among the
clouds."
Jack Carleton was surprised at this reference, which, he believed,
was to the Rocky Mountains, of which little more than their simple
existence was known to the rest of the Union at that day. But the
words which followed astonished him still more:
"Beyond the mountains opens the great sea, wider than that which the
pale faces came across from the Old World; beyond that great sea
lies the land where He died for you and me; all the way to the
shore, of the great water you will find the red men; they are like
the leaves in the woods, and Deerfoot and his friends will die
without ever hearing their names."
"But you have spent some time on the other side the Mississippi, and
must know something of your race there."
"Deerfoot has seen the Osages hunting among the mountains and in the
forest; has seen the Miamis, and, to the northward, may be met the
Sacs and Foxes. Far toward the ice of the North is the land of the
Assiniboine and the Dacotah."
"I should like to know where you gathered all that information?"
remarked the amazed Jack Carleton; "the country beyond the
Mississippi is greater than that on this side, and one of these days
it will overflow with population, then what a country ours will be!"
exclaimed the young patriot, with kindling eye. "But you and I,
Deerfoot, can never live to see that time, which is for those that
come after us."
"Yaw," said Otto, seeming to feel it his duty to say something;
"dere is enough land over dere, I 'spose, for that horse to hide a
week before I don't catch him."
Jack intimated that he was likely to find his search extended beyond
that time, while Deerfoot smiled over the simplicity of the lad,
whose information was so small compared with his opportunities.
Conversing in this pleasant manner, the meal was soon finished, and
they made ready to cross the river.
When the three emerged from the woods they were close to the swiftly
flowing current. Jack and Otto paused, while Deerfoot walked the
few rods necessary to find the canoe that had been drawn up the
bank.
Both the boys could swim the Mississippi if necessary, though, with
their rifles and clothing to take care of, it was anything but a
light task. Had they been without any boat at command, they would
have divested themselves of their garments and placed them and their
"luggage" on it small float, while they swam behind and pushed it
forward.
When the emigrants moved westward they halted long enough on the
bank to construct a raft, sufficient to carry everything in the
course of several trips back and forth. Otto made preparation when
he reached the river some days before on horseback, and, forcing the
animal into the current, slipped back, grasped his tail and allowed
himself to be towed across. He might have done the same on the
preceding day had he been given a few minutes in which to make
preparation, and had he not been unwilling to leave his friend
behind.
"But it will beat all that," remarked Jack Carleton, after they had
discussed the different plans, "to be paddled over in the canoe of
Deerfoot."
"Yaw, but I dinks dot we should go across last, night."
"What would we have gained by that?"
"Then we wouldn't have to go ober agin dis mornings."
"True, but there is no haste called for; if it was not that I am so
anxious to see mother, I would as lief spend a week on the road."
"Dot wouldn't do for me, for mine fader would be looking for me wid
two big gads to him--"
"Helloa! Here comes Deerfoot. What can be the matter? He is
excited over something."
Such was the fact, indeed, for the sagacious Shawanoe had made an
annoying if not alarming discovery.