RETROSPECT.[2]
"I am the son and only child of Taggarak, a leading war chief for many
years of the Blackfoot Indians. I had an elder brother, but he died
before reaching manhood. I remember the visit made by Deerfoot the
Shawanoe to our tribe, in the autumn and winter of 1804 and 1805. He
came from Ohio, in company with two brothers named Shelton, that were
white, and with Mul-tal-la, who belonged to our own people, and had
made the journey eastward into the Shawanoe country. Mul-tal-la had a
companion when he left us, but he was accidentally killed after
arriving in the East.
"I was not quite five years old when I first saw Deerfoot and his two
friends, yet I can never forget him, for he was the most remarkable
youth, white or red, that I ever met."
[2] Statement of Ap-pa-pa-alk, a member of the Blackfoot tribe,
given to Rev. J. Y. Dilworthy, missionary, on the 21st of
October, 1869.
(Here follows a description of Deerfoot's appearance, his traits, his
skill with rifle and bow, his athletic prowess and his unequaled
woodcraft. This need not be repeated, since you are familiar with it.
The statement which follows, however, is one of the most remarkable
ever penned.)
"I was in the Big Lodge on the afternoon Deerfoot spoke to many of our
people of the white man's God, who, he said, was the God of the red man
as well. Young as I was, I stood at the knee of my mother, thrilled and
almost breathless under the spell of the simple eloquence of the
Shawanoe, many of whose words I remember. In the midst of his address
my father, Chief Taggarak, strode into the lodge. He passed so close to
me that his knee brushed my shoulder. My mother and I looked up at him,
but he did not see us, nor did he notice anyone except Deerfoot. His
eyes were fixed on the young Shawanoe, and we all thought he meant to
attack him.
"Deerfoot saw him enter, stopped speaking and looked steadily at the
chief as he drew near. Deerfoot always carried his knife at his girdle,
though of course he had laid aside his gun. I remember wondering why he
did not draw his weapon, but, instead of doing so, he placed his hands
behind his back and calmly surveyed Taggarak, without the least sign of
fear. From what I afterward learned, I am sure that if my father had
attacked the Shawanoe, the chief would have been quickly overcome, if
not killed.
"Within two paces of Deerfoot, Taggarak wheeled about, _faced_ his
people and made an impassioned avowal of his belief in the Christian
religion. He declared that the true God had spoken to him when he tried
to hide himself in the woods and to close his ears against His words.
That God had not allowed him to sleep or eat or drink or rest till he
threw himself on his face, and with streaming eyes begged Him to
forgive and take him into His favor.
"Never was there such excitement among the Blackfoot tribe as was
caused by the declaration of their greatest war chief that he had
become a Christian. It almost rent the tribe in twain. We had a number
of villages and different chiefs, but Taggarak was the greatest of them
all.
"It was clear to everyone that he looked upon Deerfoot the Shawanoe as
more than an ordinary human being. In truth I thought and still think
the same, and I believe you will agree with me when you hear the rest
of my story. Taggarak asked Deerfoot whether he should give up his
chieftaincy, and was ready to do whatever the Shawanoe advised.
Deerfoot told him to remain chief as long as he lived, but to be
merciful to his enemies, never to fight except in defence of his home
and people, and to pray to God morning and night and to do all he could
to please Him in his actions, his words and his thoughts. Deerfoot did
much in the way of teaching him, and Taggarak became a Christian, as
did my mother and myself and others of our tribe, though I never
understood all the height and depth and breadth of God's love and plans
until I had grown to manhood and talked with the missionaries.
"Christianity would have been firmly planted among my people but for
the acts of the white men themselves. When the expedition of Lewis and
Clark came through our country one of them killed a Blackfoot. No doubt
there was some justification for the act, but it made our tribe the
enemies of the white men, and many who professed to love the God of the
palefaces now cast away such love and would have none of it. Taggarak
was much grieved and indignant over the action of the white men, but
nothing could weaken or shake his faith in Christianity."
(The incident alluded to occurred July 27, 1806. A party of Blackfeet
stole a number of horses belonging to Lewis and Clark's party, were
pursued, and one of the Indians killed and another wounded. The tribe
was so embittered toward the whites that they were treacherous enemies
to them for many years afterward.)
"From the year following this sad event, however, the authority of
Taggarak waned. He did not care for power, and was content to let it
slip gradually from him and pass to others. I could have become chief
had I wished it, but I knew I was distrusted because I professed
Christianity, and the Blackfeet and I thought so differently about
everything that I remained a simple warrior, content to serve my father
and mother, as an obedient son.
"I did not know for years of the encounter between Taggarak and
Deerfoot in the wood, when the chief sought his life, but was overcome
and then spared by the Shawanoe. Deerfoot never spoke of it, and I was
almost grown when my father told my mother and me of the strange
incident, which was the means of the chief's accepting the religion
that the youth taught by word and example.
"When Deerfoot left our village, Taggarak begged him to visit him
again. He urged so hard that the youth said he would do so if he could,
but he saw little hope and thought their next meeting would have to
wait till both passed into the hunting grounds above.
"Taggarak meditated much over the coming of Deerfoot. As he grew older
he often went to the elevation, a little way from our village, and near
where he had been overcome by the Shawanoe, and passed hours gazing
toward the East, looking and hoping for sight of the youth who did not
come. He always went alone to the spot and did not suspect his action
was noticed by anyone. But at the request of my mother, I stealthily
followed the chief. He seated himself on a broad, flat rock, which gave
him a view of many miles of mountain, wood and stream, and it seemed
that for the hour I watched him he never took his gaze from the point
in the sky where the sun first showed itself. I have sometimes wondered
whether my father mistook any approaching warrior for the Shawanoe. I
never learned, for not once did he ever refer to those lonely visits to
the elevation.
"One day my father said, with his old sternness of manner, that since
Deerfoot was not coming to see him, I must take a message to the
Shawanoe in his distant home. It was a startling command, but was not
unwelcome to me. I had heard much of the white man's country, and knew
the palefaces were fast pushing into our own. I had listened to
Mul-tal-la's wonderful stories times without number, and often resolved
that when an opportunity came I should visit the white towns and
settlements.
"I was glad, therefore, when my father spoke as he did, and still more
glad when Mul-tal-la, although he had a wife and two children, offered
to go with me. He was anxious to see Deerfoot and the acquaintances he
had made many years before, whose memory was always a pleasure to him.
"My father's message to the Shawanoe amounted to little. I was to tell
him the chief was still true to his faith, and to ask him whether he
could come to the chief, and, if he could not, whether he still
remembered Taggarak. That was all.
"I was a grown man when, with Mul-tal-la as my companion, I rode down
from the Blackfoot country and we set out on the long journey he had
made more than twenty years before. He remembered every river, stream,
mountain and prairie, though the settlements had brought many changes,
and on the way to the Ohio he met several acquaintances.
"It would be of no interest to tell of our journey, though we had more
than one adventure. The first place we visited was the little town of
Woodvale, so familiar to Mul-tal-la, and which had grown to that extent
that it had taken a new name.
"There we found George and Victor Shelton, almost in middle life, both
married and among the leading citizens. They were filled with joy to
see Mul-tal-la, and did all they could to make our visit pleasant. But
we had talked only a little while when we were grieved to learn that
Deerfoot, who had moved to the west of the Mississippi, had been dead a
good many years. Not only that, but the manner of his death was the
saddest of which I had ever heard. (See "The Last War Trail.")
"We stayed for several weeks in Ohio and met many old friends of the
Shawanoe. The one whom I best remember was Simon Kenton, who had great
fame as a hunter, and who had always been a close comrade of Deerfoot.
He was an old man when I saw him, but as strong and active as many who
had lived only half his years. He came to Woodvale the night before we
left on our return and stayed with Victor Shelton. His eyes filled with
tears when he spoke of Deerfoot, and said that the memory of the brave,
blameless life he lived in all circumstances had more to do with making
Kenton himself a Christian than did the camp meeting at which he
professed conversion.
"Well, we set out for home, and though a part of the journey was made
in winter we met with no mishap. When we arrived, Mul-tal-la went
straight to his lodge to see his wife and children and I hurried to my
home, where I knew the chief had long expected me. I was greatly
relieved to find him and my mother well.
"When I came into my father's presence, and before I had time to do
more than speak my pleasure, he raised his hand as a command for me to
keep silent.
"'I know what you would say, but you need not tell me. Deerfoot has
been here and told me all.'
"'But Deerfoot is dead,' I replied; 'that cannot be.'
"'Did I not say he has visited me since you were gone, and told me
all?'
"And then, forbidding me to open my lips, he related the full story of
Deerfoot's death. He gave the particulars, and was not wrong in the
slightest one. The chief need not have forbidden me to speak, for I
could not say a word for a long time afterward. He told me nothing
more. I cannot explain it."
(Possibly psychologists may find the explanation of this remarkable
fact in mental telepathy, but how shall we explain the still more
extraordinary statement that follows?)
"My mother had grown old and feeble and died a few months after I came
home. I noticed that father stopped going to the elevation beyond the
village and looking toward the rising sun for the coming of Deerfoot.
Nor did he seem to wish to speak of him, though I know the Shawanoe was
much in his thoughts. The chief gradually failed, and when the weather
grew cold he did not leave his lodge.
"He and I lived together. I gave him affectionate attention and did not
let him lack for comfort. Others often visited him, for the Blackfeet
could not forget that he had been one of their greatest war chiefs. Our
lodge was not fashioned like the others. One side was the face of a
large rock, against which we always kindled the fire. At each of the
opposite two corners was a strong post. These were connected at the
tops by a horizontal beam and from each post was stretched another
beam, whose farther end rested on the rock. This and the three beams
gave support for the framework of the roof, which was made of the
boughs of trees. The sides and walls were of thick bark lined with
buffalo robes. This made the square room below free of all supports or
posts. My bed of furs was at one side and that of my father opposite.
An opening in the roof, where it joined the rock and exactly over the
fire, gave an outlet for the smoke.
"One calm, cold night in autumn, after I had piled a deal of wood on
the blaze and seen that my father was warmly wrapped in furs and
sleeping comfortably, I lay down and fell asleep almost at once. It
could not have been long afterward that I was awakened by the sound of
people talking together. At first I thought they were outside the
lodge, but the fire was burning so bright that it was like noonday
within and I saw that the two persons who were conversing were standing
only a few paces from me.
"One was Chief Taggarak, my father. His face was turned partly away and
toward me and there could be no mistake as to him. The other's back and
one shoulder hid his features, but something familiar in his appearance
and the sound of his voice struck me. While I was looking and listening
he shifted his position and I saw his face.
"_It was Deerfoot the Shawanoe!_
[Illustration: "It Was Deerfoot, The Shawanoe."]
"No one who had ever seen that Indian youth could possibly make an
error. I never looked upon such comely features or such a graceful
form, nor did I ever listen to so musical a voice. Like a person in a
dream, I felt no special surprise at seeing before me a person who had
died years before.
"I studied him from head to foot. One of the first things I noticed was
that the stained eagle feathers, which he always used to wear in his
hair, were not there, nor did he have his knife at his girdle nor was
his rifle in his hand. I don't suppose they have need of such things in
heaven.
"During this talk between Deerfoot and my father I did not speak or
rise to my feet. I expected the Shawanoe to say something to me and I
had no wish to break in upon the talk. They spent ten or fifteen
minutes thus, and then Deerfoot took the hand of my father, pressed it
warmly and turned to go. As he did so, he seemed for the first time to
see me. He stopped, looked down, smiled and uttered my name. Then he
checked himself, walked to the corner of the lodge, drew aside the
buffalo robe which served as a door and passed out into the night.
"My father stood for a minute looking after him, and then, with a
glowing face, turned to me:
"'Did you see him?'
"'I did, and heard his voice.'
"'You lost nothing of what he said to me?'
"'Not a word.'
"'Tell them to no one. Now sleep.'
"It was a long time before I closed my eyes, and when I did so the
wonderful words that had fallen from the lips of Deerfoot were in my
ears. To me the strangest part of this strange experience is that which
followed. When morning came I found I could not remember a syllable
that the Shawanoe had said. I spoke to my father, and he talked of the
visit of Deerfoot as he would have talked of the visit of one of our
own Blackfeet. I told him I had forgotten the Shawanoe's words and
asked him to tell them to me again. He replied that God did not wish me
to remember them and he denied my request, which I respected him too
much ever to repeat.
"Chief Taggarak lived several years longer. I have tried many times to
recall the words spoken by Deerfoot when he visited my father, but I
have never succeeded in bringing back a single one of them."
[THE END.]
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