Tecumseh : a Drama Part 10

OTHER COUNCILLORS. No, no, no.

HARRISON. In further parley at the river's edge, Scenting a coming war, he clapped his hands, And said the English whooped his people on, As if his braves were hounds to spring at us; Compared our nation to a whelming flood, And called his scheme a dam to keep it back-- Then proffered the old terms; whereat I urged A peaceful mission to the President.

But, by apt questions, gleaning my opinion, Ere I was ware, of such a bootless trip, He drew his manly figure up, then smiled, And said our President might drink his wine In safety in his distant town, whilst we-- Over the mountains here--should fight it out: Then entering his bark, well-manned with braves, Bade me let matters rest till he returned From his far mission to the distant tribes, Waved an adieu, and, in a trice, was gone.

2ND COUNCILLOR. Your news is but an earnest of his work.

4TH COUNCILLOR. This Chief's dispatch should be our own example.

Let matters rest, forsooth, till he can set Our frontier in a blaze! Such cheap advice Pulls with the President's, not mine.

HARRISON. Nor mine! The sum of my advice is to attack The Prophet ere Tec.u.mseh can return.

5TH COUNCILLOR. But what about the breach of your instructions?

HARRISON. If we succeed we need not fear the breach-- In the same s.p.a.ce we give and heal the wound.

[_Enter a Messenger, who hands letters to_ HARRISON.]

Thank you, Missouri and good Illinois-- Your governors are built of western clay.

Howard and Edwards both incline with me, And urge attack upon the Prophet's force.

This is the nucleus of Tec.u.mseh's strength-- His bold scheme's very heart. Let's cut it out.

Yes! yes! and every other part will fail.

1ST COUNCILLOR. Let us prepare to go at once!

2ND COUNCILLOR. Agreed.

3RD COUNCILLOR. I vote for war.

5TH COUNCILLOR. But should the Prophet win?

4TH COUNCILLOR. Why then, the Prophet, not Tec.u.mseh, kills us-- Which has the keener axe?

1ST COUNCILLOR. Breech-clouted dogs!

Let us attack them, and, with thongs of fire, Whip their red bodies to a deeper red.

HARRISON. This feeling bodes success, and with success Comes war with England; for a well-won fight Will rouse a martial spirit in the land To emulate our deeds on higher ground.

Now hasten to your duties and prepare: Bronzed autumn comes, when copper-colored oaks Drop miserly their stiff leaves to the earth; And ere the winter's snow doth silver them, Our triumph must be wrought.

[_Exeunt_.]

SCENE SECOND.--TEc.u.mSEH'S CABIN IN THE PROPHET'S TOWN.

[_Enter_ IENA _and_ MAMATEE, _agitated_.]

IENA. My heart is sad, and I am faint with fear.

My friend, my more than mother, go again-- Plead with the Prophet for a single day!

Perchance within his gloomy heart will stir Some sudden pulse of pity for a girl.

MAMATEE. Alas, my Iena, it is in vain!

He swore by Manitou this very morn, That thou should'st wed the chief, Tarhay, to-night.

IENA. Nay try once more, Oh Mamatee, once more!

I had a dream, and heard the gusty breeze Hurtle from out a sea of hissing pines, Then dwindle into voices, faint and sweet, Which cried--we come! It was my love and yours!

They spoke to me--I know that they are near, And waft their love to us upon the wind.

MAMATEE. Some dreams are merely fancies in our sleep: I'll make another trial, but I feel Your only safety is in instant flight.

IENA. Flight! Where and how--beset by enemies?

My fear sits like the partridge in the tree, And cannot fly whilst these dogs bark at me.

SCENE THIRD.--AN ELEVATED PLATEAU, DOTTED WITH HEAVY OAKS, WEST OF THE PROPHET'S TOWN.

_Enter three of_ HARRISON'S _staff Officers_.

1ST OFFICER. Well, here's the end of all our northward marching!

2ND OFFICER. A peaceful end, if we can trust those chiefs Who parleyed with us lately.

3RD OFFICER. Yes, for if They mean to fight, why point us to a spot At once so strong and pleasant for our camp?

1ST OFFICER. Report it so unto our General!

[_Exit_ 3RD OFFICER.]

'Tis worth our long march through the forest wild To view these silent plains! The Prophet's Town, Sequestered yonder like a hermitage, Disturbs not either's vast of solitude, But rather gives, like graveyard visitors, To deepest loneliness a deeper awe.

[_Re enter_ 3RD OFFICER.]

3RD OFFICER. I need not go, for Harrison is here.

[_Enter_ GENERAL HARRISON, _his force following_.]

1ST OFFICER. Methinks you like the place; some thanks we owe Unto the Prophet's chiefs for good advice.

HARRISON. (_Looking around keenly_).

These n.o.ble oaks, the streamlet to our rear, This rank wild gra.s.s--wood, water and soft beds!

The soldier's luxuries are here together.

1ST OFFICER. Note, too, the place o'erlooks the springy plain Which lies betwixt us and the Prophet's Town.

I think, sir, 'tis a very fitting place.