[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
over the dying moments of an impious child. But when, instead of an impotent
and unmanly struggle for existence, he found that his friend had forborne,
with the customary and dignified submission of an Indian warrior, until an
opportunity had offered to escape, and that he had then manifested the spirit
and decision of the most gifted brave, his gratification became nearly too
powerful to be concealed. In the midst of the wailing and commotion, which
succeeded the death of Weucha and the escape of the captive, he placed himself
nigh the persons of his white associates, with a determination of interfering,
at every hazard, should the fury of the savages take that direction. The
appearance of the hostile band spared him however so desperate and probably so
fruitless an effort, and left him to pursue his observations and to mature his
plans more at leisure.
He particularly remarked that, while by far the greater part of the women and
all the children, together with the effects of the party were hurried to the
rear, probably with an order to secrete themselves in some of the adjacent
woods, the tent of Mahtoree himself was left standing, and its contents
undisturbed. Two chosen horses, however, stood near by, held by a couple of
youths, who were too young to go into the conflict, and yet of an age to
understand the management of the beasts. The trapper perceived in this
arrangement the reluctance of Mahtoree to trust his newly found flowers
beyond the reach of his eye, and, at the same time, his forethought in
providing against any reverse of fortune. Neither had the manner of the Teton
in giving his commission to the old savage, nor the fierce pleasure, with
which the latter had received the bloody charge, escaped his observation. From
all these mysterious movements, the old man was aware that the crisis was at
hand, and he summoned the utmost knowledge he had acquired in so long a life,
to aid him in the desperate conjuncture. It was while musing on the means to
be employed, that the Doctor again attracted his attention to himself, by a
piteous appeal for assistance.
Venerable trapper, or, as I may now say, liberator, commenced the dolorous
Obed, it would seem, that a fitting time has at length arrived to dissever
the unnatural and altogether irregular connexion, which exists between my
inferior members and the body of Asinus. Perhaps if such a portion of my limbs
were released as might leave me master of the remainder, and this favourable
opportunity were suitably improved, by making a forced march towards the
settlements, all hopes of preserving the treasures of knowledge, of which I am
the unworthy receptacle, would not be lost. The importance of the results is
surely worth the hazard of the experiment.
I know not, I know not, returned the deliberate old man; the vermin and
reptiles, which you bear about you, were intended by the Lord for the
prairies, and I see no good in sending them into regions that may not suit
their natur s. And, moreover, you may be of great and particular use as you
now sit on the ass, though it creates no wonder in my mind to perceive that
you are ignorant of it, seeing that usefulness is altogether a new calling to
so bookish a man.
Of what service can I be in this painful thraldom, in which the animal
functions are in a manner suspended, and the spiritual, or intellectual,
blinded by the secret sympathy that unites mind to matter. There is likely to
be blood spilt between yonder adverse hosts of heathens, and, though but
little desiring the office, it would be better that I should employ myself in
surgical experiments, than in thus wasting the precious moments, mortifying
both soul and body.
It is little that a Red-skin would care to have a physicianer at his hurts,
while the whoop is ringing in his ears. Patience is a virtue in an Indian, and
Page 97
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
can be no shame to a Christian white man. Look at these hags of squaws, friend
Doctor; I have no judgment in savage tempers, if they are not bloody minded,
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]