Chapter XVII.

by James Fenimore Cooper

　　Who will believe that, with a smile whose blessing Would, like the patriarch's, soothe a dying hour; With voice as low, as gentle, and caressing As e'er won maiden's lips in moonlight bower; With look like patient Job's, eschewing evil; With motions graceful as the birds in air; Thou art, in sober truth, the veriest devil That e'er clinched fingers in a captive's hair? --HALLECK'S Red-Jacket.Although the arrival of the runner was so totally unexpected, itscarcely disturbed the quiet of that grave assembly. His approachingstep had been heard, and he was introduced in the manner mentioned,when the young chief resumed his seat, leaving the messengerstanding near the centre of the circle, and altogether within theinfluence of the light. He was an Ottawa, and had evidentlytravelled far and fast. At length he spoke; no one having put asingle question to him, or betrayed the least sign of impatientcuriosity.

　　"I come to tell the chiefs what has happened," said the runner. "OurGreat Father from Quebec has sent his young men against the Yankees.Red warriors, too, were there in hundreds--" here a murmur ofinterest was slightly apparent among the chiefs--"their path ledthem to Detroit; it is taken."

　　A low murmur, expressive of satisfaction, passed round the circle,for Detroit was then the most important of all the posts held by theAmericans, along the whole line of the great lakes. Eye met eye insurprise and admiration; then one of the older chiefs yielded to hisinterest in the subject, and inquired:

　　"Have our young men taken many pale-face scalps?"

　　"So few that they are not worth counting. I did not see one polethat was such as an Indian loves to look on."

　　"Did our young men keep back, and let the warriors from Quebec doall the fighting?"

　　"No one fought. The Yankees asked to be made prisoners, withoutusing their rifles. Never before have so many captives been led intothe villages with so little to make their enemies look on them withfriendly eyes."

　　A gleam of fierce delight passed athwart the dark features of Peter.It is probable that he fell into the same error, on hearing thesetidings, as that which so generally prevailed for a short time amongthe natives of the old world, at the commencement of both of the twolast wars of the republic, when the disasters with which they openedinduced so many to fall into the fatal error of regarding Jonathanas merely a "shopkeeper." A shopkeeper, in a certain sense, he maywell be accounted; but among his wares are arms, that he has thehead, the heart, and the hands to use, as man has very rarely beenknown to use them before. Even at this very instant, the brilliantsuccess which has rendered the armed citizens of this country thewonder of Europe, is reacting on the masses of the old world,teaching them their power, and inciting them to stand up to theregularly armed bands of their rulers, with a spirit and confidencethat, hitherto, has been little known in their histories. Happy,thrice happy will it be, if the conquerors use their success inmoderation, and settle down into the ways of practical reason,instead of suffering their minds to be led astray in quest of thepolitical jack-o'-lanterns, that are certain to conduct theirfollowers into the quagmires of impracticable and visionarytheories. To abolish abuses, to set in motion the car of state onthe track of justice and economy, and to distinguish between thatwhich is really essential to human happiness and human rights, andthat which is merely the result of some wild and bootlessproposition in political economy, are the great self-imposed tasksthat the European people seem now to have assumed; and God grantthat they may complete their labors with the moderation and successwith which they would appear to have commenced them!

　　As for Peter, with the curse of ignorance weighing on his mind, itis to be presumed that he fancied his own great task of destroyingthe whites was so much the lighter, in consequence of the feebledefence of the Yankees at Detroit. The runner was now questioned bythe different chiefs for details, which he furnished with sufficientintelligence and distinctness. The whole of that discreditable storyis too prominent in history, and of too recent occurrence, to standin need of repetition here. When the runner had told his tale, thechiefs broke the order of their circle, to converse the more easilyconcerning the great events which had just occurred. Some were notbackward in letting their contempt for the "Yankees" be known. Herewere three of their strong places taken, in quick succession, andalmost without a blow. Detroit, the strongest of them all, anddefended by an army, had fallen in a way to bring the blush to theAmerican face, seemingly leaving the whole of the northwesternfrontier of the country ravished from the red man, exposed to hisincursions and depredations.

　　"What does my father think of this?" asked Bear's Meat of Peter, asthe two stood apart, in a cluster of some three or four of theprincipal personages present. "Does the news make his heartstronger?"

　　"It is always strong when this business is before it. The Manitouhas long looked darkly upon the red men, but now his face brightens.The cloud is passing from before his countenance, and we can beginagain to see his smile. It will be with our sons as it was with ourfathers. Our hunting-grounds will be our own, and the buffalo anddeer will be plenty in our wigwams. The fire-water will flow afterthem that brought it into the country, and the red man will oncemore be happy, as in times past!"

　　The ignis fatuus of human happiness employs all minds, allfaculties, all pens, and all theories, just at this particularmoment. A thousand projects have been broached, will continue to bebroached, and will fail, each in its time, showing the mistakes ofmen, without remedying the evils of which they complain. This is notbecause a beneficent Providence has neglected to enlighten theirminds, and to show them the way to be happy, here and hereafter; butbecause human conceit runs, pari passu, with human woes, and we aretoo proud to look for our lessons of conduct, in that code in whichthey have been set before us by unerring wisdom and ceaseless love.If the political economists, and reformers, and revolutionists ofthe age, would turn from their speculations to those familiarprecepts which all are taught and so few obey, they would find rulesfor every emergency; and, most of all, would they learn the greatsecret which lies so profoundly hid from them and their philosophy,in the contented mind. Nothing short of this will ever bring themighty reform that the world needs. The press may be declared free,but a very brief experience will teach those who fancy that this oneconquest will secure the victory, that they have only obtained KingStork in the lieu of King Log; a vulgar and most hideous tyrant forone of royal birth and gentle manners. They may set up the rule ofpatriots by profession, in place of the dominion of those who haveso long pretended that the art of governing descends from male tomale, according to the order of primogeniture, and live to wonderthat love of country should have so many weaknesses in common withlove of itself. They may rely on written charters for theirliberties, instead of the divine right of kings, and come perchanceto learn, that neither language, nor covenants, nor signatures, norseals avail much, as against the necessities of nations, and thepolicy of rulers. Do we then regard reform as impossible, andsociety to be doomed to struggle on in its old sloughs of oppressionand abuses? Far from it. We believe and hope, that at each effort ofa sage character, something is gained, while much more than had beenexpected is lost; and such we think will continue to be the courseof events, until men shall reach that period in their history when,possibly to their wonder, they will find that a faultless code forthe government of all their affairs has been lying neglected, dailyand hourly, in their very hands, for eighteen centuries and a half,without their perceiving the all-important truth. In due season thiscode will supersede all others, when the world will, for the firsttime, be happy and truly free.

　　There was a marked resemblance between the hopes and expectations ofPeter, in reference to the overthrow of his pale-face enemies on theAmerican continent, and those of the revolutionists of the old worldin reference to the overthrow of their strong-intrenched foes onthat of Europe. Each fancies success more easy of attainment thanthe end is likely to show; both overlook the terrible power of theiradversaries; and both take the suggestions of a hope that is livelyrather than enlightened, as the substitute for the lessons ofwisdom.

　　It was some little time ere the council had so far regained itscalm, as to think of inviting the missionary to resume hisdiscourse. The last had necessarily heard the news, and was so muchtroubled by it, as to feel no great disposition to proceed; butPeter intimating that "the ears of his friends were open," he was ofopinion it would be wisest to go on with his traditions.

　　"Thus it was, my children," Parson Amen continued, the circle beingjust as quiet and attentive as if no interruption had occurred--"theGreat Spirit, selecting from among the nations of the earth, one tobe his chosen people. I cannot stop, now, to tell you all he did forthis nation, in the way of wonders and powers; but, finally, heplaced them in a beautiful country, where milk and honey abounded,and made them its masters. From that people, in his earthlycharacter, came the Christ whom we missionaries preach to you, andwho is the great head of our church. Although the Jews, orIsraelites, as we call that people, were thus honored and thusfavored of the Manitou, they were but men, they had the weaknessesof men. On more than one occasion they displeased the Great Spirit,and that so seriously as to draw down condign punishment onthemselves, and on their wives and children. In various ways werethey visited for their backsliding and sins, each time repenting andreceiving forgiveness. At length the Great Spirit, tired of theirforgetfulness and crimes, allowed an army to come into their land,and to carry away as captives no less than ten of their twelvetribes; putting their people in strange hunting-grounds. Now, thishappened many thousands of moons since, and no one can say withcertainty what has become of those captives, whom Christians areaccustomed to call 'the lost tribes of Israel.'"

　　Here the missionary paused to arrange his thoughts, and a slightmurmur was heard in the circle as the chiefs communed together, ininterested comments on what had just been said. The pause, however,was short, and the speaker again proceeded, safe from any ungraciousinterruption, among auditors so trained in self-restraint.

　　"Children, I shall not now say anything touching the birth ofChrist, the redemption of the world, and the history of the twotribes that remained in the land where God had placed his people;for that is a part of the subject that comes properly within thescope of my ordinary teaching. At present I wish only to speak ofyourselves; of the red man of America, of his probable origin andend, and of a great discovery that many of us think we have made, onthis most interesting topic in the history of the good book. Doesany one present know aught of the ten lost tribes of whom I havespoken?"

　　Eye met eye, and expectation was lively among those primitive anduntaught savages. At length Crowsfeather arose to answer, themissionary standing the whole time, motionless, as if waiting for areply.

　　"My brother has told us a tradition," said the Pottawattamie. "It isa good tradition. It is a strange tradition. Red men love to hearsuch traditions. It is wonderful that so many as ten tribes shouldbe lost, at the same time, and no one know what has become of them!My brother asks us if we know what has become of these ten tribes.How should poor red men, who live on their hunting-grounds, and whoare busy when the grass grows in getting together food for theirsquaws and pappooses, against a time when the buffalo can findnothing to eat in this part of the world, know anything of a peoplethat they never saw? My brother has asked a question that he onlycan answer. Let him tell us where these ten tribes are to be found,if he knows the place. We should like to go and look at them."

　　"Here!" exclaimed the missionary, the instant Crowsfeather ceasedspeaking, and even before he was seated. "Here--in this council--onthese prairies--in these openings--here, on the shores of the greatlakes of sweet water, and throughout the land of America, are thesetribes to be found. The red man is a Jew; a Jew is a red man. TheManitou has brought the scattered people of Israel to this part ofthe world, and I see his power in the wonderful fact. Nothing but amiracle could have done this!"

　　Great was the admiration of the Indians at this announcement! Noneof their own traditions gave this account of their origin; but thereis reason to believe, on the other hand, that none of themcontradict it. Nevertheless, here was a medicine-priest of the pale-faces boldly proclaiming the fact, and great was the wonder of allwho heard, thereat! Having spoken, the missionary again paused, thathis words might produce their effect. Bear's Meat now became hisinterrogator, rising respectfully, and standing during the colloquythat succeeded.

　　"My brother has spoken a great tradition," said the Menominee. "Didhe first hear it from his fathers?"

　　"In part, only. The history of the lost tribes has come down to usfrom our fathers; it is written in the good book of the pale-faces;the book that contains the word of the Great Spirit."

　　"Does the good book of the pale-faces say that the red men are thechildren of the people he has mentioned?"

　　"I cannot say that it does. While the good book tells us so much, italso leaves very much untold. It is best that we should look forourselves, that we may find out some of its meanings. It is in thuslooking, that many Christians see the great truth which makes theIndians of America and the Jews beyond the great salt lake, one andthe same people."

　　"If this be so, let my brother tell us how far it is from ourhunting-grounds to that distant land across the great salt lake."

　　"I cannot give you this distance in miles exactly; but I suppose itmay be eleven or twelve times the length of Michigan."

　　"Will my brother tell us how much of this long path is water, andhow much of it is dry land?"

　　"Perhaps one-fourth is land, as the traveller may choose; the restmust be water, if the journey be made from the rising toward thesetting sun, which is the shortest path; but, let the journey bemade from the setting toward the rising sun, and there is littlewater to cross; rivers and lakes of no great width, as is seen here,but only a small breadth of salt lake."

　　"Are there, then, two roads to that far-off land, where the red menare thought to have once lived?

　　"Even so. The traveller may come to this spot from that land by wayof the rising sun, or by way of the setting sun."

　　The general movement among the members of the council denoted thesurprise with which this account was received. As the Indians, untilthey have had much intercourse with the whites, very generallybelieve the earth to be flat, it was not easy for them to comprehendhow a given point could be reached by directly opposite routes. Suchan apparent contradiction would be very likely to extort furtherquestions.

　　"My brother is a medicine-man of the pale-faces; his hairs aregray," observed Crowsfeather. "Some of your medicine-men are good,and some wicked. It is so with the medicine-men of the red-skins.Good and bad are to be found in all nations. A medicine-man of yourpeople cheated my young men by promising to show them where fire-water grows. He did not show them. He let them smell, but he did notlet them drink. That was a wicked medicine-man. His scalp would notbe safe did my young men see it again"--here the bee-hunter,insensibly to himself, felt for his rifle, making sure that he hadit between his legs; the corporal being a little surprised at thesudden start he gave. "His hair does not grow on his head closerthan the trees grow to the ground. Even a tree can be cut down. Butall medicine-men are not alike. My brother is a good medicine-man.All he says may not be just as he thinks, but he believes what hesays. It is wonderful how men can look two ways; but it is morewonderful that they should go to the same place by paths that leadbefore and behind. This we do not understand; my brother will tellus how it can be."

　　"I believe I understand what it is that my children would know. Theythink the earth is flat, but the pale-faces know that it is round.He who travels and travels toward the setting sun would come to thisvery spot, if he travelled long enough. The distance would be great,but the end of every straight path in this world is the place ofstarting."

　　"My brother says this. He says many curious things. I have heard amedicine-man of his people say that the palefaces have seen theirGreat Spirit, talked with him, walked with him. It is not so with usIndians. Our Manitou speaks to us in thunder only. We are ignorant,and wish to learn more than we now know. Has my brother evertravelled on that path which ends where it begins? Once, on theprairies, I lost my way. There was snow, and glad was I to findtracks. I followed the tracks. But one traveller had passed. Afterwalking an hour, two had passed. Another hour, and the three hadpassed, Then I saw the tracks were my own, and that I had beenwalking, as the squaws reason, round and round, but not goingahead."

　　"I understand my friend, but he is wrong. It is no matter which paththe lost tribes travelled to get here. The main question is, whetherthey came at all. I see in the red men, in their customs, theirhistory, their looks, and even in their traditions, proof that theyare these Jews, once the favored people of the Great Spirit."

　　"If the Manitou so well loves the Indians, why has he permitted thepale-faces to take away their hunting-grounds? Why has he made thered man poor, and the white man rich? Brother, I am afraid yourtradition is a lying tradition, or these things would not be so."

　　"It is not given to men to understand the wisdom that cometh fromabove. That which seemeth so strange to us may be right. The losttribes had offended God; and their scattering, and captivity, andpunishment, are but so many proofs of his displeasure. But, if lost,we have reason to believe that one day they will be found. Yes, mychildren, it will be the pleasure of the Great Spirit, one day, torestore you to the land of your fathers, and make you again, whatyou once were, a great and glorious people!"

　　As the well-meaning but enthusiastic missionary spoke with greatfervor, the announcement of such an event, coming as it did from onewhom they respected, even while they could not understand him, didnot fail to produce a deep sensation. If their fortunes were reallythe care of the Great Spirit, and justice was to be done to them byhis love and wisdom, then would the projects of Peter, and those whoacted and felt with him, be unnecessary, and might lead to evilinstead of to good. That sagacious savage did not fail to discoverthis truth; and he now believed it might be well for him to say aword, in order to lessen the influence Parson Amen might otherwiseobtain among those whom it was his design to mould in a way entirelyto meet his own wishes. So intense was the desire of this mysteriousleader to execute vengeance on the pale-faces, that the redemptionof the tribes from misery and poverty, unaccompanied by this part ofhis own project, would have given him pain in lieu of pleasure. Hisvery soul had got to be absorbed in this one notion of retribution,and of annihilation for the oppressors of his race; and he regardedall things through a medium of revenge, thus created by hisfeelings, much as the missionary endeavored to bend every fact andcircumstance, connected with the Indians, to the support of histheory touching their Jewish origin.

　　When Peter arose, therefore, fierce and malignant passions were atwork in his bosom; such as a merciful and a benignant deity neverwishes to see in the breast of man, whether civilized or savage. Theself-command of the Tribeless, however, was great, and he so farsucceeded in suppressing the volcano that was raging within, as tospeak with his usual dignity and an entire calmness of exterior.

　　"My brothers have heard what the medicine-man had to say," Petercommenced. "He has told them that which was new to them. He has toldthem an Indian is not an Indian. That a red man is a pale-face, andthat we are not what we thought we were. It is good to learn. Itmakes the difference between the wise and the foolish. The palefaceslearn more than the red-skins. That is the way they have learned howto get our hunting-grounds. That is the way they have learned tobuild their villages on the spots where our fathers killed the deer.That is the way they have learned how to come and tell us that weare not Indians, but Jews. I wish to learn. Though old, my mindcraves to know more. That I may know more, I will ask this medicine-man questions, and my brothers can open their ears, and learn alittle, too, by what he answers. Perhaps we shall believe that weare not red-skins, but pale-faces. Perhaps we shall believe that ourtrue hunting-grounds are not near the great lakes of sweet water,but under the rising sun. Perhaps we shall wish to go home, and toleave these pleasant openings for the pale faces to put their cabinson them, as the small-pox that they have also given to us, puts itssores on our bodies. Brother--" turning toward the missionary--"listen. You say we are no longer Indians, but Jews: is this true ofall red men, or only of the tribes whose chiefs are here?"

　　"Of all red men, as I most sincerely believe. You are now red, butonce all of your people were fairer than the fairest of the pale-faces. It is climate, and hardships, and sufferings that havechanged your color."

　　"If suffering can do that," returned Peter, with emphasis, "I wonderwe are not black. When all our hunting-grounds are covered with thefarms of your people, I think we shall be black."

　　Signs of powerful disgust were now visible among the listeners, anIndian having much of the contempt that seems to weigh so heavily onthat unfortunate class, for all of the color mentioned. At thesouth, as is known, the red man has already made a slave of thedescendants of the children of Africa, but no man has ever yet madea slave of a son of the American forests! That is a result which nohuman power has yet been able to accomplish. Early in the settlementof the country, attempts were indeed made, by sending a fewindividuals to the islands; but so unsuccessful did the experimentturn out to be, that the design was soon abandoned. Whatever may behis degradation, and poverty, and ignorance, and savage ferocity, itwould seem to be the settled purpose of the American Indians of ourown territories--unlike the aborigines who are to be found farthersouth--to live and die free men.

　　"My children," answered the missionary, "I pretend not to say whatwill happen, except as it has been told to us in the word of God.You know that we pale-faces have a book, in which the Great Spirithas told us his laws, and foretold to us many of the things that areto happen. Some of these things have happened, while some remain tohappen. The loss of the ten tribes was foretold, and has happened;but their being found again, has not yet happened, unless indeed Iam so blessed as to be one of those who have been permitted to meetthem in these openings. Here is the book--it goes where I go, and ismy companion and friend, by day and by night; in good and evil; inseason and out of season. To this book I cling as to my greatanchor, that is to carry me through the storms in safety! Every linein it is precious; every word true!"

　　Perhaps half the chiefs present had seen books before, while thosewho now laid eyes on one for the first time, had heard of this artof the pale-faces, which enabled them to set down their traditionsin a way peculiar to themselves. Even the Indians have theirrecords, however, though resorting to the use of natural signs, anda species of hieroglyphics, in lieu of the more artistical processof using words and letters, in a systemized written language. TheBible, too, was a book of which all had heard, more or less; thoughnot one of those present had ever been the subject of its influence.A Christian Indian, indeed--and a few of those were to be found evenat that day--would hardly have attended a council convened for theobjects which had caused this to be convened. Still, a strong butregulated curiosity existed, to see, and touch, and examine thegreat medicine-book of the pale-faces. There was a good deal ofsuperstition blended with the Indian manner of regarding the sacredvolume; some present having their doubts about touching it, evenwhile most excited by admiration, and a desire to probe its secrets.

　　Peter took the little volume, which the missionary extended as ifinviting any one who might so please, to examine it also. It was thefirst time the wary chief had ever suffered that mysterious book totouch him. Among his other speculations on the subject of the mannerin which the white men were encroaching, from year to year, on thelands of the natives, it had occurred to his mind that thisextraordinary volume, which the pale-faces all seemed to reverence,even to the drunkards of the garrisons, might contain the greatelements of their power. Perhaps he was not very much out of the wayin this supposition; though they who use the volume habitually, arenot themselves aware, one-half the time, why it is so.

　　On the present occasion, Peter saw the great importance of notbetraying apprehension, and he turned over the pages awkwardly, asone would be apt to handle a book for the first time, but boldly andwithout hesitation. Encouraged by the impunity that accompanied thishardihood, Peter shook the leaves open, and held the volume on high,in a way that told his own people that he cared not for its charmsor power. There was more of seeming than of truth, however, in thisbravado; for never before had this extraordinary being made so heavya draft on his courage and self-command, as in the performance ofthis simple act. He did not, could not know what were the virtues ofthe book, and his imagination very readily suggested the worst. Asthe great medicine-volume of the pale-faces, it was quite likely tocontain that which was hostile to the red men; and this fact, soprobable to his eyes, rendered it likely that some serious evil tohimself might follow from the contact. It did not, however; and asmile of grim satisfaction lighted his swarthy countenance, as,turning to the missionary, he said with point--

　　"Let my brother open his eyes. I have looked into his medicine-book,but do not see that the red man is anything but a red man. The GreatSpirit made him; and what the Great Spirit makes, lasts. The pale-faces have made their book, and it lies."

　　"No, no--Peter, Peter, thou utterest wicked words. But the Lord willpardon thee, since thou knowest not what thou sayest. Give me thesacred volume, that I may place it next my heart, where I humblytrust so many of its divine precepts are already entrenched."

　　This was said in English, under the impulse of feeling, but beingunderstood by Peter, the latter quietly relinquished the Bible,preparing to follow up the advantage he perceived he had gained, onthe spot.

　　"My brother has his medicine-book, again," said Peter, "and the redmen live. This hand is not withered like the dead branch of thehemlock; yet it has held his word of the Great Spirit! It may bethat a red-skin and a pale-face book cannot do each other harm. Ilooked into my brother's great charm, but did not see or hear atradition that tells me we are Jews. There is a bee-hunter in theseopenings. I have talked with him. He has told me who these Jews are.He says they are people who do not go with the pale-faces, but liveapart from them, like men with the small-pox. It is not right for mybrother to come among the red men, and tell them that their fatherswere not good enough to live, and eat, and go on the same paths ashis fathers."

　　"This is all a mistake, Peter--a great and dangerous mistake. Thebee-hunter has heard the Jews spoken of by those who do notsufficiently read the good book. They have been, and are still, thechosen people of the Great Spirit, and will one day be received backto his favor. Would that I were one of them, only enlightened by thewords of the New Testament! No real Christian ever can, or does nowdespise a son of Israel, whatever has been done in times past. It isan honor, and not a disgrace, to be what I have said my friendsare."

　　"If this be so, why do not the pale-faces let us keep out hunting-grounds to ourselves? We are content. We do not wish to be Jews. Ourcanoes are too small to cross the great salt lake. They are hardlylarge enough to cross the great lakes of sweet water. We should betired of paddling so far. My brother says there is a rich land underthe rising sun, which the Manitou gave to the red men. Is this so?"

　　"Beyond all doubt. It was given to the children of Israel, for apossession forever; and though you have been carried away from itfor a time, there the land still is, open to receive you, andwaiting the return of its ancient masters. In good season thatreturn must come; for we have the word of God for it, in ourChristian Bible."

　　"Let my brother open his ears very wide, and hear what I have tosay. We thank him for letting us know that we are Jews. We believethat he thinks what he says. Still, we think we are red men, andInjins, and not Jews. We never saw the place where the sun rises. Wedo not wish to see it. Our hunting-grounds are nearer to the placewhere he sets. If the pale-faces believe we have a right to thatdistant land, which is so rich in good things, we will give it tothem, and keep these openings, and prairies, and woods. We know thegame of this country, and have found out how to kill it. We do notknow the game under the rising sun, which may kill us. Go to yourfriends and say, 'The Injins will give you that land near the risingsun, if you will let them alone on their hunting-grounds, where theyhave so long been. They say that your canoes are larger than theircanoes, and that one can carry a whole tribe. They have seen some ofyour big canoes on the great lakes, and have measured them. Fill allyou have got with your squaws and pappooses, put your property inthem, and go back by the long path through which you came. Then willthe red man thank the pale-face and be his friend. The white man iswelcome to that far-off land. Let him take it, and build hisvillages on it, and cut down its trees. This is all the Injins ask.If the pale-faces can take away with them the small-pox and thefire-water, it will be better still. They brought both into thiscountry, it is right that they should take them away.' Will mybrother tell this to his people?"

　　"It would do no good. They know that the land of Judea is reservedby God for his chosen people, and they are not Jews. None but thechildren of Israel can restore that land to its ancient fertility.It would be useless for any other to attempt it. Armies have beenthere, and it was once thought that a Christian kingdom was set upon the spot; but neither the time nor the people had come. Jewsalone can make Judea what it was, and what it will be again. If mypeople owned that land, they could not use it. There are also toomany of us now, to go away in canoes."

　　"Did not the fathers of the pale-faces come in canoes?" demandedPeter, a little sternly.

　　"They did; but since that time their increase has been so great,that canoes enough to hold them could not be found. No; the GreatSpirit, for his own wise ends, has brought my people hither; andhere must they remain to the end of time. It is not easy to make thepigeons fly south in the spring."

　　This declaration, quietly but distinctly made, as it was the habitof the missionary to speak, had its effect. It told Peter, and thosewith him, as plainly as language could tell them, that there was noreason to expect the pale-faces would ever willingly abandon thecountry, and seemed the more distinctly, in all their uninstructedminds, to place the issue on the armed hand. It is not improbablethat some manifestation of feeling would have escaped the circle,had not an interruption to the proceedings occurred, which put astop to all other emotions but those peculiar to the lives ofsavages.