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Файл:Satanstoe; or, The Littlepage Manuscripts
.pdf
SATANSTOE; OR, THE LITTLEPAGE MANUSCRIPTS
the knife of the warrior, as he cuts away the trophy of success from his victim. Jaap comprehended the meaning of this
very signifi cant gesture, as well as any of us, and the manner in
which he clutched the wool, as if to keep the scalp in its place,
set us all laughing. The negro did not partake of our mirth; but
I saw that he regarded the Indian, much as the bull-dog shows
his teeth, before he makes his spring. Another motion of my
fi nger, however, quelled the rising. It was necessary to put
an end to this, and Jaap was ordered to prepare our packs, in
readiness for the expected march. Relieved from his presence,
Susquesus was asked to be more explicit.
«You know Injin», the Onondago answered. «Now he t’ink
red-coats driv’ away and skeared, he go look for scalp. Love
all sort scalp – old scalp, young scalp – man scalp, woman
scalp – boy scalp, gal scalp – all get pay, all get honour. No
difference to him».
«Ay!» exclaimed Guert, with a strong aspiration, such as escapes a man who feels strongly; «he is a devil incarnate, when
he once gets fairly on the scent of blood! So you expect these
French Injins will make an excursion in among the settlers,
out here to the south-east of us?»
«Go to nearest – don’t care where he be. Nearest your
friend; won’t like that, s’pose?»
«You are right enough, Onondago, in saying that. I shall not
like it, nor will my companions, here, like it; and the fi rst thing
you will have to do, will be to guide us, straight as the bird
fl ies, to the Ravensnest; the picketed house, you know, where
we have left our sweethearts».
491
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
Susquesus understood all that was said, without any
diffi culty; in proof of which, he smiled at this allusion to
the precious character of the inmates of the house Guert
told him to seek.
«Squaw pretty ‘nough», he answered, complacently. «No
wonder young man like him. But, can’t go there, now. First fi nd
friends measure land. All Injin land, once!»
This last remark was made in a way I did not like; for
the idea seemed to cross the Onondago’s brain so suddenly,
as to draw from him this brief assertion in pure bitterness of
spirit.
«I should be very sorry if it had not been, Susquesus», I observed, myself, «since the title is all the better for its having
been so, as our Indian deed will show. You know, of course,
that my father, and his friend, Col. Follock, bought this land of
the Mohawks, and paid them their own price for it».
«Red-man nebber measure land so. He p’int with fi nger,
break bush down, and say, ‘there, take from that water to that
water.’«
«All very true, my friend; but, as that sort of measurement
will not answer to keep farms separate, we are obliged to survey the whole off into lots of smaller size. The Mohawks fi rst
gave my father and his friend, as much land as they could walk
round in two suns, allowing them the night to rest in».
«That good deed!» exclaimed the Indian, with strong emphasis. «Leg can’t cheat – pen great rogue».
«Well, we have the benefi t of both grants; for the proprietors actually walked round the estate, a party of Indians accompanying them, to see that all was fair. After that, the chiefs
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SATANSTOE; OR, THE LITTLEPAGE MANUSCRIPTS
signed a deed in writing, that there might be no mistake, and
then we got the King’s grant».
«Who give King land, at all? – All land here red-man land;
who give him to king?»
«Who made the Delawares women? – The warriors of he
Six nations, was it not, Susquesus?»
«Yes – my people help. Six Nation great warrior, and put
petticoat on Delawares, so they can’t go on war-path any more.
What that to do with King’s land?»
«Why, the King’s warriors, you know, my friend, have taken possession of this country, just as the Six Nations took possession of the Delawares, before they made them women».
«What become of King’s warrior, now?» demanded the Indian, quick as lightning. «Where he run away to? Where land
Ticonderoga, now? Whose land t’other end lake, now?»
«Why, the King’s troops have certainly met with a disaster;
and, for the present, their rights are weakened, it must be admitted. But, another day may see all this changed, and the King
will got his land again. You will remember, he has not sold Ticonderoga to the French, as the Mohawks sold Mooseridge to
us; and that, you must admit, makes a great difference. A bargain is a bargain, Onondago».
«Yes, bargain, bargain – that good. Good for red-man,
good for pale-face – no difference – what Mohawk sell, he no
take back, but let pale-face keep – but how come Mohawk and
King sell, too? Bot’ own land, eh?»
This was rather a puzzling question to answer to an Indian.
We white people can very well understand that a human government, which professes, on the principles recognised by civ-
493
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
ilized nations, to have jurisdiction over certain extensive territories that lie in the virgin forest, and which are used only, and
that occasionally, by certain savage tribes as hunting-grounds,
should deem it right to satisfy those tribes, by purchase, before
they parcelled out their lands for the purposes of civilized life;
but, it would not be so easy to make an unsophisticated mind
understand that there could be two owners to the same property. The transaction is simple enough to us, and it tells in favour of our habits, for we have the power to grant these lands
without ‘extinguishing the Indian title,’ as it is termed; but it
presents diffi culties to the understandings of those who are
not accustomed to see society surrounded by the multifarious
interests of civilization. In point of fact, the Indian purchases
give no other title, under our laws, than the right to sue out, in
council, a claim to acquire by, the grant of the crown; paying to
the latter such a consideration as in its wisdom it shall see fi t to
demand. Still, it was necessary to make some answer to the Onondago’s question, lest he might carry away the mistaken notion that we did not justly own our possessions.
«Suppose you fi nd a rifl e to your fancy, Susquesus», I said,
after refl ecting a moment on the subject, «and you fi nd two
Indians who both claim to own it; now, if you pay each warrior his price, is your right to the title any the worse for having
done so? Is it not rather better?»
The Indian was struck with this reply, which suited
the character of his mind. Thrusting out his hand, he received mine, and shook it cordially, as much as to say he was
satisfi ed. Having disposed of this episode thus satisfactorily,
494
SATANSTOE; OR, THE LITTLEPAGE MANUSCRIPTS
we turned to the more interesting subject of our immediate
movements.
«It would seem that the Onondago expects the French Indians will now strike at the settlements», I remarked to my
companions, «and, that our friends at Ravensnest may need
our aid; but, at the same time, he thinks we should fi rst return to Mooseridge, and join the surveyors. Which mode of
proceeding strikes you as the best, my friends?»
«Let us fi rst hear the Injin’s reasons for going after the surveyors», answered Guert. «If he has a suffi cient reason for his
plan, I am ready to follow it».
«Surveyor got scalp, as well as squaw», said Susquesus, in
his brief, meaning manner.
«That must settle the point!» exclaimed Guert. «I understand it all, now. The Onondago thinks the Mooseridge party
may be cut off, as being alone and unsupported, and that we
ought to apprise them of this danger».
«All perfectly just», I replied, «and it is what they, being
our own people, have a right to expect from us. Still, Guert,
I should think those surveyors might be safe where they are, in
the bosom of the forest, for a year to come. Their business there
cannot be known, and who is then to betray them?»
«See», said Susquesus, earnestly. «Kill deer, and leave
him in the wood. Won’t raven fi nd carcass?»
«That may be true enough; but a raven has an instinct, given him by nature, to furnish him with food. He fl ies high in
the air, moreover, and can see farther than an Indian».
495
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
«Nuttin’ see farther than Injin! Red-man fl y high, too. See
from salt lake to sweet water. Know ebbery t’ing in wood. Tell
him nuttin’ he don’t know».
«You do not suppose, Susquesus, that the Huron warriors
could fi nd our surveyors, at Mooseridge?»
«Why, no fi nd him? Find moose; why no fi nd ridge, too?
Find Mooseridge, sartain; fi nd land-measurer».
«On the whole, Corny», Guert remarked after musing
a little, «we may do well to follow the Injin’s advice. I have
heard of so many misfortunes that have befallen people in
the bush, from having despised Indian counsels, that I own to
a little superstition on the subject. Just look at what happened
yesterday! Had red-skin opinions been taken, Abercrombie
might now have been a conqueror, instead of a miserable,
beaten man».
Susquesus raised a fi nger, and his dark countenance became illumined by an expression that was more eloquent even
than his tongue.
«Why no open ear to red-man!» he asked, with dignity.
«Some bird sing a song that good – some sing bad song – but
all bird know his own song. Mohawk warrior use to wood, and
follow a crooked war-path, when he meet much enemy. Great
Yengeese chief think his warrior have two life, that he put him
before cannon and rifl e, to stand up and be shot. No Injin do so
foolish – no – never!»
As this was too true to be controverted, the matter was
not discussed; but, having determined among ourselves to
let the Onondago take us back on the path by which we had
come, we announced our readiness to start as soon as it might
496
SATANSTOE; OR, THE LITTLEPAGE MANUSCRIPTS
suit his convenience. Being suffi ciently rested, Susquesus, who
did everything on system, manifesting neither impatience nor
laziness, arose and quietly led the way. Our course was just
the reverse of that on which we had travelled when we left
Mooseridge; and I did not fail to observe that, so accurate was
the knowledge of our guide, we passed many of the same objects as we had previously gone near. There was nothing like
a track, with the exception of occasional foot-prints left by
ourselves; but it was evident the Onondago paid not the least
attention to these, possessing other and more accessible
clues to his course.
Guert marched next to the Indian, and I was third in
the line. How often, that busy day, did I gaze at my fi le-leader, in
admiration of his fi gure and mien! Nature appeared to have
intended him for a soldier. Although so powerful, his frame
was agile – a particular in which he differed from Dirck; who,
although so young, already gave symptoms of heaviness, at
no distant day. Then Guert’s carriage waa as fi ne as his form.
The head was held erect; the eye was intrepid in its glance; and
the tread elastic, though so fi rm. To the last hour, on that long
and weary march, Guert leaped logs, sprang across hollows in
the ground, and otherwise manifested that his iron sinews and
hardened muscles retained all their powers. As he moved in
my front, I saw, for the fi rst time, that some of the fringe of his
hunting-shirt had been cut away in the fi ght, and that a musket-ball had passed directly through his cap. I afterwards ascertained that Guert was aware of these escapes, but his nature
was so manly he did not think of mentioning them.
497
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
We made a single halt, as before, to dine; but little was
said, at this meal, and no change in our plan was proposed.
This was the point where we ought to have diverged from
the former course, did we intend to proceed fi rst to Ravensnest; but, though all knew it, nothing was said on the subject.
«We shall carry unwelcome tidings to Mr. Traverse, and
his men», Guert observed, a minute or two before our halt
was up; «for, I take it for granted, the news cannot have gone
ahead of us».
«We fi rst», answered the Onondago. «Too soon for Huron,
yet. T’ink so – nobody know».
«I wish, Corny», pursued the Albanian, «we had thought of
saying a word to Doortje about this accursed expedition. There
is no use in a man’s being above his business; and he who puts
himself in the way of fortune, might profi t by now and then
consulting a fortune-teller».
«Had we done so, and had all that has happened been
foretold, do you suppose it would have made any change in
the result?»
«Perhaps not, since we should have been the persons to
relate what we had heard. But, Abercrombie, himself, need
have had no scruples about visiting that remarkable old woman. She’s a wonderful creature, Corny, as we must allow, and
a prudent general would not fail to respect what she told him.
It is a thousand pities that either the Commander-In-Chief, or
the Adjutant-General, had not paid Doortje a visit before they
left Albany. My Lord Howe’s valuable life might then have
been saved».
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SATANSTOE; OR, THE LITTLEPAGE MANUSCRIPTS
«In what way. Guert? I am at a loss to see in what manner
any good could come of it».
«In what manner? – Why, in the plainest possible. Now,
suppose Doortje had foretold this defeat; it is clear, Abercrombie, if he put any faith in the old woman, would not have made
the attack».
«And thus defeat the defeat. Do you not see, Guert, that
the soothsayer can, at the best, but foretell what is to happen,
and that which must come will. It would be an easy matter for
any of us to get great reputations for fortune-telling, if all we
had to do was to predict misfortunes, in order that our friends
might avoid them. As nothing would ever happen, in consequence of the precautions taken to avert the evils, a name
would be easily and cheaply maintained».
«By St. Nicholas! Corny, I never thought of that! But, you
have been college-taught; and a thousand things are picked
up at colleges, that one never dreams of at an academy. I see
reason, every day, to lament my idleness when a boy; and fortunate shall I be, if I do not lament it all my life».
Poor Guert! He was always so humble, when the subject of
education arose, however accidentally or unintentionally on
my part, that it was never commented on, that it did not give
me pain, exciting a wish to avoid it. As the time for the halt
was now up, it was easy to terminate the present discussion, by
declaring as much, and proceeding on our way.
We had a hard afternoon’s walk of it, though neither of
the fi ve manifested the least disposition to give in. As for
Susquesus, to me, he never seemed to know either fatigue
or hunger. He was doubtless acquainted with both; but his
499
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
habits of self-command were so severe, as to enable him completely to conceal his sufferings in this, as well as in most other respects.
The sun was near setting when we entered within the limits of the Mooseridge estate. We ascertained this fact by passing the line-trees, some of which had fi gures cut into their
barks, to denote the numbers of the great subdivisions of
the property. Guert pointed out these marks; being far more
accustomed to the woods than either Dirck or myself. Aided by such guides, we had no diffi culty in making a suffi ciently straight course to the hut.
Susquesus thought a little caution necessary, as we drew
near to the end of our journey. Causing us to remain behind,
he advanced in front, himself, to reconnoitre. A signal, however, soon took us to the place where he stood, when we discovered the hut just as we had left it, but no one near it. This
might be the result of mere accident, the surveying party frequently ‘camping out,’ in preference to making a long march
after a fatiguing day’s work; and Pete would be very likely to
prefer going to join these men, to remaining alone in the hut.
We advanced to the building, therefore, with confi dence.
On reaching it, we found the place empty, as had been anticipated, though with every sign about it of its tenants having left
it but a short time previously; that morning, at the furthest.
Jaap set about preparing a supper out of the regular supplies of the party; all of which were found in their places,
and in abundance. On inquiry of the fellow, I ascertained it
was his opinion Mr. Traverse had gone off that very day, most
probably to some distant portion of the Patent, taking Pete
500
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