University of Virginia Library

10. CHAPTER X.
The Two War Chiefs.

As Neonah and Willewa, after their departure from the head-quarters of
the American General, were paddling their light skiff along under the covert
of the bank on the East side of the river which lay most in shadow from
the moon-beams, they were suddenly startled by the whizzing of an arrow
through the air above their heads. It came from the opposite shore, and
ere they could discover from whom, a second one came humming and
struck in the side of the canoe, penetrating to its feathers through the thin
plates of birehen bark.

`An enemy!' cried Neonah, turning the prow of the boat so as to place
himself in a line between Willewa and the danger.

`No. It is an Abanaquis shaft,' said Willewa as she bent down to examine
it.

`The Abanaquies are our foes!' answered Neonah with warmth.

This was true enough, thought Willewa; but she so loved their young
chief that she had forgotten that the nation itself was hostile to her own.

`See, upon the bank are three warriors! One of them waves his spear.
He shouts to us!'

`Foe or friend, turn your canoe hither or a flight of arrows will be shot
instead of a single one!'

`It is the voice of Natanis! I thought I recognized his noble figure conspicuous
above those around him!' said the maiden with joy. `Direct the
course towards them!'

`They will make you prisoner!' cried Neonah with emphasis.

`I am willing to be prisoner to Natanis,' she said smiling. `Hast thou
forgotten the tale I told thee?'

`No,' answered Neonah sullenly. `But I like not this chief loving thee
so well, cousin. If we meet in fair battle I will deal the death upon his
proud head!'

`Nay, Natanis is my friend!'

`That is why he is my enemy!'

`Neonah, this is folly. See! they bend their bows again from the banks.
We obey you, Natanis!' she cried waving her hand. The jealous youth
made no effort to urge the boat towards the bank, on which a group of at
least a score of warriors were now assembled, all distinctly visible in the
moonlight, for the river here was not more than six hundred feet wide.—
But Willewa plied her paddle with grace and skill, and no little power, and
the canoe soon touched the bank. Natanis met the disguised Willewa as
she sprang upon the green sward.

`How is this? Who are you, youth? Surely I heard a maiden's voice?'

`Come hither, chief, and I will tell thee whose it was!' she said unwilling
to betray herself before his warriors.

`Art thou not a lad of Canassa's tribe?'

`I am, noble chief! Yet I know that Natanis is the friend of Canassa!'

`Dost thou? Who knows this but one!'

`Nay, stand aside with me, chief. Now,' she said, as Natanis stepped a
little way after her, and they stood apart from the rest; `will I tell thee!'

`Has the princess Willewa a brother. Art thou not a son of Canassa?'

`I am a daughter of Canassa. Dost thou not recognize the voice of Willewa?'

Natanis uttered an exclamation of astonishment, and was about to embrace
her with joyful surprise when he was restrained in the impulse by a motion
of her finger. She then told him why she had so disguised herself, and of
her visit to the American camp. He listened, and when she had done he
looked troubled and was silent.

`I have displeased thee, Natanis.'

`No; thou hast done well and nobly, Willewa. But I would thou hadst
not gone to the camp.'

`My disguise was not penetrated. I was treated as a youth, even as Neonah
was!'

`Thou art brave and true, Willewa. Now have I somewhat to tell thee.
But first I must hold thee as my prisoner. I shall not suffer you to return
to your lodge. You and your cousin I shall keep with me, for I hope soon
to add to your companionship Canassa himself!'

`Take my father prisoner?'

`Hear my words, Willewa,' he said, tenderly. I will do nothing that you
will not counsel. Canassa with his warriors has thrown himself into the
pass of the Sebasticook, at the point where the Bostonees have felled trees
to erect a block-house; having made prisoners of the party of men the chief
Arnold sent forward to build it. He there lays in wait to fall upon the Bostonee
army. This ambuscade you have prepared their war-chief to watch
for and guard against. But Canassa will attack him, if not there at some
other point, unless I and my warriors interfere. This we cannot do without
a battle!'

`Oh, let not Canassa and Natanis meet in the fight!' cried Willewa earnestly.

`For thy sake, Willewa, I will avoid the contest he would force upon me.
There is only one way in which this can be prevented, and also the Bostonee
army saved from ruin!'

`How, Natanis?' she tremblingly asked.

`By making Canassa prisoner!'

`My father thy prisoner?'

`Yes, Willewa. I have learned by a spy that his war lodge is planted on
the extremity of the point of land formed by the Kennebis and Sebasticook,
and that he has with him only eight chiefs, the party occupying three lodges.
The main body of his warriors are encamped in the wood on both sides of
the lesser stream, and some six hundred yards above him. Now when I
heard this I resolved to make an attempt to seize the person of Canassa.—
Once in my power I could induce him to order his warriors back to their
lodges, and bring about also terms of reconciliation between me and him.
Now that I have met you, if you will consent to my plan to save blood-shed
I have no doubt that your father might also be led to give his consent to our
marriage.'

`Not by first making him your foe by making him your prisoner, Natanis.'

`He is my foe now. Once in my hands I can bring him to terms of conciliation
and peace. Besides I intend to be aided by the Bostonee chief.—
But all my plan I cannot now detail. But will you trust to the wisdom and
love of Natanis? and let me do that I think best for Canassa, for myself and
for thee!'

The maiden remained silent and thoughtful for a few moments, and then
taking one of his hands in hers, said:

`Natanis, it is a struggle in my heart between thee and my father. But I
yield. I know that thou wilt do that which is wise and good. But how
wilt thou be able to seize Canassa, sorrounded by his eight warriors, without
blood being shed. Alas, I tremble, Natanis.'

`Thy father's blood should be saved, though he struck down seven of my
own braves.'

`Blood must not be shed, Natanis. As you say, if Canassa can be taken
prisoner, the attack upon the Bostonees may be prevented, and a battle between
you and him in their defence also avoided. I will prove my love to
thee Natanis, as well as my tenderness for the life of Canassa; though my
heart shrinks at the thought of what I dare to do to save the lives of many
warriors of the Abanaquies, the Nerijewees, and the Bostonees! From
here to where Canassa encamps, is less than a league. Let me proceed on
my way in the canoe with Neonah. I will visit him at his lodge. I will
not tell him that it was through me, nor that I assumed this disguise, but to
seek him alone. I must deceive him, Natanis, to save him from doing evil,
and from meeting in arms with thee. I will walk with him along the river
banks as we discourse together, and when thou shalt see a fit time, fall upon
us, and make prisoners of us both. I will be to thee as a youth, and as such
you must suppose me, and treat me; thus my father will not suspect my unfilial
conspiracy against him; but a conspiracy undertaken in benevolence
and kindness. If I err, may the Great Spirit pardon my error.'

About two hours later than this conversation took place, Canassa and an
Indian youth were promenading side by side upon a level plateau of sward
upon the shore of the Kennebis[1] Before them mingled the waters of the
two rivers, and in one bright mirror, swept proudly away to the southward,
losing itself among the overhanging hills.

`Chief, you are my prisoner!' cried the voice of Natanis at his ear.—
Four warriors instantly threw themselves upon him and bound him, while
Natanis pressed his hand upon his mouth, to prevent his giving the alarm.
Willewa was then seized by the Chief, and the two prisoners were rapidly
borne alone the shore a few rods, and placed in a canoe which crossed the
river with them, followed by two others, containing the rest of the Abanaaquis
party. This prompt and successful issue of his plot, not a little gratified
the young Abanaquis. During the whole time Canassa had not moved.
He sat in the canoe stern and silent, a warrior standing before and behind
him with uplifted knives, threatening him with instant death if he raised
his voice; and finding himself completely in their power, he refused to compromit
his savage dignity by making any efforts that could not be successful
towards freeing himself from his captors. Willewa sat near him weeping,
for she grieved to see her noble father thus bound; but she was upborne in
her heart by the consciousness that it was an act of duty which she had
been a party to. Let those blame her who have thus a heart divided between
a lover and a father, with equal love for both; and who hopes from
the step, to secure peace and safety to friends, and consent for her union
with him whom her heart has chosen for its mate.