University of Virginia Library

5. CHAPTER V.
The Lover's Plot.

Whatsoever was the nature of the interview between the fair Willewa
and her father, the result did not answer her hopes and wishes. She returned
to Natanis with a sad countenance, and told him that he must not
linger in the hunting-grounds of his foe, for the spirit of Canassa was unyieldingly
hostile towards him. She informed him that, owing to the absence
of her father with his warriors, the presence of the Abanaquis hunt-
ting parties in his territories had not yet been discovered, and she eloquently
urged him to leave with his parties at once, ere an encounter with
people of her nation should render any reconciliation between them
hopeless. The maiden then bade him return to the lodge and warn
his friend, and leave with him in the canoe in the morning, giving directions
by which he could reach the Keunebis by water. She
him to retire to a lodge she also had near her father's and promising
him in the morning at dawn.

`You will not be interrupted to-night, Natanis,' she said, `so you
remain secure in the lodge with Ayane. No warrior of our tribe enters
the glen of the Cascades after night-fall. This place is sacred to
daughter of their Chief.'

The next morning the maiden appeared at dawn in the door of .
She was happy at finding her patient quite refreshed and strong,
from pain. In a few minutes Natanis took leave of the lovely
leaving her his heart, and bearing hers away with him. He left
by a narrower inlet than that by which he had entered it, and in
launched his light canoe upon the dark waters of the swiftly flowing
nebis. At noon he had restored Ayane to the lodge of his family,
ing him under the fond care of a maiden of his tribe, scarcely less
than the daughter of Canassa, he turned back to follow again his
party. It was not until the next day that he fell in with them at therendezvous
he had appointed, when, joining them they pursued the
the mountains of the wilderness.

The passion of Natanis for the beauteous Willewa grew strong
day, and he resolved in his heart that if Canassa refused him her
marriage, he would, with her consent, make her his bride by
Her image filled his thoughts during all his hunting excursions,
mantic was the influence of his love for her, and whatever belong
upon his mind, that he forbade, for the sake of Neta, any of his
slaying a doe. His warriors readily obeyed him, for he had related
when assembled around the fires of their common hunting-lodge
of his adventures, and how the fair daughter of Canassa had saved
of Ayane who was greatly beloved by all his companions. And when Natanis,
after reciting to them, with all the eloquence of love, the tale
hospitality, and impassionedly deseribing her grace, beauty and
told them that he intended to make her his bride, they clashed their hunting
spears together in rude acclamations, and shouted aloud the names of Natanis
and Willewa.'

The idea of uniting the two tribes under their own chief was
to these warriors; for they knew that when Canassa should die,

would be in the hands of the Abanaquis. The union, there
might be agreeable to the tribe of Natanis, would, for the same
likely to be opposed by the equally haughty and ambitious braves
.

now given an account of the manner in which our hero first met
lovely Willewa, we will return to the thread of our story which we
interrupted for this purpose, and let the Indian girl explain in her own
Natanis, her object in seeking him at his lodge.

had planted his lodge there two nights before for the purpose of
the object of his love, and frequently enjoying her society, which
by secretly visiting her at the fountain, though running great risks
very; for, as the invasion of his hunting-grounds by the young
Abanaquis chief and his party had been discovered by Canassa, his hunters
instantly on the alert. To be thus near Willewa, Natanis had se
his own warriors at their national lodges, not telling them whither
going, keeping his secret even from his friend Ayane, well knowing
try to dissuade him from exposing himself to the chance of falling
hands of the Nerijewecs. The place he had selected was on the
of his own hunting-grounds, and he chose it for its beauty and se
more than for its safety; for he had boldly raised his lodge on the
of the river, though the spot was shut in by lofty, wooded hills. At
he is introduced to the reader standing in the door of his cabin,
two months had elapsed since he first beheld Willewa. During this
had met six or seven times, the last time, the evening before at the
.

motive which governed Natanis in fixing his abode there, so near
council-fires of his foes, was with the intention of inviting Canassa to
see him for the purpose of making proposals for a reconciliation,
union with his daughter. To bring about this end it was decided
the lovers that Willewa should the next day prevail on her father
her alone in his war-canoe from the valley of Lodges into the
if for an excursion merely for her gratification; and that when
in the river she should allure him along the banks until they came
the lodge of Natanis, which she should discover with an excla
if she was not aware of its existence; that Natanis should not be
time, but concealed in the grove, and that she should propose to
to land and visit it. Natanis was then to approach and surprise
and invite the haughty Canassa to accept his hospitality. Wille
to place herself between Natanis and her father to prevent any hos
should the latter show himself disposed to show battle, and as a
, mediator endeavor to make them sitdown together as host and guest,
effected without weapons drawn by him, she and Natanis both
would open a way to a final and permanent reconciliation. Wil
not, of course to let the old Chief suspect she had ever seen the
before.

was the plan upon which they had the last night parted, and it was
been carried into effect that day if possible; but, should Natanis
her during the day it was settled that he was again to visit her at the
in the evening to ascertain what obstacle had intervened. He
, about to proceed to the interview, having had that day, as
and Sharp Knife, instead of the fair Willewa and Canassa,
discovered her standing in the moonlight in front of his lodge.

sat by his side upon the bear-skin he had placed for her outside
, her small hand fluttering as as he held it in his, and her young
heaving with agitation, and the speed with which she had hastened
.

speak Willewa, what have those two little cherries to talk about?

Had thy father discovered that an Abanaquis has dared to plant his lodge
within sight of the smokes of his council fires, and do you hasten to bid me
fly? I have waited all day, gentle Fawn of my breast; and my eyes have
never ceased watching for thee and Canassa. Impatient, I crossed the river
in my canoe an hour before sunset and followed the trail to thy lodges for a
mile, and then returned disappointed. On my way, I pursued thy father's
game, and slew even a bear that came upon me suddenly. But the skins of
the stag and wild-beast shall be offered to Canassa to-morrow, if he comes
with thee. Why has not my dark-eyed turtle-dove brought with her the
chief of the Nerijewecs to be the guest of Abanaquis?'

`Natanis, the Chief Canassa has this day been holding a council of war,
and he would not listen to the voice of a woman. The words of Willewa
could not enter the ear of the warrior who discoursed only of hattle.'

`Ha! does the Nerijewec sharpen the war-hatchet?' cried Natanis with
surprise, his eyes kindling with courage and the thoughts of battle. `Does
Canassa's war face turn towards the Lodges of the Abanaquies?'

`No, Natanis. My father has no desire to war with thee for thy invasion
of his hunting-grounds; for he regards it but a just retaliation for a like act
of his own hnuters. “Though,” said he to me, “I cannot he the friend of
the Abanaquis, I do not wish to go to war with him. Let the Kennebis flow
ever between us, and its waters shall be as the waters of peace to our borders.”
Perhaps I contributed to this spirit of forbearance,' added Willewa,
`for I discoursed with him of all the long existing feud between our people,
and endeavored to inspire in him thoughts of peace. I even said to him,'
continued the lovely maiden blushing at her own earnestness and sincerity
`that he should not only seek peace with you, but try to bring together the
two tribes, that by union they might gain strength.'

`And did my Singing Robin hint to him how that union might be brought
about?' said Nataniswith a smile, as he gently laid his hand upon her polished
brow, and looked with eloquent love into the deep, dark fountains of
her eyes.

Willewa replied by a slightly reproving look, and her eyes sought the
ground.

`Who, then, fair Star of my soul? who then is Canassa to go to was
with?'

`With the Bostonee.'

`The white brothers upon our borders,' cried Natanis with surprise.—
`Has the English king sent Canassa a war belt filled with gold as he has
done to Sahatis? How know you this, Willewa?' he asked with animation,
his previously tender, playful manner suddenly changed to one of earnest
and serious interest in what she said.

`The great Sachem of the English has sent one of his chiefs to my father
and bade him speak fair words to Canassa. Canassa lent his ears to
him, and the white chief and my father smoked together and Canassa pledged
to the English himself and his warriors. This took place six weeks ago,
Natanis, though I only knew it to-day through my father.'

`This is news, Willewa! what is Canassa's intention? Will he seek the
habitations of the Bostonees? He cannot reach them without crossing the
hunting-grounds of the Abanaquis.'

`Your speech and looks, Natanis, make me tremble, while they assure me,
also, that you are not the enemy of the Bostonees. If Canassa seeks the
habitations of the white settler to war with them, and he crosses your territories,
I fear that there will be strife between thee and him. Whatever happen,
let there be peace, Natanis. But he will not seek the Pale-face. The
Pale face seeks the Indian in his homes.'

`For thy sake, my gentle doe, I will be at peace. But you have not told
me all. What mean your words? What more is on thy tongue?'

`To-day—this morning, when I sought my father's lodge to allure him
hither, as our plan was, I found him surrounded by his warriors, and holding
council; while in their midst stood an Indian of the Damaresc nation—
one of the swift runners of that sea-board tribe!'

`Why was he in the lodge of the Nerijewec?' demanded Natanis quickly.

`He had come to tell my father that three days before, he had seen from a
high hill, a fleet of many of the white-winged canoes of the Pale-face enter
the river, even the Kennebis on whose banks we now stand! That these
ships bore the scarlet-belted flag of the Bostonees, and that he counted upon
the decks, as they sailed up the river, more than a thousand warriors!'

`A thousand Bostonce warriors!' repeated Natanis starting to his feet with
surprise! `said the Damaresc runner this?'

`He told this to my father; and further, that the fleet had stopped two
hours journey below the falls of Cushnoc, there to build batteaux to ascend
the river further. That he there left them, and hastened to Canassa us the
Chief of a powerful tribe, to communicate the intelligence. My father,
therefore, called a council of war, and as he believes that the Bostonees seek
to possess themselves of his territories, he has unburned the war-hatchet,
and is to day assembling his braves to defend his lodges and his hunting-grounds.'

Natanis listened with surprise until she had ended, and then remained
thoughtful and silent. He could not realize that the Americans, with whom
he and the Indian tribes had been so long at peace, could so treacherously
come upon them to surprise and destroy them.

`This expedition of war-canoes,' he said with spirit, `cannot be against
me, if against Canassa, as I have made no compact with their foes, the British.
The great Sachem of Boston knows the Abanaquis is not his foe.—
Thou tremblest for thy father! Fear thee not, Willewa; I will see the Chief
of these white warriors in person, and know if danger menaces the Nerijewec.
But how is it that the Damaresc tribe, who are friends, like Canassa,
to the English Sagamore, how is it that it has been passed by, unmolested?
The Kenuebis, up which they have ascended so far, flows past many a lodge
of the Damarese warriors. Yet said he that they had been harmed?'

`No, Natanis; I have yet more to tell thee,' she added, embarrassed; `did
I but know that thou wert truly the friend of the Bostonee.'

`I love not the white man, Willewa, as if he were of my own race. They
are stronger than we, and by and by will overrun us, and we shall be as the
leaves of the last year. Yet I would not war against them, be cause one of
them has been my friend. Dost thou love the Bostonee?'

`I do, Natanis. Listen to my words. Four years ago I went with my
father to the great council of Lodges at the home of the Sachem of Boston.
My father and other warriors went up to hold a council with the white Chief.
There I was taken into the great Chief's lodge, and his daughter loved me,
and told me she was my white sister. She was fair as the lilly, with soft
eyes, like the sky in color, and shining hair flowing upon her shoulders like
the golden tresses of the water-telossa, when the autumn frost dies them
with gold. Her voice was like the song of the Letel in the morning, and
her laugh rung in the ears of Willewa like the wild melody of the birds of
her native woods. Willewa gave the fair daughter of the great white Sachem
all her heart, and loved to sit upon a silken cushion at her feet and
listen to her.'

`Could she speak thy tongue with thee, Willewa?' asked Natanis.

`Not all the words; but what her lips failed to say, her eyes and smiles
more eloquently expressed.'

`What said this blue eyed maiden of the Pale-faces to thee, as thou did'st
sit at her feet?'

`She asked me if I loved my father. I told her that he was dearer to me
than any on eon earth,—'

`Would'st thou answer her so now, bride of my heart?' inquired Natanis
with mingled tenderness and pride.

`Nay, Natanis; then I did not know thee to love thee,' she answered with
artless sincerity, and lifting to his face her large, gazelle-like eyes with maidenly
joy. `She then asked me why I loved my father; and when I told
her, she said, and sweetly she said it,—

`If you love thus your father, Willewa, because he is kind, and grants
you all your wishes, should you not love more, Him who bestows upon you
your father?'

`She alluded to the Great Spirit, Willewa,' observed Natanis, reverently
laying his hand upon his heart and looking upward with awe to the deep
blue sky, through which the moon was sailing in her silvery car of light,
and over which were spangled a thousand stars, and where, to the eye of
the simple son of the forest, God dwelt in majesty and glory!

`I answered her that I loved the Great Spirit, and that I worshipped him.
She then began to tell me more than my heart could hold, of the majesty,
and power, and goodness of the Great Spirit! She told me how He first
made men good, with gentle hearts, and without a spirit of war and hatred
That there was no enmity then in men's hearts; only love and peace dwelt
there. But man disobeyed and fell under the displeasure of the Great Spirit;
and when he would have destroyed him, his Son interceded, and for his
sake, the Great Spirit spared us! She told me that from that time all the blessings
we have on earth, and all our hopes of dwelling in a land of peace and
love beyond the setting sun, after death, we owe to the love of the Son for us.
That the sun and, moon, and stars shine for us, on His account, for we have
not deserved them on our own; that the seasons roll round, the fruits put
forth, the forests give shade and verdure, that deer and other game are bestowed
upon us for food, and that all our enjoyments came to us through this
good Son of the Great Spirit! This Son, she told me, was all love and benevolence
and peace, and all his desire in return for his goodness to us is,
that we should be like him.'

After this manner did Willewa discourse for several minutes longer to
Natanis, narrating to him in eloquent words the entire outline of the Christian
atonement as it had been taught her by the daughter of the governor on
her visit to Boston. Natanis listened with deep attention. When she had
ended, he said,

`Did not the French Priest, fatherRalle, teach some of your tribes
this?'

`He did, I believe; but I had not been taught it by my father.'

`Is Willewa a Christian?'

`She believes in the Son of the Great Spirit answered the Indian maiden
with touching fervor. `Will Natanis believe?'

`Natanis knows that his father adored the Great spirit of the skies! whom
they worshipped, he will worship. But I will hear thee speak more of this,
Willewa. What you believe, I do not fear to believe. It is for this, then
you are the friend of the Bostonee?'

`I love the daughter of the great Sachem, for she taught me that which
is to make me happy here, and beyond the setting sun, and which I shall
love to teach thee Natanis; it is a faith that will surely find a home in your
noble bosom! For her sake are the Bostonees my friends! What says
Natanis? Are they his?' she asked, looking up into his face with gentle
earnestness.

`They are my friends, also, Willewa.'

`If need be, will Natanis, for my sake, do them service as brothers?'

`I will even unbury the war-hatchet in their defence if you command
me. The friends of Willewa, are the friends of the Abanaquis.'

`Then Natanis, I can trust thee with what more I have in my heart, and
which my ears heard in the lodge of Canassa. The Damaresc had not
been long arrived and given his message, when a second brave of the Kennebis
tribe came running, and stood before the council. He said that he
had been among the tents of the white-warriors as they encamped upon the
river, and that their chief had told him he sought peace with all the tribes.
Their object, he said, was not to make war upon the Indians, but they were
only marching through their hunting-grounds, and ascending the Kennebis
for the purpose of reaching the great fortress of Quebec, where the great
English chief holds his councils, hoping to fall upon it by surprise.'

Natanis uttered an exclamation of astonishment. He stood a moment silent,
and then said impressively,

`This is great news, Willewa!'

`So my father seemed to regard it. He has been in secret council with
his warriors ever since. I waited till night only to fly hither to tell thee
what events have taken place!'

`They are great events, Willewa! Thanks for this promptness in coming
to me! Do you know ought of Canassa's intentions!'

`Nothing! only, as I left, there were great preparations of a war-like nature
going on in the Valley of Lodges!'

`He must contemplate attacking them.'

`The Bostonees are my friends! they are theirs, also, Natanis! This must
not be.'

`Willewa! Canassa is a great Chief and a brave warrior. He is the friend
of the English. He will stand in the path of the Bostonee! How shall
Natanis prevent it? Must the Abanaquis war with the Nerijewec? For thy
sake he cannot. Yet, as thou sayest, Canassa must not cross the path of our
friends. I am glad to know, Willewa, that this expedition is undertaken. I
am glad that the power of the English sachem is menaced! Willewa, if I
will swear not to encounter thy father in battle, will you give me permission
to act as becomes the friend of the great Sagamore of Bostonee? If
Canassa menaces them in their passage up the Kennebis, and sees that I am
at the head of my warriors also, to befriend them, it may check him in his
purposes, and thus the attack he doubtless meditates be prevented. He is
bound to stop them, by his compact with the English. Yet I may restrain
him by the presence of my own warriors.'

`I consent, Natanis; only meet not face to face with my father, save in
peace. Behold in Canassa's face the features of Willewa, and spare him.'

`I swear it, Willewa, by the Great Spirit! Now that we are both friends
of the Bostonee, foes of the English, let us act, then, as becomes us! Come
my gentle roe of the Fountain! I will accompany thee back to thy lodge,
and then must I seek my warriors.'