“Determine to listen to nothing that is bad. Do not take up the tomahawk, should it be offered by the British or the Long Knives. Do not meddle with any thing that does not belong to us, but let us mind our own business and cultivate the ground, that our women and our children may have enough to live on. I now inform you that it is our intention to live in peace with our Father and his people for ever.
“My Father, I have informed you what we mean to do, and I call the Great Spirit to witness the truth of my declaration. The religion which I have established for the last three years, has been attended to by the different tribes of Indians in this part of the world. Those Indians were once different people; they are now but one; they are all determined to practise what I have communicated to them, and that has come immediately from the Great Spirit through me.
“Brother, I speak to you as a warrior. You are one. But let us lay aside this character, and attend to the care of our children that they may live in peace and comfort. We desire that you will join us for the preservation of both red and white people. Formerly, when we lived in ignorance, we were foolish; but now, since we listen to the voice of the Great Spirit, we are happy.
“I have listened to what you have said to us. You have promised to assist us. I now request you in behalf of all the red people, to use your exertions to prevent the sale of liquor to us. We are all well pleased to hear you say that you will endeavour to promote our happiness. We give you every assurance that we will follow the dictates of the Great Spirit.
“We are all well pleased with the attentions you have shown us; also the good intentions of our Father the President.”
There was so much apparent frankness in this speech, that it won in a great measure the confidence of the Governor. The Prophet continued his visit for more than two weeks;—frequently addressed his followers, dwelling solely on the evils of war, and the bad effects of ardent spirits, and persuading them to live in peace and friendship with all mankind. The Governor was astonished at the perfect ease with which he governed his followers, and was convinced that they acted on principle, from not being able to make them drink spirit, which he tried to do by way of experiment.—Elkswatawa denied all connexion with the British, and by his manner and address, succeeded in deceiving the Governor, and even caused him to believe that his intentions had been misrepresented. He went farther,—he satisfied the Governor that the influence he had gained was beneficial to humanity, and having created the impression he desired, returned with his followers to Tippecanoe.
We have now given a sketch of the great plan of union, which was projected by the brothers, and traced the character of Elkswatawa, from his first appearance as a Prophet, to the period at which he was introduced in his temporary camp, on the prairie. His power was then as great as we have painted it, and had been obtained by the means we have stated. He was then professing peace, though doing all in his power to bring about war. And now having brought up the history of the Prophet to the period of which we are writing, we will proceed with our narrative.
CHAPTER XIV.
“A hectic pleasure flushed her faded face;
It fled, and deeper paleness took its place;
Then a cold shudder thrilled her—and, at last,
Her lip a smile of bitter sarcasm cast.”
DRAKE.
A year and more had now passed, since the disaster on the Ohio, and the captive maiden had already gone through more adventures than fall to the lot of most heroines, or than even it is my intention to describe. And, with the lapse of time, came changes,—changes that we must all feel.—The girlish form which we last beheld indicated that time had added to it strength, and filled out its beautiful proportions, and the maiden was now as pretty as woman can be. Grief had left its traces, but even they were beautiful.