Such was the state of feeling, and the order of things in the American army, which now numbered more than eight hundred men, while that of the Prophet amounted to some five or six hundred. On the one side was a body of disciplined troops, well armed and equipped for battle; on the other, a band of savages, armed, some with guns and rifles, the remainder with bows, tomahawks and war-clubs. It was at this time, and on the morning of the day that the American army arrived, when Kenah, who had now been absent nearly two months, entered alone into Tippecanoe. The Indians were so much excited, that his entrance was not observed by them, and he proceeded at once into the presence of Elkswatawa.
“Ha! Kenah,” said he, “thou art welcome.—Where rests the old woman?”
“Without the walls of the town,” answered Kenah; “she is guarded; the two maidens rest with her. Kenah seeks the Prophet, to know his will.”
“Bring them into the camp,” replied the Prophet; “place them within a cabin, and see that it be watched; and mark me, Kenah, it is the Prophet who speaks,—let not the old woman nor the pale face maiden venture out. The fresh air must not breathe upon their faces. Netnokwa is great, and might lead astray the red men. The pale face maiden would be torn limb from limb. Netnokwa's daughter is to be my brother's bride:—she is free, yet leaves not our camp. Does Kenah hear?” Kenah bowed assent, and Elkswatawa continued:—“Say to the old woman, when within her lodge, ‘the Prophet gives her welcome to his camp;’—it will make her heart glad. And now, Kenah, put your finger upon your lips. Let your arrival be dark;—the Prophet wishes no talk about a woman. The pale faces are crawling upon the lands of the red men, and the Prophet's heart is troubled. When they are gone, the Prophet will see to his prisoners. He says Kenah is true to his trust. He has spoken.——Yet stay, Kenah,—say to him who guards Netnokwa's cabin, ‘death follows his steps, if he disobeys.’ Away.”
Kenah bowed, and without replying, retired from his presence, to obey his orders. Selecting a cabin for his prisoners, which, though at some distance from the rest, was so situated as to render escape on their part almost impossible, he returned to his party. Then causing Netnokwa and the maidens to wrap themselves up so as to conceal their faces, he led the way, and making them follow, soon safely lodged them in the cabin designated.—The warriors were generally engaged in another quarter, and the arrival of Netnokwa and her party was consequently unnoticed. Kenah then, selecting one of his band, ordered him to stand guard,—detailing to him, at the same time, the Prophet's injunctions, with the penalty threatened in case of disobedience. He then entered the cabin and approaching Netnokwa, said:—“The Prophet bids Kenah tell the old woman, ‘she is welcome to his camp.’”
“The Prophet bids the old woman welcome to his camp?” replied Netnokwa:—“When the panther springs upon the doe, he says ‘welcome;’ if the doe has two fawns, he says ‘welcome’ three times.” Kenah replied not to her remark, but continued; “it is the Prophet's will that Netnokwa and the pale face maiden remain within this lodge:—they go not out, or the ground, like a thirsty dog, will drink their blood. Netnokwa's daughter is free to range our camp,1 but ventures no farther, at the peril of her life. So says the Prophet.”
“Netnokwa's daughter will remain within your lodge,” replied Miskwa. “To be with her mother is freedom enough for her.”
Kenah made no answer, but leaving the warrior on duty, he and the remainder of his band were soon mingling with the crowd.
Kenah and his party, whom we have seen safely lodged in the camp of the Prophet, arrived by the route before marked out as the one most likely to be selected by them. Oloompa and the hunters, leaving, as was stated, the south-western extremity of Lake Superior, were using all exertions to reach the point where Kenah and his party had disembarked, under a belief that thither they were bound, and with a hope of getting there in time to intercept them before their arrival. Yet, although the distance to be travelled by them, was much less than that which was to be accomplished by Kenah, they arrived too late. They reached there only in time to learn from an Indian they chanced to meet, that a party, described to be such as the one they were pursuing, had on the morning of the previous day, left the lake for the Prophet's camp.