“Come, love,” said Rolfe, “rather rejoice that you escaped; for the same fate awaited you.”
“Oh! Richard! rejoice in the death of one who knew not wrong, and who ever loved her friends more dearly than herself! but for you, I had rather have suffered with her than live and know that I may have brought misfortune on herself and mother. Oh! kind, dear Miskwa!”
Rolfe used all his exertions to console her,—assured her that the death of Miskwa and her mother had been caused solely by the cruel orders of the Prophet; and saying every thing that he could to sooth her, left her for a time to her own meditations.
The town had been burned, the smoke was still rising from its ruins, the soldiers had all returned to their camp, and it was evening when Rolfe and Gay stood alone over the fresh grave of Netnokwa and her daughter. Upon arriving there, Gay wept bitterly, and vented her grief in passionate exclamations. “Oh! Richard!” she cried, “only a short time since, and she was planning my safety, regardless of her own! and now”—her utterance was choked with grief.
“Come, Gay,” said Rolfe, “let us return.”
She spoke not, but continued moistening the earth with her tears. Rolfe then entreated her to leave, saying, that the army would set out on the next morning, for the settlements, and that it was necessary that they should at once return to the camp. Twilight was shedding its influence over the scene, when bidding a long, last farewell to the spot where now remained those who had so nobly served her, she permitted him to lead her away.
On the morning of the 9th the troops were early in motion. The Indians were no where to be seen, and fearing lest they should get reinforcements, and return to the attack, they determined to move forward on their march to Vincennes. Forming in the same order in which they had arrived, their loss was more apparent than it had been; and served to shed a gloom over the whole army. All the wagons, with the exception of one, were filled with the wounded, and in that were carried the arms of those who had fallen. There being now no means of transporting their baggage, they resolved to destroy it, and General Harrison setting the example, it was cheerfully followed.
The army then took up its line of march, and Gay, mounted on horseback, and escorted by Rolfe and Earth, proceeded under its protection as far as Vincennes, where they rested a few days, and then continued their journey to Kentucky.
CHAPTER XXIV.
“Last of a noble race,
To a lonely bed they bore him,
'Twas a green, still, solemn place,
Where the mountain pine waves o'er him;
Woods alone
Seem to moan,
Wild streams to deplore him.”
MRS. HEMANS.