Iena.Should he fail?
Mamatee. Then all will fail;—Tecumseh's scheme will fail.[R]
Iena. It shall not! Let us go to him at once!
Mamatee. And risk your life?
Iena.Risk hovers everywhere
When night and man combine for darksome deeds.
I'll go to him, and argue on my knees—
Yea, yield my hand—would I could give my heart
To stay his purpose and this act of ruin.
Mamatee. He is not in the mood for argument.
Rash girl! they die who would oppose him now.
Iena. Such death were sweet as life—I go! But, first—
Great Spirit! I commit my soul to Thee. [Kneels.
Scene.—An open space in the forest near the Prophet's Town. A fire of billets burning. War-cries are heard from the town.
Enter the Prophet.
Prophet. My spells do work apace! Shout yourselves hoarse,
Ye howling ministers by whom I climb!
For this I've wrought until my weary tongue,
Blister'd with incantation, flags in speech,
And half declines its office. Every brave
Inflamed by charms and oracles, is now
A vengeful serpent, who will glide ere morn
To sting the Long-Knife's sleeping camp to death.
Why should I hesitate? My promises!
My duty to Tecumseh! What are these
Compared with duty here? Where I perceive
A near advantage, there my duty lies;
Consideration strong which overweighs
All other reason. Here is Harrison—
Trepann'd to dangerous lodgment for the night—
Each deep ravine which grooves the prairie's breast
A channel of approach; each winding creek
A screen for creeping death. Revenge is sick
To think of such advantage flung aside.
For what? To let Tecumseh's greatness grow,
Who gathers his rich harvest of renown
Out of the very fields that I have sown!
By Manitou, I will endure no more!
Nor, in the rising flood of our affairs,
Fish like an osprey for this eagle longer.
But, soft!
It is the midnight hour when comes
Tarhay to claim his bride. [Calls.] Tarhay! Tarhay!
Enter Tarhay with several braves.