"Now we Oneidas are depressed in our minds. You were a prophetess. You foretold events. You were a warrior. We were your clansmen of the Little Red Foot. You were a sorceress. Empty moccasins danced when you touched the witch-drum. Now, in white plumes, you have mounted to the stars like morning mist.
"_Oyaneh! Continue to listen._
"Our lodge is empty without you. Our fire is lonely without you. Our hearts are desolate, O Thiohero Oyaneh!
"_Little Sister, continue to listen!_
"We have heard your voice at this hour coming to us through the Wood of Brakabeen. It comes in darkness like light when the gates of morning open.
"Thiohero Oyaneh, virgin warrior of the People of the Rock, we are come to the Wood of Brakabeen to greet and thank you.
"We give you grat.i.tude and love. You were a warrior and wore the Little Red Foot. You struck your enemies where you found them. They are dead and without scalps, your enemies. The Canienga howl. Your war-axe sticks in their heads. The Hessians are swine. Your scarlet arrows turn them into porcupines. The green-coats flee and your bullets burn their bowels.
"_O my little sister, listen now!_
"Our trail is very lonely without you. We are dejected. We move like old men and sick. We need your wisdom. We are less wise than those littlest ones still strapped to the cradle board.
"_Thiohero!_
"We have placed food and a cup of water for you lest you hunger and thirst.
"We have laid a bow and scarlet arrows near you so that you shall hunt when you wish.
"We have given you moccasins so that the strange, bright trail shall not hurt your feet.
"We have placed paint for you so that Tharon shall know you by your clan. And we have made for your grave a cross of silver-birch, so that our white Lord Christ shall meet you and take you by the hand in a land so new and strange.
"_Oyaneh!_
"We have said what is in our hearts and minds. We think that is all we have to say. We turn our eyes to the morning. When the gates open we shall depart."
As I ended, the three Oneidas rose and faced the east in silence. All the sky had become golden. Minute after minute pa.s.sed. Suddenly a blinding lance of light pierced the Wood of Brakabeen.
"Haih!" they exclaimed softly. "Nai Thiohero Oyaneh!"
Tahioni covered the fire. The Screech-owl marked us all with a coal still warm.
Then, in silence, I led my people from the misty Wood of Brakabeen.
CHAPTER x.x.x
A LONG GOOD-BYE
On the evening of the 15th of August, the Commandant of Johnstown Fort stood aghast to see a forest-running ragam.u.f.fin and three scare-crow Indians stagger into headquarters at the jail.
"Gad a-mercy!" says he as I offered the salute, "is it _you_, Mr.
Drogue!"
I was past all speech; for we had wolf-jogged all the way up from the river, but from my rags I fished out my filthy papers and thrust them at him. He was kind enough to ask me to sit; I nodded a like permission to my Oneidas and dropped onto a settle; a sergeant fetched new-baked bread, meat, b.u.t.termilk, and pipes for my Indians; and for me a draught of summer cider, which presently I swallowed to the dregs when I found strength to do it.
This refreshed me. I asked permission to lodge my Oneidas in some convenient barn and to draw for them food, pay, tobacco, and clothing; and very soon a corporal of Continentals arrived with a lantern and led the Oneidas out into the night.
Then, at the Commandant"s request, I gave a verbal account of my scout, and reminded him of my instructions, which were to report at Saratoga.
But he merely shuffled my papers together and smiled, saying that he would attend to that matter, and that there were new orders lately arrived for me, and a sheaf of letters, among which two had been sent in with a flag, and seals broken.
"Sir," he said, still smiling in kindly fashion, "I have every reason to believe that patriotic service faithfully performed is not to remain too long unrecognized at Albany. And this business of yours amounts to that, Mr. Drogue."
He laughed and rubbed his powerful hands together, peering good-humouredly at me out of a pair of small and piercing eyes.
"However," he added, "all this is for you to learn from others in higher places than I occupy. Here are your letters, Mr. Drogue."
He laid his hand on a sheaf which lay near his elbow on the table and handed them to me. They were tied together with tape which had been sealed.
"Sir," said he, "you are in a woeful plight for lack of sleep; and I should not detain you. You lodge, I think, at Burke"s Tavern. Pray, sir, retire to your quarters at your convenience, and dispose of well-earned leisure as best suits you."
He rose, and I got stiffly to my feet.
"Your Indians shall have every consideration," said he. "And I dare guess, sir, that you are destined to discover at the Tavern news that should pleasure you."
We saluted; I thanked him for his kind usage, and took my leave, so weary that I scarce knew what I was about.
How I arrived at the Tavern without falling asleep on my two legs as I walked, I do not know. Jimmy Burke, who had come out with a light to greet me, lifted his hands to heaven at sight of me.
"John Drogue! Is it yourself, avic? Ochone, the poor lad! Wirra the day!" says he,--"and luk at him in his rags and thin as a clapperrail!"
And, "Magda! Betty!" he shouts, "f"r the sake o" the saints, run fetch a wash-tub above, an" b"ilin" wather in a can, and soft-soap, too, an"
a-bite-an"-a-sup, or himself will die on me two hands----"
I heard maids running as I climbed the stairway, gripping at the rail to steady me. I was asleep in my chair when some one shook me.
Blindly I pulled the dirty rags from my body and let them fall anywhere; and I near died o" drowning in the great steaming tub, for twice I fell asleep in the bath. I know not who pulled me out. I do not remember eating. They say I did eat. Nor can I recollect how, at last, I got me into bed.
I was still deeply asleep when Burke awoke me. He had a great bowl of smoking soupaan and a pitcher of sweet milk; and I ate and drank, still half asleep. But now the breeze from the open window and the sunshine in my room slowly cleared my battered senses. I began to remember where I was, and to look about the room.
Mine was the only bed; and there was n.o.body lying in it save only myself, yet it was evident that another gentleman shared this room with me; for yonder, on a ladder-back chair, lay somebody"s clothing neatly folded,--a Continental officer"s uniform, on which I perceived the insignia of a staff-captain.
Spurred boots also stood there, and a smartly c.o.c.ked hat.
And now, on a peg in the wall, I discovered this unknown officer"s watch-coat, and his sword dangling by it, and a brace o" pistols.
But where the devil the owner of these implements might be I could not guess.
And now my eyes fell upon the sheaf of letters lying on the table beside me. I broke the sealed tape that bound them; they fell upon the bed clothes; and I picked up the first at hazard, which was a packet, and broke the seal of it. And sat there in my night shift, utterly astounded at what I beheld.