the spirit of the border- 第19部分

of　their　costume；　stalking　among　the　teepees　of　the　Village　of　Peace。　Somehow；

such　a　procession　always　made　Jim　shiver。　The　singing；　praying　and　preaching

they　heard　unmoved。　No　emotion　was　visible　on　their　bronzed　faces；　nothing

changed　their　unalterable　mien。　Had　they　not　moved；　or　gazed　with　burning

eyes；　they　would　have　been　statues。　When　these　chieftains　looked　at　the

converted　Indians；　some　of　whom　were　braves　of　their　nations；　the　contempt　in

their　glances　betrayed　that　they　now　regarded　these　Christian　Indians　as

belonging　to　an　alien　race。



Among　the　chiefs　Glickhican　pointed　out　to　Jim　were　Wingenund；　the　Delaware；

Tellane；　the　Half…King；　Shingiss　and　Kotoxenall　of　the　Wolf　tribe　of　the

Delawares。



Glickhican　was　careful　to　explain　that　the　Delaware　nation　had　been　divided

into　the　Wolf　and　Turtle　tribes；　the　former　warlike　people；　and　the　latter

peaceable。　Few　of　the　Wolf　tribe　had　gone　over　to　the　new　faith；　and　those　who

had　were　scorned。　Wingenund；　the　great　power　of　the　Delawaresindeed；　the

greatest　of　all　the　western　tribesmaintained　a　neutral　attitude　toward　the

Village　of　Peace。　But　it　was　well　known　that　his　right…hand　war…chiefs；　Pipe

and　Wishtonah；　remained　coldly　opposed。



Jim　turned　all　he　had　learned　over　and　over　in　his　mind；　trying　to　construct

part　of　it　to　fit　into　a　sermon　that　would　be　different　from　any　the　Indians

had　ever　heard。　He　did　not　want　to　preach　far　over　their　heads。　If　possible；

he　desired　to　keep　to　their　idealsfor　he　deemed　them　more　beautiful　than　his

ownand　to　conduct　his　teaching　along　the　simple　lines　of　their　belief；　so

that　when　he　stimulated　and　developed　their　minds　he　could　pass　from　what　they

knew　to　the　unknown　Christianity　of　the　white　man。



His　first　address　to　the　Indians　was　made　one　day　during　the　indisposition　of

Mr。　Wellswho　had　been　over…working　himself…and　the　absence　of　the　other

missionaries。　He　did　not　consider　himself　at　all　ready　for　preaching；　and

confined　his　efforts　to　simple；　earnest　talk；　a　recital　of　the　thoughts　he　had

assimilated　while　living　here　among　the　Indians。



Amazement　would　not　have　described　the　state　of　his　feelings　when　he　learned

that　he　had　made　a　powerful　impression。　The　converts　were　loud　in　his　praise；

the　unbelievers　silent　and　thoughtful。　In　spite　of　himself；　long　before　he　had

been　prepared；　he　was　launched　on　his　teaching。　Every　day　he　was　called　upon

to　speak；　every　day　one　savage；　at　least；　was　convinced；　every　day　the　throng

of　interested　Indians　was　augmented。　　The　elder　missionaries　were　quite

overcome　with　joy；　they　pressed　him　day　after　day　to　speak；　until　at　length　he

alone　preached　during　the　afternoon　service。



The　news　flew　apace；　the　Village　of　Peace　entertained　more　redmen　than　ever

before。　Day　by　day　the　faith　gained　a　stronger　foothold。　A　kind　of　religious

trance　affected　some　of　the　converted　Indians；　and　this　greatly　influenced　the

doubting　ones。　Many　of　them　half　believed　the　Great　Manitou　had　come。



Heckewelder；　the　acknowledged　leader　of　the　western　Moravian　Mission；　visited

the　village　at　this　time；　and；　struck　by　the　young　missionary's　success；

arranged　a　three　days'　religious　festival。　Indian　runners　were　employed　to

carry　invitations　to　all　the　tribes。　The　Wyandots　in　the　west；　the　Shawnees　in

the　south；　and　the　Delawares　in　the　north　were　especially　requested　to　come。

No　deception　was　practiced　to　lure　the　distant　savages　to　the　Village　of

Peace。　They　were　asked　to　come；　partake　of　the　feasts；　and　listen　to　the　white

man's　teaching。







Chapter　XII。



〃The　Groves　Were　God's　First　Temples。〃



From　dawn　until　noon　on　Sunday　bands　of　Indians　arrived　at　the　Village　of

Peace。　Hundreds　of　canoes　glided　down　the　swift　stream　and　bumped　their　prows

into　the　pebbly　beach。　Groups　of　mounted　warriors　rode　out　of　the　forests　into

the　clearing；　squaws　with　papooses；　maidens　carrying　wicker　baskets；　and

children　playing　with　rude　toys；　came　trooping　along　the　bridle…paths。



Gifts　were　presented　during　the　morning；　after　which　the　visitors　were

feasted。　In　the　afternoon　all　assembled　in　the　grove　to　hear　the　preaching。



The　maple　grove　wherein　the　service　was　to　be　conducted　might　have　been

intended　by　Nature　for　just　such　a　purpose　as　it　now　fulfilled。　These　trees

were　large；　spreading；　and　situated　far　apart。　Mossy　stones　and　the　thick

carpet　of　grass　afforded　seats　for　the　congregation。



Heckeweldera　tall；　spare；　and　kindly　appearing　mandirected　the　arranging

of　the　congregation。　He　placed　the　converted　Indians　just　behind　the　knoll

upon　which　the　presiding　minister　was　to　stand。　In　a　half　circle　facing　the

knoll　he　seated　the　chieftains　and　important　personages　of　the　various　tribes。

He　then　made　a　short　address　in　the　Indian　language；　speaking　of　the　work　of

the　mission；　what　wonders　it　had　accomplished；　what　more　good　work　it　hoped　to

do；　and　concluded　by　introducing　the　young　missionary。



While　Heckewelder　spoke；　Jim；　who　stood　just　behind；　employed　the　few　moments

in　running　his　eye　over　the　multitude。　The　sight　which　met　his　gaze　was　one　he

thought　he　would　never　forget。　An　involuntary　word　escaped　him。



〃Magnificent！〃　he　exclaimed。



The　shady　glade　had　been　transformed　into　a　theater；　from　which　gazed　a

thousand　dark；　still　faces。　A　thousand　eagle　plumes　waved；　and　ten　thousand

bright…hued　feathers　quivered　in　the　soft　breeze。　The　fantastically　dressed

scalps　presented　a　contrast　to　the　smooth；　unadorned　heads　of　the　converted

redmen。　These　proud　plumes　and　defiant　feathers　told　the　difference　between

savage　and　Christian。



In　front　of　the　knoll　sat　fifty　chiefs；　attentive　and　dignified。　

Representatives　of　every　tribe　as　far　west　as　the　Scioto　River　were　numbered

in　that　circle。　There　were　chiefs　renowned　for　war；　for　cunning；　for　valor；

for　wisdom。　Their　stately　presence　gave　the　meeting　tenfold　importance。　Could

these　chiefs　be　interested；　moved；　the　whole　western　world　of　Indians　might　be

civilized。



Hepote；　a　Maumee　chief；　of　whom　it　was　said　he　had　never　listened　to　words　of

the　paleface；　had　the　central　position　in　this　circle。　On　his　right　and　left；

respectively；　sat　Shaushoto　and　Pipe；　implacable　foes　of　all　white　men。　The

latter's　aspect　did　not　belie　his　reputation。　His　copper…colored；　repulsive

visage　compelled　fear；　it　breathed　vindictiveness　and　malignity。　A　singular

action　of　his　was　that　he　always；　in　what　must　have　been　his　arrogant　vanity；

turned　his　profile　to　those　who　watched　him；　and　it　was　a　remarkable　one；　it

sloped　in　an　oblique　line　from　the　top　of　his　forehead　to　his　protruding　chin；

resembling　somewhat　the　carved　bowl　of　his　pipe；　which　was　of　flint　and　a

famed　inheritance　from　his　ancestors。　　From　it　he　took　his　name。　One　solitary

eagle　plume；　its　tip　stained　vermilion；　stuck　from　his　scalp…lock。　It　slated

backward　on　a　line　with　his　profile。



Among　all　these　chiefs；　striking　as　they　were；　the　figure　of　Wingenund；　the

Delaware；　stood　out　alone。



His　position　was　at　the　extreme　left　of　the　circle；　where　he　leaned　against　a

maple。　A　long；　black　mantle；　trimmed　with　spotless　white；　enveloped　him。　　One

bronzed　arm；　circled　by　a　heavy　bracelet　of　gold；　held　the　mantle　close　about

his　lofty　form。　His　headdress；　which　trailed　to　the　ground；　was　exceedingly

beautiful。　The　eagle　plumes　were　of　uniform　length　and　pure　white；　except　the

black…pointed　tips。



At　his　feet　sat　his　daughter；　Whispering　Winds。　Her　maidens　were　gathered

round　her。　She　raised　her　soft；　black　eyes；　shining　with　a　wondrous　light　of

surprise　and　expectation；　to　the　young　missionary's　face。



Beyond　the　circle　the　Indians　were　massed　together；　even　beyond　the　limits　of

the　glade。　Under　the　trees　on　every　side　sat　warriors　astride　their　steeds；

some　lounged　on　the　green　turf；　many　reclined　in　the　branches　of　low…spreading

maples。



As　Jim　looked　out　over　the　sea　of　faces　he　started　in　surprise。　The　sudden

glance　of　fiery　eyes　had　impelled　his　gaze。　He　recognized　Silvertip；　the

Shawnee　chief。　The　Indian　sat　motionless　on　a　powerful　black　horse。　Jim

started　again；　for　the　horse　was　Joe's　thoroughbred；　Lance。　But　Jim　had　no

further　time　to　think　of　Joe's　enemy；　for　Heckewelder　stepped　back。



Jim　took　the　vacated　seat；　and；　with　a　far…reaching；　resonant　voice　began　his

discourse　to　the　Indians。



〃Chieftains；　warriors；　maidens；　children　of　the　forest；　listen；　and　your　ears

shall　hear　no　lie。　I　am　come　from　where　the　sun　rises　to　tell　you　of　the　Great

Spirit　of　the　white　man。



〃Many；　many　moons　ago；　as　many　as　blades　of　grass　grow　on　yonder　plain；　the

Great　Spirit　of　whom　I　shall　speak　created　the　world。　He　made　the　sparkling

lakes　and　swift　rivers；　the　boundless　plains　and　tangled　forests；　over　which

He　caused　the　sun　to　shine　and　the　rain　to　fall。　He　gave　life　to　the　kingly

elk；　the　graceful　deer；　the　rolling　bison；　the　bear；　the　foxall　the　beasts

and　birds　and　fishes。　But　He　was　not　content　for　nothing　He　made　was　perfect

in　His　sight。　He　created　the　white　man　in　His　own　image；　and　from　this　first

man's　rib　He　created　his　matea　woman。　　He　turned　them　free　in　a　beautiful

forest。



〃Life　was　fair　in　the　beautiful　forest。　The　sun　shone　always；　the　birds　sang；

the　waters　flowed　with　music；　the　flowers　cast　sweet　fragrance　on　the　air。　In

this　forest；　where　fruit　bloomed　always；　was　one　tree；　the　Tree　of　Life；　the

apple　of　which　they　must　not　eat。　In　all　this　beautiful　forest　of　abundance

this　apple　alone　was　forbidden　them。



〃Now　evil　was　born　with　woman。　A　serpent　tempted　her　to　eat　of　the　apple　of

Life；　and　she　tempted　the　man　to　eat。　For　their　sin　the　Great　Spirit　commanded

the　serpent　to　crawl　forever　on　his　belly；　and　He　drove　them　from　the

beautiful　forest。　The　punishment　for　their　sin　was　to　be　visited　on　their

children's　children；　always；　until　the　end　of　time。　The　two　went　afar　into　the

dark　forest；　to　learn　to　live　as　best　they　migh