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Let the bow, and tomahawk, and pipe, and the wampum of Mohegan he laid in his grave; for when he starts 'twil be in the night, like a warrior on a war-party, and he can not stop to seek them. What says he, Nathaniel? cried Mr. Grant, earnestly, and with obvious anxiety; does he recall the promises of the mediation? and trust his salvation to the Rock of Ages?
"The Mohicans, while they wait, may read of glory and great deeds," I said, "but the belts in their hands are not white. How can this be, my brother?" The Sagamore's eyes flashed: "The belts we remember are red!" he said. "We Mohicans have never understood Iroquois wampum. Let the Lenape of the Kansonsionni bear Iroquois belts!" "In the Long House," said I, "the light is dim.
Bacon led his men back in triumph, bringing forty-five prisoners, and stores of wampum, skins, furs, and English goods. But having broken the power of the Pamunkeys, Bacon had now to meet forces raised by the governor. Soon after the capture of the Rebecca Captain Gardiner joined the little fleet with the Adam and Eve.
Having taken the oath in behalf of themselves and their several tribes the Indians delivered to Col. Francklin a string of Wampum as a solemn confirmation of their act and deed.
The class of ignorant people most often met with in New England were fishermen and the small farmers of the inland townships. Scarcity of money was felt in New England as in Virginia, and resort was had to the use of wampum as a substitute, and corn, cattle, and other commodities were made legal tenders in payment of debts.
I cautiously asked. The men gathered closer about us. "Go as a trader, carrying white wampum. Go to make peace with the Shawnees," slowly replied Dale, his eyes burning with the fire of fanaticism. "Not hankering for slow fires, nor to have squaws heap coals on my head, I must refuse," I retorted. "But I'll go with you or any man, as a scout." "In your blood, too," he jeered.
It was such pretty work! it brought so much money. Horace thought it was just the business for him, and Wampum promised to teach him. In return for this favor, Horace was to instruct the little Indian in spelling. For one or two evenings he appointed meetings in the summer-house, and really went without his own slice of cake, that he might give it to poor Wampum, after a lesson in "baker."
Nor did any member of the tribe forget in his own crude fashion to deck himself for the occasion. The warriors adorned their heads with feathers and daubed their cheeks and lips with ochre. The women clothed themselves in loose-hanging tunics of doeskin girt with strings of wampum, and hung about their tawny shoulders the lovely greens and blues of uncut turquoise.
"But pushed on blindly by herself," I exclaimed, "braving the sombre Northland forests with her little ragged feet half naked, hungry, friendless, and alone, facing each terror calmly, possessed only of her single purpose! O Sagamore of a warrior clan that makes a history of brave deeds done, can you read in the records of your most ancient wampum a braver history than this?"
The Indians now gravely smoked their pipes, whilst Henry inwardly endured tortures of suspense. At length, the pipes being finished, a long pause of silence followed. Then Minaváváná, taking a few strings of wampum in his hand, began a long speech, of which it is only necessary to give a few extracts: "Englishman, it is to you that I speak, and I demand your attention!
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