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Show 238 TIIF, LILY .AND THE TOTEM. . nnd rude figures whic], they scored upon the breast, I drew there the figure of a large cross, by which, though none but myself n1ight know, 1 made anew my nssuraucc l.o IIoly i\fothcr, of a faith unpcri:;hing, in llim who bore its burthen; ami implored llis protection against the perils which migl1t lurk along the path. Tn the same manner, with a bloody cross, did l inscribe my forehead and each check, while I dipped my h:mds above the wrist in the black dyes which they aho used iL'I paints, and which they took from the walnut and other woods of the forest. Greatly did my c"hri<;tian comrades wonder to behold me, painted aflot· this fashion, with a bunch of turkey feathers tied about my hf'ad like the savage, r.nd the strange weapons of the red-men in my grasp. These rC"joieed exceedingly as they beheld me, and lau;hed and chatted among themselves, saying-' Y nh~hcc-wec! Yah-hee-lvce !' with other words, by wl1ich they testified their satisfaction. But our Spaniards were in the same dcgreC' sorry, as it seemed to them that, in spite of the holy emblem upon my breast, 1 had <lclivcred myself up to the enemy, and had put on, with the lmbit, all the superstitions of the lleathen. They had sorrow upon other grounds, since I was about to leave them, and, from the fa\'or I had found with the lord of Calos, I had grown to be one to whom they began to look as to a mediator and protector. "We set out thus for the country of the enemy, the lord of Calos leading the way upon the march, as is tl1o custom with tl1o Indians, while the foe is yet at a di.~tance from the spot. But, as we drew nigh to the hills of the A palachian, the young men \vcro scattered on C\'Cry h~nd, as so many light troops. Th('y co\·ercd all the paths, thry harbored in all places where they could maintain watch and find security, and nightly they sent in runners to TilE J.Dn:~TUllE OF LE UARUU • 239 the camp, reporting ti,cir discoveries. l cntrentcd of the lord of Calos to be sent with these yom1g men ; but, whether l1e feared th:t~ I would seck :m opportunity to fly and escape to the enemy, 1 know not. lie refused, saying that it required scouts of expcl'icncc,- mcn who knew the ways of the country, and that l could be of no usc in such ad\•entures. lie was pleased to add that he wisl1cd me ncar him, as one of his own warriors-that is, the warriors of his family or tribe-that 1 might do battle at his side, and in l1is sight! "\Ve were not long in finding the enemy, who had received tidings of our approach. Sc\·cral battles were fought, in which I did myself credit in the eyes of our warriors. The lord of Calos was greatly pleased. ITo took me with him into counsel, and it was fortunate that the advice which I gave, as to the conduct of the war, was adopted, and was greatly successful. 1\[any were the warri or<~ of the mountain whom we slew. Many scalps wcro taken, and more than a hundred cnp!ive boys and damsels. These, if young, arc alway!! spared, and taken into the conquering tribe. The former nrc newly marked with the totem of the people who take them, wl1ilc the latter become the wives of the chiefs, who greatly Yalue them. I confess to you, my brcthJ·cn, that I was guilty of the sin of bking one of these same women into my cnbin, who was to me n~ a wife, though no holy priest, with nppointcd ceremonials of the clmrch, g:l.Ye his sanct ion to oUl· communion. She was a lovely and a loving creature, scarcely sixteen, but very fair, almost like a Spaniard, and of hair so long that she hath thrice wra.pt it around her own neck and mine." " Why didst thou not tell me of that woman ?" said Laudonnicrc, interrupting the narrator. u Had we known, she should lmve been procured with thee. But, even now, it is not too lato. |
