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Show 246 TilE LILY AND THE TOTEM. Their dates, which give forth a delicious honey, arc in great abund&nce also, and of these their traffic is large with all other nations. But that they arc a most valiant people, and occupy n territory so troublesome to penetrate, they had been destroyed by other nations, all of whom arc greedy for tl10 rich productions which their watery realm bestows. No1v, it was, that, in our journey homewards, we Urcw nigh to the great lake of the people of the isle of Sarropcc. llcrc it was that my discretion failed me in my passion. Here it was that my footstep faltered, and the vision of mine eyes was completely shut. l knew that our people were at peace with t!Jc people of Sarropce, nnd I thought not of them. But had J not been counselled to vigilance in bringing home the daughter of Onathaqua, even as if the woods were thick with enemies ? Dut J lmd forgotten this caution. 1 sent forth no spies ; I sought for no wisdom from my young warriors; and, like au ignorant child that knows not of the deep gulf beneath, I stepped confidently into the little canoe which was to take lstakalina and myself across an arm of tl1c lake which set inwards, while our warriors fetched a long compass around it. Abs! sc1ior, I was beguiled to this folly by the fond desire that 1 might have the lovely maiden wholly to myself in the little canoe, for already did I begin to grieve with the thought that in n. few day~>, the journey would be at an end, nnd I should tlJcn yield her unto the embraces of another. And thus we entered the canoe. I made for her a couch, in the bottom of the little boat, of leaves gathered from the scented myrtle. With tho paddle in my hand, I began to urge the vessel, but very slowly, lest that we should too soon reach the shore, and find the warriors waitin(P for u~. Sweetly did I strive to discourse in her listening cars; o and w1th what dear delight did I behold her ns she nnswerod me only ,. 247 with her tears. Dut these were as the cherished drops of hopo about mine heart, which gave it a life \vhich it nC\'Cr knew before. While thus we sped, dreaming nothing of any danger, over tho placid waters, with the dark green mangro,·e about us, and a. soft breeze playing on tho surCacc of the great lake, suddenly, from out the palm bushes, darted a cloud of bo:\ts, filled with painted wnrriors, that bore down upon us with shows of fury and a mi,c;hty shout of war. I answered them with a shout, not unlike their own, for already lmd I imbibed something of the lndian nature. I shouted the war-whoop of tho lord of Cnlos, and tried to make myself henrd by the distant 'varriors that formed my escort. And they did hear my clamors; for already had they rounded tho bayou or arm of tho lake 'vhich J had sought to cross, and were pressing down towards us upon the opposite banks. Then did 1 bestir the paddle in my grasp, making rapid progress for tho shore, while the canoes of the Sarropce strove to dart between us and tho place for which t bent. But what could my single paddle nvail against their better equipment: Theirs were canoes of war, carrying each more than a score of power· ful warriors armed for action, and prepared to peril their lil•es in the prosecution of their object. I, too, was armed as an Indian warrior, and with their npproach, I betook me to my weapon. I had learned to throw the short lance, or tho javelin of tho savage, with a dexterity like his own; and, ere they could nppronch me, I had fatally struck with these darts two of their most vnliant warriors. They stro,·o not to return the arrows lest they should hurt tho mniden, Istakn.linn, who had raised hcrS<' lf at tho first danger, aud now strove with the paddle which I had thrown down. As one of tho canoes which threatened us drew nigh, J seized the great macana which I carried, and pre~ |
