the lake gun-第4章

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love　of　exaggeration　so　common　with　the　vulgar。　〃Still；　it
was　a　gun。〃

〃A　signal　that　the　'Wandering　Jew'　is　near　by；　so；　haul　aft
the　sheets；　and　let　us　depart。〃

In　a　quarter　of　an　hour　the　boat　was　lying　with　her
foresheet　hauled　over；　and　her　helm　down；　within　a
hundred　yards　of　the　object　of　the　long　search　of　the　whole
party。　It　was　deep　water；　and　a　slight　ripple　under　what
might　be　termed　the　cutwater　of　the　tree　indicated　a
movement。　Perhaps　a　lower　current　forced　forward　the
roots；　which；　in　their　turn；　urged　the　trunk　ahead。　As　often
happens　in　such　cases；　the　accidental　formation　of　the
original　fracture；　aided　by　the　action　of　the　weather；　had
given　to　the　end　of　the　trunk　a　certain　resemblance　to　a
human　countenance。　Peter　was　the　first　to　point　out　the
peculiarity；　which　he　looked　upon　uneasily。　Fuller　soon
observed　it；　and　said　the　aspect　was；　in　sooth；　that　of　a
demagogue。　The　forehead　retreated；　the　face　was　hatchet…
shaped；　while　the　entire　expression　was　selfish；　yet
undecided。　As　for　the　Seneca；　he　gazed　on　these　signs
with　wonder；　mingled　with　awe。

｛hatchet　shaped　=　William　Henry　Seward　was　famous　for
his　angular；　hatchet…shaped　nose｝

〃We　see　here　the　wicked　See…wise。　The　Great　Spiritcall
him　Manitou；　or　call　him　Goddoes　not　forget　what　is
wrong；　or　what　is　right。　The　wicked　may　flourish　for　a
while；　but　there　is　a　law　that　is　certain　to　bring　him　within
the　power　of　punishment。　Evil　spirits　go　up　and　down
among　us；　but　there　is　a　limit　they　can　not　pass。　But
Indians　like　this　Swimming　Seneca　do　much　harm。　They
mislead　the　ignorant；　arouse　evil　passions；　and　raise
themselves　into　authority　by　their　dupes。　The　man　who
tells　the　people　their　faults　is　a　truer　friend　than　he　who
harps　only　on　their　good　qualities。　Be　that　only　a　tree；　or
be　it　a　man　bound　in　this　form；　for　a　thousand　winters；　by
the　hand　of　the　Great　Spirit；　it　tells　the　same　story。　See…
wise　did　once　live。　His　career　comes　to　us　in　traditions；　and
we　believe　all　that　our　fathers　told　us。　Accursed　be　the
man　who　deceives；　and　who　opens　his　mouth　only　to　lie！
Accursed；　too；　is　the　land　that　neglects　the　counsels　of　the
fathers　to　follow　those　of　the　sons！〃

〃There　is　a　remarkable　resemblance　between　this　little
incident　in　the　history　of　the　Senecas　and　events　that　are
passing　among　our　pale…faced　race　of　the　present　age。
Men　who；　in　their　hearts；　really　care　no　more　for　mankind
than　See…wise　cared　for　the　fish；　lift　their　voices　in　shouts
of　a　spurious　humanity；　in　order　to　raise　themselves　to
power；　on　the　shoulders　of　an　excited　populace。
Bloodshed；　domestic　violence；　impracticable　efforts　to
attain　an　impossible　perfection；　and　all　the　evils　of　a　civil
conflict　are　forgotten　or　blindly　attempted；　in　order　to　raise
themselves　in　the　arms　of　those　they　call　the　people。〃

〃I　know　your　present　condition；〃　answered　the　young
Seneca；　openly　smiling。　〃The　Manitou　may　have　ordered　it
for　your　good。　Trust　to　HIM。　There　are　days　in　which　the
sun　is　not　seenwhen　a　lurid　darkness　brings　a　second
night　over　the　earth。　It　matters　not。　The　great　luminary　is
always　there。　There　may　be　clouds　before　his　face；　but　the
winds　will　blow　them　away。　The　man　or　the　people　that
trust　in　God　will　find　a　lake　for　every　See…wise。〃






End