They were nearing the heights of Sillery when Anne closed the book.
"And now for Hiawatha and his white canoe," she said.
"Very well; I will tell you of the good Hiawatha, his daughter, and his
white canoe. He came from the sky one day, in this very wonderful
canoe. He had given up his rights as a deity in order to mingle with
men and teach them wisdom. He was the wisest of all Indians as Nestor
was the wisest of all the Greeks. As a god he was known as
Taounyawatha, and he presided over the fisheries and the waterways.
Whenever there was dissension among the various nations of the
Iroquois, it was his word which settled the dispute. Grey-haired he
was, penetration marked his eye, dark mystery pervaded his countenance.
One day there was internal war and great slaughter followed. The wise
men of the nations got together and summoned Hiawatha. They built
great council fires on the shores of Genentaha Lake, which we call
Onondaga. For three days these fires burned, but the great sage did
not put in appearance, and nothing could be done without his counsel.
When at last messengers found him in his secret abode, he was in a most
melancholy state of mind. Great evil lay in his path, he said; and he
had concluded not to attend the council at Genentaha. But the
messengers said that the great wise men could not proceed with business
until the council was graced with his presence. And if he did not
come, annihilation awaited his children."
Brother Jacques rested on his oars again. Only his voice was with his
narrative; his mind was filled with longing, the same longing which had
always blocked his path to priestly greatness: the love of women.
"So Hiawatha removed his sacred white canoe from the lodge built for
it, and the messengers reverentially assisted him to launch it. The
wise man once again took his accustomed seat, and bade his daughter, a
girl of twelve, and his heart's darling, to accompany him. She
unhesitatingly obeyed; and together they made all possible speed toward
the grand council ground. At the approach of the venerable sage, a
shout of joy resounded throughout the assembled host, and every
demonstration of respect was paid to the illustrious one. As he landed
and was passing up the steep bank toward the council ground, a loud
noise was heard, like the rushing of a mighty wind. All eyes were
instantly turned upward, and a dark spot was discovered rapidly
descending from the clouds above. It grew larger and larger as it
neared the earth, and was descending with frightful velocity into their
very midst. Terror filled every breast, and every one seemed anxious
for his own safety. Confusion prevailed. All but the venerable
Hiawatha sought safety in flight. He gravely uncovered his silvered
head and besought his darling daughter to await the approaching danger
with becoming resignation, at the same time reminding her of the
futility and impropriety of attempting to prevent the designs of the
Great Spirit.