Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-07-24


made no remark, however, the youthful war
rior resumed his tale. A'A-- -4
hear great deal Of what demagoeues
are doing among your people, and of the evil
they produce. They begin by ha,tering and
end by ruling. He carries strong hand, who
makes all near him help to uphold it. In the
crowd, few perceive its weight until il crnshes
them. ,......
Thus was it with See-wise. Half the
young men listened TO him, and followed in
his trail. The aged chiefs took counsel to-
gether. They saw all the ancient traditions
were despised, and that new conduct was like
ly to come in with new opinions. They were
too old to change. What was done has never
been said, but See-wise disappeared 1t was
whispered that he had gone down among the
fish be loved to take out Of season There is
one tradition, that he speared an enormous sal
mon, and the fish in his struggles drew him
out of his canoe, and that his hands could not
let GO Of the handle of his spear. Let this be
as it may, no one ever saw See-wise any more
in the form in which he had been known to his
people.
At length the trunk Of tree was seen
floating about the Seneca, and one of the old
est of the chiefs, pointing to it, pronounced the
name of 'See-wise.' He would fish out
of season, and his spirit is condemned, they
say, to float among the salmon, and trout, and
eels for thousand winters. 1t was not long
after this that the lake began to speak, in a
voice loud as the thunder from the Clouds
The Seneca traditions say this is the Manitou,
calling to See-wise, when he goes down after
the fish out Of season.
And do you, an educated man, believe in
this tale = asked Fuller.
i cannot say. The things learned in child
hood remain the longest on the memory
They make the deepest marks. have seen
the evil that demagogue can do among the
pale-faces why should not believe the same
among my people.'
This is well enough, as respects the curse
on the demagogue bu, lakes do not usually
Fuller had got thus far, when the Seneca,
as if in mockerv, emitted the sound that has
obtained the name of Lake Gun among those
who have lived on its banks in these latter
times. Perhaps it was, in part, the influence
of the Seneca's legend, united to the opinion
and statements of The inhabitants of that region
which conspired to make our traveller start, in
awe and surprise; for certainly the deep
mouthed cannon never gave forth more I'M
pressive and sudden conclusion on the ear
1t does, indeed, sound very like gun =
said Fuller, after long pause had enabled
him 10 speak.
1t is the voice of the Great Spirit, forbid
ding See-wise to fish, answered the Seneca
For time the demagogue has all the talking
to himself, but sooner or later, the voice Of
truth is heard, which is the voice Of the Mani
tou. But must go nearer TO the tree-ha
what has become of itt'
Fuller looked, and sure enough, the speck
on the water had vanished. This might have
been by an unobserved movement in the cur.
rent; or it might have been owing to sudden
variation in the light; certain it was, no tree
could now be seen. Fuller then proposed &c
use his boat, in endeavoring TO get near to the
Jew The Seneca gave very cheerful as
sent, and throwing his light summer blanket
with an air of manly grace, over his shoulder
he followed TO the water side.
Most red men, resumed the young warrior
as he took his place in the boat, would see
something marvellous in this appearance and
disappearance of the Swimming Seneca, and
would hesitate about going any nearer to him
but this is not my feeling-error is strength
ened by neglecting TO look into truth. hope
yet to go near See-wise.'
Fuller hardly knew what to think of his
companions credulity. At times he appeared
10 defer to the marvellous and the traditions Of
his tribe ; then, again, the lights of education
would seem to CLEAN upon the darkness of his
d
reason. As for himself. he was probably moi
altogether as much of the last an his pride OF
race would have led him to hope.
Peter had seen nothing, but he had heard
the Gun
Twas mere fash in the pan TO what
have heard, when the lake is in 'arnest,' said
the old fellow, with 1--we of exaggera,ion Sc
common with the vulgar. Still, it was gun.
A signal that the "Wanderiug Jew" j.
near by, go haul aft the sheets, and let us de.
part a aa- 7a7r .ra.
In quarter of an hour the boat was living
with her foresheet hauled over, and her helm
down, within hundred yards of the object Of
the long search of the whole party. It wa,
deep water, and slight ripple under what
might be termed the cutwater of the tree indi.
Gated movement. Perhaps lower curren,
forced forward the roots, which in their tur,
urged the trunk ahead. As often happens ir
such cases, the accidental formation of the
original fracture, aided by the action of the
weather, had given to the end Of the trunk .
certain resemblance to human countenance
Peter was the first to point out the PECULIARLY
which he locked on uneasily. Fuller observed
it, and said the aspect was, in sooth, that Of q
demagogue The forehead ret,eated, the face
was haichet-shaped, while the entire expires
sion was selfish, yet undecided. As for the
Seneca, he gazed on these signs with wonder
mingled with awe.
I'VE see here the wicked See-wise The