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insight； and this he grasped that the times were changed；
and his was the way of a bygone day。
〃Mine is the wisdom of the woods；〃 he said； 〃but the woods are
going fast； in a few years there will be no more trees； and my
wisdom will be foolishness。 There is in this land now a big；
strong thing called 'trade；' that will eat up all things and
the people themselves。 You are wise enough； Nibowaka； to paddle
with the stream； you have turned so the big giant is on your
side； and his power is making you great。 But this is not for me；
so only I have enough to eat； and comfort to sleep； I am content
to watch for the light。〃
Across the valley from the big store he dwelt； in a lodge from
which he could easily see the sunrise。 Twenty…five years added
to the fifty he spent in the land of Mayn Mayano had dimmed his
eye； had robbed his foot of its spring； and sprinkled his brow
with the winter rime； but they had not changed his spirit； nor
taught him less to love the pine woods and the sunrise。 Yes；
even more than in former days did he take his song…drum to the
rock of worship； to his idaho as the western red man would
have called it。 And there； because it was high and the wind
blew cold； he made a little eastward… facing lodge。
He was old and hunting was too hard for him； but there was a
strong arm about him now； he dimly thought of it at times
the arm of the fifteen…year…old boy that one time he had shielded。
There was no lack of food or blankets in the wigwam； or of freedom
in the woods under the sun…up rock。 But there was a hunger that
not farseeing Nibowaka could appease； not even talk about。 And
Quonab built another medicine lodge to watch the sun go down
over the hill。 Sitting by a little fire to tune his song…drum；
he often crooned to the blazing skies。 〃I am of the sunset now；
I and my people；〃 he sang； 〃the night is closing over us。〃
One day a stranger came to the hills； his clothes were those of
a white man； but his head； his feet； and his eyes his blood；
his walk； and his soul were those of a red Indian of the West。
He came from the unknown with a message to those who knew him
not： 〃The Messiah was coming； the deliverer that Hiawatha bade
them look for。 He was coming in power to deliver the red race；
and his people must sing the song of the ghost…dance till the
spirit came； and in a vision taught them wisdom and his will！〃
Not to the white man； but to the lonely Indian in the hill cleft
he came； and the song that he brought and taught him was of a
sorrowing people seeking their father。
〃Father have pity on us！ Our souls are hungry for Thee。 There
is nothing here to satisfy us Father we bow to Thy will。〃
By the fire that night they sang； and prayed as the Indian
prays 〃Father have pity and guide us。〃 So Quonab sang the
new song； and knew its message was for him。
The stranger went on； for he was a messenger； but Quonab sang
again and again； and then the vision came； as it must； and
the knowledge that he sought。
None saw him go； but ten miles southward on the river he met a
hunter and said： 〃Tell the wise one that I have heard the new
song。 Tell him I have seen the vision。 We are of the sunset；
but the new day comes。 I must see the land of Mayn Mayano；
the dawn…land； where the sun rises out of the sea。〃
They saw no more of him。 But a day later； Rolf heard of it；
and set out in haste next morning for Albany。 Skookum the
fourth leaped into the canoe as he pushed off。 Rolf was minded
to send him back； but the dog begged hard with his eyes and
tail。 It seemed he ought to go； when it was the old man they
sought。 At Albany they got news。 〃Yes； the Indian went on
the steamboat a few days ago。〃 At New York； Rolf made no
attempt to track his friend； but took the Stamford boat and
hurried to the old familiar woods； where he had lived and
suffered and wakened as a boy。
There was a house now near the rock that is yet called 〃Quonab's。〃
From the tenants he learned that in the stillest hours of the
night before； they had heard the beating of an Indian drum； and
the cadence of a chant that came not from throat of white man's
blood。
In the morning when it was light Rolf hastened to the place；
expecting to find at least an Indian camp； where once had stood
the lodge。 There was no camp； and as he climbed for a higher
view； the Skookum of to…day gave bristling proof of fear at
some strange object there a man that moved not。 His long
straight hair was nearly white； and by his side； forever still；
lay the song…drum of his people。
And those who heard the mournful strains the night before knew
now from Rolf that it was Ouonab come back to his rest； and the
song that he sang was the song of the ghost dance。
〃Pity me； Wahkonda。 My soul is ever hungry。 There is nothing
here to satisfy me； I walk in darkness； Pity me； Wahkondal〃
End