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to offer those smiling pictures of successful husbandry that
so much abound farther north。 A somber； or it might be
better to say a sober； aspect gave dignity to the
landscape； which； if not actually grand； had； at least； most
of the elements that characterize the noble in nature。
But Fuller； at the moment； was less struck with the
scenery； charming as that certainly was； than with the
statue…like and immovable form on the little promontory。 A
single tree shaded the spot where the stranger stood； but
it cast its shadows toward the west； at that early hour；
leaving the erect and chiseled form in clear sun…light。
Stimulated by curiosity； and hoping to learn something
that might aid him in his search from one as curious as
himself； Fuller turned aside； and； instead of descending to
the spot where Peter had the boat ready for his reception；
he crossed a pleasant meadow； in the direction of the tree。
Several times did our traveler stop to gaze on that
immovable form。 A feeling of superstition came over him
when he saw that not the smallest motion； nor relief of
limb or attitude； was made for the ten minutes that his eye
had rested on the singular and strange object。 At he drew
nearer； however； the outlines became more and more
distinct； and he fancied that the form was actually naked。
Then the truth became apparent： it was a native of the
forest； in his summer garb； who had thrown aside his
blanket； and stood in his leggings； naked。 Phidias could not
have cut in stone a more faultless form； for active；
healthful youth had given to it the free and noble air of
manly but modest independence。
｛Phidias = a very famous Greek sculptor of the 5th
century B。C。｝
〃Sago；〃 said Fuller； drawing near to the young Indian； who
did not betray surprise or emotion of any sort； as the
stranger's foot…fall came unexpectedly on his ear； using
the salutation of convention； as it is so generally practiced
between the two races。 The Indian threw forward an arm
with dignity； but maintained his erect and otherwise
immovable attitude。
｛Sago = a term of greeting； as Cooper believed； among
American Indians｝
〃Oneida？〃 demanded Fuller； while he doubted if any young
warrior of that half…subdued tribe could retain so
completely the air and mien of the great forests and
distant prairies。
〃Seneca；〃 was the simple answer。 The word was uttered in
a tone so low and melancholy that it sounded like
saddened music。 Nothing that Fuller had ever before heard
conveyed so much meaning so simply； and in so few
syllables。 It illuminated the long vista of the past； and cast
a gloomy shadow into that of the future； alluding to a
people driven from their haunts； never to find another
resting…place on earth。 That this young warrior so meant to
express himselfnot in an abject attempt to extort
sympathy； but in the noble simplicity of a heart depressed
by the fall of his raceFuller could not doubt； and every
generous feeling of his soul was enlisted in behalf of this
young Indian。
〃Seneca；〃 he repeated slowly； dropping his voice to
something like the soft； deep tones of the other； 〃then you
are in your own country； here？〃
〃My country；〃 answered the red man； coldly； 〃no； my
FATHER'S country； yes。〃
His English was good； denoting more than a common
education； though it had a slightly foreign or peculiar
accent。 The intonations of his voice were decidedly those of
the Indian。
〃You have come to visit the land of your fathers？〃
A slight wave of the hand was the reply。 All this time the
young Seneca kept his eye fastened in one direction；
apparently regarding some object in the lake。 Fuller could
see nothing to attract this nearly riveted gaze； though
curiosity induced him to make the effort。
〃You admire this sheet of water； by the earnest manner in
which you look upon it？〃 observed Fuller。
〃See！〃 exclaimed the Indian； motioning toward a point
near a mile distant。 〃He moves！ may be he will come
here。〃
〃Moves！ I see nothing but land； water； and sky。 What
moves？〃
〃The Swimming Seneca。 For a thousand winters he is to
swim in the waters of this lake。 Such is the tradition of my
people。 Five hundred winters are gone by since he was
thrown into the lake； five hundred more must come before
he will sink。 The curse of the Manitou is on him。 Fire will
not burn him； water will not swallow him up； the fish will
not go near him； even the accursed axe of the settler can
not cut him into chips！ There he floats； and must float；
until his time is finished！〃
｛Swimming Seneca = though I have been unable to
discover any genuine Native American origin for this
legend； a detailed variation of it can be found in a poem；
〃Outalissa〃； by Rev。 Ralph Hoyt； published in 〃Sketches by
Rev。 Hoyt； Vol。 VIII〃 （New York。 C。 Shepard； n。d。 ＇ca。
1848＇ （the Geneva College library copy of which is
inscribed 〃DeLancey〃 and may have belonged to the family
of Cooper's brother…in…law； Episcopal Bishop of Western
New York William Heathcote De Lancey （1797…1865）； who
lived in Geneva）a somewhat different version forms the
Geneva （Hobart） College student legend of Chief
Agayentha or 〃The Floating Chief。〃｝
〃You must mean the 'Wandering。 Jew？' 〃
〃So the pale…faces call him； but he was never a Jew。 'Tis a
chief of the Senecas； thrown into the lake by the Great
Spirit； for his bad conduct。 Whenever he tries to get upon
the land； the Spirit speaks to him from the caves below；
and he obeys。〃
〃THAT must mean the 'Lake Gun？' 〃
〃So the pale…faces call it。 It is not strange that the names
of the red man and of the pale…faces should differ。〃
〃The races are not the same； and each has its own
traditions。 I wish to hear what the Senecas say about this
floating tree； but first have the goodness to point it out to
me。〃
The young Indian did as Fuller requested。 Aided by the
keener vision of the red man； our traveler at length got a
glimpse of a distant speck on the water； which his
companion assured him was the object of their mutual
search。 He himself had been looking for the 〃Jew〃 a week；
but had asked no assistance from others； relying on the
keenness of his sight and the accuracy of his traditions。
That very morning he had first discovered the speck on the
water； which he now pointed out to his companion。
〃You think； then； that yonder object is the 'Wandering
Jew？' 〃 asked Fuller。
〃It is the Swimming Seneca。 Five hundred winters has he
been obliged to keep in the chilled waters of the lake； in
five hundred more the Manitou will let him rest on its
bottom。〃
〃What was the offense that has drawn down upon this
chief so severe a punishment？〃
〃Listen to our traditions； and you shall know。 When the
Great Spirit created man； He gave him laws to obey； and
duties to perform〃
〃Excuse me； Seneca； but your language is so good that I
hardly know what to make of you。〃
An almost imperceptible smile played about the
compressed lip of the young Indian； who； at first； seemed
disposed to evade an explanation； but； on reflection； he
changed his purpose； and communicated to Fuller the
outlines of a very simple； and； by no means； unusual
history。 He was a chief of the highest race in his tribe； and
had been selected to receive the education of a pale…face
at one of the colleges of that people。 He had received a
degree； and； yielding to the irrepressible longings of what
might almost be termed his nature； he no sooner left the
college in which he had been educated； than he resumed
the blanket and leggings； under the influence of early
recollections； and a mistaken appreciation of the
comparative advantages between the civilized condition；
and those of a life passed in the forest and on the prairies。
In this respect our young Seneca resembles the white
American； who； after a run of six months in Europe；
returns home with the patriotic declaration in his mouth；
that his native land is preferable to all other lands。 Fuller
soon understood the case； when both reverted to their
common object in coming thither。 The young Seneca
thereupon resumed his explanation。
｛the young Indian = almost certainly based on Abraham
La Fort or De…hat…ka…tons （1799…1848）； an Oneida Indian
who attended Geneva College in the late 1820s； but who
later abandoned Christianity and returned to his traditional
way of life｝
〃These laws of the Great Spirit；〃 continued the Seneca；
〃were not difficult to obey so long as the warrior was of a
humble mind； and believed himself inferior to the Manitou；
who had fashioned him with His hands； and placed him
between the Seneca and the Cayuga； to hunt the deer and
trap the beaver。 But See…wise was one of those who
practiced arts that you pale…faces condemn； while you
submit to them。 He was a demagogue among the red men；
and set up the tribe in opposition to the Manitou。〃
｛See…wise = intended to represent William Henry Seward's
surname｝
〃How；〃 exclaimed Fuller； 〃did the dwellers in the forest
suffer by such practices？〃
〃Men are every where the same； let the color； or the tribe；
or the country be what it may。 It was a law of our people；
one which tradition tells us came direct from the Great
Spirit； that the fish should be taken only in cer