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one which tradition tells us came direct from the Great
Spirit； that the fish should be taken only in certain
seasons； and for so many moons。 Some thought this law
was for the health of the people； others； that it was to
enable the fish to multiply for the future。 All believed it
wise； because it came from the Manitou； and had
descended to the tribe through so many generations： all
but See…wise。 He said that an Indian ought to fish when
and where he pleased； that a warrior was not a woman；
that the spear and the hook had been given to him to be
used； like the bow and arrow； and that none but cowardly
Indians would scruple to take the fish when they wished。
Such opinions pleased the common Indians； who love to
believe themselves greater than they are。 See…wise grew
bolder by success； until he dared to say in council； that the
red men made the world themselves； and for themselves；
and that they could do with it what they pleased。 He saw
no use in any night； it was inconvenient； an Indian could
sleep in the light as well as in the darkness； there was to
be eternal day； then the hunt could go on until the deer
was killed； or the bear treed。 The young Indians liked such
talk。 They loved to be told they were the equals of the
Great Spirit。 They declared that See…wise should be their
principal chief。 See…wise opened his ears wide to this talk；
and the young men listened to his words as they listened
to the song of the mocking…bird。 They liked each other；
because they praised each other。 It is sweet to be told that
we are better and wiser than all around us。 It is sweet to
the red man； the pale…faces may have more sober minds
〃
The Seneca paused an instant； and Fuller fancied that a
smile of irony again struggled about his compressed lip。 As
the traveler made no remark； however； the youthful
warrior resumed his tale。
〃I hear a great deal of what demagogues are doing among
your people； and of the evil they produce。 They begin by
flattering； and end by ruling。 He carries a strong hand； who
makes all near him help to uphold it。 In the crowd few
perceive its weight until it crushes them。
〃Thus was it with See…wise。 Half the young men listened to
him； and followed in his trail。 The aged chiefs took counsel
together。 They saw that all the ancient traditions were
despised； and that new conduct was likely to come in with
new opinions。 They were too old to change。 What was done
has never been said； but See…wise disappeared。 It was
whispered that he had gone down among the fish he loved
to take out of season。 There is one tradition； that he
speared an enormous salmon； and the fish； in its 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 a tree
was seen floating about the Seneca； and one of the oldest
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 a thousand winters。 It 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 can not say。 The things learned in childhood remain the
longest on the memory。 They make the deepest marks。 I
have seen the evil that a demagogue can do among the
pale…faces； why should I not believe the same among my
own people？〃
〃This is well enough； as respects the curse on the
demagogue； but lakes do not usually〃
Fuller had got thus far； when the Seneca； as if in mockery；
emitted the sound that has obtained the name of the 〃Lake
Gun〃 among those who have lived on its banks in these
later times。 Perhaps it was； in part； the influence of the
Seneca's legend； united to the opinions and statements of
the inhabitants of that region； which conspired to make our
traveler start； in awe and surprise； for； certainly； the deep…
mouthed cannon never gave forth a more impressive and
sudden concussion on the ear。
〃It does； indeed； sound very like a gun！〃 said Fuller； after a
long pause had enabled him to speak。
〃It is the voice of the Great Spirit； forbidding See…wise to
fish；〃 answered the Seneca。 〃For a 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 Manitou。
But I must go nearer to the treeha！ what has become of
it？〃
Fuller looked； and； sure enough； the speck on the water
had vanished。 This might have been by an unobserved
movement in a current； or it might have been owing to a
sudden variation in the light； certain it was； no tree could
now be seen。 Fuller then proposed to use his boat； in
endeavoring to get nearer to the 〃Jew。〃 The Seneca gave a
very cheerful assent； and； throwing his light summer
blanket； with an air of manly grace； over a 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 marvelous in
this appearance and disappearance of the swimming
Seneca； and would hesitate about going any nearer to him；
but this is not my feelingerror is strengthened by
neglecting to look into truth。 I hope yet to go near See…
wise。〃
Fuller hardly knew what to think of his companion's
credulity。 At times he appeared to defer to the marvelous
and the traditions of his tribe； then； again； the lights of
education would seem to gleam upon the darkness of his
superstition； and leave him a man of inductive reason。 As
for himself； he was probably not altogether as much of the
last as his pride of race would have led him to hope。
Peter had seen nothing； but he had heard the 〃Gun。〃
〃 'T was a mere flash in the pan to what I have heard；
when the lake is in 'arnest；〃 said the old fellow； with the
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 ma