e still alive? or have the swift
years borne her to the dwelling of Wahcoudah?"

"She is still alive," was the reply; "and with pleasant days has
Wahcoudah blessed her since that morning when she bid him depart in
peace whose goodness had restored to her the only child of her love, the
chief joy of her heart. When we return and tell her that we have seen
the brother of Kumshakah, and that, like Kumshakah, he is the protector
of the helpless, the deliverer of the captive, the tidings will fill her
with thankfulness and gladness. Then shall she say, 'But who is
Kumshakah's brother, that mighty man whom the bold red warriors of the
wilderness hold in such respect and awe, and at whose bidding they speed
them to obey?' What shall our answer be--will the brother of Kumshakah
tell us?"

"Since you loved my brother," rejoined the chief, "and it had pleased
you had I been he, then call me Kumshakah, for what I have done I have
done in his name and with his heart, and the time is close at hand when
it will matter but little by what name I am known." The Indian said
this with a melancholy smile. Then, with the light of the setting sun
now thrown about him broad and strong, he thus proceeded with his
answer: "Then may you tell your people that Kumshakah is dust, and
truly. For though we part as friends to-day, to-morrow we meet as foes;
and my heart is telling me that the might of the Shemanols shall
prevail, that the blood-red banner of the English Manakee shall be laid
in the dust, and that the ambushed army of the red man shall be broken
and scattered. Then farewell to Kumshakah! When the battle is ended,
search for him on the bloody war-plain, and you shall find him where he
lies among the slain. If, then, you would know more of the fallen
warrior, ask the sun that shines who Kumshakah is, and he shall answer:
'A shadow on the ground;' ask the winds that blow, and they shall
answer: 'An echo in the woods;' ask the rains that fall, and they shall
answer: 'The dust that feeds the oak and the willow.' If you would know
who Kumshakah was, ask his people, who weep that he is fallen, and they
shall answer: 'One who loved us, and for our sake laid down his life;'
ask his foes, who rejoice that he is fallen, and they shall answer: 'One
who hated us, and warred against us to the death.' And should the
children of the days hereafter rise and ask their sires who Kumshakah
was, then shall the tongue of tradition make answer: 'One who liv