Guard, sentinel I to arms! to arms I to arms I Indians 1 Indians 1 my voice swelled loud and deep: The camp is roused at dread of tray alarms,
They wake and find -that f am as##d asleep t
They were greatly amused at the recital of his imaginary fancies, and seemed to understand how little import I attached to such visions. " Happen what may," said they, °` we shall never quit our Father until we see him in a place of safety." This was precisely what I desired. I could not,
iv This episode and the above lines composed in honor of it were evidently favorites with Father De Smet. He was fond of working them into his letters, and he, or some of his polyglot friends, put the rhymes into various languages. We give two versions
Tempus crat, quo densa tenebrarum agmina terram Invadunt, et nox infudit praecordia sornnos.
Ecce autem medium tenebris, exhorreo dicta I . Terribilis mihi silvicolarum occurrit imago!
Ter rapidis volitans alis, repetitque fugitque
Umbra. Tumente animo sub pectore fords in hostem Irruo, vel potius trepidans visa irruere opt
Cum subito tremulis pennis hasta umbra minante Advolat ut condat crudele in pectore ferrum.
Loca tenens animo constanti, arma, arma I clamabam I Magna Iustra sonant voce I Indicus, Indicus ecce I Miscentur subito pavitantia murmure casts,
Excussi somno, currant quo voce vocati, Obstupuere 1 gravis mea somnus membra tenebat t
De grouwzaem middernacht was nauwelyk geslagen, Toen, en 'k bled a de waerheid aen,
5haks en tot drymael toe myn eigen oogen zaegen De schim van eenen Indiaen.
Vol cooed, ik loop er op, gewapend met myn degen Maer ziet, vet van to zyn vervaerd,
Het schroomelyke spook koomt my stoutmoedig tegen, En heft op my zyn naekte zwaerd.
De vrees springt my naer 't hert; ik roop als half verslonden, Moord, moord 1 de duivel, d'Indiaen 1
Ontwekt 't yolk koomt tee hulp, en heeft m'in slaep gevottdett:Zoo bee ik dit gevaer ontgaen.