Chapter VII: The Wizard and the Christian Priest

[_Abenaki_]

_Askua ali wigiidit waʿkasimigʾzowak
Salaʾki agua ni wijiganun kigamʾwinno._[52]

A priest of God came to an Indian town
And settled there to teach the people truth,
Which some received and others spurned with scorn.
Some hostile Mohawks fell upon that town,
Killing the folk, all save the Priest and one,
An Indian of many magic gifts.

Late in the afternoon of that same day
The Mohawks reached their village with these two:
The holy Priest and Wizard skilled in craft.
The Mohawks held a council by the fire
Discussing how to torture best the twain,
So as to see their frenzy, and enjoy
With gloating satisfaction every pain.
They all agreed to heat two earthen pots
On fiery coals unto the whitest heat;
Then place these pots upon the head of each
And watch them dance about till life was spent.

With merry whoop they started up the fires;
Began at once to heat the torture pots.
Soon, when they thought the glow was great enough,
They first of all laid hands upon the Priest.
Then he who had been taken with the Priest
At once brought all his magic arts to bear,
And burst his bonds asunder with a yell
That curdled every heart among the foe.
The Wizard cried in Indian tongue: “_Nda
Awâni niûna ndelima--
Magahôûnana_,” which means: “My friends,
We shall not torture any one (to-day).”
And then he leapt upon the fiery coals
And danced and danced, until his feet did fry
And sizzle hot like bacon in a pan.
Then all the Indians were full of fear.
But when to crown the horror of the whole
They saw the wizard put the glowing pot
On his own head and leap about in glee,
They all took flight in terror to the woods.
Then spake the Wizard: “Father, now escape.”

When they had reached all safe and sound their home,
The Priest said to the Wizard: “O my son,
Thou shouldst repent and turn thee from thine art
Unto God’s ways and ever keep the Faith.”
Then quoth the Wizard laughing: “Father mine,
Had I repented and mine art eschewed,
Then were we both of us dead men this day.”[53] P.

FOOTNOTES:

[52] A priest came to where some families were camping.

[53] This song is very interesting, as indicating a survival of the old Indian faith in their magicians as superior to Christian power. It is quite like the many indications in Italian tales, relating to witches, in which the sorcerer conquers the priest.--C. G. L.