The Acorn-Planter | Page 6

their?way inland)_
{Sun Men}?We sailed three hundred strong
For the far Barbaree;?Our voyage has been most long
For the far Barbaree;
So--it's a long pull,?Give a strong pull,?For the far Barbaree.
We sailed the oceans wide
For the coast of Barbaree;?And left our ship a sinking
On the coast of Barbaree;
So--it's a long pull,?Give a strong pull,?For the far Barbaree.
Our ship went fast a-lee
On the rocks of Barbaree;?That's why we quit the sea
On the rocks of Barbaree.
So--it's a long pull,?Give a strong pull,?For the far Barbaree.
We quit the bitter seas
On the coast of Barbaree;?To seek the savag-ees
Of the far Barbaree.
So--it's a long pull,?Give a strong pull,?For the far Barbaree.
Our feet are lame and sore
In the far Barbaree;?From treading of the shore
Of the far Barbaree.
So--it's a long pull,?Give a strong pull,?For the far Barbaree.
A weary brood are we
In the far Barbaree;?Sea cunies of the sea
In the far Barbaree.
So--it's a long pull,?Give a strong pull,?For the far Barbaree.
{Sun Man}?_(Who alone carries a musket, and who is?evidently captain of the wrecked company)_?No farther can we go this night. Mayhap?to-morrow we may find the savages and food.
_(He glances about.)_?This far world grows noble trees. We shall sleep?as in a temple.
{First Sea Cuny}?_(Espying Red Cloud, and pointing.)_?Look, Captain!
{Sun Man}?_(Making the universal peace-sign, arm?raised and out, palm-outward.)_?Who are you? Speak. We come in peace.?We kindness seek.
{Red Cloud}?_(Advancing out of the shadow.)_?Whence do you come?
{Sun Man}?From the great sea.
{Red Cloud}?I do not understand. No one journeys?on the great sea.
{Sun Man}?We have journeyed many moons.
{Red Cloud}?Have you come from the sun?
{Sun Man}?God wot! We have journeyed across the?sun, high and low in the sky, and over the sun?and under the sun the round world 'round.
{Red Cloud}?_(With conviction.)_?You come from the Sun. Your hair is like?the summer sunburnt grasses. Your eyes are?blue. Your skin is white.
_(With absolute conviction.)_?You are the Sun Man.
{Sun Man}?_(With a shrug of shoulders.)_?Have it so. I come from the Sun. I am the?Sun Man.
{Red Cloud}?Do you carry the thunder in your hand?
{Sun Man}?_(Nonplussed for the moment, glances at?his musket, then smiles.)_?Yes, I carry the thunder in my hand.
_(War Chief and the Hunters leap?suddenly from ambush. Sun Man?warns Sea Cunies not to resist. War?Chief captures and holds Sun Man,?and Sea Cunies are similarly captured?and held. Women and boys appear, and?examine prisoners curiously.)_
{War Chief}?Hoh! Hoh! Hoh! I have captured the?Sun Man! Like the foxes, I have captured?the Sun Man!--Deer Foot! Elk Man! The?foxes held the Sun Man. I now hold the Sun?Man. Then can you hold the Sun Man.
_(Deer Foot and Elk Man seize the Sun?Man.)_
{Red Cloud}?_(To Shaman.)_?He said he came in kindness.
{War Chief}?_(Sneering.)_?In kindness, with the thunder in his hand.
{Shaman}?_(Deflected to partisanship of War Chief?by War Chief's success.)_?By his own lips has he said it, with the thunder?in his hand.
{War Chief}?You are the Sun Man.
{Sun Man}?_(Shrugging shoulders.)_?My names are many as the stars. Call me?White Man.
{Red Cloud}?I am Red Cloud, the first man.
{Sun Man}?Then am I Adam, the first man and your?brother.
_(Glancing about.)_?And this is Eden, to look upon it.
{Red Cloud}?My father was the Coyote.
{Sun Man}?My father was Jehovah.
{Red Cloud}?I am the Fire-Bringer. I stole the fire from?the ground squirrel and hid it in the heart of?the wood.
{Sun Man}?Then am I Prometheus, your brother. I?stole the fire from heaven and hid it in the heart?of the wood.
{Red Cloud}?I am the Acorn-Planter. I am the FoodBringer,?the Life-Maker. I make food for?more life, ever more life.
{Sun Man}?Then am I truly your brother. Life-Maker?am I, tilling the soil in the sweat of my brow?from the beginning of time, planting all manner?of good seeds for the harvest.
_(Looking sharply at Red Cloud's skin?garments.)_?Also am I the Weaver and Cloth-Maker.
_(Holding out arm so that Red Cloud may?examine the cloth of the coat)_?From the hair of the goat and the wool of?the sheep, and from beaten and spun grasses,?do I make the cloth to keep man warm.
{Shaman}?_(Breaking in boastfully.)_?I am the Shaman. I know all secret things.
{Sun Man}?I know my pathway under the sun over all?the seas, and I know the secrets of the stars?that show me my path where no path is. I?know when the Wolf of Darkness shall eat the?moon.
_(Pointing toward moon.)_?On this night shall the Wolf of Darkness eat?the moon.
_(He turns suddenly to Red Cloud,?drawing sheath-knife and passing it?to him.)_
More, O First Man and Acorn-Planter. I am?the Iron-Maker. Behold!
_(Red Cloud examines knife, understands?immediately its virtue, cuts easily a strip?of skin from his skin garment, and is?overcome with the wonder of the knife.)_
{War Chief}?_(Exhibiting a long bow.)_?I am the War Chief. No man, save me, has?strength to bend this bow. I can slay farther?than any man.
_(A huge bear has come out among the?bushes far up the hillside)_
{Sun Man}?I, too, am War Chief over men, and I can?slay farther than you.
{War Chief}?Hoh! Hoh!
{Sun Man}?_(Pointing to bear)_?Can you slay that with your strong bow?
{War Chief}?_(Dubiously)_?It is a far shot. Too far. No man can slay?a great bear so far.
_(Sun Man,