SCENE SEVENTH. — Another PART OF THE F IELD .

Enter G ENERAL H ARRISON and other American Officers, and C OLONEL B ABY , a prisoner .

H ARRISON . You were too brave a man, Baby, to swell
The craven Proctor's flight of followers.
B ABY . Speak not of him! I mourn the death of one —
A soldier — and a savage if you will —
Able and honourable, valiant, pure,
As ever graced the annals of the earth.
H ARRISON . You mean Tecumseh; search is made for him.
I hope to give him fitting burial.
B ABY . Oh, sir, he loved his people! They are men
Much hated by the small and greedy mind —
The mind that is not gentle, and that jeers
And laughs at all forlorn and broken fortune.
And some there be who coldly pass them by
As creatures ruled by appetite, not law;
Yet, though to such they seem but human beasts,
They are to those who know, or study them,
A world of wonders! I entreat you, sir,
To make right use of your authority,
And shield them if you can.
H ARRISON . I shall, I shall.
Right feeling tends this way, though 'tis a course
Not to be smoothly steered.

Enter a party of soldiers.

1 ST S OLDIER . Tecumseh's body
Cannot be found; 'twas borne away and buried
By faithful friends who would not name the place,
If they were tortured.
1 ST Officer . He is well content
Without our honours. This man's race hath lost
A lofty spirit.
2 ND Officer . All will mourn for him!
No need had he of schools or learned books
His soul his mentor, his keen lion-looks
Pierced to the heart of things. Nor needed he
Counsels of strength and goodness. To be free
Required no teacher, no historic page,
No large examples sought from age to age,
For such things were himself, and, as his breath,
Instinctive, pleaders 'gainst the fears of death.
H ARRISON . Sleep well, Tecumseh, in thy unknown grave,
Thou mighty savage, resolute and brave!
Thou, master and strong spirit of the woods,
Unsheltered traveller in sad solitudes,
Yearner o'er Wyandot and Cherokee,
Couldst tell us now what hath been and shall be!