The Acorn-Planter Part 4

_(From right Deer Foot runs in.)_

{Deer Foot} _(Breathless.)_ They come! He comes!

{War Chief} Who comes?

{Deer Foot} The Sun Men. The Sun Man. He is their chief. He marches before them. And he is white.

{People} There is a sign.

The Sun Man is white.

{Red Cloud} Carries he the thunder in his hand?

{Deer Foot} _(Puzzled)_ He looks hungry.

{War Chief} Hoh! Hoh! The Sun Man is hungry. It will be easy to kill a hungry Sun Man.

{Red Cloud} It would be easy to be kind to a hungry Sun Man and give him food. We have much. The hunting has been good.

{War Chief} Better to kill the Sun Man.

_(He turns upon People, indicating most commands in gestures as he prepares the ambush, making women and boys conceal all the camp outfit and game, and disposing the armed hunters among the ferns and behind trees till all are hidden.)_

{Elk Man and Antelope} _(Running down hillside)_ The Sun Man comes.

_(War Chief sends them to hiding places)_

{War Chief} _(Preparing himself to hide)_ You have not hidden, O Red Cloud.

{Red Cloud} _(Stepping into shadow of big tree where he remains inconspicuous though dimly visible)_ I would see this Sun Man and talk with him.

_(The sound of singing is heard, and War Chief conceals himself)_

_(Sun Man, with handful of followers, singing to ease the tedium of the march, enter from right. They are patently survivors of a wrecked exploring skip, making 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 s.h.i.+p a sinking On the coast of Barbaree; So--it's a long pull, Give a strong pull, For the far Barbaree.

Our s.h.i.+p 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 sh.o.r.e 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 n.o.ble 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} G.o.d 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 gra.s.ses. 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 partisans.h.i.+p 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.