to point them out.  Wretched delusion!  Is then the Master of Life obliged to employ mortal man to punish those who offend him?  Has he not the thunder and all the powers of nature at his command?—­and could he not sweep away from the earth a whole nation with one motion of his arm?  My children:  do not believe that the great and good Creator of mankind has directed you to destroy your own flesh; and do not doubt but that if you pursue this abominable wickedness, his vengeance will overtake and crush you.

“The above is addressed to you in the name of the Seventeen Fires.  I now speak to you from myself, as a friend who wishes nothing more sincerely than to see you prosperous and happy.  Clear your eyes, I beseech you, from the mist which surrounds them.  No longer be imposed upon by the arts of an impostor.  Drive him from your town, and let peace and harmony once more prevail amongst you.  Let your poor old men and women sleep in quietness, and banish from their minds the dreadful idea of being burnt alive by their own friends and countrymen.  I charge you to stop your bloody career; and if you value the friendship of your great father, the President—­if you wish to preserve the good opinion of the Seventeen Fires, let me hear by the return of the bearer, that you have determined to follow my advice."[A]

[Footnote A:  Quoted from Dawson’s Historical Narrative of the civil and military services of William Henry Harrison.]

Among the Miamis, the Prophet was less successful in establishing an influence than with the Delawares; while over the Kickapoos he gained, for a time, a remarkable ascendency,—­greater, indeed, than he ever established in his own tribe.  Most of the Shawanoe chiefs were opposed to him, and even complained to the agent at fort Wayne, that his conduct was creating difficulties among the Indians.

We have met with no evidence that Tecumseh favored the destruction of the Delawares, whose unhappy fate has been detailed.  On the contrary, it is stated by a credible authority,[A] that he was opposed to it.

[Footnote A:  Anthony Shane.]

Throughout the year 1806, the brothers remained at Greenville, and were visited by many Indians from different tribes, not a few of whom became their followers.  The Prophet dreamed many wonderful dreams; and claimed to have had many supernatural revelations made to him.  The great eclipse of the sun which occurred in the summer of this year, a knowledge of which he had by some means attained, enabled him to carry conviction to the minds of many of his ignorant followers, that he was really the earthly agent of the Great Spirit.  He boldly announced to the unbelievers, that on a certain day, he would give them proof of his supernatural powers, by bringing darkness over the sun.  When the day and hour of the eclipse arrived, and the earth, even at mid day, was shrouded in the gloom of twilight, the Prophet, standing in the midst of his party, significantly pointed to the heavens, and cried out, “did I not prophecy truly?  Behold! darkness has shrouded the sun!” It may readily be supposed that this striking phenomenon, thus adroitly used, produced a strong impression on the Indians, and greatly increased their belief in the sacred character of their Prophet.