The Acorn-Planter

War Chief     Save in war. In war I command.

(He picks out hunters by name.)     Deer Foot… Elk Man… Antelope. Run
through the forest, climb the hill-tops, seek down
the valleys, for aught you may find of this Sun Man.

(At a wave of the War Chief's hand the
three hunters depart in different directions.)
Dew-Woman     Let Red Cloud speak his mind.

Red Cloud     (Quietly)     Last night the earth shook and there was a
roaring in the air. Often have I seen, when the
earth shakes and there is a roaring, that springs
in some places dry up, and that in other places
where were no springs, springs burst forth.

Shaman     There is a sign.
The Shamans told it of old.
The Sun Man will bear the thunder in his hand.

People     There is a sign.
The Sun Man will bear the thunder in his hand.

Shaman     The roaring in the air was the thunder of the
Sun Man's return. Now will he destroy the
Nishinam. Such is the word.

War Chief     Hoh! Hoh!

(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 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.