The Acorn-Planter

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.