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〃Wandering Jew。〃 Various were the accounts they gleaned
from the different boatmen。 One had heard he was to be
met with off this point； another； in that bay： all believed
he might be found； though no one had seen him lately
some said； in many years。
〃He'll turn up；〃 said Peter； positively； 〃or the Seneca would
go down bows foremost。 We shall light on the old chap
when we least expect it。〃
It must be confessed that Peter had many sufficient
reasons for entertaining these encouraging hopes。 He was
capitally fed； had very little more to do than to ease off； or
flatten in a sheet； the boat being too large to be rowed；
and cigars； and liquors of various sorts were pretty much
at his command； for the obvious reason that they were
under his care。 In delivering his sentiments； however；
Peter was reasonably honest； for he had the most implicit
faith； not only in the existence of this 〃Jew；〃 but in the
beneficent influence of his visits。 His presence was
universally deemed a sign of good luck。
Fuller passed most of the nights in a comfortable bed；
leaving Peter in the boat； sometimes asking for lodgings in
a farm…house； and； at others； obtaining them in an inn。
Wherever he might be； he inquired about the 〃Wandering
Jew〃 and the 〃Lake Gun；〃 bent on solving these two
difficult problems； if possible； and always with the same
success。 Most persons had seen the former； but not lately；
while about one in ten had heard the latter。 It occurred to
our traveler that more of the last were to be found nearer
to the northern than to the southern end of the lake。
The cruise continued a fortnight in this desultory manner；
with the same want of success。 One morning； as Fuller was
returning to the boat； after passing the night in a farm…
house； he was struck by the statue…like appearance of a
figure which stood on the extreme point of a low； rocky
promontory； that was considerably aside from any dwelling
or building。 The place was just at the commencement of
the hill country； and where the shores of the Seneca cease
to offer those smiling pictures of successful husbandry that
so much abound farther north。 A somber； or it might be
better to say a sober； aspect gave dignity to the
landscape； which； if not actually grand； had； at least； most
of the elements that characterize the noble in nature。
But Fuller； at the moment； was less struck with the
scenery； charming as that certainly was； than with the
statue…like and immovable form on the little promontory。 A
single tree shaded the spot where the stranger stood； but
it cast its shadows toward the west； at that early hour；
leaving the erect and chiseled form in clear sun…light。
Stimulated by curiosity； and hoping to learn something
that might aid him in his search from one as curious as
himself； Fuller turned aside； and； instead of descending to
the spot where Peter had the boat ready for his reception；
he crossed a pleasant meadow； in the direction of the tree。
Several times did our traveler stop to gaze on that
immovable form。 A feeling of superstition came over him
when he saw that not the smallest motion； nor relief of
limb or attitude； was made for the ten minutes that his eye
had rested on the singular and strange object。 At he drew
nearer； however； the outlines became more and more
distinct； and he fancied that the form was actually naked。
Then the truth became apparent： it was a native of the
forest； in his summer garb； who had thrown aside his
blanket； and stood in his leggings； naked。 Phidias could not
have cut in stone a more faultless form； for active；
healthful youth had given to it the free and noble air of
manly but modest independence。
｛Phidias = a very famous Greek sculptor of the 5th
century B。C。｝
〃Sago；〃 said Fuller； drawing near to the young Indian； who
did not betray surprise or emotion of any sort； as the
stranger's foot…fall came unexpectedly on his ear； using
the salutation of convention； as it is so generally practiced
between the two races。 The Indian threw forward an arm
with dignity； but maintained his erect and otherwise
immovable attitude。
｛Sago = a term of greeting； as Cooper believed； among
American Indians｝
〃Oneida？〃 demanded Fuller； while he doubted if any young
warrior of that half…subdued tribe could retain so
completely the air and mien of the great forests and
distant prairies。
〃Seneca；〃 was the simple answer。 The word was uttered in
a tone so low and melancholy that it sounded like
saddened music。 Nothing that Fuller had ever before heard
conveyed so much meaning so simply； and in so few
syllables。 It illuminated the long vista of the past； and cast
a gloomy shadow into that of the future； alluding to a
people driven from their haunts； never to find another
resting…place on earth。 That this young warrior so meant to
express himselfnot in an abject attempt to extort
sympathy； but in the noble simplicity of a heart depressed
by the fall of his raceFuller could not doubt； and every
generous feeling of his soul was enlisted in behalf of this
young Indian。
〃Seneca；〃 he repeated slowly； dropping his voice to
something like the soft； deep tones of the other； 〃then you
are in your own country； here？〃
〃My country；〃 answered the red man； coldly； 〃no； my
FATHER'S country； yes。〃
His English was good； denoting more than a common
education； though it had a slightly foreign or peculiar
accent。 The intonations of his voice were decidedly those of
the Indian。
〃You have come to visit the land of your fathers？〃
A slight wave of the hand was the reply。 All this time the
young Seneca kept his eye fastened in one direction；
apparently regarding some object in the lake。 Fuller could
see nothing to attract this nearly riveted gaze； though
curiosity induced him to make the effort。
〃You admire this sheet of water； by the earnest manner in
which you look upon it？〃 observed Fuller。
〃See！〃 exclaimed the Indian； motioning toward a point
near a mile distant。 〃He moves！ may be he will come
here。〃
〃Moves！ I see nothing but land； water； and sky。 What
moves？〃
〃The Swimming Seneca。 For a thousand winters he is to
swim in the waters of this lake。 Such is the tradition of my
people。 Five hundred winters are gone by since he was
thrown into the lake； five hundred more must come before
he will sink。 The curse of the Manitou is on him。 Fire will
not burn him； water will not swallow him up； the fish will
not go near him； even the accursed axe of the settler can
not cut him into chips！ There he floats； and must float；
until his time is finished！〃
｛Swimming Seneca = though I have been unable to
discover any genuine Native American origin for this
legend； a detailed variation of it can be found in a poem；
〃Outalissa〃； by Rev。 Ralph Hoyt； published in 〃Sketches by
Rev。 Hoyt； Vol。 VIII〃 （New York。 C。 Shepard； n。d。 ＇ca。
1848＇ （the Geneva College library copy of which is
inscribed 〃DeLancey〃 and may have belonged to the family
of Cooper's brother…in…law； Episcopal Bishop of Western
New York William Heathcote De Lancey （1797…1865）； who
lived in Geneva）a somewhat different version forms the
Geneva （Hobart） College student legend of Chief
Agayentha o