questions were closely analyzed by men who were fast becoming
insensible to them. When he was too far gone to play the mild,
sedate philosopher, he began that monotonous singing whose music
carried him back to the days when the shadow of the white man
never darkened the forests, and the Indian canoe alone rippled the
tranquil waters.

Should this man be thus lost? He was aroused to his danger by the
relative to whom he owed so much. His temper was eminently
philosophic. He was, as he proved, capable of great effort and
great endurance. By an effort which few red or white men can or do
make, he shook off the habit, and his old nerve and old prosperity
came back to him. It was during the first few years of this
century that he applied to Charles Hicks, a half-breed, afterward
principal chief of the nation, to write his English name. Hicks,
although educated after a fashion, made a mistake in a very
natural way. The real name of Se-quo-yah's father was George Gist.
It is now written by the family as it has long been pronounced in
the tribe when his English name is used--"Guest." Hicks,
remembering a word that sounded like it, wrote it--George Guess.
It was a "rough guess," but answered the purpose. The silversmith
was as ignorant of English as he was of any written language.
Being a fine workman, he made a steel die, a facsimile of the
name written by Hicks. With this he put his "trade mark" on his
silver-ware, and it is borne to this day on many of these ancient
pieces in the Cherokee nation.

Between 1809 and 1821, which latter was his fifty-second year, the
great work of his life was accomplished. The die, which was cut
before the former date, probably turned his active mind in the