Part 15 (1/2)
”I am listening, my brother.'
”How is it that after recognizing the falseness of that deed of sale, you insisted on declaring war against this Long knife of the West, since he has proved to you that he was deceived by Monkey-face?”
The Chief smiled cunningly. ”The Paleface was only deceived,” he said, ”because it suited him to be so.”
”I do not understand you, Chief.”
”I will explain myself. Does my brother know how a sale of land is effected?”
”No, I do not; and I confess to you, that, never having got to buy or sell, I have not troubled myself about it.”
”Wah! In that case I will tell my brother.”
”You will cause me pleasure, for I always like to gain information, and this may be useful to me at some time,” the Canadian said with a grin.
”When a Paleface wishes to buy the hunting-ground of a tribe he goes to the princ.i.p.al Sachems of the nation, and after smoking the calumet of peace in council, he explains his meaning; the conditions are discussed; if the two contracting parties agree, a plan of the territory is drawn up by the princ.i.p.al sorcerer, the Paleface gives his goods, all the Chiefs place their sign manual at the foot of the plan, the trees are blazed with a tomahawk, the borders marked, and the purchaser takes immediate possession.”
”Hum,” Tranquil remarked, ”that seems simple enough.”
”In what council has the grey-head Chief smoked the calumet? Where are the sachems who have treated with him? Let him show me the trees that were marked.”
”In truth, I fancy he would find that difficult.”
”The Grey-head,” the Chief continued, ”knew that Monkey-face was cheating him; but the territory suited him, and he calculated on the strength of his arms to hold his own.”
”That is probable.”
”Conquered by evidence, and recognizing too late that he acted inconsiderately, he fancied he could recover all difficulties by offering us a few more bales of merchandize. Whenever did the Palefaces have a straight and honest tongue?”
”Thank you,” the hunter said, laughingly.
”I do not speak of my brother's nation; I never had to complain of them, and I only refer to the Long knives of the West. Does my brother still think that I was wrong in throwing down the b.l.o.o.d.y arrows?”
”Perhaps, in that circ.u.mstance, Chief, you were a little too quick, and allowed your pa.s.sion to carry you away, but you have so many reasons for hating the Americans that I dare not blame you.”
”Then, I can still count on my brother's a.s.sistance?”
”Why should I refuse it to you, Chief? Your cause is still as it was, that is to say, just; it is my duty to help you, and I will do so, whatever may happen.”
”Och! I thank my brother; his rifle will be useful to us.”
”Here we are; it is time to form a determination with reference to Monkey-face.”
”It is formed,” the Chief answered, laconically.
At this moment, they entered a vast clearing, in the centre of which several fires were burning.
Five hundred Indian warriors, painted and armed for war, were lying about in the gra.s.s, while their horses, all harnessed, and ready for mounting, were hobbled, and eating their provender of climbing peas.
Round the princ.i.p.al fire several Chiefs were crouching and smoking silently.