"I know that the Dahcotahs are a wise and great people," at length the
trapper commenced, again addressing himself to the chief; "but does
not their partisan know a single brother who is base?"
The eye of Mahtoree wandered proudly around his band, but rested a
moment reluctantly on Weucha, as he answered--
"The Master of Life has made chiefs, and warriors, and women;"
conceiving that he thus embraced all the gradations of human
excellence from the highest to the lowest.
"And he has also made Pale-faces, who are wicked. Such are they whom
my brother sees yonder."
"Do they go on foot to do wrong?" demanded the Teton, with a wild
gleam from his eyes, that sufficiently betrayed how well he knew the
reason why they were reduced to so humble an expedient.
"Their beasts are gone. But their powder, and their lead, and their
blankets remain."
"Do they carry their riches in their hands, like miserable Konzas? or
are they brave, and leave them with the women, as men should do, who
know where to find what they lose?"
"My brother sees the spot of blue across the prairie; look, the sun
has touched it for the last time to-day.
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