But immediately in front of the lodges was
a gathering, that seemed to forbode some movements of more than usual
interest. A few of the withered and remorseless crones of the band
were clustering together, in readiness to lend their fell voices, if
needed, to aid in exciting their descendants to an exhibition, which
their depraved tastes coveted, as the luxurious Roman dame witnessed
the struggles and the agony of the gladiator. The men were subdivided
into groups, assorted according to the deeds and reputations of the
several individuals of whom they were composed.
They, who were of that equivocal age which admitted them to the hunts,
while their discretion was still too doubtful to permit them to be
trusted on the war-path, hung around the skirts of the whole,
catching, from the fierce models before them, that gravity of
demeanour and restraint of manner, which in time was to become so
deeply ingrafted in their own characters. A few of the still older
class, and who had heard the whoop in anger, were a little more
presuming, pressing nigher to the chiefs, though far from presuming to
mingle in their councils, sufficiently distinguished by being
permitted to catch the wisdom which fell from lips so venerated.
Pages:
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590