"Honesty lies deeper than the skin."
"It is so. Now let my father hear me. Mahtoree has but one tongue, the
grey-head has many. They may be all straight, and none of them forked.
A Sioux is no more than a Sioux, but a Pale-face is every thing! He
can talk to the Pawnee, and the Konza, and the Omawhaw, and he can
talk to his own people."
"Ay, there are linguists in the settlements that can do still more.
But what profits it all? The Master of Life has an ear for every
language!"
"The grey-head has done wrong. He has said one thing when he meant
another. He has looked before him with his eyes, and behind him with
his mind. He has ridden the horse of a Sioux too hard; he has been the
friend of a Pawnee, and the enemy of my people."
"Teton, I am your prisoner. Though my words are white, they will not
complain. Act your will."
"No. Mahtoree will not make a white hair red. My father is free. The
prairie is open on every side of him. But before the grey-head turns
his back on the Siouxes, let him look well at them, that he may tell
his own chief, how great is a Dahcotah!"
"I am not in a hurry to go on my path.
Pages:
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612