But as his reluctant lips were in the
act of parting, Ellen lifted a finger, and with a keen glance from her
quick eye, at the still attentive Inez, she interrupted him.
"Spare your breath," she said, "all that a savage says is not to be
repeated before a Christian lady."
Inez started, blushed, and bowed with an air of reserve, as she coldly
thanked the old man for his intentions, and observed that she could
now wish to be alone.
"My daughters have no need of ears to understand what a great Dahcotah
says," returned the trapper, addressing himself to the expecting
Mahtoree. "The look he has given, and the signs he has made, are
enough. They understand him; they wish to think of his words; for the
children of great braves, such as their fathers are, do nothing with
out much thought."
With this explanation, so flattering to the energy of his eloquence,
and so promising to his future hopes, the Teton was every way content.
He made the customary ejaculation of assent, and prepared to retire.
Saluting the females, in the cold but dignified manner of his people,
he drew his robe about him, and moved from the spot where he had
stood, with an air of ill-concealed triumph.
Pages:
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633