He will stay with
the Tetons, that they may learn wisdom from his words. What Sioux has
a tongue like my father? No; let his words be very soft, but let them
be very clear. Mahtoree will give skins and buffaloes. He will give
the young men of the Pale-faces wives, but he cannot give away any who
live in his own lodge."
Perfectly satisfied, himself, with this laconic reply, the chief was
moving towards his expecting counsellors, when suddenly returning, he
interrupted the translation of the trapper by adding--
"Tell the Great Buffaloe" (a name by which the Tetons had already
christened Ishmael), "that Mahtoree has a hand which is always open.
See," he added, pointing to the hard and wrinkled visage of the
attentive Esther, "his wife is too old, for so great a chief. Let him
put her out of his lodge. Mahtoree loves him as a brother. He is his
brother. He shall have the youngest wife of the Teton. Tachechana, the
pride of the Sioux girls, shall cook his venison, and many braves will
look at him with longing minds.
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