If any of his words
fall to the ground, they will pick them up and hold them to their
ears. If any blow away in the wind, my young men, who are very nimble,
will catch them. Now listen. Since water ran and trees grew, the Sioux
has found the Pawnee on his war-path. As the cougar loves the
antelope, the Dahcotah loves his enemy. When the wolf finds the fawn,
does he lie down and sleep? When the panther sees the doe at the
spring, does he shut his eyes? You know that he does not. He drinks
too; but it is of blood! A Sioux is a leaping panther, a Pawnee a
trembling deer. Let my children hear me. They will find my words good.
I have spoken."
A deep guttural exclamation of assent broke from the lips of all the
partisans of Mahtoree, as they listened to this sanguinary advice from
one, who was certainly among the most aged men of the nation. That
deeply seated love of vengeance, which formed so prominent a feature
in their characters, was gratified by his metaphorical allusions, and
the chief himself augured favourably of the success of his own
schemes, by the number of supporters, who manifested themselves to be
in favour of the counsels of his friend.
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