"If the earth was covered with
rats, which are good for nothing," he said, "there would be no room
for buffaloes, which give food and clothes to an Indian. If the
prairies were covered with Pawnees, there would be no room for the
foot of a Dahcotah. A Loup is a rat, a Sioux a heavy buffaloe; let the
buffaloes tread upon the rats and make room for themselves.
"My brothers, a little child has spoken to you. He tells you, his hair
is not grey, but frozen--that the grass will not grow where a Pale-
face has died. Does he know the colour of the blood of a Big-knife?
No! I know he does not; he has never seen it. What Dahcotah, besides
Mahtoree, has ever struck a Pale-face? Not one. But Mahtoree must be
silent. Every Teton will shut his ears when he speaks. The scalps over
his lodge were taken by the women. They were taken by Mahtoree, and he
is a woman. His mouth is shut; he waits for the feasts to sing among
the girls!"
Notwithstanding the exclamations of regret and resentment, which
followed so abasing a declaration, the chief took his seat, as if
determined to speak no more.
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