What of that! Though the bark is ragged and riven, the heart of
the tree is sound."
"My brother is a Big-knife! Let him turn his face towards the setting
sun, and open his eyes. Does he see the salt lake beyond the
mountains?"
"The time has been, Teton, when few could see the white on the eagle's
head farther than I; but the glare of fourscore and seven winters has
dimmed my eyes, and but little can I boast of sight in my latter days.
Does the Sioux think a Pale-face is a god, that he can look through
hills?"
"Then let my brother look at me. I am nigh him, and he can see that I
am a foolish Red-man. Why cannot his people see every thing, since
they crave all?"
"I understand you, chief; nor will I gainsay the justice of your
words, seeing that they are too much founded in truth. But though born
of the race you love so little, my worst enemy, not even a lying
Mingo, would dare to say that I ever laid hands on the goods of
another, except such as were taken in manful warfare; or that I ever
coveted more ground than the Lord has intended each man to fill.
Pages:
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684