While the more self-devoted and ambitious
braves were intent on personal honour, he had always been seen,
established behind some favourable cover, depriving the wounded of
hope, by finishing that which a more gallant warrior had begun. In all
the cruelties of the tribe he had ever been foremost; and no Sioux was
so uniformly found on the side of merciless councils.
He had awaited, with an impatience which his long practised restraint
could with difficulty subdue, for the moment to arrive when he might
proceed to execute the wishes of the great chief, without whose
approbation and powerful protection he would not have dared to
undertake a step, that had so many opposers in the nation. But events
had been hastening to an issue, between the hostile parties; and the
time had now arrived, greatly to his secret and malignant joy, when he
was free to act his will.
The trapper found him distributing knives to the ferocious hags, who
received the presents chanting a low monotonous song, that recalled
the losses of their people, in various conflicts with the whites, and
which extolled the pleasures and glory of revenge.
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