These generous orders were strictly obeyed; and
though so many hearts in the troop panted to share in the glory and
danger of their partisan, not a warrior was found, among them all, who
did not know how to conceal his impatience under the usual mask of
Indian self-restraint. They watched the issue with quick and jealous
eyes, nor did a single exclamation of surprise escape them, when they
saw, as will soon be apparent, that the experiment of their chief was
as likely to conduce to peace as to war.
Mahtoree was not long in communicating his plans to his confidants,
whom he as quickly dismissed to join their fellows in the rear. The
Teton entered a short distance into the stream and halted. Here he
raised his hand several times, with the palm outwards, and made
several of those other signs, which are construed into a pledge of
amicable intentions among the inhabitants of those regions. Then, as
if to confirm the sincerity of his faith, he cast his fusee to the
shore, and entered deeper into the water, where he again came to a
stand, in order to see in what manner the Pawnee would receive his
pledges of peace.
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