They had only to open their eyes to see that his words must be
true. Now, that the white chief had found his wife, he was about to
return to his own people in peace. He would tell them that the Pawnees
were just, and there would be a line of wampum between the two
nations. Let all his people wish the strangers a safe return to their
towns. The warriors of the Loups knew both how to receive their
enemies, and how to clear the briars from the path of their friends.
The heart of Middleton beat quick, as the young partisan[*] alluded to
the charms of Inez, and for an instant he cast an impatient glance at
his little line of artillerists; but the chief from that moment
appeared to forget he had ever seen so fair a being. His feelings, if
he had any on the subject, were veiled behind the cold mask of Indian
self-denial. He took each warrior by the hand, not forgetting the
meanest soldier, but his cold and collected eye never wandered, for an
instant, towards either of the females. Arrangements had been made for
their comfort, with a prodigality and care that had not failed to
excite some surprise in his young men, but in no other particular did
he shock their manly pride, by betraying any solicitude in behalf of
the weaker sex.
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