ade no direct mention of the
rapacious temper, that so many of them had betrayed, in their dealings
with the Red-men. Feeling that the sentiment of distrust was strongly
engrafted in the tempers of his tribe, he rather endeavoured to soothe
any just resentment they might entertain, by indirect excuses and
apologies. He reminded the listeners that even the Pawnee Loups had
been obliged to chase many unworthy individuals from their villages. The
Wahcondah sometimes veiled his countenance from a Red-man. No doubt the
Great Spirit of the Pale-faces often looked darkly on his children.
Such as were abandoned to the worker of evil could never be brave or
virtuous, let the colour of the skin be what it might. He bade his young
men look at the hands of the Big-knives. They were not empty, like those
of hungry beggars. Neither were they filled with goods, like those of
knavish traders. They were, like themselves, warriors, and they carried
arms which they knew well how to use--they were worthy to be called
brothers!

Then he directed the attention of all to the chief of the strangers. He
was a son of their great white father. He had not come upon the prairies
to frighten the buffaloes from their pastures, or to seek the game of
the Indians. Wicked men had robbed him of one of his wives; no doubt she
was the most obedient, the meekest, the loveliest of them all. 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