introduce us to his warriors under advantageous circumstances. He waved
his hand to claim attention, and spoke again.

"It is now twelve moons, it is more I met Owato Wanisha and his two
brothers. He is a chief of the great Shoshones, who are our
grandfathers, far--far under the setting of the sun beyond the big
mountains. His two brothers are two great warriors from powerful
nations far in the east and beyond the Sioux, the Chippewas beyond the
`Oposh-ton-ehoe' (Americans), even beyond the deep salt-water. One is a
`Shakanah' (Englishman), the other a `Naimewa' from the
`Maha-mate-kosh-ehoj' (an exile from the French). They are good and
they are brave: they have learned wisdom from the `Macota Konayas'
(priests), and Owato Wanisha knows how to build strong forts, which he
can better defend than the Watchinangoes have defended theirs. I have
invited him and his brother to come and taste the buffalo of our
prairies, to ride our horses, and smoke the calumet of friendship. They
have come, and will remain with us till we ourselves go to the big stony
river (the Colorado of the West). They have come; they are our guests;
the best we can command is their own already; but they are chiefs and
warriors. A chief is a chief everywhere. We must treat them as chiefs,
and let them select a band of warriors for themselves to follow them
till they go away from us.

"You have heard what our scouts have said; they would have been eaten by
the Cayugas, had it not been for our guests, who have preserved not only
the lives of four men--that is nothing--but the honour of the tribe. I
need say no more; I know my young amen; I know my warriors; I know they
will love the strangers as chiefs and brothers. I have said."

Having thus spoken, he walked slowly out of the lodge, which was
immediately deserted for the green lawn before the village. There we
were sumptuously entertained by all the principal chiefs and warriors of
the tribe, after which they conducted us to a new tent, which they had
erected for us in the middle of their principal square. There we found
also six magnificent horses, well caparisoned, tied to the posts of the
tent; they were the presents of the chiefs. At a few steps from the
door was an immense shield, suspended upon four posts, and on which a
beaver, the head of an eagle, and the claws of a bear were admirably
painted--the first totem for me, the second for Gabriel, and the third
for Roche. We grate