oohulhulsote. "The earth yields enough, of itself. It is not to be
disturbed by ploughs. It is not to be bought or sold. It carries its
own chieftain-ship. Nobody can sell possession of it. We never have
made any trade. Part of the Indians gave up their land. We never did.
The Great Spirit made the earth as it is, and as he wanted it, and he
made a part of it for us to live upon. I don't see where you get the
right to say we shall not live where he placed us."

"You have said twenty times that the earth is your mother," replied
General Howard, growing angry. "Let us hear no more about it, but come
to business."

"Who are you, that you ask us to talk and then tell me I sha'n't talk?"
retorted the saucy old Toohulhulsote. "Are you the Great Spirit? Did
you make the world? Did you make the sun? Did you make the rivers to
run for us to drink? Did you make the grass to grow? Did you make all
these things, that you talk to us as though we were boys? If you did,
then you have the right to talk as you do."

"But," argued General Howard, "you know very well that the Government
has fixed a reservation and that the Indian must go upon it."

"What person pretends to divide the land and put me on it?" growled old
Toohulhulsote.

"I am the man," General Howard answered. "I stand here for the
President."

"The Indians may do as they like, but I am not going on the
reservation," announced Toohulhulsote.

His words were causing much excitement and bad feeling, and General
Howard ordered him arrested. The young men murmured among themselves,
and would have begun war at once by rescuing him; but Chief Joseph
spoke to them and quieted them.

Toohulhulsote was kept locked up for five days. Meanwhile Chief Joseph
had resolved to permit no war.

"I said in my heart," related Joseph, "that rather than have war I
would give up my country. I would rather give up my father's grave. I
would give up everything, rather than have the blood of white men on
the hands of my people."

Thirty days was named as the time within which he must gather his
people and goods and remove to the reservation. He counseled everybody
to obey. When Toohulhulsote came home he urged the Nez Perces men to
fight, and not be driven like dogs from the land where they were born;
but Joseph stood with a strong heart.

The time seemed too short for moving so many families, their horses and
cattle. Still, he worked hard, and all was going sm