Chapter 26

I am not prone to weeping, as our sex
Commonly are.
--But I have that honourable
Grief lodged here, which burns worse than
Tears drown
--Shakspeare.

When within twenty feet of the prisoners, the Tetons stopped, and
their leader made a sign to the old man to draw nigh. The trapper
obeyed, quitting the young Pawnee with a significant look, which was
received, as it was meant, for an additional pledge that he would
never forget his promise. So soon as Mahtoree found that the other had
stopped within reach of him, he stretched forth his arm, and laying a
hand upon the shoulder of the attentive old man, he stood regarding
him, a minute, with eyes that seemed willing to penetrate the recesses
of his most secret thoughts.

"Is a Pale-face always made with two tongues?" he demanded, when he
found that, as usual, with the subject of this examination, he was as
little intimidated by his present frown, as moved by any apprehensions
of the future.

"Honesty lies deeper than the skin."

"It is so. Now let my father hear me. Mahtoree has but one tongue, the
grey-head has many. They may be all straight, and none of them forked.
A Sioux is no more than a Sioux, but a Pale-face is every thing! He
can talk to the Pawnee, and the Konza, and the Omawhaw, and he can
talk to his own people."

"Ay, there are linguists in the settlements that can do still more.
But what profits it all? The Master of Life has an ear for every
language!"

"The grey-head has done wrong. He has said one thing when he meant
another. He has looked before him with his eyes, and behind him with
his mind. He has ridden the horse of a Sioux too hard; he has been the
friend of a Pawnee, and the enemy of my people."

"Teton, I am your prisoner. Though my words are white, they will not
complain. Act your will."

"No. Mahtoree will not make a white hair red. My father is free. The
prairie is open on every side of him. But before the grey-head turns
his back on the Siouxes, let him look well at them, that he may tell
his own chief, how great is a Dahcotah!"

"I am not in a hurry to go on my path. You see a man with a white
head, and no woman, Teton; therefore shall I not run myself out of
breath, to tell the nations of the prairies what the Siouxes are
doing."

"It is good. My father has smoked with the chiefs at many councils,"
returned Mahtoree, who now thought himself sufficiently sure of the
other's favour to go more directly to his object. "Mahtoree will speak
with the tongue of his very dear friend and father. A young Pale-face
will listen when an old man of that nation opens his mouth. Go;