Chapter 13 - Page 2

deserted his tribe, and why he looked back upon them with

such deadly hostility. Kosato told him his own story briefly: it

gives a picture of the deep, strong passions that work in the

bosoms of these miscalled stoics.

"You see my wife," said he, "she is good; she is beautiful --I

love her. Yet she has been the cause of all my troubles. She was

the wife of my chief. I loved her more than he did; and she knew

it. We talked together; we laughed together; we were always

seeking each other's society; but we were as innocent as

children. The chief grew jealous, and commanded her to speak with

me no more. His heart became hard toward her; his jealousy grew

more furious. He beat her without cause and without mercy; and

threatened to kill her outright if she even looked at me. Do you

want traces of his fury? Look at that scar! His rage against me

was no less persecuting. War parties of the Crows were hovering

round us; our young men had seen their trail. All hearts were

roused for action; my horses were before my lodge. Suddenly the

chief came, took them to his own pickets, and called them his

own. What could I do? he was a chief. I durst not speak, but my

heart was burning. I joined no longer in the council, the hunt,

or the war-feast. What had I to do there? an unhorsed, degraded

warrior. I kept by myself, and thought of nothing but these

wrongs and outrages.

"I was sitting one evening upon a knoll that overlooked the

meadow where the horses were pastured. I saw the horses that were

once mine grazing among those of the chief. This maddened me, and

I sat brooding for a time over the injuries I had suffered, and

the cruelties which she I loved had endured for my sake, until my

heart swelled and grew sore, and my teeth were clinched. As I

looked down upon the meadow I saw the chief walking among his

horses. I fastened my eyes upon him as a hawk's; my blood boiled;

I drew my breath hard. He went among the willows. In an instant I

was on my feet; my hand was on my knife --I flew rather than ran

-- before he was aware I sprang upon him, and with two blows laid

him dead at my feet. I covered his body with earth, and strewed

bushes over the place; then I hastened to her I loved, told her

what I had done, and urged her to fly with me. She only answered

me with tears. I reminded her of the wrongs I had suffered, and

of the blows and stripes she had endured from the deceased; I had

done nothing but an act of justice. I again urged her to fly; but

she only wept the more, and bade me go. My heart was heavy, but

my eyes were