Part 10 (1/2)
”And that accounts for the kind treatment--the food, half-freedom, and the rest But if your people think us spirits, why do they keep us here?
Why not let us return?”
The Indian paused for a moment before he replied, after which he remarked quietly, and with a peculiar inflection of tone that added deepto his words, while at the same time it betrayed the fact that there was some curious reason to account for this confidence--
”Dacotahs fools They think white brothers spirits--_evil_ spirits They have not the eyes of Thunder-et, Thunder-maker, that your trickery with the snakes helped thehed quietly in a hly--
”Come now, you old cheat, explain yourself! _You_ didn't believe as the rest of your people did And if not, why did you behave in such a double way? Out with it You had soive us the truth right away”
It is not possible to hasten an Indian in the matter of speech Hasty response or rapid talk they deem discourteous Thunder-maker was no exception to his race in this respect, but he was exceptional in another, inas many unnecessary words or ornahtful silence for severalway he wasthe peculiarities of his co what course would be best to enable hied their characteristics correctly will be seen later
”My white brother has asked for the truth,” the Indian began
”Thunder- arrow
”Many years ago--when the buffalo lived upon the prairie to feed the redreat tribe of Dacotahs would hunt in the valley that is known even to-day as the Peace Camp Many deer would feed there, and the buffalo would eat the blue grass, and Manito had filled the camp with fruit and flowers In those days the Dacotahs were ruled by aCloud--the son of the fiery tote the chief of the Chippeways in the war-path by night”
Here the speaker paused, as though he expected so , he resumed--
”For many years our tribe lived in prosperity Perounds in peace Then--one night--Chief Fire-water came to the camp, and a brave with foolish mind praised Fire-waterCloud ere the insult was cool on his lips But the serpent was angered He flashed tongue of fire to the Dacotahs--called down the rains and the teht, until the water spirits rushed through the valley on white horses, destroying trees and fruits--washi+ng the land bare of earth And, when the sun ca Cloud and the best warriors of the Dacotahs had been carried away by the water spirits and were never seen again
”Then there was great wailing in the caer, lest the Dacotahs be a tribe no more
”And the serpent had pity, and spoke thus to the warriors and braves--
”'I will stay iven power to the spirits that ride on white horses, and I ain'
”'Then what shall the Dacotahs do?' asked the warriors 'It s and take fro men'
”And the serpent replied--
”'When such time come, the Dacotahs will see thite spirits rise out of the lake that is silver When the moon is round, they shall rise out of the lake that is silver They shall come without canoe to bear the By this shall you know them
Then shall the Dacotahs lay hands upon the white spirits; they shall treat the them to the Peace Camp and there consume them with fire Then shall the power of the water spirits be broken Then shall the Dacotahs be safe Then shall the fire of er be quenched
”'But I--the sacred totehty and full of pity
The Dacotahs are brave, but they are not all wise Itto those who are not evil spirits But let them not hold back in doubt, for I shall stay their hand, even though the torch be set at the wood For if the eyes of uide then of this shall be: _I shall appear before the eyes of all people as a serpent of fire_ By this shall they know that they have erred They shall withhold the torch, free the captives, and be to them as brothers'”
Once more the speaker waited for a space, until he knew that his hearers had tiend that he had related
Then he lowered his voice and spoke with deep lishmen to understand--
”Yesterday the moon was round Thite spirits ca, without ar The fiery totehty Hand will lead the white spirits of the water to the camp that is called Peaceful!”
CHAPTER IX