it appear their enemies must give into the snare, that
the oldest chiefs testified their approbation with a
vivacity of manner and expression little wont to
characterize the deliberative meetings of these reserved
people. But deepest of all was the approval of the tall
warrior who had so recently arrived. To him had the
discourse of the leader been principally directed, as
one whose counsel and experience were especially wanting
to confirm him in his purpose. He was the last who spoke;
but, when he did, it was with a force--an energy--that
must have sunk every objection, even if the plan had not
been so perfect and unexceptionable in its concoction as
to have precluded a possibility of all negative argument.
During the delivery of his animated speech, his swarthy
countenance kindled into fierce and rapidly varying
expression. A thousand dark and complicated passions
evidently struggled at his heart; and as he dwelt leisurely
and emphatically on the sacrifice of human life that must
inevitably attend the adoption of the proposed measure,
his eye grew larger, his chest expanded, nay, his very
nostril appeared to dilate with unfathomably guileful
exultation. Captain de Haldimar thought he had never
gazed on any thing wearing the human shape half so
atrociously savage.

Long before the council was terminated, the inferior
warriors, who had been so suddenly aroused from their
slumbering attitudes, had again retired to their tents,
and stretched their lazy length before the embers of
their fires. The weary chiefs now prepared to follow