The Prairie by James Fenimore Cooper
page 61 of 575 (10%)
page 61 of 575 (10%)
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and, so far as it is possible, the form of the dialogue that
succeeded, into the English tongue. "Have the pale-faces eaten their own buffaloes, and taken the skins from all their own beavers," continued the savage, allowing the usual moment of decorum to elapse, after the words of greeting, before he again spoke, "that they come to count how many are left among the Pawnees?" "Some of us are here to buy, and some to sell," returned the trapper; "but none will follow, if they hear it is not safe to come nigh the lodge of a Sioux." "The Siouxes are thieves, and they live among the snow; why do we talk of a people who are so far, when we are in the country of the Pawnees?" "If the Pawnees are the owners of this land, then white and red are here by equal right." "Have not the pale-faces stolen enough from the red men, that you come so far to carry a lie? I have said that this is a hunting-ground of my tribe." "My right to be here is equal to your own," the trapper rejoined, with undisturbed coolness; "I do not speak as I might--it is better to be silent. The Pawnees and the white men are brothers, but a Sioux dare not show his face in the village of the Loups." "The Dahcotahs are men!" exclaimed the savage, fiercely; forgetting in |
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