his anger to maintain the character he had assumed, and using the
appellation of which his nation was most proud; "the Dahcotahs have no
fear! Speak; what brings you so far from the villages of the
pale-faces?"

"I have seen the sun rise and set on many councils, and have heard the
words of wise men. Let your chiefs come, and my mouth shall not be
shut."

"I am a great chief!" said the savage, affecting an air of offended
dignity. "Do you take me for an Assiniboine? Weucha is a warrior often
named, and much believed!"

"Am I a fool not to know a burnt-wood Teton?" demanded the trapper,
with a steadiness that did great credit to his nerves. "Go; it is
dark, and you do not see that my head is grey!"

The Indian now appeared convinced that he had adopted too shallow an
artifice to deceive one so practised as the man he addressed, and he
was deliberating what fiction he should next invent, in order to
obtain his real object, when a slight commotion among the band put an
end at once to all his schemes. Casting his eyes behind him, as if
fearful of a speedy interruption, he said, in tones much less
pretending than those he had first resorted to--

"Give Weucha the milk of the Long-knives, and he will sing your name
in the ears of the great men of his tribe."

"Go," repeated the trapper, motioning him away, with strong disgust.
"Your young men are speaking of Mahtoree. My words are for the ears of