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He will become a great warrior among the Arrapahoes. So wish our prophets. I obey the will of the prophets and of the nation." "But," answered I, "my Manitou will not hear me if I am a slave. The Pale-face Manitou has ears only for free warriors. He will not lend me his fires unless space and time be my own." The chief interrupted me: "Owato Wanisha is not a slave, nor can he be one.
"I am old and feeble; I am tired; arise, my grandson Owato Wanisha; speak to my warriors; tell them the wishes of the Great Spirit. I have spoken." Thus called upon, I advanced to the place which the chief had left vacant, and spoke in my turn: "Shoshones, fathers, brothers, warriors, I am a Pale-face, but you know all my heart is a Shoshone's. I am young, but no more a child.
There were no Pale-faces among them, none! Owato Wanisha was there, but he had a red skin, and his hair was black; so were his two fathers, but they were looking young; so was his aged and humble friend, but his limbs seemed to have recovered all the activity and vigour of youth; so were his two young friends, who have fought so bravely at the Post, when the cowardly Umbiquas entered our grounds.
This did not prevent me from being highly complimented; henceforward Owato Wanisha was a warrior. The next day I left the boat-house with my own party, I mean the seven of us who had come from Monterey. Being all well mounted, we shortly reached the settlement, from which I had been absent more than three months. Events had turned out better than I had anticipated.
Owato Wanisha will guide our warriors, he will preside in council, for two gods are with him the Manitou of the Pale-faces and the Manitou of the Red-skins. "Hear my words, Shoshones! I shall soon join my father and grandfather in the happy lands, for I am old!
Owato Wanisha will lead his warriors to the war-path, or upon the trail of the buffalo; he will go and talk to the grandchildren of the Shoshones; more he cannot do! "Let now the squaws prepare the farewell meal, and make ready the green paint; to-morrow I shall depart, with fifty of my young men. I have spoken."
"Chief," he said, "and wise men of a brave nation, you have conferred upon us a trust of which we are proud. To Owato Wanisha, perhaps, it was due, for he is mighty in his tribe; but I and the Shakanah are no chiefs. We will not decline your favour, but we must deserve it.
It is probable that the scene had been prepared beforehand by the excellent chief who wished to introduce us to his warriors under advantageous circumstances. He waved his hand to claim attention, and spoke again. "It is now twelve moons, it is more I met Owato Wanisha and his two brothers.
On my return I was therefore admitted as a chief, with the Indian name Owato Wanisha, or "spirit of the beaver," as appropriate to my cunning and address. To obtain the rank of a warrior chief, it was absolutely requisite that I had distinguished myself on the field of battle. Before I continue my narration, I must say a little more relative to the missionaries, who were my instructors.
"Chief," he said, "and wise men of a brave nation, you have conferred upon us a trust of which we are proud. To Owato Wanisha, perhaps, it was due, for he is mighty in his tribe; but I and the Shakanah are no chiefs. We will not decline your favour, but we must deserve it.
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