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Recurring to the subject, she attempted to describe the soldier, by way of identification, as having hair the color of the lace on the Captain's red coat. Odalie was able to recollect a certain smart young soldier, who as orderly had one day accompanied Captain Stuart on a visit of ceremony to Oconostota, at his seat of government at Choté old town.
Haywood purports to give almost the exact language Oconostota used; but when he is in error even as to who made the speech, he is exceedingly unlikely to be correct in any thing more than its general tenor. Then sometimes called the Louisa; a name given it at first by the English explorers, but by great good-fortune not retained. Collins, II., 498. Letter of Daniel Boon, April 1, 1775.
Oconostota and Cunigacatgoah had come down to the river-bank on the news of his approach and had welcomed him like a brother. To the great council-hall he was taken, and not one word would Oconostota hear of his mission till food was placed before him, fish and fowl, bread, and a flask of wine!
He could not have bowed with more respectful formality if he were quitting the presence of General Amherst himself, the cocked hat in his right hand sweeping low as he made his obeisance; but he could detect in both faces no change of expression, except that the eye of Oconostota twinkled with derision or anger or pleasure who can say?
I drove them back with my horse and loudly informed them: "It's Cherokee Billy, brother of Oconostota, who can send the whole Cherokee nation against you, or hold it back." "I don't care what Injun it is," howled Hacker. "Hair's hair. Git out the way, or you'll git acquainted with my ax. I'll have that scalp." "Not so fast," I warned. "The hair belongs to Crabtree here. Kill your own scalps.
Captain Coytmore seemed to consider for a moment whom he could send; and then, evidently desirous of furthering any pacific negotiation, said that he could detail a man for that duty. Oconostota replied that that courtesy was all he would ask of the commandant a white man as a safeguard. He himself would furnish a horse for the man to ride.
I had a boy's interest in affairs, and I remember being told that the gentlemen were met here to discuss the treaty between themselves and the great Oconostota, chief of the Cherokees, and also to consider the policy of punishing once for all Dragging Canoe and his bandits at Chickamauga.
He stands silent, motionless, not moving a pace beyond the entrance, till Oconostota, raising his eyes and lifting his huge form into an erect posture, bids him speak and make known his errand. The young brave explains that the chief of the pale-faces has come down the great war-path to an outlying town to see the head-men of the Ottari.
I only wish my lord could have won Oconostota to his lordship's pacific way of thinking. A garrison of two hundred soldiers is not likely to prove very overbearing to a neighbor who can muster three thousand fighting men armed with British muskets. My lord's advice was timely." He glanced with raillery at Demeré, and laughed again.
"And when Oconostota saw that I had been so nearly starved that I could hardly eat Lord! how his eyes twinkled!" cried Stuart, angrily. But Oconostota had permitted himself to comment on the fact. He said that it had grieved him to know of the sufferings from famine of his brother and the garrison for were they not all the children of the same Great Father!
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