United States or Grenada ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
This advice was hailed with a good many "Waughs," as well as approving nods and looks, and it seemed as if the plan were about to be carried into action without delay, when, as we have seen, Okematan arose to address the assemblage. Okematan was a great chief much greater in the estimation of his tribe than the whites with whom he had been associating in Red River were aware of.
The rapid gliding of spectral forms from the interior of the encampment in the same direction, denoted, moreover, that the Indians generally had heard, and were attracted by the same sound. Presently afterwards, repeated "waughs!" and "Wacousta! Wacousta!" from those who had reached the extreme skirt of the forest, fell on the dismayed ear of the young officer.
The old man paused, and there were some "Waughs" of approval, for the truth contained in his profound conclusion was obvious even to the stupidest Red-skin of the band supposing that a stupid brave among Crees were possible! "I have also lived to see," continued the old man, "that revenge is nothing nothing at all, and therefore not worth fighting for."
The rapid gliding of spectral forms from the interior of the encampment in the same direction, denoted, moreover, that the Indians generally had heard, and were attracted by the same sound. Presently afterwards, repeated "waughs!" and "Wacousta! Wacousta!" from those who had reached the extreme skirt of the forest, fell on the dismayed ear of the young officer.
It is these who deserve to be swept off the face of the earth." A number of emphatic nods and "waughs" at this point showed that Okematan had at last touched a key-note with which his braves could shout in harmony. "But," resumed the chief impressively, "we cannot sweep them off the earth; we cannot even sweep them off the banks of Red River.
They have more beads, and blankets, and hatchets, and tobacco, than they know what to do with, so they have sent some of these things here to be given to you in exchange for furs, and food, and leather." The waughs! and hows! and hos! with which these remarks were followed up were so hearty, that Lumley thought it best to make a considerable pause at this point; then he resumed:
But all the rights belong to the children, and all the duties belong to the parents. Personally I am not fond of talking about myself. Still less am I anxious to make a public exhibition of my home. But if the Dr. Jaynes and the Mr. Waughs of the Christian world provoke comparisons, I have no fear of standing with my little ones opposite them with theirs, and letting the world judge between us.
Okematan's voice increased in fervour, and he put the finishing question with an intensity that called forth a chorus of "Waughs!" and "Ho's!" with a glittering of eyes, and a significant grasping of scalping-knives and tomahawks that rendered further reply needless. "Would you not scorn us," he continued, "scalp us, tear out our eyes, roast us alive? but no the Cree Nation loves not cruelty.
Word Of The Day