bison? It is of the same
colour. The Master of Life made them for each other. He made them alike. But
will the grass grow green where a Pale-face is killed? My young men must not
think that Nation so numerous that it will not miss a warrior. They call them
over often, and say, where are my sons? If they miss one, they will send into
the Prairies to look for him. If they cannot find him, they will tell their
runners to ask for him among the Siouxes. My Brethren, the Big-knives are not
fools. There is a mighty medecine of their nation, now, among us. Who can tell
how loud is his voice, or how long is his arm -«
    The speech of the orator, who was beginning to enter into his subject with
warmth, was cut short by the impatient Mahtoree, who suddenly arose, and
exclaimed in a voice, in which authority was mingled with contempt, and, at the
close with a keen tone of irony, also -
    »Let my young men, lead the Evil Spirit of the Pale faces to the Council. My
brother, shall see his Medecine, face to face.«
    A death-like and solemn stillness succeeded this extraordinary interruption.
It not only involved a deep offence against the sacred courtesy of debate, but
the mandate was likely to brave the unknown power of one of those
incomprehensible beings, whom few Indians were enlightened enough, at that day,
to regard without reverence, or few hardy enough to oppose. The subordinates,
however, obeyed; and Obed was led forth from a lodge, mounted on Asinus, with a
ceremony and state which was certainly intended for derision, but which,
nevertheless, was greatly enhanced by fear. As they entered the ring, Mahtoree,
who had foreseen and had endeavored to anticipate the influence of the Doctor by
bringing him into contempt, cast an eye around the assembly, in order to gather
his success in the various dark visages by which he was encircled.
    Truly nature and art had combined to produce such an effect from the air and
appointments of the naturalist as might have made him the subject of wonder in
any place. His head had been industriously shaved, after the most approved
fashion of Sioux taste. A gallant scalp-lock, which would probably not have been
spared had the Doctor himself been consulted in the matter, was all that
remained of an exuberant, and at that particular season of the year, far from
uncomfortable head of hair. Thick coats of paint had been laid on the naked