The Prairie

by James Fenimore Cooper

  CHAPTER XX

  Welcome, ancient Pistol. --Shakspeare.

  It was not long before the trapper pointed out the commanding person ofMahtoree, as the leader of the Siouxes. This chief, who had been amongthe last to obey the vociferous summons of Weucha, no sooner reached thespot where his whole party was now gathered, than he threw himselffrom his horse, and proceeded to examine the marks of the extraordinarytrail, with that degree of dignity and attention which became his highand responsible station. The warriors, for it was but too evident thatthey were to a man of that fearless and ruthless class, awaited theresult of his investigation with patient reserve; none but a few of theprincipal braves, presuming even to speak, while their leader wasthus gravely occupied. It was several minutes before Mahtoree seemedsatisfied. He then directed his eyes along the ground to those severalplaces where Ishmael had found the same revolting evidences of thepassage of some bloody struggle, and motioned to his people to follow.

  The whole band advanced in a body towards the thicket, until they cameto a halt, within a few yards of the precise spot, where Esther hadstimulated her sluggish sons to break into the cover. The reader willreadily imagine that the trapper and his companions were not indifferentobservers of so threatening a movement. The old man summoned allwho were capable of bearing arms to his side, and demanded, in veryunequivocal terms, though in a voice that was suitably lowered, in orderto escape the ears of their dangerous neighbours, whether they weredisposed to make battle for their liberty, or whether they should trythe milder expedient of conciliation. As it was a subject in which allhad an equal interest, he put the question as to a council of war, andnot without some slight exhibition of the lingering vestiges of a nearlyextinct military pride. Paul and the Doctor were diametrically opposedto each other in opinion; the former declaring for an immediate appealto arms, and the latter was warmly espousing the policy of pacificmeasures. Middleton, who saw that there was great danger of a hot verbaldispute between two men, who were governed by feelings so diametricallyopposed, saw fit to assume the office of arbiter; or rather to decidethe question, his situation making him a sort of umpire. He also leanedto the side of peace, for he evidently saw that, in consequence of thevast superiority of their enemies, violence would irretrievably lead totheir destruction.

  The trapper listened to the reasons of the young soldier with greatattention; and, as they were given with the steadiness of one who didnot suffer apprehension to blind his judgment, they did not fail toproduce a suitable impression.

  "It is rational," rejoined the trapper, when the other had deliveredhis reasons; "it is very rational, for what man cannot move with hisstrength he must circumvent with his wits. It is reason that makes himstronger than the buffaloe, and swifter than the moose. Now stay youhere, and keep yourselves close. My life and my traps are but of littlevalue, when the welfare of so many human souls are concerned; and,moreover, I may say that I know the windings of Indian cunning.Therefore will I go alone upon the prairie. It may so happen, that I canyet draw the eyes of a Sioux from this spot and give you time and roomto fly."

  As if resolved to listen to no remonstrance, the old man quietlyshouldered his rifle, and moving leisurely through the thicket, heissued on the plain, at a point whence he might first appear before theeyes of the Siouxes, without exciting their suspicions that he came fromits cover.

  The instant that the figure of a man dressed in the garb of a hunter,and bearing the well known and much dreaded rifle, appeared before theeyes of the Siouxes, there was a sensible, though a suppressed sensationin the band. The artifice of the trapper had so far succeeded, as torender it extremely doubtful whether he came from some point on the openprairie, or from the thicket; though the Indians still continued to castfrequent and suspicious glances at the cover. They had made theirhalt at the distance of an arrow-flight from the bushes; but when thestranger came sufficiently nigh to show that the deep coating of red andbrown, which time and exposure had given to his features, was laid uponthe original colour of a Pale-face, they slowly receded from the spot,until they reached a distance that might defeat the aim of fire-arms.

  In the mean time the old man continued to advance, until he had got nighenough to make himself heard without difficulty. Here he stopped,and dropping his rifle to the earth, he raised his hand with the palmoutward, in token of peace. After uttering a few words of reproachto his hound, who watched the savage group with eyes that seemed torecognise them, he spoke in the Sioux tongue--

  "My brothers are welcome," he said, cunningly constituting himself themaster of the region in which they had met, and assuming the officesof hospitality. "They are far from their villages, and are hungry. Willthey follow to my lodge, to eat and sleep?"

  No sooner was his voice heard, than the yell of pleasure, which burstfrom a dozen mouths, convinced the sagacious trapper, that he also wasrecognised. Feeling that it was too late to retreat, he profited by theconfusion which prevailed among them, while Weucha was explaininghis character, to advance, until he was again face to face with theredoubtable Mahtoree. The second interview between these two men, eachof whom was extraordinary in his way, was marked by the usual cautionof the frontiers. They stood, for nearly a minute, examining each otherwithout speaking.

  "Where are your young men?" sternly demanded the Teton chieftain, afterhe found that the immovable features of the trapper refused to betrayany of their master's secrets, under his intimidating look.

  "The Long-knives do not come in bands to trap the beaver? I am alone."

  "Your head is white, but you have a forked tongue. Mahtoree has been inyour camp. He knows that you are not alone. Where is your young wife,and the warrior that I found upon the prairie?"

  "I have no wife. I have told my brother that the woman and her friendwere strangers. The words of a grey head should be heard, and notforgotten. The Dahcotahs found travellers asleep, and they thought theyhad no need of horses. The women and children of a Pale-face are notused to go far on foot. Let them be sought where you left them."

  The eyes of the Teton flashed fire as he answered--

  "They are gone: but Mahtoree is a wise chief, and his eyes can see agreat distance!"

  "Does the partisan of the Tetons see men on these naked fields?"retorted the trapper, with great steadiness of mien. "I am very old,and my eyes grow dim. Where do they stand?" The chief remained silent amoment, as if he disdained to contest any further the truth of a fact,concerning which he was already satisfied. Then pointing to the traceson the earth, he said, with a sudden transition to mildness, in his eyeand manner--

  "My father has learnt wisdom, in many winters; can he tell me whosemoccasin has left this trail?"

  "There have been wolves and buffaloes on the prairies; and there mayhave been cougars too."

  Mahtoree glanced his eye at the thicket, as if he thought the lattersuggestion not impossible. Pointing to the place, he ordered his youngmen to reconnoitre it more closely, cautioning them, at the same time,with a stern look at the trapper, to beware of treachery from theBig-knives. Three or four half-naked, eager-looking youths lashed theirhorses at the word, and darted away to obey the mandate. The oldman trembled a little for the discretion of Paul, when he saw thisdemonstration. The Tetons encircled the place two or three times,approaching nigher and nigher at each circuit, and then galloped back totheir leader to report that the copse seemed empty. Notwithstanding thetrapper watched the eye of Mahtoree, to detect the inward movementsof his mind, and if possible to anticipate, in order to direct hissuspicions, the utmost sagacity of one so long accustomed to study thecold habits of the Indian race, could however detect no symptom,or expression, that denoted how far he credited or distrusted thisintelligence. Instead of replying to the information of his scouts,he spoke kindly to his horse, and motioning to a youth to receive thebridle, or rather halter, by which he governed the animal, he took thetrapper by the arm, and led him a little apart from the rest of the
band.

  "Has my brother been a warrior?" said the wily Teton, in a tone that heintended should be conciliating.

  "Do the leaves cover the trees in the season of fruits? Go. TheDahcotahs have not seen as many warriors living as I have looked onin their blood! But what signifies idle remembrancing," he added inEnglish, "when limbs grow stiff, and sight is failing!"

  The chief regarded him a moment with a severe look, as if he would laybare the falsehood he had heard; but meeting in the calm eye and steadymien of the trapper a confirmation of the truth of what he said, he tookthe hand of the old man and laid it gently on his head, in token of therespect that was due to the other's years and experience.

  "Why then do the Big-knives tell their red brethren to bury thetomahawk," he said, "when their own young men never forget that they arebraves, and meet each other so often with bloody hands?"

  "My nation is more numerous than the buffaloes on the prairies, or thepigeons in the air. Their quarrels are frequent; yet their warriorsare few. None go out on the war-path but they who are gifted with thequalities of a brave, and therefore such see many battles."

  "It is not so--my father is mistaken," returned Mahtoree, indulging ina smile of exulting penetration, at the very instant he corrected theforce of his denial, in deference to the years and services of one soaged. "The Big-knives are very wise, and they are men; all of them wouldbe warriors. They would leave the Red-skins to dig roots and hoe thecorn. But a Dahcotah is not born to live like a woman; he must strikethe Pawnee and the Omahaw, or he will lose the name of his fathers."

  "The Master of Life looks with an open eye on his children, who die ina battle that is fought for the right; but he is blind, and his ears areshut to the cries of an Indian, who is killed when plundering, or doingevil to his neighbour."

  "My father is old," said Mahtoree, looking at his aged companion, withan expression of irony, that sufficiently denoted he was one of thosewho overstep the trammels of education, and who are perhaps a littlegiven to abuse the mental liberty they thus obtain. "He is very old: hashe made a journey to the far country; and has he been at the trouble tocome back, to tell the young men what he has seen?"

  "Teton," returned the trapper, throwing the breach of his rifle to theearth with startling vehemence, and regarding his companion with steadyserenity, "I have heard that there are men, among my people, who studytheir great medicines until they believe themselves to be gods, and wholaugh at all faith except in their own vanities. It may be true. It istrue; for I have seen them. When man is shut up in towns and schools,with his own follies, it may be easy to believe himself greater than theMaster of Life; but a warrior, who lives in a house with the clouds forits roof, where he can at any moment look both at the heavens and at theearth, and who daily sees the power of the Great Spirit, should be morehumble. A Dahcotah chieftain ought to be too wise to laugh at justice."

  The crafty Mahtoree, who saw that his free-thinking was not likely toproduce a favourable impression on the old man, instantly changed hisground, by alluding to the more immediate subject of their interview.Laying his hand gently on the shoulder of the trapper, he led himforward, until they both stood within fifty feet of the margin of thethicket. Here he fastened his penetrating eyes on the other's honestcountenance, and continued the discourse--

  "If my father has hid his young men in the bush, let him tell them tocome forth. You see that a Dahcotah is not afraid. Mahtoree is a greatchief! A warrior, whose head is white, and who is about to go to theLand of Spirits, cannot have a tongue with two ends, like a serpent."

  "Dahcotah, I have told no lie. Since the Great Spirit made me a man, Ihave lived in the wilderness, or on these naked plains, without lodge orfamily. I am a hunter and go on my path alone."

  "My father has a good carabine. Let him point it in the bush and fire."

  The old man hesitated a moment, and then slowly prepared himself to givethis delicate assurance of the truth of what he said, without which heplainly perceived the suspicions of his crafty companion could not belulled. As he lowered his rifle, his eye, although greatly dimmed andweakened by age, ran over the confused collection of objects, thatlay embedded amid the party-coloured foliage of the thicket, until itsucceeded in catching a glimpse of the brown covering of the stem of asmall tree. With this object in view, he raised the piece to a leveland fired. The bullet had no sooner glided from the barrel than a tremorseized the hands of the trapper, which, had it occurred a moment sooner,would have utterly disqualified him for so hazardous an experiment. Afrightful silence succeeded the report, during which he expected to hearthe shrieks of the females, and then, as the smoke whirled away in thewind, he caught a view of the fluttering bark, and felt assured that allhis former skill was not entirely departed from him. Dropping the pieceto the earth, he turned again to his companion with an air of the utmostcomposure, and demanded--

  "Is my brother satisfied?"

  "Mahtoree is a chief of the Dahcotahs," returned the cunning Teton,laying his hand on his chest, in acknowledgment of the other'ssincerity. "He knows that a warrior, who has smoked at so manycouncil-fires, until his head has grown white, would not be found inwicked company. But did not my father once ride on a horse, like a richchief of the Pale-faces, instead of travelling on foot like a hungryKonza?"

  "Never! The Wahcondah has given me legs, and he has given me resolutionto use them. For sixty summers and winters did I journey in the woodsof America, and ten tiresome years have I dwelt on these open fields,without finding need to call often upon the gifts of the other creatur'sof the Lord to carry me from place to place."

  "If my father has so long lived in the shade, why has he come upon theprairies? The sun will scorch him."

  The old man looked sorrowfully about for a moment, and then turning witha confidential air to the other, he replied--

  "I passed the spring, summer, and autumn of life among the trees. Thewinter of my days had come, and found me where I loved to be, in thequiet--ay, and in the honesty of the woods! Teton, then I slept happily,where my eyes could look up through the branches of the pines and thebeeches, to the very dwelling of the Good Spirit of my people. If Ihad need to open my heart to him, while his fires were burning above myhead, the door was open and before my eyes. But the axes of the choppersawoke me. For a long time my ears heard nothing but the uproar ofclearings. I bore it like a warrior and a man; there was a reason thatI should bear it: but when that reason was ended, I bethought me toget beyond the accursed sounds. It was trying to the courage and tothe habits, but I had heard of these vast and naked fields, and I camehither to escape the wasteful temper of my people. Tell me, Dahcotah,have I not done well?"

  The trapper laid his long lean finger on the naked shoulder of theIndian as he ended, and seemed to demand his felicitations on hisingenuity and success, with a ghastly smile, in which triumph wassingularly blended with regret. His companion listened intently, andreplied to the question by saying, in the sententious manner of hisrace--

  "The head of my father is very grey; he has always lived with men, andhe has seen everything. What he does is good; what he speaks is wise.Now let him say, is he sure that he is a stranger to the Big-knives, whoare looking for their beasts on every side of the prairies and cannotfind them?"

  "Dahcotah, what I have said is true. I live alone, and never do I minglewith men whose skins are white, if--"

  His mouth was suddenly closed by an interruption that was as mortifyingas it was unexpected. The words were still on his tongue, when thebushes on the side of the thicket where they stood, opened, and thewhole of the party whom he had just left, and in whose behalf hewas endeavouring to reconcile his love of truth to the necessity ofprevaricating, came openly into view. A pause of mute astonishmentsucceeded this unlooked-for spectacle. Then Mahtoree, who did notsuffer a muscle or a joint to betray the wonder and surprise he actuallyexperienced, motioned towards the advancing friends of the trapper withan air of assumed civility, and a smile, that lighted his fierce, dark,visage, as the
glare of the setting sun reveals the volume and loadof the cloud, that is charged to bursting with the electric fluid.He however disdained to speak, or to give any other evidence of hisintentions than by calling to his side the distant band, who sprangforward at his beck, with the alacrity of willing subordinates.

  In the mean time the friends of the old man continued to advance.Middleton himself was foremost, supporting the light and aerial lookingfigure of Inez, on whose anxious countenance he cast such occasionalglances of tender interest as, in similar circumstances, a father wouldhave given to his child. Paul led Ellen, close in their rear. But whilethe eye of the bee-hunter did not neglect his blooming companion, itscowled angrily, resembling more the aspect of the sullen and retreatingbear than the soft intelligence of a favoured suitor. Obed and Asinuscame last, the former leading his companion with a degree of fondnessthat could hardly be said to be exceeded by any other of the party. Theapproach of the naturalist was far less rapid than that of those whopreceded him. His feet seemed equally reluctant to advance, or to remainstationary; his position bearing a great analogy to that of Mahomet'scoffin, with the exception that the quality of repulsion rather thanthat of attraction held him in a state of rest. The repulsive power inhis rear however appeared to predominate, and by a singular exception,as he would have said himself, to all philosophical principles, itrather increased than diminished by distance. As the eyes of thenaturalist steadily maintained a position that was the opposite of hisroute, they served to give a direction to those of the observers of allthese movements, and at once furnished a sufficient clue by which tounravel the mystery of so sudden a debouchement from the cover.

  Another cluster of stout and armed men was seen at no great distance,just rounding a point of the thicket, and moving directly thoughcautiously towards the place where the band of the Siouxes was posted,as a squadron of cruisers is often seen to steer across the waste ofwaters, towards the rich but well-protected convoy. In short, the familyof the squatter, or at least such among them as were capable ofbearing arms, appeared in view, on the broad prairie, evidently bent onrevenging their wrongs.

  Mahtoree and his party slowly retired from the thicket, the momentthey caught a view of the strangers, until they halted on a swell thatcommanded a wide and unobstructed view of the naked fields on which theystood. Here the Dahcotah appeared disposed to make his stand, and tobring matters to an issue. Notwithstanding this retreat, in which hecompelled the trapper to accompany him, Middleton still advanced, untilhe too halted on the same elevation, and within speaking distance of thewarlike Siouxes. The borderers in their turn took a favourable position,though at a much greater distance. The three groups now resembled somany fleets at sea, lying with their topsails to the masts, with thecommendable precaution of reconnoitring, before each could ascertain whoamong the strangers might be considered as friends, and who as foes.

  During this moment of suspense, the dark, threatening, eye of Mahtoreerolled from one of the strange parties to the other, in keen and hastyexamination, and then it turned its withering look on the old man, asthe chief said, in a tone of high and bitter scorn--

  "The Big-knives are fools! It is easier to catch the cougar asleep, thanto find a blind Dahcotah. Did the white head think to ride on the horseof a Sioux?"

  The trapper, who had found time to collect his perplexed faculties, sawat once that Middleton, having perceived Ishmael on the trail by whichthey had fled, preferred trusting to the hospitality of the savages,than to the treatment he would be likely to receive from the hands ofthe squatter. He therefore disposed himself to clear the way for thefavourable reception of his friends, since he found that the unnaturalcoalition became necessary to secure the liberty, if not the lives, ofthe party.

  "Did my brother ever go on a war-path to strike my people?" he calmlydemanded of the indignant chief, who still awaited his reply.

  The lowering aspect of the Teton warrior so far lost its severity, asto suffer a gleam of pleasure and triumph to lighten its ferocity, assweeping his arm in an entire circle around his person he answered--

  "What tribe or nation has not felt the blows of the Dahcotahs? Mahtoreeis their partisan."

  "And has he found the Big-knives women, or has he found them men?"

  A multitude of fierce passions were struggling in the tawny countenanceof the Indian. For a moment inextinguishable hatred seemed to hold themastery, and then a nobler expression, and one that better became thecharacter of a brave, got possession of his features, and maintaineditself until, first throwing aside his light robe of pictured deer-skin,and pointing to the scar of a bayonet in his breast, he replied--

  "It was given, as it was taken, face to face."

  "It is enough. My brother is a brave chief, and he should be wise. Lethim look: is that a warrior of the Pale-faces? Was it one such as thatwho gave the great Dahcotah his hurt?"

  The eyes of Mahtoree followed the direction of the old man's extendedarm, until they rested on the drooping form of Inez. The look of theTeton was long, riveted, and admiring. Like that of the young Pawnee,it resembled more the gaze of a mortal on some heavenly image, than theadmiration with which man is wont to contemplate even the lovelinessof woman. Starting, as if suddenly self-convicted of forgetfulness, thechief next turned his eyes on Ellen, where they lingered an instantwith a much more intelligible expression of admiration, and then pursuedtheir course until they had taken another glance at each individual ofthe party.

  "My brother sees that my tongue is not forked," continued thetrapper, watching the emotions the other betrayed, with a readinessof comprehension little inferior to that of the Teton himself. "TheBig-knives do not send their women to war. I know that the Dahcotahswill smoke with the strangers."

  "Mahtoree is a great chief! The Big-knives are welcome," said the Teton,laying his hand on his breast, with an air of lofty politeness thatwould have done credit to any state of society. "The arrows of my youngmen are in their quivers."

  The trapper motioned to Middleton to approach, and in a few momentsthe two parties were blended in one, each of the males having exchangedfriendly greetings, after the fashions of the prairie warriors. But,even while engaged in this hospitable manner, the Dahcotah did not failto keep a strict watch on the more distant party of white men, as ifhe still distrusted an artifice, or sought further explanation. The oldman, in his turn, perceived the necessity of being more explicit, andof securing the slight and equivocal advantage he had already obtained.While affecting to examine the group, which still lingered at the spotwhere it had first halted, as if to discover the characters of thosewho composed it, he plainly saw that Ishmael contemplated immediatehostilities. The result of a conflict on the open prairie, betweena dozen resolute border men, and the half-armed natives, even thoughseconded by their white allies, was in his experienced judgment a pointof great uncertainty, and though far from reluctant to engage in thestruggle on account of himself, the aged trapper thought it far moreworthy of his years, and his character, to avoid than to court thecontest. His feelings were, for obvious reasons, in accordance withthose of Paul and Middleton, who had lives still more precious thantheir own to watch over and protect. In this dilemma the three consultedon the means of escaping the frightful consequences which mightimmediately follow a single act of hostility on the part of theborderers; the old man taking care that their communication should, inthe eyes of those who noted the expression of their countenances withjealous watchfulness, bear the appearance of explanations as to thereason why such a party of travellers was met so far in the deserts.

  "I know that the Dahcotahs are a wise and great people," at length thetrapper commenced, again addressing himself to the chief; "but does nottheir partisan know a single brother who is base?"

  The eye of Mahtoree wandered proudly around his band, but rested amoment reluctantly on Weucha, as he answered--

  "The Master of Life has made chiefs, and warriors, and women;"conceiving that he thus embraced all the gradations of human excellencefrom the highest
to the lowest.

  "And he has also made Pale-faces, who are wicked. Such are they whom mybrother sees yonder."

  "Do they go on foot to do wrong?" demanded the Teton, with a wild gleamfrom his eyes, that sufficiently betrayed how well he knew the reasonwhy they were reduced to so humble an expedient.

  "Their beasts are gone. But their powder, and their lead, and theirblankets remain."

  "Do they carry their riches in their hands, like miserable Konzas? orare they brave, and leave them with the women, as men should do, whoknow where to find what they lose?"

  "My brother sees the spot of blue across the prairie; look, the sun hastouched it for the last time to-day."

  "Mahtoree is not a mole."

  "It is a rock; on it are the goods of the Big-knives."

  An expression of savage joy shot into the dark countenance of the Tetonas he listened; turning to the old man he seemed to read his soul, asif to assure himself he was not deceived. Then he bent his look on theparty of Ishmael, and counted its number.

  "One warrior is wanting," he said.

  "Does my brother see the buzzards? there is his grave. Did he find bloodon the prairie? It was his."

  "Enough! Mahtoree is a wise chief. Put your women on the horses of theDahcotahs: we shall see, for our eyes are open very wide."

  The trapper wasted no unnecessary words in explanation. Familiar withthe brevity and promptitude of the natives, he immediately communicatedthe result to his companions. Paul was mounted in an instant, with Ellenat his back. A few more moments were necessary to assure Middletonof the security and ease of Inez. While he was thus engaged, Mahtoreeadvanced to the side of the beast he had allotted to this service, whichwas his own, and manifested an intention to occupy his customary placeon its back. The young soldier seized the reins of the animal, andglances of sudden anger and lofty pride were exchanged between them.

  "No man takes this seat but myself," said Middleton, sternly, inEnglish.

  "Mahtoree is a great chief!" retorted the savage; neither comprehendingthe meaning of the other's words.

  "The Dahcotah will be too late," whispered the old man at his elbow;"see; the Big-knives are afraid, and they will soon run."

  The Teton chief instantly abandoned his claim, and threw himself onanother horse, directing one of his young men to furnish a similaraccommodation for the trapper. The warriors who were dismounted, got upbehind as many of their companions. Doctor Battius bestrode Asinus; and,notwithstanding the brief interruption, in half the time we have takento relate it, the whole party was prepared to move.

  When he saw that all were ready, Mahtoree gave the signal to advance.A few of the best mounted of the warriors, the chief himself included,moved a little in front, and made a threatening demonstration, as ifthey intended to attack the strangers. The squatter, who was in truthslowly retiring, instantly halted his party, and showed a willing front.Instead, however, of coming within reach of the dangerous aim of thewestern rifle, the subtle savages kept wheeling about the strangers,until they had made a half circuit, keeping the latter in constantexpectation of an assault. Then, perfectly secure of their object, theTetons raised a loud shout, and darted across the prairie in a line forthe distant rock, with the directness and nearly with the velocity ofthe arrow, that has just been shot from its bow.