BOURGEOIS - Toronto Public Library

390
CHARLES MACKENZIE
strewed with flowers and weeds, bulls' horns, human sculls,
bone and scalps.
The young man began to dance Le Gmnd Calumet and some
of the Gros Ventres came with small articles of trade and laid
them down, the Shawyells brought a few lean and old horses,
but the formel misunderstanding between t·he nations caused
every lhing to come put slowly.
The selected made themselves hoarse haranguing their respective
nalion, but in vain; nothing coming. The Gr'os Ventres
represented to t.he B01'gne that if they were to give their guns
and ammunitions away to the Shawyens and render them defence
leSE, that the Shawyens would immediately fall upon them
with their arms and ammunition.
" Shall those horses, " said they, " that we are to get in ex­
" ehange defend llS or carry us home in safety ? and if they
" did, must we abandon our women and children who are here
" exposed to the treachery of a perfidious nation? Did not the
" Sha wyens destroy twelve of the Rocky Mountain Indians who
" went to treat for peace with them no later than last spring
" and do they not wish to do the same with us if we are foolish
" enough to disarm a Lll"sel ves and put ourselves in their power?
" Have we not horses as well as they and we have ammuni·
" liOIl and gUlls more than they have? then let us keep that su­
" periority to oUl'selves, and if the 8hawyens wish for onr
" frienc1shi p let them keep their horses and be friends; but if all
" the contrary, let us show once more that we are men and that
" none but women can be terrified With threats".
Thus and more than this said the representative of the Gros
Ventres in the full hearing of the Stu wyens, but while he was
yet speaking the ery of war was heard in every quarter of the
camp. The shade, in an instant, was pulled down abouL the
ears of those who were under it, and the adopted son threw his
fine clothing to the Borgne and ran to his lodge. Nothing was