Days, however, passed away, and with them the recollection of
the event. Afterwards, I chanced to meet, in the Arkansas, with the
Colonel who commanded. He was giving a very strange version of his
expedition; and as I heard facts so distorted, I could not help
repeating to myself the words of Auku-wonze-zee, "The Oposh-ton-ehoc is
a double-tongued liar!"
CHAPTER XXIII.
One morning, Roche, Gabriel, and myself were summoned to the great
council lodge; there we met with the four Comanches whom we had rescued
some days before, and it would be difficult to translate from their
glowing language their warm expressions of friendship and gratitude. We
learned from them, that before the return of the Cayugas from the
prairie they had concealed themselves in some crevices of the earth
until night, when they contrived to seize upon three of the horses, and
effect their escape. At the passage of the great chasm they had found
the old red sash of Roche, which they produced, asking at the same time
permission to keep it as a token from their Pale-face brothers. We shook
hands and exchanged pipes. How noble and warm is an Indian in
his feelings.
In the lodge we also perceived our friend of former days, "Opishka
Koaki" (the White Raven); but as he was about to address the assembly,
we restrained from renewing our acquaintance, and directed all our
attention to what was transacting.
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