After the ordinary ceremonies,
Opishka Koaki commenced:--
"Warriors, I am glad you have so quickly understood my messages; but
when does a Comanche turn his back on receiving the vermilion from his
chief? Never! You know I called you for war, and you have come. 'Tis
well. Yet, though I am a chief, I am a man. I may mistake; I may now and
then strike a wrong path. I will do nothing, attempt nothing, without
knowing the thoughts of my brave warriors. Then hear me!
"There live under the sun a nation of Reds-kins, whose men are cowards,
never striking an enemy but when his back is turned, or when they number
a hundred to one. This nation crawls in the prairies about the great
chasms; they live upon carrion, and have no other horses but those they
can steal from the deer-hearted Watchinangoes. Do my warrior? know such
a people? Let them speak! I hear!"
At that moment a hundred voices shouted the name of Cayugas.
"I knew it!" exclaimed the chief, "there is but one such a people with a
red skin; my warriors are keen-sighted, they cannot be mistaken. Now, we
Comanches never take the scalp of a Cayuga any more than that of a
hedge-hog; we kick them out of our way when they cross our path; that's
all. Hear me, my braves, and believe me, though I will speak strange
words: these reptiles have thought that because we have not killed them
as toads and scorpions, it was because we were afraid of their poison.
Pages:
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299