"Hietans!" began the chief, for such in reality was the old Indian, "my
children, and brothers in council! I appeal to you to stay judgment in
this matter. I am your chief, but I claim no consideration on that
account; Wakono is my son, but for him I ask no favour; I demand only
justice and right--such as would be given to the humblest in on tribe; I
ask no more for my son Wakono.
"Wakono is a brave warrior; who among you does not know it? His shield
is garnished with many trophies taken from the hated pale-face; his
leggings are fringed with scalps of the Utah and Cheyenne; at his heels
drag the long locks of the Pawnee and Arapaho. Who will deny that
Wakono--my son Wakono--is a brave warrior?"
A murmur of assent was the response to this paternal appeal.
"The Spanish wolf, too, is a warrior--a brave warrior; I deny it not.
He is stout of heart and strong of arm; he has taken many scalps from
the enemies of the Hietan; I honour him for his achievements; who among
us does not?"
A general chorus of "ughs" and other ejaculations from both council and
spectators responded to this interrogatory. The response, both in tone
and manner, was strongly in the affirmative; and I could tell by this
that the renegade--not Wakono--was the favourite.
The old chief also perceived that such was the prevailing sentiment: and
despite his pretensions to fair-play, he was evidently nettled at the
reply. The father of Wakono was undoubtedly no Brutus.
After a momentary pause, he resumed speech, but in a tone entirely
altered. He was now painting the reverse side of Hissoo-royo's
portrait, and as he threw in the darker touches, it was with evident
pique and hostility.
"I honour the Spanish wolf," he continued; "I honour him for his strong
arm and his stout heart: I have said so; but hear me, Hietans--hear me,
children and brothers! there are two of every kind--there is a night and
a day--a winter and a summer--a green prairie and a desert plain, and
like these is the tongue of Hissoo-royo. It speaks two ways that differ
as the light from the darkness--it is double--it forks like the tongue
of the rattle-serpent--it is not to be believed."
The chief ceased speaking, and the "Spanish wolf" was permitted to make
reply.
He did not attempt to defend himself from the charge of the double
tongue; perhaps he knew that the accusation was just enough, and he had
no reason to tremble for his popularity on that score. He must have
been a great liar, indeed, to have excelled or even equalled the most
ordinary story-teller in the Comanche nation; for the mendacity of these
Indians would have been a match for Sparta herself.
The renegade did not even deny the aspersion: he seemed to be confident
in his case: he simply replied--
"If the tongue of Hissoo-royo is double, let not the council rely upon
his words! let witnesses be called! there are many who are ready to
testify to the truth of what Hissoo-royo has spoken."
"First hear Wakono! Let Wakono be heard! Where is Wakono?"
These demands were made by various members of the council, who spoke
simultaneously.