“They are our children,—­it would be good to have them with us; they would share our hunts; we would divide our wealth with them.  Then we would be strong.  Owato Wanisha has spoken well; he hath learned many mysteries with the Macota Conaya (black robes, priests); he is wise.  Yet, as I have said, the red-skin chiefs must ask wisdom from the Great Master.  He will let us know what is good and what is bad.  At the next moon we will return to the council.  I have said.”

All the chiefs departed, to prepare for their fasting and ceremonies, while Gabriel, Roche, my old servant, and myself, concerted our measures so as to insure the success of my enterprise.  My servant I despatched to Monterey, Gabriel to the nearest village of the Apaches, and as it was proper, according to Indian ideas, that I should be out of the way during the ceremonies, so as not to influence any chief, I retired with Roche to the boat-house, to pass the time until the new moon.

Upon the day agreed upon, we were all once more assembled at the council-ground on the shores of the Buona Ventura, The chiefs and elders of the tribe had assumed a solemn demeanour, and even the men of dark deeds (the Medecins) and the keepers of the sacred lodges had made their appearance, in their professional dresses, so as to impress upon the beholders the importance of the present transaction.  One of the sacred lodge first arose, and making a signal with his hand, prepared to speak:—­

“Shoshones,” said he, “now has come the time in which out nation must either rise above all others, as the eagle of the mountains rises above the small birds, or sink down and disappear from the surface of the earth.  Had we been left such as we were before the Pale-faces crossed the mountains, we would have needed no other help but a Shoshone heart and our keen arrows to crush our enemies; but the Pale-faces have double hearts as well as a double tongue; they are friends or enemies as their thirst for wealth guides them.  They trade with the Shoshones, but they also trade with the Crows and the Umbiquas.  The young chief, Owato Wanisha, hath proposed a new path to our tribe; he is young, but he has received his wisdom from the Black-gowns, who, of all men, are the most wise.  I have heard, as our elders and ancient chiefs have also heard, the means by which he thinks we can succeed:  we have fasted, we have prayed to the Master of Life to show unto us the path which we must follow.  Shoshones, we live in a strange time!  Our great Manitou bids us Red-skins obey the Pale-face, and follow him to conquer or die.  I have said!  The chief of many winters will now address his warriors and friends!”

A murmur ran through the whole assembly, who seemed evidently much moved by this political speech from one whom they were accustomed to look upon with dread, as the interpreter of the will of heaven.  The old chief, who had already spoken in the former council, now rose and spoke with a tremulous yet distinct voice.