“He came on earth to die for man, whose wickedness was so deep that the Great Spirit’s justice could not be satisfied with less.  Why this is so no one knows.  It is enough that it should be so.  Instead of thinking of doing harm to his tormentors and murderers, he died for them, and died asking for benefits on them, and on their wives and children, for all time to come.  It was he who commanded us to do good to them that do harm to us.”

Peter gave the utmost attention to this answer, and when he had received it, he walked apart, musing profoundly.  It is worthy of being observed that not one of these savages raised any hollow objections to the incarnation of the Son of the Great Spirit, as would have been the case with so many civilized men.  To them this appeared no more difficult and incomprehensible than most of that which they saw around them.  It is when we begin to assume the airs of philosophy, and to fancy, because we know a little, that the whole book of knowledge is within our grasp, that men become sceptics.  There is not a human being now in existence who does not daily, hourly see that which is just as much beyond his powers of comprehension as this account of the incarnation of the Deity, and the whole doctrine of the Trinity; and yet he acquiesces in that which is before his eyes, because it is familiar and he sees it, while he cavils at all else, though the same unknown and inexplicable cause lies behind everything.  The deepest philosophy is soon lost in this general mystery, and, to the eye of a meek reason, all around us is a species of miracle, which must be referred to the power of the Deity.

While thus disposed to receive the pale-face traditions with respect, however, the red men did not lose sight of their own policy and purposes.  The principal chiefs now stepped aside, and held a brief council.  Though invited to do so, Peter did not join them; leaving to Bough of the Oak, Ungque, and Bear’s Meat the control of the result The question was whether the original intention of including this medicine-priest among those to be cut off should, or should not, be adhered to.  One or two of the chiefs had their doubts, but the opinion of the council was adverse.

“If the pale-faces killed the Son of their Great Spirit, why should we hesitate about killing them?” The Weasel asked, with malicious point, for he saw that Peter was now sorely troubled at the probability of his own design being fully carried out.  “There is no difference.  This is a medicine-priest—­in the wigwam is a medicine-bee-hunter, and that warrior may be a medicine-warrior.  We do not know.  We are poor Injins that know but little.  It is not so with the pale-faces; they talk with the conjurer’s bees, and know much.  We shall not have ground enough to take even a muskrat, soon, unless we cut off the strangers.  The Manitou has given us these; let us kill them.”