But the chiefs would not hear the words of
the Raven. The Stag said, Kill! and the war chiefs shouted, Kill!
and where are they now? Their wigwams are empty, and their women
have none to bring in the deer for food. The Great Spirit is
angry."
The Raven then took his seat; but, as he anticipated, no one rose
to speak after him. The depression was too general; and the fact
that, had the Raven's advice been followed, the evils would have
been avoided, was too manifest for any one to attempt to utter a
word.
After a profound silence of some minutes' duration, the Raven again
rose.
"What will my brothers do? The flying fires will burn down our
village, and there is no retreat. The guns that shoot without
loading carry very far. We are as water before them. We are in the
hands of the white chief, and our bones will feed the crows. What
will my brothers do?"
There was still a profound silence, and then he continued: "The
Raven is a great chief, and he will tell them what to do. The Raven
has stood by the side of the little White Bird, and the great white
chief will listen to his voice. He will say, Let there be peace
between us. The men who would have harmed the Little White Bird are
dead; there is no more cause of quarrel. Let us bury the hatchet.
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