“Those whom I had painted, though evidently somewhat alarmed, were unwilling to acknowledge it, and those whom I had not painted, unwilling to be outdone in courage, allowed me the privilege; braving and defying the danger that they were evidently more or less in dread of. Feuds began to arise too, among some of the chiefs of the different bands, who (not unlike some instances amongst the chiefs and warriors of our own country), had looked upon their rival chiefs with unsleeping jealousy, until it had grown into disrespect and enmity. An instance of this kind presented itself at this critical juncture, in this assembly of inflammable spirits, which changed in a moment, its features, from the free and jocular garrulity of an Indian levee, to the frightful yells and agitated treads and starts of an Indian battle! I had in progress at this time a portrait of _Mah-to-tchee-ga_ (little bear); of the _Onc-pa-pa band_, a noble fine fellow, who was sitting before me as I was painting (+plate+ 273). I was painting almost a profile view of his face, throwing a part of it into shadow, and had it nearly finished, when an Indian by the name of _Shon-ka_ (the dog), chief of the _Caz-a-zshee-ta_ band (+plate+ 275); an ill-natured and surly man—despised by the chiefs of every other band, entered the wigwam in a sullen mood, and seated himself on the floor in front of my sitter, where he could have a full view of the picture in its operation. After sitting a while with his arms folded, and his lips stiffly arched with contempt; he sneeringly spoke thus:— ‘_Mah-to-tchee-ga_ is but _half a man_.’ * * * * * * “Dead silence ensued for a moment, and nought was in motion save the eyes of the chiefs, who were seated around the room, and darting their glances about upon each other in listless anxiety to hear the sequel that was to follow! During this interval, the eyes of Mah-to-tchee-ga had not moved—his lips became slightly curved, and he pleasantly asked, in low and steady accent, ‘Who says that?’ ‘_Shon-ka_ says it,’ was the reply; ‘and _Shon-ka_ can prove it.’ At this the eyes of Mah-to-tchee-ga, which had not yet moved, began steadily to turn, and slow, as if upon pivots, and when they were rolled out of their sockets till they had fixed upon the object of their contempt; his dark and jutting brows were shoving down in trembling contention, with the blazing rays that were actually _burning_ with contempt, the object that was before them. ‘_Why_ does Shon-ka say it?’ “‘Ask _We-chash-a-wa-kon_ (the painter), he can tell you; he knows you are but _half a man_—he has painted but one half of your face, and knows the other half is good for nothing!’ [Illustration: 273] [Illustration: 274] [Illustration: 275] “‘Let the _painter_ say it, and I will believe it; but when the Dog says it let him _prove_ it.’