"That is true," the Indian said with a shake of his head. "Monkey-face has no right to complain, for it was he who sold to the Palefaces of the West the ground where his fathers repose, and where he and his brothers so often hunted the elk and the jaguar." "Hum, Chief, I find you very sad to-day; what is the matter with you? Did you, on waking this morning find yourself lying on your left side?" he said, alluding to one of the most accredited superstitions among the Indians. "No," he continued, "the sleep of Monkey-face was exempt from evil omens, nothing arrived to alter the calmness of his mind." "I congratulate you, Chief." "My father will give tobacco to his son, in order that he may smoke the calumet of friendship on his return." "Perhaps so, but first I have a question to ask of you." "My father can speak, his son's ears are open." "It is now a long time, Chief," the Captain continued, "since we have been established here." "Yes, the fourth moon is beginning." "Since our arrival, you have left us a great many times without warning us." "Why should I do so? Air and space do not belong to the Palefaces, I suppose; the Pawnee warrior is at liberty to go where he thinks proper; he was a renowned Chief in his tribe." "All that may be true, Chief, and I do not care about it; but what I do care about is the safety of my family and the men who accompanied me here." "Well," the Redskin said, "in what way can Monkey-face injure that safety?' "I will tell you, Chief; listen to me attentively, for what you have to hear is serious." "Monkey-face is only a poor Indian," the Redskin answered, ironically; "the Great Spirit has not given him the clear and subtle mind of the Palefaces, still he will try to understand my father." "You are not so simple as you choose to appear at this moment, Chief; I am certain you will perfectly understand me, if you only take the trouble." "The Chief will try." The Captain repressed a movement of impatience. "We are not here in one of the great cities of the American Union, where the law protects the citizens and guarantees their safety; we are, on the contrary, on the Redskin territory, far from any other protection than our own; we have no help to expect from anyone, and are surrounded by vigilant enemies watching a favourable moment to attack us and massacre us if they can; it is therefore our duty to watch over our own safety with the utmost vigilance, for the slightest imprudence would gravely compromise us. Do you understand me, Chief?" "Yes, my father has spoken well; his head is grey; his wisdom is great."