HISTORIC INDIAN COUNCILS 283 



my last journey. I slipped the weapon into my 

 hand which I rested in my lap, and waited for the 

 signal which seemed near, the first shot to be fired. 



Suddenly I felt a heavy hand on my shoulder 

 and I saw Iron Mountain's face above me as I 

 w r as drawn close to that Indian's breast. Quickly 

 I was pressed to the nearby corner of the room, 

 where Iron Mountain, Quirtz Quip, and a dozen 

 of their band were massed before me. With a 

 quick pulse of gratitude I realized that they 

 sought to save my life in the massacre that seemed 

 certain. 



But instead of a signal shot there broke on the 

 air the voice of Toshaway, oldest chief of the 

 Comanches. Commanding Black Horse to be 

 silent and stretching both hands toward his peo- 

 ple, he exclaimed, — 



"Let Toshaway speak!" 



Turning to Commissioner Smith he said, — 



"We will do all the Great Father asks that is 

 just. We cannot give up our young men who 

 have done no wrong. If any of our people have 

 done wrong we will give them to you to be pun- 



