Rocky Mountains. 313 



knife, which was firmly grasped in her right hand, and which 

 she seemed confident of sheathing in his heart. At that truly 

 hopeless moment, the countenance of the warrior remained 

 unchanged, and even exhibited no emotion whatever ; and 

 when the knife approached its destination, with the swiftness 

 of lightning, his eye stood firm, nor were its lids seen to 

 quiver ; so far from recoiling, or raising his arm to avert 

 the blow, that he even rather protruded his breast to meet 

 that death, which seemed inevitable, and which was only 

 averted by the sudden interposition of the arm of one of her 

 nation, that received the weapon to its very bone. 



Thus foiled in her attempt, the squaw was gently led out 

 of the lodge, and no one offered her violence, or even harsh 

 reproof. No further notice was taken of this transaction by 

 either party. 



Food was then, as usual, placed before the strangers, and 

 soon after a warrior entered with a pipe, which he held 

 whilst Herochshe smoked, saying in a loud voice, "• you tell 

 us that you wish for peace, I say, I will give you a horse, 

 let us see which will be the liar, you or I." The horse was 

 presented to him. 



The evening, and much of the night was passed in friendly 

 conversation respecting the events of the five years' war 

 which they had waged with each other. 



On the following morning the Konzas were called to par- 

 take of the hospitality of different lodges, whilst the principal 

 men of the village were assembled in council, to deliberate 

 upon the subject of concluding a peace. 



At noon the joint and grand council was held in the Cre- 

 nier's lodge. The Otoes, Missouries, and Ioways took their 

 seats around the apartment, with the Konzas in the centre- 

 Herochshe, whose business it was first to speak, holiing the 

 bowl of the calumet in his hand, remained immoveable for 

 the space of three-foui ihs of an hour, when he arose, pointed 

 the stem of the calumet towards each of the three nations 



vol. l. 40 



