“Not dead; he has gone across the great waters—back to his own country, and will return no more.”
This was an unexpected and most unwelcome obstacle, since she had fixed upon the Governor’s falsity as the principal reason for breaking the treaty. The tidings made her more enraged.
“But another will come,” she cried, “worse than he was—baser, more cowardly.”
“Mahaska can not know that.”
She turned upon him with a furious gesture.
“How is Gi-en-gwa-tah able to tell what the queen knows; can he read her thoughts or hear her voices?”
“She has not yet heard the name of the new Governor-chief.”
“Tell it then!” she exclaimed; “tell it and have done. The chief caws like a crow and utters no news at last. Who have they sent as Governor now?”
“A man whom Mahaska once knew—”
“His name,” she interrupted, “his name!”