With that, Chief Charakterik stood and folded his robe around him, as sign that he was done. The soldier rose, also.
But the squad led by Skidi murmured angrily. Somebody reached to grasp the horse’s neck rope—
“No. Let him take it. He will not go far.”
“There will be a red scalp, for a dance, to-night.”
“The Americans will think the Pawnee are cowards, if all they need do is ask for a horse and get it.”
“You talk like children,” White Wolf reproved. “Who among you claims the horse? Nobody. Why was it left at my door, if not for me? Or did it come of itself? It is mine and I can do with it as I please.”
“But the present! You will shame all the town if you, a great chief, yield this way to the Americans. There is no proof that they have lost a horse, and why should you give one up to them, for nothing? You have no right to give the horse away until you find out why it was left at your lodge. You should wait and find out. People do not leave horses at lodges without expecting something in return. I may have left the horse, myself; and I might look for a present. Where is the present?”
Thus Skidi cunningly argued.
“Yes, where is the present?” they all demanded. “You need not make it, yourself. You can ask it from the Americans. Or tell the soldier to go; and if he doesn’t like to go alone, we will help him on his way.”
Scar Head suddenly spoke up.