"He makes me think so," answered the Blossom; "must it not be happy where there is no weeping, no slaughter, no parting of dear friends and lovers, where a Saviour and Redeemer is ever ready to mediate even for those who do such deeds?"
"The Great Spirit is good," answered Black Eagle, thoughtfully. "The happy hunting grounds are ever ready for those who die bravely in battle."
"For those who do good," said Otaitsa, with a sigh; "for those who spare their enemies, and show mercy--for those who obey even the voice of God in their own hearts, and are merciful and forgiving to their fellow men."
Black Eagle smiled. "A woman's religion," he said. "Why should I forgive my enemies? The voice of God you speak of, in my heart, teaches me to kill them; for if I did not, they would kill me."
"Not if they were Christians, too," said Otaitsa. "The voice of God tells all men to spare each other, to love each other; and if everyone obeyed it, there would be no such thing as enemies. All would be friends and brethren."
Black Eagle mused for a moment or two, and then answered: "But there are enemies, and therefore I must kill them."
"That is because men obey the voice of the evil spirit, and not that of the good," replied the Blossom. "Will my father do so? Black Eagle has the voice of the Good Spirit in his heart. He loves children, he loves his friends, he spares women, and has taught the Oneidas to spare them. All this comes from the the voice of the Good Spirit. Will he not listen to it farther?"
Her father remained lost in thought, and believing that she had carried something, Otaitsa went on to the point nearest to her heart. "The Black Eagle is just," she said; "he dispenses equity between man and man. Is it either just, or does it come from the voice of the Good Spirit, that he should slay one who has done good, and not harm; that he should kill a man for another man's fault? Even if it be permitted to him to slay an enemy, is it permitted to slay a friend? If the laws of the Oneidas are unjust, if they teach faithlessness to one who trusted them, if they are contrary to the voice of the Good Spirit, is not Black Eagle a great chief who can change them, and teach his children better things?"
Her father started up, and waved his hand impatiently. "No more!" he said; "no more! When I hear the voice of the Good Spirit, and know it, I will obey it; but our laws came from him, and I will abide by the sayings of our fathers."
As he spoke he strode to the door of the lodge and gazed forth, while Otaitsa wept in silence. She saw that it was in vain to plead farther, and gliding up to her father's side she touched his arm reverently with her hand.