"Will my father bear witness to that?" the hunter pressed him.
"This very moment," the Chief answered eagerly; "and before all the warriors here present."
"Let my father do so, then, that all may know that Black-deer is no false-tongued thief; and when he declares that Bounding Fawn is his squaw, no one will have the right to say that it is not true."
"I will do so," Blackbird answered.
"Good! my father will follow us."
"I will follow you."
Blackbird then placed himself at the right of Loyal Heart, the band of warriors who accompanied him joined the procession, and all proceeded toward the ark of the first man, at the foot of which the hachesto was standing, holding in his hand the totem of the tribe. The sorcerer was standing in front of the totem, having on either side of him two Sachems chosen from among the wisest of the nation.
"What do you want here?" the sorcerer asked loyal Heart, when the latter halted about two yards from him with the procession.
"We demand justice," the hunter replied.
"Speak! We will give you that justice, whatever the consequences may be," the sorcerer said. "Well reflect before speaking, lest you may presently regret your precipitation."