Red Plume — page 82: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

82 RED PLUME. As soon as he had furnished Captain Steele with all the in- formation he possessed, Red Plume hastened to the camp of the Néz Percés, where he had left his La-la, and communi- cated to them the intelligence of the threatened demonstration by the Blackfeet. To his astonishmenf, the tidings were received by his adopted tribe even more coolly than they had been by Captain Steele. The sages got together, it is true, and’ sagely smoked over the matter, as calmly as the good burghers of New Am- sterdam, when the English fleet was coming up the bay; but they were utterly apathetic, and. seemed to have no: intention - of preparing for defense. The renegade was more.than astonished, he was indignant. His fiery Blackfoot blood could not conceive of such pusillan- imity, such blind and stupid waiting upon Providence. He made them a speech, full of enthusiasm and eloquence; well calculated to stir up their warlike feelings*and incite them to action. He reminded them» of the: many-wrongs they had suffered at the hands of the Blackfeet, of their stolen horses, their burned and plundered villages, their young men slain, their women and children carried into captivity. Were they willing that these outrages should be continued. without end ? Were they ready to be entirely exterminated by their remorse- less enemies, and wiped from the. face of the earth? He pointed to. their fine drove of horses, scattered ‘over the plain,. find asked if they wished that they, too, should become: the: prey of the boasting despoiler. In conclusion, he urged them: to remember their duty and honor as men, as well. as their wives and children and: their property, and to prepare, like: ‘wartiors, to rep ise the attack in such a manner that the Black-. feet showld remember that:the Néz Percés were no more tobe trifled av ith, When K*a- Pluie sat down, he was answered by an old - @bief, who thaety a wet blanket upon his ardor. This individssal wanted to. know whether old men were to pe dictated to yy a boy? And’whowas thisboy? A Black- foot Rimeelf, who had been kindly admitted into their tribe, and was he to take the lead in their deliberations? How should it be known that he had spoken the truth? — They had not cael of any considerable number of Blackfeet in that. Saorrs “St, . comiclbooks.comn ‘\ SS