I could not
persuade them to wait until you came. Her peo-
ple are lovers of the whites. They have even
accepted their religion," grieved the good old
mother.
Tawasuota's head dropped upon his chest,
and he sat silent for a long time. The mother
and three sisters were also silent, for they knew
how heavy his grief must be. At last he spoke.
"Mother, I am too proud to desert the tribe
now and join my wife among the white people.
My brother-in-law may lie in my behalf, and
say that my hands are not stained with blood;
but the spirits of those who died to-day would
rebuke me, and the rebuke would be just. No,
I must fight the whites until I die; and neither
have I fought without cause; but I must see
my sons once more before I go."
When Tawasuota left his mother's teepee
he walked fast across the circle toward the coun-
cil lodge to see Little Crow. He drew his
blanket closely about him, with his gun under-
neath. The keen eye of the wily chief detected
the severe expression upon the face of his guest,
and he hastened to speak first.
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