A Talk from the Raven Chief.

Sancho, on hearing his master’s purpose, ‘that, in the last resort, he should be the executioner of them all,’ / formed his resolution, and rushed out without consulting any one, directing his course to the spot where the Indian council was assembled, to determine Dr. Sourby’s fate. He proceeded with great firmness to the circle, telling Tonondoric he wished to speak. The sachem placed him in the centre, crying, ‘A talk from the raven chief.’ On which the Indians all exclaimed, ‘Hear the raven chief! hear the raven chief!’ Sancho leaned on the muzzle of his musquet, which he grounded with his left hand, and then began: ‘I have only few words to say, brothers; I never studied head-work, like the whites; but hand work, like you. My brother, young Tonondoric, offers you great ransom for his friend’s life. He will pay it; he has a father at home, who loves him like the rising sun or the opening flower; he has much gold, and will give it to the warriors for us; but if the spirits of your dead brothers call for a victim, behold him here. I am young / and brave: I will meet death like you; but the poor old white friend of ours has lived softly, always like a woman; he is good for head-work, but cannot be an acceptable offering to heroes. They triumph not in the slaughter of a lamb or a goat, but in the death of the tiger, the bear, or the lion. Look at these scars (shewing his face and breast), and let me be the victim to your departed warriors. I killed them; he kills nothing but musquitoes or butterflies.’