But Little Crow was unmoved by the appeals and threats of his warriors.
It is said that once for a moment he uncovered his head; that his face
was haggard and great beads of sweat stood out on his forehead. But at
last one of his enraged braves, bolder than the rest, cried out:
"_Ta-o-ya-te-du-ta_ is a coward!"
Instantly Little Crow sprang from his _teepee_, snatched the
eagle-feathers from the head of his insulter and flung them on the
ground. Then, stretching himself to his full height, his eyes flashing
fire, and in a voice tremulous with rage, he exclaimed:
"_Ta-o-ya-te-du-ta_ is not a coward, and he is not a fool! When did he
run away from his enemies? When did he leave his braves behind him on
the war-path and turn back to his _teepees_? When he ran away from your
enemies, he walked behind on your trail with his face to the Ojibways
and covered your backs as a she-bear covers her cubs! Is
_Ta-o-ya-te-du-ta_ without scalps? Look at his war-feathers! Behold the
scalp-locks of your enemies hanging there on his lodge-poles! Do they
call him a coward? _Ta-o-ya-te-du-ta_ is not a coward, and he is not a
fool. Braves, you are like little children; you know not what you are
doing.
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