human
Bring in the woman, said Black Eagle, at length;
gpt
Of what do you accuse her, Otaitsa?
human
Of uttering lies to the Sachem and to her brethren, answered Otaitsa.
gpt
Her breath has been full of the poison of the snake.
human
Thou hearest, said Black Eagle, turning to a woman of some one or two-and-twenty years of age.
gpt
What sayest thou?
human
I lie not, answered the woman, in the Indian tongue.
gpt
I saw him lift the rifle, and shoot my brother dead.
human
Who did it?
gpt
The Woodchuck, answered the woman;
human
Believe her not, rejoined Otaitsa.
gpt
The Woodchuck was ever a friend of our nation. He is our brother. He would not slay an Oneida.
human
But he was my brother's enemy, answered the woman;
gpt
Vengeance on thy brother's part, retorted the old chief;
human
If she have a witness, let her bring him forward, said Otaitsa.
gpt
We will believe her by the tongue of another.
human
I have none, cried the woman, vehemently.
gpt
I have none; but I saw him kill my brother with my own eyes, and I cry for his blood.
human
Didst thou not say that there were two white men with him? asked Otaitsa, raising up her right hand.
gpt
Then in this thou hast lied to the Sachem and thy brethren, and who shall say whether thou speakest the truth now?
human
She has spoken well.
gpt
There was none.
human
No, said the woman, lifting her look firmly,
gpt
That is guile, said Black Eagle, sternly.
human
Thou didst say that there were two men with him, one the young, pale-face Walter, and the other a tall stranger; and thou broughtest a cloud over our eyes, and madest us think that they were present at the death.
gpt
Then methinks, Black Eagle, said Sir William Johnson, using their language nearly as fluently as his own,
human
Not so, my brother, answered Black Eagle.
gpt
We know that the Snake was slain yesterday, before the sun had reached the pine tops. We believe, too, that the Woodchuck slew him, for there was enmity between them, and the ball which killed him was a large ball, such as we have never seen but in that man's pouch.
human
That is doubtful evidence, said Sir William,
gpt
If our brother will give us up Woodchuck, vengeance shall cease.
human
That I cannot do, answered Sir William Johnson.
gpt
First, I have no power; secondly, he may be tried by our laws; but I will not lie to you. If he can show he did it in self-defence, he will be set free.
human
We must take counsel.