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Show FORTY YEARS AMONG THE INDIANS. Capt. Joe seemed to think he must do all the talk-ing for the Indians. No one else spoke. Joe urged me to say more. I told him I wanted to hear Tabby. The old fellow laid down, as much as to say, " I will not take part in this." The act nettled me considerably, and I told Joe I would not talk unless Tabby did. Tabby grunted out that he was an old man, and chief; that Joe was a little captain and young, and was good enough to talk to me. This made me mad. I got up and told Tabby that I was more of a man than he or any of his men ever were ; that they had been born and raised in Uintah, and none of them had ever been brave or strong enough to cross the snow mountains, but had laid there shut up winter after winter like women ; that I had done what none of them could do, and had done it to keep my word with them ; that they had agreed if I would be their friend and tell " Washington" their grievances that they would listen to me and make peace. When I got through, Tabby got up and said, " You talk big for a boy. I know you have strong legs and a good belly, for I have seen you eat. But I want to know where your grey hairs are, that give wisdom. You had better wait a few years before you talk." I really felt small under this sarcasm. He further said, " You have spoke about the Indians stealing from the Mormons. I can answer that by saying some of the Mormon Bishops helped the agents to steal what ' Washington ' sends us. While some of Brigham's Bishops steal, I do not. Neither does Tom and many others ; but we have staid at home and worked and hunted. It is the bad Indians that will not listen to me, that steal." He then named some twelve or fourteen present whom he said stole from the Mormons and made the trouble. He continued, " I have told them it fs wrong; now |
