Читать книгу The Trail of Black Hawk онлайн

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“Why do you say was?”

“White people take it away from him,” said Deerfoot.

“Is that why he’s fighting?” inquired Joseph. “If they stole his village, then I don’t blame him.”

“Don’t forget this though,” exclaimed Robert hotly. “The Whites may have cheated the Indians lots of times, but just the same the Sacs signed a treaty to move across the Mississippi, and they have refused to go. At any rate nothing can excuse their killing our family. We did nothing to Black Hawk or any of his people and I intend to get even if I can. How can the country ever expect to be settled if the people are liable to be murdered at any moment?”

“That’s true,” agreed Joseph. “It’s hard to blame Black Hawk from his point of view though. He probably thinks he’s entitled to all this land and that every white settler is a thief who is trying to steal from him.”

“Black Hawk isn’t the head of his tribe anyway,” continued Robert. “Keokuk is the big chief, isn’t he, Deerfoot?”

“That right,” grunted the Indian. “Black Hawk the war chief. He fighter.”