The "grandfather"
announced the termination of his visit.
"_N'matschi_!" (I shall go home) he said. And in explanation of this
sudden resolution, "_N'matunguam_." (I have had a bad dream.)
Now a dream among the Indians was of hardly less significance than among
the Hebrews of old. It was sufficient justification for the undertaking
of any enterprise or for any change of intention. Thus the departure of
the Delaware delegation was shorn of all surprise or imputation of
discourtesy. The head-men among the Cherokees felt it very definitely a
relief to be freed from the importunities of their "grandfather."
"Good speed to the journey of the _illau_ Tscholens!" Atta-Kulla-Kulla
said that evening after the departure, as the head-men of several towns
sat discussing the matter around the council-fire in the great
state-house of Citico.
"A turbulent 'grandfather' has a stormy voice and makes the heart of a
young man like me very poor for fear!" the aged Tsiskwa coughed out, and
they all greeted the great man's jest with a laugh of appreciation, and
felt it was well that one so old could at once be so sage and so merry.
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