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Chapter 31
Ahundredyouths,whohadhithertobeenrestrainedbythediffidenceoftheiryears,rushedinafranticbodyonthefanciedemblemoftheirenemy,andsevereditasunder,splinterbysplinter,untilnothingremainedofthetrunkbutitsrootsintheearth.Duringthismomentoftumult,themostruthlessdeedsofwarwereperformedonthefragmentsofthetree,withasmuchapparentferocityasiftheywerethelivingvictimsoftheircruelty.Somewerescalped;somereceivedthekeenandtremblingaxe;andotherssufferedbythrustsfromthefatalknife.Inshort,themanifestationsofzealandfiercedelightweresogreatandunequivocal,thattheexpeditionwasdeclaredtobeawarofthenation.
TheinstantUncashadstrucktheblow,hemovedoutofthecircle,andcasthiseyesuptothesun,whichwasjustgainingthepoint,whenthetrucewithMaguawastoend.Thefactwassoonannouncedbyasignificantgesture,accompaniedbyacorrespondingcry;andthewholeoftheexcitedmultitudeabandonedtheirmimicwarfare,withshrillyellsofpleasure,toprepareforthemorehazardousexperimentofthereality.
Thewholefaceoftheencampmentwasinstantlychanged.Thewarriors,whowerealreadyarmedandpainted,becameasstillasiftheywereincapableofanyuncommonburstofemotion.Ontheotherhand,thewomenbrokeoutofthelodges,withthesongsofjoyandthoseoflamentation,sostrangelymingled,thatitmighthavebeendifficulttohavesaidwhichpassionpreponderated.None,however,wereidle.
