At the close of his speech, and as he turned around to meet the approbation of his fellow-warriors, there was a sudden burst of laughter amongst the Indians, occasioned by the sarcastic and exulting manner in which the old Doctor told him he had better say something more before he sat down, "because," said he, "you have not made half as much laugh yet as I did last night." "I should be sorry if I had," said the War-chief; "the audience always laugh the moment they see your ugly face."
The Doctor's troubles commenced here, for just at that moment the "fair dame" had caught the eye of the "_Roman-nose_," and holding up a beautiful bracelet enclosing a brilliant stone, she tempted him up, while she clasped it upon his arm as it was extended immediately over the Doctor's head, whose unfailing politeness induced him to bow down his head to facilitate the operation.
When the "_Roman-nose_" had taken his seat, and the poor Doctor had raised up his head to meet the eyes and the taunts of his fellow-Indians, who were laughing at him, and the gaze of the visitors from every quarter of the room, there _was_ a _smile_, but altogether a _new_ one, and a _new word_ should be coined for the sudden and singular distress of the dilemma he was in: it would not do to undervalue the beautiful present that was already upon his arm, and to save his life he could not smile as pleasantly upon the _fair hand_ that gave it as he had been smiling a few minutes before. The trinket had instantly fallen fifty per cent. in its value--the _brilliant_ prospect that had been before him had fled, and left him in the dread, not only that his beautiful commercial prospects were blighted, but that he was to have an enemy in the field.
The _Roman-nose_ received his present in a respectful and thankful manner, but it was too late to be _affectionately_ accepted, as it was the _second_ one that was afloat, and taken by him, partly as an evidence of a kind heart, and partly as a foil to cover the true meaning of the first one that had been bestowed. However, he valued it very much, and the secret respecting the mistake that had been made in presenting the first, having been committed only to Daniel and myself, was thought best, for the peace of all parties, not to be divulged.