be to him daughters. For he treated us as such,
and would have given his life for our innocence."
106 Screaming Hawk rose. "This village has no men left. There will be
no one to protect them for some time, and I can leave no men. Do I have
your honor that you will be as kind to these women as you were to their
daughters?"
107 "I am sick of fighting," the man answered. "I am sick of killing.
If you would let me stay here, and be a man of peace, the women of this
village would be as my sisters. None of them would have any fear."
108 "I am sure," praised Screaming Hawk, "that in time one of them at
least, will be far more than a sister, once the horror of this night is
passed, and they can again have womanly feelings towards a man. You may
stay, and I wish you long life and honor. No, you have honor already. I
wish you prosperity in all things."
109 "Thank you, sir," the man answered, "I accept your words of praise
with gratitude."
110 Screaming Hawk turned to the next man. He was no warrior. He was
short, fat, and looked very frightened. "What of this one?" he asked.
111 "The girls said he bought them from the soldiers and told them he
was going to sneak them out of the village and get them back to their
people. Apparently, that's what he was trying to do when we caught him.
The girls begged us not to harm him. They said he was a good man."
112 "Did you, too, once have daughters?" asked Screaming Hawk.
113 "No, sir," the man answered. "I have always been a wanderer,
following the armies, selling needles and threads and whatever little
treasures I
could find. But I am a man of honor, sir, and could