Her youth and beauty had gained an absolute sway over his rugged heart, so that he distinguished her above all of his other wives.

The habitual gratification of his vindictive impulses, however, had taken away from him all mastery over his passions, and rendered him liable to the most furious transports of rage.

In one of these his beautiful wife had the misfortune to offend him, when suddenly drawing his knife, he laid her dead at his feet with a single blow.
In an instant his frenzy was at an end.

He gazed for a time in mute bewilderment upon his victim; then drawing his buffalo robe over his head, he sat down beside the corpse, and remained brooding over his crime and his loss.

Three days elapsed, yet the chief continued silent and motionless; tasting no food, and apparently sleepless.