Blue Duck could never avoid a moment of fear, when his father's eyes became the eyes of a snake. He choked off his insult -- he knew that if he spoke, he might, in an instant, find himself fighting Buffalo Hump. He had seen it before, with other warriors. Someone would say one word too many, would fail to see the snake in his father's eyes, and the next moment Buffalo Hump would be pulling his long bloody knife from between the other warrior's ribs. Blue Duck waited. He knew that it was not a day to fight his father.
Blue Duck feels a deep-seated fear whenever he encounters his father's fierce gaze, which he likens to that of a snake. He holds back any insulting words, acutely aware of the potential consequences. In a tense environment, he understands that a single misstep in the father's presence could lead to dire outcomes, just as he has witnessed with other warriors who, unfortunately, crossed Buffalo Hump. The threat of violence is always...
