dangerous to him, at that moment, than even death itself
might prove. The smallest noise, the agony of struggling, with which
such a frame would probably relinquish its hold of life, suggested
themselves to his rapid thoughts, and were all present to his
experienced senses. He looked back into the encampment, turned his head
into the thicket, and glanced his glowing eyes abroad into the wild and
silent prairies. Bending once more over the respited victim, he assured
himself that he was sleeping heavily, and then abandoned his immediate
purpose in obedience alone to the suggestions of a more crafty policy.

The retreat of Mahtoree was as still and guarded as had been his
approach. He now took the direction of the encampment, stealing along
the margin of the brake, as a cover into which he might easily plunge at
the smallest alarm. The drapery of the solitary hut attracted his notice
in passing. After examining the whole of its exterior, and listening
with painful intensity, in order to gather counsel from his ears, the
savage ventured to raise the cloth at the bottom, and to thrust his dark
visage beneath. It might have been a minute before the Teton chief drew
back, and seated himself with the whole of his form without the linen
tenement. Here he sat, seemingly brooding over his discovery, for many
moments, in rigid inaction. Then he resumed his crouching attitude,
and once more projected his visage beyond the covering of the tent. His
second visit to the interior was longer, and, if possible, more ominous
than the first. But it had, like every thing else, its termination,
and the savage again withdrew his glaring eyes from the secrets of the
place.

Mahtoree had drawn his person many yards from the spot, in his slow
progress towards the cluster of objects which pointed out the centre of
the position, before he again stopped. He made another pause, and looked
back at the solitary little dwelling he had left, as if doubtful whether
he should not return. But the chevaux-de-frise of branches now lay
within reach of his arm, and the very appearance of precaution it
presented, as it announced the value of the effects it encircled,
tempted his cupidity, and induced him to proceed.

The passage of the savage, through the tender and brittle limbs of the
cotton-wood, could be likened only to the sinuous and noiseless winding
of the reptiles which he imitated. When he had effected his object,
and had taken an instant to become