urably of his
own knowledge of the localities. His hound, stopping now and then to
catch the expression of his eye, had preceded the trapper throughout
the whole distance, with as much certainty as though a previous and
intelligible communion between them had established the route by which
they were to proceed. But, at the expiration of the time just named, the
dog suddenly came to a stand, and then seating himself on the prairie,
he snuffed the air a moment, and began a low and piteous whining.

"Ay--pup--ay. I know the spot--I know the spot, and reason there is to
remember it well!" said the old man, stopping by the side of his uneasy
associate, until those who followed had time to come up. "Now, yonder,
is a thicket before us," he continued, pointing forward, "where we
may lie till tall trees grow on these naked fields, afore any of the
squatter's kin will venture to molest us."

"This is the spot, where the body of the dead man lay!" cried Middleton,
examining the place with an eye that revolted at the recollection.

"The very same. But whether his friends have put him in the bosom of the
ground or not, remains to be seen. The hound knows the scent, but
seems to be a little at a loss, too. It is therefore necessary that you
advance, friend bee-hunter, to examine, while I tarry to keep the dogs
from complaining in too loud a voice."

"I!" exclaimed Paul, thrusting his hand into his shaggy locks, like one
who thought it prudent to hesitate before he undertook so formidable
an adventure; "now, heark'ee, old trapper; I've stood in my thinnest
cottons in the midst of many a swarm that has lost its queen-bee,
without winking, and let me tell you, the man who can do that, is not
likely to fear any living son of skirting Ishmael; but as to meddling
with dead men's bones, why it is neither my calling nor my inclination;
so, after thanking you for the favour of your choice, as they say, when
they make a man a corporal in Kentucky, I decline serving."

The old man turned a disappointed look towards Middleton, who was too
much occupied in solacing Inez to observe his embarrassment, which
was, however, suddenly relieved from a quarter, whence, from previous
circumstances, there was little reason to expect such a demonstration of
fortitude.

Doctor Battius had rendered himself a little remarkable throughout the
whole of the preceding retreat, for the exceeding diligence with which
he had laboured to effect that desirable ob