singularly blended with regret. His companion listened intently, and
replied to the question by saying, in the sententious manner of his
race--

"The head of my father is very grey; he has always lived with men, and
he has seen everything. What he does is good; what he speaks is wise.
Now let him say, is he sure that he is a stranger to the Big-knives, who
are looking for their beasts on every side of the prairies and cannot
find them?"

"Dahcotah, what I have said is true. I live alone, and never do I mingle
with men whose skins are white, if--"

His mouth was suddenly closed by an interruption that was as mortifying
as it was unexpected. The words were still on his tongue, when the
bushes on the side of the thicket where they stood, opened, and the
whole of the party whom he had just left, and in whose behalf he
was endeavouring to reconcile his love of truth to the necessity of
prevaricating, came openly into view. A pause of mute astonishment
succeeded this unlooked-for spectacle. Then Mahtoree, who did not
suffer a muscle or a joint to betray the wonder and surprise he actually
experienced, motioned towards the advancing friends of the trapper with
an air of assumed civility, and a smile, that lighted his fierce, dark,
visage, as the glare of the setting sun reveals the volume and load
of the cloud, that is charged to bursting with the electric fluid.
He however disdained to speak, or to give any other evidence of his
intentions than by calling to his side the distant band, who sprang
forward at his beck, with the alacrity of willing subordinates.

In the mean time the friends of the old man continued to advance.
Middleton himself was foremost, supporting the light and aerial looking
figure of Inez, on whose anxious countenance he cast such occasional
glances of tender interest as, in similar circumstances, a father would
have given to his child. Paul led Ellen, close in their rear. But while
the eye of the bee-hunter did not neglect his blooming companion, it
scowled angrily, resembling more the aspect of the sullen and retreating
bear than the soft intelligence of a favoured suitor. Obed and Asinus
came last, the former leading his companion with a degree of fondness
that could hardly be said to be exceeded by any other of the party. The
approach of the naturalist was far less rapid than that of those who
preceded him. His feet seemed equally reluctant to advance, or to remain
stationary; his position bearing