ll that has not an eye on our
smallest motions. Therefore, what is to be done is to be done in wisdom,
in order to circumvent their cunning. That is right; pat his neck and
smile, as if you praised the horse, and keep the ear on my side open
to my words. Be careful not to worry your beast, for though but little
skilled in horses, reason teaches that breath is needful in a hard push,
and that a weary leg makes a dull race. Be ready to mind the signal,
when you hear a whine from old Hector. The first will be to make
ready; the second, to edge out of the crowd; and the third, to go--am I
understood?"

"Perfectly, perfectly," said Middleton, trembling in his excessive
eagerness to put the plan in instant execution, and pressing the
little arm, which encircled his body, to his heart. "Perfectly. Hasten,
hasten."

"Ay, the beast is no sloth," continued the trapper in the Teton
language, as if he continued the discourse, edging cautiously through
the dusky throng at the same time, until he found himself riding at the
side of Paul. He communicated his intentions in the same guarded manner
as before. The high-spirited and fearless bee-hunter received the
intelligence with delight, declaring his readiness to engage the whole
of the savage band, should it become necessary to effect their object.
When the old man drew off from the side of this pair also, he cast his
eyes about him to discover the situation occupied by the naturalist.

The Doctor, with infinite labour to himself and Asinus, had maintained a
position in the very centre of the Siouxes, so long as there existed the
smallest reason for believing that any of the missiles of Ishmael might
arrive in contact with his person. After this danger had diminished, or
rather disappeared entirely, his own courage revived, while that of his
steed began to droop. To this mutual but very material change was owing
the fact, that the rider and the ass were now to be sought among that
portion of the band who formed a sort of rear-guard. Hither, then, the
trapper contrived to turn his steed, without exciting the suspicions of
any of his subtle companions.

"Friend," commenced the old man, when he found himself in a situation
favourable to discourse, "should you like to pass a dozen years among
the savages with a shaved head, and a painted countenance, with,
perhaps, a couple of wives and five or six children of the half breed,
to call you father?"

"Impossible!" exclaimed the startl