oad trail might be seen, and Indian curiosity
is a dangerous neighbour."

Leading the way himself, he selected a spot where the tall coarse
herbage stood most erect, growing not unlike a bed of reeds, both in
height and density. Here he entered, singly, directing the others to
follow as nearly as possible in his own footsteps. When they had paused
for some hundred or two feet into the wilderness of weeds, he gave his
directions to Paul and Middleton, who continued a direct route deeper
into the place, while he dismounted and returned on his tracks to the
margin of the meadow. Here he passed many minutes in replacing the
trodden grass, and in effacing, as far as possible, every evidence of
their passage.

In the mean time the rest of the party continued their progress, not
without toil, and consequently at a very moderate gait, until they had
penetrated a mile into the place. Here they found a spot suited to their
circumstances, and, dismounting, they began to make their dispositions
to pass the remainder of the night. By this time the trapper
had rejoined the party, and again resumed the direction of their
proceedings.

The weeds and grass were soon plucked and cut from an area of sufficient
extent, and a bed for Inez and Ellen was speedily made, a little apart,
which for sweetness and ease might have rivalled one of down. The
exhausted females, after receiving some light refreshments from the
provident stores of Paul and the old man, now sought their repose,
leaving their more stout companions at liberty to provide for their own
necessities. Middleton and Paul were not long in following the example
of their betrothed, leaving the trapper and the naturalist still seated
around a savoury dish of bison's meat, which had been cooked at a
previous halt, and which was, as usual, eaten cold.

A certain lingering sensation, which had so long been uppermost in the
mind of Obed, temporarily banished sleep; and as for the old man, his
wants were rendered, by habit and necessity, as seemingly subject to his
will as if they altogether depended on the pleasure of the moment. Like
his companion he chose therefore to watch, instead of sleeping.

"If the children of ease and security knew the hardships and dangers the
students of nature encounter in their behalf," said Obed, after a moment
of silence, when Middleton took his leave for the night, "pillars
of silver, and statues of brass would be reared as the everlasting
monuments