faloe skins are plenty. Is he hungry? Let my
young men carry venison into his lodges."

The squatter elevated his clenched fist in a menacing manner, and struck
it with violence on the palm of his open hand, by way of confirming his
determination, as he answered--

"Tell the deceitful liar, I have not come like a beggar to pick his
bones, but like a freeman asking for his own; and have it I will. And,
moreover, tell him I claim that you, too, miserable sinner as you ar',
should be given up to justice. There's no mistake. My prisoner, my
niece, and you. I demand the three at his hands, according to a sworn
agreement."

The immovable old man smiled, with an expression of singular
intelligence, as he answered--

"Friend squatter, you ask what few men would be willing to grant. You
would first cut the tongue from mouth of the Teton, and then the heart
from his bosom."

"It is little that Ishmael Bush regards, who or what is damaged in
claiming his own. But put you the questions in straight-going Indian,
and when you speak of yourself, make such a sign as a white man will
understand, in order that I may know there is no foul play."

The trapper laughed in his silent fashion, and muttered a few words to
himself before he addressed the chief--

"Let the Dahcotah open his ears very wide," he said 'that big words may
have room to enter. His friend the Big-knife comes with an empty hand,
and he says that the Teton must fill it."

"Wagh! Mahtoree is a rich chief. He is master of the prairies."

"He must give the dark-hair."

The brow of the chief contracted in an ominous frown, that threatened
instant destruction to the audacious squatter; but as suddenly
recollecting his policy, he craftily replied--

"A girl is too light for the hand of such a brave. I will fill it with
buffaloes."

"He says he has need of the light-hair, too; who has his blood in her
veins."

"She shall be the wife of Mahtoree; then the Long-knife will be the
father of a chief."

"And me," continued the trapper, making one of those expressive signs,
by which the natives communicate, with nearly the same facility as with
their tongues, and turning to the squatter at the same time, in order
that the latter might see he dealt fairly by him; "he asks for a
miserable and worn-out trapper."

The Dahcotah threw his arm over the shoulder of the old man, with an air
of great affection, before he replied to this third and last demand.

"My friend is