y
with which the bear defends her cubs, was fain to retire to a distance
from the lodge, that was known to contain the unoffending object of the
sudden uproar.

"Let your copper-coloured minx come forth, and show her tawney beauty
before the face of a woman who has heard more than one church bell, and
seen a power of real quality," cried Esther, flourishing her hand in
triumph, as she drove Ishmael and Abiram before her, like two truant
boys, towards their own encampment. "I warrant me, I warrant me, here is
one who would shortly talk her down! Never think to tarry here, my men;
never think to shut an eye in a camp, through which the devil walks as
openly as if he were a gentleman, and sure of his welcome. Here, you
Abner, Enoch, Jesse, where ar' ye gotten to? Put to, put to; if that
weak-minded, soft-feeling man, your father, eats or drinks again in
this neighbourhood, we shall see him poisoned with the craft of the
Red-skins. Not that I care, I, who comes into my place, when it is once
lawfully empty; but, Ishmael, I never thought that you, who have had one
woman with a white skin, would find pleasure in looking on a brazen--ay,
that she is copper ar' a fact; you can't deny it, and I warrant me,
brazen enough is she too!"

Against this ebullition of wounded female pride, the experienced husband
made no other head, than by an occasional exclamation, which he intended
to be precursor of a simple asseveration of his own innocence. The fury
of the woman would not be appeased. She listened to nothing but her own
voice, and consequently nothing was heard but her mandates to depart.

The squatter had collected his beasts and loaded his wagons, as
a measure of precaution, before proceeding to the extremity he
contemplated. Esther consequently found every thing favourable to
her wishes. The young men stared at each other, as they witnessed the
extraordinary excitement of their mother, but took little interest in
an event which, in the course of their experience, had found so many
parallels. By command of their father, the tents were thrown into the
vehicles, as a sort of reprisal for the want of faith in their late
ally, and then the train left the spot, in its usual listless and
sluggish order.

As a formidable division of well-armed borderers protected the rear of
the retiring party, the Siouxes saw it depart without manifesting the
smallest evidence of surprise or resentment. The savage, like the tiger,
rarely makes hi