tunity had offered to escape, and that he had then manifested
the spirit and decision of the most gifted brave, his gratification
became nearly too powerful to be concealed. In the midst of the wailing
and commotion, which succeeded the death of Weucha and the escape of
the captive, he placed himself nigh the persons of his white associates,
with a determination of interfering, at every hazard, should the fury
of the savages take that direction. The appearance of the hostile band
spared him, however, so desperate and probably so fruitless an effort,
and left him to pursue his observations, and to mature his plans more at
leisure.

He particularly remarked that, while by far the greater part of the
women, and all the children, together with the effects of the party,
were hurried to the rear, probably with an order to secrete themselves
in some of the adjacent woods, the tent of Mahtoree himself was left
standing, and its contents undisturbed. Two chosen horses, however,
stood near by, held by a couple of youths, who were too young to go
into the conflict, and yet of an age to understand the management of
the beasts. The trapper perceived in this arrangement the reluctance of
Mahtoree to trust his newly-found flowers beyond the reach of his eye;
and, at the same time, his forethought in providing against a reverse of
fortune. Neither had the manner of the Teton, in giving his commission
to the old savage, nor the fierce pleasure with which the latter had
received the bloody charge, escaped his observation. From all these
mysterious movements, the old man was aware that a crisis was at hand,
and he summoned the utmost knowledge he had acquired, in so long a life,
to aid him in the desperate conjuncture. While musing on the means to
be employed, the Doctor again attracted his attention to himself, by a
piteous appeal for assistance.

"Venerable trapper, or, as I may now say, liberator," commenced the
dolorous Obed, "it would seem, that a fitting time has at length arrived
to dissever the unnatural and altogether irregular connection, which
exists between my inferior members and the body of Asinus. Perhaps if
such a portion of my limbs were released as might leave me master of the
remainder, and this favourable opportunity were suitably improved, by
making a forced march towards the settlements, all hopes of preserving
the treasures of knowledge, of which I am the unworthy receptacle, would
not be lost. The importance of th