at the sight of a tomahawk," returned the trapper, without
moving a muscle. "Let the Sioux women think; if one White-skin dies, a
hundred spring up where he falls."

Still the hags made no other answer, than by increasing their speed
in the circle, and occasionally raising the threatening expressions of
their chant, into louder and more intelligible strains. Suddenly, one of
the oldest, and the most ferocious of them all, broke out of the ring,
and skirred away in the direction of her victims, like a rapacious bird,
that having wheeled on poised wings, for the time necessary to ensure
its object, makes the final dart upon its prey. The others followed, a
disorderly and screaming flock, fearful of being too late to reap their
portion of the sanguinary pleasure.

"Mighty medicine of my people!" shouted the old man, in the Teton
tongue; "lift your voice and speak, that the Sioux nation may hear."

Whether Asinus had acquired so much knowledge, by his recent experience,
as to know the value of his sonorous properties, or the strange
spectacle of a dozen hags flitting past him, filling the air with
such sounds as were even grating to the ears of an ass, most moved his
temper, it is certain that the animal did that which Obed was requested
to do, and probably with far greater effect than if the naturalist had
strove with his mightiest effort to be heard. It was the first time
the strange beast had spoken, since his arrival in the encampment.
Admonished by so terrible a warning, the hags scattered themselves,
like vultures frightened from their prey, still screaming, and but half
diverted from their purpose.

In the mean time the sudden appearance, and the imminency of the danger,
quickened the blood in the veins of Paul and Middleton, more than all
their laborious frictions, and physical expedients. The former had
actually risen to his feet, and assumed an attitude which perhaps
threatened more than the worthy bee-hunter was able to perform, and even
the latter had mounted to his knees, and shown a disposition to do good
service for his life. The unaccountable release of the captives from
their bonds was attributed, by the hags, to the incantations of the
medicine; and the mistake was probably of as much service, as the
miraculous and timely interposition of Asinus in their favour.

"Now is the time to come out of our ambushment," exclaimed the old man,
hastening to join his friends, "and to make open and manful war. It