would have been policy to have kept back the struggle, until the Captain
was in better condition to join, but as we have unmasked our battery,
why, we must maintain the ground--"

He was interrupted by feeling a gigantic hand on his shoulder. Turning,
under a sort of confused impression that necromancy was actually abroad
in the place, he found that he was in the hands of a sorcerer no less
dangerous and powerful than Ishmael Bush. The file of the squatter's
well-armed sons, that was seen issuing from behind the still standing
tent of Mahtoree, explained at once, not only the manner in which
their rear had been turned, while their attention had been so earnestly
bestowed on matters in front, but the utter impossibility of resistance.

Neither Ishmael, nor his sons deemed it necessary to enter into prolix
explanations. Middleton and Paul were bound again, with extraordinary
silence and despatch, and this time not even the aged trapper was exempt
from a similar fortune. The tent was struck, the females placed upon the
horses, and the whole were on the way towards the squatter's encampment,
with a celerity that might well have served to keep alive the idea of
magic.

During this summary and brief disposition of things, the disappointed
agent of Mahtoree and his callous associates were seen flying across the
plain, in the direction of the retiring families; and when Ishmael left
the spot with his prisoners and his booty, the ground, which had so
lately been alive with the bustle and life of an extensive Indian
encampment, was as still and empty as any other spot in those extensive
wastes.

CHAPTER XXX

Is this proceeding just and honourable?
--Shakspeare.

During the occurrence of these events on the upland plain, the warriors
on the bottom had not been idle. We left the adverse bands watching one
another on the opposite banks of the stream, each endeavouring to excite
its enemy to some act of indiscretion, by the most reproachful taunts
and revilings. But the Pawnee chief was not slow to discover that his
crafty antagonist had no objection to waste the time so idly, and, as
they mutually proved, in expedients that were so entirely useless. He
changed his plans, accordingly, and withdrew from the bank, as has been
already explained through the mouth of the trapper, in order to invite
the more numerous host of the Siouxes to cross. The challenge w