after examining the whole
party as closely as the dim light permitted, for more than a minute
in perfect stillness, he gave the usual salutation in the harsh and
guttural tones of his own language. The trapper replied as well as he
could, which it seems was sufficiently well to be understood. In order
to escape the imputation of pedantry we shall render the substance, and,
so far as it is possible, the form of the dialogue that succeeded, into
the English tongue.

"Have the pale-faces eaten their own buffaloes, and taken the skins from
all their own beavers," continued the savage, allowing the usual moment
of decorum to elapse, after the words of greeting, before he again
spoke, "that they come to count how many are left among the Pawnees?"

"Some of us are here to buy, and some to sell," returned the trapper;
"but none will follow, if they hear it is not safe to come nigh the
lodge of a Sioux."

"The Siouxes are thieves, and they live among the snow; why do we talk
of a people who are so far, when we are in the country of the Pawnees?"

"If the Pawnees are the owners of this land, then white and red are here
by equal right."

"Have not the pale-faces stolen enough from the red men, that you come
so far to carry a lie? I have said that this is a hunting-ground of my
tribe."

"My right to be here is equal to your own," the trapper rejoined, with
undisturbed coolness; "I do not speak as I might--it is better to be
silent. The Pawnees and the white men are brothers, but a Sioux dare not
show his face in the village of the Loups."

"The Dahcotahs are men!" exclaimed the savage, fiercely; forgetting
in his anger to maintain the character he had assumed, and using the
appellation of which his nation was most proud; "the Dahcotahs have
no fear! Speak; what brings you so far from the villages of the
pale-faces?"

"I have seen the sun rise and set on many councils, and have heard
the words of wise men. Let your chiefs come, and my mouth shall not be
shut."

"I am a great chief!" said the savage, affecting an air of offended
dignity. "Do you take me for an Assiniboine? Weucha is a warrior often
named, and much believed!"

"Am I a fool not to know a burnt-wood Teton?" demanded the trapper, with
a steadiness that did great credit to his nerves. "Go; it is dark, and
you do not see that my head is grey!"

The Indian now appeared convinced that he had adopted too shallow an
artifice to deceive one so practised as the m