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with their arrows!
Middleton and Paul soon caught a glimpse of the dark groupe that the quick
eye of the old man had so readily detected. Some fifteen or twenty horsemen
were, in truth, to be seen riding, in quick circuits, about a noble bull,
which stood at bay, too grievously hurt to fly, and yet seeming to disdain to
fall, notwithstanding his hardy body had already been the target for a hundred
arrows. A thrust from the lance of a powerful Indian, however, completed his
conquest, and the brute gave up his obstinate hold of life with a roar, that
passed bellowing over the place where our adventurers stood, and, reaching the
ears of the affrighted herd, added a new impulse to their flight.
How well the Pawnee knew the philosophy of a buffaloe hunt, said the old
man, after he had stood regarding the animated scene for a few moments, with
very evident satisfaction. You saw how he went off like the wind before the
drove. It was in order that he might not taint the air, and that he might turn
the flank, and join--Ha! how is this! yonder Red-skins are no Pawnees! The
feathers in their heads are from the wings and tails of owls-- Ah! as I am but
a miserable half-sighted trapper, it is a band of the accursed Siouxes! To
cover, lads, to cover. A single cast of an eye this-a-way, would strip us of
every rag of clothes, as surely as the lightning scorches the bush, and it
might be that our very lives would be far from safe.
Middleton had already turned from the spectacle, to seek that which pleased
him better; the sight of his young and beautiful bride. Paul seized the Doctor
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by the arm, and, as the trapper followed with the smallest possible delay, the
whole party was quickly collected within the cover of the thicket. After a few
short explanations concerning the character of this new danger, the old man,
on whom the whole duty of directing their movements was devolved, in deference
to his great experience, continued his discourse as follows--
This is a region, as you must all know, where a strong arm is far better
than the right, and where the white law is as little known as needed.
Therefore does every thing, now, depend on judgment and power. If, he
continued, laying his finger on his cheek like one who considered deeply all
sides of the embarrassing situation in which he found himself, if an
invention could be framed, which would set these Siouxes and the brood of the
squatter by the ears, then might we come in, like the buzzards after a fight
atween the beasts, and pick up the gleanings of the ground--there are Pawnees
nigh us, too! It is a certain matter, for yonder lad is not so far from his
village without an errand. Here are therefore four parties within sound of a
cannon, not one of whom can trust the other. All which makes movement a little
difficult, in a district where covers are far from plenty. But we are three
well-armed, and I think I may say three stout-hearted men--
Four, interrupted Paul.
Anan, said the old man, looking up for the first time at his companions.
Four, repeated the bee-hunter, pointing to the naturalist.
Every army has its hangers-on and idlers, rejoined the blunt border-man.
Friend, it will be necessary to slaughter this ass.
To slay Asinus! such a deed would be an act of supererogatory cruelty.
I know nothing of your words, which hide their meaning in sound; but that is
cruel which sacrifices a Christian to a brute. This is what I call the reason
of mercy. It would be just as safe to blow a trumpet, as to let the animal
raise his voice again, inasmuch as it would prove a manifest challenge to the
Siouxes.
I will answer for the discretion of Asinus, who seldom speaks without a
reason.
They say a man can be known by the company he keeps, retorted the old man,
and why not a brute! I once made a forced march, and went through a great
deal of jeopardy, with a companion who never opened his mouth but to sing; and
trouble enough and great concern of mind did the fellow give me. It was in
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