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 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 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--