"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 see three stout-hearted
men--"

"Four," interrupted Paul.

"Anan," said the old man, looking up simply at his companion.

"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