said. Hardy and docile for his genus; abstemious and patient, even for
his humble species. We have journeyed much together, and his death
would grieve me. How would it trouble thy spirit, venerable venator,
to separate, in such an untimely manner, from your faithful hound?"

"The animal shall not die," said the old man, suddenly clearing his
throat, in a manner that proved he felt the force of the appeal; "but
his voice must be smothered. Bind his jaws with the halter, and then I
think we may trust the rest to Providence."

With this double security for the discretion of Asinus, for Paul
instantly bound the muzzle of the ass in the manner required, the
trapper seemed content. After which he proceeded to the margin of the
thicket to reconnoitre.

The uproar, which attended the passage of the herd, was now gone, or
rather it was heard rolling along the prairie, at the distance of a
mile. The clouds of dust were already blown away by the wind, and a
clear range was left to the eye, in that place where ten minutes
before there existed a scene of so much wildness and confusion.

The Siouxes had completed their conquest, and, apparently satisfied
with this addition to the numerous previous captures they had made,
they now seemed content to let the remainder of the herd escape. A
dozen remained around the carcass, over which a few buzzards were
balancing themselves with steady wings and greedy eyes, while the rest
were riding about, in quest of such further booty as might come in
their way, on the trail of so vast a drove. The trapper measured the
proportions, and scanned the equipments of such individuals as drew
nearer to the side of the thicket, with careful eyes. At length he