ok on men. The
women of the pale-faces, like the women of the Siouxes, open their eyes
to see things that are new; but she is poor, like myself, and she will
want corn and buffaloes, if you take away the little that she and her
friend still have."

"My ears listen to many wicked lies!" exclaimed the Teton warrior, in
a voice so stern that it startled even his red auditors. "Am I a woman?
Has not a Dahcotah eyes? Tell me, white hunter; who are the men of your
colour, that sleep near the fallen trees?"

As he spoke, the indignant chief pointed in the direction of Ishmael's
encampment, leaving the trapper no reason to doubt, that the superior
industry and sagacity of this man had effected a discovery, which had
eluded the search of the rest of his party. Notwithstanding his regret
at an event that might prove fatal to the sleepers, and some little
vexation at having been so completely outwitted, in the dialogue
just related, the old man continued to maintain his air of inflexible
composure.

"It may be true," he answered, "that white men are sleeping in the
prairie. If my brother says it, it is true; but what men thus trust
to the generosity of the Tetons, I cannot tell. If there be strangers
asleep, send your young men to wake them up, and let them say why they
are here; every pale-face has a tongue." The chief shook his head with
a wild and fierce smile, answering abruptly, as he turned away to put an
end to the conference--

"The Dahcotahs are a wise race, and Mahtoree is their chief! He will not
call to the strangers, that they may rise and speak to him with their
carabines. He will whisper softly in their ears. When this is done, let
the men of their own colour come and awake them!"

As he uttered these words, and turned on his heel, a low and approving
laugh passed around the dark circle, which instantly broke its order and
followed him to a little distance from the stand of the captives, where
those who might presume to mingle opinions with so great a warrior again
gathered about him in consultation. Weucha profited by the occasion to
renew his importunities; but the trapper, who had discovered how great
a counterfeit he was, shook him off in displeasure. An end was, however,
more effectually put to the annoyance of this malignant savage, by a
mandate for the whole party, including men and beasts, to change their
positions. The movement was made in dead silence, and with an order that
would have done credit to