rl shuddered, struggling powerfully to suppress the sigh
which arose in spite of her efforts, as if from the very bottom of her
heart.

Thoroughly satisfied that he understood the character of the emigrants,
by the short but comprehensive description conveyed in Paul's reply, the
old man raised no further question concerning the readiness of Ishmael
to revenge his wrongs, but rather followed the train of thought which
was suggested to his experience, by the occasion.

"Each one knows the ties which bind him to his fellow-creatures best,"
he answered. "Though it is greatly to be mourned that colour, and
property, and tongue, and l'arning should make so wide a difference in
those who, after all, are but the children of one father! Howsomever,"
he continued, by a transition not a little characteristic of the
pursuits and feelings of the man, "as this is a business in which there
is much more likelihood of a fight than need for a sermon, it is best to
be prepared for what may follow.--Hush! there is a movement below; it is
an equal chance that we are seen."

"The family is stirring," cried Ellen, with a tremor that announced
nearly as much terror at the approach of her friends, as she had before
manifested at the presence of her enemies. "Go, Paul, leave me. You, at
least, must not be seen!"

"If I leave you, Ellen, in this desert before I see you safe in the care
of old Ishmael, at least, may I never hear the hum of another bee, or,
what is worse, fail in sight to line him to his hive!"

"You forget this good old man. He will not leave me. Though I am sure,
Paul, we have parted before, where there has been more of a desert than
this."

"Never! These Indians may come whooping back, and then where are you!
Half way to the Rocky Mountains before a man can fairly strike the line
of your flight. What think you, old trapper? How long may it be before
these Tetons, as you call them, will be coming for the rest of old
Ishmael's goods and chattels?"

"No fear of them," returned the old man, laughing in his own peculiar
and silent manner; "I warrant me the devils will be scampering after
their beasts these six hours yet! Listen! you may hear them in the
willow bottoms at this very moment; ay, your real Sioux cattle will run
like so many long-legged elks. Hist! crouch again into the grass, down
with ye both; as I'm a miserable piece of clay, I heard the ticking of a
gunlock!"

The trapper did not allow his companions time t