ole
neighbourhood."

"Come not away!" cried Esther, in tones that sounded like the
admonitions of some sibyl. "I say, come not away, my children. There is
a meaning and a warning in this; and as I am a woman and a mother, will
I know the truth of it all!"

So saying, the awakened wife brandished her weapon, with an air that was
not without its wild and secret influence, and led the way towards
the spot where the dogs still remained, filling the air with their
long-drawn and piteous complaints. The whole party followed in her
steps, some too indolent to oppose, others obedient to her will, and all
more or less excited by the uncommon character of the scene.

"Tell me, you Abner--Abiram--Ishmael!" the woman cried, standing over a
spot where the earth was trampled and beaten, and plainly sprinkled with
blood; "tell me, you who ar' hunters! what sort of animal has here met
his death?--Speak!--Ye ar' men, and used to the signs of the plains; is
it the blood of wolf or panther?"

"A buffaloe--and a noble and powerful creatur' has it been!" returned
the squatter, who looked down calmly on the fatal signs which so
strangely affected his wife. "Here are the marks of the spot where he
has struck his hoofs into the earth, in the death-struggle; and yonder
he has plunged and torn the ground with his horns. Ay, a buffaloe bull
of wonderful strength and courage has he been!"

"And who has slain him?" continued Esther; "man where are the
offals?--Wolves!--They devour not the hide! Tell me, ye men and hunters,
is this the blood of a beast?"

"The creatur' has plunged over the hillock," said Abner, who had
proceeded a short distance beyond the rest of the party. "Ah! there you
will find it, in yon swale of alders. Look! a thousand carrion birds,
ar' hovering above the carcass."

"The animal has still life in him," returned the squatter, "or the
buzzards would settle upon their prey! By the action of the dogs it
must be something ravenous; I reckon it is the white bear from the upper
falls. They are said to cling desperately to life!"

"Let us go back," said Abiram; "there may be danger, and there can be no
good in attacking a ravenous beast. Remember, Ishmael, 'twill be a risky
job, and one of small profit!"

The young men smiled at this new proof of the well known pusillanimity
of their uncle. The oldest even proceeded so far as to express his
contempt, by bluntly saying--

"It will do to cage with the other animal we carr