a great analogy to that of Mahomet's
coffin, with the exception that the quality of repulsion rather than
that of attraction held him in a state of rest. The repulsive power in
his rear however appeared to predominate, and by a singular exception,
as he would have said himself, to all philosophical principles, it
rather increased than diminished by distance. As the eyes of the
naturalist steadily maintained a position that was the opposite of his
route, they served to give a direction to those of the observers of all
these movements, and at once furnished a sufficient clue by which to
unravel the mystery of so sudden a debouchement from the cover.

Another cluster of stout and armed men was seen at no great distance,
just rounding a point of the thicket, and moving directly though
cautiously towards the place where the band of the Siouxes was posted,
as a squadron of cruisers is often seen to steer across the waste of
waters, towards the rich but well-protected convoy. In short, the family
of the squatter, or at least such among them as were capable of
bearing arms, appeared in view, on the broad prairie, evidently bent on
revenging their wrongs.

Mahtoree and his party slowly retired from the thicket, the moment
they caught a view of the strangers, until they halted on a swell that
commanded a wide and unobstructed view of the naked fields on which they
stood. Here the Dahcotah appeared disposed to make his stand, and to
bring matters to an issue. Notwithstanding this retreat, in which he
compelled the trapper to accompany him, Middleton still advanced, until
he too halted on the same elevation, and within speaking distance of the
warlike Siouxes. The borderers in their turn took a favourable position,
though at a much greater distance. The three groups now resembled so
many fleets at sea, lying with their topsails to the masts, with the
commendable precaution of reconnoitring, before each could ascertain who
among the strangers might be considered as friends, and who as foes.

During this moment of suspense, the dark, threatening, eye of Mahtoree
rolled from one of the strange parties to the other, in keen and hasty
examination, and then it turned its withering look on the old man, as
the chief said, in a tone of high and bitter scorn--

"The Big-knives are fools! It is easier to catch the cougar asleep, than
to find a blind Dahcotah. Did the white head think to ride on the horse
of a Sioux?"

The trapper, who h