a savage
mind, did not lose a moment in profiting by this advantage. He loosened
the reins of his own impatient steed, and in an instant he was again at
the side of Obed.

"Do you see the twinkling star, that is, may be, the length of four
rifles above the prairie; hereaway, to the North I mean?"

"Ay, it is of the constellation---"

"A tut for your constellations, man; do you see the star I mean? Tell
me, in the English of the land, yes or no."

"Yes."

"The moment my back is turned, pull upon the rein of your ass, until you
lose sight of the savages. Then take the Lord for your dependence, and
yonder star for your guide. Turn neither to the right hand, nor to the
left, but make diligent use of your time, for your beast is not quick
of foot, and every inch of prairie you gain, is a day added to your
liberty, or to your life."

Without waiting to listen to the queries, which the naturalist was about
to put, the old man again loosened the reins of his horse, and presently
he too was blended with the group in front.

Obed was now alone. Asinus willingly obeyed the hint which his
master soon gave, rather in desperation than with any very collected
understanding of the orders he had received, and checked his pace
accordingly. As the Tetons however rode at a hand-gallop, but a moment
of time was necessary, after the ass began to walk, to remove them
effectually from before the vision of his rider. Without plan,
expectation, or hope of any sort, except that of escaping from his
dangerous neighbours, the Doctor first feeling, to assure himself that
the package, which contained the miserable remnants of his specimens
and notes was safe at his crupper, turned the head of the beast in the
required direction, and kicking him with a species of fury, he soon
succeeded in exciting the speed of the patient animal into a smart run.
He had barely time to descend into a hollow and ascend the adjoining
swell of the prairie, before he heard, or fancied he heard, his name
shouted, in good English, from the throats of twenty Tetons. The
delusion gave a new impulse to his ardour; and no professor of the
saltant art ever applied himself with greater industry, than the
naturalist now used his heels on the ribs of Asinus. The conflict
endured for several minutes without interruption, and to all appearances
it might have continued to the present moment, had not the meek temper
of the beast become unduly excited. Borrowing an idea from t