disposed to become a
captive so easily. Quicker than the flash of his own gun he sprang upon
his feet, and was throttling his opponent with a power that would soon
have terminated the contest, when he felt the arms of the trapper
thrown round his body, confining his exertions by a strength very little
inferior to his own. Before he had time to reproach his comrade for
this apparent treachery, a dozen Siouxes were around them, and the whole
party were compelled to yield themselves as prisoners.

CHAPTER IV

--With much more dismay,
I view the fight, than those that make the fray.
--Merchant of Venice.

The unfortunate bee-hunter and his companions had become the captives of
a people, who might, without exaggeration, be called the Ishmaelites of
the American deserts. From time immemorial, the hands of the Siouxes had
been turned against their neighbours of the prairies, and even at this
day, when the influence and authority of a civilised government are
beginning to be felt around them, they are considered a treacherous and
dangerous race. At the period of our tale, the case was far worse; few
white men trusting themselves in the remote and unprotected regions
where so false a tribe was known to dwell.

Notwithstanding the peaceable submission of the trapper, he was quite
aware of the character of the band into whose hands he had fallen.
It would have been difficult, however, for the nicest judge to have
determined whether fear, policy, or resignation formed the secret motive
of the old man, in permitting himself to be plundered as he did, without
a murmur. So far from opposing any remonstrance to the rude and violent
manner in which his conquerors performed the customary office, he even
anticipated their cupidity, by tendering to the chiefs such articles
as he thought might prove the most acceptable. On the other hand Paul
Hover, who had been literally a conquered man, manifested the strongest
repugnance to submit to the violent liberties that were taken with
his person and property. He even gave several exceedingly unequivocal
demonstrations of his displeasure during the summary process, and would,
more than once, have broken out in open and desperate resistance, but
for the admonitions and entreaties of the trembling girl, who clung to
his side, in a manner so dependent, as to show the youth, that her hopes
were now placed, no less on his discre