rows. As to the chief, he firmly grasped
the handle of his tomahawk, so much did he feel the bitter taunts of his
captive. Suddenly, a rustling was heard, then the sharp report of a
rifle, and one of the Crows, leaping high in the air, fell down
a corpse.

"The chief hath spoken too loud," said the Prince; "I hear the step of a
Shoshone; the Crows had better run away to the mountains, or their flesh
will fatten the dogs of our village."

An expression of rage and deep hatred shot across the features of the
chief, but he stood motionless, as did all his men, trying to catch the
sounds, to ascertain in which direction they should fly from the danger.

"Fear has turned the Crows into stones," resumed the Prince, "what has
become of their light feet? I see the Shoshones."

"The dog of a Pale-face will see them no more," replied the savage, as
he buried his tomahawk in the skull of the unfortunate nobleman, who
was thus doomed to meet with an inglorious death in a distant land.

The other prisoners, who were bound, could of course offer no
resistance. The French savant and two of his guides were butchered in an
instant, but before the remainder of the party could be sacrificed, a
well-directed volley was poured upon the compact body of the Crows, who
rushed immediately to the woods for cover, leaving behind them twenty
dead and wounded besides their cruel chief. Then from the thickets
behind appeared thirty Shoshones, who immediately gave chase, leaving
only one of their men to free the three remaining trappers, and watch
over the body of their murdered friend and legislator.

A sharp tiralleur fire from their respective covers was carried on
between the Shoshones and Crows for half an hour, in which the Crows
lost ten more scalps, and having at length reached a rugged hill full of
briars and bushes, they took fairly to their heels, without even
attempting to answer the volleys poured after them. The victims were
carried to the settlement, and the very day they were consigned to their
grave, the Shoshones started for the land of the Crows. The results of
the expedition I have mentioned already.

With my father I found the three trappers; two of whom were preparing to
start for California, but the third, a young Parisian, who went by the
name of Gabriel, preferred remaining with us, and never left me until a
long time afterwards, when we parted upon the borders of the
Mississippi, when I was forcing my way towards the