But now, when no exciting causes existed to arouse their slumbering tempers, it seemed to be too great an effort to enter on the defence of their rebellious brother.

Abiram, however, who, since the pacification, either felt, or affected to feel, a more generous interest in his late adversary, saw fit to express an anxiety, to which the others were strangers-- "It will be well if the boy has escaped the Tetons!" he muttered.

"I should be sorry to have Asa, who is one of the stoutest of our party, both in heart and hand, fall into the power of the red devils." "Look to yourself, Abiram; and spare your breath, if you can use it only to frighten the woman and her huddling girls.

You have whitened the face of Ellen Wade, already; who looks as pale as if she was staring to-day at the very Indians you name, when I was forced to speak to her through the rifle, because I couldn't reach her ears with my tongue.

How was it, Nell! you have never given the reason of your deafness ?" The colour of Ellen's cheek changed as suddenly as the squatter's piece had flashed on the occasion to which he alluded, the burning glow suffusing her features, until it even mantled her throat with its fine healthful tinge.