Paul seized the Doctor by the arm; and, as the trapper followed with the smallest possible delay, the whole party was quickly collected within the cover of the thicket.

After a few short explanations concerning the character of this new danger, the old man, on whom the whole duty of directing their movements was devolved, in deference to his great experience, continued his discourse as follows-- "This is a region, as you must all know, where a strong arm is far better than the right, and where the white law is as little known as needed.

Therefore does every thing, now, depend on judgment and power.

If," he continued, laying his finger on his cheek, like one who considered deeply all sides of the embarrassing situation in which he found himself,--"if an invention could be framed, which would set these Siouxes and the brood of the squatter by the ears, then might we come in, like the buzzards after a fight atween the beasts, and pick up the gleanings of the ground--there are Pawnees nigh us, too! It is a certain matter, for yonder lad is not so far from his village without an errand.
Here are therefore four parties within sound of a cannon, not one of whom can trust the other.

All which makes movement a little difficult, in a district where covers are far from plenty.