It is easy to outwit a furnace, for it is nothing but a raging element; and it is not always difficult to throw a grizzly bear from his scent, for the creatur' is both enlightened and blinded by his instinct; but to shut the eyes of a waking Teton is a matter of greater judgment, inasmuch as his deviltry is backed by reason." Notwithstanding the old man appeared so conscious of the difficulty of the undertaking, he set about its achievement with great steadiness and alacrity.

After completing the examination, which had been interrupted by the melancholy wanderings of his mind, he gave the signal to his companions to mount.

The horses, which had continued passive and trembling amid the raging of the fire, received their burdens with a satisfaction so very evident, as to furnish a favourable augury of their future industry.

The trapper invited the Doctor to take his own steed, declaring his intention to proceed on foot.
"I am but little used to journeying with the feet of others," he added, as a reason for the measure, "and my legs are a weary of doing nothing.
Besides, should we light suddenly on an ambushment, which is a thing far from impossible, the horse will be in a better condition for a hard run with one man on his back than with two.

As for me, what matters it whether my time is to be a day shorter or a day longer! Let the Tetons take my scalp, if it be God's pleasure: they will find it covered with grey hairs; and it is beyond the craft of man to cheat me of the knowledge and experience by which they have been whitened." As no one among the impatient listeners seemed disposed to dispute the arrangement, it was acceded to in silence.