The Tetons dashed into the stream in a body, and the river became dotted with the dark forms of beasts and riders.
There was now a fearful struggle for the friendly bank.

As the Dahcotahs advanced with beasts, which had not, like that of the Pawnee, expended their strength in former efforts, and as they moved unincumbered by any thing but their riders, the speed of the pursuers greatly outstripped that of the fugitives.

The trapper, who clearly comprehended the whole danger of their situation, calmly turned his eyes from the Tetons to his young Indian associate, in order to examine whether the resolution of the latter began to falter, as the former lessened the distance between them.

Instead of betraying fear, however, or any of that concern which might so readily have been excited by the peculiarity of his risk, the brow of the young warrior contracted to a look which indicated high and deadly hostility.
"Do you greatly value life, friend Doctor ?" demanded the old man, with a sort of philosophical calmness, which made the question doubly appalling to his companion.
"Not for itself," returned the naturalist, sipping some of the water of the river from the hollow of his hand, in order to clear his husky throat.

"Not for itself, but exceedingly, inasmuch as natural history has so deep a stake in my existence.