When the naturalist was mounted and in full retreat, the trapper and the young Pawnee stole from the spot in such a manner as to leave their enemies some time in doubt as to their movements.

Instead, however, of proceeding across the plain towards the hill, a route on which they must have been in open view, they took a shorter path, covered by the formation of the ground, and intersected the little water-course at the point where Middleton had been directed to leave it, and just in season to join his party.

The Doctor had used so much diligence in the retreat, as to have already overtaken his friends, and of course all the fugitives were again assembled.
The trapper now looked about him for some convenient spot, where the whole party might halt, as he expressed it, for some five or six hours.
"Halt!" exclaimed the Doctor, when the alarming proposal reached his ears; "venerable hunter, it would seem, that on the contrary, many days should be passed in industrious flight." Middleton and Paul were both of this opinion, and each in his particular manner expressed as much.
The old man heard them with patience, but shook his head like one who was unconvinced, and then answered all their arguments, in one general and positive reply.
"Why should we fly ?" he asked.

"Can the legs of mortal men outstrip the speed of horses?
Do you think the Tetons will lie down and sleep; or will they cross the water and nose for our trail?
Thanks be to the Lord, we have washed it well in this stream, and if we leave the place with discretion and wisdom, we may yet throw them off its track.

But a prairie is not a wood.