As each man approached, and dropped his rifle into the hollow of his arm, he cast an indolent but enquiring glance at the stranger, though neither of them expressed the least curiosity to know whence he had come or why he was there.

This forbearance, however, proceeded only in part, from the sluggishness of their common temper; for long and frequent experience in scenes of a similar character, had taught them the virtue of discretion.

The trapper endured their sullen scrutiny with the steadiness of one as practised as themselves, and with the entire composure of innocence.

Content with the momentary examination he had made, the eldest of the group, who was in truth the delinquent sentinel by whose remissness the wily Mahtoree had so well profited, turned towards his father and said bluntly-- "If this man is all that is left of the party I saw on the upland, yonder, we haven't altogether thrown away our ammunition." "Asa, you are right," said the father, turning suddenly on the trapper, a lost idea being recalled by the hint of his son.

"How is it, stranger; there were three of you, just now, or there is no virtue in moonlight ?" "If you had seen the Tetons racing across the prairies, like so many black-looking evil ones, on the heels of your cattle, my friend, it would have been an easy matter to have fancied them a thousand." "Ay, for a town bred boy, or a skeary woman; though for that matter, there is old Esther; she has no more fear of a red-skin than of a suckling cub, or of a wolf pup.