Weucha profited by
the occasion to renew his importunities; but the trapper, who had
discovered how great a counterfeit he was, shook him off in
displeasure. An end was, however, more effectually put to the
annoyance of this malignant savage, by a mandate for the whole party,
including men and beasts, to change their positions. The movement was
made in dead silence, and with an order that would have done credit to
more enlightened beings. A halt, however, was soon made; and when the
captives had time to look about them, they found they were in view of
the low, dark outline of the copse, near which lay the slumbering
party of Ishmael.
Here another short but grave and deliberative consultation was held.
The beasts, which seemed trained to such covert and silent attacks,
were once more placed under the care of keepers, who, as before, were
charged with the duty of watching the prisoners. The mind of the
trapper was in no degree relieved from the uneasiness which was, at
each instant, getting a stronger possession of him, when he found
Weucha was placed nearest to his own person, and, as it appeared by
the air of triumph and authority he assumed, at the head of the guard
also.
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