"Ah! natur' is natur', and has done its work!" he said, nodding to the
exulting Paul, with a smile of approbation. "I thought it would be
hard for those, who had so often met in fair and foul, by starlight
and under the clouded moon, to part at last in anger. Now is there
little time to lose in talk, and every thing to gain by industry! It
cannot be long afore some of yonder brood will be nosing along the
'arth for our trail, and should they find it, as find it they surely
will, and should they push us to a stand on our courage, the dispute
must be settled with the rifle; which may He in heaven forbid!
Captain, can you lead us to the place where any of your warriors lie?
--For the stout sons of the squatter will make a manly brush of it, or
I am but little of a judge in warlike dispositions!"
"The place of rendezvous is many leagues from this, on the banks of La
Platte."
"It is bad--it is bad. If fighting is to be done, it is always wise to
enter on it on equal terms. But what has one so near his time to do
with ill-blood and hot-blood at his heart! Listen to what a grey head
and some experience have to offer, and then if any among you can point
out a wiser fashion for a retreat, we can just follow his design, and
forget that I have spoken.
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