"
Middleton had already turned from the spectacle, to seek that which
pleased him better; the sight of his young and beautiful bride. Paul
seized the Doctor by the arm; and, as the trapper followed with the
smallest possible delay, the whole party was quickly collected within
the cover of the thicket. After a few short explanations concerning
the character of this new danger, the old man, on whom the whole duty
of directing their movements was devolved, in deference to his great
experience, continued his discourse as follows--
"This is a region, as you must all know, where a strong arm is far
better than the right, and where the white law is as little known as
needed. Therefore does every thing, now, depend on judgment and power.
If," he continued, laying his finger on his cheek, like one who
considered deeply all sides of the embarrassing situation in which he
found himself,--"if an invention could be framed, which would set
these Siouxes and the brood of the squatter by the ears, then might we
come in, like the buzzards after a fight atween the beasts, and pick
up the gleanings of the ground--there are Pawnees nigh us, too! It is
a certain matter, for yonder lad is not so far from his village
without an errand.
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