Pointing to the place, he ordered his young
men to reconnoitre it more closely, cautioning them, at the same time,
with a stern look at the trapper, to beware of treachery from the Big-
knives. Three or four half-naked, eager-looking youths lashed their
horses at the word, and darted away to obey the mandate. The old man
trembled a little for the discretion of Paul, when he saw this
demonstration. The Tetons encircled the place two or three times,
approaching nigher and nigher at each circuit, and then galloped back
to their leader to report that the copse seemed empty. Notwithstanding
the trapper watched the eye of Mahtoree, to detect the inward
movements of his mind, and if possible to anticipate, in order to
direct his suspicions, the utmost sagacity of one so long accustomed
to study the cold habits of the Indian race, could however detect no
symptom, or expression, that denoted how far he credited or distrusted
this intelligence. Instead of replying to the information of his
scouts, he spoke kindly to his horse, and motioning to a youth to
receive the bridle, or rather halter, by which he governed the animal,
he took the trapper by the arm, and led him a little apart from the
rest of the band.
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