"
"Yes."
"The moment my back is turned, pull upon the rein of your ass, until
you lose sight of the savages. Then take the Lord for your dependence,
and yonder star for your guide. Turn neither to the right hand, nor to
the left, but make diligent use of your time, for your beast is not
quick of foot, and every inch of prairie you gain, is a day added to
your liberty, or to your life."
Without waiting to listen to the queries, which the naturalist was
about to put, the old man again loosened the reins of his horse, and
presently he too was blended with the group in front.
Obed was now alone. Asinus willingly obeyed the hint which his master
soon gave, rather in desperation than with any very collected
understanding of the orders he had received, and checked his pace
accordingly. As the Tetons however rode at a hand-gallop, but a moment
of time was necessary, after the ass began to walk, to remove them
effectually from before the vision of his rider. Without plan,
expectation, or hope of any sort, except that of escaping from his
dangerous neighbours, the Doctor first feeling, to assure himself that
the package, which contained the miserable remnants of his specimens
and notes was safe at his crupper, turned the head of the beast in the
required direction, and kicking him with a species of fury, he soon
succeeded in exciting the speed of the patient animal into a smart
run.
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