But the vigilance of Esther was not easily deceived. She had long
listened anxiously to the suspicious sounds, which approached the rock
across the naked waste, nor had the sudden outcry been unheard by the
unwearied sentinels of the rock. The savages, who had dismounted at
some little distance, had not time to draw around the base of the hill
in their customary silent and insidious manner, before the voice of
the Amazon was raised, demanding--
"Who is beneath? Answer, for your lives! Siouxes or devils, I fear ye
not!"
No answer was given to this challenge, every warrior halting where he
stood, confident that his dusky form was blended with the shadows of
the plain. It was at this moment that the trapper determined to
escape. He had been left with the rest of his friends, under the
surveillance of those who were assigned to the duty of watching the
horses, and as they all continued mounted, the moment appeared
favourable to his project. The attention of the guards was drawn to
the rock, and a heavy cloud driving above them at that instant,
obscured even the feeble light which fell from the stars.
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