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The horses, which had continued
passive and trembling amid the raging of the fire, received their
burdens with a satisfaction so very evident, as to furnish a
favourable augury of their future industry. The trapper invited the
Doctor to take his own steed, declaring his intention to proceed on
foot.
"I am but little used to journeying with the feet of others," he
added, as a reason for the measure, "and my legs are a weary of doing
nothing. Besides, should we light suddenly on an ambushment, which is
a thing far from impossible, the horse will be in a better condition
for a hard run with one man on his back than with two. As for me, what
matters it whether my time is to be a day shorter or a day longer! Let
the Tetons take my scalp, if it be God's pleasure: they will find it
covered with grey hairs; and it is beyond the craft of man to cheat me
of the knowledge and experience by which they have been whitened."
As no one among the impatient listeners seemed disposed to dispute the
arrangement, it was acceded to in silence.


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