Trees, which are to the 'arth, as fruits are to a
garden; without them nothing can be pleasant, or thoroughly useful.
Now watch all of you, with open eyes, for that stripe of glittering
water: we shall not be safe until it is flowing between our trail and
these sharp sighted Tetons."
The latter declaration was enough to ensure a vigilant look out for
the desired stream, on the part of all the trapper's followers. With
this object in view, the party proceeded in profound silence, the old
man having admonished them of the necessity of caution, as they
entered the clouds of smoke, which were rolling like masses of fog
along the plain, more particularly over those spots where the fire had
encountered occasional pools of stagnant water.
They travelled near a league in this manner, without obtaining the
desired glimpse of the river. The fire was still raging in the
distance, and as the air swept away the first vapour of the
conflagration, fresh volumes rolled along the place, limiting the
view. At length the old man, who had begun to betray some little
uneasiness, which caused his followers to apprehend that even his
acute faculties were beginning to be confused, in the mazes of the
smoke, made a sudden pause, and dropping his rifle to the ground, he
stood, apparently musing over some object at his feet.
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