Then, indeed, their scruples were reluctantly overcome, and the skin
was made to receive its precious burden.
"Now leave the Pawnee to be the pilot," said the trapper; "my hand is
not so steady as it used to be; but he has limbs like toughened
hickory. Leave all to the wisdom of the Pawnee."
The husband and lover could not well do otherwise, and they were fain
to become deeply interested, it is true, but passive spectators of
this primitive species of ferrying. The Pawnee selected the beast of
Mahtoree, from among the three horses, with a readiness that proved he
was far from being ignorant of the properties of that noble animal,
and throwing himself upon its back, he rode into the margin of the
river. Thrusting an end of his lance into the hide, he bore the light
vessel up against the stream, and giving his steed the rein, they
pushed boldly into the current. Middleton and Paul followed, pressing
as nigh the bark as prudence would at all warrant. In this manner the
young warrior bore his precious cargo to the opposite bank in perfect
safety, without the slightest inconvenience to the passengers, and
with a steadiness and celerity which proved that both horse and rider
were not unused to the operation.
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