The challenge was too taunting to be
endured. The Tetons dashed into the stream in a body, and the river
became dotted with the dark forms of beasts and riders.
There was now a fearful struggle for the friendly bank. As the
Dahcotahs advanced with beasts, which had not, like that of the
Pawnee, expended their strength in former efforts, and as they moved
unincumbered by any thing but their riders, the speed of the pursuers
greatly outstripped that of the fugitives. The trapper, who clearly
comprehended the whole danger of their situation, calmly turned his
eyes from the Tetons to his young Indian associate, in order to
examine whether the resolution of the latter began to falter, as the
former lessened the distance between them. Instead of betraying fear,
however, or any of that concern which might so readily have been
excited by the peculiarity of his risk, the brow of the young warrior
contracted to a look which indicated high and deadly hostility.
"Do you greatly value life, friend Doctor?" demanded the old man, with
a sort of philosophical calmness, which made the question doubly
appalling to his companion.
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