"Not for itself," returned the naturalist, sipping some of the water
of the river from the hollow of his hand, in order to clear his husky
throat. "Not for itself, but exceedingly, inasmuch as natural history
has so deep a stake in my existence. Therefore--"
"Ay!" resumed the other, who mused too deeply to dissect the ideas of
the Doctor with his usual sagacity, "'tis in truth the history of
natur', and a base and craven feeling it is! Now is life as precious
to this young Pawnee, as to any governor in the States, and he might
save it, or at least stand some chance of saving it, by letting us go
down the stream; and yet you see he keeps his faith manfully, and like
an Indian warrior. For myself, I am old, and willing to take the
fortune that the Lord may see fit to give, nor do I conceit that you
are of much benefit to mankind; and it is a crying shame, if not a
sin, that so fine a youth as this should lose his scalp for two beings
so worthless as ourselves. I am therefore disposed, provided that it
shall prove agreeable to you, to tell the lad to make the best of his
way, and to leave us to the mercy of the Tetons.
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