The Prairie (37 page)

"Dahcotah, what I have said is true. I live alone, and never do I mingle
with men whose skins are white, if—"

His mouth was suddenly closed by an interruption that was as mortifying
as it was unexpected. The words were still on his tongue, when the
bushes on the side of the thicket where they stood, opened, and the
whole of the party whom he had just left, and in whose behalf he
was endeavouring to reconcile his love of truth to the necessity of
prevaricating, came openly into view. A pause of mute astonishment
succeeded this unlooked-for spectacle. Then Mahtoree, who did not
suffer a muscle or a joint to betray the wonder and surprise he actually
experienced, motioned towards the advancing friends of the trapper with
an air of assumed civility, and a smile, that lighted his fierce, dark,
visage, as the glare of the setting sun reveals the volume and load
of the cloud, that is charged to bursting with the electric fluid.
He however disdained to speak, or to give any other evidence of his
intentions than by calling to his side the distant band, who sprang
forward at his beck, with the alacrity of willing subordinates.

In the mean time the friends of the old man continued to advance.
Middleton himself was foremost, supporting the light and aerial looking
figure of Inez, on whose anxious countenance he cast such occasional
glances of tender interest as, in similar circumstances, a father would
have given to his child. Paul led Ellen, close in their rear. But while
the eye of the bee-hunter did not neglect his blooming companion, it
scowled angrily, resembling more the aspect of the sullen and retreating
bear than the soft intelligence of a favoured suitor. Obed and Asinus
came last, the former leading his companion with a degree of fondness
that could hardly be said to be exceeded by any other of the party. The
approach of the naturalist was far less rapid than that of those who
preceded him. His feet seemed equally reluctant to advance, or to remain
stationary; his position bearing a great analogy to that of Mahomet's
coffin, with the exception that the quality of repulsion rather than
that of attraction held him in a state of rest. The repulsive power in
his rear however appeared to predominate, and by a singular exception,
as he would have said himself, to all philosophical principles, it
rather increased than diminished by distance. As the eyes of the
naturalist steadily maintained a position that was the opposite of his
route, they served to give a direction to those of the observers of all
these movements, and at once furnished a sufficient clue by which to
unravel the mystery of so sudden a debouchement from the cover.

Another cluster of stout and armed men was seen at no great distance,
just rounding a point of the thicket, and moving directly though
cautiously towards the place where the band of the Siouxes was posted,
as a squadron of cruisers is often seen to steer across the waste of
waters, towards the rich but well-protected convoy. In short, the family
of the squatter, or at least such among them as were capable of
bearing arms, appeared in view, on the broad prairie, evidently bent on
revenging their wrongs.

Mahtoree and his party slowly retired from the thicket, the moment
they caught a view of the strangers, until they halted on a swell that
commanded a wide and unobstructed view of the naked fields on which they
stood. Here the Dahcotah appeared disposed to make his stand, and to
bring matters to an issue. Notwithstanding this retreat, in which he
compelled the trapper to accompany him, Middleton still advanced, until
he too halted on the same elevation, and within speaking distance of the
warlike Siouxes. The borderers in their turn took a favourable position,
though at a much greater distance. The three groups now resembled so
many fleets at sea, lying with their topsails to the masts, with the
commendable precaution of reconnoitring, before each could ascertain who
among the strangers might be considered as friends, and who as foes.

During this moment of suspense, the dark, threatening, eye of Mahtoree
rolled from one of the strange parties to the other, in keen and hasty
examination, and then it turned its withering look on the old man, as
the chief said, in a tone of high and bitter scorn—

"The Big-knives are fools! It is easier to catch the cougar asleep, than
to find a blind Dahcotah. Did the white head think to ride on the horse
of a Sioux?"

The trapper, who had found time to collect his perplexed faculties, saw
at once that Middleton, having perceived Ishmael on the trail by which
they had fled, preferred trusting to the hospitality of the savages,
than to the treatment he would be likely to receive from the hands of
the squatter. He therefore disposed himself to clear the way for the
favourable reception of his friends, since he found that the unnatural
coalition became necessary to secure the liberty, if not the lives, of
the party.

"Did my brother ever go on a war-path to strike my people?" he calmly
demanded of the indignant chief, who still awaited his reply.

The lowering aspect of the Teton warrior so far lost its severity, as
to suffer a gleam of pleasure and triumph to lighten its ferocity, as
sweeping his arm in an entire circle around his person he answered—

"What tribe or nation has not felt the blows of the Dahcotahs? Mahtoree
is their partisan."

"And has he found the Big-knives women, or has he found them men?"

A multitude of fierce passions were struggling in the tawny countenance
of the Indian. For a moment inextinguishable hatred seemed to hold the
mastery, and then a nobler expression, and one that better became the
character of a brave, got possession of his features, and maintained
itself until, first throwing aside his light robe of pictured deer-skin,
and pointing to the scar of a bayonet in his breast, he replied—

"It was given, as it was taken, face to face."

"It is enough. My brother is a brave chief, and he should be wise. Let
him look: is that a warrior of the Pale-faces? Was it one such as that
who gave the great Dahcotah his hurt?"

The eyes of Mahtoree followed the direction of the old man's extended
arm, until they rested on the drooping form of Inez. The look of the
Teton was long, riveted, and admiring. Like that of the young Pawnee,
it resembled more the gaze of a mortal on some heavenly image, than the
admiration with which man is wont to contemplate even the loveliness
of woman. Starting, as if suddenly self-convicted of forgetfulness, the
chief next turned his eyes on Ellen, where they lingered an instant
with a much more intelligible expression of admiration, and then pursued
their course until they had taken another glance at each individual of
the party.

"My brother sees that my tongue is not forked," continued the
trapper, watching the emotions the other betrayed, with a readiness
of comprehension little inferior to that of the Teton himself. "The
Big-knives do not send their women to war. I know that the Dahcotahs
will smoke with the strangers."

"Mahtoree is a great chief! The Big-knives are welcome," said the Teton,
laying his hand on his breast, with an air of lofty politeness that
would have done credit to any state of society. "The arrows of my young
men are in their quivers."

The trapper motioned to Middleton to approach, and in a few moments
the two parties were blended in one, each of the males having exchanged
friendly greetings, after the fashions of the prairie warriors. But,
even while engaged in this hospitable manner, the Dahcotah did not fail
to keep a strict watch on the more distant party of white men, as if
he still distrusted an artifice, or sought further explanation. The old
man, in his turn, perceived the necessity of being more explicit, and
of securing the slight and equivocal advantage he had already obtained.
While affecting to examine the group, which still lingered at the spot
where it had first halted, as if to discover the characters of those
who composed it, he plainly saw that Ishmael contemplated immediate
hostilities. The result of a conflict on the open prairie, between
a dozen resolute border men, and the half-armed natives, even though
seconded by their white allies, was in his experienced judgment a point
of great uncertainty, and though far from reluctant to engage in the
struggle on account of himself, the aged trapper thought it far more
worthy of his years, and his character, to avoid than to court the
contest. His feelings were, for obvious reasons, in accordance with
those of Paul and Middleton, who had lives still more precious than
their own to watch over and protect. In this dilemma the three consulted
on the means of escaping the frightful consequences which might
immediately follow a single act of hostility on the part of the
borderers; the old man taking care that their communication should, in
the eyes of those who noted the expression of their countenances with
jealous watchfulness, bear the appearance of explanations as to the
reason why such a party of travellers was met so far in the deserts.

"I know that the Dahcotahs are a wise and great people," at length the
trapper commenced, again addressing himself to the chief; "but does not
their partisan know a single brother who is base?"

The eye of Mahtoree wandered proudly around his band, but rested a
moment reluctantly on Weucha, as he answered—

"The Master of Life has made chiefs, and warriors, and women;"
conceiving that he thus embraced all the gradations of human excellence
from the highest to the lowest.

"And he has also made Pale-faces, who are wicked. Such are they whom my
brother sees yonder."

"Do they go on foot to do wrong?" demanded the Teton, with a wild gleam
from his eyes, that sufficiently betrayed how well he knew the reason
why they were reduced to so humble an expedient.

"Their beasts are gone. But their powder, and their lead, and their
blankets remain."

"Do they carry their riches in their hands, like miserable Konzas? or
are they brave, and leave them with the women, as men should do, who
know where to find what they lose?"

"My brother sees the spot of blue across the prairie; look, the sun has
touched it for the last time to-day."

"Mahtoree is not a mole."

"It is a rock; on it are the goods of the Big-knives."

An expression of savage joy shot into the dark countenance of the Teton
as he listened; turning to the old man he seemed to read his soul, as
if to assure himself he was not deceived. Then he bent his look on the
party of Ishmael, and counted its number.

"One warrior is wanting," he said.

"Does my brother see the buzzards? there is his grave. Did he find blood
on the prairie? It was his."

"Enough! Mahtoree is a wise chief. Put your women on the horses of the
Dahcotahs: we shall see, for our eyes are open very wide."

The trapper wasted no unnecessary words in explanation. Familiar with
the brevity and promptitude of the natives, he immediately communicated
the result to his companions. Paul was mounted in an instant, with Ellen
at his back. A few more moments were necessary to assure Middleton
of the security and ease of Inez. While he was thus engaged, Mahtoree
advanced to the side of the beast he had allotted to this service, which
was his own, and manifested an intention to occupy his customary place
on its back. The young soldier seized the reins of the animal, and
glances of sudden anger and lofty pride were exchanged between them.

"No man takes this seat but myself," said Middleton, sternly, in
English.

"Mahtoree is a great chief!" retorted the savage; neither comprehending
the meaning of the other's words.

"The Dahcotah will be too late," whispered the old man at his elbow;
"see; the Big-knives are afraid, and they will soon run."

The Teton chief instantly abandoned his claim, and threw himself on
another horse, directing one of his young men to furnish a similar
accommodation for the trapper. The warriors who were dismounted, got up
behind as many of their companions. Doctor Battius bestrode Asinus; and,
notwithstanding the brief interruption, in half the time we have taken
to relate it, the whole party was prepared to move.

When he saw that all were ready, Mahtoree gave the signal to advance.
A few of the best mounted of the warriors, the chief himself included,
moved a little in front, and made a threatening demonstration, as if
they intended to attack the strangers. The squatter, who was in truth
slowly retiring, instantly halted his party, and showed a willing front.
Instead, however, of coming within reach of the dangerous aim of the
western rifle, the subtle savages kept wheeling about the strangers,
until they had made a half circuit, keeping the latter in constant
expectation of an assault. Then, perfectly secure of their object, the
Tetons raised a loud shout, and darted across the prairie in a line for
the distant rock, with the directness and nearly with the velocity of
the arrow, that has just been shot from its bow.

Dally not with the gods, but get thee gone.
—Shakespeare.

Mahtoree had scarcely given the first intimation of his real design,
before a general discharge from the borderers proved how well they
understood it. The distance, and the rapidity of the flight, however,
rendered the fire harmless. As a proof how little he regarded the
hostility of their party, the Dahcotah chieftain answered the report
with a yell; and, flourishing his carabine above his head, he made a
circuit on the plain, followed by his chosen warriors, in scorn of the
impotent attempt of his enemies. As the main body continued the direct
course, this little band of the elite, in returning from its wild
exhibition of savage contempt, took its place in the rear, with a
dexterity and a concert of action that showed the manoeuvre had been
contemplated.

Volley swiftly succeeded volley, until the enraged squatter was
reluctantly compelled to abandon the idea of injuring his enemies by
means so feeble. Relinquishing his fruitless attempt, he commenced a
rapid pursuit, occasionally discharging a rifle in order to give the
alarm to the garrison, which he had prudently left under the command of
the redoubtable Esther herself. In this manner the chase was continued
for many minutes, the horsemen gradually gaining on their pursuers, who
maintained the race, however, with an incredible power of foot.