 the back of man, the heart of monster.«
                                                The Winter's Tale, IV.iv.768-70.
 
It will readily be seen that the event just related was attended by an
extraordinary sensation among the Siouxes. In leading the hunters of the band,
back to the encampment their chief had neglected none of the customary
precautions of Indian prudence, in order that his trail might escape the eyes of
his enemies. It would seem however that the Pawnees had not only made the
dangerous discovery, but had managed, with great art, to draw nigh the place, by
the only side on which it was thought unnecessary to guard the approaches with
the usual line of sentinels. The latter, who were scattered along the different
little eminences, which lay in the rear of the lodges, were among the last to be
apprised of the danger.
    In such a crisis, there was little time for deliberation. It was by
exhibiting the force of his character in scenes of similar difficulty, that
Mahtoree had obtained and strengthened his ascendancy among his people, nor did
he seem likely to lose it, by the manifestation of any indecision on the present
occasion. In the midst of the screams of the young, the shrieks of the women,
and the wild howlings of the crones, which were sufficient of themselves to have
created a chaos in the thoughts of one less accustomed to act in emergencies, he
promptly asserted his authority, issuing his orders with the coolness of a
veteran.
    While the warriors were arming, the boys were dispatched to the bottom for
the horses. The tents were hastily struck by the women, and disposed of on such
of the beasts, as were not deemed fit to be trusted in combat. The infants were
cast upon the backs of their mothers, and those children who were of a size to
march, were driven to the rear, like a herd of less reasoning animals. Though
these several movements were made amid outcries and a clamor that likened the
place to another Babel, they were executed with incredible alacrity and
intelligence.
    In the mean time, Mahtoree neglected no duty that belonged to his
responsible station. From the elevation on which he stood, he could command a
perfect view of the force and evolutions of the hostile party. A grim smile
lighted his visage, when he found, that in point of numbers, his own band was
greatly the superior. Notwithstanding this advantage, however, there were other
points of inequality, which would probably have a tendency to render his success
in the approaching conflict, exceedingly doubtful. His people were the
inhabitants of a more
