returned on his
tracks to the margin of the meadow. Here he passed many minutes in replacing the
trodden grass, and in effacing, as far as possible every evidence of their
passage.
    In the mean time, the rest of the party continued their progress, not
without toil and consequently at a very moderate gait, until they had penetrated
a mile into the place. Here they found a spot suited to their circumstances, and
dismounting they began to make their dispositions to pass the remainder of the
night. By this time the trapper had rejoined the party, and again resumed the
direction of their proceedings.
    The weeds and grass were soon plucked and cut from an area of sufficient
extent, and a bed for Inez and Ellen was speedily made, a little apart, which
for sweetness and ease might have rivalled one of down. The exhausted females,
after receiving some light refreshments from the provident stores of Paul and
the old man soon sought their repose, leaving their more stout companions at
liberty to provide for their own necessities. Middleton and Paul were not long
in following the examples of their betrothed, leaving the trapper and the
Naturalist still seated around a savory dish of bison's meat, which had been
cooked at a previous halt, and which was, as usual, eaten cold.
    A certain lingering sensation which had so long been uppermost in the mind
of Obed temporarily banished sleep, and as for the old man, his wants were
rendered by habit and necessity, as seemingly subject to his will, as if they
altogether depended on the pleasures of the moment. Like his companion he chose,
therefore, to watch instead of sleeping.
    »If the children of ease and security knew the hardships and dangers, the
students of nature encounter in their behalf,« said Obed, after a moment of
silence when Middleton took his leave for the night, »pillars of silver and
statues of brass would be reared as the everlasting monuments of their glory!«
    »I know not, I know not,« returned his companion. »Silver is far from
plenty, at least in the wilderness, and your brazen idols are forbidden in the
Commandments of the Lord.«
    »Such indeed was the opinion of the Great Law Giver of the Jews, but the
Egyptians, and the Chaldeans, the Greeks, and the Romans were wont to manifest
their gratitude, in these types of the human form. Indeed, many of the
illustrious masters of Antiquity have by the aid of science and skill, even
outdone the works of nature, and exhibited a beauty and perfection in the human
form, that are