.
    »It is a warrior you see, and no runner of the Long-knives whose face grows
paler at the sight of a tomahawk;« returned the trapper, without moving a
muscle. »Let the Sioux women think. If one white-skin dies, a hundred spring up
where he falls.«
    Still the hags made no other answer, than by increasing their speed in the
circle, and, occasionally, raising the threatening expressions of their chaunt,
into louder and more intelligible strains. Suddenly, one of the oldest, and the
most ferocious of them all broke out of the ring, and skirred away in the
direction of her victims, like a rapacious bird, that having wheeled on poised
wings, for the time necessary to insure its object, makes the final dart upon
its prey. The others followed, a disorderly and screaming flock, fearful of
being too late, to reap their portion of the sanguinary pleasure.
    »Mighty Medicine of my people!« shouted the old man, in the Teton tongue,
»lift your voice, and speak that the Sioux nation may hear!«
    Whether Asinus had acquired so much knowledge by his recent experience, as
to know the value of his sonorous properties, or the strange spectacle of a
dozen hags flitting past him, filling the air with such sounds as were even
grating to the ears of an ass, most moved his temper, it is certain that the
animal did that which Obed was requested to do, and probably with far greater
effect, than if the naturalist, had strove with his mightiest effort to be
heard. It was the first time, that the strange beast had spoken, since his
arrival in the encampment. Admonished by so terrible a warning, the hags
scattered themselves, like vultures frightened from their prey, still screaming,
and but half-diverted from their purpose.
    In the mean time the sudden appearance and the imminency of the danger,
quickened the blood in the veins of Paul and Middleton, more than all their
laborious frictions, and physical expedients. The former had actually risen to
his feet, and assumed an attitude which perhaps threatened more than the worthy
bee-hunter was able to perform, and even the latter had mounted to his knees,
and showed a disposition to do good service for his life. The unaccountable
release of the captives from their bonds was attributed, by the hags, to the
incantations of the Medecine and the mistake was probably of as much service, as
the miraculous and timely interposition of Asinus in their favor.
    »Now, is the time to come out of our ambushment