Free The Prairie by James Fenimore Cooper

this day. She came into
the prairies because they had told her a great and generous nation
called the Dahcotahs lived there, and she wished to look on men. The
women of the pale-faces, like the women of the Siouxes, open their eyes
to see things that are new; but she is poor, like myself, and she will
want corn and buffaloes, if you take away the little that she and her
friend still have."
    "My ears listen to many wicked lies!" exclaimed the Teton warrior, in
a voice so stern that it startled even his red auditors. "Am I a woman?
Has not a Dahcotah eyes? Tell me, white hunter; who are the men of your
colour, that sleep near the fallen trees?"
    As he spoke, the indignant chief pointed in the direction of Ishmael's
encampment, leaving the trapper no reason to doubt, that the superior
industry and sagacity of this man had effected a discovery, which had
eluded the search of the rest of his party. Notwithstanding his regret
at an event that might prove fatal to the sleepers, and some little
vexation at having been so completely outwitted, in the dialogue
just related, the old man continued to maintain his air of inflexible
composure.
    "It may be true," he answered, "that white men are sleeping in the
prairie. If my brother says it, it is true; but what men thus trust
to the generosity of the Tetons, I cannot tell. If there be strangers
asleep, send your young men to wake them up, and let them say why they
are here; every pale-face has a tongue." The chief shook his head with
a wild and fierce smile, answering abruptly, as he turned away to put an
end to the conference—
    "The Dahcotahs are a wise race, and Mahtoree is their chief! He will not
call to the strangers, that they may rise and speak to him with their
carabines. He will whisper softly in their ears. When this is done, let
the men of their own colour come and awake them!"
    As he uttered these words, and turned on his heel, a low and approving
laugh passed around the dark circle, which instantly broke its order and
followed him to a little distance from the stand of the captives, where
those who might presume to mingle opinions with so great a warrior again
gathered about him in consultation. Weucha profited by the occasion to
renew his importunities; but the trapper, who had discovered how great
a counterfeit he was, shook him off in displeasure. An end was, however,
more effectually put to the annoyance of this malignant savage, by a
mandate for the whole party, including men and beasts, to change their
positions. The movement was made in dead silence, and with an order that
would have done credit to more enlightened beings. A halt, however, was
soon made; and when the captives had time to look about them, they found
they were in view of the low, dark outline of the copse, near which lay
the slumbering party of Ishmael.
    Here another short but grave and deliberative consultation was held.
    The beasts, which seemed trained to such covert and silent attacks, were
once more placed under the care of keepers, who, as before, were charged
with the duty of watching the prisoners. The mind of the trapper was
in no degree relieved from the uneasiness which was, at each instant,
getting a stronger possession of him, when he found Weucha was placed
nearest to his own person, and, as it appeared by the air of triumph
and authority he assumed, at the head of the guard also. The savage,
however, who doubtless had his secret instructions, was content, for
the present, with making a significant gesture with his tomahawk, which
menaced death to Ellen. After admonishing in this expressive manner
his male captives of the fate that would instantly attend their female
companion, on the slightest alarm proceeding from any of the party, he
was content to maintain a rigid silence. This unexpected forbearance, on
the part of Weucha, enabled the trapper and his two associates to
give their undivided attention to the little that might be seen of the
interesting movements which were passing in