The Pirates of the Prairies

h he possessed in the highest degree, chosen a suitable site for his band to encamp. He did not wish t

g, and from which he had only escaped by accident, was a warning to him of the snares that would be laid for him, and

re, resolved to protect himself from any attack as speedily as possible. His first care was to choose a spot where he could encam

islands that Red Cedar bivouacked his men. Peru trees, mezquites, and cottonwood trees, which grew abundantly on this island, mingled with creepers that twined round their stems in inextricable confusion, formed an impenetrable thi

careful to do nothing that might reveal their encampment to the sharp-sighted Indians. So soon as the camp was established, and Red Cedar bel

two sons, Nathan and Sutter, and the Chief of the Coras. Several trees had been felled to form a suitable site for the fire

prudence demands that on the prairies, where we run the risk of being attacked by enemies of every description at any moment, we should secure allies who, in case of need, could protect us efficiently

nk; "but I do not

nd that is enough,"

sio went on; "but where

tion, where you can hold your own for a long time, without an

self; I am anxious to know

earch of my friends, whom I am certain of finding within

ill you be

then, at

ng time," Gar

. I will bring you the ten best rifles in the Far West, and with their protection, and that of Stanapat, the gr

he band in your absence

t remember this: you will unde

you can start; we shall n

clearing, swam his horse over the river, and on reaching firm gr

eir chief, the cause of which they were ignorant of, and which they supposed would not last long. The night had completely fallen. The gambusinos, wearied by a long journey, were sleeping, wrapped i

were Andrés Garote, Fray Ambrosio, and Eagle-wing. A few paces from them was the leafy cabin, b

white shadow emerge from the cabin, glide silently along, an

which existed between Fray Ambrosio and Red Cedar; but the Coras had kept this discover

ou suspect who the allies are

replied, "how

u are not so great a friend of the

my father explain himself so that I may u

glance I recognised you. Do you believe that if I had said to Red Cedar, this man is a spy or a traitor; he has crept among us to make us tall into a trap prepared long beforehand: i

not a muscle of his face had quivered. When the monk ceased speaking, he smiled disdainfu

tell this to the scal

hat he had before him one of those energetic natures over which threats have no power. Still

le, "at any rate, I have it in my po

ef replied drily, "Moukapec is a renowned warrior

mistaken as to the Padre's intentions with respect to you; I am p

man, who, during the burning of his village, and the massacre of his brothers, excited his enemies to murder and arson. The chief

nd withdrew, leaving the two Mexicans disconcerted by this resistance which they were far

d; "Dog of a savage, Indian, brut

e can effect nothing, and seek something else. Every man reaches his point who knows how to wait, and the moment wi

ng us, Red Cedar did not say a

n perfect safety here, any flight

t why did he carr

us to sound. Up to the present, we cannot read his conduct clearly enough; le

e here," the monk sa

t is too late-it would be madness to dream of it. What matter to us, after all, whether she be with us, or not? B

himself in his zarapé, lay down on the ground, and fell asleep. Fray Ambrosio, for his par

ee, perceived that the conversation was at an end,