Chapter 30

Is this proceeding just and honourable?
--Shakspeare.

During the occurrence of these events on the upland plain, the
warriors on the bottom had not been idle. We left the adverse bands
watching one another on the opposite banks of the stream, each
endeavouring to excite its enemy to some act of indiscretion, by the
most reproachful taunts and revilings. But the Pawnee chief was not
slow to discover that his crafty antagonist had no objection to waste
the time so idly, and, as they mutually proved, in expedients that
were so entirely useless. He changed his plans, accordingly, and
withdrew from the bank, as has been already explained through the
mouth of the trapper, in order to invite the more numerous host of the
Siouxes to cross. The challenge was not accepted, and the Loups were
compelled to frame some other method to attain their end.

Instead of any longer throwing away the precious moments, in fruitless
endeavours to induce his foe to cross the stream, the young partisan
of the Pawnees led his troops, at a swift gallop, along its margin, in
quest of some favourable spot, where by a sudden push he might throw
his own band without loss to the opposite shore. The instant his
object was discovered, each mounted Teton received a footman behind
him, and Mahtoree was still enabled to concentrate his whole force
against the effort. Perceiving that his design was anticipated, and
unwilling to blow his horses by a race that would disqualify them for
service, even after they had succeeded in outstripping the more
heavily-burdened cattle of the Siouxes, Hard-Heart drew up, and came
to a dead halt on the very margin of the water-course.

As the country was too open for any of the usual devices of savage
warfare, and time was so pressing, the chivalrous Pawnee resolved to
bring on the result by one of those acts of personal daring, for which
the Indian braves are so remarkable, and by which they often purchase
their highest and dearest renown. The spot he had selected was
favourable to such a project. The river, which throughout most of its
course was deep and rapid, had expanded there to more than twice its
customary width, and the rippling of its waters proved that it flowed
over a shallow bottom. In the centre of the current there was an
extensive and naked bed of sand, but a little raised above the level
of the stream and of a colour and consistency which warranted, to a
practised eye, that it afforded a firm and safe foundation for the
foot. To this spot the partisan now turned his wistful gaze, nor was
he long in making his decision. First speaking to his warriors, and
apprising them of his intentions, he dashed into the current, and
partly by swimming, and more by the use of his horse's feet,