THE HUNTERS OF THE PRAIRIE.

THIS work is the result of young Mr. Iavisna's experiences during the " Expedition to the Pawnee and other tribes of American Indians and the effect, whatever might be the intention of the author, is to use up the materials which he could not well bring into his more formal and didactic Indian Sketches. There is, however, little or nothing of the heaviness of a made-up work in the Hunters rf the Prairie, so far as relates to Indian and frontier life, manners, and character. Mr. JOHN IRVING has endeavoured,

and not unsuccessfully, to individualize and dramatize the bunters, trappers, border soldiers, and Indians, m ith the motley class of adventurers who frequent the utmost verge of civilization and the wild regions beyond it. By this means, he shows them better in action, and better brings out the peculiarities and striking traits of their character and habits of life, than could be accomplished in a regular narrative. Nor does he fail in largeness : if his characters and scenes are not very general and striking in their individuality, they are sufficiently so to temove insipidity and inspire interest.

The remote source of the action of the Hunters of the Prairie, arises from an unexpected incursion of the Pan nee Indians into

the hunting-grounds adjoining the frontier. The incidents by which it is varied and characterized spring out of the adventures of two hunters and a band of rangers, sent to protect a hunting party, whose danger is revealed on the escape of the pair of woods men. The subjects are the wonderful skill by which both Indians and hunters track either man or beast, an Indian pursuit, a single combat, retreats, ambushes, battles, and open onslaughts, together with Indian councils, prairie landscapas, and the sentiments and passions which animate the savage Indians and the half-savage borderers,—few indeed, if any of them, being new ; but having distinctness and the appearance of novelty, from being, as we have said all Lady, individualized mai dramatized. There is also a love story lacked on them ; but whilst it adds little to the interest and detracts from the probability of the work, it only serves to fetter the writer.

As a picture of Indian and border life and characters, the persons, single incident., and the relation of events to each other and

the whole, are varied, probable, and true. As a tale, the Hunters of the Prairie is very indiffereot. Neither nature nor study have qualified Mr. Iasi NO for a novelist. He imitates SCOTT, or rather COOPER, in the mode by which scenes or characters are introduced to the reader, and in the almost technical manner in which persons and their habiliments are described. In the means for inspiring interest and conducting his story, Mr. JOHN IRVING is an inju dicious imitator of a vulgar school. He wants the art of connexion and diversion : when he turns from one thing to another, he Makes a gap rather than allows a pause; so that, as a story, the parts

are not well dovetailed together, but form fragments. He has no other way of appealing to the feelings, than by the stale and melo dramatic one of claptraps of situation, sometimes arising from folly, sometimes from accident, sometimes obviously for the author's convenience : nor are these common arts turned to the best account by showing their operations on the minds of the persons affected. This, however, has its advantages. The fault is only in the plan; there is no laboured exaggeration in the description.

To make the following passage clearly intelligible, it should be premised, that Norton is an old hunter, and Herrick a youthful lover of adventure, and the hero of the tale. They have been hunting in the border-lands, and Norton has fallen suddenly on a trail which he concludes to be Indian, but of which Herrick makes light, and a herd of elk _passing, yields to the strong temptation, and kills the leafier. The crack of the rifle directs a lurking Pawnee to the spot; and Herrick, intent upon his prize,

would have fallen a victim to the foe, had not the more cautious veteran remained under cover, and shot the Indian at the last moment. He then decides upon an immediate move.

" We must be off, for these rifle-cracks may bring others of the gang. Now follow me," said he, seeing that Herrick had reloaded his piece. " Keep the bushes between you and the open country. Should they track us, our trail will panic them more here than on the ashes of the burnt prairie." They pursued a hasty course through the tangled bushes, carefully avoiding a too near approach to the edge of the wood, and snaking directly along the

margin of the river. For half an hour they hail kept on through the tall bottom timber, following closely the crooked windings of the stream, and moving lightly and cautiously among the bushes, lest a broken twig or entehed leaf should betray their course to those who they judged, but too truly, would soon be in pursuit. Suddenly Norton stopped and held up We hand : " Do you hear nothing, Herrick?"

" Nothing but the brook as it brawls over the stones," was the answer.

" No, no ! it was not Mat. There, there it is again ! and louder. Do you hear it now 9 "

" Yes, I think so; it sounds like the howl of a distant wolf."

Si A wolf never sent up that cry. It is as true an Indiau yell as ever came from the throat of a Redskin. The Pawnees have come upon the carcass of their dead comrade. They will make this thicket too hot for us; they will swarm through it like bees. A swift foot and a keen eye alone will save us now. Take to the river ; it has a rocky bottom, and leaves no track."

" Hark I they are after us," said be, as a whoop again rose in the air, faint and distant, but apparently nearer than the former. " Push, push for the water !"

Herrick east a glance at the face of his companion, to read in it, if possible, their fate ; but is told no tales : it was as rigid as rock. The mouth was

clenched as usual, and the eye roved from side to side as it wont to do even when so danger pressed them. His words, however, and accelerated pace bad told 'moues; and with rapid strides they seised the rivers " Keep among the stones; don't step your wet moccasin upon any Of it uncovered rocks ; it will leave its mark. Take a quicker and a longer stride in this shallow water. • When we reach the deep parts we will then be slow enough." The Nemahaw river, down which they were pursuing their course, is one of those large streams which intersect the great Western prairies. sts banks are skirted by groves and trees of brushwood, affording the only timber to be found in those wild regions. These forests are more or less luxuriant, according to the size of the stream ; becoming snore and more sparse as they recede from the water, until at last they yield to the wide waste of prairie which epreads out to the eye like a long rolling sea. Norton continued to urge his companion onward ; sometimes wading slowly and nearly up to their waists, and again increasing their speed when they reached a spot where the water was more shallow.

Another yell suddenly rose in the air behind them. It sounded startlingly near.

" This water clogs the feet," exclaimed Herrick, as he beard the fierce shrill sound. " 'Tis tempting death to stay here. Let's leave the stream, and take to the woods."

" Are you mad ? That leads to the grave. They would trail the print ef your wet moccasin as easily as the hoof of an iron-shod horse. Follow me; 'tis your only hope. There is a chance that we may yet throw them off the track ; for the bushes which skirt these banks are thick, and dip to the water. I have had many a slighter screen between me arid my bitterest foe. Besides this, they have no certain track to follow. Courage, boy, courage ! I have seen you run a greater risk without flinching."

" Don't fear me, Norton, if it comes to the worst. Hark ! was that a deer leaping in the thicket ?"

Norton stopped short, and raised his hand behind his ear. " I heard it ten: ha! there! I see it, by Heaven ! 'tis an Indian—a Pawnee. Ile see, us. He is coming to the bank : I dare not fire now ; it will betray us to the rest. Here, take my gun ; cold iron must decide this, Thank God ! he is alone.' lie handed his gun to Herrick ; and, tightening the belt round his waist, stood ready for his foe.

There was a crashing sound among the distant underwood ; the bushes upon the bank were violently shaken, and, tearing his way through them, the Indian

bounded to the middle of the stream and confronted Norton. For a moment, a brief moment, they gazed at each other. But there was no time to be lost ; for, even should Norton prove victorious, (which the appearance of his antagonist, who stood before him with every sinew in his powerful frame strung for the fight, rendered a matter of much unceituinty,) still he might be delayed until the rest of the band came up. He, however, was fully aware of his peril ; and, with a sudden bound, sprang forward and closed with the Indian. They were both men of prodigious muscle, and the struggle was fearful. The contest, however, was destined to be of short duration ; for, almost at the moment of

the grapple, Herrick sprang forward and sheathed his ditk in the breast of the savage. With a convulsive leap the Indian freed himself from Norton, awl fell into the water. A shudder passed over him, and all was finished. It was

strange that so slight a blow should have sped the spirit of so stern a warrior,

but so it was. The hunter raised the arm of his late foe, then loosing it, it fell

heavily into the water. Dead," said he, as he looked at him. " There's no

make .believe about it. It was kis life or ours. His wound does not bleed much, and the roughness of the water, as it rushes over the stones, will prevent it from being seen."

Herrick made no reply to these philosophic remarks. He remained with his eyes fastened on the body, apparently astounded at the work of his own hands,

and scarcely able to realize that the silent corpse vats the same stern being who, but a few moments previous, hail stood before him, glowing with native pride and animated by all those feelings and impulses which influenced himself. " Is he dead?" said lie, gazing at the calm face. " No! Ile brerhea." The bunter turned and looked at the bode. " No; he's dead enough," said he, after a moment's careful scrutiny. " fie was as strong as a buffalo bull;

but his fighting days are over. Come, give me my vager. Hist ! what noise was that ? Was it a footstep? Quick, quick ! take hold of this body and help to drag it under the bushes. There, that will do," said he, as they half dragged, half-floated it to the edge of the stream, and concealed it under the overhanging

shrubbery. " Now ; monch, couch! creep under those bushes. Raise your powder. horn from the water. Here they come," whispered he, as through the

thick underwood he saw the dusky forms of a large body of Indians moving

swiftly along, peering beneath every bash, and examining every inch of gtound. At length a footstep sounded close to their place of concealment. The tan fugitives shrank down and held their breathe. The bush which screened them shook, its thick branches were pressed upon their bodies; and an Indian, grasping the limb of a tree in one hand to support himself, leaned over them, and looked down the stream.

The eye of the hunter blazed, and his hand grasped the handle of his knife, watching the instant they should be discovered, to strike. The savage, however, after a moment, drew himself up, and turned off into the woods.

After several narrow escapes from parties of the Pawnees, and being chased by a considerable band, they suddenly full in with a small party of friendly Konzas. Norton informs the chief of the impending danger; who collects his men, and sends out scouts to spy into the motions of the enemy. Ott their return, a slisht skirmish takes place; but the foremost Pawnees are repulsed, and retire for a while. In the mean time, the Konza chief takes his measures, and despatches an ambush party.

For an hour after the watt iors had deputed on their errand, the little mixt which coucealed the Konza band was hushed iuto as deep and silent a stillnese as if it had never known the presence of man. The evening had grown pithy dark ; the singing of the insects in the trees was distinctly audible; and occasionally the st inting whoop of some distant owl came harshly through the air; but there was no heti an sound t3 tell the deadly purposes which were bidden in that spot. The forms of the Indians were dimly visible, as they remained like statues at their posts; some crouching behind large prostrate logs and others maintaining their upright stand as unmoved as the tall trunks which sheltered them. Cold and stone.like as they seemed, there was not an eye hut was beat with earnest eye upon the prairie, not an ear but was open to listen, and not a hand but grasped his rifle. Long experience in forest warfare had taught them to be silent and watchful. What they had learned from necessity, they practised from habit ; and, though each man stood ready to do his duty, the grove that held them was silent as the tomb.

Minute after minute passed; still there was no appearance of attack.

Some length of time had thus elapsed, when the chief rose up and raised his hand to his ear, as if engaged in profound listening. He stood so fur some seconds, then dropped to his former position. A moment, however, had not elapsed before be was again upon his feet. " Is any thing etitring ? " whispered Herrick to Norton. " I lieu DO.

"-Nor I; but an Indian's senses are keener than a White man's. They cgs almost hear the footstep of a fly. There's something abroad, depend upon it. AU we have to do is in heti silent, and have a situp eye about no." The chid apparently had cause for his alertness; for, a moment after the lut words of the hunter, a long low howl came from the woods, some distaoce down the branch. " W. only a wolf," muttered Herrick, rt A, y ; but a frightened one," replied Norton. " There must have been muse for his howl. It is the cry of a wolf driven from his carcass. We shall know more presently."

A sudden light flashed through the distant thicket. The reverberating report of a rifle followed, accompanied by a faint scream.

" There goes a death•yell," muttered Norton ; " and there goes the whoop of his comrades," said he, as a loud cry of many blended voices answered the gest. A second rifle.ehot followed, and a third; then came auotber yell still fiercer than the first.

Scarcely was it hushed, before a whoop equally fearful, and seemingly from an equally numerous body, answered from the opposite side of the arm of the forest, giving to those concealed the first intimation that they were surrounded. This time, however, no war cry answered from the Konzas. Each warrior crouched close to his lair, and quietly raised the muzzle of his gun for action. Nort in ditl the same. " Now Herrick," said he, "let nothing escape you. Put a bullet into the first thing that stirs in the prairie. lust! there's something now. Is that a bush? No, no ; it moves. It must be a Pawnee ; a Konza would not tick himself there. Here gees."

The last words and the discharge of his rifle were simultaneous. A low hysterical sound followed ; and an armed Pawnee, rendered crazy by a death-wound, bounded forward, and fell dead in the very heart of the Konza band. The flash of the rifle made the Koozas aware of their slanger. By its light they discovered a number of naked forms skulking through the bushes. The quick reports of a dozen rifles announced the discovery ; and the loud yell of several enemies told the fatal effect of the fire.

A volley of arrows answered the discharge. They pierced the trees, and stood quivering in the trunks, but wounded no one. Then followed the crash of bushes, as the repulsed Pawnees hastily retreated bevond the teach of the rifles of the Konzas.

'The besieged party, however, had scarcely time to congratulate themselves on this temporary relief, when a number of arrows whizzed among them from a different quarter. "From the why that arrow stands in this log," said Norton, taking hold of one bedded in a tree about a foot from him, "I judge that it was shot from behind us. The devils, no doubt, are between us and the main timber ; and if so, I don't see bow we are to get off without exterminating the whole Pawnee band—a thing not altogether easy." Herrick had not been long enough inured to peril to appreciate the calm calculations of his companion. He therefore made no reply either to his premises or to his conclusion.

In the mean time, two or three Konzas glided from their posts. Crouching close to the ground, they crept among the dark underwood, taking a direction likely to bring them upon their last assailants. Suddenly an exclamation as of surprise arose at a short distance. It was followed by the report of two rifles. A heavy jarring sound, as of a body filling to the ground succeeded, but there was no cry. The prairie too was bushed ; nets voice was heard—not a foot-fall.

Whilst the silence was deepest, the long bay of a wolf sounded through the right air. " That brute scents the dead already. He'll have rare picking among the Pawnee carcasses," said Norton, half musingly. "The idea of being mangled by the fangs of a wild beast has somethiug terrible in it. His disagreeable train of ideas was interrupted by a volley of arrows, one of which slightly wounded a Korea at his side. At the same time, from the

roise, it was evident that a rush was making towards therm The Kouzas iii

silence awaited the coming attack. The noise grew louder. The Pawnees were within fifty feet, when they were met by a volley of bullets. They wavered. At that instant, to the astonishment of both parties, the flashes of half:I-dozen rifles were seen on the prairie. Their reports followed, accom. parried by a yell from the Pawnees. The hum of voices busy in consultation was heard. Another volley was poured from the rifles of the besieged in the direction of the sound. Again the prairie blazed up for an instaut, and an echoing volley was poured in by the stranger band. The besiegers paused, then retired hastily through the bushes.

The Konza chief called one of the young men to him, and spoke a few words in a low tone. The Indian immediately stole towards the prairie. He soon returned to the band, and a low conversation took place between him and the leader, who then came to where Norton was stationed.

"Are those Koons who are firing from the prairie ? " demanded the bunter.

The Indian nodded assent.

"How came they there? who are they ? " "It is Wahcourah," was the answer. "Ay ! he's a noble fellow," replied the hunter. "He has stolen round those Pawnees awl done good service." When the chief saw that Norton had nothing more to say, he spoke—" The path is clear : the Pawnee is lying in the woods wounded and tired, but he longs for blood. The moon is sleeping in the big waters to the east. The Konza must be on his travel before she rises. For when the moon lights up the woods, the l'awnee will be again looking for his prey. Are my words good ?"

"There's no gainsaying that," said Norton. " If we are to save our scalps, it must be dune soon. When the Pawnees have light to fight by. they will play the devil with us." These last words were muttered to himself in English. Then, streaking to the chief, he answered—" The words of the Konza are good. Illy ears are open. Let the young men be upon their march, before they have aa enemy upon their trail. Let them be as silent as the snake, and let their legs move as swiftly as the deer." The other nodded assent, and then uttered a few words to the troop, who sileutly followed him as he threaded his way through the thicket into the prairie. They flitted along almost without sound, until they reached the spot where Walicourali, with his few coinpanions, lay ensconced in a hollow. Half. a-dozen words made known to him the intentions of the chief Ile immediately rose up and passed along with the rest of his little band over the top of a swelling hill. • The march was swift. The retreating party seemed to glide like shadows across the burnt, black waste. They passed in Indian file down a hollow, following the motions of their chief. There was nut even the sound of a foot-fall or the crash of unburnt stubble as they muved across it. Occasionally, however, the leader gave directions in a deep, low tone. These were rare and momentary, and when uttered their march wee silent as ever. Sometimes he would pause to listen for any sound Sr pursuit.

ls'early two hours had elapsed. Many miles had been thrown between them and the scene of action. But it was not until the broad disk of the moon was "mg over the hills that they rested in their flight. So sudden and so cautious had bem their lepartare from the thicket,. so desperite Wife' hadtroenthe retreat, that it was not Midi ttrey ivertf cchtiplerely 'out & danger dati'the 'garfalser of their put peril seemed to Hook upon them. These extracts will have given the reader an idea of the manner of the author, as well as of the way in which he animates his knowledge of the far-off West ; and though the Hunters of the Prairie cannot be praised as a novel, or be said to tell any thing positively new of the country and tribes of which it treats, yet it presents the most life-like and readable picture of them we have ever met with.