IN THE OLD WEST 201 



ing marksman, and at length an opportunity of- 

 fered, by which he was not long in profiting. 



The Indian, as the light increased, was better 

 able to discern his mark, and fired, and yelled 

 every time he did so, with redoubled vigor. In 

 his eagerness, and probably whilst in the act of 

 taking aim, he leaned too heavily against the rock 

 which covered him, and, detaching it from its posi- 

 tion, down it rolled into the canon, exposing his 

 body by its fall. At the same instant, a wreath 

 of smoke puffed from the bushes which concealed 

 the trappers, and the crack of La Bonte's rifle 

 spoke the first word of reply to the Indian chal- 

 lenge. A few feet behind the rock fell the dead 

 body of the Indian, rolling down the steep sides of 

 the canon, and only stopped by a bush at the very 

 bottom, within a few yards of the spot where 

 Markhead lay concealed in some high grass. 



That daring fellow instantly jumped from his 

 cover, and drawing his knife, rushed to the body, 

 and in another moment, held aloft the Indian's 

 scalp, giving, at the same time, a triumphant 

 whoop. A score of rifles were leveled and dis- 

 charged at the intrepid mountaineer; but in the 

 act many Indians incautiously exposed themselves, 

 every rifle in the timber cracked simultaneously, 

 and for each report an Indian bit the dust. 



Now, however, they changed their tactics. 

 Finding they were unable to drive the trappers 

 from their position, they retired from the moun- 



