IN THE OLD WEST 271 



which, at this early stage of the journey, were al- 

 ready abandoned. Traces of the wretched Dig- 

 gers became very frequent; these abject creatures 

 resorting to the sandy plains for the purpose of 

 feeding upon the lizards which there abound. As 

 yet they did not show ; only at night they prowled 

 around the camp, waiting a favorable opportunity 

 to run the animals. In the present instance, how- 

 ever, many of the horses having been left on the 

 road, the Diggers found so plentiful a supply of 

 meat as to render unnecessary any attack upon the 

 formidable mountaineers. 



One evening the Americans had encamped, 

 earlier than usual, on a creek well timbered with 

 willow and quaking-ash, and affording tolerable 

 pasture; and although it was still rather early, 

 they determined to stop here, and give the animals 

 an opportunity to fill themselves. Several deer 

 had jumped out of the bottom as they entered it; 

 and La Bonte and Killbuck had sallied from the 

 camp with their rifles to hunt, and endeavor to 

 procure some venison for supper. Along the 

 river-banks herds of deer were feeding in every 

 direction, within shot of the belt of timber ; and the 

 two hunters had no difficulty in approaching and 

 knocking over two fine bucks within a few paces 

 of the thicket. They were engaged in butchering 

 the animals, when La Bonte, looking up from his 

 work, saw half-a-dozen Indians dodging among 

 the trees, within a few yards of himself and Kill- 



