276 IN THE OLD WEST 



dian trading-fort, about sixty miles below the 

 mouth of Fontaine-qui-bouille. Here a ready sale 

 was found for them, mules being at that time in 

 great demand on the frontier of the United States, 

 and every season the Bents carried across the 

 plains to Independence a considerable number col- 

 lected in the Indian country, and in the upper set- 

 tlements of New Mexico. While the mountaineers 

 were descending the Arkansa a little incident oc- 

 curred, and some of the party very unexpectedly 

 encountered an old friend. Killbuck and La 

 Bonte, who were generally companeros, were rid- 

 ing some distance ahead of the cavallada, passing 

 at the time the mouth of the Huerfano or Orphan 

 Creek, when, at a long distance before them, they 

 saw the figure of a horseman, followed by two loose 

 animals, descending the bluff into the timbered 

 bottom of the river. Judging the stranger to be 

 Indian, they spurred their horses and galloped in 

 pursuit, but the figure ahead suddenly disap- 

 peared. However, they quickly followed the 

 track, which was plain enough in the sandy bot- 

 tom, that of a horse and two mules. Killbuck 

 scrutinized the " sign," and puzzled over it a con- 

 siderable time ; and at last exclaimed " Wagh I 

 this sign's as plain as mon beaver to me; look at 

 that hoss-track, boy; did ye ever see that afore? " 

 " Well, I have ! " answered La Bonte, peering 

 down at it : " that ar shuffle-toe seems handy to me 

 now, I tell you." 



