330 IN THE OLD WEST 



mad, and their hearts were big, and nothing in 

 the shape of white skin would live before them. 



"Wagh!" exclaimed Killbuck, "the Rapahos 

 know me, I'm thinking; and small gain they've 

 made against this child. I've knowed the time 

 when my gun-cover couldn't hold more of their 

 scalps." 



The Indian was provided with some powder, of 

 which he stood in need ; and after gorging as much 

 meat as his capacious stomach would hold, he 

 left the camp, and started into the mountain. 



The next day our hunters started on their jour- 

 ney down the river, traveling leisurely, and stop- 

 ping wherever good grass presented itself. One 

 morning they suddenly struck a wheel-trail, which 

 left the creek-banks and pursued a course at right 

 angles to it, in the direction of the divide. Kill- 

 buck pronounced it but a few hours old, and that 

 of three wagons drawn by oxen. 



" Wagh ! " he exclaimed, " if them poor devils 

 of Mormonites ain't going head first into the 

 Rapaho trap. They'll be gone beaver afore 

 long." 



" Aye," said the strange hunter, " these are the 

 wagons belonging to old Brand, and he has started 

 alone for Laramie. I hope nothing will happen 

 to them." 



"Brand!" muttered La Bonte. "I knowed 

 that name mighty well once, years agone; and 

 should hate the worst kind that mischief happened 



