LIFE IN THE FAR WEST 9 



his gun was handsome, that's a fact. Them thar locks 

 was grand ; and old Jake Hawken's nephey (him as 

 trapped on Heeley that time) told me, the other day, 

 as he saw an English gun on Arkansa last winter as 

 beat all off hand. 



" Nigh upon two hundred dollars I had in my 

 possibles, when I went to that camp to see the boys 

 afore they put out ; and you know, Bill, as I sat to 

 ' Euker ' and ' seven up'* till every cent was gone. 



" ' Take back twenty, old coon,' says Big John. 



" ' H 's full of such takes back,' says I ; and I puts 

 back to town and fetches the rifle and the old mule, 

 puts my traps into the sack, gets credit/ for a couple of 

 pounds of powder at Owin's store, and hyar I ar on 

 Bijou, with half a pack of beaver, and running meat 

 yet, old hos ; so put a log on, and let's have a smoke. 



" Hurraw, Jake, old coon, bear a hand, and let the 

 squaw put them tails in the pot ; for sun's down, and 

 we'll have to put out pretty early to reach ' Black Tail' 

 by this time to-morrow. Who's fust guard, boys ? 

 them cussed Rapahos will be after the animals to-night, 

 or I'm no judge of Injun sign. How many did you see, 

 Maurice 1 " 



" Enfant de Garce, me see bout honderd, when I pass 

 Squirrel Creek, one dam water-party, parceque, they no 

 hosses, and have de lariats for steal des animaux. May 

 be de Yutas in Bayou Salade." 



* " Euker," " poker," and " seven up," are the fashionable 

 games of cards. 



