LIFE IN THE FAR WEST 17 



robe on the bare ground, 'declaring his intention to 

 " take " what was coming at all hazards, and " any how." 

 Selecting a high spot, he drew his knife and proceeded 

 to cut drains round it, to prevent the water running 

 into him as he lay ; then taking a single robe, he care- 

 fully spread it, placing under the end farthest from the 

 fire a large stone brought from the creek. Having 

 satisfactorily adjusted this pillow, he added another robe 

 to the one already laid, and placed over all a Navajo 

 blanket, supposed to be impervious to rain. Then he 

 divested himself of his pouch and powder-horn, which, 

 with his rifle, he placed inside his bed, and quickly 

 covered up lest the wet should reach them. Having 

 performed these operations to his satisfaction, he lighted 

 his pipe by the hissing embers of the half-extinguished 

 fire, (for by this time the rain poured in torrents,) and 

 went the rounds of the picketed animals, cautioning the 

 guard round the camp to keep their " eyes skinned, for 

 there would be ' powder burned ' before morning." 

 Then returning to the fire, and kicking with his mocas- 

 sined foot the slumbering ashes, he squatted down be- 

 fore it, and thus soliloquised : 



"Thirty year have T been knocking about these 

 mountains from Missoura's head as far sothe as the 

 starving Gila. I've trapped l a heap/ * and many a 

 hundred pack of beaver I've traded in my time, wagh ! 

 What has come of it, and whar s the dollars as ought 



* An Indian is always "a heap" hungry or thirsty loves 

 "a heap" is " a heap " brave ; in fact, "a heap" is tantamount 

 to very much. 



B 



