LIFE IN THE FAR WEST 25 



the vacillating Indian, whose superstitious mind in a 

 great degree paralyses the physical energy of his active 

 body ; and who, by waiting for propitious signs and 

 seasons before he undertakes an enterprise, often loses 

 the opportunity by which his white and more civilised 

 enemy knows so well how to profit. 



Killbuck and La Bonte were no exceptions to this 

 characteristic rule ; and before the sun was a hand's- 

 breadth above the eastern horizon, the two hunters were 

 running on the trail of the victorious Indians. Striking 

 from the creek where the night attack was made, they 

 crossed to another known as Kioway, running parallel 

 to Bijou, a few hours' journey westward, and likewise 

 heading in the "divide." Following this to its forks, 

 they struck into the upland prairies lying at the foot of 

 the mountains ; and crossing to the numerous water- 

 courses which feed the creek called "Vermillion" or 

 "Cherry," they pursued the trail over the mountain- 

 spurs until it reached a fork of the Boiling Spring. 

 Here the war-party had halted and held a consultation, 

 for from this point the trail turned at a tangent to the 

 westward, and entered the rugged gorges of the moun- 

 tains. It was now evident to the two trappers that their 

 destination was the Bayou Salade, a mountain valley 

 which is a favourite resort of the buffalo in the winter 

 season, and which, and for this reason, is often frequented 

 by the Yuta Indians as their wintering ground. That 

 the Rapahos were on a war expedition against the Yutas, 

 there was little doubt ; and Killbuck, who knew every 

 inch of the ground, saw at once, by the direction the 



