LIFE IN THE FAR WEST 33 



feeding, which luckily was at the farther side of the 

 prairie, and would not interfere with his proceedings. 



Threading their way amongst the feeding mules, they 

 approached a clump of bushes about forty yards from 

 the spot where the unconscious savages were seated 

 smoking round the fire ; and here they awaited, scarcely 

 drawing breath the while, the moment when the moon 

 rose above the mountain into the clear cold sky, and 

 gave them light sufficient to make sure their work of 

 bloody retribution. Not a pulsation in the hearts of 

 these stern determined men beat higher than its wont ; 

 not the tremor of a nerve disturbed their frame. They 

 stood with lips compressed and rifles ready, their 

 pistols loosened in their belts, their scalp-knives handy 

 to their gripe. The lurid glow of the coming moon 

 already shot into the sky above the ridge, which stood 

 out in bold relief against the light ; and the luminary 

 herself just peered over the mountain, illuminating its 

 pine-clad summit, and throwing her beams on an oppo- 

 site peak, when Killbuck touched his companion's arm, 

 and whispered " Wait for the full light, boy." 



At this moment, however, unseen by the trapper, the 

 old grizzled mule had gradually approached, as she fed 

 along the plateau ; and, when within a few paces of their 

 retreat, a gleam of moonshine revealed to the animal 

 the erect forms of the two whites. Suddenly she stood 

 still and pricked her ears, and stretching out her neck 

 and nose, snuffed the air. Well she knew her old 

 master. 



Killbuck, with eyes fixed upon the Indians, was on 

 c 



