LIFE IN THE FAR WEST 47 



bayou, at sundown, just as they thought of camping, 

 they observed ahead of them a solitary horseman riding 

 along, followed by three mules. His hunting-frock of 

 fringed buckskin, and the rifle resting across the horn 

 of his saddle, at once proclaimed him white ; but as he 

 saw the mountaineers winding through the canon, driv- 

 ing before them half-a-dozen horses, he judged they 

 might possibly be Indians and enemies, the more so as 

 their dress was not the usual costume of the whites. The 

 trappers, therefore, saw the stranger raise the rifle in the 

 hollow of his arm, and, gathering up his horse, ride 

 steadily to meet them, as soon as he observed they were 

 but two ; two to one in mountain calculation being 

 scarcely considered odds, if red skin to white. 



However, on nearing them, the stranger discovered 

 his mistake ; and, throwing his rifle across the saddle 

 once more, reined in his horse and waited their ap- 

 proach ; for the spot where he then stood presented an 

 excellent camping-ground, with abundance of dry wood 

 and convenient water. 



" Where from, stranger ? '' 



" The divide, and to the bayou for meat ; and you 

 are from there, I see. Any buffalo come in yet 1 " 



" Heap, and seal -fat at that. What's the sign out on 

 the plains 1 " 



"War-party of Rapahos passed Squirrel at sun- 

 down yesterday, and nearly raised my animals. Sign, 

 too, of more on left fork of Boiling Spring. No buffalo 

 between this and Bijou. Do you feel like camping ? " 



" Well, we do. But whar's your company eros 1 " 



