104 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST 



behind a sandhill in the vicinity, until objects became 

 more distinct ; and then, emerging from their cover with 

 loud war-whoops, they charged abreast into the midst 

 of the village. 



As the frightened Indians were scarcely risen from 

 their beds, no opposition was given to the daring moun- 

 taineers, who, rushing upon the flying crowd, discharged 

 their rifles at close quarters, and then, springing from 

 their horses, attacked them knife in hand, and only 

 ceased the work of butchery when nine Indians lay 

 dead upon the ground. All this time the women, half 

 dead with fright, were huddled together on the ground, 

 howling piteously ; and the mountaineers advancing to 

 them, whirled their lassos round their heads, and 

 throwing the open nooses into the midst, hauled out 

 three of them, and securing their arms in the rope, 

 bound them to a tree, and then proceeded to scalp the 

 dead bodies. Whilst they were engaged in this work, an 

 old Indian, withered and grisly, and hardly bigger than 

 an ape, suddenly emerged from a rock, holding in his left 

 hand abowand a handful of arrows, whilst one was already 

 drawn to the head. Kunning towards them, and almost 

 before the hunters were aware of his presence, he dis- 

 charged an arrow at a few yards' distance, which buried 

 itself in the ground not a foot from La Bonte's head as 

 he bent over the body of the Indian he was scalping ; 

 and hardly had the whiz ceased, when whirr flew 

 another, striking him in his right shoulder. Before 

 the Indian could fit a third arrow to his bow, La Bonte 

 sprang upon him, seized him by the middle, and spin- 



