136 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST 



The morning after their return, they had just risen 

 from their blankets, and were lazily stretching them- 

 selves before the fire, when a volley of firearms rattled 

 from the bank of the creek, and two of their number 

 fell dead to the ground, whilst at the same moment the 

 deafening yells of Indians broke upon the ears of the 

 frightened squaws. Cross-Eagle seized his rifle, and, 

 though severely wounded, rushed to the cover of a 

 hollow tree which stood near, and crawling into it, 

 defended himself the whole day with the greatest 

 obstinacy, killing five Indians outright, and wounding 

 several more. Unable to drive the gallant trapper 

 from his retreat, the savages took advantage of a 

 favourable wind which suddenly sprang up, and fired 

 the long dry grass surrounding the tree. The rotten 

 log catching fire, at length compelled the hunter to 

 leave his retreat. Clubbing his rule, he charged amongst 

 the Indians, and fell at last, pierced through and 

 through with wounds, but not until two more of his 

 assailants had fallen by his hand. 



The two squaws were carried off, and one was sold 

 shortly afterwards to some white men at the trading 

 ports on the Platte ; but La Bonte never recovered the 

 " Bending Reed," nor even heard of her existence from 

 that day. So once more was the mountaineer bereft of 

 his better half ; and when he returned to the rendezvous, 

 a troop of wolves were feasting on the bodies of his late 

 companions, and of the Indians killed in the affray, of 

 which he only heard the particulars a long time after from 

 a trapper, who had been present when one of the squaws 



