144 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST 



various instruments of one pursuing his mode of life. 

 An awl, with deer-horn handle, and the point defended 

 by a case of cherry-wood carved by his own hand, hung 

 at the back of the belt, side by side with a worm for 

 cleaning the rifle ; and under this was a squat and 

 quaint-looking bullet-mould, the handles guarded by 

 strips of buckskin to save his fingers from burning 

 when running balls, having for its companion a little 

 bottle made from the point of an antelope's horn, 

 scraped transparent, which contained the " medicine" 

 used in baiting the traps. The old coon's face was 

 sharp and thin, a long nose and chin hob-nobbing 

 each other ; and his head was always bent forward, 

 giving him the appearance of being hump-backed. He 

 appeared to look neither to the right nor left, but, in 

 fact, his little twinkling eye was everywhere. He 

 looked at no one he was addressing, always seeming to 

 be thinking of something else than the subject of his 

 discourse, speaking in a whining, thin, cracked voice, 

 and in a tone that left the hearer in doubt whether he 

 was laughing or crying. On the present occasion he 

 had joined this band, and naturally assumed the leader- 

 ship, (for Bill ever refused to go in harness,) in opposi- 

 tion to his usual practice, which was to hunt alone. His 

 character was well known. Acquainted with every 

 inch of the Far West, and with all the Indian tribes 

 who. inhabited it, he never failed to outwit his Red 

 enemies, and generally made his appearance at the 

 rendezvous, from his solitary expeditions, with galore 

 of beaver, when numerous bands of trappers dropped in 



