LIFE IN THE FAR WEST 145 



on foot, having been despoiled of their packs and 

 animals by the very Indians through the midst of whom 

 old Williams had contrived to pass unseen and unmo- 

 lested. On occasions when he had been in company 

 with others, and attacked by Indians, Bill invariably 

 fought manfully, and with all the coolness that perfect 

 indifference to death or danger could give, but always 

 " on his own hook." His rifle cracked away merrily, 

 and never spoke in vain ; and in a charge if ever it 

 came to that his keen-edged butcher-knife tickled the 

 fleece of many a Blackfoot. But, at the same time, if he 

 saw that discretion was the better part of valour, and 

 affairs wore so cloudy an aspect as to render retreat 

 advisable, he would first express his opinion in curt 

 terms, and decisively, and, charging up his rifle, would 

 take himself off and "cache"* so effectually that to 

 search for him was utterly useless. Thus, when with a 

 large party of trappers, when anything occurred which 

 gave him a hint that trouble was coming, or more 

 Indians were about than he considered good for his 

 animals, Bill was wont to exclaim 



" Do 'ee hyar now, boys, thar's sign about 1 this hos 

 feels like caching;" and, without more words, and 

 stoically deaf to all remonstrances, he would forthwith 

 proceed to pack his animals, talking the while to an old 

 crop-eared raw-boned Nez-perce pony, his own particu- 

 lar saddle-horse, who in dogged temper and iron hardi- 

 ness was a worthy companion of his self-willed master. 

 This beast, as Bill seized his apishamore to lay upon its 



* Hide from cacher. 

 K 



