158 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST 



ing marksman, and at length an opportunity offered, by 

 which he was not long in profiting. 



The Indian, as the light increased, was better able to 

 discern his mark, and fired, and yelled every time he 

 did so, with redoubled vigour. In his eagerness, and 

 probably whilst in the act of taking aim, he leaned too 

 heavily against the rock which covered him, and, 

 detaching it from its position, down it rolled into the 

 canon, exposing his body by its fall. At the same 

 instant, a wreath of smoke puffed from the bushes which 

 concealed the trappers, and the crack of La Bonte's rifle 

 spoke the first word of reply to the Indian challenge. 

 A few feet behind the rock fell the dead body of the 

 Indian, rolling down the steep sides of the canon, and 

 only stopped by a bush at the very bottom, within a few 

 yards of the spot where Markhead lay concealed in some 

 high grass. 



That daring fellow instantly jumped from his cover, 

 and drawing his knife, rushed to the body, and in 

 another moment held aloft the Indian's scalp, giving, 

 at the same time, a triumphant whoop. A score of 

 rifles were levelled and discharged at the intrepid 

 mountaineer; but in the act many Indians incautiously 

 exposed themselves, every rifle in the timber cracked 

 simultaneously, and for each report an Indian bit the 

 dust. 



Now, however, they changed their tactics. Finding 

 they were unable to drive the trappers from their 

 position, they retired from the mountain, and the firing 

 suddenly ceased. In their retreat they were forced to 



