160 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST 



before them. The dense clouds of smoke concealed 

 everything from their view, and, to avoid this, they broke 

 from the creek and galloped up the sides of the canon 

 on to the more level plateau. As they attained this, 

 a band of mounted Indians charged them. One, waving 

 a red blanket, dashed through the cavallada, and was 

 instantly followed by all the loose animals of the trap- 

 pers, the rest of the Indians pursuing with loud shouts. 

 So sudden was the charge, that the whites had not power 

 to prevent the stampede. Old Bill, as usual, led his 

 pack-mules by the lariat ; but the animals, mad with 

 terror at the shouts of the Indians, broke from him, 

 nearly pulling him out of his seat at the same time. To 

 cover the retreat of the others with their prey, a band 

 of mounted Indians now appeared, threatening an attack 

 in front, whilst their first assailants, rushing from the 

 bottom, at least a hundred strong, assaulted in rear. 

 " Do 'ee hyar,boys? " shouted old Bill, "break, or you'll 

 go under. This child's goin' to cache ! " and saying the 

 word, off he went. Sauve qui pent was the order of the 

 day, and not a moment too soon, for overwhelming 

 numbers were charging upon them, and the mountain 

 resounded with savage yells. La Bonte and Killbuck 

 stuck together : they saw old Bill, bending over his 

 saddle, dive right into the cloud of smoke, and appa- 

 rently make for the creek bottom their other com- 

 panions scattering each on his own hook, and saw no 

 more of them for many a month ; and thus was one of 

 the most daring and successful bands broken up that 

 ever trapped in the mountains of the Far West. 



