LIFE IN THE FAR WEST 173 



turning to La Bonte, he said, " Wagh ! he's some 

 he is ! " 



Nothing doubting, however, the stranger approached 

 the tree on which the bird was sitting, and, getting well 

 under it, raised his rifle and fired. Down tumbled the 

 bird ; and the successful hunter, with a loud shout, 

 rushed frantically towards it, and bore it in triumph to 

 the camp, earning the most sovereign contempt from 

 the two trappers by the achievement. 



The other stranger was a quieter character. He, too, 

 smiled as he witnessed the exultation of his younger 

 companion, (whose horse, by the way, was scampering 

 about the plain,) and spoke kindly to the mountaineers, 

 whose appearance was clear evidence of the sufferings 

 they had endured. The snakes by this time were 

 cooked, and the trappers gave their new acquaintances 

 the never-failing invitation to " sit and eat." When 

 the latter, however, understood what the viands were, 

 their looks expressed the horror and disgust they felt. 



" Good God !" exclaimed the elder, "you surely can- 

 not eat such disgusting food ? " 



" This niggur doesn't savy what disgustin is," gruffly 

 answered Killbuck ; " but them as carries empty paunch 

 three days an' more, is glad to get ' snake meat/ I'm 

 thinkin." 



" What ! you've no ammunition, then ? " 



" Well, we haven't." 



" Wait till the waggons come up, and throw away 

 that abominable stuff, and you shall have something 

 better, I promise," said the elder of the strangers. 



