LIFE IN THE FAR WEST 225 



resided there for some years, blessed with a fine family, 

 <fec. <fcc. &c., as the novels end. 



As soon as the animals were fat and strong, they 

 were taken down the Arkansa to Bent's Indian trading 

 fort, about sixty miles below the mouth of Fontaine- 

 qui-bout. Here a ready sale was found for them, mules 

 being at that time in great demand on the frontier of 

 the United States, and every season the Bents carried 

 across the plains to Independence a considerable 

 number collected in the Indian country, and in the 

 upper settlements of New Mexico. While the moun- 

 taineers were descending the Arkansa, a little incident 

 occurred, and some of the party very unexpectedly 

 encountered an old friend. Killbuck and La Bonte, 

 who were generally companeros, were riding some 

 distanqp ahead of the cavallada, passing at the time the 

 mouth of the Huerfano or Orphan Creek, when, at a 

 long distance before them, they saw the figure of a 

 horseman, followed by two loose animals, descending 

 the bluff into the timbered bottom of the river. Judg- 

 ing the stranger to be Indian, they spurred their horses 

 and galloped in pursuit, but the figure ahead suddenly 

 disappeared. However, they quickly followed the 

 track, which was plain enough in the sandy bottom, 

 that of a horse and two mules. Killbuck scrutinised 

 the " sign," and puzzled over it a considerable time ; 

 and at last exclaimed " Wagh ! this sign's as plain as 

 mon beaver to me ; look at that hos-track, boy ; did ye 

 ever see that afore ? " 



" Well, I have ! '' answered La Bonte, peering down 

 p 



