282 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST 



pulled the rope violently, dragged her some yards upon 

 the ground, and then rushed with a yell of vengeance 

 upon his victim. He paused, however, as at that 

 moment a shout as fierce as his own sounded at his 

 very ear ; and, looking up, he saw La Bonte galloping 

 madly down the bluff, his long hair and the fringes of 

 his hunting-shirt and leggins flying in the wind, his 

 right arm supporting his trusty rifle, whilst close behind 

 him came Killbuck and the stranger. Dashing with 

 loud hurrahs to the scene of action, La Bonte, as he 

 charged down the bluff, caught sight of the girl strug- 

 gling in the hands of the ferocious Indian. Loud was 

 the war-shout of the mountaineer, as he struck his 

 heavy spurs to the rowels in his horse's side, and 

 bounded like lightning to the rescue. In a single 

 stride he was upon the Indian, and, thrusting the muzzle 

 of his rifle into his very breast, he pulled the trigger, 

 driving the savage backward by the blow itself, at the 

 same moment that the bullet passed through his heart, 

 and tumbled him over stone-dead. Throwing down 

 his rifle, La Bonte wheeled his obedient horse, and, 

 drawing a pistol from his belt, again charged the enemy, 

 among whom Killbuck and the stranger were dealing 

 death-giving blows. Yelling for victory, the mountain- 

 eers rushed at the Indians ; and they, panic-struck at 

 the sudden attack, and thinking this was but the 

 advanced guard of a large band, fairly turned and fled, 

 leaving five of their number dead upon the field. 



Mary, shutting her eyes to the expected death-stroke, 

 heard the loud shout La Bonte gave in charging down 



