LIFE IN THE FAR WEST 283 



the bluff, and, again looking up, saw the wild-looking 

 mountaineer rush to her rescue, and save her from the 

 savage by his timely blow. Her arms were still pinned 

 by the lasso, which prevented her from rising to her 

 feet j and La Bonte was the first to run to aid her, as 

 soon as the fight was fairly over. He jumped from his 

 horse, cut the skin rope which bound her, raised her 

 from the ground, and, upon her turning up her face to 

 thank him, beheld his never-to-be-forgotten Mary 

 Brand ; whilst she, hardly believing her senses, recog- 

 nised in her deliverer her former lover, and still well- 

 beloved La Bonte. 



" What, Mary ! can it be you ?" he asked, looking 

 intently upon the trembling woman. 



" La Bonte, you don't forget me !" she answered, and 

 threw herself sobbing into the arms of the sturdy 

 mountaineer. HgfrWi library 



There we will leave her for the present, and help 

 Killbuck and his companions to examine the killed and 

 wounded. Of the former, five Indians and two whites 

 lay dead, grandchildren of old Brand, fine lads of 

 fourteen or fifteen, who had fought with the greatest 

 bravery, and lay pierced with arrows and lance wounds. 

 Old Brand had received a sore buffet, but a hatful of 

 cold water from the creek sprinkled over his face soon 

 restored him. His sons had not escaped scot-free, and 

 Antoine was shot through the neck, and, falling, had 

 actually been half scalped by an Indian, whom the 

 timely arrival of La Bonte had caused to leave his work 

 unfinished. 



