288 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST 



tary horse standing motionless in the centre of the 

 prairie. Drawing near, they found it to be an old 

 grizzled mustang, or Indian pony, with cropped ears 

 and ragged tail, (well picked by hungry mules,) stand- 

 ing doubled up with cold, and at the very last gasp 

 from extreme old age and weakness. Its bones were 

 nearly through the stiffened skin, the legs of the animal 

 were gathered under it ; whilst its forlorn-looking head 

 and stretched-out neck hung listlessly downwards, 

 almost overbalancing its tottering body. The glazed 

 and sunken eye the protruding and froth-covered 

 tongue the heaving flank and quivering tail declared 

 its race was run ; and the driving sleet and snow, and 

 penetrating winter blast, scarce made impression upon 

 its callous and worn-out frame. 



One of the band of mountaineers was Marcellin, and 

 a single look at the miserable beast was sufficient for 

 him to recognise the once renowned Nezperce steed of 

 old Bill Williams. That the owner himself was not far 

 distant he felt certain ; and, searching carefully around, 

 the hunters presently came upon an old camp, before 

 which lay, protruding from the snow, the blackened 

 remains of pine logs. Before these, which had been the 

 fire, and leaning with his back against a pine trunk, and 

 his legs crossed under him, half covered with SIIQW, 

 reclined the figure of the old mountaineer, his snow- 

 capped head bent over his breast. His well-known* 

 hunting-coat of fringed elk-skin hung stiff and weather- 

 stained about him ; and his rifle, packs, and traps were 

 strewed around. 



