LIFE IX THE FAR WEST 281) 



Awe-struck, the trappers approached the body, and 

 found it frozen hard as stone, in which state it had pro- 

 bably lain there for many days or weeks. A jagged 

 rent in the breast of his leather coat, and dark stains 

 about it, showed he had received a wound before his 

 death ; but it was impossible to say, whether to his 

 hurt, or to sickness, or to the natural decay of age, 

 was to be attributed the wretched and solitary end of 

 poor Bill Williams. 



A friendly bullet cut short the few remaining hours 

 of the trapper's faithful steed ; and burying, as well as 

 they were able, the body of the old mountaineer, the 

 hunters next day left him in his lonely grave, in a spot 

 so wild and remote, that it was doubtful whether even 

 hungry wolves would discover and disinter his attenu- 

 ated corpse. 



THE END 



PRINTED BY WILLIAA1 BLACKWOOD AXD SONS, EDINBURGH. 



