164 THE STORY OP THE TRAPPER 



altogether likely these men recognised swampy water, 

 and were ascending the canon in search of a fresh 

 beaver-marsh; or they would not have continued pad 

 dling six miles above the Jefferson with daylight grow 

 ing plainer at every mile. First the mist rose like a 

 smoky exhalation from the river; then it flaunted 

 across the rampart walls in banners; then the far 

 mountain peaks took form against the sky, islands in a 

 sea of fog; then the cloud banks were floating in mid- 

 heaven blindingly white from a sun that painted each 

 canon wall in the depths of the water. 



How much farther would the canon lead? Should 

 they go higher up or not ? Was it wooded or clear 

 plain above the walls ? The man paused. What was 

 that noise? 



&quot; Like buffalo/ said Potts. 



&quot; Might be Blackfeet,&quot; answered Colter. 



No. What would Blackfeet be doing, riding at a 

 pace to make such thunder so close to a canon? It 

 was only a buffalo herd stampeding on the annual 

 southern run. Again Colter urged that the noise might 

 be from Indians. It would be safer for them to re 

 treat at once. At which Potts wanted to know if 

 Colter were afraid, using a stronger word &quot; coward.&quot; 



Afraid? Colter afraid? Colter who had remained 

 behind Lewis and Clark s men to trap alone in the 

 wilds for nearly two years, who had left Manuel Lisa s 

 brigade to go alone among the thieving Crows, whose 

 leadership had helped the Crows to defeat the Black- 

 feet? 



Anyway, it would now be as dangerous to go back 

 as forward. They plainly couldn t land here. Let them 

 go ahead where the walls seemed to slope down to 



