56 . IN THE OLD WEST 



when the smoke would at once have betrayed the 

 presence of enemies. A light was struck, however, 

 for their pipes; and after enjoying this true con- 

 solation for some time, they laid a blanket on the 

 ground, and, side by side, soon fell asleep. 



If Killbuck had been a prophet, or the most 

 prescient of medicine-men, he could not have more 

 exactly predicted the movements in the Indian 

 camp. About three hours before sundown he rose 

 and shook himself, which movement was sufficient 

 to awaken his companion. Telling La Bonte to 

 lie down again and rest, he gave him to understand 

 that he was about to reconnoiter the enemy's 

 camp ; and after carefully examining his rifle, and 

 drawing his knife-belt a hole or two tighter, he 

 proceeded on his dangerous errand. Ascending 

 the same bluff whence he had first discovered the 

 Indian camp, he glanced rapidly around, and made 

 himself master of the features of the ground 

 choosing a ravine by which he might approach the 

 camp more closely, and without danger of being 

 discovered. This was soon effected; and in half 

 an hour the trapper was lying on his belly on the 

 summit of a pine-covered bluff which overlooked 

 the Indians within easy rifle-shot, and so perfectly 

 concealed by the low spreading branches of the 

 cedar and arbor-vitae, that not a particle of his 

 person could be detected ; unless, indeed, his sharp 

 twinkling gray eye contrasted too strongly with 

 the green boughs that covered the rest of his face. 



