114> IN THE OLD WEST 



afterwards a score of mounted Indians appeared, 

 whom, by tlicir dress, he at once knew to be Paw- 

 nees and enemies. Thinking the}^ might not dis- 

 cover him, he crouched down in the ravine ; but a 

 lioise behind caused him to turn his head, and he 

 Baw some five or six advancing up the bed of the 

 dry creek, whilst several more were riding on the 

 bluffs. The cunning savages had cut off his re- 

 treat to his mule, which he saw in the possession 

 of one of them. His presence of mind, however, 

 did not desert him ; and seeing at once that to re- 

 main where he was would be like being caught in 

 a trap (as the Indians could advance to the edge 

 of the bluff and shoot him from above), he made 

 for the open prairie, determined at least to sell 

 his scalp dearly, and make a good fight. With a 

 yell the Indians charged, but halted when they 

 saw the sturdy trapper deliberately kneel, and, 

 resting his rifle on the wiping-stick, take a steady 

 aim as they advanced. Full well the Pawnees 

 know, to their cost, that a mountaineer seldom 

 pulls his trigger without sending a bullet to the 

 mark ; and, certain that one at least must fall, 

 they hesitated to make the onslaught. Steadily 

 the white retreated with his face to the foe, bring- 

 ing the rifle to his shoulder the instant that one 

 advanced within shot, the Indians galloping round, 

 firing the few guns they had amongst them at long 

 distances, but without effect. One young brave, 

 more daring than the rest, rode out of the crowd, 



