IN THE OLD WEST 121 



(priming. " What brings a duck a-streakin' it 

 down stream if humans ain't behint her? and who's 

 thar in these diggins but Injuns, and the worst 

 kind? and we'd better push to camp, I'm think- 

 ing, if we mean to save our hair." 



" Sign " sufficient, indeed, it was to all the 

 trappers, who, on being apprised of it, instantly 

 drove in their animals and picketed them ; and 

 hardly had they done so when a band of Indians 

 made their appearance on the banks of the creek, 

 from whence they galloped to the bluff which over- 

 looked the camp at the distance of about six hun- 

 dred yards ; and crowning this in number some 

 forty or more, commenced brandishing their spears 

 and guns, and whooping loud yells of defiance. 

 The trappers had formed a little breastwork of 

 their packs, forming a semicircle, the chord of 

 which was made by the animals standing in a line, 

 side by side, closely picketed and hobbled. Behind 

 this defense stood the mountaineers, rifle in hand, 

 and silent and determined. The Indians presently 

 descended the bluff on foot, leaving their animals 

 in charge of a few of the party, and, scattering, 

 advanced, under cover of the sage-bushes which 

 dotted the bottom, to about two hundred yards 

 of the whites. Then a chief advanced before the 

 rest, and made the sign for a talk with the Long- 

 knives, which led to a consultation amongst the 

 latter as to the policy of acceding to it. They 

 were in doubts as to the nation these Indians be- 



