124 IN THE OLD WEST 



Saying this, the trapper turned his back and 

 rejoined his companions ; whilst the Indian slowly 

 proceeded to his people, who, on learning the con- 

 temptuous way in which their threats had been 

 treated, testified their anger with loud yells ; and, 

 seeking whatever cover was afforded, commenced 

 a scattering volley upon the camp of the mountain- 

 eers. The latter reserved their fire, treating with 

 cool indifference the balls which began to rattle 

 about them ; but as the Indians, emboldened by this 

 apparent inaction, rushed for a closer position, 

 and exposed their bodies within a long range, half- 

 a-dozen rifles rang from the assailed, and two In- 

 dians fell dead, one or two more being wounded. 

 As yet, not one of the whites had been touched, 

 but several of the animals had received wounds 

 from the enemy's fire of balls and arrows. Indeed, 

 the Indians remained at too great a distance to 

 render the volleys from their crazy fusees anything 

 like effectual, and had to raise their pieces con- 

 siderably to make their bullets reach as far as 

 the camp. After three of their band had been 

 killed outright, and many more wounded, their 

 fire began to slacken, and they drew off to a 

 greater distance, evidently resolved to beat a re- 

 treat. Retiring to the bluff, they discharged their 

 pieces in a last volley, mounted their horses and 

 galloped off, carrying their wounded v/ith them. 

 This last volley, however, although intended as a 

 mere bravado, unfortunately proved fatal to one 



