IN THE OLD WEST 177 



as soon as they had trapped to their heads and 

 again descended them. The larger party were 

 the first to reach the rendezvous, and camped on 

 the banks of the main stream to await the arrival 

 of La Bonte. 



The morning after their return, they had just 

 risen from their blankets, and were lazily stretch- 

 ing themselves before the fire, when a volley of 

 fireai-ms rattled from the bank of the creek, and 

 two of their number fell dead to the ground, whilst 

 at the same moment the deafening j-ells of Indians 

 broke upon the ears of the frightened squaws. 

 Cross-Eagle seized his rifle, and, though severely 

 wounded, rushed to the cover of a hollow tree 

 which stood near, and crawling into it, defended 

 himself the whole day with the greatest obstinacy, 

 killing five Indians outright, and wounding sev- 

 eral more. Unable to drive the gallant trapper 

 from his retreat, the savages took advantage of 

 a favorable wind which suddenly sprang up, and 

 fired the long dry grass surrounding the tree. 

 The rotten log catching fire, at length compelled 

 the hunter to leave his retreat. Clubbing his 

 rifle, he charged amongst the Indians, and fell at 

 last, pierced through and through with wounds, 

 but not until two more of his assailants had fallen 

 by his hand. 



The two squaws were carried off', and one was 

 sold shortly afterwards to some white men at the 

 trading ports ^ n the Platte ; but La Bonte never 



