IN THE OLD WEST 193 



that night, and were unmolested by marauding 

 Blackfeet. 



The next morning, leaving two of their num- 

 ber in camp, they started in parties of two, to 

 hunt for beaver-sign and set their traps. Mark- 

 head paired with one Batiste, Killbuck and La 

 Bonte formed another couple. Meek and Marcelline 

 another; two Canadians trapped together, and 

 Bill Williams and another remained to guard the 

 camp : but this last, leaving Bill mending his moc- 

 casins, started off to kill a mountain sheep, a band 

 of which animals was visible. 



Markhead and his companion, the first couple 

 on the list, followed a creek, which entered that 

 on which they had encamped, about ten miles dis- 

 tant. Beaver sign was abundant, and they had 

 set eight traps, when Markhead came suddenly 

 upon fresh Indian sign, where squaws had passed 

 through the shrubbery on the banks of the stream 

 to procure water, as he knew from observing a 

 large stone placed by them in the stream, on 

 which to stand to enable them to dip their kettles 

 in the deepest water. Beckoning to his compan- 

 ion to follow, and cocking his rifle, he carefully 

 pushed aside the bushes, and noiselessly proceeded 

 up the bank, when, creeping on hands and knees, 

 he gained the top, and, looking from his hiding- 

 place, descried three Indian huts standing on a 

 little plateau near the creek. Smoke curled from 

 the roofs of branches, but the skin doors were care- 



