196 IN THE OLD WEST 



the leisure of the imperturbable old trapper, be- 

 fore he was eased of his annoying companion. 



Old Bill expressed no surprise or grief when in- 

 formed of the fate of poor Batiste. He said it 

 was "just like greenhorns, runnin' into them 

 cussed Blackfoot " ; and observed that the defunct 

 trapper, being only a Vide Poche,* was " no ac- 

 count anyhow." Presently Killbuck and La, 

 Bonte galloped into camp, with another alarm 

 of Indians. They had also been attacked sud- 

 denly by a band of Blackfeet, but, being in a 

 more open country, had got clear off, after killing 

 two of their assailants, whose scalps hung at the 

 horns of their saddles. They had been in a dif- 

 ferent direction to that in which Markhead and 

 his companion had proceeded, and from the signs 

 they had observed, expressed their belief that the 

 country was alive with Indians. Neither of these 

 men had been wounded. Presently the two Cana- 

 dians made their appearance on the bluff, gallop- 

 ing with might and main to camp, and shouting 

 " Indians ! Indians ! " as they came. All being 

 assembled and a council held, it was determined 

 to abandon the camp and neighborhood immedi- 

 ately. Old Bill was already packing his animals, 

 and as he pounded the saddle down on the withers 

 of his old Rosinante, he muttered — " Do 'ee hyar, 

 now? this coon '11 cache, he will." So mounting 

 his horse, and leading his pack-mule by a lariat, 

 * Carondelet Creole. (Ed.) 



