IN THE OLD WEST 199 



merely muttering, " Do 'ee hjar now ? thar's 

 trouble comin'." 



The two hunters returned after sundown with 

 a black-tailed deer; and after eating the better 

 part of the meat, and setting a guard, the party 

 were glad to roll in their blankets and enjoy the 

 rest they so much needed. They were undisturbed 

 during the night ; but at dawn of day the sleepers 

 were roused by a hundred fierce yells, from the 

 mountains enclosing the creek on which they had 

 encamped. The yells were instantly followed by 

 a ringing volley, the bullets thudding into the 

 trees, and cutting the branches near them, but 

 without causing any mischief. Old Bill rose from 

 his blanket and shook himself, and exclaimed 

 " Wagh ! " as at that moment a ball plumped into 

 the fire over which he was standing, and knocked 

 the ashes about in a cloud. All the mountaineers 

 seized their rifles and sprang to cover; but as yet 

 it was not sufficiently light to show them their 

 enemy, the bright flashes from the guns alone in- 

 dicating their position. As morning dawned, 

 however, they saw that both sides of the canon 

 were occupied by the Indians ; and, from the firing, 

 judged there must be at least a hundred warriors 

 engaged in the attack. Not a shot had yet been 

 fired by the trappers, but as the light increased, 

 they eagerly watched for an Indian to expose him- 

 self, and offer a mark to their trusty rifles. La 

 Bonte, Killbuck, and old Bill, lay a few yards dis-- 



