200 IN THE OLD WEST 



tant from each other, flat on their faces, near the 

 edge of the thicket, their rifles raised before them, 

 and the barrels resting in the forks of convenient 

 bushes. From their place of concealment to the 

 position of the Indians — who, however, were 

 scattered here and there, wherever a rock afl*orded 

 them cover — was a distance of about 150 yards, 

 or within fair rifle-shot. The trappers were 

 obliged to divide their force, since both sides of 

 the creek were occupied ; but such was the nature 

 of the ground, and the excellent cover afforded by 

 the rocks and bowlders, and clumps of dwarf pine 

 and hemlock, that not a hand's-breadth of an In- 

 dian's body had yet been seen. Nearly opposite 

 La Bonte, a shelving glade in the mountain-side 

 ended in an abrupt precipice, and at the very edge, 

 and almost toppling over it, were several bowlders, 

 just of sufficient size to afford cover to a man's 

 body. As this bluff overlooked the trappers' 

 position, it was occupied by the Indians, and every 

 rock covered an assailant. At one point, just 

 over where La Bonte and Killbuck were lying, two 

 bowlders lay together, with just sufficient interval 

 to admit a rifle-barrel between them, and from 

 this breastwork an Indian kept up a most annoy- 

 ing fire. All his shots fell in dangerous propin- 

 quity to one or other of the trappers, and already 

 Killbuck had been grazed by one better directed 

 than the others. La Bonte watched for some 

 time in vain for a chance to answer this persever- 



