330 IN THE OLD WEST 



mad, and their hearts were big, and nothing in 

 the shape of white skin would live before them. 



" Wagh ! " exclaimed Killbuck, " the Rapahos 

 know me, I'm thinking; and small gain they've 

 made against this child. I've knowed the time 

 when my gun-cover couldn't hold more of their 

 scalps." 



The Indian was provided with some powder, of 

 which he stood in need ; and after gorging as much 

 meat as his capacious stomach would hold, he 

 left the camp, and started into the mountain. 



The next day our hunters started on their jour- 

 ney down the river, traveling leisurely, and stop- 

 ping wherever good grass presented itself. One 

 morning they suddenly struck a wheel-trail, which 

 left the creek-banks and pursued a course at right 

 angles to it, in the direction of the divide. Kill- 

 buck pronounced it but a few hours old, and that 

 of three wagons drawn by oxen. 



" Wagh ! " he exclaimed, " if them poor devils 

 of Mormonites ain't goiyig head first into the 

 Rapaho trap. They'll be gone beaver afore 

 long." 



*' Aye," said the strange hunter, *' these are the 

 wagons belonging to old Brand, and he has started 

 alone for Laramie. I hope nothing will happen 

 to them." 



"Brand!" muttered La Bonte. "I knowed 

 that name mighty well once, years agone; and 

 should hate the worst kind that mischief happened 



