338 IN THE OLD WEST 



saw the wild-looking mountaineer rush to her 

 rescue, and save her from the savage by his timely 

 blow. Her arms were still pinned by the lasso, 

 which prevented her from rising to her feet ; and La 

 Bonte was the first to run to aid her, as soon as 

 the fight was fairly over. He jumped from his 

 horse, cut the skin-rope which bound her, raised 

 her from the ground, and, upon her turning up 

 her face to thank him, beheld his never-to-be-for- 

 gotten Mary Brand ; whilst she, hardly believing 

 her senses, recognized in her deliverer her former 

 lover, and still well-beloved La Bonte. 



** What, Mary! can it be you? " he asked, look- 

 ing intently upon the trembling woman. 



" La Bonte, you don't forget me ! " she answered, 

 and threw herself sobbing into the arms of the 

 sturdy mountaineer. 



There we will leave her for the present, and help 

 Killbuck and his companions to examine the killed 

 and wounded. Of the former, five Indians and 

 two whites lay dead, the latter grandchildren of 

 old Brand, fine lads of fourteen or fifteen, who had 

 fought with the greatest bravery, and lay pierced 

 with arrows and lance-wounds. Old Brand had 

 received a sore buffet, but a hatful of cold water 

 from the creek sprinkled over his face soon re- 

 stored him. His sons had not escaped scot-free, 

 and Antoine was shot through the neck, and, fall- 

 ing, had actually been half-scalped by an Indian, 



