74 THRILLING ADVENTURES. 



naked breast, striking him full, and at the same time pulling 

 the trigger, actually driving the Indian two paces backward 

 with the shock, when he fell in a heap, and dead. But at the 

 same moment, an Indian, sweeping his club round his head, 

 brought it with fatal force down upon Killbuck ; for a moment 

 the hunter staggered, threw out his arms wildly into the air, 

 and fell headlong to the ground. 



" Owgh ! owgh ! owgh-h-h !" cried the Rapaho, and strid- 

 ing over the prostrate body, he seized with his left hand the 

 middle lock of the trapper's long hair, and drew his knife 

 round the head to separate the scalp from the skull. As he 

 bent over his work, the trapper named La Bonte saw his 

 companion's peril, rushed quick as thought at the Indian, and 

 buried his knife to the hilt between his shoulders. With a 

 gasping shudder the Rapaho fell dead upon the prostrate 

 body of his foe. 



The attack, hoAvever, lasted but a few seconds. The dash 

 at the animals had been entirely successful, and, driving them 

 before them, with loud cries, the Indians disappeared in the 

 darkness. Without waiting for daylight, two of the three 

 trappers who alone were to be seen, and who had been within 

 the shanties at the time of attack, without a moment's delay 

 commenced packing two horses, which having been fastened 

 to the shanties had escaped the Indians, and placing their squaws 

 upon them, showering curses and imprecations upon their 

 enemies, left the camp, fearful of another onset, and resolved 

 to retreat and cache themselves until the danger was over. 

 Not so La Bonte, who, stout and true, had done his best in 

 the fight and now sought the body of his old comrade, from 

 which, before he could examine the wounds, he had first to 

 remove the corpse of the Indian he had slain. Killbuck stil] 

 breathed. He had been stunned ; but, revived by the cold 

 rain beating upon his face, he soon opened his eyes, and 

 recognised his trusty friend, who, sitting down, lifted his head 

 into his lap, and wiped away the blood that streamed from the 



