HUNTERS AND TRAPPERS OF THE FAR WEST. 87 



order to reach the Bayou by the earliest dawn ; and also, 

 that no more than four or five of the younger warriors would 

 remain with the captured animals. Still the hunter remained 

 in his position until the sun had disappeared behind the ridge ; 

 when, taking up their arms, and throwing their buffalo robes 

 on their shoulders, the war party of Rapahos, one behind the 

 other, with noiseless step, and silent as the dumb, moved 

 away from the camp. When the last dusky form had disap- 

 peared behind a point of rocks which shut in the northern 

 end of the little valley or ravine, Killbuck withdrew his head 

 from the screen, crawled backwards on his stomach from the 

 edge of the bluff, and, rising from the ground, shook and 

 stretched himself ; then gave one cautious look around, and 

 immediately proceeded to rejoin his companion. 



" Lave (get up,) boy," said Killbuck, as soon as he reached 

 him. "Hyar's grainin' to do afore long and sun about 

 down, I'm thinking." 



" Ready, old hos," answered La Bonte, giving himself a 

 shake. "What's the sign like, and how many's the lodge ?" 



" Fresh, and five, boy. How do you feel ?" 



" Half froze for hair ! Wagh !" 



" We'll have moon to-night, and as soon as she gets up, 

 we'll make 'em ' come.' ' 



Killbuck then described to his companion what he had 

 seen, and detailed his plan. This was simply to wait until 

 the moon afforded sufficient light, then approach the Indian 

 camp and charge into it, " lift" as much " hair" as they could, 

 recover their animals, and start at once to the Bayou and 

 join the friendly Yutas, warning them of the coming danger. 

 The risk of falling in with either of the Rapaho bands was 

 hardly considered ; to avoid this, they trusted to their own 

 foresight, and the legs of their mules, should they encounter 

 them. 



Between sundown and the rising of the moon, they had 

 leisure to eat their -supper, which, as before, consisted of raw 



