HUNTERS AND TRAPPERS OF THE FAR WEST. 91 



still alive, a pistol-ball having passed through his body, with- 

 out touching a vital spot. 



" Gut-shot is this niggur," exclaimed the trapper; "them 

 pistols never throws 'em in their tracks ;" and thrusting his 

 knife, for mercy's sake, into the bosom of the Indian, he like- 

 wise tore the scalp-lock from his head, and placed it with the 

 other. 



La Bonte had received two trivial wounds, and Killbuck 

 till now had been walking about with an arrow sticking in 

 the fleshy part of his thigh, the point being perceptible near 

 the surface of the other side. To free his leg from this painful 

 encumbrance, he thrust the weapon completely through, and 

 then cutting off the arrow-head below the barb, he drew it 

 out, the blood flowing freely from the wound, A tourniquet 

 of buckskin soon stopped this, and, heedless of the pain, the 

 hardy mountaineer sought for his old mule, and quickly 

 brought it to the fire, (which La Bonte had rekindled,) lavish- 

 ing many a caress, and most comical terms of endearment, 

 upon the faithful companion of his wanderings. They found 

 all the animals safe and well ; and after eating heartily of 

 some venison which the Indians had been cooking at the mo- 

 ment of the attack, made instant preparation to quit the 

 scene of their exploit, not wishing to trust to the chance of 

 the Rapahos being too frightened to again molest them. 



Having no saddles, they secured buffalo robes on the backs 

 of two mules Killbuck, of course, riding his own and lost 

 no time in proceeding on their way. They followed the 

 course of the Indians up the stream, and found that it kept 

 the canons and gorges of the mountains, where the road was 

 better ; but it was with no little difficulty that they made 

 their way, the ground being much broken and covered with 

 rocks. Killbuck's wound became very painful, and his leg 

 stiffened and swelled distressingly, but he still pushed on all 

 night, and at daybreak, recognizing their position, he left the 

 Indian trail, and followed a little creek which rose in a moun- 



