THE many exploits and mischances of La Bonte, the 

 indomitable companion of old Killbuck, while on his first 

 hunting expedition forms an interesting portion of Mr. Rux- 

 ton's narrative. La Bonte was a native of Missouri. Being 

 unfortunate in love, and anxious to quit the scene of his 

 mishap, he made the acquaintance of the hunters, who visited 

 St. Louis, and determined to join them in their mode of life. 

 Equipping himself with gun, ammunition, traps, mules, and 

 blankets, he went to Independence, the starting place for 

 hunters and emigrants. The band set out upon the prairie 

 about the latter end of May. Its adventures we give in the 

 words of Ruxton. 



Camping the first night on " Black Jack," our mountaineers 

 here cut each man a spare hickory wiping-stick for his rifle ; 

 and La Bonte, who was the only greenhorn of the party, wit- 

 nessed a savage ebullition of rage on the part of one of his 

 companions, exhibiting the perfect unrestraint which these 

 men impose upon their passions, and the barbarous anger 

 which the slightest opposition to their will excites. One of 

 the trappers, on arriving at the camping-place, dismounted 

 from his horse, and after divesting it of its saddle, endeavored 

 to lead his mule by the rope up to the spot where he wished 

 to deposit his pack. Mule-like, however, the more he pulled 

 the more stubbornly she remained in her tracks, planting her 

 fore-legs firmly, and stretching out her neck with provoking 

 obstinacy. Truth to tell, it does require the temper of a 

 thousand Jobs to manage a mule ; and in no case does the 

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