112 THRILLING ADVENTURES. 



was ranked as a first-rate hunter. One evening he had left 

 the camp for meat, and was approaching a band of cows for 

 that purpose, crawling toward them along the bed of a dry 

 hollow in the prairie, when he observed them suddenly jump 

 toward him, and immediately afterward a score of mounted 

 Indians appeared, whom, by their dress, he at once knew to 

 be Pawnees and enemies. Thinking they might not discover 

 him, he crouched down in the ravine ; but a noise behind 

 caused him to turn his head, and he saw some five or six ad- 

 vancing up the bed of the dry creek, while several more were 

 riding on the bluffs. The cunning savages had cut off his 

 retreat to his mule, which he saw in the possession of one of 

 them. His presence of mind, however, did not desert him ; 

 and seeing at once that to remain where he was would be 

 like being caught in a trap, (as the Indians could advance to 

 the edge of the bluff and shoot him from above,) he made for 

 the open prairie, determined to sell his scalp dearly, and 

 make a " good fight." With a yell the Indians charged, but 

 halted when they saw the sturdy trapper deliberately kneel, 

 and, resting his rifle on the wiping-stick, take a steady aim 

 as they advanced. Full well the Pawnees knew to their cost, 

 that a mountaineer seldom pulls his trigger without sending 

 a bullet to the mark ; and, certain that one at least must fall, 

 they hesitated to make the onslaught. Steadily the white 

 retreated with his face to the foe, bringing the rifle to his 

 shoulder the instant that one advanced within shot, the In- 

 dians galloping round, firing the few guns they had among 

 them at long distances, but without effect. One young brave, 

 more daring than the rest, rode out of the crowd, and dashed 

 at the hunter, throwing himself, as he passed within a few 

 yards, from the saddle, and hanging over the opposite side 

 of his horse, thus presenting no other mark than his left foot. 

 As he crossed La Bonte, he discharged his bow from under 

 his horses's neck, and with such good aim, that the arrow, 

 whizzing through the air, struck the stock of the hunter's 



