116 THRILLING ADVENTURES. 



and as, on further examination, it appeared that two or three 

 lodges of that animal were not far distant, it was determined 

 to remain here a day or two and set their traps. 



Gonneville, old Luke, and La Bonte had started up the 

 creek, and were carefully examining the banks for " sign," 

 when the former, who was in front, suddenly paused, and 

 looking intently up the stream, held up his hand to his 

 companions to signal them to stop. 



Luke and La Bonte both followed the direction of the 

 trapper's intent and fixed gaze. The former uttered in a sup- 

 pressed tone the expressive exclamation, "Wagh!" the 

 latter saw nothing but a wood-duck swimming swiftly down 

 the stream, followed by her downy progeny. 



Gonneville turned his head, and extending his arm twice 

 with a forward motion up the creek, whispered "Les 

 sauvages." 



"Injuns, sure, and Sioux at that," answered Luke. 



Still La Bonte looked, but nothing met his view but the 

 duck with her brood, now rapidly approaching ; and as he 

 gazed, the bird suddenly took wing, and flapping on the water, 

 flew a short distance down the stream, and once more settled 

 on it. 



" Injuns ?" he asked ; " where are they ?" 



" Whar ?" repeated old Luke, striking the flint of his rifle, 

 and opening th^pan to examine the priming. "What brings 

 a duck a-streaking it down stream if humans ain't behint her ? 

 and who's thar in these diggins but Injuns, and the worst 

 kind ? and we'd better push to camp, I'm thinking, if we mean 

 to save our hair." 



" Sign" sufficient indeed, it was to all the trappers, who, 

 on being apprized of it, instantly drove in their animals, and 

 picketed them ; and hardly had they done so when a band of 

 Indians made their appearance on the banks of the creek, 

 from whence they galloped to the bluff which overlooked the 

 camp at the distance of about six hundred yards ; and crown- 



