LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 13 



(for by this time the rain poured in torrents), and went the 

 rounds of the picketed animals, cautioning the guard round 

 the camp to keep their " eyes skinned, for there would be 

 1 powder burned ' before morning." Then returning to the 

 fire, and kicking with his mocassined foot the slumbering 

 ashes, he squatted down before it, and thus soliloquised : 



" Thirty year have I been knocking about these moun- 

 tains from Missoura's head as far sothe as the starving Gila. 

 I've trapped ' a heap,' * and many a hundred pack of beaver 

 I've traded in my time, wagh ! What has come of it, and 

 whar's the dollars as ought to be in my possibles ? Whar's 

 the ind of this, I say ? Is a man to be hunted by Injuns 

 all his days ? Many's the time I've said I'd strike for Taos, 

 and trap a squaw, for this child's getting old, and feels like 

 wanting a woman's face about his lodge for the balance of 

 his days ; but when it comes to caching of the old traps, 

 I've the smallest kind of heart, I have. Certain, the old 

 State comes across my mind now and again, but who's 

 thar to remember my old body ? But them diggings gets 

 too overcrowded nowadays, and it's hard to fetch breath 

 amongst them big bands of corncrackers to Missoura. Be- 

 side, it goes against natur' to leave bufler-meat and feed on 

 hog ; and them white gals are too much like picturs, and a 

 deal too * fofarraw' (fanfaron). No ; darn the settlements, 

 I say. It won't shine, and whar's the dollars ? Hows'ever, 

 beaver's l bound to rise ; ' human natur' can't go on selling 

 beaver a dollar a pound ; no, no, that arn't a going to shine 

 much longer, I know. Them was the times when this child 

 first went to the mountains : six dollars the plew old 'un 

 or kitten. Wagh ! but it's bound to rise, I says agin ; and 

 hyar's a coon knows whar to lay his hand on a dozen pack 

 right handy, and then he'll take the Taos trail, wagh ! " 



Thus soliloquising, Killbuck knocked the ashes from his 

 pipe, and placed it in the gaily ornamented case that hung 

 round his neck, drew his knife -belt a couple of holes tighter, 

 resumed his pouch and powder-horn, took his rifle, which 



* An Indian is always " a heap " hungry or thirsty loves " a 

 heap "is "a heap" brave ; in fact, "a heap" is tantamount to 

 very much. 



