LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 23 



the bluff, and, rising from the ground, shook and stretched 

 himself ; then gave one cautious look around, and imme- 

 diately proceeded to rejoin his companion. 



"Lave (get up), boy," said Killbuck, as soon as he 

 reached him. "Hyar's grainin' to do afore long and 

 sun's about down, I'm thinking." 



" Keady, old hos," answered La Bonte, giving himself a 

 shake. " What's the sign like, and how many's the lodge ?" 



" Fresh, and five, boy. How do you feel ? " 



" Half froze for hair. Wagh ! " 



" We'll have moon to-night, and as soon as she gets up, 

 we'll make 'em ' come.' " 



Killbuck then described to his companion what he had 

 Been, and detailed his plan. This was simply to wait until 

 the moon afforded sufficient light, then to approach the In- 

 dian camp and charge into it, " lift " as much " hair " as 

 they could, recover their animals, and start at once to the 

 Bayou and join the friendly Yutas, warning them of the 

 coming danger. The risk of falling in with either of the 

 Rapaho bands was hardly considered ; to avoid this they 

 trusted to their own foresight, and the legs of their mules, 

 should they encounter them. 



Between sundown and the rising of the moon they had 

 leisure to eat their supper, which, as before, consisted of 

 raw buffalo-liver ; after discussing which, Killbuck pro- 

 nounced himself " a heap " better, and ready for " huggin'." 



In the short interval of almost perfect darkness which 

 preceded the moonlight, and taking advantage of one of 

 the frequent squalls of wind which howl down the narrow 

 gorges of the mountains, these two determined men, with 

 footsteps noiseless as the panther's, crawled to the edge of 

 the little plateau of some hundred yards square, where the 

 five Indians in charge of the animals were seated round 

 the fire, perfectly unconscious of the vicinity of danger. 

 Several clumps of cedar-bushes dotted the small prairie, 

 and amongst these the well-hobbled mules and horses were 

 feeding. These animals, accustomed to the presence of 

 whites, would not notice the two hunters as they crept 

 from clump to clump nearer to the fire, and also served. 



