62 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 



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 

 suppressed 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 the pan to examine the priming. "What 

 brings a duck a-streakin' 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 apprised 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 over- 

 looked the camp at the distance of about six hundred yards ; 

 and crowning this in number some forty or more, com- 

 menced brandishing their spears and guns, and whooping 

 loud yells of defiance. The trappers had formed a little 

 breastwork of their packs, forming a semicircle, the chord 

 of which was made by the animals standing in a line, side 

 by side, closely picketed and hobbled. Behind this defence 

 stood the mountaineers, rifle in hand, and silent and deter- 

 mined. The Indians presently descended the bluff on foot, 



