76 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 



rope, bound them to a tree, and then proceeded to scalp 

 the dead bodies. Whilst they were engaged in this work, 

 an old Indian, withered and grisly, and hardly bigger than 

 an ape, suddenly emerged from a rock, holding in his left 

 hand a bow and a handful of arrows, whilst one was already 

 drawn to the head. Running towards them, and almost 

 before the hunters were aware of his presence, he discharged 

 an arrow at a few yards' distance, which buried itself in 

 the ground not a foot from La Bonte's head as he bent 

 over the body of the Indian he was scalping ; and hardly 

 had the whiz ceased, when whirr flew another, striking him 

 in his right shoulder. Before the Indian could fit a third 

 arrow to his bow, La Bonte sprang upon him, seized him 

 by the middle, and spinning his pigmy form round his 

 head as easily as he would have twirled a tomahawk, he 

 threw him with tremendous force on the ground at the feet 

 of one of his companions, who, stooping down, coolly thrust 

 his knife into the Indian's breast, and quickly tore off his 

 scalp. 



The slaughter over, without casting an eye to the captive 

 squaws, the trappers proceeded to search the village for 

 food, of which they stood much in need. Nothing, how- 

 ever, was found but a few bags of dried ants, which, after 

 eating voraciously of, but with wry mouths, they threw 

 aside, saying the food was worse than " poor bull." They 

 found, however, the animals they had been robbed of, and 

 two more besides wretched half-starved creatures ; and 

 on these mounting their captives, they hurried away on 

 their journey back to their companions, the distance being 

 computed at three days' travel from their present position. 

 However, they thought, by taking a more direct course, 

 they might find better pasture for their animals, and 

 water, besides saving at least half a day by the short cut. 

 To their cost, they proved the old saying, that " a short cut 

 is always a long road," as will be presently shown. 



It has been said that from the south-western extremity 

 of the Great Salt Lake a vast desert extends for hundreds 

 of miles, unbroken by the slightest vegetation, destitute of 

 game and water, and presenting a cheerless expanse of 



