80 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 



eerhas as little compunction in taking the life of an Indian 

 woman, as he would have in sending his rifle-ball througli 

 the brain of a Crow or Blackfoot warrior. 



La Bonte now found himself without animals, and fairly 

 " afoot ; " consequently nothing remained for him but to 

 seek some of the trapping bands, and hire himself for the 

 hunt. Luckily for him, he soon fell in with Roubideau, 

 on his way to Uintah, and was supplied by him with -a 

 couple of animals ; and thus equipped, he started again 

 with a large band of trappers, .who were going to hunt on 

 the waters of Grand River and the Gila. Here they fell 

 in with another nation of Indians, from which branch out 

 the innumerable tribes inhabiting Northern Mexico and 

 part of California. They were in general friendly, but lost 

 no opportunity of stealing horses or any articles left lying 

 about the camp. On one occasion, the trappers being 

 camped- on a northern affluent of the Gila, a volley of 

 arrows was discharged amongst them, severely wounding 

 one or two of the party as they sat round the camp-fires. 

 The attack, however, was not renewed, and the next day 

 the camp was moved further down the stream, where 

 beaver was tolerably abundant. Before sundown a number 

 of Indians made their appearance, and, making signs of 

 peace, were admitted into the camp. 



The trappers were all sitting at their suppers over the 

 fires, the Indians looking gravely on, when it was remarked 

 that now would be a good opportunity to retaliate upon 

 them for the trouble their incessant attacks had entailed 

 upon the camp. The suggestion was highly approved of, 

 and instantly acted upon. Springing to their feet, the 

 trappers seized their rifles, and commenced the slaughter. 

 The Indians, panic-struck, fled without resistance, and 

 numbers fell before the death-dealing rifles of the moun- 

 taineers. A chief, who had been sitting on a rock near the 

 fire where the leader of the trappers sat, had been singled 

 out by the latter as the first mark for his rifle. 



Placing the muzzle to his heart, he pulled the trigger, 

 but the Indian, with extraordinary tenacity of life, rose 

 and grappled with liis assailant. The white was a tall 



