LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 105 



was addressing, always seeming to be thinking of something 

 else than the subject of his discourse, speaking in a whin- 

 ing, thin, cracked voice, and in a tone that left the hearer 

 in doubt whether he was laughing or crying. On the 

 present occasion he had joined this band, and naturally 

 assumed the leadership (for Bill ever refused to go in 

 harness), in opposition to his usual practice, which was to 

 hunt alone. His character was well known. Acquainted 

 with every inch of the Far West, and with all the Indian 

 tribes who inhabited it, he never failed to outwit his Red 

 enemies, and generally made his appearance at the rendez- 

 vous, from his solitary expeditions, with galore of beaver, 

 when numerous bands of trappers dropped in on foot, 

 having been despoiled of their packs and animals by the 

 very Indians through the midst of whom old Williams had 

 contrived to pass unseen and unmolested. On occasions 

 when he had been in company with others, and attacked 

 by Indians, Bill invariably fought manfully, and with all 

 the coolness that perfect indifference to death, or danger 

 could give, but always "on his own hook." His rifle 

 cracked away merrily, and never spoke in vain ; and in a 

 charge if ever it came to that his keen-edged butcher- 

 knife tickled the fleece of many a Blackfoot. But, at the 

 same time, if he saw that discretion was the better part of 

 valour, and affairs wore so cloudy an aspect as to render 

 retreat advisable, he would first express his opinion in curt 

 terms, and decisively, and, charging up his rifle, would take 

 himself off and "cache"* so effectually that to search for 

 him was utterly useless. Thus, when with a large party 

 of trappers, when anything occurred which gave him a hint 

 that trouble was coming, or more Indians were about than 

 he considered good for his animals, Bill was wont to 

 exclaim 



" Do 'ee hyar now, boys, thar's sign about ? this hos feels 

 like caching ; " and without more words, and stoically deaf 

 to all remonstrances, he would forthwith proceed to pack 

 his animals, talking the while to an old crop-eared raw- 



* Hide from cacher. 



