106 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 



boned Nez-perce pony, his own particular saddle-horse, 

 who in dogged temper and iron hardiness, was a worthy 

 companion of his self-willed master. This beast, as Bill 

 seized his apishamore to lay upon its galled back, would 

 express displeasure by humping its back and shaking its 

 withers with a wincing motion, that always excited the ire 

 of the old trapper ; and no sooner had he laid the apisha- 

 more smoothly on the chafed skin, than a wriggle of the 

 animal shook it off. 



"Do 'ee hyar now, you darned crittur?" he would 

 whine out, "can't 'ee keep quiet your old fleece now? 

 Isn't this old coon putting out to save 'ee from the darned 

 Injuns now, do 'ee hyar?" And then, continuing his 

 work and taking no notice of his comrades, who stood by 

 bantering the eccentric old trapper, he would soliloquise 

 "Do 'ee hyar now? This niggur sees sign ahead he 

 does ; he'll be afoot afore long, if he don't keep his eye 

 skinned he will. Injuns is all about, they ar: Black- 

 foot at that. Can't come round this child they can't, 

 wagh!" And at last, his pack-animals securely tied to 

 the tail of his horse, he would mount, and throwing the 

 rifle across the horn of his saddle, and without noticing his 

 companions, would drive the jingling spurs into his horse's 

 gaunt sides, and muttering, " Can't come round this child 

 they can't ! " would ride away ; and nothing more would 

 be seen or heard of him perhaps for months, when they 

 would not unfrequently, themselves bereft of animals in 

 the scrape he had foreseen, find him located in some 

 solitary valley, in his lonely camp, with his animals 

 securely picketed around, and his peltries safe. 



However, if he took it into his head to keep company 

 with a party, all felt perfectly secure under his charge. 

 His iron frame defied fatigue, and at night, his love for 

 himself and his own animals was sufficient guarantee that 

 the camp would be well guarded. As he rode ahead, his 

 spurs jingling and thumping the sides of his old horse at 

 every step, he managed, with admirable dexterity, to take 

 advantage of the best line of country to follow avoiding 

 the gullies and canons and broken ground, which would 



