116 LIFE IN THE FAE WEST. 



caught fire, they would not be able to extinguish it ; be- 

 sides which, in the attempt, they would so expose them- 

 selves that they would be picked off by the Indians with- 

 out difficulty. As it was, the fire came roaring before the 

 wind with the speed of a race-horse, and, spreading from the 

 bottom, licked the mountain-sides, the dry grass burning 

 like tinder. Huge volumes of stifling smoke rolled before 

 it, and in a very few minutes the trappers were hastily 

 mounting their animals, driving the packed ones before 

 them. The dense clouds of smoke concealed everything 

 from their view, and, to avoid this, they broke from the 

 creek and galloped up the sides of the canon on to the more 

 level plateau. As they attained this, a band of mounted 

 Indians charged them. One, waving a red blanket, dashed 

 through the cavallada, and was instantly followed by all 

 the loose animals of the trappers, the rest of the Indians 

 pursuing with loud shouts. So sudden was the charge, 

 that the whites had not power to prevent the stampede. 

 Old Bill, as usual, led his pack-mules by the lariat ; but 

 the animals, mad with terror at the shouts of the Indians, 

 broke from him, nearly pulling him out of his seat at the 

 same time. To cover the retreat of the others with their 

 prey, a band of mounted Indians now appeared, threaten- 

 ing an attack in front, whilst their first assailants, rushing 

 from the bottom, atf least a hundred strong, assaulted in 

 rear. " Do 'ee hyar, boys ? " shouted old Bill, " break, or 

 you'll go under. This child's goin' to cache ! " and saying 

 the word, off he went. Sauve qui pent was the order of 

 the day, and not a moment too soon, for overwhelming 

 numbers were charging upon them, and the mountain re- 

 sounded with savage yells. La Boiite and Killbuck stuck 

 together : they saw old Bill, bending over his saddle, dive 

 right into the cloud of smoke, and apparently make for the 

 creek bottom their other companions scattering each on 

 his own hook, and saw no more of them for many a month ; 

 and thus was one of the most daring and successful bands 

 broken up that ever trapped in the mountains of the Far 

 West. 



It is painful to follow the steps of the poor fellows who, 



