LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. \97 



dead ; but because the very mention of his name awoke 

 the strongest feelings within her breast, and taught her 

 how deep was the affection she had felt for him whose loss 

 and violent fate she now bewailed. 



As the waggons of the lone caravan roll on towards the 

 Platte, we return to the camp where La Bonte, Killbuck, 

 and the stranger, were sitting before the fire when last we 

 saw them. Killbuck loquitur : 



"The doin's of them Mormon fools can't be beat by 

 Spaniards, stranger. Their mummums and thummums 

 you speak of won't l shine ' whar Injuns are about ; nor 

 pint out a trail, whar nothin' crossed but rattler-snakes 

 since fust it snow'd on old Pike's Peak. If they pack 

 along them profits, as you tell of, who can make it rain 

 hump-ribs and marrow-guts when the crowd gets out of 

 the buffler range, they are ' some,' now, that's a fact. But 

 this child don't believe it. I'd laugh to get a sight on 

 these darned Mormonites, I would. They're ' no account,' 

 I guess ; and its the 'meanest' kind of action to haul their 

 women critters and their young 'uns to sech a starving 

 country as the Calif ornys." 



" They are not all Mormons in the crowd," said the 

 strange hunter ; " and there's one family amongst them 

 with some smartish boys and girls, I tell you. Their 

 name's Brand." 



La Bonte looked up from the lock of his rifle, which he 

 was cleaning but either didn't hear, or, hearing, didn't 

 heed, for he continued his work. 



" And they are going to part company," continued the 

 stranger, "and put out alone for Platte and the South 



" They'll lose their hair, I'm thinking," said Killbuck, 

 " if the Rapahos are out thar." 



" I hope not," continued the other, " for there's a girl 

 amongst them worth more than that." 



" Poor beaver ! " said La Bonte, looking up from his 

 work. "I'd hate to see any white gal in the hands of 

 Injun?, and of Rapahos worse than all. Where does she 

 come from, stranger 1 " 



