IN THE OLD WEST 41 



fix," or, " hyar's a nigger lifted hair that spree," 

 &c. — that a whizzing noise was heard in the air, 

 followed by a sharp but suppressed cry from one 

 of the hunters. 



In an instant the mountaineers had sprung 

 from their seats, and, seizing the ever-ready rifle, 

 each one had thrown himself on the ground a few 

 paces beyond the light of the fire (for it was now 

 nightfall) ; but not a word escaped them, as, ly- 

 ing close, with their keen eyes directed towards 

 the gloom of the thicket, near which the camp was 

 placed, with rifles cocked, they waited a renewal 

 of the attack. Presently the leader of the band, 

 no other than Killbuck, who had so lately been 

 recounting some of his experiences across the 

 plains, and than whom no more crafty woodsman 

 or more expert trapper ever tracked a deer or 

 grained a beaver-skin, raised his tall leather-clad 

 form, and, placing his hand over his mouth, made 

 the prairie ring with the wild protracted note 

 of an Indian war-whoop. This was instantly re- 

 peated from the direction where the animals be- 

 longing to the camp were grazing, under the 

 charge of the horse-guard. Three shrill whoops 

 answered the warning of the leader, and showed 

 that the guard was on the watch, and understocd 

 the signal. However, with the manifestation of 

 their presence, the Indians appeared to be satis- 

 fied ; or, what is more probable, the act of aggres- 

 sion had been committed by some daring young 



