44 IN THE OLD WEST 



in the confusion that ensued from the hurry of 

 the trappers to cover the perishable portions of 

 their equipment, contrived more than once to dart 

 off with a piece of meat, when their peculiar and 

 mournful chiding would be heard as they fought 

 for the possession of the ravished morsel. 



When everything was duly protected, the men 

 set to work to spread their beds ; those who had 

 not troubled themselves to erect a shelter, getting 

 under the lee of the piles of packs and saddles ; 

 whilst Killbuck, disdaining even such care of his 

 carcass, threw his buffalo robe on the bare ground, 

 declaring his intention to " take " what was com- 

 ing at all hazards, and '' anyhow." Selecting a 

 high spot, he drew his knife and proceeded to 

 cut drains round it, to prevent the water running 

 into him as he lay ; then taking a single robe, he 

 carefully spread it, placing under the end furthest 

 from the fire a large stone brought from the 

 creek. Having satisfactorily adjusted this pil- 

 low, he added another robe to the one already laid, 

 and placed over all a Navajo blanket, supposed 

 to be impervious to rain. Then he divested him- 

 self of his pouch and powder-horn, which, with 

 his rifle, he placed inside his bed, and quickly cov- 

 ered up lest the wet should reach them. Hav- 

 ing performed these operations to his satisfaction, 

 he lighted his pipe by the hissing embers of the 

 half-extinguished fire (for by this time the rain 

 poured in torrents), and went the rounds of the 



