142 IN THE OLD WEST 



arrow at a few yards' distance, which buried it- 

 self in the ground not a foot from La Bonte's 

 head as he bent over the body of the Indian he was 

 scalping; and hardly had the whiz ceased, when 

 whirr flew another, striking him in his right shoul- 

 der. Before the Indian could fit a third arrow to 

 his bow, La Bonte sprang upon him, seized him 

 by the middle, and spinning his pigmy form round 

 his head as easily as he would have twirled a toma- 

 hawk, he threw him with tremendous force on the 

 ground at the feet of one of his companions, who, 

 stooping down, coolly thrust his knife into the 

 Indian's breast, and quickly tore off his scalp. 



The slaughter over, without casting an eye to 

 the captive squaws, the trappers proceeded to 

 search the village for food, of which they stood 

 much in need. Nothing, however, was found but 

 a few bags of dried ants, which, after eating 

 voraciously of, but with wry mouths, they threw 

 aside, saying the food was worse than " poor 

 (bull." They found, however, the animals they 

 had been robbed of, and two more besides — 

 wretched half-starved creatures ; and on these 

 mounting their captives, they hurried away on 

 their journey back to their companions, the dis- 

 tance being computed at three days' travel from 

 their present position. However, they thought, 

 by taking a more direct course, they might find 

 better pasture for their animals, and water, be- 

 sides saving at least half a day by the short cut. 



