192 IN THE OLD WEST 



vering in their attacks on the white hunters who 

 passed through their country, and consequently 

 the trappers were compelled to roam about in 

 larger bands for mutual protection, which, al- 

 though it made them less liable to open attack, 

 yet rendered it more difficult for them to pursue 

 their calling without being discovered ; for, where 

 one or two men might pass unseen, the broad trail 

 of a large party, with its animals, was not likely 

 to escape the sharp eyes of the cunning savages. 



They had scarcely encamped when the old leader, 

 who had sallied out a short distance from camp 

 to reconnoiter the neighborhood, returned with 

 an Indian moccasin in his hand, and informed 

 his companions that its late owner and others 

 were about. 



" Do 'ee hyar, now, boys.? thar's Injuns knock- 

 ing round, and Blackfoot at that ; but thar's 

 plenty of beaver too, and this child means trap- 

 ping anyhow." 



His companions were anxious to leave such dan- 

 gerous vicinity; but the old fellow, contrary to 

 his usual caution, determined to remain where he 

 was — saying that there were Indians all over the 

 country, for that matter; and as they had deter- 

 mined to hunt here, he had made up his mind to 

 ■ — which was conclusive, and all agreed to stop 

 where they were, in spite of the Indians. La 

 Bonte killed a couple of mountain sheep close to 

 camp, and they feasted rarely on the fat mutton 



