IN THE OLD WEST 



They were now devouring their horses and 

 mules at the rate of one every alternate day ; for 

 so poor were the animals that one scarcely fur- 

 nished an ample meal for the thirteen hungry 

 hunters. They were once more reduced to the 

 animals they rode on ; and after a fast of twenty- 

 four hours' duration, were debating on the pro- 

 priety of drawing lots as to whose Rosinante 

 should fill the kettle, when some Indians suddenly 

 appeared making signs of peace upon the bluff, 

 and indicating a disposition to enter the camp for 

 the purpose of trading. Being invited to ap- 

 proach, they offered to trade a few dressed elk- 

 skins ; but being asked for meat, they said that 

 their village was a long way off, and they had 

 nothing with them but a small portion of some 

 game they had lately killed. When requested to 

 produce this they hesitated; but the trappers 

 looking hungry and angry at the same moment, an 

 old Indian drew from under his blanket several 

 flaps of portable dried meat, which he declared 

 was bear's. It was but a small ration amongst 

 so many; but, being divided, was quickly laid 

 upon the fire to broil. The meat was stringy, 

 and of whitish color, altogether unlike any 

 flesh the trappers had before eaten. Killbuck was 

 the first to discover this. He had been quietly 

 masticating the last mouthful of his portion, the 

 stringiness of which required more than usual 

 dental exertion, when the novelty of the flavor 



