IN THE OLD WEST 273 



La Bonte understood him. Squatting on the 

 ground he planted his wiping-stick firmly at the 

 extent of his left arm, and resting the long barrel 

 of his rifle on his left hand, which was supported 

 by the stick, he took a steady aim and fired. The 

 Indian, throwing out his arms, staggered and let 

 fall his bow — tried hard to recover himself, and 

 then fell forward on his face. The others, seeing 

 the death of their chief, turned and made again 

 for the cover. " You darned critters," roared 

 Killbuck, " take that ! " and fired his rifle at the 

 last one, tumbling him over as dead as a stone. 

 The camp had also been alarmed. Five of them 

 waded across the creek and took the Indians in 

 rear; their rifles cracked within the timber, sev- 

 eral more Indians fell, and the rest quickly beat a 

 retreat. The venison, however, was not for- 

 gotten; the two deer were packed into camp, and 

 did the duty of mule-meat that night. 



This lesson had a seasonable effect upon the 

 Diggers, who made no attempt on the cavallada 

 that night or the next, for the camp remained two 

 days to recruit the animals. 



We will not follow the party through all the 

 difficulties and perils of the desert route, nor de- 

 tail the various devilries of the Diggers, who con- 

 stantly sought opportunities to stampede the ani- 

 mals, or, approaching them in the night as they 

 grazed, fired their arrows indiscriminately at the 

 herd, trusting that dead or disabled ones would be 



