IN THE OLD WEST 



began to draw the buckskin cover from his gun, 

 and would no doubt have taken summary venge- 

 ance for the insult offered to his companion, when 

 Mary Brand courageously stepped up to him, 

 and, placing her left hand upon the gun which he 

 was in the act of uncovering, with the other pointed 

 a pistol at his breast. 



Whether daunted by the bold act of the girl, 

 or admiring her devotion to her father, the Indian 

 drew himself back, exclaimed " Howgh ! " and 

 drew the cover again on his piece, went up to old 

 Brand, who all this time looked him sternly in the 

 face, and, shaking him by the hand, motioned at 

 the same time to the other to be peaceable. 



The other whites presently coming into camp, 

 the Indians sat quietly down by the fire, and when 

 the supper was ready, joined in the repast, after 

 which they gathered their buffalo-robes about 

 them, and quietly withdrew. Meanwhile An- 

 toine, knowing the treacherous character of the 

 savages, advised that the greatest precaution 

 should be taken to secure the stock; and before 

 dark, therefore, all the mules and horses were hob- 

 bled and secured within the corral, the oxen being 

 allowed to feed at liberty — for the Indians 

 scarcely care to trouble themselves with such cat- 

 tle. A guard was also set round the camp, and 

 relieved every two hours ; the fire was extinguished, 

 lest the savages should aim, by its light, at any 

 of the party, and all slept with rifles ready at 



