LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 25 



wolves crept closer to the camp, and in the confusion that ensued 

 from the hurry of the trappers to cover the perishable portions of 

 their equipment, contrived more than once to dart ofi" with a piece 

 of meat, when their peculiar and mournful chidmg would be 

 heard as they fought for the possession of the ravished morsel. 



When every thing was duly protected, the men set to work to 

 spread their beds, those who had not troubled themselves to erect 

 a shelter getting under the lee of the piles of packs and saddles ; 

 while Killbuck, disdaining even such care of his carcass, threw 

 his bufialo robe on the bare ground, declaring his intention to 

 " take" what was coming at all hazards, and " any how." Se- 

 lecting a high spot, he drew his knife and proceeded to cut drains 

 round it to prevent the water running into him as he lay ; then 

 taking a single robe he carefully spread it, placing under the end 

 farthest from the fire a large stone brought from the creek. 

 Having satisfactorily adjusted this pillow, he added another robe 

 to the one already laid, and placed over all a Navajo blanket, 

 supposed to be impervious to rain. Then he divested himself 

 of his pouch and powder-horn, which, with his rifle, he placed in- 

 side his bed, and quickly covered up, lest the wet should reach 

 them. Having performed these operations to his satisfaction, he 

 lighted his pipe by the hissing embers of the half-extinguished fir6 

 (for by this time the rain poured in torrents), and went the rounds 

 of the picketed animals, cautioning the guard round the camp to 

 keep their "eyes skinned, for there would be 'powder burned' 

 before morning." Then returning to the fire, and lacking with 

 his moccasined foot the slumbering ashes, he squatted down before 

 it, and thus soliloquized : — 



" Thirty year have I been knocking about these mountains from 

 Missoura's head as far sothe as the starving Gila, I've trapped a 

 * heap,' ^ and many a hundred pack of beaver I've traded in my 



* Au Indian is always a "heap" hungry or thirsty — loves a "heap" — is a 

 "heap" brave— in fact, "heap" is tantamount to very much. 



B 



