LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 33 



How right the wily trapper was in his conjectures will be 

 shortly proved. Meanwhile, with his companion, he descended 

 the bluff, and pushing liis way into a thicket of dwarf pine and 

 cedar, sat down on a log, and drew from an end of the blanket, 

 strapped on his shoulder, a portion of a buffalo's liver, which they 

 both discussed, raiv, with infinite rehsh ; eating in lieu of bread 

 (an unknown luxury in these parts) sundry strips of dried fat. To 

 have kindled a fire would have been dangerous, since it was not 

 impossible that some of the Indians might leave their camp to 

 hunt, when the smoke would at once have betrayed the presence 

 of enemies. A hght was struck, however for their pipes, and after 

 enjoying this true consolation for some time, they laid a blanket on 

 the ground, and, side by side, soon fell asleep. 



If Killbuck had been a prophet, or the most prescient of "■ medi- 

 cine men," he could not have more exactly predicted the move- 

 ments in the Indian camp. About three hours before " sun-down," 

 he rose and shook himself, which movement was sufficient to 

 awaken his companion. Telling La Bonte to lie down again and 

 rest, he gave him to understand that he was about to reconnoiter 

 the enemy's camp ; and after carefully examining his rifle, and 

 drawing his Imife-belt a hole or two tighter, he proceeded on his 

 dangerous errand. Ascending the same bluff whence he had first 

 discovered the Indian camp, he glanced rapidly around, and made 

 himself master of the features of the ground- — choosing a ravine 

 by which he might approach the camp more closely, and without 

 danger of being discovered. This was soon effected ; and in half 

 an hour the trapper was lying on his belly on the summit of a 

 pine-covered bluff, which overlooked the Indians within easy rifle- 

 shot, and so perfectly concealed by the low spreading branches of 

 the cedar and arbor-vitse, that not a particle of his person could be 

 detected; unless, indeed, his sharp twinkling gray eye contrasted 

 too strongly with the green boughs that covered the rest of his face. 

 Moreover, there was no danger of their hitting upon his trail, for 



