LIFEINTHEFARWEST. 37 



of wind which howl down the narrow gorges of the momitains, 

 these two deteraiined men, with footsteps noiseless as the panther's, 

 crawled to the edge of the little plateau of some hundred yards' 

 square, where the five Indians in charge of the animals were 

 seated round the fire, perfectly unconscious of the vicinity of danger. 

 Several clumps of cedar bushes dotted the small prairie, and 

 among these the well-hobbled mules and horses were feeding. 

 These animals, accustomed to the presence of whites, Avould not 

 notice the two hunters as they crept from clump to clump nearer 

 to the fire, and also served, even if the Indians should be on the 

 watch, to conceal their movements from them. 



This the two men at once perceived ; but old KiUbuck knew 

 that if he passed within sight or smell of his mule, he would be 

 received with a hinny of recognition, which would at once alarm 

 the enemy. He therefore first ascertained where his own animal 

 w^as feeding, which luckily was at the farther side of the prairie, 

 and would not interfere with his proceedings. 



Threading their way among the feeding mules, they approached 

 a clump of bushes about forty yards from the spot where the un- 

 conscious savages were seated smoking round the fire ; and here 

 they awaited, scarcely drawing breath the while, the moment 

 when the moon rose above the mountain into- the clear cold sky, 

 and gave them light sufiicient to make sure their work of bloody 

 retribution. Not a pulsation in the hearts of these stern, deter- 

 mined men beat higher than its wont ; not the tremor of a nerve 

 disturbed their frame. They stood with lips compressed and rifles 

 ready, their pistols loosened in their belts, their scalp-knives handy 

 to their gripe. The lurid glow of the coming moon already shot 

 into the sky above the ridge, which stood out in bold relief 

 against the light ; and the luminary herself just peered over the 

 mountain, illuminating its pine-clad summit, and throwing her 

 beams on an opposite peak, when KiUbuck touched his compan- 

 ion's arm, and whispered, " Wait for the full light, boy." 



