40 -^ LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 



La Bonte had received two trivial wounds, and Killbuck till 

 now had been walking about with an arrow sticking through the 

 fleshy part of his thigh, the point being perceptible near the surface 

 of the other side. To free his leg from the painful encumbrance, 

 he thrust the weapon completely through, and then, cutting off the 

 arrow-head below the barb, he drew it out, the blood flowing freely 

 from the wound, A tourniquet of buckskin soon stopped this, and, 

 heedless of the pain, the hardy mountaineer sought for his old 

 mule, and quickly brought it to the fire (which La Bonte had re- 

 kindled), lavishing many a caress, and most comical terms of en- 

 dearment, upon the faithful companion of his wanderings. They 

 found all the animals safe and well ; and after eating heartily of 

 some venison which the Indians had been cooking at the moment 

 of the attack, made instant preparations to quit the scene of their 

 exploit, not wishing to trust to the chance of the Rapahos being 

 too frightened to again molest them. 



Having no saddles, they secured buffalo robes on the backs of 

 two mules — Killbuck, of course, riding his own — and lost no time 

 in proceeding on their way. They followed the course of the In- 

 dians up the stream, and found that it kept the canons and gorges 

 of the mountains, where the road was better ; but it was with no 

 little difficulty that they made their way, the ground being much 

 broken, and covered with rocks. Killbuck's wound became very 

 painful, and his leg stiffened and swelled distressingly, but he still 

 pushed on all night, and at daybreak, recognizing their position, he 

 left the Indian trail, and followed a little creek which rose in a 

 mountain chain of moderate elevation, and above which, and to the 

 south. Pike's Peak towered high into the clouds. With great dif- 

 ficulty they crossed this ridge, and ascending and descending sev- 

 eral smaller ones, which gradually smoothed away as they met the 

 valley, about three hours after sunrise they found themselves in the 

 southeast corner of the Bayou Salade. 



The Bayou Salade, or Salt Valley, is the most southern of three 



