''8 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 



which secure the horses and mules to their pickets, and even their 

 very hobbles, and not unfrequently kilhng or entirely disabling the 

 animals themselves. 



Round the camp, during the night, the cayeute keeps unremit- 

 ting watch, and the traveler not unfrequently starts from his bed 

 with affright, as the mournful and unearthly chiding of the wolf 

 breaks suddenly upon his ear ; the long-drawn howl being taken 

 up by others of the band, until it dies away in the distance, or 

 some straggler passing within hearing answers to the note, and 

 howls as he lopes away. 



Our party crossed the south fork about ten miles from its junc- 

 ture Math the main stream, and then, passing the prairie, struck 

 the north fork a day's travel from the other. At the mouth of an 

 ash- timbered creek they came upon Indian " sign," and, as now 

 they were in the vicinity of the treacherous Sioux, they moved 

 along with additional caution. Frapp and Gonneville, two expe- 

 rienced mountaineers, always heading the advance. 



About noon they had crossed over to the left bank of the fork, 

 intending to camp on a large creek where some fresh beaver 

 " sign" had attracted the attention of some of the trappers ; and 

 as, on further examination, it appeared that two or three lodges 

 of that animal were not far distant, it was determined to remain 

 here a day or two and set their traps. 



Gonneville, old Luke, and La Bonte had started up the creek, 

 and were carefully examining the banks for " sign," when the for- 

 mer, who was in front, suddenly paused, and looking intently up 

 the stream, held up his hand to his companions to signal them to 

 stop. 



Luke and La Bonte both followed the direction of the trapper's 

 intent and fixed gaze. The former uttered in a suppressed tone 

 the expressive exclamation, Wagh ! — the latter saw nothing but 

 a wood-duck swimming swiftly down the stream, followed by her 

 downy progeny. 



