90 LIFEINTHE FAR WEST. 



Arriving one evening, about sun-down, at the Bear Spring, they 

 found a soHtary trapper sitting over the rocky basin, intently re- 

 garding, with no Uttle awe, the curious phenomenon of the bub- 

 bhng gas. Behind him were piled his saddles and a pack of skins, 

 and at a little distance a hobbled Indian pony fed among the 

 cedars which formed a grove round the spring. As the three 

 hunters dismounted from their animals, the lone trapper scarcely 

 noticed their arrival, his eyes being still intently fixed upon the 

 water. Looking round at last, he was instantly recognized by one 

 of La Bonte's companions, and saluted as '*01d Rube." Dressed 

 from head to foot in buckskin, his face, neck, and hands appeared 

 to be of the same leathery texture, so nearly did they assimilate 

 in color to the materials of his dress. He was at least six feet 

 two or three in his moccasins, straight-limbed and wiry, with long 

 arms ending in hands of tremendous grasp, and a quantity of 

 straight black hair hanging on his shoulders. His features, which 

 were undeniably good, wore an expression of comical gravity, never 

 relaxing into a smile, which a broad good-humored mouth could 

 have grinned from ear to ear. 



" What, boys," he said, " will you be simple enough to camp 

 here, alongside these springs ? Nothing good ever came of sleep- 

 ing here, I tell you, and the worst kind of devils are in those 

 dancing waters." 



" Why, old hos," cried La Bonte, " what brings you hyar then, 

 and camp at that ?" 



"This niggur," answered Rube, solemnly, ''has been down'd 

 upon a sight too often to be skeared by what can come out from 

 them waters ; and thar arn't a devil as hisses thar, as can ' shine' 

 with this child, I tell you. I've tried him onest, an' fout him to 

 clawin' away to Eustis,* and if I draws my knife again on such 

 varmint, I'll raise his hair, as sure as shootin.' " 



* A snaall lake near the head waters of the Yellow Stone, near which are some 

 curious thermal springs of ink-black water. 



