106 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 



tions with which his Shoshone squaw, Sah-qua-manish, was wont 

 to beat to tenderness the toughest bull meat — and missed the tend- 

 ing care of Yute Chil-co-the, or the " reed that bends," in patch- 

 ing the holes worn in his neatly fitting moccasins, the work of 

 her nimble fingers. However, he ate and smoked, and smoked 

 and ate, and slept none the worse for his mishap ; thought, before 

 he closed his eyes, a little of his lost wives, and more perhaps of 

 the " Bending Reed" than of Sah-qua-manish, or " she who runs 

 with the stream," drew his blanket tightly round hmi, felt his rifle 

 handy to his grasp, and was speedily asleep. 



, While the tired mountaineer breathes heavily in his dream, 

 careless and unconscious that a living soul is near, his mule on a 

 sudden pricks her ears and stares into the gloom, whence a figure 

 soon emerges, and Avith noiseless steps draAvs near the sleeping 

 hunter. Taking one look at the slumbering form, the same figure 

 approaches the fire and adds a log to the pile ; which done, it quiet- 

 ly seats itself at the feet of the sleeper, and remains motionless as 

 a statue. Toward morning the hunter awoke, and, rubbing his 

 eyes was astonished to feel the glowing warmth of the fire striking 

 on his naked feet, which, in Indian fashion, were stretched toAvard 

 it ; as by this time he knew, the fire he left burning must long 

 since have expired. Lazily raising himself on his elbow, he saw a 

 figure sitting near it with the back turned to him, which, although 

 his exclamatory wagh was loud enough in all conscience, remain- 

 ed perfectly motionless, until the trapper, rising, placed his hand 

 upon the shoulder : then turning up it^ face, the features displayed 

 to his wondering eye were those of Chil-co-the, his Yuta M'ife. 

 Yes, indeed, " the reed that bends" had escaped from her Arapa- 

 ho captors, and made her way back to her Avhite husband, fasting 

 and alone. 



The Indian women who follow the fortunes of the white hunt- 

 ers are remarkable for their affection and fidelity to their hus- 

 bands, the which virtues, it must be remarked, are all on their 



