118 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 



dangerous country of the Blackfeet, on the head waters of the 

 Yellow Stone and Upper Missouri. He was accompanied hy 

 three others, a man named Wheeler, and one Cross-Eagle, a 

 Swede, who had been many years in the western country. Pveach- 

 ing the forks of a small creek, on both of which appeared plenty 

 of beaver sign. La Bonte followed the left-hand one alone, while 

 the others trapped the right in company, the former leaving his 

 squaw in the company of a Sioux woman, who followed the for- 

 tunes of Cross-Eagle, the party agreeing to rendezvous at the 

 junction of the two forks as soon as they had trapped to their 

 heads and again descended them. The larger party were the first 

 to reach the rendezvous, and camped on the banks of the main 

 stream to await the arrival of La Bonte. 



The morning after their return, they had just risen from their 

 blankets, and were lazily stretching themselves before the fire, 

 when a volley of fire-arms rattled from the bank of the creek, and 

 two of their number fell dead to the ground, while at the same 

 moment the deafening yells of Indians broke upon the ears of the 

 frightened squaws. Cross-Eagle seized his rifle, and, though 

 severely wounded, rushed to the cover of a hollow tree which 

 stood near, and crawling into it, defended himself the whole day 

 with the greatest obstinacy, killing five Indians outright, and 

 wounding several more. Unable to drive the gallant trapper from 

 his retreat, the savages took advantage of a favorable wind which 

 suddenly sprang up, and fired the long dry grass surrounding the 

 tree. The rotten log catching fire, at length compelled the hunter 

 to leave his retreat. Clubbing his rifle, he charged among the 

 Indians, and fell at last, pierced through and through with wounds, 

 but not until two more of his assailants had fallen by his hand. 



The two squaws were carried off, and one was sold shortly 

 afterward to some white men at the trading posts on the Platte ; 

 but La Bonte never recovered the " Bending Reed," nor even 

 heard of her existence from that day. So once more was the 



