126 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 



his own particular saddle-horse, who in dogged temper and iron 

 hardiness, was a worthy companion of his self-willed master. 

 This beast, as Bill seized his apishamore to lay upon its galled 

 back, would express displeasure by humping its back and shaking 

 its withers with a wincing motion, that always excited the ire of 

 the old trapper ; and no sooner had he laid the apishamore 

 smoothly on the chafed skin, than a wriggle of the animal shook 

 it off. 



"Do'ee hyar now, you darned crittur?" he would whine out, 

 " can't 'ee keep quiet your old fleece now ? Isn't this old coon 

 putting out to save 'ee from the darned Injuns now, do 'ee hyar ?" 

 And then, continuing his work and taking no notice of his com- 

 rades, who stood by bantering the eccentric old trapper, he would 

 soliloquize — " Do 'ee hyar, now ? This niggur sees sign ahead — 

 he does ; he'll be afoot afore long, if he don't keep his eye skinned 

 — he will. Injuns is all about, they ar' : Blackfoot at that. 

 Can't come round this child — they can't, wagh I" And at last, 

 his pack animals securely tied to the tail of his horse, he would 

 mount, and throwing the rifle across the horn of his saddle, and 

 without noticing his companions, would drive the jingling spurs 

 into his horse's gaunt sides, and muttering, " Can't come round this 

 child — they can't I" would ride away ; and nothing more would 

 be seen or heard of him perhaps for months, when they would not 

 unfrequently, themselves bereft of animals in the scrape he had 

 foreseen, find him located in some solitary valley, in his lonely 

 camp, with his animals securely picketed around, and his peltries 

 safe. 



However, if he took it into his head to keep company with a 

 party, all felt perfectly secure under his charge. His iron frame 

 defied fatigue, and, at night, his love for himself and his own 

 animals was sufficient guarantee that the camp would be well 

 guarded. As he rode away, his spurs jingling, and thumping the 

 sides of his old horse at every step, he managed, with admirable 



