LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 13/ 



the loose animals of the trappers, the rest of the Indians pursuing 

 with loud shouts. So sudden was the charge, that the whites had 

 not power to prevent the stampede. Old Bill, as usual, led his 

 pack -mules by the lariat ; but the animals, mad with terror, at 

 the shouts of the Indians, broke from him, nearly pulling him out 

 of his seat at the same time. 



To cover the retreat of the others with their prey, a band of 

 mounted Indians now appeared, threatening an attack in front, 

 while their first assailants, rushing from the bottom, at least a 

 hundred strong, assaulted in rear. " Do 'ee hyar, boys I" shouted 

 old Bill, " break, or you'll go under. This child's goin' to cache !" 

 and saying the word, off^ he went, ^auve-qui-i^eut was the order 

 of the day, and not a moment too soon, for overwhelming numbers 

 were charging upon them, and the mountain resounded with 

 savage yells. La Bonte and Killbuck stuck together : they saw 

 old Bill, bending over his saddle, dive right into the cloud of 

 smoke, and apparently make for the creek bottom — their other 

 companions scattering each on his oM^n hook, and saw no more of 

 them for many a month; and thus was one of the most daring 

 and successful bands broken up that ever trapped in the mountains 

 of the Far West. 



It is painful to follow the steps of the poor fellows who, thus 

 despoiled of the hardly-earned produce of their hunt, saw all their 

 wealth torn from them at one swoop. The two Canadians were 

 killed upon the night succeeding that of the attack. Worn with 

 fatigue, hungiy and cold, they had built a fire in what they thought 

 was a secure retreat, and, rolled in their blankets, were soon buried 

 in a sleep from w^iich they never awoke. An Indian boy tracked 

 them, and watched their camp. Burning with the idea of signal- 

 izing himself thus early, he awaited his opportunity, and noise- 

 lessly approaching their resting-place, shot them both with arrows, 

 and returned in triumph to his people with their horses and 

 scalps. 



