140 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 



knowing that liis own and companion's life hung upon the success 

 of his shot, he scarcely had strength to raise his rifle. By dint of 

 extraordinary exertions and precautions, which were totally un- 

 necessary, for the poor old bull had not a move in him, the hunter 

 approached within shot. Lying upon the ground, he took a long, 

 steady aim, and fired. The hufTalo raised its matted head, tossed 

 it wildly for an instant, and, stretching out its limbs convulsively, 

 turned over on its side and was dead. 



Killbuck heard the shot, and crawling from under the little 

 shanty which covered his bed, saw, to his astonishment, La Bonte 

 in the act of butchering a bufialo within two hundred yards of 

 camp. " Hurraw for you I" he faintly exclaimed; and exhausted 

 by the exertion he had used, and perhaps by the excitement of an 

 anticipated feast, fell back and fainted. 



However, the killing was the easiest matter, for when the huge 

 carcass lay dead upon the ground, our hunter had hardly strength 

 to drive the blade of his knife through the tough hide of the old 

 patriarch. Then having cut off as much of the meat as he could 

 carry, eating the while sundry portions of the liver, which he 

 dipped in the gall-bladder by way of relish. La Bonte cast a wist- 

 ful look upon the half-starved wolves, who now loped round and 

 round, licking their chops, only waiting until his back was turned 

 to fall to with appetite equal to his own, and capabilities of swal- 

 lowing and digesting far superior. La Bonte looked at the bufTalo 

 and then at the wolves, leveled his rifle and shot one dead, at 

 which the survivor scampered ofT without delay. 



Arrived at camp, packing in a tolerable load of the best part of 

 the animal — for hunger lent him strength — he found poor Killbuck 

 lying on his back, deaf to time, and to all appearance gone under. 

 Having no sal-volatile or vinaigrette at hand. La Bonte flapped a 

 lump of raw fleece into his patient's face, and this instantly revived 

 him. Then taking the sick man's shoulder, he raised him tenderly 

 into a sitting posture, and invited, in kindly accents, " the old hos 



