LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 183 



trail. They happened to strike it in the center of a long stretch 

 of desert, extending sixty miles without either water or pasture ; 

 and many animals had perished here, leaving their bones to 

 bleach upon the plain. The soil was sandy, but rocks and stones 

 covered the surface, disabli'ng the feet of many of the young horses 

 and mules ; several of which, at this early stage of the journey, 

 were already abandoned. Traces of the wretched Diggers be- 

 came very frequent ; these abject creatures resorting to the sandy 

 plains for the purpose of feeding upon the lizards which there 

 abound. As yet they did not show ; only at night they prowled 

 around the camp, waiting a favorable opportunity to run the ani- 

 mals. In the present instance, however, many of the horses hav- 

 ing been left on the road, the Diggers found so plentiful a supply 

 of meat as to render unnecessary any attack upon the formidable 

 mountaineers. 



One evening the Americans had encamped, earlier than usual, 

 on a creek well-timbered with willow and quaking-ash, and afford- 

 ing tolerable pasture ; and although it was still rather early, they 

 determined to stop here, and give the animals an opportunity to fill 

 themselves. Several deer had jumped out of the bottom as they 

 entered it ; and La Bonte and Killbuck had sallied from tho 

 camp with their rifles, to hunt and endeavor to procure some 

 venison for supper. Along the river banks, herds of deer were 

 feeding in every direction, within shot of the belt of timber ; and 

 the two hunters had no difficulty in approaching and knocking 

 over two fine bucks within a few paces of the thicket. They 

 were engaged in butchering the animals, when La Bonte, looking 

 up from his work, saw half a dozen Indians dodging among the 

 trees, within a few yards of himself and Killbuck. At the same 

 instant two arrows thudded into the carcass of the deer over 

 which he knelt, passing but a few inches from his head. Hollow- 

 ing to his companion, La Bonte immediately seized the deer, and, 

 lifting it with main strength, held it as a shield before him, but 



