184 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 



not before an arrow had struck him in the shoulder. Rising iron 

 the ground he retreated behind cover, yelling loudly to alarm tht 

 camp, which was not five hundred yards' distant on the other 

 side of the stream. Killbuck when apprized of the danger, rar 

 bodily into the plain, and, keeping out of shot of the timber, joinet* 

 La Bonte, who now, out of arrow-shot, threw down his shield of 

 venison, and fired his rifle at the assailants. The Indians appear- 

 ed at first afraid to leave the cover ; but three or four more joining 

 them, one a chief, they advanced into the plain, with drawn bows, 

 scattering wide apart, and running swiftly toward the whites, in 

 a zigzag course, in order not to present a steady mark to their 

 unerring rifles. The latter were too cautious to discharge their 

 pieces, but kept a steady front with rifle at shoulder. The In- 

 dians evidently disliked to approach nearer ; but the chief, an old 

 grizzled man, incited them by word and gesture — running in ad- 

 vance, and calling upon the others to follow him. 



" Ho, boy I" exclaimed Killbuck to his companion, " that old 

 coon must go under, or we'll get rubbed out by these darned crit- 

 turs." 



La Bonte understood him. Squatting on the ground, he plant- 

 ed his wiping-stick firmly at the extent of his left arm, and resting 

 the long barrel of his rifle on his left hand, which was supported 

 by the stick, he took a steady aim and fired. The Indian, throw- 

 ing out his arms, staggered and let fall his bow — tried hard to re- 

 cover himself, and then fell forward on his face. The others, see- 

 ing the death of their chief, turned and made again for the cover. 

 "You darned critturs," roared Killbuck, "take that I" and fired 

 his rifle at the last one, tumbling him over as dead as a stone. 

 The camp had also been alarmed. Five of them waded across 

 the creek and took the Indians in rear ; their rifles cracked within 

 the timber, several more Indians fell, and the rest quickly bea.t a 

 retreat. The venison, however, was not forgotten ; the two deer 

 were packed into cainp, and did the duty of mule-meat that night. 



