LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 187 



the bluff into the timbered bottom of the river. Judging the 

 stranger to be Indian, they spurred their horses and galloped in 

 pursuit, but the figure ahead suddenly disappeared. However, 

 they quickly followed the track, which was plain enough in the 

 sandy bottom, that of a horse and two mules. Killbuck scrutinized 

 the " sign," and puzzled over it a considerable time ; and at last 

 exclaimed — " Wagh ! this sign's as plain as mon beaver to me ; 

 look at that hos-track, boy ; did ye ever see that afore ?" 



" Well, I have I" answered La Bonte, peering down at it ; " that 

 ar shuffle-toe seems handy to me now, I tell you." 



" The man as used to ride that hos is long gone under, but the 

 hos, darn the old crittur, is old Bill Williams's, I'll swar by 

 hook." 



" Well, it aint nothin else," continued La Bonte, satisfymg 

 himself by a long look ; " It's the old boy's hos as sure as shootin : 

 and them Rapahos has rubbed him out at last, and raised his 

 animals. Ho, boy I let's lift their hair." 



" Agreed," answered Killbuck ; and away they started in pur- 

 suit, determined to avenge the death of their old comrade. 



They followed the track through the bottom and into the 

 stream, which it crossed, and, passing a few yards up the bank, 

 entered the water again, when they could see nothing more of it. 

 Puzzled at this, they sought on each side the river, but in vain ; 

 and, not wishing to lose more time in the search, they proceeded 

 through the timber on the banks to find a good camping-place for 

 the night, which had been their object in riding in advance of the 

 cavallada. On the left bank, a short distance before them, was a 

 heavy growth of timber, and the river ran in one place close to a 

 high blufT^ between which and the water was an almost impervious 

 thicket of plum and cherry trees. The grove of timber ended 

 before it reached this point, and but few scattered trees grew in 

 the little glade which intervened, and which was covered with 

 tolerable grass. This being fixed upon as an excellent camp, the 



