224 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 



her reputation as the best " guard" hi the mountams ; for iu two 

 inmutes an Indian stalked into the camp, dressed in a cloth capote, 

 and in odds and ends of civilized attire. 



" Rapaho," cried Killbuck, as soon as he saw him ; and tlie 

 Indian catching the word, struck his hand upon his breast, and 

 exclaimed, in broken Spanish and English mixed, " Si, si, me 

 Arapaho, white man amigo. Come to camp — eat heap came — 

 me amigo white man. Come from Pueblo — hunt cibola — me gun 

 break — 7io piiedo inatar iiada : muclia hamhre (very hungry)-^ — 

 heap eat." 



Killbuck offered his pipe to the Indian, and spoke to him in his 

 own language, which both he and La Bonte well understood. 

 They learned that he was married to a Mexican woman, and lived 

 with some hunters at the Pueblo fort on the Arkansas. He volun- 

 teered the information that a war party of his people were out on 

 the Platte trail to intercept the Indian traders on their return 

 fi'om the North Fork ; and as some " Mormons" had just started 

 with three wagons in that direction, he said his people would 

 make a " raise." Being muy amigo himself to the whites, he 

 cautioned his present companions from crossing to the " divide," 

 as the " braves," he said, were a " heap" mad, and their hearts 

 were " big," and nothing in the shape of white skin would live 

 before them. 



" Wagh I" exclaimed Killbuck, "the Rapahos know me, I'm 

 thinking ; and small gain they've made against this child. I've 

 knowed the time when my gun-cover couldn't hold more of their 

 scalps." 



The Indian was provided with some powder, of which he stood 

 in need ; and, after gorging as much meat as his capacious 

 Gtomach would hold, he left the camp, and started into the 

 mountain. 



The next day our hunters started on their journey down the 

 liver, traveling leisurely, and stopping wherever good grass pr'^- 



