LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 225 



sented itself. One morning they suddenly struck a wheel trail, 

 which left the creek banks and pursued a course at right angles to 

 it, in the direction of the " divide." Killbuck pronounced it hut 

 a few hours old, and that of three wagons drawn by oxen. 



"Waghl" he exclaimed, "if them poor devils of Mormonites 

 ain't going head first into the Rapaho trap. They'll be * gone 

 beaver' afore long." 



" Ay," said the strange hunter, " these are the wagons belong- 

 ing to old Brand, and he has started alone for Laramie. I hope 

 nothing will happen to them." 



" Brand I" muttered La Bonte. " I knowed that name mighty 

 well once, years agone : and should hate the worst kind that 

 mischief happened to any one who bore it. This trail's as fresh 

 as paint ; and it goes against me to let these simple critters help 

 the Ptapahos to their own hair. This child feels like helping 'em 

 out of the scrape. What do you say, old hos ?" 



" I thinks with you, boy," answered Killbuck, " and go in for 

 following this wagon trail, and telling the poor critters that thar's 

 danger ahead of them. What's your talk, stranger ?" 



" I go with you," shortly answered the latter ; and both fol- 

 lowed quickly after La Bonte, who was already trotting smartly 

 on the trail. 



Meanwhile the three wagons, containing the household gods of 

 the Brand family, rumbled slowly over the rolling prairie, and 

 toward the upland ridge of the " divide," which, studded with 

 dwarf pine and cedar thicket, rose gradually before them. They 

 traveled with considerable caution, for already the quick eye of 

 Antoine had discovered recent Indian sign upon the trail, and, 

 with mountain quickness, had at once made it out to be that of a 

 war party ; for there were no horses with them, and, after one or 

 two of the moccasin tracks, the mark of a rope which trailed upon 

 the ground was sufficient to show him that the Indians were pro- 

 vided with the usual lasso of skin, with which to secure the horses 



