230 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 



wheeled his obedient horse, and, drawing a pistol from his belt, 

 again charged the enemy, among whom Killbuck and the stranger 

 were dealing death-giving blows. Yelling for victory, the moun- 

 taineers rushed at the Indians ; and they, panic-struck at the sud- 

 den attack, and thinking this was but the advanced guard of a 

 large band, fairly turned and fled, leaving five of their number 

 dead upon the field. 



Mary, shutting her eyes to the expected deathstroke, heard the 

 loud shout La Bonte gave in charging down the blufi', and, again 

 looking up, saw the wild-looking mountaineer rush to her rescue, 

 and save her from the savage by his timely blow. Her arms 

 were still pinned by the lasso, which prevented her from rising to 

 her feet ; and La Bonte was the first to run to aid her, as soon as 

 the fight was fairly over. He jumped from his horse, cut the skin 

 rope which bound her, raised her from the ground, and, upon her 

 turning up her face to thank him, beheld his never-to-be-forgotten 

 Mary Brand ; while she, hardly believing her senses, recognized 

 in her deliverer her former lover, and still well beloved La Bonte. 



" What, Mary I can it be you?" he asked, looking intently upon 

 the trembling woman. 



"La Bonte, you don't forget me!" she answered, and threw 

 herself sobbing into the arms of the sturdy mountaineer. 



There we will leave her for the j)resent, and help Killbuck and 

 his companions to examine the killed and wounded. Of the form- 

 er five Indians and two whites lay dead, grandchildren of old 

 Brand, fine lads of fourteen or fifteen, who had fought with the 

 greatest bravery, and lay pierced with arrows and lance wounds. 

 Old Brand had received a sore buffet, but a hatful of cold water 

 from the creek sprinkled over his face soon restored him. His sons 

 had not escaped scot-free, and Antoine was shot through the neck, 

 and, falling, had actually been half scalped by an Indian, whom the 

 timely arrival of La Bonte had caused to leave his work unfinished. 



Silently, and with sad hearts, the survivors of the family, saw 



