A BLIND GUIDE 167 



Crandall had been a trapper. In 1867, while in 

 the region which is now the Yellowstone Park, 

 stories of rich gold in the Blackfoot Reservation 

 caused him to exchange his trapper's outfit for 

 that of a prospector. Just after he had entered 

 the reservation the Indians swept down upon 

 him and his partner in camp. They had just 

 time to throw their picks and shovels into a 

 near-by beaver pond. The Indians, unable to 

 find any evidence of their prospecting, told 

 them to leave the reservation at once and not 

 to return. When leaving, they encountered a 

 rich outcropping of gold quartz and in a short 

 time returned to this with a large pack outfit and 

 eight companions. The Indians attacked them 

 and captured all of their supplies. Crandall 

 and three other prospectors escaped. The fol- 

 lowing year he and his partner procured a new 

 outfit and made their way back to the place 

 where the Indians had surprised them. 



But to return to Crandall on the crag. When 

 darkness fell upon the scene he climbed cau- 

 tiously down and started forward across the 

 open country, making a detour to the right to 

 avoid the missing Indian. He had barely 

 started when a rustling on his left startled and 

 stopped him. He dropped to the earth and lay 

 still. As he listened the rustling became more 

 distinct and he thought of the lone Indian. 



