KILLS AN ARAPAHO. 85 



The next morning, Joe and I rode out together to ex- 

 amine my traps, and to set some additional ones. He had 

 more traps than I ; but we agreed to make an equal divi- 

 sion of the results of our labor and skill. Within a week 

 afterwards, Joe had recovered his strength and activity. 

 We were as successful as could be expected in trapping 

 the beaver, and lived on the " fat of the valley." Our only 

 cause of uneasiness was the frequent "sign" of Indians, 

 whom we believed to be lurking around in small parties. 



One morning, as I was about to examine a trap near a 

 dam, a considerable distance from camp, I was startled by 

 a sound resembling the fixing of an arrow to a bow-string. 

 I turned quickly, and luckily, for upon the instant, an 

 arrow struck me in the thigh, and I beheld an Arapaho 

 about to repeat the attempt upon my life. Regardless 

 of the wound, I raised my rifle and fired ; and when the 

 smoke cleared away, I saw the savage lying, gathered up 

 in a heap, on the ground. I was at that time a moun- 

 taineer in heart and habit. I lifted up the head, seized 

 the scalp-lock, and in a moment the reeking scalp was 

 tied to my belt a savage trophy. I then turned my 

 attention to my wound. The arrow had pierced the 

 fleshy part of the thigh clean through, and I had to cut 

 off the head before I could remove the weapon. The 

 blood then flowed freely ; but I bound my legging tightly 

 around it, mounted my mule, and rode rapidly back to 



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