gedly forward, without stopping to set a single trap. The
others beat the hoof after them for some time, but by degrees
began to perceive that they were on a wild-goose chase, and
getting into a country perfectly barren to the trapper. They
now came to a halt, and bethought themselves how to make
up for lost time, and improve the remainder of the season. It
was thought best to divide their forces and try different trap-
ping grounds. While Dripps went in one direction, Vander-
burgh, with about fifty men, proceeded in another. The latter,
in his headlong march had got into the very heart of the Black-
foot country, yet seems to have been unconscious of his danger.
As his scouts were out one day, they came upon the traces of
a recent band of savages. There were the deserted fires still
smoking, surrounded by the carcasses of buffaloes just killed.
It was evident a party of Blackfeet had been frightened from
their hunting camp, and had retreated, probably to seek rein-
forcements. The scouts hastened back to the camp, and told
Vanderburgh what they had seen. He made light of the
alarm, and, taking nine men with him, galloped off to recon-
noitre for himself. He found the deserted hunting camp just
as they had represented it; there lay the carcasses of buffaloes,
partly dismembered; there were the smouldering fires, still
sending up their wreaths of smoke; everything bore traces of
recent and hasty retreat; and gave reason to believe that the
savages were still lurking in the neighborhood. With heed-
less daring, Vanderburgh put himself upon their trail, to trace
them to their place of concealment. It led him over prairies,
and through skirts of woodland, until it entered a dark and
dangerous ravine. Vanderburgh pushed in, without hesita-
tion, followed by his little band. They soon found themselves
in a gloomy dell, between steep banks overhung with trees,
where the profound silence was only broken by the tramp of
their own horses.

Suddenly the horrid war-whoop burst on their ears, mingled
with the sharp report of rifles, and a legion of savages sprang
from their concealments, yelling, and shaking their buffalo
robes to frighten the horses. Vanderburgh's horse fell, mor-
tally wounded by the first discharge. In his fall he pinned his
rider to the ground, who called in vain upon his men to assist
in extricating him. One was shot down scalped a few paces
distant; most of the others were severely wounded, and sought
their safety in flight. The savages approached to dispatch
the unfortunate leader, as he lay struggling beneath his horse.

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