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[Kempt <ven...@va...>]

Orses would soon share his fate, for there seemed scarce blood enough
left in their veins to withstand the freezing cold. To beat the way
further through the snow with these enfeebled animals seemed next to
impossible; and despondency began to creep over their hearts, when,
fortunately, they discovered a trail made by some hunting party. Into
this they immediately entered, and proceeded with less difficulty.
Shortly afterward, a fine buffalo bull came bounding across the snow and
was instantly brought down by the hunters. A fire was soon blazing and
crackling, and an ample repast soon cooked, and sooner dispatched; after
which they made some further progress and then encamped. One of the men
reached the camp nearly frozen to death; but good cheer and a blazing
fire gradually restored life, and put his blood in circulation. Having
now a beaten path, they proceeded the next morning with more facility;
indeed, the snow decreased in depth as they receded from the mountains,
and the temperature became more mild. In the course of the day they
discovered a solitary horseman hovering at a distance before them on the
plain. They spurred on to overtake him; but he was better mounted on a
fresher steed, and kept at a wary distance, reconnoitring them with
evident distrust; for the wild dress of the free trappers, their
leggings, blankets, and cloth caps garnished with fur and topped off
with feathers, even their very elf-locks and weather-bronzed
complexions, gave them the look of Indians rather than white men, and
made him mistake them for a war party of some hostile tribe. After much
manoeuvring, the wild horseman was at length brought to a parley; but
even then he conducted himself with the caution of a knowing prowler of
the prairies. Dismounting from his horse, and using him as a breastwork,
he levelled his gun across his back, and, thus prepared for defence like
a wary cruiser upon the high seas, he pe