Chapter 4

4

An alarm Crow Indians Their appearance Mode of approach Their

vengeful errand Their curiosity Hostility between the Crows and

Blackfeet Loving conduct of the Crows Laramie's Fork First

navigation of the Nebraska Great elevation of the country Rarity

of the atmosphere Its effect on the wood-work of wagons Black

Hills Their wild and broken scenery Indian dogs Crow trophies

Sterile and dreary country Banks of the Sweet Water Buffalo

hunting Adventure of Tom Cain the Irish cook

WHEN ON THE MARCH, Captain Bonneville always sent some of his

best hunters in the advance to reconnoitre the country, as well

as to look out for game. On the 24th of May, as the caravan was

slowly journeying up the banks of the Nebraska, the hunters came

galloping back, waving their caps, and giving the alarm cry,

Indians! Indians!

The captain immediately ordered a halt: the hunters now came up

and announced that a large war-party of Crow Indians were just

above, on the river. The captain knew the character of these

savages; one of the most roving, warlike, crafty, and predatory

tribes of the mountains; horse-stealers of the first order, and

easily provoked to acts of sanguinary violence. Orders were

accordingly given to prepare for action, and every one promptly

took the post that had been assigned him in the general order of

the march, in all cases of warlike emergency.

Everything being put in battle array, the captain took the lead

of his little band, and moved on slowly and warily. In a little

while he beheld the Crow warriors emerging from among the bluffs.

There were about sixty of them; fine martial-looking fellows,

painted and arrayed for war, and mounted on horses decked out

with all kinds of wild trappings. They came prancing along in

gallant style, with many wild and dexterous evolutions, for none

can surpass them in horsemanship; and their bright colors, and

flaunting and fantastic embellishments, glaring and sparkling in

the morning sunshine, gave them really a striking appearance.

Their mode of approach, to one not acquainted with the tactics

and ceremonies of this rude chivalry of the wilderness, had an

air of direct hostility. They came galloping forward in a body,

as if about to make a furious charge, but, when close at hand,

opened to the right and left, and wheeled in wide circles round

the travellers, whooping and yelling like maniacs.

This done, their mock fury sank into a calm, and the chief,

approaching the captain, who had remained warily drawn up, though

informed of the pacific nature of the