Chapter 10

10.

Black feet in the Horse Prairie Search after the

hunters Difficulties and dangers A card party in the

wilderness The card party interrupted "Old Sledge" a losing

game Visitors to the camp Iroquois hunters Hanging-eared Indians.

ON the 12th of October, two young Indians of the Nez Perce tribe

arrived at Captain Bonneville's encampment. They were on their

way homeward, but had been obliged to swerve from their ordinary

route through the mountains, by deep snows. Their new route took

them though the Horse Prairie. In traversing it, they had been

attracted by the distant smoke of a camp fire, and on stealing

near to reconnoitre, had discovered a war party of Blackfeet.

They had several horses with them; and, as they generally go on

foot on warlike excursions, it was concluded that these horses

had been captured in the course of their maraudings.

This intelligence awakened solicitude on the mind of Captain

Bonneville for the party of hunters whom he had sent to that

neighborhood; and the Nez Perces, when informed of the

circumstances, shook their heads, and declared their belief that

the horses they had seen had been stolen from that very party.

Anxious for information on the subject, Captain Bonneville

dispatched two hunters to beat up the country in that direction.

They searched in vain; not a trace of the men could be found; but

they got into a region destitute of game, where they were

well-nigh famished. At one time they were three entire days

with-out a mouthful of food; at length they beheld a buffalo

grazing at the foot of the mountain. After manoeuvring so as to

get within shot, they fired, but merely wounded him. He took to

flight, and they followed him over hill and dale, with the

eagerness and per-severance of starving men. A more lucky shot

brought him to the ground. Stanfield sprang upon him, plunged his

knife into his throat, and allayed his raging hunger by drinking

his blood: A fire was instantly kindled beside the carcass, when

the two hunters cooked, and ate again and again, until, perfectly

gorged, they sank to sleep before their hunting fire. On the

following morning they rose early, made another hearty meal, then

loading themselves with buffalo meat, set out on their return to

the camp, to report the fruitlessness of their mission.

At length, after six weeks' absence, the hunters made their

appearance, and were received with joy proportioned to the

anxiety that had been felt on their account. They had hunted with

success on the prairie, but, while busy drying buffalo meat, were