Chapter 24

24.

Adventures of the party of ten The Balaamite mule A dead

point The mysterious elks A night attack A retreat Travelling

under an alarm A joyful meeting Adventures of the other party A

decoy elk Retreat to an island A savage dance of triumph Arrival

at Wind River

THE ADVENTURES of the detachment of ten are the first in order.

These trappers, when they separated from Captain Bonneville at

the place where the furs were embarked, proceeded to the foot of

the Bighorn Mountain, and having encamped, one of them mounted

his mule and went out to set his trap in a neighboring stream. He

had not proceeded far when his steed came to a full stop. The

trapper kicked and cudgelled, but to every blow and kick the mule

snorted and kicked up, but still refused to budge an inch. The

rider now cast his eyes warily around in search of some cause for

this demur, when, to his dismay, he discovered an Indian fort

within gunshot distance, lowering through the twilight. In a

twinkling he wheeled about; his mule now seemed as eager to get

on as himself, and in a few moments brought him, clattering with

his traps, among his comrades. He was jeered at for his alacrity

in retreating; his report was treated as a false alarm; his

brother trappers contented themselves with reconnoitring the fort

at a distance, and pronounced that it was deserted.

As night set in, the usual precaution, enjoined by Captain

Bonneville on his men, was observed. The horses were brought in

and tied, and a guard stationed over them. This done, the men

wrapped themselves in their blankets, stretched themselves before

the fire, and being fatigued with a long day's march, and gorged

with a hearty supper, were soon in a profound sleep.

The camp fires gradually died away; all was dark and silent; the

sentinel stationed to watch the horses had marched as far, and

supped as heartily as any of his companions, and while they

snored, he began to nod at his post. After a time, a low

trampling noise reached his ear. He half opened his closing eyes,

and beheld two or three elks moving about the lodges, picking,

and smelling, and grazing here and there. The sight of elk within

the purlieus of the camp caused some little surprise; but having

had his supper, he cared not for elk meat, and, suffering them to

graze about unmolested, soon relapsed into a doze.

Suddenly, before daybreak, a discharge of firearms, and a

struggle and tramp of horses, made every one start to his feet.

The first move was to secure the horses. Some were gone; others

were struggling, and