Chapter 24 - Page 2

kicking, and trembling, for there was a

horrible uproar of whoops, and yells, and firearms. Several

trappers stole quietly from the camp, and succeeded in driving in

the horses which had broken away; the rest were tethered still

more strongly. A breastwork was thrown up of saddles, baggage,

and camp furniture, and all hands waited anxiously for daylight.

The Indians, in the meantime, collected on a neighboring height,

kept up the most horrible clamor, in hopes of striking a panic

into the camp, or frightening off the horses. When the day

dawned, the trappers attacked them briskly and drove them to some

distance. A desultory fire was kept up for an hour, when the

Indians, seeing nothing was to be gained, gave up the contest and

retired. They proved to be a war party of Blackfeet, who, while

in search of the Crow tribe, had fallen upon the trail of Captain

Bonneville on the Popo Agie, and dogged him to the Bighorn; but

had been completely baffled by his vigilance. They had then

waylaid the present detachment, and were actually housed in

perfect silence within their fort, when the mule of the trapper

made such a dead point.

The savages went off uttering the wildest denunciations of

hostility, mingled with opprobrious terms in broken English, and

gesticulations of the most insulting kind.

In this melee, one white man was wounded, and two horses were

killed. On preparing the morning's meal, however, a number of

cups, knives, and other articles were missing, which had,

doubtless, been carried off by the fictitious elk, during the

slumber of the very sagacious sentinel.

As the Indians had gone off in the direction which the trappers

had intended to travel, the latter changed their route, and

pushed forward rapidly through the "Bad Pass," nor halted until

night; when, supposing themselves out of the reach of the enemy,

they contented themselves with tying up their horses and posting

a guard. They had scarce laid down to sleep, when a dog strayed

into the camp with a small pack of moccasons tied upon his back;

for dogs are made to carry burdens among the Indians. The

sentinel, more knowing than he of the preceding night, awoke his

companions and reported the circumstance. It was evident that

Indians were at hand. All were instantly at work; a strong pen

was soon constructed for the horses, after completing which, they

resumed their slumbers with the composure of men long inured to

dangers.

In the next night, the prowling of dogs about the camp, and

various suspicious noises, showed that Indians were