Chapter 37

37.

Departure for the rendezvous A war party of Blackfeet A mock

bustle Sham fires at night Warlike precautions Dangers of a night

attack A panic among horses Cautious march The Beer Springs A

mock carousel Skirmishing with buffaloes A buffalo bait Arrival

at the rendezvous Meeting of various bands

AFTER THE TWO DAYS of festive indulgence, Captain Bonneville

broke up the encampment, and set out with his motley crew of

hired and free trappers, half-breeds, Indians, and squaws, for

the main rendezvous in Bear River valley. Directing his course up

the Blackfoot River, he soon reached the hills among which it

takes its rise. Here, while on the march, he descried from the

brow of a hill, a war party of about sixty Blackfeet, on the

plain immediately below him. His situation was perilous; for the

greater part of his people were dispersed in various directions.

Still, to betray hesitation or fear would be to discover his

actual weakness, and to invite attack. He assumed, instantly,

therefore, a belligerent tone; ordered the squaws to lead the

horses to a small grove of ashen trees, and unload and tie them;

and caused a great bustle to be made by his scanty handful; the

leaders riding hither and thither, and vociferating with all

their might, as if a numerous force was getting under way for an

attack.

To keep up the deception as to his force, he ordered, at night, a

number of extra fires to be made in his camp, and kept up a

vigilant watch. His men were all directed to keep themselves

prepared for instant action. In such cases the experienced

trapper sleeps in his clothes, with his rifle beside him, the

shot-belt and powder-flask on the stock: so that, in case of

alarm, he can lay his hand upon the whole of his equipment at

once, and start up, completely armed.

Captain Bonneville was also especially careful to secure the

horses, and set a vigilant guard upon them; for there lies the

great object and principal danger of a night attack. The grand

move of the lurking savage is to cause a panic among the horses.

In such cases one horse frightens another, until all are alarmed,

and struggle to break loose. In camps where there are great

numbers of Indians, with their horses, a night alarm of the kind

is tremendous. The running of the horses that have broken loose;

the snorting, stamping, and rearing of those which remain fast;

the howling of dogs; the yelling of Indians; the scampering of

white men, and red men, with their guns; the overturning of

lodges, and trampling of fires by the horses; the flashes