﻿1848. INDIANS. 333 



wanting, and the lighter loads, had such an effect 

 on the spirits of the party, that we mounted the 

 hill above the ravine on the morning of the 13th 

 with unusual alacrity, and kept together in close 

 single file. Travelling in this way, our line, as it 

 undulated over the gentle swellings of the plain, 

 was seen from afar, and we were discovered very 

 soon after emerging from the ravine by a party of 

 Indians, encamped on the side of a hill about six 

 miles distant. Happily for these people they 

 knew we were now on the march, and expected to 

 see us at this time ; for had it not been so they 

 would have fled instantly with their wonted 

 timidity, and most probably have left every thing 

 they possessed behind them. As it was, we were 

 not many minutes in sight before they signalled 

 their position by raising a column of smoke. This 

 was replied to by us as soon as we could strike 

 a light and gather a few handfuls of moss ; and 

 our answer was immediately acknowledged by 

 them with a fresh column. They were encamped 

 nearly at right angles to our line of route ; but I 

 thought it better to join them for the purpose of 

 obtaining intelligence, and we accordingly struck 

 off in that direction. 



We reached their tents a little before noon, time 

 enough for us to make a meridional observation, 

 by which we ascertained that the latitude was 



