i>98 MULE -HUNTING EXPEDITION. 



companion at three o'clock in the morning. The 

 silver stream of light from the unclouded moon 

 illumines the trail we follow as brightly as sun- 

 shine. The mules are to follow. As day dawns 

 an open plain is seen, spreading far away right and 

 left, and along it a horseman gallops towards us. 



As he nears I make him out to be an Indian on 

 a skewballed horse. We stop and parley, and I 

 find he is a Snake scout ; both horse and rider 

 are splendid specimens of their kind. A circle of 

 eagle's feathers fastened to the skin of the ermine 

 surrounds his head, and long raven black hair 

 covers his neck: a scarlet blanket, elaborately 

 beaded, hangs from his shoulders ; a broad 

 wampum-belt contains his knife and powder- 

 horn, and in his right hand he bears a rifle. 

 But very little paint daubs his shining-red skin, 

 through which every muscle stands out as if cast 

 in bronze ; he is a handsome savage, if there ever 

 was one. As we ride in opposite directions, I can- 

 not help thinking that men and mules will stand 

 but little chance if all the Snakes are like to this 

 sable warrior. Reached a cabin at the Tye creek 

 after doing forty-five miles, where we remained 

 for the night. 



May 31st. Ride in amidst the tents of the 

 Commission, anxiously awaiting my arrival. The 



