]'76 liLACK-PEET IN-DIANS, 



companion tethered on the borders of the wood, i listened, and ni an 

 instant distinctly heard the clattering of horses hoofs upon the hard 

 prairie in a direction opposite to that in which the party had travelled. 

 To deposit my cherished specimens in my game-bag and run to my 

 horse was the work of but a single instant ; and well it was for me that 

 1 lost no time, for, within forty yards of me came three tall Indians in 

 their war paint, their horses leisurely trotting on the trail of our party. 

 How I unbound the trail-iope from the sapling I do not know ; but in 

 an instant it was disengaged ; I sprang upon my horse's back like light- 

 ning, without, as I believe, touching the stirrup, and, with the long rope 

 trailing on the ground behind me, dashed ofi' at top speed. At this in- 

 stant the Indians could not have been ten yards from me. They set up 

 a simultaneous yell that froze the very blood in my veins ; and then the 

 whole party called Abserbkie, Mserbkie, at the top of their voices. — 

 This word I knew to be the countersign of the Crow Indians, who were 

 at that time nominally friendly to the white traders, but I had listened to 

 more than one story of this call, being used by the Black-feet to entice 

 straggling white men to their destruction, so I spurred on faster than 

 ever. I knew by the sound that I was gaining on my pursuers on ac- 

 count of the superiority of my horse, and turned in my saddle to assure 

 myself of the fact, when a shrill whistle sounded close to my ear, and 

 instantly after I heard the sharp crack of a rifle. This was getting to 

 be rather warm work, and I commenced to sway my body from side to 

 side to elude a second aim. fn this I was perfectly successful, for, al- 

 though the next moment another gun broke the silence, the leaden mes- 

 senger flew wide of its mark. Slill we went tearing on; the sound wax- 

 ed fainter in the rear, and wlien I looked behind, my savage pursuers 

 were quite out of gun range. My courage revived ; I pointed my piece 

 with one hand over my shoulder and fired my single remaining charge 

 at the foe. This drew a long, loud yell from them, evidently expressive 

 of rage and disappointment. ]\Iy guii had been charged with small shot 

 and of course the missiles did not reach one tenth the distance ; but it 

 had its efTect, for I saw them halt immediately after, and apparently en- 

 gaged in consultation. I gave them but one look, and dashed on, never 

 relaxing my speed until the rear of our caravan appeared slowly moving 

 along the plain. The Indians were then no where to be seen. Upon 

 joining the party, I mounted a fresh horse; and thenceforth, during our 

 long and tedious journey, was careful never to lag»far behind the main 

 body. J. K. T. 



' Philadelphia, May 29, lS-17. 



