A CHANGE IN THE PROGRAMME. 265 



is wonderful how quickly one's ardor disappears, 

 when, from being the hunter, he becomes the hunted. 

 Our only desire now was, in Sachem's language, "a 

 hankering arter camp," which we at once proceeded 

 to gratify. 



Back again with the remainder of our party, we 

 felt quite safe. Indians of the plains seldom attack 

 an armed body which is prepared for them ; and then 

 there had been no recent demonstrations of hostility. 

 On the other hand, no massacre had yet occurred 

 upon the frontier which was not unexpected. The 

 whole life of many of these nomads has been a cata- 

 logue of surprises. It was Artemus Ward, I think, 

 who knew mules that would be good for weeks, for 

 the sake of getting a better opportunity of kicking a 

 man. These savages will do the same for the sake 

 of killing one. 



Many an armed man, fully capable of defending 

 himself, has thus been thrown off his guard, and sent 

 suddenly into eternity. The cunning savage, seeing 

 his foe prepared, approaches with signs of friendship, 

 and cries of "How, how?" Indian and short for 

 "How are you? " Their extended hands meet, and 

 as the palms touch, the pale-face shakes hands with 

 death; for, while his fingers are held fast in that 

 treacherous clasp, some other savage brains him from 

 behind, or sheaths a knife in his heart, and the be- 

 trayed white, jerked forward with a fiendish laugh, 

 kisses the grass with bloody lips. We had been re- 

 peatedly warned by our guides that, when in the 

 minority, the only safe way to hold councils with the 

 Indians is at rifle range. Even if bound by treaty, a 



