

334 IN THE OLD WEST 



their sides. x However, the night passed quietly ^ 

 and nothing disturbed the tranquillity of the camp. 

 The prairie wolves loped hungrily around, and 

 their mournful cry was borne upon the wind, as 

 they chased deer and antelope on the neighbor- 

 ing plain; but not a sign of lurking Indians was- 

 seen or heard. 



In the morning, shortly after sunrise, they were 

 in the act of yoking the oxen to the wagons, and 

 driving in the loose animals which had been turned 

 out to feed at daybreak, when some Indians again 

 appeared upon the bluff, and, descending it, con- 

 fidently approached the camp. Antoine strongly 

 advised their not being allowed to enter; but 

 Brand, ignorant of Indian treachery, replied that, 

 so long as they came as friends, they could not 

 be deemed enemies, and allowed no obstruction to 

 be offered to their approach. It was now observed 

 that they were all painted, armed with bows and 

 arrows, and divested of their buffalo-robes, ap- 

 pearing naked to the breech-clout, their legs only 

 being protected by deer-skin leggings, reaching 

 to the middle of the thigh. Six or seven first ar- 

 rived, and others quickly followed, dropping in one 

 after the other, until a score or more were collected 

 round the wagons. Their demeanor, at first 

 friendly, soon changed as their numbers increased, 

 and they now became urgent in their demands for 

 powder and lead, and bullying in their manner. 

 A chief accosted Brand, and, through Antoine, 



