COUNSEL GROVE. 213 



and murdered the Government mail men and that it 

 would be madness in me to attempt to hunt in that 

 direction. They all advised my turning back ; but, 

 thanking them for their advice and good wishes, I gave 

 no one any intimation of the course I intended to pur 

 sue ; and in the afternoon, on reaching a place with 

 wood and water called " Big John Spring,',' I encamped 

 for the night, intending the following day to reach 

 " Counsel Grove," where Penn had signed the treaty, 

 and when there to glean all further information in my 

 power. 



On the following morning we passed Counsel Grove, 

 and heard all the ill news confirmed, and were told that 

 another mail was overdue, and supposed to have been 

 stopped by the Indians. In addition to this intelligence, 

 I was informed that some buffalo hunters from New 

 Mexico, whom I had previously heard of as being out on 

 the plains, had been attacked, though a strong'party, and 

 had all their mules taken ; so, quite according to the old 

 adage, that ill news travels fast, I had plenty of reasons 

 briefly afforded me for taking measures to avoid a collision, 

 against which I was but inefficiently prepared. 



At Counsel Grove, then, very aptly I communed with 

 myself, and resolved on my future course, and at once 

 called up Mr Canterall. 



" Well," I said, " what do you now advise, with all 

 these difficulties before us ?" 



" Oh, wall, just to go on to Pawnee Fork that's a 

 fact." 



"Do you?" I replied; " which is the way to Fort 

 Riley, do you know it ?" 



" Fort Riley !" replied the fellow, with very evident 

 dislike; "it lies away here to the north; oh, yes, in 



