348 ON THE FKONTIEB. 



and being in full practice in shooting deer on the run with 

 the rifle, it was not reasonable to suppose a large majority 

 of shots had been misses. The proposition, rashly made, 

 that there should be a search for dead Indians, though 

 backed up by the assertion of more than one that he knew 

 where he could find some, was instantly negatived as being 

 altogether too dangerous an undertaking, for if any of the 

 wounded Indians lying in the brush were armed and not 

 quite hors de combat, we might easily have one of our party 

 killed by them should we venture into the jungle. Pah- 

 Squal remarked that if the place was watched it could be 

 learned how many had been killed; for, according to their 

 invariable custom on all such occasions, the Pinalas would 

 return when the coast was clear, find the slain, and, piling 

 brush and wood on the bodies where they lay, consume the 

 corpses and everything belonging to them. And he quaintly 

 added, " I think there will be many smokes this night." 



When refreshed and rested we resumed our journey, 

 and, keeping an extra sharp look-out as we travelled on, 

 pushed forward at the best pace the Indians could ac- 

 complish. 



A little before sunset we arrived at a stream near the 

 fort, and the three chiefs asked us to stop awhile, to enable 

 them to prepare themselves for their coming public appear- 

 ance. We halted accordingly, and they proceeded at once 

 and in full view to make their toilets. We sat down to 

 take a rest, smoke a comfortable pipe, and see how it was 

 all done. 



First, they took a good wallow and souse in the stream, 

 then they dressed their hair while the sun and air dried 



