92 THRILLING ADVENTURES. 



tain chain of moderate elevation, above which, and to the 

 south, Pike's Peak towered high into the clouds. With great 

 difficulty they crossed this ridge, and ascending and descend- 

 ing several smaller ones, which gradually smoothed away as 

 they met the valley, about three hours after sunrise they found 

 themselves in the south-east corner of the Bayou Salade. 



Judging, from the direction the Rapahos were taking, that 

 the friendly tribe of Yutas were there already, the trappers 

 had resolved to join them as soon as possible ; and, therefore, 

 without resting, pushed on through the uplands, and, toward 

 the middle of the day, had the satisfaction of descrying the 

 conical lodges of the village, situated on a large level plateau, 

 through which ran a mountain stream. A numerous band of 

 mules and horses were scattered over the pasture, and round 

 them several mounted Indians kept guard. As the trappers 

 descended the bluffs into the plain, some straggling Indians 

 caught sight of them ; and instantly one of them, lassoing a 

 horse from the herd, mounted it, barebacked, and flew like 

 wind to spread the news. Soon the lodges disgorged their 

 inmates ; first the women and children rushed to the side of 

 the strangers' approach ; then the younger Indians, unable 

 to restrain their curiosity, mounted their horses, and galloped 

 forth to meet them. The old chiefs, enveloped in buffalo 

 robes (softly and delicately dressed as the Yutas alone know 

 how,) and with tomahawk held in one hand and resting in 

 the hollow of the other arm, sallied last of all from their 

 lodges, and squatting in a row on a sunny bank outside the 

 village, awaited with dignified composure, the arrival of the 

 whites. Killbuck was well known to most of them, having 

 trapped in their country and traded with them years before 

 at Robideau's fort at the hear) waters of the Rio Grande. 

 After shaking hands with all who presented themselves, he 

 at once gave them to understand that their enemies, the Ra- 

 pahos, were at hand, with a hundred warriors at least, elated 

 by the coup they had just struck against the whites, bringing, 



