HUNTERS AND TRAPPERS OF THE FAR WEST. 95 



moreover, four white scalps to incite them to brave and 

 daring deeds. 



At this news the whole village was speedily in commotion : 

 the war-shout was taken up from lodge to lodge ; the squaws 

 began to lament and tear their hair ; the warriors to paint 

 and arm themselves. The elder chiefs immediately met in 

 council, and, over the medicine-pipe, debated as to the best 

 course to pursue whether to await the attack, or sally out 

 and meet the enemy. In the mean time, the braves were 

 collected together by the chiefs of the respective bands, and 

 scouts, mounted on the fastest horses, dispatched in every 

 direction to procure intelligence of the enemy. 



The two whites, after watering their mules and picketing 

 them in some good grass near the village, drew near the 

 council-fire, without, however, joining in the "talk," until 

 they were invited to take their seats by the eldest chief. Then 

 Killbuck was called upon to give his opinion as to the direc- 

 tion in which he judged the Rapahos to be approaching, which 

 he delivered in their own language, with which he was well 

 acquainted. In a short time the council broke up, and, with- 

 out noise or confusion, a band of one hundred chosen warriors 

 left the village, immediately after one of the scouts had gal- 

 loped in and communicated some intelligence to the chiefs. 

 Killbuck and La Bonte volunteered to accompany the war- 

 party, weak and exhausted as they were ; but this was nega- 

 tived by the chiefs, who left their white brothers to the care 

 of the women, who tended their wounds, njiv stiff and pain- 

 ful : and spreading their buffalo robes in a warm and roomy 

 lodge, left them to the repose they so much needed. 



The next morning, Killbuck's leg was greatly inflamed, and 

 he was unable to leave the lodge ; but he made his companion 

 bring the old mule to the door, that he might give her a couple 

 of ears of Indian corn, the last remains of the slender store 

 brought by the Indians from the Navajo country. The day 

 passed, and sun-down brought no tidings of the war-party. 



