LA BONTE'S ADVENTURES. 103 



wilful mulislmess of the animal stir up one's choler more than 

 in the very trick this one played, and which is a daily occur- 

 ence. After tugging ineffectually for several minutes, wind- 

 ing the rope round his body, and throwing himself suddenly 

 forward with all his strength, the trapper actually foamed 

 with passion ; and although he might have subdued the ani- 

 mal at once by fastening the rope with a half hitch round its 

 nose, this, with an obstinacy equal to the mule itself, he re- 

 fused to attempt, preferring to vanquish her by main strength. 

 Failing to do so, the mountaineer, with a volley of blasphe- 

 mous imprecations, suddenly seized his rifle, and leveling it 

 at the mule's head, shot her dead. 



Passing the Wa-ka-rasha, a well timbered stream, they met 

 a band of Osages going "to buffalo." These Indians, in 

 common with some bands of Pawnees, shave the head, with 

 the exception of a ridge from the forehead to the centre of 

 the scalp, which is "roached" or hogged like the mane of a 

 mule, and stands erect, plastered with unguents, and orna- 

 mented with feathers of the hawk and turkey. The naked 

 scalp is often painted in mosaic, with black and red, the face 

 with shining vermilion. This band were all naked to the 

 breech-clout, the warmth of the sun having made them throw 

 their dirty blankets from their shoulders. These Indians not 

 unfrequently levy contributions on the strangers they acci- 

 dentally meet ; but they easily distinguish the determined 

 mountaineer from the incautious greenhorn, and think it best 

 to let the former alone. 



Crossing Vermilion, the trappers arrived on the fifth day 

 at " Blue," where they encamped in the broad timber belting 

 the creek, and there awaited the arrival of the remainder of 

 the party. 



It was two days before they came up ; but the following 

 day they started for the mountains, fourteen in number, 

 striking a trail which follows the "Big Blue" in its course 

 through the prairies, which, as they advanced to the westward, 



