﻿326 PICTORIAL MISCELLANY. 



however, we set off as usual, and I could not understand why we 

 were to go on, if, as I had surmised, we were near the place of our 

 destination. So, after we were quietly seated in our canoe, I com- 

 menced conversing with my companions, hoping to learn something 

 about these, to me, extraordinary proceedings. 



" Jollie," said I, " don't you think we are pretty near the buf- 

 falo's range ?" 



" Oh," he replied, " guess not. Maybe though, may be not- 



come on 'em soon.' 



" But," I continued, " did you not observe our hunters last night 

 examining their rifles, preparing their powder, and making other 

 similar preparations ? and don't that show that they expect the game 

 is at hand ? " 



Jollie turned a glance full of meaning at me, and in his charac- 

 teristic manner replied : " Fish don't sleep out of water. Thieves / 

 never beat a drum when they go to steal. The Blackfeet rifles are 

 straight ! " 



In an instant the truth, painful as it was, flashed across my mind. 

 We were in danger. We were now on the hunting premises of the 

 Blackfeet and Crow Indians, and were liable, every moment, to a 

 surprise. However safe I had felt at the fort, however free from 

 danger I had flattered myself I should be in the Indian country, I 

 now saw that, unless Jollie was joking with me, which I really 

 hoped, my life was in danger. All my former dread of the murder- 

 ing savages returned in a moment, and it seemed to me that I actu- 



o O 



ally trembled. I would have given anything to have been safely 

 back to the fort ; but that was impossible. I did not dare to exhibit 

 the least fear to my companions, who seemed to care very little about 

 the matter, for a coward could never live among the Indians with 

 any safety or comfort to himself. How much I thought of, that day, 

 besides my own preservation, my young readers can judge. A 

 hundred times did Jollie put me to the torture, by recounting some 

 of his hair-breadth escapes from his enemies, exhibiting the marks 

 of knives upon his person, and speculating as to what we had reason 

 to expect before night ; and I found that he would consider the 

 party lucky if, provided we were attacked, one half of our number 

 escaped. In short, I had the " horrors " dreadfully all day. The 



