42 LIFEINTHEFARWEST. 



Etantly one of them, lassoing a horse from the herd, mounted it, 

 barebacked, and flew like wind to the village 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 cliiefs, envel- 

 oped in buffalo robes (softly and delicately dressed as the Yutas 

 alone know how), and with tomahawk held in one hand and rest- 

 ing 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 Roubideau's fort at 

 the head waters of the Rio Grande. After shaking hands with 

 all who presented themselves, he at once gave them to understand 

 that their enemies, the Rapahos, were at hand, with a hundred 

 warriors at least, elated by the coup they had just struck against 

 the whites, bringing, moreover, four white scalps to incite them to 

 brave 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 them- 

 selves. The elder chiefs immediately met in council, and, over 

 the medicine-pipe, debated as to the best course to pursue — whether 

 to wait the attack, or sally out and meet the enemy. In the mean 

 time, the braves were collected together by the chiefs of their re- 

 spective bands, and scouts, mounted on the fastest horses, dis- 

 patched 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 w^as called 

 upon to give his opinion as to the direction in which he judged the 



