LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. - 185 



This lesson had a seasonable effect upon the Diggers, who 

 made no attempt on the cavallada that night or the next ; for the 

 camp remained two days to recruit the animals. 



We will not follow the party through all the difficulties and 

 perils of the desert route, nor detail the various deviltries of the 

 Diggers, who constantly sought opportunities to stampede the ani- 

 mals, or, approaching them in the night as they grazed, fired their 

 arrows indiscriminately at the herd, trusting that dead or disabled 

 ones would be left behind, and afford them a good supply of meat. 

 In the month of December the mountaineers crossed the great di- 

 viding ridge of the Rocky Mountains, making their way through 

 the snowy barrier with the utmost difficulty, and losing many mules 

 and horses in the attempt. On passing the ridge, they at once struck 

 the head-springs of the Arkansas river, and turned into the Bayou 

 Salade. Here they found a village of Arapahos, and were in no 

 little fear of leaving their cavallada with these dexterous horse- 

 thieves. Fortunately, the chief in command was friendly to the 

 whites, and restrained his young men ; and a present of three 

 horses insured his good offices. Still, the near neighborhood of 

 these Indians being hardly desirable, after a few days' halt the 

 Americans were again on their way, and halted finally at the 

 juncture of the Fontaine-qui-bout with the Arkansas, where they 

 determined to construct a winter camp. They now considered 

 themselves at home, and at once set about building a log-shanty 

 capable of containing them all, and a large corral for securing the 

 animals at night, or in case of Indian alarms. This they effected 

 by felHng several large cotton-woods, and throwing them in the 

 form of a horse-shoe : the entrance, however, being narrower than 

 in that figure, and secured by upright logs, between which poles 

 were fixed to be withdrawn at pleasure. The house, or " fort" — 

 as any thing in the shape of a house is called in these parts, 

 where, indeed, every man must make his house a castle — was 

 loopholed on all sides, and boasted a turf chimney of rather primi- 



