LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 227 



*' Howgh I" and drew the cover again on his piece, went up to 

 old Brand, who all this time looked him sternly in the face, and, 

 shaking him by the hand, motioned at the same time to the others 

 to be peaceable. 



The other whites presently coming into camp, the Indians sat 

 quietly down by the fire, and, when the supper was ready, joined 

 in the repast, after which they gathered their buffalo robes about 

 them, and quietly withdrew. Meanwhile Antoine, knowing the 

 treacherous character of the savages, advised that the greatest 

 precaution should be taken to secure the stock ; and before dark, 

 therefore, all the mules and horses were hobbled and secured 

 within the corral, the oxen being allowed to feed at liberty — for 

 the Indians scarcely care to trouble themselves with such cattle. 

 A guard was also set round the camp, and relieved eveiy two 

 hours ; the fire was extinguished, lest the savages should aim, by 

 its light, at any of the party, and all slept with rifles ready at 

 their sides. However, the night passed quietly, and nothing dis- 

 turbed the tranquillity of the camp. The prairie wolves loped 

 hungrily around, and their mournful cry was borne upon the wind 

 as they chased deer and antelope on the neighboring plain ; but 

 not a sign of lurking Indians was seen or heard. 



In the morning, shortly after sunrise, they were in the act of 

 yoking the oxen to the wagons, and driving in the loose animals 

 which had been turned out to feed at daybreak, when some 

 Indians again appeared upon the bluff, and, descending it, confi- 

 dently approached the camp. Antoine strongly advised their not 

 being allowed to enter ; but Brand, ignorant of Indian treachery, 

 replied that, so long as they came as friends, they could not be 

 deemed enemies, and allowed no obstruction to be offered to their 

 approach. It was now observed that they were all painted, 

 armed with bows and arrows, and divested of their buffalo robes, 

 appearing naked to the breech-clout, their legs only being protected 

 by deerskin leggings, reaching to the rniadle of the thigh. Six or 



