ELDORADO 265 



ftlibustering expedition of Colonels Snivel)' and War- 

 tield gathered, in 1843, ^^^' their decent upon Mexico. 



On one occasion it was besieged by some thousands 

 of plain's Indians ; all of the various tribes having laid 

 aside their mutual hostilities, and leagued together for 

 the extermination of the white men, and the closing 

 of all routes across the plains, and through their hunt- 

 ing grounds. Bill Bent, approaching it with his wagon 

 train, and knowing that two or three hundred raw 

 recruits of the United States army formed its only 

 garrison, hastened rapidly to its relief. On his way 

 he met several deserters, who, in the night, had scaled 

 the walls of what they regarded as a doomed place, 

 and stealing cautiously through the savage lines, had 

 fled with all speed toward the States. 



Several couriers had also been dispatched, at inter- 

 vals of twelve hours apart, to hurry up reinforce- 

 ments. When he arrived in sight of his fort, Bent saw 

 that it was menaced by a terrible danger ; the thou- 

 sands of hostile Indians dancing their war and scalp 

 dances, and endeavoring to work themselves up to the 

 proper pitch of frenzy to make their attack. At the 

 sight. Bent's blood fairly boiled, and leaving his train 

 under charge of one of his best men, he mounted his 

 horse and rode furiously toward the fort. His hat was 

 off, and his long hair trailed out behind him like a 

 banner from its staff, and it was a trophy, that any 

 of the savages would have been more than proud to 

 wear at his belt. 



As he dashed along he uttered his fierce war-whoop, 

 and with oaths, couched in the choicest Cheyenne, 

 v^ioux, Arapaho and English, he dashed through the 

 ranks of the awe-struck Indians and reached the eate 



