HUNTERS AND SQUAWS. 185 



he was designated ' the Cap. ;' his proper appella- 

 tion, I was informed, was Ned Soule. 



The reception accorded to me was far from being 

 marked by that warmth which I had anticipated. 

 Blunt and gruff, however, as he was with all why 

 should he make an exception in my favour, more 

 particularly when it was evident that no money was 

 to be squeezed out of me ? 



I determined, however, only to remain in his 

 camp as long as circumstances compelled me, sub- 

 mitting patiently and without murmur to my share 

 of work. Soule's society, also, I should take care to 

 avoid as much as possible ; feeling convinced that if 

 I pursued another course, there might be some 

 danger of a collision which it would be more prudent 

 to avert by a cautious course of conduct. 



In this camp there were fourteen hunters, a few 

 of whom had squaws. Although, in true Indian 

 fashion, all the hard work devolved on these unfor- 

 tunate women, they did not appear to murmur, but 

 even looked happy, notwithstanding their excessive 

 drudgery. When this camp was formed, each mem- 

 ber had possessed a horse ; several also had mules ; 

 but a disease, caused, doubtless, by neglect and 

 filth, had broken out among their cattle, of which 

 only four survivors were left. These were in capital 

 condition, as a stock of forage had been gathered 

 the previous autumn, to supply the wants of the 

 larger number, so that there was now an overplus, 

 which was distributed with no niggardly hand. Of 



