A HORRIBLE SIGHT. 151 



I had my dinner in the deep bed of a stream, feeding the 

 horses with corn ; and it was lucky that I did so, for on going 

 up to look round before starting, I saw a band of Indians, 

 evidently running buffalo, about two miles ahead of me. I 

 lay down and watched them for about two hours, by which 

 time they had all crossed a high divide on my left, when I 

 started again, taking care to reconnoitre before crossing any 

 high ground, tying the pony and Jeff together while I did 

 so, when they would remain patiently till I returned. 



I saw nothing more of the Indians, and struck the Republican 

 River about six o'clock in the evening, and was surprised at 

 seeing a waggon on the bank among some bushes. On reach- 

 ing it I found it had been plundered, while round it lay the 

 bodies of five men and four horses, all of the former being 

 scalped, and one who lay under the hind end of the waggon 

 had had the top of his head chopped off down to the eyes. 

 There were no signs as to who they were, but a small note-book 

 which I found in the pocket of the man under the waggon, in 

 which was written "J. Ralston," and the book contained 

 accounts. It was time to camp, but I could not do so there, 

 so I crossed the river and camped about a mile from the 

 waggon, dreaming during the night of the horrible sight, and 

 jumping up several times, thinking I was attacked by Indians. 

 The men looked as if they had been dead about a fortnight, 

 and as they were partially eaten by wolves, they were not 

 pleasant to look at. I heard afterwards that the party had 

 consisted of an American major and five men, who had been 

 out on a hunt, and who had been attacked and murdered by 

 the Sioux, only one man escaping, as he was on outpost duty 

 at the time of the attack. The major had incurred the hatred 



