COME ACROSS TWO INDIANS, 155 



on our return he thrashed every dog he came across, and did it 

 scientifically, knowing exactly where to take hold. 



As we wanted a good many things from St. Joe, including 

 money, I made up my mind to ride in on the horse which had 

 kicked me, as he had become very thin and not fit for camp 

 life, intending to sell him before I returned and to buy another ; 



and as F was going to move camp to Martin's, it was 



arranged that I was to go up from St. Joe by steamer to 

 Nebraska city, which would shorten my return journey. I left 

 about the end of July, taking as little baggage as possible ; and 

 yet I found that I had nearly seventy pounds, including my 

 saddle a heavy load for so long a journey with nothing but 



grass for the horse. It took me two days to reach Lake 



t 



Sibley, and on the second I was riding along the Republican 

 River looking for a ford, when two Indians came down on the 

 opposite bank and began to prepare to cross. Now they 

 might be friendly, but this was not likely, and as there was no 

 way of ascertaining this, the only thing to be done was to keep 

 them where they were, so I waved them back with my hand, 

 and as they still came on, I pointed my rifle at them. They 

 made friendly signs, but of course this proved nothing, and I 

 continued making gestures to indicate that I should fire if they 

 entered the water. Instead of going away they sat down, 

 holding their horses by the bridle, and now and then making 

 signs to me, of which I took no notice. For several hours I 

 had to sit there behind a log till it was quite dark, when 

 instead of continuing my journey down the river, I struck out 

 into the prairie for some miles, and then turning rode for the 

 river again, much lower down ; and this ruse succeeded, as I 

 saw no more of the Indians. 



