196 INDIAN iONDMESS. 



Leaving our new-found friends, we continued on for a few miles, and 

 halted a brief interval under the shade of a cottonwood grove. While thus 

 reclining upon the green grass, what was our surprise at seeing three In- 

 dians, who appeared suddenly in our midst extending their hands to greei 

 us ! 



They belonged to a war-party of Chyennes, — had been to the Pawnees, 

 and were now on their return, with three horses captured from tlie enemy. 



Continuing our course, towards sundown I began to find my rifle rathei 

 cumbersome, and, yielding to the advice of all hands, threw it away. 



Having travelled till late at night, we laid ourselves down in the trail 

 for repose;— the musquetoes, however, togetlier Vviih the heat, were so 

 annoying, sleep was impossible. 



I never in my life before was so tortured by these relentless persecutors. 

 Their sting was far more tolerable to me than the unending hum of their 

 music. To exterminate them was a hopeless task, for, at the death of one, 

 fifty would come to its funeral, — and to submit quietly to their rapacity and 

 be eaten up alive by such loving friends, was more than human flesh and 

 blood could endure. 



For three liours I lay,' sweltered by the heat and pierced by the hungry 

 myriads that swarmed around, until my agony became so great it obtained 

 the mastery of reason, and I was scarcely self-conscious whether a being 

 of earth or an inhabitant of the realms of woe. 



In the height of my plirenzy I fancied four demons had hold of the ex- 

 tremities of my robe, and were fiercely dragging me over a prairie of sharp 

 rocks, that tore my flesh at every bound. The remainder of the party suf- 

 fered equally v/ith myself, and none of them were permitted to close their 

 eyes that night. 



June 29th. We started at early day, and pursued our journey till ten 

 o'clock, which brought us to the foot of Grand Island, — a distance of sixty 

 miles from the place of our adventure with the Indians during the previous 

 afternoon. Here we indulged in a slight repast, and, reclining upon the 

 grass, enjoyed a few hours' sleep, despite the continued amioyance of mus- 

 quetoes. 



On arousing to resume the painful march, our legs were found in a ver) 

 unenviable phght, and almost refused to sustain the accustomed burthen. 

 Our feet, also, (softened and made tender by the mollifying effects of the 

 water, to which they had been so long familiar, and, unused to the offices 

 now newly forced upon them,) were sore and swollen to a frightful size. 

 From this on, our journey was most intensely painful. 



But, notwithstanding all, we were compelled to keep moving, tliough oui 

 progress seemed more like the passage of Mahomet's " bridge of swords " 

 Ihan aught else imaginable. 



July 2d. This morning our stock of provisions was entirely exhausted, 

 and yet a long distance intervened betv/een us and the settlements. 



Towards night, however, chance brought us in the way of » plentiful 

 aiupper, by our encountering the Pawnee village on its way '/> the buf* 

 falo range. We were entertained by the head chief in . hospitable 

 ■uumer, who furoished us bountifully with boiled oom and ^aush; and 



