RECONNOITERIXG FOR WITCHES. 389 



We noted a curious incident, relative to the 

 wind's fantastic freaks on the plains, while at Sheri- 

 dan. One day, during the prevalence of a north 

 wind, we observed all the old papers, cards, and other 

 light rubbish which ornament a frontier town, mov- 

 ing off to the south like flocks of birds. Two days 

 afterward, the wind changed, and the refuse all 

 came flying back again, and passed on to the north- 

 ward. 



On the first evening of our homeward journey 

 from Sheridan, we encamped on what appeared to be 

 a small tributary of the upper Solomon. While the 

 tents were being pitched, and the necessary provis- 

 ions unloaded, Shamus strolled toward a clump of 

 trees half a mile off, in hopes of securing a wild 

 turkey to add to his stores. He soon came running 

 back in a great fright, to tell us that, as he was pass- 

 ing among the trees, the black pacer of the plains, 

 with its bloody master in the saddle, had started out 

 of a bottom meadow just beyond, and fled away into 

 the gloom. This was a sufficiently ghostly tale in 

 itself, but it was not all ; Shamus further averred 

 that as he turned to fly, he saw a hideous Indian 

 witch swinging to and fro in a tree directly before 

 him. The spot was unwholesome, he assured us, and 

 he urged instant removal. 



It seemed evident that our cook had some founda- 

 tion for his fears, as his terror was too great and his 

 account too circumstantial for the matter to be 

 simply one of an excited imagination. If there were 

 Indians close by, it was necessary that we should 

 know it at once, and avoid the danger of an attack 



