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TRAPPING IN NEBRASKA I[866-7. 117 
was foggy and when opposite the black beaver house, 
we were startled by Indiaa yells, or rather calls,and made 
hasty preparations for a combat but no enemy could be 
seen as the fog was dense. After scanning our surround- 
ings and deeming the Indians’ move that of hostility, 
we held a quiet consultation, and concluded it would 
be advisable to take up the traps and return to the settle- 
ment as the furbearers were mostly destroyed within 
the few miles radius to the camp, and now that the In- 
dians had discovered our whereabouts, a second visit 
might be expected fromthem at any time. St. Clair 
was aveteran trapper of the Rocky Mountain region and 
had considerable experience with hostile Indians, and 
advised to ‘‘pull camp’’ as the catch had beena clean-up. 
Some months after our return to the Loup Fork head- 
quarters, Bill Gibson, a Pawnee linguist and well posted 
in the ways of that tribe, made astatement from inquiry 
gained through the tribe that this party were of the Kit- 
kah-haw band, and were led by Rodgers an educated 
but bad Indian who had intended to surprise the trapper 
in his morning call on the trap line, but were themselves 
surprised at seeing two companions with him—when 
they had expected to find him alone. Four trappers 
were robbed and killed on the Republiean River, 150 
miles to the westward of Shell Creek, some weeks pre- 
vious to the escapade above mentioned, and Rodgers 
and his party stood accused of the same. 
