TRAPPING IN NORTH DAKOTA I871. 122 
On our return from signing up and seiting out the 
traps, we boated the slaughtered elk to the camp and 
proceeded to cut up and jerk or sundrythe meat. While 
all three were thus busily engaged, we were startled by 
rapid shots andloud yells. We looked inthe direction — 
of ourlone pony and saw that he was surrounded by) 
about twenty Indians yelling with a loud uproar. On i 
discovering us they spread out like a fan, heading for our 4 
camp. At this move we jumped for our guns and plunzed i 
ourselves on the grass. Some of the Indians then com- ' 
menced to yellin repitition, ““Pah-don-ee! Pah-don-ee!’’ 
(Sioux name for the Aricarees, )—and they all halted — 
but one. He advanced slowly bearing aloft a white 
flag. They were a war party of Gros Ventres and Man- © 
dans, looking around for Sioux stragglers. , 
On recognizing them as friendly, we gave the sign to © 
advance when they all rode up in flaunting style and dis- 
mounted. We then presented them with a big half of | 
the elk, which they immediately carved up and divided, 7 
each one making a brush sprint and cooking his portion 
around our camp fire. After the lunch they squatted in — 
a circle for their accustomed smoke, after which they all re- j 
mounted and rode away. | 
After having spent about one week with our trap line 
well attended, we counted cur pelts and found we had © 
about thirty beaver, one dozen otter, some thirty-five 
wolves and foxes, anda number of mink, badgers, coon 
bob cats and other miscellaneous furs. Among the 
wolves was a black buffalo wolf, avery rare animal in that 
section of the country. 
The week following was occupied by Williams and 
myself in sight-seeing at the Indian Agency at Ft. Ber- 
