IN THE FAR WEST. 151 



wounded, while the remainder started towards the south to 

 see what damage had been committed, and to learn if the 

 tribe we had been fighting were those who had been raiding 

 in that direction. We had not travelled far before we came 

 to a smouldering waggon, and beside it we found a man and his 

 wife, and evidently his two daughters, lying dead. They were 

 terribly, unspeakably mutilated, and the horrible expression 

 of their features showed what an agonizing death they must 

 have suffered. After burying these in the rudest manner, to 

 prevent them from being devoured by wolves, we moved 

 on, and at every few miles met indications of the savage 

 fury of the demons who were scouring over the country. 

 Every house was burnt, and amid their ashes, or lying in 

 the yards, were the mutilated remains of men, women, and 

 children, not a person being spared from the babe to the gray- 

 haired old man. The scene was so sickening, and the destruc- 

 tion so wide-spread, that we were compelled to desist and 

 turn our faces homewards, for it was evident, by the nume- 

 rous tracks of horses' hoofs, that there were two bodies of 

 Indians in the field, and that the one we were following 

 was much the larger, and could not have numbered less than 

 three or four hundred warriors. Fearing they might return 

 through the valley, we made all possible haste back, to pre- 

 pare a warm reception for them ; and on reaching the 

 mining hamlet once more, we found the tallest tree there 

 graced by four dangling Sioux, who had been captured 

 while trying to return to their own camp. Thev were 

 evidently those whose tracks we had discovered the pre- 

 vious day, so their summary fate was the cause of some 

 rejoicing. 



The village was kept in a state of excitement for a week 

 by the reports of scouts and reconnoitring parties, who 

 reported the movements of several bodies of Indians that 

 were hovering in the woods adjoining the valley on the 

 north, but as they did not come any nearer, hopes were 

 entertained that the severe lesson taught them would prevent 

 any further trouble. Suddenly, one evening, a large war- 

 party, driving an immense herd of horses, was reported to 



