PAWNEE BRAVERY. 33 



The vicinity disclosed frequont boulders of red and dark ferruginous 

 sandstone, with a soil somewhat arenose, reclining upon a changeable 

 deposite of sand and gravel, succeeded by a substratum of parti-colored 

 and friable sandstone. The valley of the Blue is bordered by liills of 

 graceful slope, both green and beautiful. 



I here remarked for the first time the appearance of cacti, which here- 

 from becomes quite common, and proves the pest of many places adjacent 

 to the mountains. 



The Blue is a deep, narrow stream, with a swift current, over a bed of 

 gravel and pebbles, and is fringed by groves of oak, cotton-wood, and wil- 

 low. Its valley is between one and two miles in widtl), with a superficeof 

 variable fertility, but generally consisting of good arable land. 



This section of country is considered very dangerous in the summer 

 and fall months, on account of the strolling bands of Pawnees which infest 

 it. The voyageur holds the latter in great dread, unless he chances to be 

 accompanied by a sutiicient force to bid defiance to their approach. A 

 party, numerically weak and indifferently armed, meets with rough treat- 

 ment at their hands while on the open prairies. Persons and property 

 are rarely respected, and the unfortunate traveller is not only plundered, 

 but often whipt or murdered without mercy. 



This, however, may not be said of all — it is only the young warriors, 

 wiien beyond the restraint of their chiefs and seniors, who perpetrate such 

 outrages ; though, to their praise be it said, instances of this kind are quite 

 seldom, at present, compared with former years. 



The courage of these Indians is held in little repute by mountaineers; 

 and, that this opinion is not unfounded, the following incident will prove. It 

 was relattd to me by an actor in the scene: 



A small party of w^hites on their cruise down the Platte with a cargo of 

 furs, '-lay by " to make meat, near the forks of that stream. Buffalo be- 

 ing at souxe distance from camp, our adventurers were compelled to perform 

 the duties of pack-horses in conveying the proceeds of tlieir hunting ex- 

 cursions. One day, four of them left for this object, and having proceeded 

 some six or eight miles, a war-party of Pawnees suddenly emerged from 

 behind an eminence, directly fronting them. Alarmed at the unwelcome 

 apparition, and imagining the whole country to be alive with Indians, they 

 immediately ran, and were pursued towards camp. One of the number, a 

 big, lazy fellow, and rather " green " w ithal, soon became tired, and sung 

 out to his companions : 



" Don't let's run so fast. Blast me, if T can keep up !" 



"Come on, — come on !" cried they. " A thousand ' shaved heads' are 

 upon us, hah' frozen for hair !" 



"Pooh ! I'll bet five dollars there aint thirty !" 



""Done ! But, who'll count the bloody varmints ?" 



"Why, I'll do it, just for my own satisfaction." So saying, he wheeled 

 and advanced towards the Pawnees, as his wondering companions halted a 

 little distance off, to learn the result of his fool-darino-. 



Surprised at this strange movement, the enemy also came to a stand, 

 offording a fine opportunity to ascertain their number, which only amounted 

 to nineteen ! 



