152 ' INDIAN KINDNESS. 



Leaving our new-found friends, we continued on for a few miles, and 

 halted a brief interval under the shade of a cottonwood grove. While thus 

 reclining upon the green grass, what was our surprise at seeing three In- 

 dians, who appeared suddenly in our midst extending their hands to greet 

 us ! 



They belonged to a war-party of Chyennes, — had been to the Pawnees, 

 and were now on their return, with three horses captured from the enemy. 



Continuing our course, towards sundown I began to find my rifle rather 

 cumbersome, and, yielding to the advice of all hands, threw it away. 



Having travelled till late at night, we laid ourselves down in the trail 

 for repose ; — the musquetoes, however, together with the heat, were so 

 annoying, sleep was impossible. 



I never in my life before was so tortured by these relentless persecutors. 

 Their sting was far more tolerable to me than the unending hum of their 

 music. To exterminate them was a hopeless task, for, at the death of one, 

 fifty would come to its funeral, — and to submit quietly to their rapacity and 

 be eaten up alive by such loving friends, was more than human flesh and 

 blood could endure. 



For three hours I lay, sweltered by the heat and pierced by the hungry 

 myriads that swarmed around, until my agony became so great it obtained 

 the mastery of reason, and I was scarcely self-conscious whether a being 

 of earth or an inhabitant of the realms of woe. 



In the height of my phrenzy I fancied four demons had hold of the ex- 

 tremities of my robe, and were fiercel}^ dragging me over a prairie of sharp 

 rocks, that tore my flesh at every bound. . The remainder of the party suf- 

 fered equally with myself, and none of them were permitted to close their 

 eyes that night. 



June 29tJi. We started at early day, and pursued our journey till ten 

 o'clock, which brought us to the foot of Grand Island, — a distance of sixty 

 miles from the place of our adventure with the Indians during the previous 

 afternoon. Here we indulged in a slight repast, and, reclining upon the 

 grass, enjoyed a few hours' sleep, despite the continued annoyance of mus- 

 quetoes. 



On arousing to resume the painful march, our legs were found in a very 

 unenviable plight, and almost refused to sustain the accustomed burthen. 

 Our feet, also, (softened and made tender by the mollffying effects of the 

 water, to which they had been so long familiar, and, unused to the offices 

 now newly forced upon them,) were sore and swollen to a frightful size. 

 From this on, our journey was most intensely painful. 



But, notwithstanding all, we were compelled to keep moving, though our 

 progress seemed more like the passage of Mahomet's " bridge of swords " 

 than aught else imaginable. 



July 2d. This morning our sfock of provisions was entirely exhausted, 

 and yet a long distance intervened between us and the settlements. 



Towards night, however, chance brought us in the way of a plentiful 

 supper, by our encountering the Pawnee village on its way to the buf- 

 falo range. We were entertained by the head chief in a hospitable 

 manner, who furnished iis bountifully with boiled corn and mush; and 



