296 " FRIDAY. 



company were busily engaged in carving their own ; but remembering a 

 former resolution, I declined the honor of imitating their example. 



June 16th. More than three weeks have intervened since our arrival at 

 Walnut creek, and still there is no present possibility of proceeding with 

 the waggons. This continued delay is becoming extremely irksome, not- 

 withstanding the countless thousands of buffalo which afford us an inex- 

 haustible feast of " fat things." Time is precious and I must go on ; and 

 there are several who would do likewise, but hesitate, — while frightful vis- 

 ions of Pawnees and Osages disturb their midnight dreams and fluster 

 their waking thoughts. Friday, the Arapaho, asks to accompany me ; — 

 our arrangements are completed, and to-morrow we leave. 



June 11th. About noon, bidding adieu to vexatious hindrances, we 

 started, and, after a short ride, forded the Arkansas above the mouth of Wal- 

 nut creek, — thence, following the course of that river upon its opposite 

 bank, we haltec^for the night in a broad sandy bottom, four or five miles be- 

 low. 



The musquetoes here proved so troublesome to ourselves and animals, 

 we were compelled to defend the former by means of a dense smoke and pro- 

 tect the latter with a close envelope of robes. The next morning we re- 

 crossed the Arkansas, and, striking the waggon road soon after near Plum 

 Butte, continued our way to Cow creek. 



A few miles above this point the regular trail leaves the Arkansas upon 

 the right, and, following a northwesterly course for about three hundred and 

 fifty miles, strikes the States at Independence, Mo. 



The interval between Walnut and Cow creeks is generally sandy and 

 somewhat tumulous, but is diflTerent in many respects from any other sec- 

 tion previously noticed. The hills, adjacent to the river and near the 

 trail, are coniform and not unfrequently naked piles of dry sand, while the 

 hollows and depressions among them afford a humid soil, coated with rank 

 vegetation 



Cow creek is a small stream with very steep, clayey banks, and is 

 sparsely timbered. Its bottom is about four miles broad and of variable 

 fertility, — doubtless susceptible of cultivation. 



On resuming our course we leave the buffalo region, a transition for which 

 we are now fully prepared. Aware that this must shortly occur, I had sent 

 Friday in advance with my rifle, who very soon prostrated three fine bulls, 

 affording us a stock of most excellent beef from which to make our selec- 

 tions. 



Few Indians or whites can compete with Friday as a buffalo-hunter, 

 either in the use of the bow or rifle. I have seen him kill five of these 

 animals at a single chase, and am informed that he has not unfrequently 

 exceeded that number. Conscious skill, in this respect, is the occasion 

 of some little pride to its possessor. 



But it is not in hunting exploits alone that he excels ; his deeds of war 

 equally command the respect and admiration of his tribe, among whom he 

 is known as the " Arapaho American." A brief sketch of his early life 

 I have reserved for the succeeding chapter, which the reader may rely upon 

 as strictly true. 



