357 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 



The Arapaho American, a sketch of real life. — Tenets of the mountain Indians in 

 reference to a future state of rewards and punishments. — The " water bull." — 

 Country between Cow creek and Council Grove. Inviting locality for settle- 

 ment. — Sudden rise of water. — Separate routes. — Dangerous travelling. — Osage 

 village. — Osages, and all about them. — Arrival at Van Buren, Arkansas. — Con- 

 cluding remarks. 



Early in the year 1828, ere peace had been established between the 

 whites and the Arapahos, a large village of that tribe made its temporary 

 encampment upon the waters of the Cimarone, in the vicinity of the 

 Santa Fe trail. 



An opportunity so favorable for amusement was not suffered long to pass 

 unimproved by the younger ones, and group after group of merry boys 

 and girls were soon bescattered over the adjoining prairie, engaged in their 

 innocent sports, — for of play all children possess an intuitive fondness, be 

 they white, red, or black. 



Each successive day yielded its tribute to the routine of pleasure, as, true 

 to the teachings of childish philosophy, they seized the enjoyments of the 

 present, nor thought or cared for the future, — and thus far, it may be said, 

 some men are but overgrown boys. 



Impelled by the restless spirit of their years, on an occasion, several 

 frolicksome lads had wandered to an unusual distance from camp, and 

 passed most of the day in a fruitless effort to catch prairie-dogs. 



At length, wearied with a bootless task, they set their faces homeward. 

 Scarcely had they started, however, when the village made its appear- 

 ance, bearing directly towards them ; whereupon the happy band, seat- 

 ing themselves at the point of an eminence, awaited its approach, and 

 soon mingled with their relatives, one after another, as they were dis- 

 closed by the passing throng. 



In a short time a little boy, some six years old, alone remained — watch- 

 ing with eager impatience the appearance of his father's lodge ; but still 

 it came not. The crowd had passed and a solitary old man brought up 

 the rear. On seeing the lone stripling, he enquired the cause of his 

 delay. 



" My parents come not, and I await them," said the little fellow. 



"Haste you," replied the man ; " they have gone towards the sun-rising 

 for a day's travel. Run quicl<, that you may join them." 



The lad promptly followed the old man's direction, and set off in pur- 

 suit. His route led over a long reach of dry sand-prairie, eastward ol 

 the Cimarone, which was entirely destitute of water, and soon after cross- 

 ing the creek a heavy wind obscured the trail, • in addition to which the 

 thick clouds of dust, with fast-closing night and insufierable tliirst, com- 

 pelled him to turn again to the Cimarone. 



