ACROSS THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, ETC. 37 



dezvous, in order to obtain the furs brought every summer by 

 the trappers. 



Last night, while I Avas serving on guard, I observed an 

 unusual commotion among our band of horses, a wild neighing, 

 snorting, and plunging, for which I was unable to account. I 

 directed several of my men to go in and appease them,, and 

 endeavor to ascertain the cause. They had scarcely started, 

 liowever, when about half of the band broke their fastenings, 

 snapped the hopples on their legs, and went dashing right 

 through the midst of the camp. DoAvn went several of the tents, 

 the rampart of goods was cleared in gallant style, and away 

 went the frightened animals at full speed over the plain. The 

 whole camp was instantly aroused. The horses that remained, 

 were bridled as quickly as possible ; we mounted them without 

 saddles, and set off in hard pursuit after the fugitives. The 

 night was pitch dark, but we needed no light to point out the 

 way, as the clattering of hoofs ahead on the hard ground of the 

 prairie, sounded like thunder. After riding half an hour, we 

 overtook about forty of them, and surrounding them with difficulty, 

 succeeded in driving them back, and securing them as before. 

 Twenty men were then immediately despatched to scour the 

 country, and bring in the remainder. This party was headed 

 by Mr. Lee, our missionary, (who, with his usual promptitude, 

 volunteered his services,) and they returned early this morning, 

 bringing nearly sixty more. We find, however, upon counting 

 the horses in our possession, that there are yet three missing. 



While we were at breakfast,three Indians of the Otto tribe, came 

 to our camp to see, and smoke with us. These were men of 

 rather short stature, but strong and firmly built. Their coun- 

 tenances resemble in general expression those of the Kanzas, 

 and their dresses are very similar. We are all of opinion, that 

 it is to these Indians we owe our difficulties of last night, and 

 we have no doubt that the three missino; horses are now in their 



