92 NARKATIVK OF A JOURNEV 



CHAPTER VI. 



Departure of the hunting camp — A false alarm — Blackfeet Indians — their 

 ferocity — Requisites of a mountain-man — Good fare, and good appetites — An 

 experiment — Grizzly bears — Visit of a JVe; Perci lndia7i — Adventure with 

 a gnzzlij hear — Hunter's anecdotes — Homeward bou7id — Accident from gun- 

 powder — Arrival at " Fort Hall" — 1 salute — Emaciation of some of the 

 party from lo',u diet— Mr. McKay's company — Buffalo lodges— Progress of 

 the building — Effects of judicious training— Indian -worship — A " Camp 

 Meeting" — Mr. Jason Lee, a favorite— A fatal accident and a burial. 



July 16th. — Our little hunting party of twelve men, rode out 

 of the encampment this morning, at a brisk trot, which gait was 

 continued until we arrived at our late encampment on Ross' 

 creek, having gone about thirty miles. Here we came to a halt, 

 and made a hearty meal on a buffalo which we had just killed. 

 While we were eating, a little Welshman, whom we had stationed 

 outside our camp to watch the horses, came running to us out of 

 breath, crying in a terrified falsetto. ^^ Indians, Indians.'^'' In a 

 moment every man was on his feet, and his gun in his hand ; the 

 horses were instantly surrounded, by Richardson's direction, and 

 driven into the bushes, and we were preparing ourselves for the 

 coming struggle, when our hunter, peering out of the thick copse 

 to mark the approach of the enemy, burst at once into a loud 

 laugh, and muttering something about a Welsh coward, stepped 

 boldy from his place of concealment, and told us to follow him. 

 When we had done so, we perceived the band approaching 

 steadily, and it seemed warily, along the path directly in our 

 front. Richardson said something to them in an unknown 

 tongue, which immediately brought several of the strangers to- 



