ACROSS THE UOCKY MOUNTAINS, ETC. 129 



CHAPTER VIII. 



Jl substitute for game, and a luxurious breakfast — Expectations of a repast, 

 and a disappointment — Visit of a Snake chief — his abhorrence of horse 

 meat — A band of Snake Indians — their chief — Trade with Indians for 

 salmon— Mr. Ashworth's adventtire — An Indian horse-thief— Visit to the 

 Snake camp — its Jilthiness — A Banneck camp — Supercilious conduct of the 

 Indians — Airival at Snake river — Equipment of a trapping party — Indian 

 mode of catching salmon — Loss of a favorite horse — Powder river — Cut 

 rocks— Recovery of the lost trail — Grand Ronde — Captain Bonneville — his 

 fondness for a roving life—Kayouse and J^ez Perce Indians— their appear- 

 ance — An Indian beauty — Blue mountains — A feline visit. 



August 20th. — At about daylight this morning, having charge 

 of the last guard of the night, I observed a beautiful, sleek little 

 colt, of about four months old, trot into the camp, winnowing 

 with great apparent pleasure, and dancing and curvetting gaily 

 amongst our sober and sedate band. I had no doubt that he had 

 strayed from Indians, who were probably in the neighborhood; 

 but as here, every animal that comes near us is fair game, and 

 as we were hungry, not having eaten any thing of consequence 

 since yesterday morning, I thought the little stranger would 

 make a good breakfast for us. Concluding, however, that it 

 would be best to act advisedly in the matter, I put my head into 

 Captain W.'s tent, and telling him the news, made the proposi- 

 tion which had occurred to mc. The captain's reply was en- 

 couraging enough, — " Down with him, if you please, Mr. T., it 

 is the Lord's doing; let us have him for breakfast." In five 

 minutes afterwards, a bullet scaled the fate of the unfortunate 



visitor, and my men were set to work making fires, and rum- 



17 



