ACROSS THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, ETC. 135 



saddle bags, which were cut to pieces by the knives of the In- 

 dians, in order to abstract the contents. These, however, we 

 think he deserves to lose, inasmuch, as with all our persuasion, 

 we have never been able to induce him to carry a gun since we 

 left the country infested by the Blackfeet ; and -to-day, the very 

 show of such a weapon would undoubtedly have prevented the 

 attack of which he complains. 



Richardson gives an amusing account of the deportment of 

 our young English friend while he was lying under the knives 

 his captors. The heavy whip of buffalo hide, which was his 

 only weapon, was applied with great energy to the naked backs 

 and shoulders of the Indians, who winced and stamped under the 

 infliction, but still feared to use their knives, except to prevent 

 his rising. Richardson, says, that until he approached closely, 

 the blows were descending in rapid succession, and our hunter 

 was in some danger of losing his characteristic dignity in his 

 efforts to repress a loud and hearty laugh at the extreme ludi- 

 crousness of the whole scene. 



Captain W., when the circumstances of the assault were stated 

 to him, gave an immediate order for the suspension of business, 

 and calling the chief to him, told him seriously, that if an attempt 

 were again made to interrupt any of his party on their march, 

 the offenders should be tied to a tree and whipped severely. He 

 enforced his language by gestures so expressive that none could 

 misunderstand him, and he was answered by a low groan from 

 the Indians present, and a submissive bowing of their heads. 

 The chief appeared very much troubled, and harangued his peo- 

 ple for considerable time on the subject, repeating what the cap- 

 tain had said, with some additional remarks of his own, implying 

 that even a worse, fate than whipping would be the lot of future 

 delinquents. 



22d. — Last night during the second guard, while on my walk 



