WHOLESALE ROBBEIIIES. 29 



ing beset a company of about twenty men, 

 who followed shortly after — they killed 

 one of their number, and subsequently 

 took from them all the animals they had in 

 their possession. The unfortunate band were 

 now not only compelled to advance on foot, 

 but were even constrained to carry nearly a 

 tliousand dollars each upon their backs to the 

 Arkansas river, where it was cached (concealed 

 in tlie ground) till a conveyance was procur- 

 ed to transfer it to the United States. 



Such repeated and daring outrages induced 

 the traders to petition the Federal Govern- 

 ment for an escort of United States troops. 

 The request having been granted, Major Riley, 

 with three companies of uifantry and one of 

 riflemen, was ordered to accompany the cara- 

 van which left in the spring of 1829, as far as 

 Chouteau's Island on the Arkansas river. 

 Here the escort stopped, and the traders 

 pursued their journey through the sand-hills 

 beyond. They had hardly advanced six or 

 seven miles, when a startling incident occur- 

 red which made them wish once more for the 

 company of the gallant Major and his well- 

 disciplined troops. A vanguard of three men, 

 riding a few hundred yards ahead, had just 

 dismounted for the purpose of satisfying their 

 thirst, when a band of Kiawas, one of the 

 most savage tribes that infest the western 

 prairies, rushed upon them from the immense 

 hillocks of sand which lay scattered in all di- 

 rections. The three men sprang upon their 

 animals, but two only who had horses were 



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