miles 



94 TEMERITY OF HUNTERS. 



a band of Pawnees, before they crossed the 

 Arkansas. This, I beheve, is the only instance 

 of loss of hfe among the traders while en- 

 gaged in hunting : although the scarcity of 

 accidents can hardly be said to be the result 

 of prudence. There is not a day, from the 

 time a caravan reaches the 'buffalo range,' 

 that hunters do not commit some indiscretion, 

 such as straying at a distance of five and even 



from the caravan, frequently alone, 

 and seldom in bands of more than two or 

 three together. In this state, they must fre- 

 quently be spied by prowhng savages; so 

 that the frequency of escape, under such cir- 

 cumstances, must be partly attributed to the 

 cowardice of the Indians : indeed, generally 

 spealang, the latter are very loth to charge 

 upon even a single armed man, unless they 

 can take him at a decided disadvantage. 

 Iherefore, it is at all times imprudent to fire 

 at the first approach of Indians ; for, seeing 

 their guns empty, the savages would charge 

 upon them ; while very small bands of hun- 

 ters have been known to keep large numbers 

 of the enemy at bay, by presenting theu rifles, 



but reservmg thek fire, till assistance was at 

 hand. 



to 



The companions of Capt Smith, • having 

 descended upon the Cimarron at another 

 point, appear to have remained ignorant of 

 the terrible fate that had befaUen him, until 

 they were informed of the chcumstances by 

 some Mexican traders, who had ascertained 

 the facts from the murderous savao-es them- 



