302 A DECLARATION OF WAK. 



had hardly pitched our camp, when they be- 

 gan to flock about us — men, squaAvs, and 

 papooses — in gi'eat numbers ; but the warri- 

 ors were sullen and reserved, only now and 

 then muttering a curse upon the Americans 

 on account of the treatment they had just re- 

 ceived from the Shawnees, whom they consi- 

 dered as half-castes, and our allies. All of a sud- 

 den, a young warrior seized a splendid steed 

 which belonged to our party, and, leaping up- 

 on his back, galloped off at full speed. Be- 

 ing fully convinced that by acquiescing in th 

 outrage we should only encourage them to 

 commit others, we resolved at once to make 

 a peremptory demand for the stolen horse of 

 their principal cliief Our request being treat- 

 ed with contumely, we sent in a warlike de- 

 claration, and forthwith commenced making 

 preparations for descending upon the ranclie- 

 rias. The war-whoop resounded immediately 

 in every direction ; and as the Yutas bear a very 

 high character for bravery and skill, the readi- 

 ness with which they seemed to accept our 

 challenge began to alarm our party considera- 

 bly. We had defied them to mortal combat 

 merely by way of bravado, without the least 

 expectation that they would put themselves 

 to so much inconvenience, on our account. 

 It was too late, however, to back out of the 

 scrape. 



No sooner had the alarm been given than 

 the rancher las of the Indians were converted 

 into a martial encampment ; and wliile the 

 niounted warriors were exhibiting their pre- 



