52 THEIR SUFFERINGS AND LOSS. 
emerged from their hiding-place, and moved 
on silently and slowly until they found them- 
selves beyond the purlieus of the Indian 
camps. Often did they look back in the di- 
rection where from three to five hundred sav- 
ages were supposed to watch their move- 
ments, but, much to their astonishment, no 
one appeared to be in pursuit. The Indians, 
believing no doubt that the property of the 
traders would come into their hands, and hav- 
ing no amateur predilection for taking scalps 
at the risk of losing their own, appeared will- 
ing enough to let the spoliated adventurers 
depart without further molestation. 
The destitute travellers having run them- 
selves short of provisions, and being no longer 
able to kill game for want of materials to 
load their rifles with, they were very soon re- 
duced to the necessity of sustaining life upon 
the roots and the tender bark of trees. After 
travelling for several days in this desperate 
condition, with lacerated feet, and utter pros- 
tration of mind and body, they began to disa- 
gree among themselves about the route to be 
pursued, and eventually separated into two 
distinct parties. Five of these unhappy men 
steered a westward course, and after a suc- 
cession of sufferings and privations: which 
almost surpassed belief; they reached the set- 
tlements of the Creek Indians, near the Ar- 
kansas river, where they were treated with 
indness and hospitality. The other 
five wandered about in the cme state of 
distress and bewilderment, and only two 
