RATTLESNAKE HUNT. 89 
We made a very long march and at midnight encamped 
upon a branch of the same stream. 
. July 6th.—This morning our Indians rendered us a most 
important service. 
_ The fatigue of the last march had made the ostlers care- 
less, and our horses having been loosely picketed, every 
horse but two was missing at daylight. 
. Fearful of consequences, the frightened ostlers were 
scouring around for hours, but unsuccessfully, when report: 
being made to the Captain, he dispatched the Delawares, 
who quietly saddling up, were gone about an hour, and 
returned with the whole troop, besides each had shot a fat 
doe, so that with the one shot yesterday venison abounded 
in camp. The plan they pursued was to ride in a straight 
line to the outside of the pickets, and then make a circle 
‘completely around camp, before completing which, they 
struck the trail of the stray animals, end followiig it up 
soon overtook them. 
The stream here was very narrow, but afforded water suf. 
ficient for our use, and a short distance above camp. we found 
a pool large enough to bathe in, which we availed ourselves 
of just before starting in the evening. 
A bright moon shone over us on this our last march 
before reaching the Upper Cross Timbers. In fine spirits 
our party rolled along, cracking jokes and carolling. 
snatches of wild song, when just as we passed the brow 
of a hill, our harmony was checked by a rapid k-rrrr 
