KICKAPOOS. 109 
After pitching tents we visited them again, when they 
offered us some venison and seemed quite friendly. 
An old and very gaudy dressing-gown which I wore, 
attracted their particular attention, and one of the squaws 
attempted to gratify her curiosity by handling me with her 
great greasy paws, but I kept moving round about and 
avoided contact, as nothing could be more disgusting than 
these copper-colored greasy wenches, naked except a filthy 
rag around their loins, their skins reeking with perspiration, 
and hair matted and uncombed. We soon gratified our 
curiosity and returned to camp. 
Just as we were about to retire to our blankets, voices 
were heard in the distance and two young officers from the — 
fort drove up, giving us the intelligence that the Captain and 
the Doctor were safe, and that eight miles further we should 
reach the Cottonwood Spring, a well-known camping-ground 
for troops passing to and fro, and the spot designated by the 
Captain where we were to await his return with Major 
Neighbours and the additional Indian hunters and guides. 
It was now midnight, but the order was given, and in a 
short time we were off to the cool water, where we arrived 
just as day dawned ; fatigued, but fortunate in reaching the 
only really good water we had had since leaving the Basin 
Spring. A few hours sleep and we were all right again. 
. 10* 
