312 Expedition to the 



In consequence of being thus detained, it was late in the 

 afternoon when the party arrived at the Platte river, and as 

 they had still eight miles to travel, and it was indispensable 

 to their safety that they should reach the village before dark, 

 Mr. Dougherty urged his horse rapidly forwards. The In- 

 dians, who were all on foot, ran the whole distance, halting 

 but twice, in order to cross the Elk Horn and Platte rivers, 

 although one of them was upwards of sixty years of age, 

 and three of the others were much advanced in years. 



As they drew near the Oto village, they were discovered 

 by some boys who were collecting their horses together for 

 the night, and who, in a telegraphic manner, communicated 

 intelligence of their approach, to the people of the village, by 

 throwing their robes into the air. 



The party was soon surrounded by the inhabitants, who 

 rushed towards them, riding and running with the greatest 

 impetuosity. The greatest confusion reigned for some time, 

 the Otoes shouting, hallooing, and screaming, whilst their 

 Konza visitors lamented aloud. Shaumonekusse soon arrived, 

 and restored a degree of order, when, the business of the 

 mission being made known in a few words, the Konzas were 

 taken up, behind some of the horsemen, and conveyed as 

 rapidly as possible to the lodge of Shongotongo, lest personal 

 violence should be offered them on the way. They did not, 

 however, escape the audible maledictions of the squaws as 

 they passed, but were stigmatized as wrinkled faced old 

 men, with hairy chins, &c, ugly faces, and flat noses. 



After running this species of gauntlet, they were quietly 

 seated in the lodge, where they were sure of protection. A 

 squaw, however, whose husband had been recently killed by 

 the Konzas, rushed into the lodge, with the intention of seek- 

 ing vengeance by killing one of the ambassadors on the spot. 

 She stood suddenly before Herochshe, and seemed a very 

 demon of fury. She caught his eye, and at the instant, with 

 all her strength, she aimed a blow at his breast with a large 



