196 Expedition to the 



was sent forward to reconnoitre. He mounted the Bluff to 

 the general level of the country, and abruptly halted his 

 horse within our view, as if appearances before him render- 

 ed precaution necessary. The Indian again came in sight, 

 and, in full career, rushed towards him, passed him, and 

 wheeling halted his horse. Many other Indians then appear- 

 ed, who surrounded Julien, and, after a short and hurried 

 conference, they dashed at full speed down the steep bank of 

 the Bluff to meet us, the whc^le in concert singing the scalp- 

 song. So adventurous and heedless was this movement, that 

 one of the horses stumbled, and fell with great violence, and 

 rolled to the bottom. His rider, no doubt, prepared for 

 such an atcident, threw himself in the instant from his seat, 

 so as to fall in the most favorable manner, and avoid the 

 danger of being crushed bv the horse. Not the slightest 

 attention was bestowed upon him by his companions, and, 

 indeed, the disaster, however serious it at first appeared, 

 hardly interrupted his song. His horse being but little injur- 

 ed, he almost immediately regained his saddle, and came on 

 but little in the rear of the others, who now had mingled 

 with our party, shaking us by the hand with a kind of earnest 

 familiarity, not the most agreeable. We needed no addi- 

 tional information to convince us that this was a war party; 

 their appearance was a sufficient evidence of the nature of 

 their occupation. One of us asked an individual, if they 

 were Kiawas, and was answered in the affirmative; he asked 

 a second if they were Kaskaias, and a third if they were 

 Arrapahoes, who both also answered affirmatively. This 

 conduct, added to their general deportment, served to excite 

 our suspicions and redouble our vigilance. Two or three 

 other little detached squads were now seen to approach, also 

 singing the scalp-song. 



Our interpreters having joined us, it was proposed that we 

 should avail ourselves of the shade of a large tree, which 

 stood near the river, to sit down and smoke with them. 



