Rocky Mountains. 239 



Very remote lightning in the south-eastern horizon. 



2nd. Our guests awakened'' early, and one of them retiring 

 a short distance from his companions, began the well known 

 ceremony common to this nation, of crying aloud with a voice 

 of lamentation, mtended probably as an invocation to the de- 

 parted spirit of a relative or friend. 



Messengers were despatched before sunrise to Clermont's 

 camp, to inform that chief of the proximity of a party of 

 white men on this side of the river, and of bisons on the 

 other; and soon afterwards the remainder of our guests, with 

 the exception of one that concluded to remain with us, de- 

 parted to hunt. 



Other Indians, attracted by curiosity, visited us in the 

 course of the day, one of whom informed us that three men, 

 whose appearance corresponded with the description of our 

 deserters, were now at the village, and that the approaching 

 hunting party, being already apprised of their character, 

 Clermont, who was himself with the party, had forthwith 

 despatched an order to the village to have them detained 

 there, until the decision of our chief respecting them should 

 be known. 



This most welcome news induced Lieut. Swift and Julien, 

 accompanied by Clermont's brother and two or three of the 

 young warriors who were present, to set out immediately 

 for the village, in order to seize the recreants, and conduct 

 them to camp. Thus we were inspired with the most san 

 guine expectations not only of retrieving our losses, but alsu 

 ot subjecting the offenders to that punishment which was 

 their due. 



In the afternoon we had the company of numerous Indians 

 from the hunting party, and an individual that left our camp 

 early in the morning in pursuit of the bisons on the opposite 

 side of the river, brought a horse-load of very lean meat. 

 Their demeanour was pacific and kind, and they appeared 

 disposed to serve us. They brought a considerable quantity 



