159 



to "keep a watch, as usual, and retired to the pe- 

 rioque to sleep. Just before day, I was awaked 

 by the rusjimg of a number of Indians through 

 the brush, and before I could disengage my self 

 and my gun from the buffaloe robe, in which I 

 was enwrapped, an Indian, followed by five or six: 

 more, rushed into the boat, and seizing my gun, 

 dragged me on shore. As soon as they had bound 

 me, I was hurried back into the boat, and seven 

 Indians jumping in, they bushed the boat from 

 the shore, and hurried down the river, as fast as 

 they could paddle. I saw a large number on the 

 bank around the tent. It was so dark I could 

 not distinctly see my men, but heard the voice of 

 one of them speaking to the Indians, in the Osage 

 tongue. From this, I concluded they were Osage 

 Indians. 



The Indians in the boat proceeded with me 

 down the river about twenty miles, and came to 

 their encampment, kept by four lads, fourteen or 

 fifteen years old. Here they unloaded the boat. 

 I was anxious to know the fate of my men; and 

 about noon was much relieved by seeing them 

 brought in by the rest of the party. The number 

 of Indians now, were forty-six men, and four lads. 

 They immediately collected their horses, fourteen 

 in number, and the goods were loaded on them. 

 We were all bound with buffaloe cords over our 

 arms, and, travelling up the branch, until about 

 midnight, we encamped. When we lay down to 

 sleep, we were secured between two Indians, one 



