Route toward Wind River--Dangerous neighborhood --Alarms and precautions--Asham encampment-- Apparition of an Indian spy--Midnight move--A mountaindefile--The Wind River valley--Tracking a party--Deserted camps--Symptoms ofCrows-- Meeting of comrades--A trapper entrapped--Crow pleasantry--Crowspies--A decampment--Return to Green River valley--Meeting with Fitzpatrick'sparty--Their adventures among the Crows--Orthodox Crows ON THE 18TH of September, Captain Bonneville and his three companions set out,bright and early, to rejoin the main party, from which they had parted on Wind River.
Their route lay up the Green River valley, with that stream on their right hand, andbeyond it, the range of Wind River Mountains. At the head of the valley, they were topass through a defile which would bring them out beyond the northern end of thesemountains, to the head of Wind River; where they expected to meet the main party,according to arrangement.
We have already adverted to the dangerous nature of this neighborhood, infested byroving bands of Crows and Blackfeet; to whom the numerous defiles and passes of thecountry afford capital places for ambush and surprise. The travellers, therefore, kept avigilant eye upon everything that might give intimation of lurking danger.
About two hours after mid-day, as they reached the summit of a hill, they discoveredbuffalo on the plain below, running in every direction. One of the men, too, fancied heheard the report of a gun. It was concluded, therefore, that there was some party ofIndians below, hunting the buffalo.
The horses were immediately concealed in a narrow ravine; and the captain, mountingan eminence, but concealing himself from view, reconnoitred the whole neighborhoodwith a telescope. Not an Indian was to be seen; so, after halting about an hour, heresumed his journey. Convinced, however, that he was in a dangerous neighborhood,he advanced with the utmost caution; winding his way through hollows and ravines, andavoiding, as much as possible, any open tract, or rising ground, that might betray hislittle party to the watchful eye of an Indian scout.
Arriving, at length, at the edge of the open meadow-land bordering on the river, heagain observed the buffalo, as far as he could see, scampering in great alarm. Oncemore concealing the horses, he and his companions remained for a long time watchingthe various groups of the animals, as each caught the panic and started off; but theysought in vain to discover the cause.
They were now about to enter the mountain defile, at the head of Green River valley,where they might be waylaid and attacked; they, therefore, arranged the packs on theirhorses, in the manner most secure and convenient for sudden flight, should such benecessary. This done, they again set forward, keeping the most anxious look-out inevery direction.
It was now drawing toward evening; but they could not think of encamping for the night,in a place so full of danger. Captain Bonneville, therefore, determined to halt aboutsunset, kindle a fire, as if for encampment, cook and eat supper; but, as soon as it wassufficiently dark, to make a rapid move for the summit of the mountain, and seek somesecluded spot for their night's lodgings.
Accordingly, as the sun went down, the little party came to a halt, made a large fire,spitted their buffalo meat on wooden sticks, and, when sufficiently roasted, planted thesavory viands before them; cutting off huge slices with their hunting knives, andsupping with a hunter's appetite. The light of their fire would not fail, as they knew, toattract the attention of any Indian horde in the neighborhood; but they trusted to be offand away, before any prowlers could reach the place. While they were supping thushastily, however, one of their party suddenly started up and shouted "Indians! " All wereinstantly on their feet, with their rifles in their hands; but could see no enemy. The man,however, declared that he had seen an Indian advancing, cautiously, along the trailwhich they had made in coming to the encampment; who, the moment he wasperceived, had thrown himself on the ground, and disappeared. He urged CaptainBonneville instantly to decamp. The captain, however, took the matter more coolly. Thesingle fact, that the Indian had endeavored to hide himself, convinced him that he wasnot one of a party, on the advance to make an attack. He was, probably, some scout,who had followed up their trail, until he came in sight of their fire. He would, in suchcase, return, and report what he had seen to his companions. These, supposing thewhite men had encamped for the night, would keep aloof until very late, when all shouldbe asleep. They would, then, according to Indian tactics, make their stealthyapproaches, and place themselves in ambush around, preparatory to their attack, at theusual hour of daylight.
Such was Captain Bonneville's conclusion; in consequence of which, he counselled hismen to keep perfectly quiet, and act as if free from all alarm, until the proper timearrived for a move. They, accordingly, continued their repast with pretended appetiteand jollity; and then trimmed and replenished their fire, as if for a bivouac. As soon,however, as the night had completely set in, they left their fire blazing; walked quietlyamong the willows, and then leaping into their saddles, made off as noiselessly aspossible. In proportion as they left the point of danger behind them, they relaxed in theirrigid and anxious taciturnity, and began to joke at the expense of their enemy; whomthey pictured to themselves mousing in the neighborhood of their deserted fire, waitingfor the proper time of attack, and preparing for a grand disappointment.
