apology which
was no more genuine than many made by his civilized brethren under
somewhat similar circumstances. He expressed great surprise to learn
that the horses belonged to their good friends the trappers. They had
supposed all along that they were the property of the Snake Indians
whom the Blackfeet considered it their duty to despoil on every suitable
occasion.

This glaring misrepresentation did not deceive the man who was acting as
spokesman for his side. By way of reply, he asked that if such was
the case, why had not the Blackfeet come forward on discovering their
mistake, greeted their white brothers as friends and returned their
property to them.

The replies were evasive and the hunters became convinced that the
Indians were seeking to gain time for some sinister purpose; but a full
parley having been agreed upon, both parties left their guns behind and
advanced to where their representatives were holding their interview.

The Blackfeet still professed the most ardent friendship, and as an
emphatic token of the same, produced the calumet and began smoking the
pipe of peace. The tobacco having been lit, each took several whiffs
and then passed it to his neighbor, who did the same until the round was
completed. This solemn pledge of good will having been exchanged, the
convention or peace congress was opened as may be said, in due and
ancient form.

Carson and his companions were distrustful from the start, though it was
hard for them to decide the meaning of the prolonged negotiations, since
no one could see what the Blackfeet were to gain by such a course. They
may have hoped to deceive the hunters and throw them off their guard,
but, if such was the case, they failed.

First of all, the leading warriors indulged in several long speeches
which were without point, but what was said in reply could admit of no
doubt as to its meaning. The trappers understood the Blackfoot tongue
well enough to make their responses models in the way of brevity and
force. They said that it was idle to talk of friendship or peace until
the stolen property was returned to its owners. The Indians still
attempted to postpone or evade, but the complainants were in no mood
for trifling and they repeated their declaration more positively than
before.

The Blackfeet were much more numerous than the whites, and confident of
their strength, began to bluster and to assert that whatever they did
would be dictated by their own wishe