n camp of a more permanent character than I had yet
fallen in with in that neighbourhood. This was a proof that the
inhabitants were friendly.

In a short time several persons appeared; and on seeing us one of them
came forward, habited in the costume of a chief, a quiver at his back
and a bow in his hand. A squaw followed him. He stopped and gazed at
me. Then, as I rode on, he advanced, and, putting out his hand,
exclaimed--

"You know me!--Piomingo. This my squaw, you save my life and her life,
and I am ever your friend."

I told him that I was very glad to see him, and that he could give me
information I very much desired. In the course of conversation he
informed me that he had talked with Winnemak, and had buried, as he
said, the war-hatchet; and he had therefore come and settled in that
district. He had also preserved my horse with the greatest care; and,
he added, he was ready to restore him to me in good condition. With
regard to Uncle Jeff, he could tell me nothing. As my uncle, however,
had not rejoined Winnemak, I concluded that the latter was still in the
mountains, well contented with his new locality, and engaged in shooting
and trapping.

"Can you give me any information about my other friends?" I asked.

One white man, he said, had gone to Winnemak's camp; and from his
description I had little doubt that the person he spoke of was either
Bartle or Gideon. I was very sure, however, that either of them would
without delay have rejoined Uncle Jeff. What Piomingo told me about the
other caused me much anxiety. He had been captured by the Arrapahas, he
said, who had carried him about with them; probably, according to their
cruel custom, with the intention of ultimately putting him to death in
some barbarous manner.

As Piomingo volunteered to lead a party of us in search of the
marauders, who still had, according to his report, a white man with
them, I at once accepted his offer, and would gladly have set off
immediately; but it was important first to carry assistance to Uncle
Jeff and Clarice, who could not fail--so Manley thought--to require it.
He and I, with twenty troopers and some of our baggage animals,
accordingly turned to the northward, leaving Sergeant Custis and the
remainder of our force to watch the pass, in order to prevent the return
of the Arrapahas.

We pushed on as fast as our horses would go, the lieutenant being fully
as eager as I was, but it took as two days to rea