ren, the gayly appareled
girls, pouring impetuously down the heights, it would have formed a
noble subject for a painter, and only the pen of a Scott could have done
it justice in description.

We passed over a burnt tract where the ground was hot beneath the
horses' feet, and between the blazing sides of two mountains. Before
long we had descended to a softer region, where we found a succession
of little valleys watered by a stream, along the borders of which grew
abundance of wild gooseberries and currants, and the children and many
of the men straggled from the line of march to gather them as we passed
along. Descending still farther, the view changed rapidly. The burning
mountains were behind us, and through the open valleys in front we could
see the ocean-like prairie, stretching beyond the sight. After passing
through a line of trees that skirted the brook, the Indians filed out
upon the plains. I was thirsty and knelt down by the little stream to
drink. As I mounted again I very carelessly left my rifle among the
grass, and my thoughts being otherwise absorbed, I rode for some
distance before discovering its absence. As the reader may conceive,
I lost no time in turning about and galloping back in search of it.
Passing the line of Indians, I watched every warrior as he rode by me at
a canter, and at length discovered my rifle in the hands of one of them,
who, on my approaching to claim it, immediately gave it up. Having no
other means of acknowledging the obligation, I took off one of my spurs
and gave it to him. He was greatly delighted, looking upon it as a
distinguished mark of favor, and immediately held out his foot for me to
buckle it on. As soon as I had done so, he struck it with force into
the side of his horse, who gave a violent leap. The Indian laughed and
spurred harder than before. At this the horse shot away like an arrow,
amid the screams and laughter of the squaws, and the ejaculations of the
men, who exclaimed: "Washtay!--Good!" at the potent effect of my gift.
The Indian had no saddle, and nothing in place of a bridle except a
leather string tied round the horse's jaw. The animal was of course
wholly uncontrollable, and stretched away at full speed over the
prairie, till he and his rider vanished behind a distant swell. I never
saw the man again, but I presume no harm came to him. An Indian on
horseback has more lives than a cat.

The village encamped on a scorching prairie, close to the foot