led the pipe and lighted it. This done, my companion
and I proceeded to deliberate on our future course of proceeding; first,
however, Shaw acquainted me with some incidents which had occurred at
the fort during my absence.

About a week previous four men had arrived from beyond the mountains;
Sublette, Reddick, and two others. Just before reaching the Fort
they had met a large party of Indians, chiefly young men. All of them
belonged to the village of our old friend Smoke, who, with his whole
band of adherents, professed the greatest friendship for the whites. The
travelers therefore approached, and began to converse without the least
suspicion. Suddenly, however, their bridles were violently seized and
they were ordered to dismount. Instead of complying, they struck
their horses with full force, and broke away from the Indians. As
they galloped off they heard a yell behind them, mixed with a burst of
derisive laughter, and the reports of several guns. None of them were
hurt though Reddick's bridle rein was cut by a bullet within an inch of
his hand. After this taste of Indian hostility they felt for the moment
no disposition to encounter further risks. They intended to pursue the
route southward along the foot of the mountains to Bent's Fort; and as
our plans coincided with theirs, they proposed to join forces. Finding,
however, that I did not return, they grew impatient of inaction, forgot
their late escape, and set out without us, promising to wait our arrival
at Bent's Fort. From thence we were to make the long journey to the
settlements in company, as the path was not a little dangerous, being
infested by hostile Pawnees and Comanches.

We expected, on reaching Bent's Fort, to find there still another
re-enforcement. A young Kentuckian of the true Kentucky blood, generous,
impetuous, and a gentleman withal, had come out to the mountains with
Russel's party of California emigrants. One of his chief objects, as
he gave out, was to kill an Indian; an exploit which he afterwards
succeeded in achieving, much to the jeopardy of ourselves and others who
had to pass through the country of the dead Pawnee's enraged relatives.
Having become disgusted with his emigrant associates he left them, and
had some time before set out with a party of companions for the head of
the Arkansas. He sent us previously a letter, intimating that he would
wait until we arrived at Bent's Fort, and accompany us thence to the
settlements. When,