were holding a dance and feast in honor of the brilliant style in
which they had outwitted the trappers forty miles away.

The scene was quite interesting, especially when our friends plainly
saw their stolen animals tied near one of the forts. The sight of
their property was anything but soothing to the wrathful trappers,
who were resolved not to go back to their own camp without taking
the horses along.

But the Crows were strong in numbers, well armed and ready to fight
on the briefest notice. It would have been an act of the greatest
rashness to charge upon their camp, while they were excited to an
unusual degree by the rejoicing in which all took a hilarious part.
The whites decided to wait several hours longer until most of their
enemies would be unconscious in slumber.

All this time the weather was growing colder, and, toughened as the
trappers had become by years of exposure, they suffered greatly.
They dare not move about to keep up the circulation of their blood,
for the slightest noise was liable to attract the suspicion of some
of the Crows who might be prowling through the grove. More than
once Carson feared his limbs were freezing, but he held out like
the genuine hero he was, and his companions were all worthy of him.

At last the dance was over and the tired warriors wrapped their
blankets around their forms and stretched out to rest. Their
manner showed they had no thought that a foe was anywhere in the
neighborhood. Although such men sleep lightly, they do not remain
long awake when courting sleep, and in a brief while all were
unconscious except the sentinels on duty. Even they were so confident