the dance reached the ears of the whites with fearful distinctness.
Any other than hearts of oak with courage of steel would have quailed
before this terrible display of savage enmity and ferocity. This
dance, to men well skilled in the ways of the Indian warrior, was
a sure signal that the next day would be certain to have a fearful
history for one party or the other and doubtless for both. The odds,
most assuredly, were apparently greatly in favor of the savage host
and against the little band of hardy mountaineers."



CHAPTER XVII.


The Morrow -- Withdrawal of the Indian Army -- At Fort Hall -- In
the Blackfoot Country -- The Ambush -- The Trappers Decide to Withdraw
-- Trapping in Other Localities -- Carson Decides to Abandon the
Business -- Visits Bent's Fort Where He Serves as Hunter for Eight
Years.

Having gone through what the red men consider the necessary
preliminaries of such a grand campaign, the vast number of warriors
awaited the dawn that was to witness the annihilation of the entire
force that had dared to venture upon their hunting grounds without
so much as asking permission.

It was scarcely light when the imposing array advanced upon the
mountaineers, who coolly awaited their approach. When the Blackfeet
came close enough to see the fortifications thrown up by the
whites, they were astonished. They knew from previous experience