white and stainless. It reminded me of the days of feudal chivalry; and
when, as I rode by, I yielded to the passing impulse, and touched one of
the spotless shields with the muzzle of my gun, I almost expected a grim
warrior to start from the lodge and resent my challenge. The master of the
lodge spread out a robe for me to sit upon, and the squaws set before us a
large wooden dish of buffalo meat. He had lit his pipe in the mean while,
and when it had been passed around, we commenced our dinner while he
continued to smoke. Gradually, however, five or six other chiefs came in,
and took their seats in silence. When we had finished, our host asked a
number of questions relative to the object of our journey, of which I made
no concealment; telling him simply that I had made a visit to see the
country, preparatory to the establishment of military posts on the way to
the mountains. Although this was information of the highest interest to
them, and by no means calculated to please them, it excited no expression
of surprise, and in no way altered the grave courtesy of their demeanor.
The others listened and smoked. I remarked, that in taking the pipe for
the first time, each had turned the stem upward, with a rapid glance, as
in offering to the Great Spirit, before he put it in his mouth. A storm
had been gathering for the past hour, and some pattering drops in the
lodge warned us that we had some miles to our camp. An Indian had given
Maxwell a bundle of dried meat, which was very acceptable, as we had
nothing; and, springing upon our horses, we rode off at dusk in the face
of a cold shower and driving wind. We found our companions under some
densely foliaged old trees, about three miles up the river. Under one of
them lay the trunk of a large cottonwood, to leeward of which the men had
kindled a fire, and we sat here and roasted our meat in tolerable shelter.
Nearly opposite was the mouth of one of the most considerable affluents of
the South fork, _la Fourche aux Castors_, (Beaver fork,) heading off
in the ridge to the southeast.