Page:The adventures of Captain Bonneville (IA adventurescaptai00irvi).pdf/169
CHAPTER XXVII.
Route toward Wind River—dangerous neighborhood—alarms and precautions—a sham encampment—apparition of an Indian spy—midnight move—mountain defile—the Wind River valley—tracking a party—deserted camps—symptoms of Crows—meeting of comrades—a trapper entrapped—Crow pleasantry—Crow spies—a decampment—return to Green River Valley—meeting with Fitzpatrick's party—their adventures among the Crows—orthodox Crows.
On the 18th of September, Captain Bonneville and his three companions set out, bright and early, to rejoin the main party, from which they had parted on Wind River. Their route lay up the Green River valley, with that stream on their right hand, and beyond it the range of Wind River Mountains. At the head of the valley they were to pass through a defile which would bring them out beyond the northern end of these mountains, to the head of Wind River; where they expected to meet the main party according to arrangement.
We have already adverted to the dangerous nature of this neighborhood, infested by roving bands of Crows and Blackfeet, to where the numerous defiles and passes of the country afford capital places for ambush and surprise. The travelers, therefore, kept a vigilant eye upon everything that might give intimation of lurking danger.
About two hours after mid-day, as they reached the summit of a hill, they discovered buffalo on the plain below, running in every direction. One of the men, too, fancied he heard the report of a gun. It was concluded, therefore, that there was some party of Indians below, hunting the buffalo.
The horses were immediately concealed in a narrow ravine; and the captain, mounting an eminence, but concealing himself from view, reconnoitred the whole neighborhood with a telescope. Not an human was to be seen; so, after halting about an hour, he resumed his journey. Convinced, however, that he was in a dangerous neighborhood, he advanced with the utmost caution; winding his way through hollows and