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<h2> CHAPTER XIV. </h2>
<p><br/>
A Strange Occurrence—Arrival of Friends—Carson Joins a Large<br/>
Company—Trapping on the Yellowstone—The Blackfeet—A Dreadful<br/>
Scourge—In Winter Quarters—The Friendly Crow Indians—Loss of Two<br/>
Trappers—On the Head Waters of the Missouri.<br/></p>
<p>A singular occurrence took place a few nights after the return of Carson
and his friends from an extended bison hunt. Their horses and mules were
corralled near the post and a sentinel was on duty at all hours of the
night to prevent the animals being stolen by the Indians who were always
prowling through the neighborhood.</p>
<p>In the dim uncertain light, just beyond midnight, the sentinel saw two men
walk forward from the darkness, and without any appearance of haste, let
down the bars and drive out the stock. Very naturally he concluded they
were his friends who intended to take out the animals to graze. As there
was nothing more for him to do, he sought his quarters, lay down and went
to sleep.</p>
<p>In the morning not a horse or a mule was to be found. The two individuals
who had let down the bars and driven them out, were Blackfeet Indians,
whose complete success was due to their amazing audacity. Had they shown
any hesitation or haste, the suspicions of the sentinel would have been
aroused, but when the truth became known, he was the most astonished man
at the fort.</p>
<p>The hunters were in a most sorry plight, for the Blackfeet having made a
clean sweep, they were without the means of pursuing and recovering their
property. The parties who belonged at the fort had suffered a somewhat
similar trick a short time before from the same tribe, so that only a few
rickety horses remained in their possession.</p>
<p>Under the circumstances, the trappers were compelled to accept their
misfortune with grim philosophy, and await the arrival of the rest of the
party, who had promised to rejoin them after completing their business at
Fort Walla Walla.</p>
<p>Sure enough, a few weeks later, their friends appeared and providentially
indeed they brought with them an extra supply of excellent horses. The
trappers were in overflowing spirits once more and soon started for the
general rendezvous on Green River.</p>
<p>Other trappers continued to arrive for a number of days, until about all
that were expected had come in. Trade and barter then began and lasted
some three weeks. The scene was picturesque and stirring and there was
much hand shaking and pleasant wishes when the time came to separate.</p>
<p>Kit Carson left the employ of the Hudson Bay Company trader and attached
himself to a party numbering fully a hundred who had determined to trap
along the Yellowstone. It will be recalled that Carson once quit a company
of trappers because it was too large, and it may be wondered why he should
join one that was still more numerous. The reason he did so was because
they were going into the very heart of the Blackfoot country. They had
suffered so much from these daring marauders that they knew there would be
no safety unless they went in strong force. Furthermore, the whites had so
many old scores to settle with those redskins that they meant to invite
attack from them. If the Blackfeet would only offer the opportunity for
battle, the trappers meant to give them their fill.</p>
<p>The formidable company arranged matters according to a system. Dividing
into two equal parties, the duty of one was made to trap beaver, while the
other furnished food and guarded the property. By this means, they would
always be in shape to meet their sworn foes, while the real business which
brought them into the country would not be neglected.</p>
<p>The hunters were confident they would not be left alone very long. The
Blackfeet would resent the invasion of their hunting grounds, and to say
the least, would take measures to prevent the time hanging heavily on the
hands of the pale faces.</p>
<p>But, to the astonishment of the trappers, the days passed without bringing
a glimpse of the savages. No hostile shot awoke the impressive stillness
of the wilderness. Could it be the Blackfeet were seeking to throw the
whites off their guard? Did they expect to induce a degree of carelessness
that would enable the Blackfeet to gather their warriors and overwhelm
them before they could reply?</p>
<p>It was not reasonable to suppose that the sagacious tribe held any such
belief, for they could not have failed to know that any such hope was
idle.</p>
<p>But the explanation came one day by a party of friendly Crow Indians, who
stated that the small pox was raging with such awful virulence among the
Blackfeet that they were dying by hundreds and thousands. Indeed, the
havoc was so dreadful that there was reason to believe the whole tribe
would be swept away.</p>
<p>It would not be the first time that such an annihilation has taken place
among the American Indians. The treatment required by that frightful
disease is precisely the opposite of that which the red man in his
ignorance pursues. When small pox breaks out among them, therefore, the
mortality becomes appalling.</p>
<p>The Crow Indians affiliated with the trappers and guided them to a
secluded valley, where they established themselves for the winter. The
lodges were made strong and substantial, and it was fortunate that such
precautions were taken, for the winter proved one of the severest known
for many years. With their abundance of fuel, they kept enormous fires
going and passed the days and nights in comparative comfort.</p>
<p>But it was far different with their stock. During the severe weather, the
only food that could be obtained was the bark of the cottonwood. The inner
lining of this is quite palatable to animals and in cases of extremity it
affords temporary sustenance to men. With its help actual starvation was
kept away, though it came very close.</p>
<p>Unusual weather always brings unusual experience, and the intense cold
developed an annoyance to the trappers upon which they had not counted.
The difficulty of finding food was felt by the wild animals as well as
domestic, and the bisons became desperate. When they saw the horses eating
their fodder, they rushed forward and with lowered heads drove them away.
If a horse or mule refused, he was likely to be gored to death.</p>
<p>The beasts finally became so numerous and fierce they would have killed
all the stock of our friends if they had not kindled large fires and
mounted constant guard. When the weather moderated those annoyances ended.</p>
<p>Had any explorer of the west found his way to the secluded valley where
the trappers were in winter quarters, he would have looked upon a striking
scene. The Crow Indians and white men engaged in numerous athletic sports
in friendly rivalry. They maintained the best of terms, and when the
bisons departed, the strange community enjoyed themselves far better than
would be supposed. In truth where they were favored with such rugged
health and where they had plenty of food and comfortable quarters, it
would have been remarkable had they not been comparatively happy. They
were not disturbed by political discussions or diversity of views on any
public questions and were satisfied that the glorious Union was safe
without any worriment on their part.</p>
<p>When spring came, two of their party were sent to Fort Laramie to procure
needed supplies. They went off well mounted and armed and were never heard
of again. Somewhere in the recesses of the forest or mountain, the
Blackfeet had probably killed them as they had done with many a brave man
before, and as they have done with multitudes since.</p>
<p>When it became certain the messengers had been slain, the company began
the spring hunt without them. After trapping a brief while on the
Yellowstone, they worked their way to the head waters of the Missouri.
They met with fair success and while engaged in that section, learned that
the reports of the ravages of the small pox among the Blackfeet had been
greatly exaggerated. Instead of being decimated, the tribe had not
suffered to any serious extent and were as strong and aggressive as ever.</p>
<p>The trappers were not displeased to learn that such was the case, for they
desired a settlement of accounts with them. Under such circumstances it
was impossible that hostilities should be long delayed.</p>
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