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Show TO THE NORTH PLATTE. 45 under my pillow, and being called to visit an emigrant camp a short distance off, I rode out alone, and turning suddenly around a hill, I came upon two of the most desperate and villainous- looking warriors I had seen in the band. As they started to accompany me, all riding abreast, I discovered that I had left my pistol behind, and it being desirable, under the circumstances, to appear as friendly as possible, with the most complacent smile I could make I gave the usual sal utation " How." This was recognized by a sort of grunt, like a dog, by the fellow next to me, with any other than a pleasant expression of countenance, and his want of cordial ity was not the less noticed because of a long lance which he carried in his hand. I may have been in no danger, but must confess to some degree of nervousness, and breathed more freely when I came up with a few emigrants after a very short and very unpleasant ride with my dusty com panions. The Utes, I understand, have not been hostile to emi grants generally, but are unfriendly toward the Mormons, and have commttied depredations upon their trains and other property, and charge the " saints" with deceitfulness and treachery. A queer charge coming from an Indian ! During our stay upon the Platte they encamped on the bluffs all around us ; and notwithstanding their protestations of friendship and the absence of all hostility on their part for some years, I had so little confidence in the Indian char acter that I could have slept more soundly if a little further removed from so large a number of armed warriors. Their weapons consisted of a great variety, including rifles, shot guns, pistols, lances, and bows and arrows, but the latter predominated. After a delay of six days the command was crossed with out further accident, and we resumed our marches over a mountainous country, reaching Bridgets Pass in two days. This was an epoch of our journey, for we had reached the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. |
