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Show NECESSITY FOE STRICT DISCIPLINE. 63 circulation of the blood; under the circumstances, I thought the punishment disproportionate to the offence. I was a novice in camp life among Indians, and was not aware of the stern necessity required for a strict guardianship of the animals; but the sequel proved, that the " slight dereliction " from duty, as I thought it, involved the most serious consequences. At day-light,' when the animals were driven in to be loaded and packed for the day's journey, five of them were missing. The camp was, in consequence, delayed, while the animals were sought; half the day was lost in an ineffectual search. Our Delawares reported having discovered moccasin prints on the snow, and at once decided they were made by Cheyenne Indians, from their peculiar form. The next clay we followed a track made by " shod horses," which convinced us we were on the right scent. The Indians do not shoe their horses. On the " divide," near the Arkansas River, we saw one of our mules grazing, but so worn out by the hard drive, that he was unable to continue, and the Indians left him on the prairie. It took us several days to reach the village, which was situated on the part of the Arkansas River known as Big Timber, near Mr. Bent's house. At this village we found the rest of the animals, and some of the thieves. On examining them, they confessed that they had watched our camp during the night, for an opportunity to run off our animals, but found them guarded, until one man left his watch, and went to warm himself at the camp fire, during which time they stole five of them, and if they had had an hour longer time, they would have stolen a great many |