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Show AUTOBIOGRAPHY 01!' added by the other hunters, who had taken a wider circuit. It appears strange that, although I ha~ traveled hundreds of miles in the buffalo country, tlus one was the first I had ever seen. The conviction weighing upon tny n1ind that it was a huge bear I was approachinO' had so excited me that, although within fair gun- 5 . shot, I actually could not see Ius horns. The general and 1ny con1panions had many a hearty laugh at my expense, he often expressing vvonder that my keen eye could not, when close to the animal, perceive the horns, while he could see them plainly near two miles distant. A severe storm setting in about this time, had it not been for our excellent store of provisions we should most probably have perished of starvation. There was no gan1e to be procured, and our horses were beginning to die for want of nourishment. We remained in this ca1np until our provisions were a.ll expended, and our only resource was the flesh of the horses which died of starvation and exposure to the storm. It was not such nutritious food as our fat buffalo and venison, but in our present circun1stances it relished tolerably well. vV ere General Ashley now living, he would recollect the hardships and delights we experienced in this expedition. When the storm was expended we moved up the river, hoping to fall in with gan1e. We, unfortunately, found but little on our course. When we had advanced some twenty miles we halted. Our position looked threatening. It was mid-winter, and every thing around us bore a gloomy aspect. vV e were without provisions, and we saw no means of obtaining any. At this crisis, six or seven Indians of the Pawnee Loup JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 43 band came into our camp. Knowing them to be friendly, we were overjoyed to see them. They informed our interpreter that their village was only four miles distant, which at once accounted for the absence of game. They invited us to their lodges, where they could supply us with every thing that we needed; but on our representing to them our scaTcity of horses, and the quantity of peltry we had no n1eans of packing, they in1mediately started off to their village (our interpreter acc~mpanying them) in quest of horses, and speedily returned with a sufficient number. Packing our effects, we accompanied them to their village, Two Axe, of '\vhom I have previously made mention, and a Spaniard named Antoine Behele, chief of the band, forming paTt of our escort. Arrived at their village, which we found well provided with every thing we needed, the Indians gave us a hospitable reception, and spread a feast which, as they had pron1ised, " made all our hearts glad." Our horses, too, were well cared for, and soon assumed a more rotund appearance. We purchased for our future use beans, pumpkins, corn, cured meat, besides some beaver-skins, giving them in exchange a variety of manufactured goods used in the Indian trade, of which we had a great plenty. We replaced our lost horses by purchasing others in their stead ; and now, every thing being ready for departure, our general intimated to Two Axe his wish to get on. Two Axe objected. "My men are about to surround the buffalo," he said ; ·"if you go now, you will frighten thern. You must stay four days more, then you may go." His word was law, so we staid accordingly. Within the four days appointed they made " the |