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Show 1,, : 00 ~ ~ I ;,!; p ~ 1"1 :::. 8 cr.. z .0.. "<11' ts ~ lXl Eo< P<l F>< 'i JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 137 Two of our men and one of the Snakes having strolled down to the Pun-nak lodges one evening, they were set upon, and the Snake was killed, and the two of our camp came home wounded. The morning volunteers were called to punish the Pun-naks for their outrage. Two hundred and fifteen immediately presented themselves at the call, and our captain appointed Bridger leader of the troop. We started to inflict vengeance, but when we arrived at the site of the village, behold! there was no village there. They had packed up and left immediately after the perpetration of the outrage, they fearing, no doubt, that ample vengeance would be taken upon them.· We followed their trail forty-five miles, and came up with them on Green River. Seeing our approach, they all made across to a small island in the river. "What shall we do now, Jim?" inquired our leader. " I will cross to the other side with one half the men," I suggested, "and get abreast of the island. Their retreat will be thus cut off, and we can exterminate them in their trap." "Go," said he; "I will take them if they attempt to make this shore." I was soon in position, and the enfilading commenced, and was continued until there was not one left of either sex or any age. We carried back four hundred and eighty-eight scalps, and, as we then supposed, annihilated the Pun-nak l?and. On our return, however, we found six or eight of their squaws, who had been left behind in the flight, whom we carried back and gave to the Snakes. Ori informing the Sna~es of what had tak~n place, they expressed great delight. ''Right!,.,. they said .. |
