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Show 92 FORTY YEARS AMONG THE INDIANS. The company were instructed to go into their rooms, shut the doors, keep quiet, and not to show themselves unless ordered to do so. Brother Hampton was to be general roust- a- bout, ready for any emergency ; I was to meet these Indians outside and invite them in the gate, as we knew the chief and grandees of the band would expect to be entertained. Soon the chief with some fifty others rode up to the fort, while hundreds more passed on a short distance and commenced to put up their lodges. I met the chief, shook hands, and asked him to get down and come in. He wanted to know if they could not ride inside. I told him no, and explained to him that we had a lot of men in the fort who were afraid of Indians ; that they had gone into their houses and shut the doors ; but the door of my house was open for them, but that these men, who were afraid, should not be frightened ; they must leave their horses and arms outside the fort. This the chief agreed to do and appointed a man to see that no one came in with arms. Soon my room was full. I explained to the chief that we had but little to eat and could not entertain many ; but half we had they were welcome to. I talked and acted as though we were glad to see them, still I, with all my friendship for Indians, would have been willing for this band to have taken another road. Brother Alexander soon had plenty of weak soup and strong coffee ready; cups were filled and the feast commenced. The chief sent word for those outside to go on to camp, probably seeing his rations would be short if many more came in. Brother Hampton kept his eye on things in general and would come in and report from time to time. All except one respected our arrangements. Indians, like |