The Adventures of Captain Bonneville, U. S. A., in the Rocky Mountains and the Far West

were laid down in the lodge, and those who brought them departed without saying a word. The day passed away. Arapooish sat in one corner of his lodge, wrapped up in his robe, scarcely moving a muscle of his countenance. When night arrived, he demanded if all the skins had been brought in. Above a hundred had been given up, and Campbell expressed himself contented. Not so the Crow chieftain. He fasted all that night, nor tasted a drop of water. In the morning, some more skins were brought in, and continued to come, one and two at a time, throughout the day, until but a few were wanting to make the number complete. Campbell was now anxious to put an end to this fasting of the old chief, and again declared that he was perfectly satisfied. Arapooish demanded what number of skins were yet wanting. On being told, he whispered to some of his people, who disappeared. After a time the number were brought in, though it was evident they were not any of the skins that had been stolen, but others gleaned in the village.
    “Is all right now?” demanded Arapooish.
    “All is right,” replied Campbell.
    “Good! Now bring me meat and drink!”
    When they were alone together, Arapooish had a conversation with his guest.
    “When you come another time among the Crows,” said he, “don’t hide your goods: trust to them and they will not wrong you. Put your goods in the lodge of a chief, and they are sacred; hide them in a cache, and any one who finds will steal them. My people have now given up your goods for my sake; but there are some foolish young men in the village, who may be disposed to be troublesome. Don’t linger, therefore, but pack your horses and be off.”
    Campbell took his advice, and made his way safely out of the Crow country. He has ever since maintained that the Crows are not so black as they are painted. “Trust to their honor,” says he, “and you are safe: trust to their honesty, and they will steal the hair off your head.”
    Having given these few preliminary particulars, we will resume the course of our narrative.

23.
    Departure from—Green River valley—Popo-Agie—Its course—
The rivers into which it runs—Scenery of the Bluffs the
great Tar Spring—Volcanic tracts in the Crow country—
Burning Mountain of Powder River—Sulphur springs—Hidden
fires—Colter’s Hell-Wind River—Campbell’s party—
Fitzpatrick and his trappers—Captain Stewart, an amateur
traveller—Nathaniel Wyeth—Anecdotes of his expedition to
the Far West—Disaster of Campbell’s party—A union of
bands—The Bad Pass—The rapids—Departure of Fitzpatrick—
Embarkation of peltries—Wyeth and his bull boat—Adventures
of Captain—Bonneville in the Bighorn Mountains—Adventures
in the plain—Traces of Indians—Travelling precautions—
Dangers of making a smoke—The rendezvous
    ON THE 25TH of July, Captain Bonneville struck his tents, and set out on his route for the Bighorn, at the head of a party of fifty-six men, including those who were to embark with Cerre. Crossing the Green River valley, he proceeded along the south point of the Wind River range of mountains, and soon fell upon the track of Mr. Robert Campbell’s party, which had preceded him by a day. This he pursued, until he perceived that it led down the banks of the Sweet Water to the southeast. As this was different from his proposed direction, he left it; and turning to the northeast, soon came upon the waters of the Popo Agie. This stream takes its rise in the Wind River Mountains. Its name, like most Indian names, is characteristic. Popo, in the Crow language, signifies head; and Agie, river. It is the head of a long river, extending from the south end of the Wind River Mountains in a northeast direction, until it falls into the Yellowstone. Its course is generally through plains, but is twice crossed by chains of mountains; the first called the Littlehorn; the second, the Bighorn. After it has forced its way through the first chain, it is called the Horn River; after the second chain, it is called the Bighorn River. Its passage through this last chain is rough and violent; making repeated falls, and rushing down long and furious rapids, which threaten destruction to the navigator; though a hardy trapper is said to have shot down them in a canoe. At the foot of these rapids, is the head of navigation; where it was the intention of the parties to construct boats, and embark.
    Proceeding down along the Popo Agie, Captain Bonneville came