For some moments I
lay examining the camp, seeking to divine the intent of these people,
whom I supposed to be Sioux. The size of the encampment disposed me to
think that it was a hunting party and not an expedition out for war. I
saw meat scaffolds, as I supposed, and strips of meat hanging over ropes
strung here and there; although of this I could not be sure.
I turned as I heard a whisper at my shoulder. "What is it?" she asked
me; and then the next moment, gazing as I did over the ridge, she saw. I
felt her cower close to me in her instant terror. "My God!" she
murmured, "what shall we do? They will find us; they will kill us!"
"Wait, now," said I. "They have not yet seen us. They may go away in
quite the other direction. Do not be alarmed."
We lay there looking at this unwelcome sight for some moments, but at
last I saw something which pleased me better.
The men among the horses stopped, looked, and began to hurry about,
began to lead up their horses, to gesticulate. Then, far off upon the
other side, I saw a blanket waving.
"It is the buffalo signal," I said to her. "They are going to hunt, and
their hunt will be in the opposite direction from us.
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