Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-01-21

the HILLS, until all the little eminences
seemed in motion, aud, in few minutes
from the time they were first discovered,
TWO or three hundred naked to the breech
cloth, we're sweeping across the prairie.
In few hundred yards we discovered that
the timber VIC were endeavorIng to reach
was on the opposite side OF the river; and
before we could reach the bank, down
came the Indians upon us.
am inclined to think that in a few Sc
conds more the leading man, and perhaps
some Of his companions would have rolled
in the dust; for we had ierked our covers.
from our guns, aud our fingers we're ON
the triggers men in such cases generally
act from instinct, and a charge from three
hundred naked sayages is a circumstances
not well calculated 10 promote a cool exer-
else Of Judgment. Just as he was about
TO fire, Maxwell recognized the leading In
dian, and shouted 10 him in the Indian
language, You're fool, God damn you,
don't you know mot The sound of his
own language seemed to shock the savage,
and swerving his horse little, he passed
us like an arrow. lie wheeled a. ! rode
out toward him, and gave me his hand.
striking his breast, and exclaming " Ara
pahon They proved TO be village of
that nation, among whom Maxwell had re-
sided as a trader a year or two previously,
and recognized him accordingly. We we're
soon in The midst of the band, answering
as well as we could multitude of ques.
tons; OF which the vefy first was, Of what
tribe were our Indian companions who
we're coming in the rearP They seemed
disappointed to know that they we're Che.
yennes. for they had fully anticipated a
grand dance around Pawnee scalp that
night. The chief showed us his village
at o grove on the river six miles ahead,
and pointing out band of buhdo on the
other side Of the Platte, Immediately op.
poslte us, which he said they we're going
TO surround. They had seen the band
early in the morning from their village,
and had been making large circuit 10
av I'D giving them the wind when they dis,
covered Us. In few minutes the women
came galloping up, astrlde on horses, and
naked from their knees down and their
hips up. They followed the men, TO as-
sst in eulting up and carrying off the
meat. The wind WIS blowing directly
across the river, and the chief requested
us TO halt awhile, in order 10 avoid raising
The herd. We therefore unsiddled our
horses, and sat down on the bank to view
! Tho md nt,r a rNIo u
few hundred yards lower down and began
crossing The river. Scores OF wild looking
dogs followed looking like troops of wolves
and having, in fact, but very little of the
dog in their composition. So soon as they
reached The opposite side, the Indians Sc.
paraied into two bodies. One parry pro,
ceeded directly across the prairie, towards
the hill, in an extended line, while the
other went up the river, and Instantly as
they had given the wind To the herd, tho
chase commenced. The bufIalo started
for the hills, but were intercepted and dri
ven back toward the river, broken ant
running ia every direction. The clouds
Of dust soon covered the whole sceEs, pre-
venting us from having any but an occa.
sional view. II had very singular np
pearance to us at distance, especial,
: when looking with The glass We were
TOO far TO hear the report Of the guns, Of
any sound and at every instant, through
the clouds Of dust which the sun made lu.
minous we could see Cor moment two ~
three buffalo dashing along, and close be
hind them an Indian with his long spear
or other weapon, aud Instantly they dis
appeared. The apparent silence, and tbs
dimy seen figures fitting by with such ra
pidny, gave Ii kind Of dreamy effect, ant
seemed more like a picture than scene
Of real life Il had been a large herd
when the cerhe commenced, probabl, three
I or four hundred IN number; but though
, watched them closely, | did not see one
, emerge from the fatal cloud where tn,
, work OF destruction was going on. Aitel
remaining about an hour we resumed oul
journey n the direction Of the village.
: Gradually, as We rode on, Indian afts
! Indian came dropping along, laden will
! meat; and by the time we neared III,
I lodges, the backward road was covered
with the returning horsemen. i was
: pleasant contrast with the desert road W,
, had been travelling, Several had june,
/, company with Us, and one Of the chief
. invited US to his ludge The village con
/; sisted OF abou, l25 lodges, Of which q
! we're Cheyennes; the latter pitched liz
Z lie apart from the Arapahos. They were
$ disposed in scattering manner on botf
sides oil a broad, Irregular street, about l5t
i feet wide, and running along the river
i. AS we ride along, ! remarked near som,
! Of the lodges kind Of tripod frame, form
/. ed Of three slender poles q birch, scrapec
d very clean, TO which were affixed the siIelt