Drawing  near  noiselessly,  they  saw  a  solitary  Indian
on  the  bank  of  a  little  creek.  He  stood,  naked  as  a
newbornbabe,  gazing  pensively  ata  little  fire  on  which
stood  an  earthen  pot,  gently  simipering.  It  was  filled
with  the  little  grouhd-scjuirrels  of  the  locality.  He  was
a  fine,  stalwart  youth,  perhaps  twenty-three  or  there-
about. More  squirrels,  and  his  bow  and  arrows  lay
near  the  fire.  Manifestly  greatly  alarmed,  yet  he
made  no  offer  to  run  away,  but  seemed  disposed  to
put  a  good  face  on  the  matter,  and  offered  some  of
his  squirrels.  Placing  some  attractive  presents^  in
his  hands,  the  party  kept  on  their  way.  His  hunt-
ing equipment  of  bows  and  arrows  were  wonderful
specimens  of  skill  and  industry,  the  arrows  tipped
with  polished  stone.  They  had  not  proceeded  far
ere  Fremont  discovered  that  the  Delawares  had
appropriated  the  Indian's  hunting  stock.  As  soon  as
Fremont  knew  it,  he  told  them  to  take  it  back,  as  by
depriving  the  poor  fellow  of  his  bow  and  arrows  they
had  possibly  left  him  in  a  condition  to  perish,  as  he
had  no  means  left  to  continue  his  hunting.     The


Al)VE»rtJftES  Of  gW  CABSON.  49

Delaware's  made  no  objection  to  obeying  Fremont's
desire.
Another  curious  trait  of  Indian  disposition  was
afforded  Kit  and  his  friends  a  few  days  thereafter.
At  a  lake  abounding  in  fisb,  and  at  certain  seasons
much  frequented  by  the  Indians,  it  happened,  one
time,  that  some  dozen  Indians  suddenly  appeared  in
sight.  They  were  progressing  like  a  file  of  geese,  one
almost  stepping  in  the  tracks  of  the  preceeding,  their
heads  bowed  and  their  eyes  cast  dowiL  The  whites
and  Indians  passed  each  other  without  giving  the
least  sign  that  they  had  been  observed.
