Bad fortune seemed to have followed them from the start, and numerous freshly made graves were seen.

One of the emigrants who had been peculiarly unfortunate, came into camp with a hunter on his way home.

He took charge of the letters which the explorers desired to send to their families.
The party soon reached the Pawnee country where they were forced to unusual vigilance, for those Indians have long been noted as most persistent horse thieves.

Game was abundant.

Large flocks of wild turkeys were found roosting in the trees along the streams; elk, antelope and deer were plentiful, and as for bisons, they were beyond all computation.
One day a member of the company happened to be riding at the rear galloped up in hot haste, shouting, "Indians!" He declared that he had seen them distinctly and counted twenty-seven.