He was greatly frightened and offered them his food.

They smiled, treated him kindly and gave him several trifling presents which he received with childish delight.
One of the singular incidents of the journey took place while the exploring party were making their way along the foot of the Sierras.
Passing around a point on the lake shore, they unexpectedly met a dozen Indian warriors.

They were walking directly behind each other in what is known as Indian file, their heads bent forward and their eyes fixed on the ground.

The whites turned aside to allow them to pass and naturally watched them with much interest.

The Indians neither halted, deviated from the path, spoke nor looked up, but walked straight forward with their silent, measured tread until they disappeared.