Where was his squaw, that he should be obliged to make a woman of himself!" Mr.Hunt and his fellow-travellers had not been many days at the Arickara village, when rumors began to circulate that the Sioux had followed them up, and that a war party, four or five hundred in number, were lurking somewhere in the neighborhood.

These rumors produced much embarrassment in the camp.

The white hunters were deterred from venturing forth in quest of game, neither did the leaders think it proper to expose them to such a risk.

The Arickaras, too, who had suffered greatly in their wars with this cruel and ferocious tribe, were roused to increased vigilance, and stationed mounted scouts upon the neighboring hills.

This, however, is a general precaution among the tribes of the prairies.