“A little.”
“Will you sell me two pounds?”
“Yes; certainly—or give it to you.”
“No, no! I must pay.”
Having measured out the sugar in a tin cup—a cupful for a pound—Winnemucca, on being told the price was a dollar, said it was not enough, and handed them two dollars. He next asked for gunpowder. Being told they had none, he caused their packs to be opened and searched. No powder being found the old fellow looked disappointed.
When first brought into camp, the young fellows were a good deal frightened, but after their interview with Winnemucca, began to feel quite easy in mind. Winnemucca told them that he was only at war with the Californians, and said he had no quarrel with white men who came from the East. The horses of the young men were picketed out with those of the Indians, and they were shown where to spread their blankets. Although surrounded by Indians, they were soon asleep, being very tired.
Late in the night one of the men felt a hand on his head, and awoke. He was greatly terrified at finding that an old squaw with a long knife in her hand had him by the hair, and was about to cut his throat. Before he could make a move, or utter a cry, an Indian lying near, sprang up, pushed the squaw away and then lay down at their heads.
“Hush!” said this man as he lay down.
“I shall speak to old Winnemucca about this in the morning,” whispered the man whose throat had been in danger.
“Do nothing of the kind,” said their self-appointed guard, “that woman with the knife was one of the old fellow’s wives. Say nothing about it.”