the trackless prairie in search of a village of the

Sioux Indians, but failed to find one, for the Indians

were in the habit of shifting their ground and following

the buffalo. Several times they saw small isolated bands

of Indians; but these they carefully avoided, fearing

they might turn out to be war parties, and if they fell

into their hands the white men could not expect civil

treatment, whatever nation the Indians might belong to.

During the greater portion of this time they met with

numerous herds of buffalo and deer, and were well supplied