CHAPTER VIII.
THREE WEEKS IN A BLACKFOOT CAMP.
Travel with allied camps - All sick from drinking bad water - Lost son found - Misbehavior of Nez Perces- Missionaries leave with the Blackfeet - Death of Nicholas, the first Blackfoot convert - Pantomime entertainment by a Blackfoot artist -Piegans come in and Flatheads rejoin them -Blackfoot hymn composed around the fire -A trial of faith in the matter of horses -Enemies reconciled.
Very Reverend and Dear Father Provincial:'
L) OU are already acquainted with our determination to accompany the Blackfeet in returning to their country. In the sequel of this letter you will learn with pleasure how far Almighty God has blessed our humble efforts in carrying this resolution into effect. After the battle described in my letter from the Yellowstone camp, the Crows, it appears, fled to the Wind River Mountains, determined, however, to avenge themselves on the Blackfeet, whom they now designed to follow into their own country. The latter, probably through fear of this assault, resolved to remain with the Flathead camp until it reached the headwaters of the Muscle-shell river. In leaving the Yellowstone our direction lay toward the north,' through a broken and undulating, dry and woodless country, destitute of any water fit to drink - stagnant pools of brackish water being the only kind found here to satiate the thirst. We were all sick for several days from this cause. Only a few straggling bulls were seen or killed, scarcely sufficient, indeed, to supply the wants of our numerous camp. The great variety of matter incidental to this journey with the united Indian camp will appear, perhaps, more satisfactory if given in the
1 Letter date Fort Lewis or Maragnon, September 26, 1846. 2 Fr. northwest.