Louis.
Upon his arrival at the fort, he was agreeably surprised at finding, not
only letters for him, together with various bales of goods, but also a
French savant, bound to California, whither he had been sent by some
scientific society. He was recommended to us by the Bishop and the
President of the college at St. Louis, and had brought with him as
guides five French trappers, who had passed many years of their lives
rambling from the Rocky Mountains to the southern shores of Lower
California.
The Prince left his Shoshones at the fort, to bring on the goods at a
fitting occasion, and, in company with his new guests, retraced his
steps towards our settlement. On the second day of their journey they
met with a strong war-party of the Crows, but as the Shoshones were then
at peace with all their neighbours, no fear had been entertained. The
faithless Crows, however, unaware, as well as the Prince, of the close
vicinity of a Shoshone hunting-party, resolved not to let escape an
opportunity of obtaining a rich booty without much danger. They allowed
the white men to pursue their way, but followed them at a distance, and
in the evening surprised them in their encampment so suddenly that they
had not even time to seize their arms.
The prisoners, with their horses and luggage, were conducted to the spot
where their captors had halted, and a council was formed immediately.
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