of renewing his depredations, accompanied by two other adventurers whom he had persuaded to become the partners of his criminal enterprise; but, before proceeding far, he fell in with the same company of Mexican traders from whom he had stolen the horses. They immediately recognized him and the animal he rode, and took possession of the latter. As for Old Bob, notwithstanding his protestations of innocence and stout resistance, they stripped him of gun, pistol, and ammunition —gave him a severe flogging, and again turned him adrift upon the prairie, destitute of everything except the baseness of his own heart!
"Well, Bob," said one of his comrades; "this business appears not so profitable, after all; though you, doubtless, have become quite warmed in its pursuit. For my own part I shall quit it before I begin, and return to the States."
"And I, too;" chimed in the other.
"The fact is," replied Bob, "this country is getting rather too hot for me, and I'll bear you company! What d'ye say to that?" "Just as you like," responded his two companions; "that is, provided you wont attempt the grab game on us."
"Come, boys; now that's too bad! Oh, you may rest assured I will never repay a kindness with ingratitude, neither will I abuse the confidence of friends.”
Thus arranged, the three started on their way. Coming upon a camp of hunters, a few miles below Bent's Fort, they concluded to remain a short time in order to procure a supply of meat for their journey. Here our slippery customer borrowed a horse and rifle of his comrade, pretendedly for a buffalo hunt, and under a most solemn pledge of returning them; however, on finding himself again armed and mounted, he was not slow to improve the opportunity of bidding an abrupt farewell to the unsuspecting dupe, and resumed his course toward the States.
How he eventually succeeded through this last shift, I am unable to say; yet, the brief story of his adventures thus far is sufficient to prove, that iniquity sometimes, even in this life, receives a severe reward.
Toward the last of August the Arapahos and Chyennes held a grand convocation, in the vicinity of Fort Lancaster, for the purpose of medicine-making; or, in other words, paying their united devotions to the Great Spirit. The gathering might with propriety have been termed a "Protracted Meeting," as it continued for three successive days and nights, exclusive of the time occupied in preliminary arrangements.
Besides the two tribes above named, a large number of Sioux, Cumanches, Blackfeet, and Riccarees, were present, swelling the concourse to nearly a thousand lodges.
The regular participants in the ceremonies of the occasion had previously prepared themselves by a fast of three days, attended with frequent washings and purifications. A large lodge had been erected in the form of an amphitheatre, as described upon a former page, with a pole in its centre pointing to the zenith, near the top of which was affixed the head of a buffalo. Here the throng assembled, with up-turned eyes, encircling it around in solemn dance, accompanied by a low musical chant, as they addressed the "Big Medicine". This strange worship was maintained
