In the afternoon of his first day’s journey, on drawing near to the Bighorn Mountain, on the summit of which he intended to encamp for the night, he observed, to his disquiet, a cloud of smoke rising from its base.  He came to a halt, and watched it anxiously.  It was very irregular; sometimes it would almost die away; and then would mount up in heavy volumes.  There was, apparently, a large party encamped there; probably, some ruffian horde of Blackfeet.  At any rate, it would not do for so small a number of men, with so numerous a cavalcade, to venture within sight of any wandering tribe.  Captain Bonneville and his companions, therefore, avoided this dangerous neighborhood; and, proceeding with extreme caution, reached the summit of the mountain, apparently without being discovered.  Here they found a deserted Blackfoot fort, in which they ensconced themselves; disposed of every thing as securely as possible, and passed the night without molestation.  Early the next morning they descended the south side of the mountain into the great plain extending between it and the Littlehorn range.  Here they soon came upon numerous footprints, and the carcasses of buffaloes; by which they knew there must be Indians not far off.  Captain Bonneville now began to feel solicitude about the two small parties of trappers which he had detached, lest the Indians should have come upon them before they had united their forces.  But he felt still more solicitude about his own party; for it was hardly to be expected he could traverse these naked plains undiscovered, when Indians were abroad; and should he be discovered, his chance would be a desperate one.  Everything now depended upon the greatest circumspection.  It was dangerous to discharge a gun, or light a fire, or make the least noise, where such quick-eared and quick-sighted enemies were at hand.  In the course of the day they saw indubitable signs that the buffalo had been roaming there in great numbers, and had recently been frightened away.  That night they encamped with the greatest care; and threw up a strong breastwork for their protection.

For the two succeeding days they pressed forward rapidly, but cautiously, across the great plain; fording the tributary streams of the Horn River; encamping one night among thickets; the next, on an island; meeting, repeatedly, with traces of Indians; and now and then, in passing through a defile, experiencing alarms that induced them to cock their rifles.

On the last day of their march hunger got the better of their caution, and they shot a fine buffalo bull at the risk of being betrayed by the report.  They did not halt to make a meal, but carried the meat on with them to the place of rendezvous, the Medicine Lodge, where they arrived safely, in the evening, and celebrated their arrival by a hearty supper.

The next morning they erected a strong pen for the horses, and a fortress of logs for themselves; and continued to observe the greatest caution.  Their cooking was all done at mid-day, when the fire makes no glare, and a moderate smoke cannot be perceived at any great distance.  In the morning and the evening, when the wind is lulled, the smoke rises perpendicularly in a blue column, or floats in light clouds above the tree-tops, and can be discovered from afar.