7.

Retreat of the Blackfeet—­Fontenelle’s camp in danger—­ Captain Bonneville and the Blackfeet—­Free trappers—­Their character, habits, dress, equipments, horses—­Game fellows of the mountains—­Their visit to the camp—­Good fellowship and good cheer—­A carouse—­A swagger, a brawl, and a reconciliation

The Blackfeet warriors, when they effected their midnight retreat from their wild fastness in Pierre’s Hole, fell back into the valley of the Seeds-ke-dee, or Green River where they joined the main body of their band.  The whole force amounted to several hundred fighting men, gloomy and exasperated by their late disaster.  They had with them their wives and children, which incapacitated them from any bold and extensive enterprise of a warlike nature; but when, in the course of their wanderings they came in sight of the encampment of Fontenelle, who had moved some distance up Green River valley in search of the free trappers, they put up tremendous war-cries, and advanced fiercely as if to attack it.  Second thoughts caused them to moderate their fury.  They recollected the severe lesson just received, and could not but remark the strength of Fontenelle’s position; which had been chosen with great judgment.

A formal talk ensued.  The Blackfeet said nothing of the late battle, of which Fontenelle had as yet received no accounts; the latter, however, knew the hostile and perfidious nature of these savages, and took care to inform them of the encampment of Captain Bonneville, that they might know there were more white men in the neighborhood.  The conference ended, Fontenelle sent a Delaware Indian of his party to conduct fifteen of the Blackfeet to the camp of Captain Bonneville.  There was [sic] at that time two Crow Indians in the captain’s camp, who had recently arrived there.  They looked with dismay at this deputation from their implacable enemies, and gave the captain a terrible character of them, assuring him that the best thing he could possibly do, was to put those Blackfeet deputies to death on the spot.  The captain, however, who had heard nothing of the conflict at Pierre’s Hole, declined all compliance with this sage counsel.  He treated the grim warriors with his usual urbanity.  They passed some little time at the camp; saw, no doubt, that everything was conducted with military skill and vigilance; and that such an enemy was not to be easily surprised, nor to be molested with impunity, and then departed, to report all that they had seen to their comrades.

The two scouts which Captain Bonneville had sent out to seek for the band of free trappers, expected by Fontenelle, and to invite them to his camp, had been successful in their search, and on the 12th of August those worthies made their appearance.

To explain the meaning of the appellation, free trapper, it is necessary to state the terms on which the men enlist in the service of the fur companies.  Some have regular wages, and are furnished with weapons, horses, traps, and other requisites.  These are under command, and bound to do every duty required of them connected with the service; such as hunting, trapping, loading and unloading the horses, mounting guard; and, in short, all the drudgery of the camp.  These are the hired trappers.