[Trinux-news] abbling brook Rogers a

[Cribbin <ba...@sc...>]

Dly deceived as to the distance, and we marched steadily and swiftly
till nearly night before we reached the foot of the mountain. Here was a
flat place in a table land and on it a low brush hut, with a small smoke
near by, which we could plainly see as we were in the shade of the
mountain, and that place lighted up by the nearly setting sun. We looked
carefully and satisfied ourselves there was but one hut, and
consequently but few people could be expected. We approached carefully
and cautiously, making a circuit around so as to get between the hut and
the hill in case that the occupants should retreat in that direction. It
was a long time before we could see any entrance to this wickiup, but we
found it at last and approached directly in front, very cautiously
indeed: We could see no one, and thought perhaps they were in ambush for
us, but hardly probable, as we had kept closely out of sight. We
consulted a moment and concluded to make an advance and if possible
capture some one who could tell us about the country, as we felt we were
completely lost. When within thirty yards a man poked out his head out
of a doorway and drew it back again quick as a flash. We kept out our
guns at full cock and ready for use, and told Rogers to look out for
arrows, for they would come now if ever. But they did not pull a bow on
us, and the red-man, almost naked came out and beckoned for us to come
on which we did. We tried to talk with the fellow in the sign language
but he could understand about as much as an oyster. I made a little
basin in the ground and filled it with water from our canteens to
represent a lake, then pointed in an inquiring way west and north, made
signs of ducks and geese