m F to E was exactly equal to the
distance from E to G, he had but to measure the space between the bank
of the river and F, and deduct it from E G, and he obtained the width of
the river required.

I do not think that this calculation, which proved to be perfectly
correct, occupied the old chief more than three minutes, and it must be
remembered that it was done in the face of the enemy: but I resume my
own history.

CHAPTER TEN.

In narrating the unhappy death of the Prince, I have stated that the
Crows bore no good-will to the white men established among the
Shoshones. That feeling, however, was not confined to that tribe; it
was shared by all the others within two or three hundred miles from the
Buona Ventura river, and it was not surprising! Since our arrival, the
tribe had acquired a certain degree of tactics and unity of action,
which was sufficient in itself to bear down all their enemies,
independent of the immense power they had obtained from their quantity
of fire-arms and almost inexhaustible ammunition. All the other nations
were jealous of their strength and resources, and this jealousy being
now worked up to its climax, they determined to unite and strike a great
blow, not only to destroy the ascendancy which the Shoshones had
attained, but also to possess themselves of the immense wealth which
they foolishly supposed the Europeans had brought with them to the
settlement.

For a long time previous to the Crow and Umbiqua expedition, which I
have detailed, messengers had been passing between tribe and tribe, and,
strange to say, they had buried all their private animosities, to form a
league against the common enemy, as were considered the Shoshones. It
was, no doubt, owing to this arrangement that the Crows and Umbiquas
shewed themselves so hardy; but the prompt and successful retaliation of
the Shoshones cooled a little the war spirit which was fomenting around
us. However, the Arrapahoes having consented to join the league, the
united confederates at once opened the campaign, and broke upon our
country in every direction.

We were taken by surprise; for the first three weeks they carried every
thing before them, for the majority of our warriors were still hunting.
But having been apprised of the danger, they returned in haste, and the
aspect of affairs soon changed. The lost ground was regained inch by
inch. The Arrapahoes having suffered a great deal, retired from the
league, and havi