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56 hostile country. Hunt sent back word to Lisa that he would await Lisa's arrival at the Ponca village at the mouth of the Niobrara; but no sooner had the messenger disappeared downstream, than Hunt redoubled his energy to pass through the Sioux country in advance of Lisa, for he feared that Lisa would use his well-known influence with the Indians to excite hostilities against the Astorians. Hunt was in a state of terror, and it is hard to tell which he feared most, Lisa or the Indians he was pretty certain to meet in the Dakota country.

By the morning of the 31st of May Hunt had arrived in the neighborhood of the Big Bend, when the whole party were almost scared out of their wits by the approach of a large body of Sioux, who came racing down the river bank as if to intercept their passage. They were under the lead of our old friend Black Buffalo. They informed the white men that they were at war with the Rees and Mandans, and would not permit ammunition and guns to be taken to their enemies. Hunt explained to them that he was not looking for trade on the Missouri, but was going to cross the mountains to the Pacific coast; this satisfied Black Buffalo, who allowed the white men to pass on. They, however, met several other bands of Sioux in the next day or two, and were kept in a constant state of alarm. Just as they rounded the Big Bend they met a party of Rees, who greeted them most cordially. After spending a night with the whites, the Rees set off hot foot for their home on Grand River, to inform their people of the approach of the boats.

At the very moment when the Rees disappeared up