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"The first day we killed ninety snakes by pouring the hot water from the springs in their holes; as they would come out we would kill them. We did not stay many days till we were warned it was not safe as Indians began to be seen on the hills around. At night we could see fires on the mountains as signals to the different bands of Indians as they traveled about stealing. They would steal horses and murder all who came in their path, so we were more careful but...anxious to see the county around. It was covered with grass as tall as a man and with sage brush. It was really dangerous to leave the house for Indians could hide anywhere in the grass or behind clumps of sage brush and cut us off at any time.

"The (Yellowstone) river is about a mile from the springs and clumps of trees all along the river. About four miles below, a large creek comes in to the main river but from the springs (Hunters Hot Springs) to this stream it is quite level and nothing to hinder us from seeing every thing but the tall grass and sage brush, but we at last decided we would venture and prepared for a fine day outing to prospect and roam about the river to fish. Soon we saw a large number...of mounted Indians. Of course we returned to the house as fast as we could go and some of the men went around the hill to watch. They soon came and told us it was a band of elk - about five hundred. We all went out to see them. What a beautiful sight. Their great horns, holding their heads so high looked like an army of men on horseback. We watched them some time before they discovered us but when they did they was soon out of sight. We only killed one as we were going back soon and could not use any more. Dr. Hunter was a fine shot (and) hardly ever missed his aim.

"That night we found a(n) Indian prowling around and next morning found us on our way back to Bozeman, but not too soon for as we crossed the Shield River we heard the report of guns that killed two white men on the other side of the river, so we made all haste and arrived without any further trouble but did not take that trip again till the Mission was established on the stream below where Livingston now stands.

"We then, each year, went in winter when the Crow Indians were at the Mission, for if anything happened to us they would be blamed. They were a sort of protection. But when they (the Crow) went out on their regular Buffalo hunt, the Sioux would fall in behind their (Crow) camp and then we were in danger and had to leave the Springs till fall again when the Crow tribe returned for their rations to the Mission - their sugar, salt, coffee, flour and their beef and to dry and prepare their Buffalo robes for sale."

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