CHAPTER XIV.

Meek Falls into the Hands of Crows--The Story as He tells It--He Packs Moccasins, and Bears the Jeers of the Fair Sex--Bridger's Camp Discovered and the Lie Found out--A Desperate Situation--Signaling the Horse-Guard--A Parley with Bridger--Successful Strategy--Capture of Little-Gun--Meek Set at Liberty with a New Name--A Fort Besieged by Bears--A Lazy Trapper--The Decoy of the Delawares--Winter Amusements--The Ishmaelite of the Wilderness--March through the Crow Country--Return to Green River--Punishment of the Bannacks--Consolidation--An Excursion--Intercepted by Crows--A Scattered Camp--The Escape, 189