robbed four men of all they had, stripped them naked, and
left them in the open prairies to perish before they could
get to the white settlements. The company said it was
ninety-nine chances to one that I escaped the hands of the
Indians, for they had been seen all along where I had come.
Surely a wise God controlled the heathens, and protected me;
for as I came along the day before, I found a piece of a
buffalo robe in the trail, which I thought some of the
company had dropped, but after I had put it on my saddle, I
saw on the other side of the road a skin bag, full of
something, which I then knew was an Indian bag. I then rode
on as fast as I could till evening, when I took up my
lodging, 0 how good the Lord is; let all the world, with
me, praise him. Praise him, 0 my soul; for I trusted in
him, and he has preserved me. How good it is to converse
with the Lord, The company seemed glad that I had made my
escape. The company consisted of about fifty. The greater
part were bound for California; a few only for Oregon.
There were about twenty wagons belonging to the expedition,
drawn by oxen. One of the company was a Catholic priest, a
Mr. de Smidt, who was extremely kind to me, and invited me
to come and eat supper with him that night, and next morning
brought me some venison. He appeared to be a very fine man.
I was invited to sing by a woman, and then to pray. I did
so.

     May 27th. We marched on through the plains. 28th,
Saw two antelopes, the first I ever saw of those animals.
We traveled three hundred miles up the Caw River from
Westport, on the west line of the Missouri, all the way
through prairies, which seem almost to have no end. On
Sunday, the 30th, I had a thought of trying to preach to the
company. There were some as wicked people among them as I
ever saw in all my life. There was some reluctance shown by
the captain of the company; others wanted me to preach to
them, Part of this Sabbath day was a happy time to me. My
soul was drawn out to God, for he was with me, though in the
midst of an ignorant and hard-hearted people. The men
killed several antelopes, and saw some elks.

     On Monday, the 31st, we left the Blue (or Blue Earth)
River, a fork of the Caw River, and traveled over to the
Platte River.   We passed the Pawnee towns the next day,
about six miles to the north of us. We then turned more to
the southwest,  and camped on Platte River that night. We
had two Methodists in company with us. Col. Bartleson had
been a Methodist, but is now a backslider. Our leader,
Fitzpatrick, a worldly man, is much opposed to missionaries
going among the Indians. He has some intelligence, but is
deistical in his principles. At 2 o'clock, commenced a most
tremendous hail storm, with wind, which blew down most of
the tents, accompanied with rain and lightning and thunder
almost all night.     I slept but little, the ground being
covered with water.   That night, dreadful oaths were heard
all over the camp ground, O the wickedness of the wicked.