Then a little caravan, returning from Santa Fe, followed the stream of the north fork of the Canadian river.

Two of the traders, having preceded the company in search of game, fell asleep on the edge of a brook.

These were espied by a band of Indians, who surprised them, seized their rifles, took their scalps and retired before the caravan had reached the brook, which had been agreed upon as the place of rendezvous.

When the traders arrived, one of the victims still breathed.
They carried him to the Cimaron, where he expired, and was buried according to the prairie fashion.
Scarcely had the ceremony been terminated, when upon a neighbouring hill appeared four Indians, apparently ignorant of what had happened.

The exasperated merchants invited them into their camp, and murdered all except one, who, although wounded, succeeded in making his escape.
This cruel retaliation brought down heavy punishment.