village, apparently coeval with the excavation, exist within two miles of Beaver Creek.[42] In this vicinity, several antelopes (Cervicapra Americana, Ord) were seen by the party, but they were so shy and swift, that it was not possible to kill one of them. [38] Bennett Riley, of Maryland, began his army career in 1813, as ensign in the rifles, attaining a captaincy in 1817. In 1821 he was transferred to the infantry, in which he attained successively the rank of major (1837), lieutenant-colonel (1839), and colonel (1850). He died in 1853. Andrew Talcott entered West Point in 1815, from Connecticut, and on graduation (1818), was promoted into the army with the brevet rank of second-lieutenant in the corps of engineers. He resigned his commission in 1836, being then captain, and was engaged until 1860 chiefly on railroad and mining enterprises; he was a member of the Northwest Boundary Commission (1840-43). He died in 1883, aged eighty-six.—ED. [39] Meaning "The Thief."—ED. [40] Shell Creek is a tributary of the Platte, flowing from the northwest across Platte and Colfax counties.—ED. [41] The Arikara; see Bradbury's _Travels_, in our volume v, note 83.—ED. [42] Beaver Creek is a northern tributary of Loup River, which it joins in Nance County.—ED. On the succeeding day, a large body of Indians was observed in the distance moving towards us, which proved to be the principal portion of the Oto nation, who were now returning to their own village, from a trading visit to the Pawnees. We here met with numerous acquaintances, who saluted us cordially, although they appeared somewhat jealous of our visit to the Pawnees. The Little Soldier rode up with great animation, and communicated to some {72} of us, by means of signs, an intimation that a glorious battle had been fought by a party of Pawnee Loups, in which the greater part of them had been killed, and nearly all the remainder of them wounded. We resumed our journey, and at the distance of two or three miles observed numerous horses grazing over the plain, squaws occupied in pitching skin lodges, and men advancing to meet us; they were soon recognized for Omawhaws, and informed us that they were engaged in hunting. We were soon joined by the Big-horse, Crenier, and other chiefs and warriors of the Oto and Omawhaw nations, who remained a considerable time, and received a small present of tobacco at parting. At Willow Creek,[43] several Pawnees were observed on the opposite side at a distance, who avoided us, and as we continued on during the afternoon, many of them appeared at different times and places, on the bluffs, which, at a little distance, bounded our route to the right; but, like the first we had seen, they would not approach our party, but retired on our advancing towards them.