The third of July we made our camp at the foot of the Bannock Mountains. Here in a circular valley was a regular camp ground where every train cut a few more trees for the ring of campfires that were built around the camps in the center, always making the spot a little safer from Indian attack. The next day we were not to travel but to rest our horses. We were always glad for those rest days; they came so seldom. Our camp was spoiled to me, however, for here in the beautiful circle we found the cattle train. It was hard to endure them, to find the stream of water trampled and dirty, as well as all the other annoyances they could devise. "They will go on tomorrow and we will be rid of them for a day or two," we hoped once more and felt relieved at the prospect.

The next morning, however, we found a new scheme to anger us. Very early in the morning they left, but hanging from a flagpole that they had erected in the night was a Confederate flag. An angry group of men surrounded the pole when Florence and I ran out of our tent. One man had started to chop it down.

Mr. Daily was talking, "It's hard to take, boys, but we have to get this train through. The Snake Indians are yet to be passed and we can't weaken ourselves in a battle with these people. If a lot of you fellows were killed, what could we do with the families? They have to come first. The train must go through. Let the flag alone."

It was hard for northern eyes to see that flag flying, but there it stayed all that day. When we left the next morning it still hung from the top of the pole.

Just before we started Win said, "Drive my team, won't you, Philura? I'm not ready to go."

"Not ready!" I said, "Why not?"

"Never mind, I'll catch up." He and Henry ran away and I could not see them when we started.

After a while Win climbed up beside me. "We fixed their old flag," he said; "chopped it down into the fire."

"That's good!" I said. "I'm glad you did, but won't you get into trouble."

"I don't know," he answered, "but the flag is down."

Even though I was glad to hear that, I couldn't help feeling a little anxious. Captain Daily had been very emphatic.

Early in the morning before we had started I had seen the men of the train gathered around Mr. Daily. Later in the day Father told us why the captain had called them together. A message had come that the Snake Indians were on the war path. They were even more to be feared, he said, than the Sioux; they were more treacherous.