Ambush!

Ironically while the fur companies were playing tag, Walker's men were the only ones actually trapping.  By October they had 2-3 packs of beaver pelts at 100 pounds each. They headed back up the Salmon River to meet up with Bonneville.

Along the way they were surprised by some Blackfoot Indians while they camped by a creek.  Walker and his men were playing "Sledge" a popular frontier gambling card game.  Hearing Blackfoot war cries coming up from behind them,  the men quickly jumped to their feet, but by the time they had grabbed their guns and readied for the attack, they found the raiders had already mounted.  Walker and his men were able to force them back with bullets and the Blackfoot hid in the brush, holding off the trappers until the Blackfoot were finally able to escape.

No one was killed and only 2 horses were stolen, but Walker recalled it as the single most humiliating experience of his frontier career and never played Sledge again!

Next time...Moving On.