At last, one morning the Indians turned out at daybreak, and immediately began taking down the tents and packing up their goods.  The coverings for the tents were divided and done up in bales, and then secured to the backs of horses.  The poor women were loaded with as much as they could carry, in addition to the younger children.  The chief's squaws were allowed to mount; but their animals were also loaded like the rest of the horses.  The men carried only their arms, and spare buffalo robes strapped on to their saddles.  Mike and I were compelled to assist in doing up the bales, the squaws showing us how to perform the operation; sometimes scolding us, at other times laughing at what they considered our clumsiness.