While trapping for beaver along the Jefferson's Fork River in the fall of 1808, John Colter and his companion John Potts were surprised by a war party of Blackfeet braves. With no chance to escape, Colter came ashore while Potts retreated and was killed. Colter was seized and stripped naked, then placed ahead of the braves on the open prairie and given a chance to run for his life, with special honor promised to the warrior who caught and killed him. Seeking the cover of the river about six miles ahead, Colter ran barefoot across prairie covered with prickly pear cactus and soon outdistanced all but one brave. Nearing the river and hearing footsteps behind him, he stopped and turned to face his pursuer; surprised, the brave dropped his spear and fell to the ground exhausted. Colter grabbed the spear, stabbed the brave, reached the river, and hid among driftwood in the stream while the Blackfeet searched the shoreline without finding him. After nightfall they gave up the hunt, and Colter swam quietly downstream before beginning a three hundred mile journey back to Lisa's Fort, traveling day and night and living on roots. More than a week later, weak, bearded, scratched, and cloaked in an Indian blanket, he reached the fort alive.