for our safety should
be had at any cost.

I urged my men to utter no word at all, for none but Clark could speak
French, and he but poorly. For myself, my accent would pass after these
six years of practice. We came to a little river, beyond which we could
observe the Indians standing on guard. We could only cross by wading,
which we did; but one of my Provincials came down, wetting his musket
and himself thoroughly. Reaching the shore, we marched together, I
singing the refrain of an old French song as we went,

En roulant, ma boule roulant,
En roulant, ma boule

so attracting the attention of the Indians. The better to deceive, we
all were now dressed in the costume of the French peasant--I had taken
pains to have Mr. Stevens secure these for us before starting; a pair
of homespun trousers, a coarse brown jacket, with thrums like waving
tassels, a silk handkerchief about the neck, and a strong thick worsted
wig on the head; no smart toupet, nor buckle; nor combed, nor powdered;
and all crowned by a dull black cap. I myself was, as became my purpose,
most like a small captain of militia, doing wood service, and in the
braver costume of the coureur de bois.

I signalled to the Indians, and, coming near, addressed them in French.
They were deceived, and presently, abreast of them, in the midst of
apparent ceremony, their firelocks were seized, and Mr. Stevens and
Clark had them safe. I said we must be satisfied as to who they were,
for English prisoners escaped from Quebec were abroad, and no man could
go unchallenged. They must at once lead me to their camp. So they did,
and at their bark wigwam they said they had seen no Englishman. They
were guardians of the fire; that is, it was their duty to light a fire
on the shore when a hostile fleet should appear; and from another point
farther up, other guardians, seeing, would do the same, until beacons
would be shining even to Quebec, three hundred leagues away.

While I was questioning them, Clark rifled the wigwam; and presently,
the excitable fellow, finding some excellent stores of skins, tea, maple
sugar, coffee, and other things, broke out into English expletives.
Instantly the Indians saw they had been trapped, and he whom Mr. Stevens
held made a great spring from him, caught up a gun, and gave a wild yell
which echoed far and near. Mr. Stevens, with great rapidity, leveled his
pistol and shot him in the heart, while I, in a close struggle with
my captive,