been only to steal
horses; but having discovered that the half a dozen warriors, belonging
to these families, had gone to the settlement for fire-arms and
ammunition, they had arranged to make an attack upon the post, and take
a few scalps before returning home by sea and by land, with our nets,
boats, fish, etcetera. This was a serious affair. Our carpenter and
smith had disappeared, as I have said before; and as our little fleet
had in consequence become more precious, we determined to preserve it at
any sacrifice. To send an Indian to the settlement would have been
useless, inasmuch as it would have materially weakened our little force,
and, besides, help could not arrive in time. It was better to try and
reach the post before the Umbiquas; where under the shelter of thick
logs, and with the advantage of our rifles. We should be an equal match
for our enemies, who had but two fusils among their party, the remainder
being armed with lances, and bows and arrows. Our scout had also
gathered, by overhearing their conversation, that they had come by sea,
and that their canoes were hid somewhere on the coast, in the
neighbourhood of the post.

By looking over the map, the reader will perceive the topography of the
country. Fifty miles north from us were the forks of the
Nu-eleje-sha-wako river, towards which the Umbiquas were going, to be
near to water, and also to fall upon the path from the settlement to the
post. Thus they would intercept any messenger, in case their expedition
should have been already discovered. Their direct road to the post was
considerably shorter, but after the first day's journey, no sweet grass
nor water was to be found. The ground was broken, and covered with
thick bushes, which would not allow them to pass with the horses.
Besides this reason, an Indian always selects his road where he thinks
he has nothing to fear. We determined to take the direct road to the
post, and chance assisted us in a singular manner. The Indians and my
old servant were asleep, while I was watching with the Irishman Roche.
I soon became aware that something was moving in the prairie behind us,
but what, I could not make out. The buffaloes never came so far west,
and it was not the season for the wolves. I crawled out of our bush,
and after a few minutes found myself in the middle of a band of horses
who had not allowed themselves to be taken, but had followed the tracks
of their companions, to know what h