he post would
indubitably send one of their men to call the canoe-keepers; this one
they would endeavour to take alive, and bring him to the post. One of
the canoes was consequently launched in the river, and late in the
evening the two Indians well armed with fusils started on this
expedition.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

The Umbiquas came at last; their want of precaution shewed their
certainty of success. At all events, they did not suspect there were
any fire-arms in the block-house, for they halted within fifty yards
from the eastern tower, and it required more than persuasion to prevent
Roche from firing. The horses were not with them, but before long we
saw the animals on the other side of the river, in a little open
prairie, under the care of two of their party, who had swum them over,
two or three miles above, for the double purpose of having them at hand
in case of emergency and of giving them the advantage of better grazing
than they could possibly find on our side. This was an event which we
had not reckoned upon, yet, after all, it proved to be a great advantage
to us.

The savages making a very close inspection of the outer buildings, soon
became convinced of the utter impossibility of attacking the place by
any ordinary means. They shot some arrows and once fired with a fusil
at the loop-holes, to ascertain if there were any men within capable of
fighting; but as we kept perfectly quiet, their confidence augmented;
and some followed the banks of the river, to see what could be effected
at the principal entrance. Having ascertained the nature of its
material, they seemed rather disappointed, and retired to about one
hundred yards, to concert their plans.

It was clear that some of them were for firing the building; but, as we
could distinguish by their gestures, these were comparatively few.
Others seemed to represent that, by doing so they would indubitably
consume the property inside, which they were not willing to destroy,
especially as there was so little danger to be feared from within. At
last one who seemed to be a chief, pointed first with his fingers in the
direction where the canoes had been left; he pointed also to the river,
and then behind him to the point of the horizon where the sun rises.
After he had ceased talking, two of his men rose, and went away to the
south-west. Their plan was very evident. These two men, joined with
the two others that had been left in charge were to bring th