BOURGEOIS - Toronto Public Library

THE MlSS!SSOURI INDIANS 333
owners,. who, having found out our viewS; went by a different
route.
Mortified at my disappointmellt, I resolyed upon continuing
my jouruey by means of the track of the other party, bnt a
storm of urift and SIIOW having obscured our horizon, Wt! lost
our way anu were ohliged to st!ek shelter under the baLlks of a
small creek, where the severity of the weather detained us
three days.
Here we found plenty of buffaloes, they did not mind our
prese[Jce, and we lulled four of them for the sake of their hides,
which we required for shelter. A party of Indians who were
upon a hunting excursion fell in with our encamjJment; I
agreed with one of them and he conducted us to our destination,
where we learnt that our opponents, who had been there,
had. taken their departure the day before our arrival, but the
Indians, having had intelligence of our approach, reserved us a
share of the trade. When we returned to the village, we found
our friends greatly alarmed for ouI' safety, fearing that we had
lost our way, 01' that we were misled by the Natives.
We were now short of goods; a band of Indians, who were
loaded with furs, were on the eve of arriving, and from this circumstance
our opponents might have a decided advantage over
us, and the idea cast a gloom upon our party. My landlord
observing this change, felt uneasy antl inquired whether he, or
any of his family had given offence, I said, no, but that his tribe
having appalently decided in favour of our apponents, we, of
course, would withdraw ourselves, lJever to return.
This declaration distressed the old man. He took me by the
hand,-" Do not go, do not abandon me, my son," said he, -( the
.. Indians who are coming to-morrow will be kind to you; I
"will go with you to their village; your mother and your
" sister will join us, and we shall talk of you; tbe Indians love