BOURGEOIS - Toronto Public Library

THE MISSISSOURI INDIANS 391
more horrid than the cries of those savages ready to destroy one
another. All were running to the field for t.heir horses :
Shawyens, Gros Ventres, Mandans and we, white men, among
the rest.
We soon got on horseback and, passing thro\lgh the camp,
we met with the owner of the speckled horse and having
asked if he would now sell his horse, he shook his head several
times with rage in his countenance, and with the back of his
hand he made signs to us to be off as it were to Sfty: "be off in
time, ere worse may befal you " .
........................................... ......................... ............. .
The Gros Vent1"eS and Mandans havi ng collected on an eminence
or rising ground above the camp, we all made a halt, ftnd whi Ie
we were preparing for the worse, the Borgne, who was on foot,
came to Mr. Chaboillez saying: " My equal. lend me your hOI"5e
" that I may go and speak to those dogs and know whether they
" prefer peace to war". Mr. Chaboillez did not relish thp, idea
of parting with a famous runner at this time, but the Borgne
pressed him in a commanding voice to obey. While Mr. Chaboillez
was taking the saddle off the horse, I asked the BOi'qllc
if they were to fight. "My son ", said he, " we have too many
" children and women here to commence hostilitie:3 ourselves,
" but. if we are attacked, we must not flillch ".
The Borgne soon passed through the crowd inviting all tho,,!)
who had breech clouts to follow him; the other chiefs harangued
with threatening voice the throng which was now gathered
on the brow of the hill in front of the Shawyens' camp, of
which no vestiges were now seen, for, on the cry of wal" the
women pulled down the lodges and huddled their ails 0 n the
horses and dogs and went off with speed. The Shawyens were
all under arms at the distance of a parley from us. The Borgue
then spoke to them;