Volume 1

observed
ALARM CONTINUED—COUNCIL HELD. 75
prised to see how expeditious they had been, having neither
hoes nor spades. They- used axes to cut the earth ; the
women and children with their hands threw it into kettles
and on blankets, and then tossed it up. At five o'clock the
discovering [scputing] party returned, having been on the
spot where Gueule Platte said he had been pursued. They
saw the tracks of three red deer, which must have been the
cause of his fright. I have often ,
that the red
deer, particularly at this season, when their horns are full
grown, have at a distance a great
resemblance to horsemen.
The women and children lay in their trenches all night,
the men in their cabins. I kept watch during the night,
for I suspected the Saulteurs were rogues enough to give
us a false alarm, to induce me to winter here and send
nobody above, or even to return below, where they apprehended
no danger.
Monday, Sept. ist. Early this morning the Sucker band
again set out on discoveries, and we soon heard several
shots on the plain. This was certainly the Sioux, who had
laid in wait and killed them. The Indians flew to arms,
and ran to the meadows ;
sending two men, whilst I
but I contented myself with
remained with the others to take
care of my property. At ten o'clock they all returned
loaded with meat, the Red Suckers having fired on a herd
of buffalo and killed several. Next, one of my horses
was missing, and the Indians insisted that the enemy had
taken him. I sent six men to search for him. At five
o'clock the discovering party returned. Mr. Langlois,
whom I had sent with them, informed me that they had
been to the Grand Passage on Panbian [Pembina] river,
where they found a bull fresh killed, and another with a
broken leg; and thought this must have been done by
our men. To this the Saulteurs would not agree, and held
a council whether they should return to the Forks or
remain here ; but I paid no more attention to them, seeing
they did all in their power to prevent one from going
above. Tabashaw was perpetually urging them to return