Volume 1

92 BRAVE SENTRIES ON GUARD AGAINST SIOUX.
vinced me that it happened not far from this place, as he
could scarcely walk. On returning I observed southward
herds of buffalo, as far as the eye could reach, all running at
full speed nearly toward us, but inclining to the open plain.
Desmarais informed me that when he fired at the herd
that was drinking, he saw a herd pass out in the plain in
the same direction, and at full speed. We did not know
what to think of this ; certainly they must have been
started, or even pursued by some people ;
otherwise they
would not have run so far. Wolves sometimes start them,
but then they run no great distance. They continued to
run until we lost sight of them ;
this made us very uneasy.
We took up our flesh and reached camp about dark.
I had seen on our way home a large flock of swans
\^Olor coliimbianus] rise out of Red river, about a mile above
camp, apparently in a state of alarm and confusion. As
soon as we had unloaded and fettered our horses, I
broke open our gun cases and gave each man a gun, with
some powder and ball. I then sent for three of my bravest
men, told them what we had seen, and that I apprehended
danger. But I did not wish them to mention it,
and desired them to take their blankets and guns and keep
watch during the night at particular places, which I pointed
out. During the conversation, two of my brave fellows
turned pale, and their lips began to quiver with fear ;
but
as it would have been of no use to choose others, I stationed
them at their posts, with orders to wake us upon
the least noise. Having seen everything in order for
defense and our fire put out, I lay down in my cloak.
About midnight one of my sentries awoke Desmarais, saying
he had seen a band of Sioux pass through the woods on
horseback. Desmarais, suspecting the fellow of cowardice,
told him to be quiet and show him where they had passed.
He found it was my horse, which had strayed past this fellow,
who lay asleep, and, perceiving the white blanket, had
stopped and begun to snort as the man awoke, when, seeing
the blanket move, he had run away as fast as his fetters