Volume 1

I08
SCENE OF CONFUSION—CROOKED LEGS SORRY.
pies were squealing, children crying—altogether it
was such
a scene of confusion that we almost began to beheve the
enemy was surrounding the fort. Having called out and
been admitted, I allowed everybody to come in ;
amongst
them was the wounded woman. I then inquired into the
cause of the alarm, and I was informed that, contrary to
my orders, Desmarais had told them I had seen a Sioux.
This coming from me, there was not the least doubt it
was true. I was vexed with Desmarais, but it stopped
the drinking match. The Indians kept watch with us,
and there were only some of the women drinking very
quietly.
Sept. 30th. This morning the Indians wished me to
allow them to pitch their tents inside the stockade, but my
fort was too small. I told them they were welcome to sleep
in it every night. They all retired to their cabins to sleep
off the effects of the liquor ; the wounded woman walked
away also, attended by her old husband, who appeared very
sorry for what he had done and was very attentive
to her.
He is a great doctor, and does not despair of curing her.
She walked very stiff, her face as pale as a corpse, every
moment casting cruel frowns upon the old gentleman.
One of my men made a trap yesterday, and this morning
caught a red fox \yulpus fulvus\
Oct. 1st. I was unwell during the night, but found myself
better this morning. It began to rain and continued
all day. The Indians have all been hunting, but the rain
prevented them from killing, although they had seen several
bears and two wolves. One of them killed a bear this
afternoon near the fort ; it was a lucky supply, as we were
short of fresh meat.
Oct. 2d. Fine clear weather. Indians all out hunting. I
was still unwell, and therefore determined to ride down to
the river alone. I went almost to the Bois Perce before I
saw anything but bulls. Here I fell in with a large herd of
red deer feeding on the edge of the woods. Having secured
my horse to a tree, I approached them. I now