Volume 1

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ANOTHER COMMOTION IN CAMP. Ill
About twelve o'clock, as I was writing in my tent, up in
the bastion, I heard a great bustle in the fort below, and
people calling out, " It is near at hand." The women and
children began to scream and run into the fort. I jumped
up and came to the tent-door. The Indians were standing
in the fort with nothing on but their breech-clouts, powderhorns,
shot-bags, and guns in
their hands, calling out to the
women and children to hide. I asked the cause of all this
commotion, but everybody was too much occupied to listen
or answer. My men, who had just placed their kettle of
meat in the middle of the fort, were calling out, " To arms
to arms ! " They had got up from around the kettle, and
were gaping and staring at the Indians ; some had bits of
meat sticking out of their mouths ; others had their mouths
full ; others, again, were with large pieces in their hands,
whilst some had let them drop. All of them looked
ghastly, their lips contracted, eyes rolling, and countenances
pale as death. I could not conceive what was the occasion
of this uproar. I supposed it might proceed from some
monstrous grizzly bear at hand, or in pursuit of some person
who was running to the fort, for, they all ran to the
gates, some pushing them shut, and others opening them,
some swearing they were better shut than open, others
swearing to the contrary. By this time I had got down
amongst them, and inquired the cause ; when I was informed
that somebody had seen two Indians not more
than 200 yards from the fort, crawling on their bellies
toward some children at play. Having brought my gun
with me, I
instantly ran after the Indians, desiring them to
return, as we should stand a better chance within than
without the stockades ; they did so. Not one of my men
had a gun in his hands, their consternation was so great.
We were in the act of securing the gates, when we saw two
lads coming, who, we knew, belonged to the camp. Observing
the alarm, they informed us it was themselves who
had played the trick to frighten the children. The Indians
were highly incensed, and gave them a severe reprimand,