Volume 1

I40
SIOUX CAMP AT MOUTH OF RED LAKE RIVER.
dance.
The water appears very deep at the confluence, and
we saw
my guide tells me that many sturgeon winter here ;
several jump. Our first object was to look for any sign of
the enemy. We saw several old war camps, and a range
of elm-bark cabins, which our guide tells me were erected
last summer by the Sioux, who remained nearly a month.
We found also a camp of this summer, of about lOO men,
who had been here before the leaves were full grown ; but
we saw no fresh tracks. Near this last war camp was a
great quantity of horse dung, and stakes driven into the
ground to fasten their horses. Being satisfied there was no
enemy near, we determined to stop for the night, in hopes
of seeing the Indians we were pursuing. We assisted
Charlo to make a raft, on which he crossed Red river to
search for them. My man and myself arranged a snug
camp, and boiled some fat ducks for supper. There were
plenty of wild fowl here, but we did not fire, for fear of
alarming any Indians who should be within hearing ; these
ducks were the remainder of yesterday's hunt.
About dusk our Indian returned; he had been some distance
up the E. branch, but saw no sign of anybody. He
found several beaver cabins along the river, but none had
been worked ; this made me suppose the Indians had not
yet come thus far. I therefore proposed to wait a few
days in hopes of their arrival ; but this did not please our
guide. I then told him I was anxious to see Goose river, as
I wished to send my Indians there in the spring to hunt
beaver, and I would be pleased if he would go with me.
He started many objections. However, I prevailed upon
him to accompany me, on condition I would give him a
treat of high wine on our return to this place, where I
intended to leave the small keg en cache.
He informed me
that the country on the E. side is the same as on the W.,
open and level, with no wood excepting that on the banks
of
the river.
Nov. loth. At daybreak we mounted and proceeded
along the wood, cutting from point to point, on a fine level