Volume 1

164 SWIFTNESS OF THE ONE-EYED SODOMIST.
a month ago, in a drinking match, he got into a quarrel and
had one of his eyes knocked out with a club. He is very
troublesome when drunk. He is very fleet, and a few years
ago was reckoned the best runner among the Saulteurs.
Both his speed and his courage were tested some years ago
on the Schian river, when Monsieur Reaume ^' attempted to
make peace between the two nations, and Berdash accompanied
a party of Saulteurs to the Sioux camp. They at
first appeared reconciled to each other through the intercession
of the whites, but on the return of the Saulteurs, the
Sioux pursued them. Both parties were on foot, and the
Sioux have the name of being extraordinarily swift. The
Saulteurs imprudently dispersed in the plains, and several
were killed ;
but the party with Berdash escaped without
any accident, in the following manner : One of them had
got from the Sioux a bow, but only a few arrows. On
starting and finding themselves pursued, they ran a considerable
distance, until they perceived the Sioux were gaining
fast upon them, when Berdash took the bow and arrows
from his comrades, and told them to run as fast as possible,
without minding him, as he feared no danger. He then
^*
There were several persons of this name in the fur-trade, identification of
whom is not easy, as the Christian name is generally omitted; the surname
varies to Reaume, Rheaume, and sometimes Raymond. — " Mons." Reaume is
often mentioned in Thompson's MS.; e. g., en route from Grand Portage, Aug.
I2th, 1797, and in Sept., 1797, fitted out by Cuthbert Grant for a. post near
" Falle a la Perdrix " (Partridge falls, somewhere about Dauphin r. and Lake
Winnipegoosis).—Simon Raume or Raymond is mentioned by Thompson as
being at Red Deer Lake house Oct. 31st, 1798.—Simon Reaume appears in a
N. W. Co. list as at Fort des Prairies and Fort Lac Orignal, winter of 1789-90,
and on Upper English r., 1799.—One Reaume was at Portage la Prairie,
1794-95, in opposition to Wm. Mackay of the N. W. Co.—One Reaume is mentioned
in Wm. Morrison's letter of 1856 as coming into the trade prior to 1803.
— J. Reaume was a trader on Red 1., winter of 1784-85. —
Joseph Reaume of the
N. W, Co. was in the Fond du Lac Dept. in 1799; wages 1,000 livres.— Joseph
Reaume of the N. W. Co. wintered at FoUe Avoine lake or river, 1801-02 :
see the abstract at the end of Chap. iv.—
Joseph Rheaume appears as a voyageur
of the N. W. Co. in the Athabasca Dept., 1804.—For Charles Reaume, b. near
Montreal, 1752, married Mdlle. Sanguinet, d. Bale Verte in 1821, see the biogr.
in Tasse, L pp. 123-136, and work there cited, p. 351.