Volume 1

TRIPLE FRACAS—FORT ON FIRE—FIVE FIGHTS. 243
found him playing at the platter with 20 men, all his relations.
I inquired if he had left his tent since such a day,
and if it was not he who had hid my horses. The Indians
were astonished, and could not account for my violent proceedings.
However, I was convinced that he was innocent.
On returning to the fort I found the men alarmed ; all the
women and children had fled to the woods. They had been
informed by an old woman that the Indians were preparing
to attack the fort ; but, after a great bustle, everything
quieted down.
Apr. joth. We found our strayed horses. Indians having
asked for liquor, and promised to decamp and hunt well all
summer, I gave them some. Grande Gueule stabbed Capot
Rouge, Le BcEuf stabbed his young wife in the arm. Little
Shell almost beat his old mother's brains out with a club,
and there was terrible fighting among them. I sowed
garden seeds.
May ^th.
Indian women preparing ground, sowing potatoes,
corn, and squash, burning brush, etc. Extraordinary
number of wild pigeons; I never before saw so many.
^th. Tremendous gale of wind from the N. W., which
kindled afresh the brushwood of yesterday; the fire spread
in every direction, and was blown full upon the fort. Some
sparks flew over the stockades and set fire to a heap of dry
dung, which in an instant communicated to the stockades,
and all was in a blaze. The flames were driven with great
violence upon our range of houses, and we were in imminent
danger of losing all the property. But the Indians rendered
great assistance in keeping the fire under, carrying water,
etc., and after having suffered much by flame, smoke, and
dust, we extinguished it.
May 6th. Engaged my men, settled their accounts, and
gave them a treat of high wine
;
they were soon merry, then
quarreled and fought. I saw five battles at the same
moment, and soon after they all had bloody noses, bruised
faces, black eyes, and torn clothes, yth. Repairing canoes.
Indians decamping for the Hair hills. 8th. I went to see