Volume 1

DISCIPLINE ENFORCED—MARCH RESUMED. 373
fly, and fight to the last man. But they are not so enterprising
as the Big Bellies ; they seldom form great war parties,
whilst the others are perpetually at war, and seldom
is the village found with no party absent on an excursion
of this nature. In this they hold themselves above their
neighbors, and boast of warlike actions.
We earnestly begged the Indians to allow us to proceed
alone, representing to them that we were in haste to return
home, and that it was of very little consequence to us
whether we got wet riding, or sitting on the ground. Gros
Blanc was anxious to proceed with us, and seconded our
proposal ; but a few words from our old general silenced
him, and he appeared entirely out of countenance. The
objection to our proceeding alone was that the road was
dangerous, and as we were under their particular charge,
should any accident happen to us, Le Borgne would censure
them
;
therefore, we must make ourselves easy, and not
think of leaving them. This magnanimity we took in good
part, and determined to abide by their directions ; but we
afterward learned that it was mere policy, to prevent our
reaching the place before them. They knew of several
famous horses there, which our old general and his sons
wanted to get for themselves, and as we had some property,
they supposed we would purchase those horses. We had
put some hopes in the interference of Gros Blanc ; but
he was soon brow-beaten, although he was the only one
decorated with a silver medal of the United States.
At eight o'clock the rain ceased, and orders were given
to march. At nine we passed the Wolf's Tent, a stupendous
hill, which we had seen since yesterday afternoon, in
the form of a sugar-loaf. The base is more extended,
and scantily covered with the grass that grows upon red
gravel and clay soils ; the top is nearly level, and covered
with huge flat stones forming several shallow caves, in
which wolves bring forth their young. Several of us ascended
this hill on horseback, the natives making it a point
of horsemanship to stick on as long as possible, while to