Volume 1

THE GREAT MAN RAGES PRUDENTLY. 387
matters might turn out. He then mounted and rode round
camp at full speed, haranguing his people to the same purpose
; he also forbade anyone to depart, as many of the
women desired to
take advantage of the darkness to escape
from a place where they feared death.
About ten o'clock a young man came into our tent to
inform Le Borgne that the Schians had stolen some of the
Mandanes' horses, and that the latter had declared that, if
the horses were not returned immediately, they would retaliate.
This alleged insult added fuel to the flames ; our
great man got up in a rage and went out to inquire into
the affair, declaring that if this report proved to be true, he
would instantly spread death and destruction through the
camp. He desired us to be in readiness to depart ; but the
night was so dark we could scarcely distinguish our own
horses from others ; and to adjust our saddles and baggages
was almost impossible. While we were collecting our things,
he returned and informed us that all was again quiet ; that
it was some of our own party who had taken the horses to
go after others that had strayed, and that all had been
found. Thus our minds were once more at ease, after a
very disagreeable suspense. Still, we apprehended further
disturbances, as we overheard
Rattlesnake and some other
resolute fellows declare vengeance on those dogs, as they
termed the Schians, and they were only prevented from
committing some rash action by Le Borgne. He is certainly
a man of great prudence and circumspection ; he
never allows himself to be transported into
such a passion
as might commit him to any rash action ; he does everything
in a composed, deliberate, and cool manner. A fight
on this occasion would not have been on fair terms, as the
Schians, Sioux, and Buffalo Indians had only about 200
men, ill provided with fire-arms and ammunition, whereas
our party mustered about 500 men, all well armed. Many
of them had two guns and plenty of ammunition, as they
had declined to part with those articles until we should be
ready to depart, when they proposed to exchange them for