Volume 1

392 TUMULTUOUS TERMINATION OF THE TREATY.
the camp and made a long speech, at the end of which he
ordered all hands, men and women, to saddle and load instantly;
but most of them were already prepared to depart,
and only awaited his orders to march. The sun was about
an hour high, when, in the greatest hurry, bustle, and confusion,
the women saddled and loaded their horses as fast
as possible, and began to file off by the route we came.
By this time the men had become still more excited ; everyone
was armed and on horseback, with a ball in his mouth
;
haranguing went on throughout the camp ; the horses were
neighing and prancing impatiently, and instant battle
threatened.
The women being all at some distance, Le Borgne ordered
the men off and desired us to keep close by him. We all
moved in a body, without any regular form of marching, and
our horses at a slow walk. We were accompanied by the
main body of the Schians, who mixed with our party and
did not appear in the least afraid of our superior numbers,
but with fierce countenances rode up to the most tumultuous
of our party and vociferated to them with many significant
signs and gestures. We really expected every moment
to see some of them strike a fatal blow, and thus precipitate
the conflict, as they certainly pushed our party to the last
extremity. I could not help admiring the conduct of our
commander-in-chief, Le Borgne ; in all this tumult he said
very little, and appeared quite unconcerned ; but I observed
he was always upon his
guard, and that no Schian personally
insulted him.
I was anxious to purchase one of their horses which had
struck my fancy ;
he was a beautiful pied stallion four years
old, the most spirited and swiftest beast I ever saw in the
North West. The owner had promised him to me at the
high price I offered, but as several Big Bellies also wanted
him, and the owner wished to prevent jealousy, he desired
me to keep up the payment until the moment I left, when
he would deliver the horse. During the commotion in
camp I went to him with my goods and demanded the