Volume 1

394 MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.
Le Borgne told us " the reason why he did not wish to
push the affair to extremities was the great number of
women and children who accompanied us, most of whom
would have been destroyed ; but he declared he would be
revenged upon the Schians for the manner in which they
had slighted his medicine stem. He directed his women to
form a kind of intrenchment with his baggage and saddles,
inside of which we slept with him and them. He desired
us to fresh prime our guns, examine the flints, and be
ready to fire at a moment's warning. He also ordered a
number of young men to surround and watch the camp
during the night. Everyone slept with his arms beside
him. As our horses were tied at our feet, we were every
moment in danger of being trampled ; but as we were
entirely free from mosquitoes, or any kind of troublesome
flies, the horses were quiet. The poor beasts had eaten
little for some days ; they devoured the grass, which
was of an excellent kind for them, upon this spot. Le
Borgne had four mules, which were vicious brutes ; when
any other animal came near, they brayed and kicked enough
to alarm the whole camp. The noise those animals kept
up all night was hideous.
I could not but reflect upon the great fuss and uproar I
had witnessed, and was surprised that it ceased without
bloodshed. These people are certainly clamorous and
noisy upon the most trifling occasion, and one unaccustomed
to them would imagine every moment they were
* As bearing on this statement I may cite C. McKenzie in Masson, /. c, p. 391:
" The Gros Ventres and Mandans having collected on an eminence or rising
ground above the camp, we all made a halt, and while we were preparing for
the worse, the Borgne, who was on foot, came to Mr. Chaboillez saying :
equal, lend me your horse that I may go and speak to those dogs and know
whether they prefer peace to war.' Mr. Chaboillez did not relish the idea of
parting with a famous runner at this time, but the Borgne pressed him in a
commanding voice to obey. While Mr. Chaboillez was taking the saddle off
'
the horse, I asked the Borgne if they were to fight. My son,' said he, we
'
have too many children and women here to commence hostilities ourselves, but,
if we are attacked, we must not flinch.' "
'
My