THE AMERICANS AND THE ABORIGINES. 383 



officers. The news had already got wind through 

 some passengers by the steamboat which brought the 

 despatch-bearer, and discontent was rife amongst the 

 militia. The parade was dismissed, the troops dis- 

 persed, and the officers were about to return to their 

 quarters, when they were detained by the following 

 incident. 



From the opposite shore of the river, two boats 

 had some time previously pushed off, one of them 

 seeming at first uncertain what direction to take. It 

 had turned first up, then down stream, but had at 

 last pulled obliquely across the river towards the 

 bayou or creek, on the shore of which the little town 

 was situated. It was manned by sailors, judging 

 from their shirts of blue and red flannel ; but there 

 were also other persons on board, differently dressed, 

 one of whom reconnoitred the shore of the bayou 

 with a telescope. It was the strange appearance of 

 these persons that now attracted the attention of the 

 officers. They were about twelve in number ; some 

 of them had their heads bound up, others had their 

 arms in slings ; several had great plasters upon their 

 faces. They were of foreign aspect, and, judging 

 from the style of their brown, yellow, and black 

 physiognomies, of no very respectable class. As if 

 wishing to escape observation, they sat with their 

 backs to the bayou. At a word from General Billow, 

 an officer stepped down to meet them. 



The boat was close to shore,' but as soon as the 



VOL. III. 2 B 



