HOSTILE DEMONSTRATIONS. 75 



encounter the enemy at once, wliile the timid 

 and cautious took a stand with presented rifle 

 hehind the wagons. The Lidians who were 

 in advance made a bold attempt to press upon 

 us, which came near costing them dearly ; for 

 some of our fiery backwoodsmen more than 

 once had their rusty but unerring rifles direct- 

 ed upon the intruders, some of whom would 

 inevitably have fallen before their deadly aim, 

 had not some of the more prudent traders in- 

 terposed. The Indians made demonstrations 

 no less hostile, rushing, with ready sprung 

 bows, upon a portion of our men who had gone 

 in search of water, and mischief would, per- 

 haps, have ensued, had not the impetuosity 

 of the warriors been checked by the wise men 

 of the nation. 



The Indians were collecting around us, 

 however, ki such great numbers, that it was 

 deemed expedient to force them aAvay, so as 

 to resume our march, or at least to take a 

 more advantageous position. Oiur company 

 was therefore mustered and drawn up in 'hue 

 of battle ;' and, accompanied by the sound of a 

 drum and fife, we marched towards the main 

 group of the Lidians. The latter seemed far 

 more delisrhted than frightened vdih this 



»-._^ ^^^..^* *^^Q 



strange parade and music, a spectacle they 

 had, no doubt, never witnessed before ; and 

 perhaps looked upon the wholQ movement 

 rather as a complimentary salute than a hos- 

 tile array ; for tliere was no interpreter through 

 whom any communication could be convey- 

 ed to them. But whatever may have been 



