172 Expedition, ^c, 



out to the people in the cottage to direct us to Belle Point, 

 although we knew the path could not be mistaken, and that 

 we were not ten rods from the ferry. Notwithstanding 

 our inquiries might have been thought impertinent, we 

 were very civilly answered by a young woman, who came to 

 the door, and attempted to silence the clamours of the dogs. 

 We were not surprised to find our uncouth appearance a 

 matter of astonishment both to dogs and men. 



On arriving at the beach opposite Fort Smith, and making 

 known our arrival by the discharge of a pistol, we perceived 

 the inhabitants of the garrison and our former companions, 

 coming down to the ferry to give us welcome : and being 

 soon carried over, we met from Major Bradford and Captain 

 Ballard, a most cordial reception. Captain Bell, with Mr. 

 Say, Mr. Seymour, and Lieutenant Swift, having experienced 

 numerous casualties^ and achieved various adventures, hav- 

 ing suffered much from hunger, and more from the perfidy 

 of some of their soldiers, had arrived on the 9th, and were 

 all in good health. The lass most sensibly felt, was that of 

 the manuscript notes of Mr. Say and Lieutenant Swift. Mea- 

 sures for the apprehension of the deserters, and the recovery 

 of these important papers were taken immediately, and a re- 

 ward of two hundred dollars offered. Mr. Glen had kindly 

 volunteered his assistance, and his influence, to engage the 

 Osages in the pursuit. But these efforts were unavailing. 



We arrived at Fort Smith at about nine o'clock, and were 

 .soon afterwards invited to a bountifully furnished breakfast- 

 table at Major Bradford's. Our attentive host, knowing the 

 caution necessary to be used by men in our situation, re- 

 strained us from a too unbounded indulgence in the use of 

 bread, sweet potatoes, and other articles of diet, to which we 

 had been long unaccustomed. The experience of a few days 

 taught us that we should have been fortunate had we given 

 more implicit heed to his cautions. 



It is now necessary to return, and attend Captain Bell's 

 detachment of the party, in their progress down the Arkansa. 



