being armed with lances, and bows and arrows. Our scout had also
gathered, by overhearing their conversation, that they had come by sea,
and that their canoes were hid somewhere on the coast, in the
neighbourhood of the post.

By looking over the map, the reader will perceive the topography of the
country. Fifty miles north from us were the forks of the
Nu-eleje-sha-wako river, towards which the Umbiquas were going, to be
near to water, and also to fall upon the path from the settlement to the
post. Thus they would intercept any messenger, in case their expedition
should have been already discovered. Their direct road to the post was
considerably shorter, but after the first day's journey, no sweet grass
nor water was to be found. The ground was broken and covered with thick
bushes, which would not allow them to pass with the horses. Besides this
reason, an Indian always selects his road where he thinks he has nothing
to fear. We determined to take the direct road to the post, and chance
assisted us in a singular manner. The Indians and my old servant were
asleep, while I was watching with the Irishman Roche, I soon became
aware that something was moving in the prairie behind us, but what, I
could not make out. The buffaloes never came so far west, and it was not
the season for the wolves. I crawled out of our bush, and after a few
minutes found myself in the middle of a band of horses who had not
allowed themselves to be taken, but had followed the tracks of their
companions, to know what had become of them. I returned, awoke the
Indians, and told them; they started with their lassoes, while I and
Roche remained to sleep.

Long before morn the Indian scout guided us to three miles westward,
behind a swell of the prairie. It was an excellent precaution, which
prevented any Umbiqua straggler from perceiving us, a rather