Page:California Digital Library (IA openingwestwithl00sabirich).pdf/165

 was steering. Chaboneau lost his head, dropped the oar, began to cry aloud with fright. The canoe tilted, tilted, water flowed in—and over on its side turned the boat. The sail's rope had been jerked out of Cruzatte's hand.

"Seize de rudder, Toussaint! Ketch de rope—queeck! Pull on de sail! We all drown! Do de right t'ing or I shoot you!" ordered Cruzatte, scrambling along the gunwale.

Only young Sa-ca-ja-we-a was calm. Holding her baby, she reached right and left and gathered the articles that were floating off. In a moment more the canoe righted, but was full of water. Baling and rowing, the men got her beached just in time.

"Dat stupid Chaboneau! Hees wife is better man dan heem," scolded Drouillard. "He near los' all de fine instruments an' de papers of the captains. Mebbe drown ever'body, too."

As it was, a great deal of medicine had been spoiled by the soaking.

The six victors over the one bear brought him in at last. Because of the battle, this place was known as Brown-bear-defeated Creek.