Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 26.djvu/135

 that I had a long journey to make. We arrived on August 11th at the mountain of the Gens des Chevaux. Since our guides did not wish to go further, we set to work to construct a little house where we could await the first Indians who might happen to discover us; we lighted fires on all sides for signals, to attract attention, being thoroughly resolved to trust ourselves to the first tribes that might appear.

On September 10th only one Mantane remained with us; his comrade had departed ten days before to return to his people. I went or sent someone every day to explore the hills. On September 14th our scouts perceived a column of smoke south southwest of us.

I sent the Frenchman with our Mantane, and they found a village of the Beaux Hommes who welcomed them. They (the Frenchman and the Mantane) made them (the Beaux Hommes) understand by signs that there were three more Frenchmen established nearby. The next day the chiefs sent some of their young men with our two men to fetch us. We went there on the 18th and we were welcomed with great demonstrations of joy.

Our Mantane asked my permission to depart, fearing a tribe which was an enemy of his own; I paid him liberally and gave him whatever was useful and necessary for him to return to his people, just as I had done before to his comrade.

We remained with the Beaux Hommes twenty-one days. I made them understand as best I could that we wished to be conducted to a village of the Gens des Chevaux. They replied that some of their youths would guide us as far as the first village which we might encounter. I made them several presents, with which they appeared to be very well satisfied.

We left them on November 9th. We were beginning to understand them well enough for our needs. Our guides led us south southwest.