Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 26.djvu/147

Rh We intended to remain there fifteen or twenty days to rest ourselves and put our horses in good condition; but, on the 26th day I learned that there were some Assiniboéls at Fort La Butte, who were about to leave for Fort La Reine. We got ready promptly to make use of the opportunity and to protect ourselves thereby from the danger of enemies. We went to Fort La Butte on the morning of the 27th; the Assiniboéls had just left. We had not let them know that we wished to go with them. Two Mantanes offered to come with us in order to see my father and learn the way to our fort. We hastened our pace a little and we joined the Assiniboéls at their camping ground; there were more than a hundred of them. We continued on our way together.

On the 31st, our scouts perceived thirty Sioux ambushed on our route. We advanced upon them in a body. They were greatly surprised to see so many men and retreated in good order, occasionally making opposition to those who approached them too closely. They knew very well with whom they had to deal and thought the Assiniboéls to be cowards. As soon as they perceived us, all mounted on our horses, and noted that we were Frenchmen, they fled in great haste, not even stopping to look behind them. None of our men were killed but several were wounded. We do not know how many men they lost, except for one man who was found among us.

We arrived at the village near the mountain on June 2nd. As our horses were tired, we wanted to proceed with the Indians of the village until the 20th. We procured a guide to conduct us to Fort La Reine, where we arrived on July 2nd, to the great satisfaction of my father, who was very uneasy about us as it had not been possible to send him any news of us since our departure, and also to our own great satisfaction, being past all difficulties, perils and dangers.