This was a serious affair. Our carpenter and smith had
disappeared, as I have said before; and as our little fleet had in
consequence become more precious, we determined to preserve it at any
sacrifice. To send an Indian to the settlement would have been useless,
inasmuch as it would have materially weakened our little force, and,
besides, help could not arrive in time. It was better to try and reach
the post before the Umbiquas; where, under the shelter of thick logs,
and with the advantage of our rifles, we should be an equal match for
our enemies, who had but two fusils among their party, the remainder
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.
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