iles, the banks were so low and so encumbered with rushes
and dense brush.

The voyagers remained at the mouth of the Ohio ten days, sending out
parties in various directions. One of the Frenchmen, Peter Prudhomme,
wandering from his companions, did not return. There were many fears
that he had been captured by the Indians, as some of the party had seen
fresh Indian trails. The heroic La Salle was not disposed to abandon
the man. He threw up some entrenchments for the protection of his
company, and despatched several well-armed Frenchmen, with Indian
guides, to follow vigorously the trail of the savages, for the recovery
of the captive if he had been taken by them. For four days La Salle
tarried in his encampment at the mouth of the Ohio.

On the 1st of March the detachment, sent in pursuit of the lost one,
returned. They had seen and heard nothing of Peter. Five Indians,
however, had been seen, two of whom were caught and brought into the
camp. They knew nothing of the lost man. Receiving only friendly
treatment, they seemed quite anxious that La Salle should visit their
village, which they falsely assured La Salle was distant but a day and
a half's journey from the point where they then were. These Indians
belonged to the Chickasaw tribe, which subsequently became quite
prominent in the history of our land.

With the Indians a day's journey was about thirty miles. La Salle and
Father Membre set out to visit the village, guided by the Indians. They
do not appear to have had any hesitation in thus placing themselves
entirely in the hands of the savages. But after having travelled day
and a half through a country diversified with forest, prairie, and
mountain, they became satisfied that the Indians were deceiving them,
and charged them with it.

They confessed the deception, made some lame apologies for it, and
confessed that their village was still at the distance of three days'
journey. Without any apparent reluctance they accompanied La Salle and
Membre back to the camp. La Salle then sent one of the Indians to the
Chickasaw village, with several presents, and to invite the chiefs to
meet him, some hundred miles below, as he descended in his canoes. The
other Indian consented to remain, and accompany his party down the
river.

Just as the voyagers were reembarking, the missing man appeared. He
had been lost in the forest and for nine days had wandered in the
unavailing search for his companions. Fortunately, the