anches met in the middle. By this bridge the party crossed.
More than thirty times, during this trip, they resorted to this measure
for crossing streams.

"After several days' march," writes Father Douay, "in a pretty fine
country, we entered a delightful territory, where we found a numerous
tribe, who received us with all possible friendship; even the women
coming to embrace our men. They made us sit down on well-made mats, at
the upper end of the wigwam, near the chiefs, who presented us with the
calumet, adorned with feathers of every hue, which we had to smoke in
turn."

The Indians feasted them abundantly, with the best of their fare, and
presented them with some excellently tanned buffalo skins, for
moccasins. La Salle gave them, in return, some beads, with which they
seemed to be greatly delighted. Father Douay writes:

"During our stay, Chevalier La Salle so won them by his manners,
and insinuated so much of the glory of our king, telling them that
he was greater and higher than the sun, that they were all ravished
with astonishment."

Continuing their journey, they crossed several rivers, until they came
to a large Indian village of three hundred cabins. Just as they were
approaching the village they came upon a herd of deer and shot one. The
Indians, who heard the report and saw the deer fall dead, were
terror-stricken. In a mass they fled to the neighboring forest. La
Salle, to avoid surprise, entered the village in military array.

Entering the largest cabin, which proved to be that of the chief, they
found a very aged woman, the wife of the chief, who, from her
infirmities, was unable to fly. La Salle treated the terrified woman
with the greatest kindness, and by signs assured her that he intended
no harm. Three grown-up sons of the chief, who were watching the
progress of events with great solicitude, seeing no indication of
hostile measures, cautiously returned. La Salle met there with friendly
signs, and accepted the presented calumet. The young chiefs then called
to their people in the distance, and all returned. The evening was
passed in feasting, dancing, and all kinds of semi-barbarian
festivities.

Still La Salle did not venture to sleep in the wigwams, where his party
would be entirely in the power of those who might prove treacherous. He
returned to encamp in a dense cane-brake, where no foe could approach
without giving warning. In the night, some thought they heard
approa