f beyond, in a drenching rain. The skins and meat of these animals
were packed upon the horses. The skins, easily tanned, were of immense
value in their subsequent lodgings.

The next morning, the 14th, the sun rose in a cloudless sky. The
prairie seemed spread out for leagues before them, covered with herds
of buffaloes and deer, while immense flocks of turkeys and other birds
of the prairie rose before them. About noon they saw, in the distance,
an immense herd of buffaloes rushing over the plains as if mad. They
conjectured at once that some Indian hunters were pursuing them. Their
conjecture proved correct.

Soon they saw a savage, on the full run, and very flat-footed, pursuing
the herd. Hastily the load was thrown from one of the horses, a man was
mounted upon him, and galloping over the plain soon overtook the
Indian, and led him back to the company. When the poor man saw himself
surrounded by a group of white men, such as he had seen before, he was
greatly terrified. And he had cause to be frightened. La Salle's
associates infamously urged that he should be put to death, in revenge
for the murder of their companions by some unknown Indian band. The
humane, magnanimous leader found it necessary to present to his
reckless followers such motives as they could appreciate. He said to
them:

"We are but few in number. We have before us a journey of hundreds of
miles through a region crowded with Indian tribes. If we rouse the
vengeance of the savages, we shall all be cut off. Let us treat them
with kindness, and thus we shall secure for ourselves kind treatment in
return."

The cordial smiles and friendly signs of this truly good man soon
dispelled apparently the great alarm of the stranger. A fire was built.
After abundantly feeding their hungry guest, and smoking with him the
friendly pipe, La Salle, assuring him of his desire to do harm to none,
but good to all, dismissed him with presents which to the savage must
have seemed almost like celestial gifts. Still the cautious Indian,
accustomed to treachery, was evidently uncertain as to the fate which
awaited him. As he withdrew, he cast anxious glances around, until he
had attained the distance of a few rods, when he took to flight, with
almost the rapidity of a deer.

The travellers continued their route, and after an hour or two,
overtook another Indian hunter. They caught him, and lavished upon him
the same acts of kindness. As evening was approaching, they