arrow and deep channel, with large trees on each
side. They cut down two of these trees, so that their branches met in
the middle, crossed on this bridge, and swam their horses over.

On the other side, a beautiful country, of elevated, undulating
prairie, opened before them. As they were preparing to encamp in the
shelter of a grove, they heard voices, and soon beheld fifteen Indians
approaching. The savages manifested no alarm, but in token of peace
laid aside their bows and arrows, and came into the camp. They ate,
smoked, exchanged presents, and went on their way rejoicing, promising
to visit the camp again.

The horses, as well as the men, were quite exhausted. They therefore
remained, for a day of rest, on their very pleasant camping ground.
During the day a band of twenty-two Indians came to them. They had
shields impervious to arrows, made of the hide of buffaloes. They were
at war with another tribe. They said that there were other white men,
at the distance of ten days' journey on the west, doubtless referring
to the Spaniards. The interview was mutually pleasant, and La Salle
obtained some important information in reference to the continuance of
his route.

Onward they pressed, day after day, with alternate sunshine and storm,
through marsh and forest, over prairies and across rivers, without
encountering any adventure of much importance until the 1st of
February. That day they discovered, at a distance, an Indian village.
La Salle, leaving M. Joutel in charge of the camp, took his brother and
seven men, and set out to reconnoitre. They came to a village of
twenty-five wigwams, very pleasantly situated. Each wigwam contained
four or five men, besides quite a number of women and children. The
Indians received their guests very hospitably, conducted them to the
dwelling of their chief, and seated them upon mats of buffalo skins. A
great crowd gathered within and around the cabin. The chief, after
feeding them abundantly upon buffalo steaks, informed them that he had
been expecting their arrival. Other Indians had told him that they were
in the country, and that they were on a route which would lead them
near his village.

Perfect harmony prevailed. Presents were exchanged. The Indians were
eager to give a nicely tanned buffalo robe for a knife or almost any
trinket in the hands of the white men. But La Salle had no means of
transporting the robes, which would prove so valuable in European
markets. They con