e advised, therefore, that a party should be sent out
to surprise and disperse them, which he was of opinion could easily be
done by surrounding their camp at night. When I heard this account, I
was almost convinced that the party were those blacks who had placed
themselves under Rochford, and that he, of course, would not permit them
to injure the settlers. I did not, however, feel sufficiently certain
that Rochford was with them to allow me to express this opinion; but I
begged permission to accompany the expedition, which was willingly
granted me. It was not expected to last many days, and I hoped still to
get back before I was wanted by my father. The Roseville Rifles,
commanded by Captain Seth Nockelles, to whom I was introduced by the
judge, wore as uniform broad-brimmed straw hats and shooting-jackets,
with belts round their waists, in which they stuck their bowie-knives
and pistols, while they carried their long rifles slung across their
backs. We took with us several powerful blood-hounds, such as I have
before described.

I have already given so many accounts of marches through the country,
that I must not fill up my journal with a description either of the
scenery or the adventures we met with. At this time a strong force of
regular troops had compelled the Indians to evacuate the eastern part of
the country, and had, it was supposed, driven the larger number
westward, so that we did not expect to meet the enemy in any
considerable force. We therefore advanced with confidence, though we
sent out scouts, as usual, to avoid the risk of being surprised. We had
thus pushed on for four or five days, when one of the scouts brought
word that he saw the smoke of a fire ascending apparently from the midst
of a thick wood, which was, in his opinion, very likely to shelter an
enemy. It was considered advisable, therefore, to enter cautiously,
feeling our way as we advanced. As we got to the borders, the dogs were
loosened and sent in, and we followed knowing that they would give us
timely notice should they come upon an enemy. We had not got far when
we heard several shots; but no bullets came near us.

"The dogs must have shown themselves, and, depend upon it, those shots
were aimed at them," observed our leader. "Come on, lads! or the rebels
will be making their escape by the other side of the wood, and we shall
have no chance of meeting them."

We accordingly pushed on through the dense foliage, Captain