He then returned, and all our arms were prepared, in case of an attack; but when the Indians reached their comrades, and informed their chiefs of our intention, they all set out on their way to their own camp; though some of them halted on a rising ground and abused us very copiously, threatening to kill us if we came across.

We took no notice of this for some time, till the return of three of our hunters, whom we were afraid the Indians might have met.

But as soon as they joined us we embarked; and to see what the Indians would attempt, steered near their side of the river.

At this the party on the hill seemed agitated; some set out for their camp, others walked about, and one man walked toward the boats and invited us to land.

As he came near, we recognized him to be the same who had accompanied us for two days in 1804, and was considered a friend of the whites.
"Unwilling, however, to have any intercourse with these people, we declined his invitation, upon which he returned to the hill, and struck the earth three times with his gun, a great oath among the Indians, who consider swearing by the earth as one of the most solemn forms of imprecation.