The gun was discharged, and Le Borgne had it conveyed in great pomp to his village.

The council then adjourned." After much diplomacy and underhand scheming, one of the Mandan chiefs, Big White, agreed to go to Washington with the expedition.

But none of the Minnetarees could be prevailed upon to leave their tribe, even for a journey to the Great Father, of whose power and might so much had been told them.

The journal, narrating this fact, says further:-- "The principal chiefs of the Minnetarees now came down to bid us farewell, as none of them could be prevailed on to go with us.

This circumstance induced our interpreter, Chaboneau, to remain here with his wife and child, as he could no longer be of use to us, and, although we offered to take him with us to the United States, he declined, saying that there he had no acquaintance, and no chance of making a livelihood, and preferred remaining among the Indians.