Mr.Hunt had not proceeded far before the chief came galloping along the shore and made signs for a parley.

He said, his people could not go home satisfied unless they had something to take with them to prove that they had met with the white men.

Mr.Hunt understood the drift of the speech, and made the chief a present of a cask of powder, a bag of balls, and three dozen of knives, with which he was highly pleased.

While the chief was receiving these presents an Indian came running along the shore, and announced that a boat, filled with white men, was coming up the river.
This was by no means agreeable tidings to Mr.Hunt, who correctly concluded it to be the boat of Mr.Manuel Lisa; and he was vexed to find that alert and adventurous trader upon his heels, whom he hoped to have out-maneuvered, and left far behind.

Lisa, however, was too much experienced in the wiles of Indian trade to be lulled by the promise of waiting for him at the Poncas village; on the contrary, he had allowed himself no repose, and had strained every nerve to overtake the rival party, and availing himself of the moonlight, had even sailed during a considerable part of the night.