Thus armed and equipped, they posted their forces in military style.

Five of the officers took their stations at each end of the portage, which was between three and four miles in length; a number of men mounted guard at short distances along the heights immediately overlooking the river, while the residue, thus protected from surprise, employed themselves below in dragging up the barges and canoes, and carrying up the goods along the narrow margin of the rapids.

With these precautions they all passed unmolested.

The only accident that happened was the upsetting of one of the canoes, by which some of the goods sunk, and others floated down the stream.

The alertness and rapacity of the hordes which infest these rapids, were immediately apparent.