The approach of Lisa, while it was regarded with uneasiness by Mr. Hunt, roused the ire of M’Lellan; who, calling to mind old grievances, began to look round for his rifle, as if he really intended to carry his threat into execution and shoot him on the spot; and it was with some difficulty that Mr. Hunt was enabled to restrain his ire, and prevent a scene of outraged confusion.

The meeting between the two leaders, thus mutually distrustful, could not be very cordial:  and as to Messrs. Crooks and M’Lellan, though they refrained from any outbreak, yet they regarded in grim defiance their old rival and underplotter.  In truth a general distrust prevailed throughout the party concerning Lisa and his intentions.  They considered him artful and slippery, and secretly anxious for the failure of their expedition.  There being now nothing more to be apprehended from the Sioux, they suspected that Lisa would take advantage of his twenty-oared barge to leave them and get first among the Arickaras.  As he had traded with those people and possessed great influence over them, it was feared he might make use of it to impede the business of Mr. Hunt and his party.  It was resolved, therefore, to keep a sharp look-out upon his movements; and M’Lellan swore that if he saw the least sign of treachery on his part, he would instantly put his old threat into execution.

Notwithstanding these secret jealousies and heart-burnings, the two parties maintained an outward appearance of civility, and for two days continued forward in company with some degree of harmony.  On the third day, however, an explosion took place, and it was produced by no less a personage than Pierre Dorion, the half-breed interpreter.  It will be recollected that this worthy had been obliged to steal a march from St. Louis, to avoid being arrested for an old whiskey debt which he owed to the Missouri Fur Company, and by which Mr. Lisa had hoped to prevent his enlisting in Mr. Hunt’s expedition.  Dorion, since the arrival of Lisa, had kept aloof and regarded him with a sullen and dogged aspect.  On the fifth of July the two parties were brought to a halt by a heavy rain, and remained encamped about a hundred yards apart.  In the course of the day Lisa undertook to tamper with the faith of Pierre Dorion, and, inviting him on board of his boat, regaled him with his favorite whiskey.  When he thought him sufficiently mellowed, he proposed to him to quit the service of his new employers and return to his old allegiance.  Finding him not to be moved by soft words, he called to mind his old debt to the company, and threatened to carry him off by force, in payment of it.  The mention of this debt always stirred up the gall of Pierre Dorion, bringing with it the remembrance of the whiskey extortion.  A violent quarrel arose between him and Lisa, and he left the boat in high dudgeon.  His first step was to repair to the tent of Mr. Hunt and reveal the attempt that had been made to shake