After seeing them depart I returned to my chief, who received me with a volley of abuse, in which he was joined by his associates.  The women, who were sober, observing by my looks that I was getting excited, requested me to withdraw.  I did so, but was followed by the chief to the next hut, which I quitted immediately; I found myself still pursued by the same insufferable insolence.  My philosophy being unequal to so severe a trial, I turned upon my tormentor, and seizing him by the throat, dashed him to the ground, and left him there speechless.  I then made for a hut a short distance apart from the others, belonging to a tete de boule, where I remained in quietness for about the space of fifteen minutes; when suddenly my Canadian came rushing into the hut, his countenance betraying the utmost alarm, and staring me wildly in the face, he stammered out, “Les sauvages! les sauvages, monsieur, prennent leurs armes!  Sauvons-nous!  Sauvons-nous!” The Iroquois, coming in the next instant, confirmed his report; but I had, in fact, been flying the whole morning, and thought it now high time to take my stand.  My Iroquois appearing quite calm, I told him I was determined not to stir from the spot, and asked if he would remain with me.

“I came here for that purpose,” said he, “and shall stand by you to the last.”

Our tete de boule had two guns, which he loaded; Sabourin had his, which he promised to use in his own defence:  thus prepared, we awaited the expected attack.  The remainder of the day, however, passed without molestation, and after night-fall, I sent out my trusty Iroquois to reconnoitre; he soon returned with the welcome intelligence that the Indians had all retired to rest.  We did the same.

Next morning I went to the chief’s lodge, and found him perfectly sober; I saluted him according to custom, which he returned with a scowl, repeating my words in a contemptuous manner; this exasperated my yet excited feelings to the highest degree.  I felt assured that the fellow had invited me on purpose to insult me, if not for a worse purpose; and, addressing him in language that plainly bespoke my feelings, I immediately ordered my men to prepare for our departure.  He remained silent for a moment, and then whispered in his wife’s ear; she turned round to me, smiling, and asked if I had not brought the goods, my men were packing up, to trade?

“Yes,” I replied.

“Then,” said she, “you must not be in such a hurry to go away.”

The husband now spoke to me in a conciliatory tone, begging me to place all that had happened to the account of the “fire-water,” and for heaven’s sake not to acquaint his father with his conduct.

This I readily assented to; we entered upon business, and nearly all the goods I had were exchanged for their full value in beaver.  We found the travelling much better on our return, the small streams having subsided, and the snow so much diminished, that we could walk without snow-shoes.