the other end to Mr. Hunt, and to each one successively in the circle.  When all had smoked, it was considered that an assurance of good faith and amity had been interchanged.  Mr. Hunt now made a speech in French, which was interpreted as he proceeded by Pierre Dorion.  He informed the Sioux of the real object of the expedition of himself and his companions, which was, not to trade with any of the tribes up the river, but to cross the mountains to the great salt lake in the west, in search of some of their brothers, whom they had not seen for eleven months.  That he had heard of the intention of the Sioux to oppose his passage, and was prepared, as they might see, to effect it at all hazards; nevertheless, his feelings towards the Sioux were friendly, in proof of which he had brought them a present of tobacco and corn.  So saying, he ordered about fifteen carottes of tobacco, and as many bags of corn, to be brought from the boat and laid in a heap near the council fire.

The sight of these presents mollified the chieftain, who had, doubtless, been previously rendered considerate by the resolute conduct of the white men, the judicious disposition of their little armament, the completeness of their equipments, and the compact array of battle which they presented.  He made a speech in reply, in which he stated the object of their hostile assemblage, which had been merely to prevent supplies of arms and ammunition from going to the Arickaras, Mandans, and Minatarees, with whom they were at war; but being now convinced that the party were carrying no supplies of the kind, but merely proceeding in quest of their brothers beyond the mountains, they would not impede them in their voyage.  He concluded by thanking them for their present, and advising them to encamp on the opposite side of the river, as he had some young men among his warriors for whose discretion he could not be answerable, and who might be troublesome.

Here ended the conference:  they all arose, shook hands, and parted.  Mr. Hunt and his companions re-embarked, and the boats proceeded on their course unmolested.

CHAPTER XIX.

The Great Bend of the Missouri—­Crooks and M’Lellan Meet With Two of Their Indian Opponents—­Wanton Outrage of a White Man the Cause of Indian Hostility—­Dangers and Precautions.-An Indian War Party.—­Dangerous Situation of Mr. Hunt.—­A Friendly Encampment.—­Feasting and Dancing.—­ Approach of Manuel Lisa and His Party—.A Grim Meeting Between Old Rivals.—­Pierre Dorion in a Fury.—­A Burst of chivalry.

On the afternoon of the following day (June 1st) they arrived at the great bend, where the river winds for about thirty miles round a circular peninsula, the neck of which is not above two thousand yards across.  On the succeeding morning, at an early hour, they descried two Indians standing on a high bank of the river, waving and spreading their buffalo robes in signs