My first
question was for news of Labarthe and Leclerc, but I learned nothing.
Indeed, the Malhominis could tell me nothing of the Seneca camp beyond
the fact that it was still there. They had cowered in their village
dreading a Seneca attack, and they were feverishly anxious for
concerted action. They suggested that I save time by sending
messengers to the Chippewas and Winnebagoes, while I went myself to the
Sac camp.
This was good advice and I adopted it. I drew maps on bark, gave the
messengers my watchword, and instructed them what to say. The
rendezvous I had selected was easy to find. Some few miles south of
the Seneca camp a small river debouched into La Baye des Puants. We
would meet there. Cadillac and the Pottawatamies would come together
from the north; the Malhominis, the Winnebagoes, and the Chippewas
would come separately, and I would lead the Sacs under my command. All
was agreed upon, and I saw the messengers dispatched. Then I took a
canoe and eight men, and started on my own journey. It was then past
midnight.
The eight men worked well. By sunrise I was fighting the dogs and the
stench in the Sacs village, and by eleven the same morning I was on my
way again with eighty braves following.
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