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Show JOUH:NAL OF A \ 'OY.\GE above his genius, nor any thing so minute that he con. ccivcd it entirely unworthy of consideration. As a gcntletnan and companion in dangers, difficulties and hardships, I in particular, and the expedition, generally, owe much to his exertions. In the evening I dispatched corporal Jackson, with four n1en, to re-cross the rnountains, in order to bring in the baggage left with the frozen lads, and to see if they were yet able to come on. This detachInent left n1e with four men only ; two of which had their feet frozen : they were ernployed in finishing the stockade, and myself to support then1 b) the chase. 8th February, Sunday.-Refreshing n1y memory as tG the French granunar, and overseeing the works. 9tb February, Monday.-IIunting, &c. 10tb February, Tuesday.-Rcad and labored at our works. 1 It~ February, liVcdnesday.-IIunting. Killed three deer. 12th February, Tbursday.-Studying. 13th February, Friday.--I-Iunting. Killed two deer. 14th February, Strturday.-Crossed the river and examined the numerous springs, which issued from the foot of the hill, opposite to our camp, which were so strongly impregnated with n1ineral qualities, as not only to keep clear of icc previous to their joining the n1ain branch, but to keep open the west fork until its junction with the main river, and for a few miles afterwards whilst all the other branches in the neighbourhood wer'e bound in the ada-mantine chains of winter. . 15th February, Sunday.-Rcading, &c. V\Torks gomg on. 16tb February, Monday.--! took one 1nan and went out hunting, about six miles from the post, shot and TO THE SOUHCES OF THE ARKANSA \V, &c. 197 wounded a deer. hnmediatcly afterwards, discovered two horsemen rising the sun1mit of a hill, about half a n1ile to our right. As my orders were to avoid giving alarm or offence to the Spanish governn1ent of New Mexico, I endeavoured to avoid thcn1 at first, but when we attempted to retreat, they persued us at full charge, flourishing their lances, and when we advanced, they would. retire as fast as their horses could carry them ; seeing this we got in a small ravine, in hopes to decoy then1 ncar enough to oblige them to come to a parley, which happened agreeably to our dPsircs, as they camP on hunting us with great caution; we suffered them to get within 40 yards, where we had allured them, but were about running off again, when I ordered the soldier to lay down his arms and walk towards the1n; at the same time standing ready with my rifle to kill either, who should lift an ann in an hostile manner; I then hollowed to then1, that we were Americans, and friends, which were almost the only two words I knew in the Spanish language ; when with great signs of fear they came up, and proved to be a Spanish dragoon and a civilized Indian, armed after their manner, of which we see a description in the Essai Militairc. We were jealous of our arms on both sides, and acted with great precaution. 'Ihey informed 1ne that was the fourth day since they had left Santa Fe; that Robinson had arrived there, and was received with great kindness by the governor. As I knew then1 to be spies, I thought proper to inforn1 them merely, that I was about to descend the river to Natchitoches. vVe sat here on the ground a long time, and finding they were determined not to leave Inc, we rose and bid them adieu, but they demanded where our camp was ; and· finding they were not about to leave us, I thought it most proper t0 take them with n1e, thinking |