La Salle and the discovery of the great West - North Central ...

;172 LA SALLE ON THE ILLINOIS. [1680.saw a faint spire of smoke curling above the grayforest, betokening that Indians were at hand. LaSalle,as we have seen, had been warned that thesetribes had been taught to regard him as their enemyand when, in the morning, he resumed his course, hewas prepared alike for peace or war.The shores now approached each other; and theIllinois was once more a river, bordered on eitherhand with overhanging woods. 1At nine o'clock, doubling a point, he saw abouteighty Illinois wigwams, on both sides of the river.He instantly ordered the eight canoes to be rangedin line, abreast, across the stream, — Tonty on theright, and he himself on the left. The men laiddown their paddles and seized their weapons ; while,in this warlike guise, the current bore them swiftlyinto the midst of the surprised and astounded savages.The camps were in a panic.Warriors whooped andhowled; squaws and children screeched in chorus.Some snatched their bows and war-clubs; some ranin terror; and, in the midst of the hubbub, La Salleleaped ashore, followed by his men. None knewbetter how to deal with Indians; and he made nosign of friendship, knowing that it might be jjfonstruedas a token of fear. His little knot of Frenchmenstood, gun inhand, passive, yet prepared for battle.1At least, it is so now at this place. PerhapB, in La Salle's time,it was not wholly so ; for there is evidence, in various parts of theWest, that the forest has made considerable encroachments on theopen country.