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could not hurry his Indian guides。 They insisted on delays during
days of glorious autumn weather when it would have been wise to
press on and avoid the winter cold on the wind…swept prairie。
They went out of their way to visit a village of their own
Assiniboine tribe； and； when they resumed their journey； this
whole village followed them。 The prairie Indians had a more
developed sense of order and discipline than the tribes of the
forest。 La Verendrye admired the military regularity of the
savages on the march。 They divided the company of more than six
hundred into three columns： in front； scouts to look out for an
enemy and also for herds of buffalo； in the center； well
protected； the old and the lame； all those incapable of fighting；
and； for a rear…guard； strong fighting men。 When buffalo were
seen； the most active of the fighters rushed to the front to aid
in hemming in the game。 Women and dogs carried the baggage； the
men condescending to bear only their weapons。
Not until cold December had come did the party reach the chief
Mandan village。 It was in some sense imposing； for the Indian
lodges were arranged neatly in streets and squares and the
surrounding palisade was strong and well built。 Around the fort
was a ditch fifteen feet deep and of equal width； which made the
village impregnable in Indian warfare。 After saluting the village
with three volleys of musket fire； La Verendrye marched in with
great ceremony； under the French flag； only to discover that the
Mandans were not greatly unlike the Assiniboines and other
Indians of the West whom he already knew。 The men went about
naked and the women nearly so。 They were skilled in dressing
leather。 They were also cunning traders； for they duped La
Verendrye's friends； the Assiniboines； and cheated them out of
their muskets； ammunition； kettles； and knives。 Great eaters were
the Mandans。 They cultivated abundant crops and stored them in
cave cellars。 Every day they brought their visitors more than
twenty dishes cooked in earthen pottery of their own handicraft。
There was incredible feasting； which La Verendrye avoided but
which his sons enjoyed。 The Mandan language he could not
understand and close questioning as to the route to the Western
Sea was thus impossible。 He learned enough to discredit the vague
tales of white men in armor and peopled towns with which his
lying guides had regaled him。 In the end he decided for the time
being to return to Fort La Reine and to leave two of his
followers to learn the Mandan language so that in the future they
might act as interpreters。 When he left the Mandan village on the
13th of December； he was already ill and it is a wonder that he
did not perish from the cold on the winter journey across hill
and prairie。 〃In all my life I have never；〃 he says； 〃endured
such misery from illness and fatigue； as on that journey。〃 On the
11th of February he was back at Fort La Reine； worn out and
broken in health but still undaunted and resolved never to
abandon his search。
Abandon it he never did。 We find him in Montreal in 1740 involved
in what he had always held in horrora lawsuit brought against
him by some impatient creditor。 The report had gone abroad that
he was amassing great wealth； when； as he said； all that he had
accumulated was a debt of forty thousand livres。 In the autumn of
1741 he was back at Fort La Reine； where he welcomed his son
Pierre from a fruitless journey to the Mandans。
The most famous of all the efforts of the family was now on foot。
On April 29； 1742； a new expedition started from Fort La Reine；
led by La Verendrye's two sons； Pierre and Francois。 They knew
the nature of the task before them； its perils as well as its
hopes。 They took with them no imposing company as their father
had done； but only two men。 The party of four； too feeble to
fight their way； had to trust to the peaceful disposition of the
natives。 When they started； the prairie was turning from brown to
green and the rivers were still swollen from the spring thaw。 In
three weeks they reached a Mandan village on the upper Missouri
and were well received。 It was after midsummer when they set out
again and pressed on westward with a trend to the south。 The
country was bare and desolate。 For twenty days they saw no human
being。 They had Mandan guides who promised to take them to the
next tribe； the Handsome MenBeaux Hommesas the brothers
called them； a tribe much feared by the Mandans。 The travelers
were now mounted； for the horse； brought first to America by the
Spaniards； had run wild on the western plains where the European
himself had not yet penetrated； and had become an indispensable
aid to certain of the native tribes。 Deer and buffalo were in
abundance and they had no lack of food。
When they reached the tribe of Beaux Hommes； the Mandan guides
fled homeward。 Summer passed into bleak autumn with chill winds
and long nights。 By the end of October they were among the Horse
Indians who； they had been told； could guide them to the sea。
These； however； now said that only the Bow Indians； farther on；
could do this。 Winter was near when they were among these
Indians； probably a tribe of the Sioux； whom they found excitedly
preparing for a raid on their neighbors farther west； the Snakes。
They were going； they said； towards the mountains and there the
Frenchmen could look out on the great sea。 So the story goes on。
The brothers advanced ever westward and the land became more
rugged； for they were now climbing upward from the prairie
country。 At last； on January 1； 1743； they saw what both cheered
and discouraged them。 In the distance were mountains。 About them
was the prairie； with game in abundance。 It was a great host with
which the brothers traveled for there were two thousand warriors
with their families who made night vocal with songs and yells。 On
the 12th of January； nearly two weeks later； with an advance
party of warriors； the La Verendryes reached the foot of the
mountains； 〃well wooded with timber of every kind and very high。〃
Was it the Rocky Mountains which they saw？ Had they reached that
last mighty barrier of snow…capped peaks； rugged valleys； and
torrential streams； beyond which lay the sea？ That they had done
so was long assumed and many conjectures have been offered as to
the point in the Rockies near which they made their last camp。
Their further progress was checked by an unexpected crisis。 One
day they came upon an encampment of the dreaded Snake Indians
which had been abandoned in great haste。 This； the Bow Indians
thought； could only mean that the Snakes had hurriedly left their
camp in order to slip in behind the advance guard of the Bows and
massacre the women and children left in the rear。 Panic seized
the Bows and they turned homeward in wild confusion。 Their chief
could not restrain them。 〃I was very much disappointed；〃 writes
one of the brothers； 〃that I could not climb the
mountains〃t