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THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD, 1765-1781 203 him back with his friend. As soon as they were freed the chief raised his flag. When these gentlemen arrived they were turned over to us without its having cost us anything. The intention of the murderer was to keep the little one by all means. He even wanted to go to the post of Arkansas to arrange his affair, but not one of his people wanted to go there, saying that there was only the road to the Illinois. In the beginning of April a band left here to wage war against the Black Pawnees. They came back with two French scalps. Several days after the arrival of the party, the chief of the party sent for all of us to tell us that it was a mistake, that when they were near the Pawnee village they saw two men whom they pursued and killed, believing them to be Pawnees and not Frenchmen, and that they had not left with the purpose of killing any of the latter. I make so bold as to assure you, Sir, that as for us, not a single trader up to now has any cause for complaint in the village. We have traded at our will and without any difficulty. I have the honor of being, Sir, with a most perfect consideration, your most humble and devoted servant ROUQUIERE (Rubric). At the village of the Great Osages, June 14, 1772. (Addressed :) M. Don Piernas, commandant for the King at St. Louis, CLERMOND TO PIERNAS June 14, 1772 147 My Father : I desire with all my heart to come to see you but I am afraid of the heat and of the nations which are around your village. I am remaining with the Frenchmen whom you were good enough to give us for our village. They could not come down at this time because our river is almost dry. I am staying with them until they go down and I shall travel with them. We beg you be good enough to command the nations of the Mississippi when they come to see you, to be peaceful, as we desire to keep your road open so as to come to tell you exactly the good and the evil that is going on in our village. I am your faithful and devoted son. CLERMOND, chief of the village. At the village of the Great Osages, June 14 1772. (Addressed:) To M. DON PEDRO PIERNAS, captain of infantry, lieutenant governor of the establishments of Illinois at St. Louis. 147 BL, (French