French language was much in use by the Americans, who in the main disdained the happy-go-lucky French camp attaches. They were frequently referred to as "Le Foux" or the fools, but laughter and song were unyielding to the shafts of ridicule, and whenever a fleet of boats cast off from the old fort, the splash of paddle, or the movement of poles were to the rhythm of French boat songs with which the air was filled. The following is given by Chittendon as one of the favorites :

"Dans mon cherin J'ai rencontre' Trois cavalieres bien monte'es L'on ton laridon dan'e L'on ton laridon dai.

Trois cavalieres bein monte'es L'une a chevel l'autre a pi ed L'on ton laridon dan'e L'on ton laridon dai.

And thus the buoyant, singing people would away to civilization. One could not tell, however, which of them would reach the white settlement, for if occasion or expediency required one of the two boatsmen would be "accidentally" killed en route.

It was in 1833, so says Rufus Sage, that a party were descending the river, and they stopped upon an island some distance below the junction of the two branches of the Platte. A man named Brady and his French companion bad quarrelled.

Tin- others of the party had gone out to hunt, and. upon returning they found Brady dead. 1 lis companion said it was by accidental discharge of his own weapon. Although the others did not believe the story, they had no evidence to the contrary.