Looking to our right, we every now and then caught a glimpse of the Blackfeet, for such we knew they were by their dress.  They were bounding along in single file among the trees, led apparently by one of their most nimble warriors.  It seemed very doubtful whether we could pass the point before they could reach it.  We persevered, for otherwise we should be compelled either to turn back, or to run the risk of being attacked at one of the portages, or to land at the western side of the lake, and to throw up a fort in which we could defend ourselves should the Blackfeet make their way across the river.  It was not likely, however, that they would do this.  They had already ventured much farther to the north than it was their custom to make a raid; and should they be discovered, they would run the risk of being set upon by the Shoushwaps, the chief tribe inhabiting that part of the country, and their retreat cut off.  Still it was of the greatest importance to lose no time, and we redoubled our efforts to get by the point.  The Indians had a greater distance to go; but then they ran much faster than we could paddle our canoes.  As we neared the point, I kept looking to the right to see how far our enemies had got.  Again I caught a glimpse of their figures moving among the trees, but whether or not they were those of the leaders I could not distinguish.