They Informed Him That The Indians Had Lashed
Their Canoes To The Ship, And Fought Until They Killed Him And
All His People.
This is another instance of the clearness with
which intelligence is transmitted from mouth to mouth among the
Indian tribes.
These tidings, though but partially credited by
Mr. Hunt, filled his mind with anxious forebodings. He now
endeavored to procure canoes, in which to descend the Columbia,
but none suitable for the purpose were to be obtained above the
Narrows; he continued on, therefore, the distance of twelve
miles, and encamped on the bank of the river. The camp was soon
surrounded by loitering savages, who went prowling about seeking
what they might pilfer. Being baffled by the vigilance of the
guard, they endeavored to compass their ends by other means.
Towards evening, a number of warriors entered the camp in
ruffling style; painted and dressed out as if for battle, and
armed with lances, bows and arrows, and scalping knives. They
informed Mr. Hunt that a party of thirty or forty braves were
coming up from a village below to attack the camp and carry off
the horses, but that they were determined to stay with him and
defend him. Mr. Hunt received them with great coldness, and, when
they had finished their story, gave them a pipe to smoke. He then
called up all hands, stationed sentinels in different quarters,
but told them to keep as vigilant an eye within the camp as
without.
The warriors were evidently baffled by these precautions, and,
having smoked their pipe, and vapored off their valor, took their
departure.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 381 of 615
Words from 102595 to 102864
of 165649
