The remainder of their
sojourn, and on their journey across the mountains, This
intention of abandoning Astoria was, however, kept secret from
the men, lest they should at once give up all labor, and become
restless and insubordinate.
In the meantime, M'Kenzie set off for his post at the Shahaptan,
to get his goods from the caches, and buy horses and provisions
with them for the caravan across the mountains. He was charged
with despatches from M'Dougal to Messrs. Stuart and Clarke,
appraising them of the intended migration, that they might make
timely preparations.
M'Kenzie was accompanied by two of the clerks, Mr. John Reed, the
Irishman, and Mr. Alfred Seton, of New York. They embarked in two
canoes, manned by seventeen men, and ascended the river without
any incident of importance, until they arrived in the eventful
neighborhood of the rapids. They made the portage of the narrows
and the falls early in the afternoon, and, having partaken of a
scanty meal, had now a long evening on their hands.
On the opposite side of the river lay the village of Wish-ram, of
freebooting renown. Here lived the savages who had robbed and
maltreated Reed, when bearing his tin box of despatches. It was
known that the rifle of which he was despoiled was retained as a
trophy at the village.
