Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 5.djvu/338

feelings towards us. As no one in the brigade could converse with them much better than myself, little could be done by persuasion. However, discovering that two of the principal men understood the Chenook language which I am slightly acquainted with, I found this circumstance of some advantage. After taking a hurried and anxious breakfast on the rocks, we proceeded several miles up the river, and in the afternoon made the portage over the Great Falls, where Mr. McLeod was apprized that the Indians were lying in wait with the intention of attacking us and pillaging the boats. This warning proved too correct. No sooner had they received the customary present of tobacco than they became desirous of compelling us to encamp for the night, that they might the better effect their purpose. The first symptoms of hostile intentions which we observed, was their cunning trick of sprinkling water on the gun-barrels of our party; and, when the boats were ordered to be put into the water, they would not allow it to be done. As Mr. McLeod was laying his hand on the shoulders of one native to push him back, another fellow immediately drew from his quiver a bow and a handful of arrows, and presented it at Mr. McLeod. My position at the time, at the outside of the crowd, enabling me to perceive this manoeuvre, and no time being to be lost, I instantly slipped the cover off my gun, which was fortunately loaded with buckshot, and presenting it at him, I invited him to discharge his arrow, when I would return it with my own weapon. Just at this moment, a chief of the Kyemuse tribe, and three of his young men, who are the terror of all the other tribes west of the mountains, and the staunch friends of the white people (as they call us) stepped in among the party and settled the affair without any further trouble. This very friendly Indian, who is one of the finest figures of a man I have ever seen, standing six feet six inches high, then