Page:Cathlamet On the Columbia.djvu/123



I

Prime Minister at Vancouver, who in the latter part of his life lived and finally died at Cathlamet, and who knew more of affairs at Vancouver and of the Indians than almost any one else, had many comical tales to tell of these expeditions. The irate old doctor would storm about and order the instant punishment of the offending Chinooks. If the armed schooner Cadboro was away another little schooner would be hauled to the bank and a big gun would with infinite difficulty be transferred from the fort to her deck, where it would be carefully balanced to prevent an upset. Then in charge of a flotilla of canoes the schooner with the great black gun looming up impressively on the forward deck would proceed down the river to the great awe and astonishment of all the Indians until opposite the Chinook town, where she