Page:Cathlamet On the Columbia.djvu/98

 er, shouted out his instructions and left there their food and simple remedies.

The missionary then wandered off in his story into a general description of that awful time; how twelve canoes laden with Indians seeking help camped on an island in the bay and after some weeks only one canoe went paddling away; and how, when the scourge had passed, he sent out trusty men immune to the sickness and bid them bury the dead who were lying about in the forest with orders afterwards to destroy their own clothing and go a -hunting for six months longer before returning to the village, so as not to bring the infection back with them.

The old missionary told of one old Indian who had contracted the smallpox and who insisted upon having his grave dug in advance