Page:History of Oregon volume 1.djvu/152

Rh mation of the arrival of an American vessel on an unknown errand. The same express carried a request from Slacum to Finlayson of the latter station, to send a pilot to bring the Loriot up the river, which was done. Slacum was also invited to visit Fort Vancouver. Further, Douglas, being on an errand to Fort George, took Slacum in his canoe and landed him at Fort Vancouver the 2d of January, 1837.

As the Loriot had no cargo, the object of her visit was politely asked. In terms equally courteous, the fur magnates were told that it was a private expedition for the purpose of gaining knowledge, and to meet an expedition overland from the United States.

But McLoughlin was not to be so easily deceived. He plainly saw the spy in the private gentleman travelling for information, and further, that the visitor was a government agent of the United States. All he saw and heard would in due time be reported to his government. As a matter of course, McLoughlin need not answer impertinent inquiries, but would it not be better for the fur company to make its own statement fully and freely in regard to all matters at issue, and so have them placed upon the record? And this was done.

Slacum remained several days at Fort Vancouver, departing on the 10th of January for the Willamette