Page:History of Oregon volume 1.djvu/733

682 precautions observed in the present arrangements of this establishment." Upon this hint Abernethy hastened to reply that Gilliam entertained no such purpose, and he trusted nothing would occur to cause distrust. No one knew better than Abernethy what a fatal error it would prove on the part of the Americans to fall out with the fur company, to whom all the savages were friendly; and while it may be doubted whether Abernethy did not equivocate in his reply to Douglas, there can be no doubt of the sincerity of his wish to retain the coöperation of the company to as great an extent as possible; and fortunately the impending wrath of the irrepressible Gilliam was averted.

No sooner had the governor issued his second proclamation than about two hundred and thirty men responded and were organized into companies, the company at the Dalles being numbered 1st in the regiment of Oregon mounted riflemen.