Page:History of Oregon volume 1.djvu/768

Rh solving to make his headquarters among the ruins, to which place he removed on the 3d. This settled, a detachment of a hundred was sent to escort Meek's party of seven to the foot of the Blue Mountains, whence they were to make their way, protected by their Hudson's Bay cap and capote, and their own strength and sagacity, to the frontier of the United States. Three months had elapsed since the tragedy of Waiilatpu, and as yet they had not been able to send the intelligence beyond the silver-rimmed mountain ranges which cut off the Oregon colony from the inhabited world. In how great a degree the present attempt was successful will be related in a future chapter.

Amidst rumors that the Nez Percés were on their way to join the Cayuses, and the assurances of Sticcas that, while pretending friendship himself, his people were expecting war, the peace commissioners made efforts to hold a preliminary council with such of the Cayuses as professed to be friendly, they being almost altogether of the poorer and less influential class. But the commander frowned on 'peace talk' and expended his energies on a fortress constructed of the adobes of the demolished mission buildings which was named Fort Waters for the lieutenant-colonel. While many of the officers were willing to leave the commissioners free to accomplish what they could, Gilliam opposed his opinion and authority to this unmilitary sentiment, and threatened to march to battle on the morning of the 6th, the very day on which the Nez Percés, two hun-