Page:History of Oregon volume 1.djvu/785

734 erally construed by the volunteers, the first one showing symptoms of flight was pursued by a squad of nine men, who followed and shot him while attempting to escape across Snake River in a canoe. Near the spot where this unjustifiable killing occurred, Magone found a small camp of Indians under an old chief called Beardy, who assured him that Tiloukaikt was nowhere in that country, but had gone far away. He directed the major to the camp of Richard, the lately appointed high chief, who confirmed this statement. The Indians also informed him that an express of two white men had that morning gone to Colonel Waters from Lee in the Lapwai country, upon which he collected the stock belonging to Tiloukaikt in that vicinity, and returned to the Palouse to learn the news direct.

Lee had been met at Red Wolf crossing by the statement that Tiloukaikt's people had fled the country two days before, leaving all their worldly possessions, some of which were in the vicinity of Lapwai. To this place he had marched, arriving on the morning of the 21st, and remaining several days to collect the cattle belong to the Cayuses. To the Nez Percés who visited the volunteer camp, Lee said that his business in their country was to punish the Cayuses, and that since they had fled beyond reach, he claimed all their property, and that if they were true friends