Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 5.djvu/171

 RECOLLECTIONS OK AN OLD PIONEER. 161 made, t'tir some time. Then one of the chiefs commenced howling like ;i larire wolf, the imitation being almost perfect. After he had censed there was again profound silence for some moments; and then another chief successfully imitated the tierce cry of the panther; and then, after another pause a third chief most energetically imitated the loud cry of an enraged gri/./ly hear. He said that he had never witnessed a scene of terror e<|iial to this. All the chiefs except the principal one seemed to be his enemies. He thought his chance of escape exceedingly small. The head chief was an old man of superior native intellect, and. though uneducated, he understood human nature, lie Deemed to comprehend the ease well. He could see no mali- cious motive for the act. He told Newell to state the facts to the council truly, and he thought there might be some hope for him. Newell, through his interpreter, stated to them all the facts as they occurred; and this just statement, and Newell 's manly and honest face, and frank manner, had a great effect upon the principal members of the council. It was also found that the poor Indian had not been so severely hurt as at first sup- posed, and that his sight was not totally destroyed. The council sat nearly all night, and then decided to postpone the case until time should show the extent of the injury. In the meantime Newell and his companions were not allowed to depart, but were to be detained until the case should be finally decided. But another painful incident soon occurred that seriously imperiled their lives. <>ne day an Indian horseman was wen to approach the camp rapidly: and. when within some hundred yards, he dis- mounted, rolled up his buffalo robe, took hold of one end of the roll, and slowly and solemnly swung it around his head several times; then folded it up. and sat upon it, and brought both his open hands slowly down his face several times in succession. The Indians in camp at once understood the sad significance of these siirns. They knew that he was a mes-