Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 5.djvu/389

Rh say, "I know you have me in your power, but I wish you to understand that I am prepared to sell my life as dearly as possible." I never saw a greater display of calm, heroic, and determined courage than was shown by this old Indian. He was much braver than the young Indian we had seen the day before.

One of our men who was a blustering fellow and who was for displaying his courage when there was no danger, proposed that we should kill the old Indian. I at once put a damper upon that cowardly proposition by stating to the fellow that if lie wanted to kill the Indian he could have a chance to do so in a fair and equal single combat with him. This proposition, as I anticipated, he promptly declined. I was satisfied that there was no fight in him.

After some time we were permitted one at a time to approach him. We offered him the pipe of peace, which he accepted. He would let our men look at his bows and arrows one at a time, never parting with both of them at once. He was evidently suspicious of treachery. We stayed with him some time, treating him kindly, and then left him sitting on his rock. This was the last we saw of him. We considered this mode of treating the Indians the most judicious, as it displayed our power and at the same time our magnanimity. We proved that we intended no harm to them, but were mere passers through their country. They evidently appreciated our motives, and the result was that we had Dot the slightest difficulty with the Indians.

After crossing the river the road bore south, it being impossible to follow down the stream, as the mountains came too close to it. Next morning we left our camp and followed the road south about ten miles, when we came to a beautiful grassy valley, covered with scattering pine timber. This valley was about two miles wide where the road struck it, and ran west, the very direction we wished to go. It seemed a defile passing at right angles through