Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 14.djvu/368



328 FRED LOCKLEY

almost certain death for us to go by way of the Yakima and Simcoe valleys. We at once recrossed! the Columbia and started down the east bank. We camped opposite the mouth of the Yakima.

"During the day we had met a couple of prospectors who warned us to look out for the Indians at the mouth of the Snake river. The Indians had charged them $20 to take them across in a canoe, while the three horses swam the river.

"That night I staked my riding horse as usual, near camp, and turned the others loose to graze, knowing that they would not wander away. During the night the Snake River Indians drove our horses off. We were stranded with my one saddle horse and no way of continuing our journey unless I could recover the horses. Mr. Kane, the only man in the party, was helpless with his injury. My mother was greatly alarmed, but she realized as I did that the only thing to do was to follow the trail of the stolen horses and try to get them back.

"I followed their trail for 12 miles, when the trail was cov- ered by the tracks of several hundred Indian horses. I fol- lowed the new trail to near where Pasco now stands. There was a big Indian camp with many tepees near the river. I rode up to the big tent where I heard the tom-tom and the sound of Indians dancing.

"Some years before General Wright had inflicted severe punishment upon the Indians by killing a large band of their horses. On the spur of the moment I decided to put on a bold front and demand the return of my horses. I rode up to the tent, dismounted, threw the tepee flap back and stepped into the entrance. The Indians stopped dancing and looked intently at me. I talked the Chinook jargon as well as I did English, so I said, 'Some of you Indians have stolen my horses last night. If they are not back in my camp an hour after I get there I'll see that every horse in your band is shot/ There was utter silence.

"I dropped the flap of the tent, mounted my horse and started back for camp. I had not gone far when I heard the thud of running horses. Four Indians were plying the quirt, riding