Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 17.djvu/132



124 JASON LEE

scenes which await them as individuals unless their char- acters are changed (of which they see little prospect) are appalling indeed and ardently and vehemently desiring that it may not be so they by the assistance of Satan easily persuade themselves that a compassionate God will make some more merciful disposition of man than to punish him forever though he may have done wrong and they soon persuade themselves that Christianity can not be true according to that system apparently few will be saved. However I have no dought that and the Holy Ghost lift up their voices leave the sinner but little firmness in his belief till the one is seared and the other grieved.

While writing the above orders were given to prepare for marching.

We packed in the rain and marched 5 hours and encamped in a small spot of wood plenty of grass for the animals.

Mon. 19. Started at ^ past 7 o'clock A. M. After march- ing a few miles saw two men horseback some miles distant approaching us. W 7 hen they arrived near enough to survey our Company they halted and the Capt. and others went out and spoke to them.

They were two Pawnees and made signs that their party was just behind us and would overtake us tomorrow but they will not if we can avoid it for the Capt. intends to make a forced march to keep ahead of them. W^e are on the bank of the Platte waiting about an hour to bait the horses and get a bite of dinner. The Pawnees are generally counted a treacherous tribe and the traders fear such more than those who are decidedly hostile because when they pretend friend- ship they only wait an opportunity to betray.

Tues., May 20. Marched about 26 m. yesterday and as many to day. Saw a band of Elk this afternoon and the Capt. started full speed on horseback after them but his horse was not fleet enough to come up with them but they ran so near the Com. that they frightened the loose horses and they took their back track and ran as fast as they could and the