Page:Route Across the Rocky Mountains with a Description of Oregon and California.djvu/121

Rh East of the Blue Mountains—had lately been killed by Americans. This was made an important item in the charge, although they were not on very friendly terms with the Snake Indians. The circumstances of this affair, were thus: Two Americans, who had remained at one of the trading posts, in the mountains, through the Winter, were coming down to the settlements on Willammette. While traveling up the Brule River, their horses were taken, in the night, from their encampment; and in the morning, they found themselves on foot, far away from any Fort, Mission, or settlement: surrounded by mountains, in the midst of an unfeeling people, and without the means of carrying their baggage and provisions. In this situation, they determined to follow the Indians, and regain, if possible, the horses that had been stolen. Arming themselves with all the weapons they had; they proceeded on the track of the horses. They passed by, where one had been killed, and after several hours of rapid pursuit, came up with the thieves. They found them, with the flesh of the horse they had killed, packed upon the other. They attempted flight, but the horse was so loaded that it could not run; and rather than surrender their stolen property, they presented their guns, and offered battle. Sadly to their discomfiture, their fuses refused to be discharged; but the rifles of the Americans, were sure and deadly: both of the Indians remaining with the horse, fell when they reported, yelled, and died. The Americans returned to their encampment, with the horse, placed upon him their baggage and provisions, and proceeded for Dr. Whitman's where they at length arrived in safety.

They were allowed to lodge in one of the Mission houses, and to eat at the Doctor's table. This the council also regarded as a crime. But their object, however, was not to punish; it was rather to have an equivalent. They only wished that the Americans should suffer a loss, as great as their own. Dr. Whitman reasoned with them, and appealed to them, by every means, which he thought would tend, in the least, to affect them in his favor; and so did all the others; but it was in vain. After a long consultation, by which they appeared to be not the least shaken in their opinions, they went away, saying that they could not help, what their young men might do. After the council was ended, several of our party, who were present, expressed their opinions to the gentlemen of the Mission; saying, that they considered it, both imprudent, and wrong in them, to hazard their own lives, and the lives of their families, by