Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/468

450 The plan was well conceived, the Cœur d'Alenes, taken by surprise, meeting him with every sign of cordial pleasure. Yet when they had taken time for remembering what the emissaries of Kamiakin had told them a few days before, they began to grow cool, and to appear undecided. Without allowing them time to reconsider, he hastened on as soon as the train came up, to the country of the Spokanes, with whom he determined to hold a council.

Arrived at the place of Antoine Planté, on the prairie between the Cœur d'Alenes and the upper Spokanes, he dispatched runners to the lower Spokanes, the Pend d'Oreilles, and Colville Indians, to meet him at this place, and also sent invitations to Angus McDonald in charge of Fort Colville, and to the Jesuit fathers Ravelli and Josét of the Colville and Cœur d'Alene missions to be present at the conference.

After several days all were met, when, says Stevens in his official report, "I had one of the stormiest councils, for three days, that ever occurred in my whole Indian experience." The cause of the trouble was that he refused to promise that the United States troops should not cross to the north side of the Snake river—a promise he had no authority to make, and which, if made, would have been the fruitful source of Indian warfare, because it could not be kept.

By patience, by argument, and greatly by the force of his personal will, Stevens succeeded in overcoming the doubts and objections of the Indians, who, from being sullen became confidential, and asked his advice on all important points. So far all had been well. But the Spokanes, in the fullness of their friendship, warned him against the Nez Percés, who, they contended, were hostile; especially Looking Glass. This chief, they confided to Stevens, had laid a snare for him when he should arrive in the Nez Percé country; and the story was confirmed by the Delaware interpreter, who had been sent to spy upon