Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/77

 panied by Mr.

Perkins. Mrs. Whitman had returned to Waiilatpu a month before with Mr. Geiger, thinking, perhaps, to reassure the Cayuses by her presence in their midst, and was anxiously looking for the agent.

The effect of the appearance among them of so small a party, who they knew must have been informed of their threatened hostilities, was. to excite both admiration and doubt in the minds of the Cayuses. It was difficult for them to believe that there was not a large party concealed somewhere near, which only waited for them to assemble to rush upon them and cut them off at a blow. It did not take long to learn that the young men of the tribe had been in favor of raising a war party to go down to the Wallamet and take the settlements by surprise. But the older chiefs held them back by pointing out the lateness of the season, and the depth of snow in the mountains. They also added that it would be wiser to remain on the defensive than to attempt to cut off all the white people on their own ground ; and they recalled what Mr. McKln- lay and McKay had said that in case of insurrection there would be no difference of nationality between the English, French, and Americans, but they would all stand together. They fully expected, however, at one time, and were still full of the suspicion that they would be com pelled to go to war.

" On convincing them of my defenseless condition," says White, "and pacific intentions, they were quite astounded and much affected, assuring me they had been under strong apprehensions, having learned I was soon to visit them with a large armed party with hostile intentions, and I actually found them suffering more from fears of war from the whites, than the whites from (fear of) the In dians."

This attitude of the Cayuses at this time is confirmed by Hines also, who says, "They frequently remarked to Mr. Geiger that they did not wish to go to war; but if the Americans came to take a way their lands and ma