Page:The History of Oregon Bancroft 1888.djvu/386

368 The Nez Percés afterward declared that during the council a scheme had been on foot, originating with the Cayuses, to massacre all the white persons present, including the troops, the plan only failing through the refusal of Lawyer's party to join in it, which statement may be taken for what it is worth. On the other hand, it has been asserted that the treaties were forced; that they were rashly undertaken, and the Indians not listened to; that by calling a general council an opportunity was furnished for plotting; that there were too few troops and too little parade. However this may be, war followed, the history of which belongs both to Oregon and Washington. But since the Indians involved in it were chiefly those attached to the soil and superintendency of the latter, I shall present the narrative in my volume on Washington.