The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-05


so that The juice would flow freely. and
then presented Il to his worthy sEzkssRsp
with our compliments He struck u three
times vfcsousiy. We could not induce him
10 strike II any more II manifestIy had
taken al tire vicioGsness out Of HIM He
was evidently sub5uEated- He began 10
slowly uncol and as he lay al fun length
a trernor raised over him and he was
seemingly dead. but FOR fear he might re-
cover We bruised hts head. not with our
heels. hut with stones.
IN stating this little incident have wan
dered somewhat from the thread Of my
narrative / DO this for two reasons.
First, 70 show that am a lover Of exper-
mental science. and second. to show that
the filthy weed may be put 10 good pur
pose
Late that afternoon we made our last
camp in the dismal valley of Burnt river.
The next morning we made an early start.
and found ourselves on high sagebrush
plateau Just as old sol was lifting his fiery
rim above the Eastern horizon. To me an
alkaline plain covered with unssghtly sage
brush. burnt with fervent heat. destitute
OF water and animate with no carol of
bird or hum Of insect. is the very symbol
OF desolations a silent. r1onotoEous and
dreary waste. ft only for the habitation
Of lizards, horned toads and other reptiles.
Such. TO a great extent. was the prospect
before US. We consulted our guide book
and learned that the only water for over
forty miles was well or spring near the
road. some twenty miles distant.
A Storm i'm the Wilderness.
we pushed on. The day was intensely
hot. Two o'clock came. and and 4, but
no spring. We had evidently, in our head
long eagerneSs TO make distance, overlook
ed II. The sun went down in a bank of
clouds. whose storm heads doomed above
the blue mountains which were to our left.
Darkness came on. The CLEAN OF light
ming. and the sullen roar of distant thun-
der warned us that a storm was coming
The fast ascending clouds soon covered the
sky. and the darkness became intense. We
called halt. and decided TO stop for the
night. We unpacked our horses and turn
cd them loose with trail ropes fastened 10
their necks. BY the friendly aid of the
lightning we were able TO spread our
blankets amid the sSgebrush. / must con-
fess as | lay that night wrapped in my
blankets with a saddle for my pillow.
startled ever and anon by the lightninS's
fearful glare and listening TO the rolling
thunder as Il reverberated with many
voices through the canyons of the Blue
mountains, a spirit of absolute loneliness
came over me. | was homesick. I thought
OF my fathers home where there was
comfort and abundance. | was also troub-
hopelessly wander away liz that night of
storm. But balrny sleep-tired natures
sweet restorer-soon put an end TO these
melancholy reflections. | slept soundly
despite the storm. and did not awake until
the gray streaks OF morning streamed up
the Eastern sky. When fairly awake |
leaped from my blankets uncovered and
examined my rife, and after buckling on
my belt, in which We're a Colts navy re
volver and hunting knife. and without
disturbing my companions. ! started on a
hunt for our horses. / soon found their
trail and FASTENED on with quickened
speed. | found them about three miles
from camp in a beautiful little valley COW
cred with grass. and through which
flowed q small streamlet of pure cold wa
ter After quenching my thirst and fill
ing my canteen / mounted my favorite
animal and rode back TO camp the others
following. ! arrived at camp before my
companions had awakened. l aroused
them with wild whoop. and treated them
all from the contents of my canteen. We
speedily packed up and FASTENED onward
in search of green fields and especially of
running brooks. About S o'clock we came
to a tributary of Powder river. where we
cooked our breakfast. not having eaten
anything but bareback for over twenty
four hours.
I'VE made a late camp in the afternoon
OF that day on Grande Ronde river. The
evening of the next day found us on the
west bank of the Umatilla river These
long and forced marches had begun 10 tell
unfavorably on our horses. | was re-
minded of the declaration that man had
better bottom and finer staying qualities
than any other animal save possibly the
wolf whose long gallop can tire the
hounds deep hate. and the hunters fire.
Injured to hardship and in perfect health.
with no surplus of flesh. and with muscles
hardened by over 5000 miles of travel.
mostly on foot the wolf even could i'll af-
ford to give us percentage IN race that
involved staying qualities. Our camp be-
ing an excellent one, grass, wood and
water. as we'll as fish and game being
abundant we decided to remain for three
days TO recruit our jaded horses.
\ White Husband Wanted.
While out hunting the next day. came
upon the camp of white man, about a
mile up the valley from our camp. | made
bold to appear a the door of his tent and
found a middle-aged and jolly-looking
man, who received me with open handed
and hearty cordiality. With smile he
told me that his name was Kane, and that
he was the Indian agent for that portion
of oregon. In answer TO his inquiries
told him all T remembered about myself.
and he as a compensation. gave me brief
synopsis of his personal history. The
conversation soon turned on Indian habits
and Customs-the numerical strength OF
the tribes In the great Columbia basin.
their war tendencies and their desire OF
and capacity for a higher civilization. at
least so far as the tribes under his imma
date supervision were concerned. He ar
gued that they had already passed from
the purely savage state 10 the pastoral:
that they were owners of large bands Of
made C0mmgu6anle
start IN the acquisition of horned cattle
and were very DESTROYS OF increasing their
stock He said that quite a number of in
diyidual Indians owned from 100 20 500
head of horses-and 10 convince YOU, he
said. that these Indians desire 70 advance
I'm the line OF a higher civilization. may
mention the fact that cayuse chief the
fortunate owner Of over 1000 head OF
horses and who has an only and lovely
daughter. offers 10 give GN head of valua-
HE horses 10 oany respectable white man
who VIII marry his daughter. settle down
among them and teach them agriculture.
He gave a glowing description or tins
rDaidenIv flower. born 20 blush unseen and
waste her sweetness on the bunchgrass
Dlain. Touched by the inspiration Of his
cloouence I inadvertently expressed a de-
sire ia see this incompatible princess.
The agent responded that he had business
Win the chief and that he would accom-
many me on The morrow 20 his camp, sit
mated about six miles Up the valley Nine
o'clock in the morning was liked TOR start
Ing returned 10 our camp. rehearsed TO
nv ,,or,Danions the incidents Of the day,
and took an inventory ~ my rNther limit
"a wardrobe. Re not alarmed, gentle read
-, an, not about 20 tell YOU vhat NY at
,ira was on that interesting occasion. Suf-
fec Il 70 say il was becoming an Amerlc>>1
sovereign.