Year: 1871

|


the old Scot appeared to redouble his


vigilance at the gate. Whether the


factor suspected that the strangers


would attempt to rescue his prisoner, or
desired to keep her concealed from


view, | never knew.


The vessel remained at the mouth of


the river for several weeks, during


which time the strangers visited the


trading post quite frequently, cultivated
| the acquaintance of the Indians, and


endeavored to secure their friendship.
The behavior of the factor was observed


by those familiar with him, to undergo


change. He became nervous, sus-


picious and i'll at ecse. Upon one pre-


text or another, he sent the white men


away from the fort some We're sent in


one direction some in another, but all


upon journeys that would require their


absence for mum Der of days In COM


pany with two others | was directed to


90 to Vancouver. on the Columbia


River. Two days after our departure an


accident happened which necessitated


our returning to the fort.


Whether the strangers had deemed


the absence of the white men from the


fort as fit time for them to carry their


plans into execution, or whether they


had only then matured them, and de


termined to waste no more time, mat


ters very little. The fact is, that dur
ing my absence an attack had been
made upon the fort by party from the
ship. They had gained an entrance,
had captured and secured the old Scot,
opened the cottage gate, and carried
away the prisoner without making any
noise, or, at least, not sufficient to
arouse the slumbering inmates of the
large inclosure. After having secured
what they had evidently come for, the
party silently departed, and returned
to their vessel. On getting under sail
him ashore, bidding him to be sure and
apologize to the factor for their uncere-
monious departure. The old guard
fastened back, awakened the sleeping
factor, and told him what had happen
ed. With a deep curse, he jumped
from his bed, rushed to the door,
AZ used every sleeping Indian about
the fort, and in very short time two
or three hundred had gathered
in front of the house. In few
words he gave them to understand
what had taken place, and that he de-
sired their assistance to retake the pris-
oner, and punish those who had carried
her away. The Indians were told that
they had the factors permission to de-
stroy the ship, kill all on board, and APP
propriate everything found in her to
their own use, and that he would shield
ha,, oil rh., L.,
dians were only too glad of an opportu-
nifty to engage in such an enterprise
Unfortunately for those on board the
vessel, the wind had died out almost i'm
mediately after the old Scot had been
released. When the Indians reached the
waters of the sound, the white sails of
the doomed vessel were idly tapping the
mast a short distance away. Silently,
but rapidly, the Indians approached the
vessel, until they came within few
hundred yards, when they were warned
to keep off but disregarding the warn
ing, a volley Of grapeshot was discharged
among the canoes, crushing one or two
and killing several of the Indians.
Raising their battle-cry and singing
their war-songs, the remainder of the
redskins were soon engaged in hand
to-hand combat with those on board the
ship. The contest was so unequal, that
the whites fou ght with
courage and desperation, they were
quickly overpowered and cut down by
the invaders. At this moment the
chief factor and the Scotchman reached
the vessel, and made their way to the
cabin, the door of which they broke
open, and discovered their fair prisoner
lying upon TIE floor, with her arms
around the neck of a young man, who
bore strong personal resemblance to
her-dead.


The two bodies were carried ashore
and buried beneath the shade of a large
tir-tree, that stood like sentinel upon
a promontory of land. The Indians
robbed the vessel, and then set fire to it,
and arrived in time to see it destroyed
and to take part in the burial. | dared
not ask the fac tor for the history of the
young woman, and never learned who
or what she was. May be some of the
old directors could explain the mystery.