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
a change. He became nervous, sus-
picious and i'll at ease. Upon one pre-
text or another, he sent the white men
away from the fort: some were 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
60 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 a fit time for them to carry their
plans into execution, or whether they
had only then matured them, and de-
terlnined 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 a 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
they released the old Scot, and sent
him ashore, bidding him to be sure and
apologize to the factor for their uncere.
monious departure. The old guard
hastened 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,
aroused every sleeping Indian about
the fort, and in avery short time two
or three hundred had gathered
in front of the house.. In a 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 ap-
propriate everything found in her to
their own use, and that he would shield
them from all consequences. The In
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 a 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
Notwithstanding the whites fought 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 the floor, with her arms
around the neck of a young man, who
bore strong personal resemblance to
her-dead. ..t..


The two bodies were carried ashore
and buried beneath the shade of large
fir tree, that stood like a sentinel upon
a promontory of land. The Indians
robbed the vessel, and then set fire to it,
and l arrived in time to see it destroyed
and to take part in the burial. l dared
not ask the factor foI 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.