170 TJic Home of the ]Voherene and Bearer. 



two hundred miles from Astoria. The trip lasted 

 twelve days, and they returned well satisfied with 

 both the natives and the country. 



" Mr. McKay had been in the North West Com- 

 pany, where he had gained a reputation for activity 

 and eccentricity. That he carried the latter quality 

 to a somewhat dangerous length the following 

 anecdote of my father's will prove. It is customary 

 on great trading occasions to select a tall tree, from 

 which the boughs are all lopped, which, having the 

 trader's name cut on the trunk, may stand as a 

 memorial of his visit. On McKay's return from 

 the Cascades he resolved on making such a trophy^ 

 and directed one of his men to climb a tree and 

 prepare it. In the hope of getting a glass of grog 

 as a reward, the man obeyed the order with alacrity; 

 but no sooner had he ascended to the summit than 

 the facetious trader lighted a fire at the bottom, and 

 the whole tree was soon in a blaze. The wretched 

 victim of this practical joke was in the greatest 

 danger, and his voice could be heard amidst the 

 smoke crying out for mercy. Water was dashed 

 on to the trunk, but only increased the danger by 

 augmenting the smoke; and the resinous properties 

 of the pine rendered all efforts to subdue the flames 

 uii.ivailing. Most providentially another tree grew 

 cloye at hand, into which, at the imminent risk 



