The Home of tJu: Wolverene and Beaver. 193 



should slip the cable ?nd endeavour to get to sea. 

 They declined to take his advice, alleging that the 

 wind set too strongly into the bay, and would drive 

 them on shore. They resolved, as soon as it was 

 dark, to put off quietly in the ship's boat, which 

 they would be able to do unpcrceived, and to coast 

 along back to Astoria. They put their resolution 

 into effect ; but Lewis refused to accompany them, 

 being disabled by his wound, hopeless of escape, 

 and determined on a terrible revenge. On the 

 voyage out he had repeatedly expressed a pre- 

 sentiment that he should die by his own hands ; 

 thinking it highly probable that he should be en- 

 gaged in some cciitcst with the natives, and being 

 resolved, in case of extremity, to commit suicide 

 rather than be made a prisoner. He now declared 

 his intention to remain on board the ship until 

 daylight, to decoy as many of the savages on board 

 as possible, then to set fire to the powder magazine, 

 and terminate his life by a signal act of vengeance. 

 How well he succeeded has been shown. His 

 companions bade him a melancholy adieu, and set 

 off on their precarious expedition. They strove 

 with might and main to get out of the bay, but 

 found it impossible to weather a point of land, and 

 were at length compelled to take shelter in a small 

 cove, where they hoped to remain concealed until 

 N 



