I9<3 



CHAPTER X. 



^^v^^TI^FTER the sailing of the Tonquin and 

 before the arrival of the overland 

 party under Mr. Hunt, the settlers at 

 the mouth of the Columbia River had 

 much cause for anxiety. The departure 

 )f Mr. David Stuart and his party for the 

 ;stablishment of a trading station on the 

 Oakanagan had weakened their numbers, 

 and the Indians seemed well aware of this, for they 

 ceased to visit Astoria, and rumours of a coalition 

 of the various tribes in the vicinity for its destruc- 

 tion became rife. But the resolute little band 

 were equal to the emergency, and by hard work 

 had in a few days thrown up temporary defences, 

 surrounding the warehouses and habitations with a 

 strong palisade, flanked by two bastions, on which 

 a couple of small cannon were mounted. All the 

 men were also drilled daily, exercised in the use 

 of arms, and familiarised with the part they would 

 have to play in case of an attack, to guard against 

 which sentinels kept a vigilant watch night and 



