The Home of the Wolverene and Beaver. 207 



the long and toilsome journey over the entire con- 

 tinent, and the first step lie took — he Avas an Irish- 

 man — was to have a tin box constructed for his 

 despatches^ and this he slung over his shoulder, 

 vowing only to surrender it with his life. 



As these different parties would all pursue the 

 same route for several hundred miles, it was resolved 

 that they should start together, for mutual protec- 

 tion at the Cascades, where the Indians were of a 

 piratical disposition, and always gave much trouble ; 

 and I should here mention that when Mr. McLellan 

 heard that Reed was returning to the States, he 

 resolved on accompanying him, to which no oppo- 

 sition was offered by the other partners, for this 

 gentleman was of a most decided character, and was 

 dissatisfied with the share he held in the Company. 



Accordingly, the brigade of canoes started under 

 the command of Mr. Robert Stuart, and early in 

 the month of April arrived at the Long Narrows, 

 where both canoes and goods had to be transported 

 by land, and the assistance of some Indians were 

 called in to effect this. These vagabonds made otif 

 with some of the property, and pilfered at every 

 opportunity, resolving above all things to captuio 

 Reed's tin box, which shone brilliantly in the sun, 

 and which they supposed, from the solicitude with 

 which its owner guarded it, contained " a great 



