2 lo TJie Home of tJic Wolverene ami Beaver. 



whites. This they partially succeeded in doing, but 

 were discovered whilst crossing the river, and the 

 Astorians, lashing their canoes together, waited the 

 impending attack. 



Presently they perceived a canoe approaching, 

 in which were seated the chief and three of 

 his bravest warriors, who came to hold a parley. 

 They said that one of their number had been 

 killed and another wounded, and that the rela- 

 tives of both these men cried out for vengeance. 

 They themselves were anxious to avoid all blood- 

 shed, so if the whites would just hand over Mr. 

 Reed — who was only a shade better than a dead 

 man now — to be tortured and put to death, they 

 would settle matters so that the relatives should be 

 satisfied, and the war -hatchet could be buried 

 without any further trouble. 



To this modest demand, so gratifying in its very 

 nature to poor Reed, an indignant refusal was of 

 course returned, and the chief withdrew with his 

 warriors to hold a consultation, after which they 

 again drew near the white men, and at last a com- 

 promise was affected, the sorrowing relatives of the 

 dead and wounded men receiving a blanket each, 

 Vi'hich was a good deal more than the rascals were 

 vorth, and the others some tobacco. 



Tliey now proceeded on their journey unmolested. 



