FIRST SUCCESSFUL ASCENT, 1870 



preparations, and especially had deposited on top of 

 the lofty mountain which overlooked the prairie two 

 caches, or stores, of provisions. 



At daylight next morning, Sluiskin, with his little boy 

 riding one of his own ponies, himself riding our little 

 calico-colored pack-horse, now well rested and saucy, 

 started back for Van Trump, with directions to meet 

 us at the trail on the Nisqually. A heavy, drizzling 

 rain set in soon afterwards ; Mr. Coleman, who had 

 gone early to bring in the contents of his mountain-top 

 caches, returned about noon with a very small bundle, 

 and, packing our traps upon Sluiskin's other pony, we 

 moved over to the rendezvous, pitched Coleman's 

 large gum-sheet as a partial shelter, made a rousing 

 fire, and tried to be comfortable. Late in the after- 

 noon the pony set up a violent neighing, and in a few 

 minutes Van Trump, and Sluiskin with his little boy 

 behind him, rode up, drenched to the skin. By follow- 

 ing the bed of the river, frequently crossing and recross- 

 ing, the Indian had managed to ride to the very foot of 

 the Nisqually defile, when, leaving the horses in this 

 boy's care, he hastened to Van Trump and carefully led 

 and assisted him down. Despite the pain of his severe 

 hurts, the latter was much amused at Sluiskin's account 

 of our trip, and of finding Mr. Coleman safe in camp 

 making tea, and for long after would repeat as an ex- 

 cellent joke Sluiskin's remark on passing the point 

 where he had attempted to mislead me, "Skookum 

 tenas man hiyu goddam/' 



We sent the horses back by the Indian to Bear 

 Prairie for grass, there being no indications of the rain 

 ceasing. The storm indeed lasted three days, during 

 which we remained sheltered beneath the gum-sheet as 

 far as possible, and endeavored to counteract the rain 

 by heaping up our fire in front. About eight o'clock 

 on the second morning, Sluiskin reported himself with 

 our horse, which he returned, he said, because he was 

 about to return to his lodge on the Cowlitz, being des- 



K 129 



