MOUNT RAINIER 



titute of shelter and food for his family on Bear Prairie. 

 He vigorously replenished the fire, declined breakfast, 

 jeered Coleman for turning back, although probably 

 the latter did not comprehend his broken lingo, and 

 departed. 



Sluiskin was an original and striking character. 

 Leading a solitary life of hardships amidst these wilds, 

 yet of unusual native intelligence, he had contrived, 

 during rare visits to the settlements, to acquire the 

 Chinook jargon, besides a considerable stock of English 

 words, while his fund of general information was really 

 wonderful. He was possessed of a shrewd, sarcastic 

 wit, and, making no pretense to the traditional gravity 

 of his race, did not scruple to use it freely. Yet be- 

 neath this he cherished a high sense of pride and per- 

 sonal independence. Although of the blood of the 

 numerous and powerful Yakimas, who occupied the 

 country just east of the Cascades, he disdained to ren- 

 der allegiance to them or any tribe, and undoubtedly 

 regarded the superintendent of Indian affairs, or even 

 the great father at Washington himself, with equally 

 contemptuous indifference. 



As the last rays of the sun, one warm, drowsy summer 

 afternoon, were falling aslant the shady streets of Olym- 

 pia, Mr. Longmire's well-worn family carry-all, drawn 

 by two fat, grass-fed horses, came rattling down the 

 main street at a most unusual pace for them ; two bright 

 flags attached to Alpine staffs, one projecting from each 

 door, fluttered gayly overhead, while the occupants 

 of the carriage looked eagerly forth to catch the first 

 glimpse of welcoming friends. We returned after our 

 tramp of two hundred and forty miles with visages 

 tanned and sun-scorched, and with forms as lean and 

 gaunt as greyhounds, and were received and lionized 

 to the full, like veterans returning from an arduous and 

 glorious campaign. For days afterward, in walking 

 along the smooth and level pavements, we felt a strong 

 impulse to step high, as though still striding over the 



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