106 BOOK OF A HUNDRED BEARS 



and it was their boast that they had never slain 

 a white man. An absolute breach of faith upon 

 our part, the infraction of a solemn treaty, drove 

 them to war. The campaign that followed was 

 extraordinary. They were followed for 1,500 

 miles. Fifteen severe engagements were fought, 

 in which we lost nearly 500 killed and wounded, 

 and the Indians an equal number, before they 

 finally surrendered. In their wanderings they 

 crossed the Park twice. But, in all that time, no 

 depredations were committed, nor non-com- 

 batants killed by authority of the chiefs. Joseph 

 even bought supplies from the whites and paid for 

 them when he might have taken them. Two small 

 bands of marauders that left the main body killed 

 two tourists and committed some other depre- 

 dations. 



At last, surrounded and defeated, they sur- 

 rendered, but not until they had shown the most 

 heroic courage and fighting qualities of the highest 

 type. . 



I suppose the extinction of the red man is inevit- 

 able, but the fate of the Nez Perces, brave, chival- 

 rous and doomed to destruction, excites my pity. 



