Mov. 26, 1904.J 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
448 
take from McDonald's canoe, M'Kay struck him with the 
butt end of his gun, and obliged him to drop the bale. 
The Indian instantly placed an arrow on his bow, which 
he aimed at McDonald, who quickly stretched forth his 
arm, seized the arrow, broke it to pieces, and threw them 
into the Indian's face. The Indian, by this time very 
angry, had ordered his canoe to push off, and was just 
about to shoot an arrow at McDonald when M'Kay fired 
and killed him. His two companions were about to use 
their bows, but McDonald, who had a double-barreled 
gun, shot them both, killing one and severely wounding 
the other. The fight was on, but the Indians threw them- 
selves in the bottom of their canoes out of sight, and the 
vessels soon drifted down the river, and out of gun-shot. 
The traders at once went ashore and armed themselves. 
The Indians lurked about and shot at them, but without 
effect. Embarking, the white men paddled to a narrow 
island in the river, built breast-works, and prepared to 
pass the night. The next day the wind blew hard, and 
they were obliged to pass the night on the island. Mean- 
time the Indians were signaling, and canoes could be 
heard crossing and recrossing the river. The spirits of 
the white men were low, and they believed that they were 
likely all to be killed. The next day the traders sent 
out a flag of truce to the enemy, and asked for a talk, be- 
ing determined to pay the relatives of the dead for the 
loss, rather than to have any fighting. The Indians re- 
fused this, however, and declared that two white men 
must be delivered to them to be treated as they thought 
best. One of these white men, it was explained, must be 
McDonald. The offers made by the traders had been 
sufficiently liberal, but the general sentiment of the sav- 
ages seemed to be that these offers must be refused, and 
that white men must be killed to accompany the dead In- 
dians oh their way to the home of the dead. After a 
heated discussion, it became evident that there was little 
hope of a compromise or of peace. One by one the In- 
dians sulkily drew away from the council and joined 
their friends who were sitting at a distance behind them. 
Just as the conference was over, however, it was inter- 
rupted by the arrival of a dozen mounted Indians, who 
dashed into the space between the two parties, and halted 
there. These men were under the leadership of a young 
chief whose courage and wisdom was respected by all the 
Indians of the country. He made a strong plea for a 
peaceful settlement of the difficulty, finally declaring that 
no one of the Indians should dare to attack the whites. 
This speech put a different look on matters, and the In- 
dians presently consented to the proposed compromise, 
and smoked with the traders. The wounded and the 
relations of the dead proved quite willing to accept the 
payments offered, and friendly relations were at once 
renewed. 
In May, 1816, the author found himself once more at 
Oakinagan, and this time occupying the chief position 
there. He at once set at work to rebuild the post, where 
he spent the summer. The point between the Oakinagan 
River and the Columbia, where the trading post was 
built, was absolutely free from rattlesnakes, although the 
surrounding country abounded with them. The snakes 
were frequently eaten by the Canadians, who skinned 
them as eels are skinned, and then spitted them on a stick 
run through the body, and then roasted before a fire. 
Cox tells a curious story of the treatment of a young 
woman supposed to have consumption by an old Indian. 
The treatment consisted in killing a dog and placing the 
foot and leg of the patient within the newly killed carcass 
until the flesh became cold. They were then taken out 
and bandaged with warm flannel. Besides this, she took 
daily a small quantity of bark in a glass of port wine. 
The result was that her condition greatly improved; she 
regained her appetite, and in the autumn was strong 
enough to travel across the mountains with her husband. 
The following summer Cox met her at Rainy Lake in the 
full enjoyment of health. Cox also tells of a white man, 
absolutely dying of a decline, who . was cured by being 
placed at short intervals in the body of a newly killed 
horse. After two treatments of this kind, at intervals of 
a few days, he began to regain his strength, and by ad- 
hering to simple and careful living, was finally restored to 
his ordinary health. 
Wolves were very abundant, and were very trouble- 
some to the horses. "These destructive animals annually 
destroy numbers of horses," Cox writes, "particularly 
during the winter season, when the latter get entangled in 
the snow, in which situation they become an easy prey to 
their light-footed pursuers, ten or fifteen of which will 
often fasten on one animal, and with their long fangs in 
a few minutes separate the head from the body. If, how- 
ever, the horses are not prevented from using their legs, 
they sometimes punish the enemy severely ; as an instance 
of this, I saw one morning the bodies of two of our 
horses which had been killed the night before, and around 
were lying eight dead and maimed wolves; some with 
their brains scattered about, and others with their limbs 
and ribs broken by the hoofs of the furious animals in 
their vain attempts to escape from their sanguinary 
assailants. 
"While I was at Spokan I went occasionally to the 
horse prairie, which is nearly surrounded by partially 
wooded hills, for the purpose of watching the maneuvers 
of the wolves in their combined attacks. The first an- 
nouncement of their approach was a few shrill currish 
barks at intervals, like the outpost firing of skirmishing 
parties. These were answered by similar barking from 
an opposite direction, until the sounds gradually approxi- 
mated, and at length ceased on the junction of the differ- 
ent parties. We prepared our guns, and concealed our- 
selves behind a thick cover. In the meantime, the horses, 
sensible of the approaching danger, began to paw the 
ground, snort, toss up their heads, look wildly about 
them, and exhibit all the symptoms of fear. One of two 
stallions took the lead, and appeared to await with a de- 
gree of comparative composure for the appearance of the 
enemy. 
"The allies at length entered the field in a semi-circular 
form, with their flanks extended for the evident purpose 
of surrounding their prey. They were between two and 
three hundred strong. The horses, on observing their 
movement, knew from experience its object, and dreading 
to encounter so numerous a force, instantly turned 
around and galloped off in a contrary direction. Their 
flight was the signal for the wolves to advance; and im- 
mediately uttering a simultaneous yell, they charged after 
the fugitives, still preserving their crescent form. Two 
or three of the horses, which were not in the best condi- 
tion, were quickly overtaken by the advanced guard of 
the enemy. The former, finding themselves unable to 
keep up with the band, commenced kicking at their pur- 
suers, several of which received some severe blows; but 
these being reinforced by others, they would have shortly 
despatchd the horses, had we not just in time emerged 
from our place of concealment and discharged a volley at 
the enemy's center, by which a few were brought down. 
The whole battalion instantly wheeled about and fled to- 
ward the hills in the" utmost disorder; while the horses, 
on hearing the fire, changed their course and galloped up 
to us. Our appearance saved several of them from the 
fangs of their foes ; and by their neighing they seemed to 
express their joy and gratitude at our timely inter- 
ference." 
In portions of the country inhabited by the Walla 
Wallas, Nez Perces and Shoshones, wild horses were at 
this time very abundant. Sometimes from seven hundred 
to a thousand were seen in a band, and persons who had 
crossed the continent by the Missouri route told Cox that 
in the Snake Indian country bands varying from three to 
four thousand were frequently seen. The Spaniards at 
San Francisco informed the traders of the Northwest 
Company that in the year 1812 they were obliged to kill 
upward of thirty thousand horses in order to preserve 
sufficient grass for the buffalo. Just what is meant by 
California in this connection is uncertain, since it is not 
known that the buffalo were ever found in the California 
Of modern times. 
In his description of the horses of the country, Cox 
tells of a ride of seventy-two miles which he made be- 
tween twelve o'clock in the morning and soon after dark, 
to outstrip some rival traders who were on their way to 
the Flatheads. The Flatheads were out of tobacco, but 
Farnham, who was in charge of the party, felt sure that 
if a supply of this commodity were brought them at once, 
they would promise their skins to him. Cox, riding a 
splendid horse, known as Le Bleu, reached Farnham two 
hours in advance of his rivals, and secured the trade. 
In the summer of 1816 Cox determined to abandon 
Indian trading, and applied to the proprietors for leave, 
which was granted with regret. Nevertheless, he wintered 
at Oakinagan. 
In April, 1817, a party of eighty-six men embarked in 
two barges and nine canoes from Fort George to ascend 
the Columbia. They continued up the river with various 
adventures, seeing Indians constantly, but having no 
trouble with them, and on the 17th day, twenty-three of 
the_ party who were to cross the Rocky Mountains to the 
plains left the loaded canoes and continued up the Co- 
lumbia, past Oakinagan, the mouth of the Spokan River, 
to Great Kettle Falls. Continuing, they passed through 
the lakes on the Columbia. The river grew narrower and 
narrower, and the current swifter, and at length they 
reached the Rocky Mountain portage, where they were to 
leave their canoes. The hard work done so far on the 
trip had exhausted many of the men, who were now prac- 
tically unable to work; so that seven men, six Canadians 
and an Englishmen, were sent back in the best canoe to 
Spokan House. Only one of them reached there alive, 
having been found by two Indians on the borders of the 
upper lake, and by them transported to Spokan House. 
Now came an overland journey on foot, where the nine 
remaining men were obliged to carry loads of about 
ninety pounds each. The journey was very difficult, over 
steep mountains, across rapid streams, and through deep 
snow fields. On the 31st of May they reached two small 
lakes on the summit of the mountains, at which they 
encamped. From these lakes a stream joins a branch of 
the Columbia River, while another, called Rocky Moun- 
tain River, empties into Peace River, and so takes its way 
to the Arctic Ocean. 
The next day they reached a beautiful meadow ground, 
where five of the company's horses were found grazing, 
and their pack saddles were placed conspicuously near 
a large fire which was still burning. The animals had 
been sent up from Rocky Mountain House to meet them. 
The next day, in crossing the Rocky Mountain River, 
a series of accidents happened, by which the first raft 
made was lost, and the second got away, carrying several 
men with it, the result being that- the party was now 
separated. From this time on until they reached Rocky 
Mountain House, they did not get together, and there was 
some suffering from hunger and cold. Nor was their 
situation much better at Rocky Mountain House, for 
they were unable there to obtain provisions, the people 
here being themselves on short allowance. On the 7th 
of June they left Rocky Mountain House, and soon en- 
tered the Athabasca River, and continued down it until 
they reached Elk River, which they ascended, and at last 
met Alexander Stewart and the Slave Lake brigade. 
From here they proceeded eastward, down the Beaver 
River to He a la Crosse, reached the English River, Cum- 
berland House, and the Saskatchewan, and thence went 
through Lake Winepic to Fort Alexander by way of Rat 
Portage to Rainy Lake and Fort William. 
From here eastward the journeying was through the 
more or less settled country occupied largely by Canadian 
farmers. The party continued eastward, until on Sep- 
tember 19, five months and three days after leaving the 
Pacific Ocean, Cox reached Montreal, and his journeyings 
were at an end. George Bird Grinnell. 
The Drumming Grouse, 
Skowhegan, Me., Nov. 12. — Editor Forest and 
Stream: I have noted with interest in the later numbers 
of your most excellent publication the query relative to 
the drumming of the ruffed grouse, and the several replies 
; by observers. 
Some excellent observations on the ruffed grouse were 
read at our seventh annual meeting of the Maine Orni- 
thological Society, held in Portland, November 29, 1902, 
by Dr. Wm. C. Kendall, of the United States Fish Com- 
mission. These were published later in the Journal of the 
society, and as the notes throw light on the subject in 
question, I quote the following from Dr. Kendall's most 
interesting article: 
"This year I had a number of opportunities for observ- 
ing the male grouse drum. In all but one instance the 
birds were on old logs. The exception was one in Free- 
port which was sitting on a stone wall. You are all 
doubtless familiar with the sound. It was made in all 
cases that came under my observation exactly as I 
described it last year in the Osprey. There was no 'strut- 
ting up and down the log.' If the bird detected a sound, 
he would straighten up, look and listen, then resume his 
crouching position with head drawn down. When about 
to drum, he would raise himself, straighten himself back, 
sometimes glancing about suspiciously, sometimes not, 
then produce the drumming sound and resume his former 
position. 
"The drumming seemed to be produced by expelling the 
air from between his wings and body by short, quick 
strokes of the wings, which at no time 'met behind' or 
touched the body. It has been stated that the drumming 
cannot be a 'love note' because it occurs so often in other 
seasons than in the spring. Now, I have been in the 
Maine woods since May 1, and have had all the oppor- 
tunities one could wish for to hear and observe these 
birds drum, and have heard more drumming birds in the 
late fall than at any other season, though I heard a few 
in the spring. If pairing takes place in the spring, it 
seems to me that it must be before the female is ready 
to lay her eggs. I have this year seen instances of un- 
doubted pairing in October and November, especially 
during the last of the former and first of the latter month. 
Drummers were heard most frequently in October. I recall 
hearing none in August and September. At this time the 
birds observed, for the most part, were in flocks of young 
with their mothers. In October there were seldom more 
than two together, and when in pairs they were always 
male and female. 
"You have seen that picture of grouse which advertises 
some gun firm or another. It is a good one. This fall 
I saw the same pretty sight in living birds. The cock 
on a log, tail a-spread, wings drooping slightly, and an 
immense ruff about his neck — so much that I could hardly 
detect his head, though I was within ten or fifteen feet 
of him. Below, by a rock, stood the female, motionless, 
and although not just at that moment casting admiring 
glances at the swain oh the log, I have no doubt that she 
had been doing so. 
"One night while tenting on Webster Brook— it was 
October 17, a bright moonlight, still, cold, frosty night — 
I had fallen asleep and dreamed I was in my native town 
in one of my boyhood haunts with my gun, looking for 
'partridges.' In my dreams I heard orte drum and started 
to steal upon him. But for some reason I awoke before 
I reached the bird, and lay awake for a while, when I 
heard the drumming 'sure 'nough,' which at intervals of 
six, eight or ten minutes, I should judge, was repeated. 
I looked at my watch and it was 1 :i5 A. M. The bird 
was still at it when I last looked at my watch at 3 -.30 
before falling asleep a^ain. I thought this night drum- 
ming an unusual occurrence, but my guide said he had 
often heard them drum on just such nights, but I doubt 
if he' were forewarned by a dream. 
"I had the good fortune to observe a drummer ap- 
proaching his bandstand. He flew down near our tent, 
the same sleep disturber, I presume, stood for a minute 
upright, listening, then with head stretched out straight 
ahead, crouching close to the ground, he swiftly glided 
through the bushes to the log. I followed him and saw 
him drum. Sometimes prior to this, after watching one 
drum, I drove him from his log. Instead of running or 
flying as the birds do at other times, he dropped without 
a sound to the ground and sneaked swiftly and silently 
away. The only drummer I ever saw fly at once from 
the perch where he had been drumming, was not over a 
month ago in Freeport, when my dog frightened him from 
the stone wall previously mentioned. 
"My observations then lead me to suspect that the 
mating season is not confined to the springtime, and pos- 
sibly the principal season is in October and November. 
But I am open to correction." 
The above is in accord with my own' observations. I 
have on several occasions heard the drumming in the 
night. I recall one instance, while camping several years 
ago in northern Franklin county in Maine. We were 
tented near a trout brook. I was awakened by the drum- 
ming of a grouse. It was on a dark, foggy night. 
I have just returned from a ten days' trip to the lower 
Dead River. We were camping near the Dead River 
Dam, just above Grand Falls. One bright moonlight 
