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Page 49
While thus pleasantly occupied, a piece of intelligence was received,
which caused the breaking up of our little society, and created some
alarm. A party of seven or eight Indians having been drowned on their
way to Alexandria, in autumn, their relatives imputed the misfortune
to the whites. "Had there been no whites at Alexandria," said they,
"our friends would not have gone there to trade; and if they had not
gone there, they would not have been drowned:" _ergo_--the white men
are the cause of their death, and the Indians must be avenged.
Nothing, however, was known of their hostile intentions until winter,
when Mr. F. had occasion to send a man to Stuart's Lake with
despatches, who, on arriving opposite to the Indian camp, found
himself suddenly surrounded by the natives. They advanced rapidly upon
him, brandishing their arms, and uttering horrid yells, and would have
dispatched him on the spot but for the interference of one of
themselves, who nobly threw himself between the Canadian and the
muzzles of the guns that were levelled at him, and beckoned him to
flee. He took to his heels accordingly, and never looked behind him
till he reached the fort.
A little before Mr. Fisher had learned from his home guards that an
attack on the fort was intended, and that they had been solicited by
their neighbours to join in it, but had refused. So far, indeed, from
wishing to injure the whites, they consented to carry the despatches
which conveyed the information I have just mentioned. As Mr. F.
urgently requested that assistance should be afforded him with as
little delay as possible, it was determined that I should forthwith
proceed to Alexandria, accompanied by Waccan, the interpreter, and
eight men well armed.
Passing Fraser's Lake and Fort George posts, we arrived at the Indian
winter camp, which we found abandoned; but a well beaten track led
from it in the direction of Alexandria, a circumstance which made us
apprehensive that our aid might come too late, and prompted us to
redouble our speed. Our party consequently was soon very much
scattered--a most unmilitary procedure--which might have proved fatal
to ourselves, while we thought of relieving our friends.
The interpreter, myself, and two Iroquois, forming the advanced guard
of the _grand army_, which consisted of full six men, still
considerably in the rear, on turning a point found ourselves
immediately in front of the camp. We were thus as much taken by
surprise as those whom we wished to surprise; but without hesitating a
moment we rushed up the bank, and were instantly in the midst of the
camp. The uproar was tremendous, the Indians seized their arms with
the most threatening gestures and savage yells, and it would have been
impossible for us to execute our orders--which were to seize the
ringleader only--without a fierce struggle and bloodshed on both
sides; and though more resolute, perhaps, than our enemies, we were by
far the weaker party, their numbers being at least ten to one of ours.
Happily, however, there was an Indian (one of our friends) from
Alexandria, in the camp, who, as soon as he could make himself heard,
informed us that the affair had been already arranged to the
satisfaction of both parties. Thus terminated our expedition, without
bloodshed and without laurels. A few days earlier it might have been
otherwise; nor was Mr. F. without blame in neglecting to advise us of
the arrangement.
We continued our course towards Fort Alexandria, and reached it late
in the evening. My unexpected appearance gave my old bourgeois of Two
Mountains an agreeable surprise. Having eaten nothing since morning,
we made sad havoc of his beefsteaks and potatoes.
"Well, Mac," said he, "to judge from your appetite, the air of New
Caledonia seems to agree wonderfully with you. Pray how do you like
the beef-steaks?"
"Never tasted anything better," said I.
Next morning he requested me to accompany him to the store, as he
said, to see a hind-leg of the steer which had furnished me with my
steaks. I approached it, and lo! it was the hind-leg of a horse! The
beef-steaks, or rather _horse_-steaks, were again presented at
breakfast, and I confess I had not the same relish for them as at
supper, but my repugnance--such is the effect of habit--was soon
overcome.
I remained a few days here for the sake of repose, and then returned.
On the approach of spring, my fellow-subordinate, Mr. McKenzie,
dissatisfied with the service, left for the east side of the
mountains, and I took his place at the desk, the duties of which,
although by no means harassing, left me but little leisure. The
accounts of all the posts in the district, eight in number, were made
up here; I had also to superintend the men of the establishment,
accompany them on their winter trips, and attend to the Indian trade.
But even if the duty had been more toilsome, I had every inducement to
perform it cheerfully, as Mr. Dease was one of the kindest and most
considerate of men. On the 5th of May Mr. Dease took his departure for
Fort Vancouver, with the returns of his district, which might he
valued at 11,000_l._ The outfit, together with servants' wages and
incidental expenses, amounted to about 3,000_l._, leaving to the Company
a clear profit of about 8,000_l._
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