I remained at the store until the proprietor, Mr. Vaughn, sold out, and hearing that a company was being formed at Pierce City to go to the Blackfoot country on a prospecting expedition, I went there and applied to the, leader for admission.  He looked me over, smiled and said that it was too dangerous an expedition for a boy.  I replied that I supposed there was danger, that I was not afraid and could shoot as good as any of them.  At this the men listening began laughing and the leader told me he didn’t want me.  Indignant, I turned away, but was followed a little way by a rather pleasant looking man.  He said, “My boy, you are too young to go with the crowd.  They are a rough set and not fit for a boy of your age to associate with.”  He then shook hands with me and bade me good bye.

I returned to Oro Fino, and as winter was approaching, I joined a strong party and started back to Walla Walla.  This was deemed prudent, for besides the robbers, there were rumors of Indian troubles after we should have passed beyond the Nez Perce country.  About this time we began hearing rumors of the Battle of Bull Run, and this formed the chief subject for conversation around the camp fire of evenings.  At Lewiston a very dignified Indian, a Nez Perce, asked permission to join our company to Walla Walla.  He was accompanied by a boy about 16 whom we judged to be his son.  Permission, of course, we readily granted and we proceeded on our way.  That evening the usual subject of conversation came up, Northern and Southern men good naturedly discussing the news, and each construing a victory for his side.  Finally the Indian spoke up and said, “I think, gentlemen, I can settle your controversy.  I have received the latest papers and all are agreed that the battle resulted in a disaster to the Federal arms.”  All looked at him in astonishment, but he continued and gave us a vivid description of the battle.  We at once knew the speaker to be none other than Lawyer, chief of the Nez Perces, scholar and graduate of an eastern college, and one of the bright men of any race red or white.  I met him after our arrival at Walla Walla and recognized in the superbly dressed man our fellow traveler.  He wore a broadcloth suit, silk hat and carried a gold headed cane.  His son was also well dressed.

Again following the old Nez Perce trails, which everyone who has traveled over that country during the early days will remember, we proceeded to the John Day River.  Here I met some old Lane county friends, a Mr. Driskol and his son, a young man of about 21 years of age.  They had driven over the mountains a band of cattle and turned them on the range at John Day and Rock Creek.  Two brothers named John and Zim Smith, from Douglas county, had also driven out cattle and turned them loose on the same range.  The Smiths had returned to the valley, but were expected back in a week or such a matter.

Driskol and his son now asked me to remain with them and assist in rounding up the cattle preparatory to leaving them for the winter.  They would pay me good wages and then, the Smiths returning, we would all go home together.  The free wild life of the prairie having an almost irresistible charm for me, it did not require much persuasion to induce me to remain.