I became much interested in my new found friend, and had him continue his map down the river.  He showed two streams coming in on the east side and then he began piling up stones on each side of the river and then got longer ones and piled them higher and higher yet.  Then he stood with one foot on each side of his river and put his hands on the stones and then raised them as high as he could, making a continued e-e-e-e-e-e as long as his breath would last, pointed to the canoe and made signs with his hands how it would roll and pitch in the rapids and finely capsize and throw us all out.  He then made signs of death to show us that it was a fatal place.  I understood perfectly plain from this that below the valley where we now were was a terrible canon, much higher than any we had passed, and the rapids were not navigable with safety.  Then Walker shook his head more than once and looked very sober, and said “Indiano” and reaching for his bow and arrows, he drew the bow back to its utmost length and put the arrow close to my breast, showing how I would get shot.  Then he would draw his hand across his throat and shut his eyes as if in death to make us understand that this was a hostile country before us, as well as rough and dangerous.

I now had a description of the country ahead and believed it to be reliable.  As soon as I could conveniently after this, I had a council with the boys, who had looked on in silence while I was holding the silent confab with the chief.  I told them where we were and what chances there were of getting to California by this route, and that for my part I had as soon be killed by Mormans as by savage Indians, and that I believed the best way for us to do was to make the best of our way to Salt Lake.  “Now” I said, “Those of you who agree with me can follow—­and I hope all will.”

McMahon said that we could not understand a word the old Indian said, and as to following his trails, I don’t believe a word of it, and it don’t seem right.

He said he had a map of the country, and it looked just as safe to him to go on down the river as to go wandering across a dry and desolate country which we knew nothing of.  I said to McMahon—­“I know this sign language pretty well.  It is used by almost all the Indians and is just as plain and certain to me as my talk is to you.  Chief Walker and his forefathers were borne here and know the country as well as you know your father’s farm, and for my part, I think I shall take one of his trails and go to Salt Lake and take the chances that way.  I have no objections to you going some other way if you wish to and think it is best”.  McMahon and Fields concluded they would not follow me any farther.

I then went to Chief Walker and had him point out the trail to “Mormonie” as well as he could.  He told me where to enter the mountains leading north, and when we got part way he told me we would come to an Indian camp, when I must follow some horse tracks newly made; he made me know this by using his hands like horse’s forefeet, and pointed the way.