“On the beach, near the Indian huts, we observed two canoes of a different shape and size from any which we had hitherto seen.  One of these we got by giving our smallest canoe a hatchet, and a few trinkets to the owner, who said he had obtained it from a white man below the falls in exchange for a horse.  These canoes were very beautifully made:  wide in the middle, and tapering towards each end, with curious figures carved on the bow.  They were thin, but, being strengthened by crossbars about an inch in diameter, tied with strong pieces of bark through holes in the sides, were able to bear very heavy burdens, and seemed calculated to live in the roughest water.”

At this point the officers of the expedition observed signs of uneasiness in the two friendly Indian chiefs who had thus far accompanied them.  They also heard rumors that the warlike Indians below them were meditating an attack as the party went down.  The journal says:—­

“Being at all times ready for any attempt of that sort, we were not under greater apprehensions than usual at this intelligence.  We therefore only re-examined our arms, and increased the ammunition to one hundred rounds.  Our chiefs, who had not the same motives of confidence, were by no means so much at their ease, and when at night they saw the Indians leave us earlier than usual, their suspicions of an intended attack were confirmed, and they were very much alarmed.

“The Indians approached us with apparent caution, and behaved with more than usual reserve.  Our two chiefs, by whom these circumstances were not observed, now told us that they wished to return home; that they could be no longer of any service to us; that they could not understand the language of the people below the falls; that those people formed a different nation from their own; that the two people had been at war with each other; and that as the Indians had expressed a resolution to attack us, they would certainly kill them.  We endeavored to quiet their fears, and requested them to stay two nights longer, in which time we would see the Indians below, and make a peace between the two nations.  They replied that they were anxious to return and see their horses.  We however insisted on their remaining with us, not only in hopes of bringing about an accommodation between them and their enemies, but because they might be able to detect any hostile designs against us, and also assist us in passing the next falls, which are not far off, and represented as very difficult.  They at length agreed to stay with us two nights longer.”

The explorers now arrived at the next fall of the Columbia.  Here was a quiet basin, on the margin of which were three Indian huts.  The journal tells the rest of the story:—­