Chapter 32 - Page 2

friends, the Nez

Perces, with light hearts and full hands, they came naked,

hungry, and broken down; and instead of making them presents,

must depend upon them even for food. "But," concluded he, "we are

going to the white men's fort on the Wallah-Wallah, and will soon

return; and then we will meet our Nez Perce friends like the true

Big Hearts of the East."

Whether the hint thrown out in the latter part of the speech had

any effect, or whether the old chief acted from the hospitable

feelings which, according to the captain, are really inherent in

the Nez Perce tribe, he certainly showed no disposition to relax

his friendship on learning the destitute circumstances of his

guests. On the contrary, he urged the captain to remain with them

until the following day, when he would accompany him on his

journey, and make him acquainted with all his people. In the

meantime, he would have a colt killed, and cut up for travelling

provisions. This, he carefully explained, was intended not as an

article of traffic, but as a gift; for he saw that his guests

were hungry and in need of food.

Captain Bonneville gladly assented to this hospitable

arrangement. The carcass of the colt was forthcoming in due

season, but the captain insisted that one half of it should be

set apart for the use of the chieftain's family.

At an early hour of the following morning, the little party

resumed their journey, accompanied by the old chief and an Indian

guide. Their route was over a rugged and broken country; where

the hills were slippery with ice and snow. Their horses, too,

were so weak and jaded, that they could scarcely climb the steep

ascents, or maintain their foothold on the frozen declivities.

Throughout the whole of the journey, the old chief and the guide

were unremitting in their good offices, and continually on the

alert to select the best roads, and assist them through all

difficulties. Indeed, the captain and his comrades had to be

dependent on their Indian friends for almost every thing, for

they had lost their tobacco and pipes, those great comforts of

the trapper, and had but a few charges of powder left, which it

was necessary to husband for the purpose of lighting their fires.

In the course of the day the old chief had several private

consultations with the guide, and showed evident signs of being

occupied with some mysterious matter of mighty import. What it

was, Captain Bonneville could not fathom, nor did he make much

effort to do so. From some casual sentences that he overheard, he

perceived that it was