Among the Skilloots, here, quite a number of articles were lost; so that Captain Lewis made a speech, to say that he and his men were not afraid and were able to burn the village if necessary to stop the thieving.
“Yessuh! Dese hyah Galloots’d better watch out,” agreed York. “Marse Merne an’ Marse Will are offishurs of the ’Nited States ahmy.”
However, from the Skilloots ten horses were purchased with blankets and Captain Clark’s artillery coat and two kettles, and two more were borrowed. William Bratton was too ill to walk, and rode one of the horses. Nine others were loaded with the baggage, to take it around the rapids. One horse was stolen, and Captain Clark rode the twelfth up to the village of the E-nee-shurs.
Three of the canoes were broken up for fuel. The captains hoped soon to travel altogether by horses; canoe work, against the current, was slow, hard work.
“An amazin’ disagrayable people,” commented Sergeant Pat, on the Skilloots. “But Twisted-hair and his Pierced Noses’ll be gintlemen.”
The E-nee-shurs were no better in manners and honesty. The horse Chaboneau was leading ran away, and spilled his pack; an E-nee-shur made off with a fine robe, and before it was returned Captain Lewis had to utter more threats.
All in all, the trip up-river was very vexing, until, finally having collected enough horses for the baggage, so as to do without any canoes, the party arrived on April 27 at the Walla Walla village where lived Chief Yellept who last October had wanted them to stay longer with him.
“We will visit you on our way back,” had promised Captain Clark. Now here they were――and Chief Yellept was glad indeed to see them.
He met them a few miles below the village.
“Come and stay with me three or four days,” he said to the captains. “You shall have more horses, and plenty food. I am wearing the little medal given me from my white father; I hope that you will give me a bigger one.”
The village was six miles above, opposite the mouth of the Walla Walla River. Chief Yellept made good his word. He called his people together, to tell them that they must be hospitable to the white strangers; and he set an example by bringing the captains an armful of wood and a platter of three baked fish. Then all the Walla Walla squaws busied themselves with gathering wood for their guests. Dogs were offered at reasonable prices.