rear, had seen the Indians by this time and
realized that their demonstrations were war-
like. Now they knew why Tod had appeared
suddenly among them and had been so pre-
occupied the night before. They numbered
only ten, counting both Canadians and
Indians, while over three hundred well
armed Shuswaps made up the war party.

Tod had stopped his horse. With his face
still towards the enemy, he ordered one of
his men, George Simpson, to come up to
him.

“George,” he instructed him quietly, “fall
back quickly with the men and horses. If
things go wrong with me, make your way
back to the fort as best you can.”

Simpson showed reluctance about leaving
Tod alone in such danger.

“Go!” shouted Tod profanely.

For the present the Indians made no
attempt to block retreat of Tod’s men and
horses. Indeed, the war party emerged from
the bushes and gathered around a low knoll
at the edge of the clearing with child-like
curiosity about Tod’s intentions. He looked
to be so at their mercy that they could afford
to indulge their curiosity.

Tod rode a beautiful white mare. John
Tod was not a handsome man. He lacked
schooling and polish. Tall, bony, and wiry,
he did not, like John McLoughlin and
James Douglas, present a physique at once
powerful and commanding, yet in the ad-
ministration of rough fur-trading justice
many an Indian had been amazed at the
strength behind his long right arm. Upon
a small neck rising from sloping shoulders
was set a head narrow and high. Though
over 55, his hair remained a light brown.
Above a broad, straight Scotch nose and
high cheek bones, flashed keen grey eyes,
revealing him as a man who demanded and
got respect among wilderness dwellers with
whom manhood counted for more than mere
mannerisms.

The waiting Shuswap warriors raised
their guns as Tod spurred the white mare
directly toward them. Tod did not flinch or
slacken speed. Above his head he brandished
pistol in one hand, gun in the other, then
flung them to the ground.

A DESPERATE SITUATION

For a few moments he wheeled his mettle-
some mount back and forth to display his

Che Z ode

"The Theatre with
the Hits!”

Wells, British Columbia

WINTER EDITION

horsemanship before suddenly charging into
their midst and reining the mare back on
her haunches. He smiled down at them but
his smile was angry. He still held their
curiosity, but his very daring touched them
with an instinctive fear that he must wield
some unguessed power, although they cer-
tainly had not dropped their intention of
killing him presently. They relished playing
with a victim like a cat with a mouse.

“What's the meaning of all this?” Tod
demanded regally.

“We want to see Lolo? Why do you
come instead of Lolo?”

you can get food for your families. But you
must not come to Kamloops until I tell you
that you may, or you will all die. See I have
brought you medicine, for J do not want to
see you lying on the river bank rotting like
those salmon which have spawned.”

Fear swept through the war party. The
thought of imminent danger of the deadly
scourge turned the heart of the bravest war-
rior from any thought of killing Tod. To
some extent he was merely tricking them.
Small-pox had not yet reached Kamloops
district though it was spreading north.

But Tod could save them from it. Hud-

Chief Lolo with his wife and two daughters.

—Photo courtesy Provincial Archives, Victoria, B. C.

“So you have not heard the news? Lolo
is at home.

“We have heard no news,” they admitted,
glancing at each other.

“I am sorry for you, my friends, * Tod
replied, smiling sadly. “But the small-pox is
upon us. The terrible small-pox was brought
from Walla Walla by an Okanagan.”

They knew what the small-pox was, and
how it raged at Walla Walla and along the
lower Columbia River, and how like a divine
retribution it fell upon those responsible for
the Whitney massacre.

“Aye, the dreadful sickness is here,” con-
tinued Tod in sepulchral tones. “You are
my friends and brothers. That is why I
have come to save you. You bring me furs.
I give you blankets and I give you guns so

O:der
Your

Copy
of

SHOULDER
STRAP
from

Pavich’s

Confectionery

Sole
Agent

son’s Bay posts generally stocked some medi-
cine, and Tod had in his pocket a vial of
vaccine.

Yet Tod was not content that he and his
men escape with their lives. The yearly
supply of salmon must be secured now for
the fort. Also, the Indians must be induced
to resume trading.

“You see that tree,” he said, pointing toa
huge pine. “Cut it down.” Weapons were
thrown down and as many men as could
chop at one time began cutting it down.
After a few minutes of furious work each
was relieved by a companion eager to put
his tomahawk to this innocent use.

In the meantime the women emerged
from concealment.

“You see that smoke beyond the bushes?”

With Compliments

o PRINCE GEORGE CLUB

BRANCH No. 1

J. C. Pidgeon, Manager

M

fe Wells, British Columbia

Wells.

Page Sixty-five

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