244 ELATSASSAN.

the bushes, to the great relief of the packers. The same
dodge was tried by the Indian on Lieutenant Stewart of
H.M.S. “Sutlej,” who happened to be some distance
behind the train, but the gallant officer at once brought his
revolver to bear on him, and marched him off a prisoner
to head-quarters.

Without further adventure, this party proceeded till
they reached Puntzeen, where our friends were encamped.
Among the party was his Excellency the Governor, who
had been anxious to explore this portion of the vast
territory committed to his charge, and had been glad to
avail himself of the opportunity afforded by this expedi-
tion.

This force, under Mr. Brew, consisted of forty-five men,
most of whom belonged to the Royal Engineers stationed
at New Westminster; well disciplined men, presenting
rather a contrast to the rougher followers of Captain
Cox.

Let it be noted, however, that these last gave spon-
taneously three cheers for the Governor on his arrival in
their camp. It was a singular meeting. Representative of
Majesty, soldiers of the old country far away, magistrates
or gold commissioners of the new colony; roughs, the
pioneers who had scented out its gold and been the
occasion of its becoming a colony at all—here met and
fraternized round their respective camp-fires on the shore
of this far-away lake, as they discussed with hearty appe-
tites the rudest fare, beans and bacon.

The day aftet the Governor's arrival, July 7th, Mr.
Cox and his party struck their tents and packed their
mules and marched away towards Bute Inlet. As they
travelled they sent out scouting parties in all directions
im quest of Indians. None, however, were to be seen.
One day a party came upon a new trail, where they noticed
innumerable horse-tracks: these they followed up a distanee
of thirty miles (the marks becoming fresher as they
proceeded), through a thickly wooded and hilly country.
But all the tracks ended in a village of deserted Indian
lodges. Here, however, they found a cache containing
flour, bacon, saddles, &c., sure evidence of a robbery.
These, as they afterwards discovered, were the spoil of the
Macdonald affair.

On the 12th of July they reached the head-waters of
the Homathco, which flows into Bute Inlet, where they
remained a few days, still scouring the country as well
as they could for Indians, much as one might search for
needles in a mountain of straw. All the while they were
searching for them far afield, Klatsassan and his friends
were hovering close by, laughing, I daresay, in their
sleeves, or at least in their blankets, at their futile attempts
to catch them. By July 16th, provisions had again run
short. What was to be done? Stay where they were,
whilst they sent back for fresh supplies? But cut bono ?
This sort of thing might last for months, and their object
be as far from gained as ever. In the summer time the
Indians could easily elude their pursuers in the thick
foliage of their woods: they could find means of life in
the service-berries and many other kinds of berries which
all these months, one kind after another, in rich variety
and thick profusion, clustered in the trees and bushes or
amid the grass. Winter, Mr. Cox accordingly concluded
must be the time to catch them, if they were ever to be
caught. So he determined to give it up for the present
and return to Puntzeen.

Our friends accordingly packed up their traps, fecling

vather unhappy, we may suppose, at the complete and in
some respects ridiculous failure of theix expedition, so far
at least. Still, like pioneers and others who have been
pretty well knocked about by circumstances, they resolved
to make the best of things, and departed on their home
journey. On the day of their leaving the Homatheo,
one of the men having occasion to return to the place
where they had camped, found several Indians sitting
complacently smoking the calumet of peace by their late
camp-fire. On his reporting this, some of our men were
sent back to catch them, if they could. As soon as the
Indians saw them they bolted: our lads fired, and gaye
chase. For three hours they ran them through the wood
and through the wood; and smart fellows they must
have been to keep sight of any of them so long. At
last they could see but one. The rest had vanished no
one knew whither—the Indian was large and well built
exceeding muscular and also exceeding swift of foot.
Nevertheless, he appeared to be getting exhausted, and
the pursuers were gaining on him. They fired at him
two or three shots, but did not succeed in hitting him.
At last he ran forth from the forest and crossing a plain
reached a lagoon. Crack went a rifle and a bullet went
hissing over his head. In a moment he had thrown
away his clothes, which consisted, besides the mocassins,
of a blanket alone, and had dived into the water. The
whites, reaching the water, saw only the ripples which
indicated the plunge. A minute or two later he was
replenishing his lungs among the reeds under the opposite
bank. How Klatsassan contrived to regain his friends
with nothing on but his mocassins, history does not say:
as for our unsuccessful volunteers, they hastened to make
the best of their way after their party, whom they found
already in camp. for the night, in an open spot encircled
by the woods. In front and beyond a lovely stream
which warbled to the hum of countless insects in the
summer evening air, rose a stately mountain, steep, and
covered with the sombre pine. Near the summit was a
single bald space, the rest was densely wooded. A rugged
ravine intersected the mountain, down which, hardly dis-
cernible for the trees, a noisy stream hastened to join
another less impetuous and less jubilant, which wandered
by the white men’s tents. It was whilst camping here,
that the only casualty of the expedition worthy of the
name took place.

Vil.
DEATH OF MACLAINE.

In the death of Maclaine, the eolony lost a valuable
man and one of its oldest immigrants. A native of the
Isle of Mull, he possessed the true Highland fire and
dash: perhaps, indeed, rather a dash too much of it.
Early in life he joined the Hudson Bay Company, and
became in time one of their most successfulagents. In the
course of a life full of adventure he had had many dealings
with Indians of various tribes, and not always of a friendly
nature. In fact, it was his mission—shall we say ?—to
act as a kind of incarnation of justice of the wildest sort,
and avenge, by swift and summary retribution, crimes

which had otherwise gone unpunished and bred fresh |

deeds of violence. For instance, he it was who slew the
treacherous knave who murdered Black, the Hudson Bay’
agent at Fort Kamloops: the Indian, also, who in cold
blood did to death a Canadian, at that river of doom