23

In another year some thirty Cree paddling in three canoes down
Parsnip river discovered three Sekani families camped on the bank, While
the children fled, their parents loaded their guns; but the Cree shouted
“Friends, friends,” making signs of peace, and disembarked close to their
camp. The Sekani believed them, brought back the children from the woods
and joined in a common meal. One of the Cree, taking a fancy to a little
Sekani girl, said to her, “ Run away and hide. In a few minutes we are
going to attack your people”; but the child, too young to understand
the meaning of his words, neither ran away nor told her people. As soon
as they had eaten the Cree went down to their canoes; but when the
Sekani followed to see them depart the Cree seized their rifles and shot
down the whole party. Then they plundered the tents and continued their
way down the river, toward Finlay Forks.

PrLate LV

60707

Sekani women and children at Fort Grahame.

Now it happened that a large band of Sekani was hunting elk near
Finlay Forks; three men, with dogs, were pursuing a wounded elk that had
fled up the mountain, while the other hunters ranged themselves along the
bank at intervals of about half a mile to intercept the animal when it was
driven into the water. The oldest and most experienced hunter, who was
stationed at the southern end of the line, saw a man examining the river
from a promontory farther up, and, suspecting that he might be a Cree,
launched his canoe into the water and watched.! As soon as the Cree

1 Indians travelling on a river in hostile country stopped at every curve and landed one of their
number on the point to search the route ahead,