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best he could when he recovered。 His condition having greatly
improved； however； since he had been left； he now begged me in
beseeching terms to take him along with my party； which I finally
consented to do； provided that if he became unable to keep up with
me； and I should be obliged to abandon him； the responsibility would
be his； not mine。 This increased my number to five； and was quite a
reinforcement should we run across any hostile Indians； but it was
also certain to prove an embarrassment should the man again fall ill。
During the night； notwithstanding the continuance of the storm； I had
a very sound and refreshing sleep behind the protecting log where we
made our camp； and at daylight next morning we resumed our journey；
fortified by a breakfast of coffee and hard bread。 I skirted around
the base of Lassan's Butte； thence down Hat Creek； all the time
following the trail made by Lieutenant Williamson's party。 About
noon the soldier I had picked up at my first camp gave out； and could
go no farther。 As stipulated when I consented to take him along； I
had the right to abandon him； but when it came to the test I could
not make up my mind to do it。 Finding a good place not far off the
trail； one of my men volunteered to remain with him until he died；
and we left them there； with a liberal supply of hard bread and
coffee； believing that we would never again see the invalid。 My
reinforcement was already gone； and another man with it。
With my diminished party I resumed the trail and followed it until
about 4 o'clock in the afternoon； when we heard the sound of voices；
and the corporal； thinking we were approaching Lieutenant
Williamson's party； was so overjoyed in anticipation of the junction；
that he wanted to fire his musket as an expression of his delight。
This I prevented his doing； however； and we continued cautiously and
slowly on to develop the source of the sounds in front。 We had not
gone far before I discovered that the noise came from a band of Pit
River Indians； who had struck the trail of the surveying expedition；
and were following it up； doubtless with evil intent。 Dismounting
from my horse I counted the moccasin tracks to ascertain the number
of Indians； discovered it to be about thirty； and then followed on
behind them cautiously； but with little difficulty； as appearances of
speed on their part indicated that they wished to overtake Lieutenant
Williamson's party； which made them less on the lookout than usual
for any possible pursuers。 After following the trail until nearly
sundown； I considered it prudent to stop for the night； and drew off
some little distance； where； concealed in a dense growth of timber；
we made our camp。
As I had with me now only two men； I felt somewhat nervous； so I
allowed no fires to be built； and in consequence our supper consisted
of hard bread only。 I passed an anxious night； but beyond our own
solicitude there was nothing to disturb us； the Indians being too
much interested in overtaking the party in front to seek for victims
in the rear； After a hard…bread breakfast we started again on the
trail； and had proceeded but a short distance when； hearing the
voices of the Indians； we at once slackened our speed so as not to
overtake them。
Most of the trail on which we traveled during the morning ran over an
exceedingly rough lava formationa spur of the lava beds often
described during the Modoc war of 1873 so hard and flinty that
Williamson's large command made little impression on its surface；
leaving in fact； only indistinct traces of its line of march。 By
care and frequent examinations we managed to follow his route through
without much delay； or discovery by the Indians； and about noon；
owing to the termination of the lava formation； we descended into the
valley of Hat Greek； a little below where it emerges from the second
canon and above its confluence with Pit River。 As soon as we reached
the fertile soil of the valley； we found Williamson's trail well
defined； deeply impressed in the soft loam； and coursing through
wild…flowers and luxuriant grass which carpeted the ground on every
hand。
When we struck this delightful locality we traveled with considerable
speed； and after passing over hill and vale for some distance； the
trail becoming more and more distinct all the time； I suddenly saw in
front of me the Pit River Indians。
This caused a halt； and having hurriedly re…capped our guns and
six…shooters； thus preparing for the worst； I took a look at the band
through my field…glass。 They were a half…mile or more in our front
and numbered about thirty individuals； armed with bows and arrows
only。 Observing us they made friendly demonstrations； but I had not
implicit faith in a Pit River Indian at that period of the settlement
of our country； and especially in that wild locality； so after a
〃council of war〃 with the corporal and man； I concluded to advance to
a point about two hundred yards distant from the party； when； relying
on the speed of our horses rather than on the peaceable intentions of
the savages； I hoped to succeed in cutting around them and take the
trail beyond。 Being on foot they could not readily catch us； and
inasmuch as their arrows were good for a range of only about sixty
yards； I had no fear of any material damage on that score。
On reaching the place selected for our flank movement we made a dash
to the left of the trail； through the widest part of the valley； and
ran our horses swiftly by； but I noticed that the Indians did not
seem to be disturbed by the manoeuvre and soon realized that this
indifference was occasioned by the knowledge that we could not cross
Hat Creek； a deep stream with vertical banks； too broad to be leaped
by our horses。 We were obliged； therefore； to halt； and the Indians
again made demonstrations of friendship； some of them even getting
into the stream to show that they were at the ford。 Thus reassured；
we regained our confidence and boldly crossed the river in the midst
of them。 After we had gained the bluff on the other side of the
creek； I looked down into the valley of Pit River； and could plainly
see the camp of the surveying party。 Its proximity was the influence
which had doubtless caused the peaceable conduct of the Indians。
Probably the only thing that saved us was their ignorance of our
being in their rear； until we stumbled on them almost within sight of
the large party under Williamson。
The Pit River Indians were very hostile at that time； and for many
succeeding years their treachery and cruelty brought misfortune and
misery to the white settlers who ventured their lives in search of
home and fortune in the wild and isolated section over which these
savages roamed。 Not long after Williamson's party passed through
their country； the Government was compelled to send into it a
considerable force for the purpose of keeping them under control。
The outcome of this was