Alifeofthisunsettledandprecariouskindisapttorendermanselfish，andsuchMr。Clarkefoundtheinhabitantsofthisvillage，whoweredeficientintheusualhospitalityofIndians;
partingwitheverythingwithextremereluctance，andshowingnosensibilitytoanyactofkindness。Atthetimeofhisarrival，theywerealloccupiedincatchingandcuringsalmon。Themenwerestout，robust，active，andgoodlooking，andthewomenhandsomerthanthoseofthetribesnearertothecoast。
ItwastheplanofMr。Clarketolayuphisboatshere，andproceedbylandtohisplaceofdestination，whichwasamongtheSpokantribeofIndians，aboutahundredandfiftymilesdistant。
Heaccordinglyendeavoredtopurchasehorsesforthejourney，butinthishehadtocontendwiththesordiddispositionofthesepeople。Theyaskedhighpricesfortheirhorses，andweresodifficulttodealwith，thatMr。Clarkewasdetainedsevendaysamongthembeforehecouldprocureasufficientnumber。Duringthattimehewasannoyedbyrepeatedpilferings，forwhichhecouldgetnoredress。Thechiefpromisedtorecoverthestolenarticles;butfailedtodoso，allegingthatthethievesbelongedtoadistanttribe，andhadmadeoffwiththeirbooty。WiththisexcuseMr。Clarkewasfaintocontenthimself，thoughhelaidupinhisheartabittergrudgeagainstthewholePierced-noserace，whichitwillbefoundhetookoccasionsubsequentlytogratifyinasignalmanner。
Havingmadearrangementsforhisdeparture，Mr。Clarkelaiduphisbargeandcanoesinashelteredplace，onthebanksofasmallbay，overgrownwithshrubsandwillows，confidingthemtothecareoftheNezPercechief，who，onbeingpromisedanamplecompensation，engagedtohaveaguardianeyeuponthem;thenmountinghissteed，andputtinghimselfattheheadofhislittlecaravan，heshookthedustoffhisfeetasheturnedhisbackuponthisvillageofroguesandharddealers。Weshallnotfollowhimminutelyinhisjourney;whichlayattimesoversteepandrockyhills，andamongcragsandprecipices;atothertimesovervastnakedandsunburntplains，aboundingwithrattlesnakes，intraversingwhich，bothmenandhorsessufferedintolerablyfromheatandthirst。Theplaceonwhichhefixedforatradingpost，wasafinepointofland，atthejunctionofthePointedHeartandSpokanRivers。HisestablishmentwasintendedtocompetewithatradingpostoftheNorthwestCompany，situatedatnogreatdistance，andtorivalitinthetradewiththeSpokanIndians;