However, from the Skilloots ten horses were purchased with blankets and Captain Clark's artillery coat and two kettles, and two more were borrowed. William Bratton was too ill to walk, and rode one of the horses. Nine others were loaded with the baggage, to take it around the rapids. One horse was stolen, and Captain Clark rode the twelfth up to the village of the E-nee-shurs.
Three of the canoes were broken up for fuel. The captains hoped soon to travel altogether by horses; canoe work, against the current, was slow, hard work.
"An amazin' disagrayable people," commented Sergeant Pat, on the Skilloots. "But Twisted-hair and his Pierced Noses'll be gintlemen."
The E-nee-shurs were no better in manners and honesty. The horse Chaboneau was leading ran away, and spilled his pack; an E-nee-shur made off with a fine robe, and before it was returned Captain Lewis had to utter more threats.
All in all, the trip up-river was very vexing, until, finally having collected enough horses for the baggage, so as to do without any canoes, the party arrived on April 27 at the Walla Walla village where lived Chief Yellept who last October had wanted them to stay longer with him.
"We will visit you on our way back," had promised Captain Clark. Now here they were—and Chief Yellept was glad indeed to see them.
