His brigade is making good time east.

They are heading for Montreal, thousands of miles away, through a country that is changing faster than any of them fully understand.

On the south bank, or possibly approaching from the direction of the Walla Walla encampment, there are canoes.

Several of them.

They are coming toward the brigade.

Franchère pays little attention at first.

River traffic on the Columbia was not unusual.

Other parties were moving through the country in both directions.