"He shore is," said he.

"We're comin' out to take Oregon.
What's the news ?" My own grim news was that Oregon was ours and must be ours.

I shook hands with a hundred men on that, our hands clasped in stern and silent grip.

Then, after a time, I urged other questions foremost in my own mind.

Had they seen a small party east-bound?
Yes, I had answer.