Having now secured the good will of Cameahwait, Captain Lewis informed him of his wish that he would speak to the warriors, and endeavor to engage them to accompany him to the forks of Jefferson River; where by this time another chief (Clark), with a large party of white men, was awaiting his (Lewis') return; that it would be necessary to take about thirty horses to transport the merchandise; that they should be well rewarded for their trouble; and that, when all the party should have reached the Shoshonee camp, they would remain some time among them to trade for horses, as well as concert plans for furnishing them in future with regular supplies of merchandise.

He readily consented to do so, and after collecting the tribe together, he made a long harangue.

In about an hour and a half he returned, and told Captain Lewis that they would be ready to accompany him in the morning." But the Indians were suspicious and reluctant to take the word of the white man.

Captain Lewis, almost at his wits' end, appealed to their courage.

He said that if they were afraid of being led into a trap, he was sure that some among them were not afraid.
"To doubt the courage of an Indian is to touch the tenderest string of his mind, and the surest way to rouse him to any dangerous achievement.
Cameahwait instantly replied that he was not afraid to die, and mounting his horse, for the third time harangued the warriors.