As soon as he was covered with a profuse perspiration he was let out, to leap into the cold waters of the Columbia.

Usually the plunge was followed by death.
There was a rule among these Indians, in early times, that if the "medicine-man" undertook a case and failed to cure, he forfeited his own life.

The killing of the medicine-man was one of the dramatic and fearful episodes of the Columbia.
Returning from the East after his famous ride, Whitman built up a noble mission station at Wauelaptu.

He was a man of strong character, and of fine tastes and ideals.

The mission-house was an imposing structure for the place and time.