Lieutenant Baker was
the first to catch a glimpse of the vision for which every western
traveller now watches, the famous peak seen by land or sea for hundreds
of miles, the playground of the jagged green lightnings on the hot
summer nights; and the peak was named after him.--Mount Baker.
For the first time in history white men's boats plied the waters of the
great inland sea now variously known as Admiralty Inlet, Puget Sound,
Hood Canal. There must be no myth of a Northeast Passage left lurking
in any of the many inlets of this spider-shaped sea. {271} Vancouver,
Menzies, Puget, and Johnstone set out in the small boats to penetrate
every trace of water passage. Instead of leading northeast, the
tangled maze of forest-hidden channels meandered southward. Savages
swarmed over the water, paddling round and round the white men, for all
the world like birds of prey circling for a chance to swoop at the
first unguarded moment. Tying trinkets to pieces of wood, Puget let
the gifts float back as peace-offerings to woo good will. The effect
was what softness always is to an Indian spoiling for a fight, an
incentive to boldness.
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