第21章
Riding up the little hill and looking back on the meadow, we could easily see that all was not right in the camp of the emigrants.The men were crowded together, and an angry discussion seemed to be going forward.R.was missing from his wonted place in the line, and the captain told us that he had remained behind to get his horse shod by a blacksmith who was attached to the emigrant party.Something whispered in our ears that mischief was on foot; we kept on, however, and coming soon to a stream of tolerable water, we stopped to rest and dine.Still the absentee lingered behind.At last, at the distance of a mile, he and his horse suddenly appeared, sharply defined against the sky on the summit of a hill; and close behind, a huge white object rose slowly into view.
"What is that blockhead bringing with him now?"A moment dispelled the mystery.Slowly and solemnly one behind the other, four long trains of oxen and four emigrant wagons rolled over the crest of the declivity and gravely descended, while R.rode in state in the van.It seems that, during the process of shoeing the horse, the smothered dissensions among the emigrants suddenly broke into open rupture.Some insisted on pushing forward, some on remaining where they were, and some on going back.Kearsley, their captain, threw up his command in disgust."And now, boys," said he, "if any of you are for going ahead, just you come along with me."Four wagons, with ten men, one woman, and one small child, made up the force of the "go-ahead" faction, and R., with his usual proclivity toward mischief, invited them to join our party.Fear of the Indians--for I can conceive of no other motive--must have induced him to court so burdensome an alliance.As may well be conceived, these repeated instances of high-handed dealing sufficiently exasperated us.In this case, indeed, the men who joined us were all that could be desired; rude indeed in manner, but frank, manly, and intelligent.To tell them we could not travel with them was of course out of the question.I merely reminded Kearsley that if his oxen could not keep up with our mules he must expect to be left behind, as we could not consent to be further delayed on the journey;but he immediately replied, that his oxen "SHOULD keep up; and if they couldn't, why he allowed that he'd find out how to make 'em!"Having availed myself of what satisfaction could be derived from giving R.to understand my opinion of his conduct, I returned to our side of the camp.
On the next day, as it chanced, our English companions broke the axle-tree of their wagon, and down came the whole cumbrous machine lumbering into the bed of a brook! Here was a day's work cut out for us.Meanwhile, our emigrant associates kept on their way, and so vigorously did they urge forward their powerful oxen that, with the broken axle-tree and other calamities, it was full a week before we overtook them; when at length we discovered them, one afternoon, crawling quietly along the sandy brink of the Platte.But meanwhile various incidents occurred to ourselves.
It was probable that at this stage of our journey the Pawnees would attempt to rob us.We began therefore to stand guard in turn, dividing the night into three watches, and appointing two men for each.Delorier and I held guard together.We did not march with military precision to and fro before the tents; our discipline was by no means so stringent and rigid.We wrapped ourselves in our blankets, and sat down by the fire; and Delorier, combining his culinary functions with his duties as sentinel, employed himself in boiling the head of an antelope for our morning's repast.Yet we were models of vigilance in comparison with some of the party; for the ordinary practice of the guard was to establish himself in the most comfortable posture he could; lay his rifle on the ground, and enveloping his nose in the blanket, meditate on his mistress, or whatever subject best pleased him.This is all well enough when among Indians who do not habitually proceed further in their hostility than robbing travelers of their horses and mules, though, indeed, a Pawnee's forebearance is not always to be trusted; but in certain regions farther to the west, the guard must beware how he exposes his person to the light of the fire, lest perchance some keen-eyed skulking marksman should let fly a bullet or an arrow from amid the darkness.
Among various tales that circulated around our camp fire was a rather curious one, told by Boisverd, and not inappropriate here.Boisverd was trapping with several companions on the skirts of the Blackfoot country.The man on guard, well knowing that it behooved him to put forth his utmost precaution, kept aloof from the firelight, and sat watching intently on all sides.At length he was aware of a dark, crouching figure, stealing noiselessly into the circle of the light.
He hastily cocked his rifle, but the sharp click of the lock caught the ear of Blackfoot, whose senses were all on the alert.Raising his arrow, already fitted to the string, he shot in the direction of the sound.So sure was his aim that he drove it through the throat of the unfortunate guard, and then, with a loud yell, bounded from the camp.
As I looked at the partner of my watch, puffing and blowing over his fire, it occurred to me that he might not prove the most efficient auxiliary in time of trouble.
"Delorier," said I, "would you run away if the Pawnees should fire at us?""Ah! oui, oui, monsieur!" he replied very decisively.
I did not doubt the fact, but was a little surprised at the frankness of the confession.