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diff --git a/43897-0.txt b/43897-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e6efab1 --- /dev/null +++ b/43897-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3946 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43897 *** + +Produced by Melissa McDaniel and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + + + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + + Inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in the original document have + been preserved. Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. + + Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. + + + [Illustration: + Map to illustrate + the Story of + Antoine of Oregon] + + + + + ANTOINE OF OREGON + + A STORY OF THE OREGON TRAIL + + BY + JAMES OTIS + + NEW YORK CINCINNATI CHICAGO + AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY + + + + + COPYRIGHT, 1912, BY + JAMES OTIS KALER. + + COPYRIGHT, 1912, IN GREAT BRITAIN. + + + ANTOINE OF OREGON. + + W. P. I + + + + +FOREWORD + + +The author of this series of stories for children has endeavored +simply to show why and how the descendants of the early colonists +fought their way through the wilderness in search of new homes. The +several narratives deal with the struggles of those adventurous people +who forced their way westward, ever westward, whether in hope of gain +or in answer to "the call of the wild," and who, in so doing, wrote +their names with their blood across this country of ours from the Ohio +to the Columbia. + +To excite in the hearts of the young people of this land a desire to +know more regarding the building up of this great nation, and at the +same time to entertain in such a manner as may stimulate to noble +deeds, is the real aim of these stories. In them there is nothing of +romance, but only a careful, truthful record of the part played by +children in the great battles with those forces, human as well as +natural, which, for so long a time, held a vast portion of this broad +land against the advance of home seekers. + +With the knowledge of what has been done by our own people in our own +land, surely there is no reason why one should resort to fiction in +order to depict scenes of heroism, daring, and sublime disregard of +suffering in nearly every form. + + JAMES OTIS. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + PAGE + + THE FUR TRADERS 9 + + WHY I AM NOT A FUR TRADER 11 + + STRIVING TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE 13 + + AN INQUISITIVE STRANGER 15 + + AN UNEXPECTED PROPOSITION 16 + + I SET OUT AS A GUIDE 18 + + JOHN MITCHELL'S OUTFIT 20 + + MAKING THE BARGAIN 23 + + WE LEAVE ST. LOUIS 25 + + THE HARDSHIPS TO BE ENCOUNTERED 26 + + THE CAMP AT INDEPENDENCE 28 + + A FRONTIER TOWN 30 + + THE START FROM INDEPENDENCE 33 + + CARELESS TRAVELERS 35 + + OVERRUN BY WILD HORSES 38 + + SEARCHING FOR THE LIVE STOCK 40 + + ABANDONING THE MISSING ANIMALS 42 + + MEETING WITH OTHER EMIGRANTS 43 + + A TEMPEST 46 + + FACING THE INDIANS 49 + + TEACHING THE PAWNEES A LESSON 51 + + THE PAWNEE VILLAGE 53 + + A BOLD DEMAND 54 + + I GAIN CREDIT AS A GUIDE 56 + + A DIFFICULT CROSSING 58 + + WASH DAY 60 + + INDIAN PICTURES 62 + + A PLAGUE OF WOOD TICKS 64 + + ANOTHER TEMPEST 66 + + THE CATTLE STAMPEDED AGAIN 68 + + DIFFICULT TRAVELING 69 + + COLONEL KEARNY'S DRAGOONS 71 + + DISAGREEABLE VISITORS 73 + + DRIVING AWAY THE INDIANS 75 + + TURKEY HUNTING 76 + + EAGER HUNTERS 77 + + ANTELOPE COUNTRY 79 + + SHOOTING ANTELOPES 81 + + A PAWNEE VISITOR 83 + + THE PAWNEES TRY TO FRIGHTEN US 85 + + DEFENDING OURSELVES 87 + + SCARCITY OF FUEL, AND DISCOMFORT 89 + + LAME OXEN 91 + + AN ARMY OF EMIGRANTS 92 + + THE BUFFALO COUNTRY 95 + + HUNTING BUFFALOES 97 + + MY MOTHER'S ADVICE 99 + + ASH HOLLOW POST OFFICE 100 + + NEW COMRADES 102 + + FORT LARAMIE 103 + + A SIOUX ENCAMPMENT 106 + + INDIANS ON THE MARCH 107 + + THE FOURTH OF JULY 109 + + MULTITUDES OF BUFFALOES 111 + + WE MEET COLONEL KEARNY AGAIN 113 + + ACROSS THE DIVIDE 115 + + FORT BRIDGER 117 + + TRADING AT FORT HALL 122 + + THIEVISH SNAKES 123 + + THE HOT SPRINGS 124 + + THE FALLS OF THE SNAKE RIVER 126 + + SIGNS OF THE INDIANS 128 + + BESET WITH DANGER 129 + + HUNGER AND THIRST 131 + + NEARLY EXHAUSTED 133 + + ARRIVAL AT FORT BOISE 135 + + ON THE TRAIL ONCE MORE 137 + + CAYUSE INDIANS 139 + + THE COLUMBIA RIVER 140 + + AN INDIAN FERRY 141 + + THE DALLES OF THE COLUMBIA 143 + + OUR LIVE STOCK 144 + + MY WORK AS GUIDE ENDED 145 + + I BECOME A FARMER 146 + + + + +ANTOINE OF OREGON + + + + +THE FUR TRADERS + + +There is ever much pride in my heart when I hear it said that all the +trails leading from the Missouri River into the Great West were +pointed out to the white people by fur buyers, for my father was well +known, and in a friendly way, as one of the most successful of the +free traders who had their headquarters at St. Louis. + + [Illustration] + +It is not for me to say, nor for you to believe, that the fur traders +were really the first to travel over these trails, for, as a matter of +fact, they were marked out in the early days by the countless numbers +of buffaloes, deer, and other animals that always took the most direct +road from their feeding places to where water could be found. + +Then came the Indians, seeking a trail from one part of the country to +another, and they followed in the footsteps of the animals, knowing +full well that thereby they would not lack for water, the one thing +needful to those who go to and fro in the wilderness. + +Thus it was that the animals and the Indians combined to mark out the +most direct roads that could be made, with due regard to the bodily +needs of those who traveled from one part of the Great West to +another. + +As the traders in furs journeyed from tribe to tribe of the Indians, +or sought the most favored places for trapping, they learned how white +men could go westward from the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean +without fear of dying from hunger or thirst. + +My father, Pierre Laclede, was, as I have said, a free trader, which +means that he went out into the wilderness with his crew of boatmen +and trappers, free from any bargains or duties to the great fur +trading companies, such as the Hudson's Bay, the Northwest, and the X. +Y. + +There were regular battles fought between the hunters and trappers of +these great companies in the olden days, when St. Louis was under +Spanish rule and had become a famous gathering place for the fur +traders. + +There were many like my father, who, hiring men to help them, carried +into the wilderness goods to be exchanged with the Indians for furs, +and, failing in this, set about trapping fur-bearing animals +throughout the winter season. + +Wonderful sport these same traders had, as I know full well, having +been more than once with my father over that trail leading from the +Missouri River to the Oregon country. + +Then there was the home-coming to St. Louis, when every man forgot the +days on which he had been cold or hungry, and no longer heeded the +half-healed wounds received in Indian attacks, when he had been forced +to defend with his life the furs he had gathered. + +Once in St. Louis, what rare times of feasting and making merry, while +the furs were being shipped to New Orleans, or bartered to the big +companies that were ever on the watch for the return of the free +traders! + + +WHY I AM NOT A FUR TRADER + +I, Antoine Laclede, would have followed in the footsteps of my father, +becoming myself a free trader after the treacherous Blackfeet Indians +killed him, had it not been that my mother, with her arms around my +neck, pleaded that I remain at home with her. + +Therefore, instead of carrying on my father's business as a lad of +fifteen should have done, I strove to content myself at St. Louis, to +the pleasure of my dear mother. + + [Illustration] + +However much affection there might be between us, it remained that we +must be supplied with food, and that my mother should have the things +necessary for her comfort. + +But if I did not take up my father's business after he had lost, with +his life, the store of furs which he had been eight months in +gathering, as well as what remained of the goods he had carried into +the wilderness for trading, then how could I rightly fill the position +as head of the family, when all I had in this world were my two hands +and the desire to make my mother happy? + +We lived on a street near the old cathedral, and it may be that our +small home was not the most pleasing to look upon of all the houses in +St. Louis; but in it I was born. My father had built it, paying for +every timber with furs he had gathered at risk of his life, and I +would not have yielded it in exchange for the finest house in the +land. + +The evil days fell upon us, meaning my mother and me, very shortly +after the news of my father's murder was brought to St. Louis, for we +soon came to know that we had neither goods nor furs enough to keep us +one full year. + + + + +STRIVING TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE + + +Then it was that I went out one day alone to the river bank, where I +might have solitude and think how I could care for my mother as the +only son of a widow should care for that person whom he most loves. + +I had lived fifteen years. There was no trapper in the Northwest +Company who could take more furs than I could. To ride and shoot were +my pleasures, and my unhappiness was in being forced to set down words +with a pen, or to puzzle my poor brain over long rows of figures which +must have been invented only for the sorrow of Antoine Laclede. + +My rifle and Napoleon, a small spotted pony that could outkick any +beast this side the Rocky Mountains, made up all I owned of value, and +yet with them I must earn enough to support my mother and make her +comfortable. + +The truth is, I might have joined with some free trader who had known +my father, working for a small wage, which would not be more than +enough to supply my mother with food and clothes such as had been +provided by my father; but I must earn more than that, lest the day +should come when, from wounds or sickness, I could not hold up my end +with my companions on the trail or with the traps. + +All this made my heart heavy as I sat there on the river bank asking +myself what there was a lad like me could do. + + [Illustration] + +Just at that time, when I was most downhearted, a man, tall of stature +and spare in flesh, came up close beside me, and, as it seemed, looked +down with much mirth in his heart, perhaps because I carried such a +woebegone expression on my face. + + + + +AN INQUISITIVE STRANGER + + +Then, much to my surprise, he said, speaking in what seemed an odd +tone, much as though he had a cold in his head:-- + +"Are you the son of Laclede, the free trader who was killed by the +Blackfeet Indians not so long ago?" + +I was ever proud to own that I was my father's son, and speedily gave +the stranger an answer, although at the same time asking myself +whether there was any good reason for such a question, or if he was +intending to make sport of me. + +"I am told that you have been over the trail 'twixt here and the +Oregon country with your father, lad?" + +"I have been twice into the land of the Walla Wallas, but no farther +than that, although it would have pleased me well could I have seen +the great ocean." + +"Now I am not so certain where the country of what you call the Walla +Wallas may be," the man said with a puzzled expression upon his face, +whereupon I answered quickly, proud because of being able to tell:-- + +"It is this side the Cascade Range, the other side of the Blue +Mountains, near where the Columbia River takes a sharp turn to the +westward." + +"The Columbia River, eh?" the man repeated, as if satisfied with my +reply. "Then you surely must have traveled near to the Pacific Ocean?" + +"I have been so near that one might go down the river to it in a +canoe, if he were so disposed; but there is a station of the Hudson's +Bay Company near the coast and we free traders who deal with the +Northwest Company have no desire for traffic with those who would shut +us out from St. Louis, fearing lest we may cut into their trade." + + + + +AN UNEXPECTED PROPOSITION + + + [Illustration] + +The man seated himself by my side as if satisfied that I was the one +whom he sought, and began his business by saying:-- + +"My name is John Mitchell. I am at the head of a party of thirty men, +women, and children who are bound for the Oregon country. We are +taking with us forty head of oxen, twenty horses, ten mules, and +thirty cows, to say nothing of the remainder of the outfit. I counted +on meeting here at St. Louis a man who would guide us across, but +find that he has left us in the lurch, likely because of getting a +better offer from some other company of settlers. Now I have been told +that you could serve us as guide; that you are what may be called a +fairly good hunter; and, although you look a bit too young for the +business, there are those here in St. Louis who say you may be +depended upon. What about guiding my party across? We are willing to +pay considerably more than fair wages--" + +"It may not be for me to do any such thing," I replied quickly, +although at the same time wishing I could go once more into the Oregon +country and do a man's work as guide. "I have here my mother, who has +no other to depend upon, and I must stand by her, as a son should." + +"Well said, lad, well said. It does you credit to think first of your +mother; but we are willing to pay considerable money to one who can +guide us, because this kind of traveling is new to all my party. +Already in coming up from Indiana we have had trouble with the cattle +and with the teams. Now say three hundred dollars for the trip, and if +you are minded to take your mother with you we stand ready to let her +share in whatsoever we have." + +There is no reason why I should set down all we said, for we sat there +on the river bank until an hour had passed, talking all the while. + +Each moment I grew more and more eager for the adventure, until it +seemed to me I had never had but one desire in life, and that to go +into the Oregon country and make there a home for my mother. + +I promised to meet the man again that evening and went straight away +home to lay the matter before my mother. It surprised me not a little +that she seemed to be in favor of going to the Oregon country, and I +have since been led to believe that her willingness to abandon the +home in St. Louis came from the wish to make a change and to leave +that place where everything must needs remind her of my father. + + + + +I SET OUT AS A GUIDE + + +Before seeking out John Mitchell, whose company was encamped on the +opposite side of the river, I visited a neighbor who had once offered +to buy our home. With him I agreed that for a certain sum of money he +should take possession of the house, using it as his own until my +mother and I came back, or, in case we remained in the Oregon country, +then he was to pay us as many dollars as we agreed upon. + +That afternoon, an hour before sunset, I paddled across the river to +where John Mitchell's company was encamped, and for the first time I +questioned whether it might be possible for me, a lad only fifteen +years of age, to guide all these people, who seemingly had no more +idea of what was to be encountered in a journey to the Oregon country, +than if they had never heard of such a place. + +I dare venture to say there could not have been found in St. Louis a +lad over ten years old who would have shown so much ignorance in +forming a camp, as did John Mitchell, who held himself commander of +the company. + + [Illustration] + +True, there was no reason why they need guard themselves as if in the +country of an enemy. Yet if they were careless at the start, heeding +not the common precautions against the stampeding of their cattle, or +the possibility that prowling Indians might steal whatever lay +carelessly around, then surely when in a place where danger lurked, +they could not be depended upon to care for themselves in a sensible +manner. + +Somewhat of this I said to John Mitchell while looking around the +encampment, and that he himself was ignorant of what might be met with +on a journey to the Oregon country, was shown when he asked:-- + +"And are you reckoning, lad, that we may come upon much danger?" + +"Ay, sir, and plenty of it," I replied. "Just now the Indians are +quiet, so I have heard it said by the traders; but even when there is +no disturbance of any account, you are likely to come upon roving +bands that will make trouble. Even though they may do no worse, you +can set it down as a fact that from the time of leaving the settlement +of Independence, where the journey really begins, until you have come +into the Walla Walla country, there will be hardly a day, or, I should +say, a night, when you are not in danger of losing your stock through +these red thieves." + + + + +JOHN MITCHELL'S OUTFIT + + +There was one thing in favor of John Mitchell, as I looked at the +matter, which was that his outfit was most complete. He had five +well-made carts with straight bodies, and sideboards from fourteen to +sixteen inches wide running outward four or five inches; in other +words, what are called "Mormon wagons," and to three of these he +counted on putting four yoke of cattle apiece. I was not so well +satisfied with this, for the beasts had been raised in Indiana, and +therefore were not accustomed to eating prairie grass, which would be +the greater portion of their food during the journey. + + [Illustration] + +I had always heard it said that Illinois or Missouri cattle could +stand the journey to the Oregon country better than any others, +although then I did not know it from my own experience. + +The ten mules were to be used for the hauling of the two remaining +wagons. To one of these would be harnessed six of the animals, and the +other, in which many of the women and children were to ride, was to be +drawn by four. The horses were to be used under the saddle. + +I was forced to admit that Mitchell had not been niggardly in +outfitting his company. + +He had no less than five sheet-iron stoves with boilers, one being +carried on a small platform at the rear end of each wagon. There were +tents in abundance for all the company, while for cooking utensils, +there were plates and cups and basins of tinware, half a dozen or more +churns, an ample supply of water kegs, and farming tools almost +without number. + + [Illustration] + +I had little or no interest in this part of the outfit, but took good +care to make certain there were ropes and hobble straps in plenty for +tying up the horses and fettering those that were likely to stray, +because I knew from experience how much of such supplies might be lost +or stolen during the long journey. + +The weapons carried by the men were of heavier caliber than I would +have suggested, unless they counted on using them wholly for buffalo +shooting. John Mitchell took no little pride in showing me his rifled +gun which carried thirty-two bullets to the pound, when to my mind +fifty-six would have served him better for general work; but that was +really no concern of mine. + + + + +MAKING THE BARGAIN + + +We talked over the matter fairly and at great length, all the men of +the company and some of the women taking part in the parley. The +bargain, as I understood it, was that I was hired for no other service +than to guide this company, and also to make suggestions as to the +best places for camping, as well as how we could keep the people +supplied with fresh meat. + +It was agreed that my mother should ride in the four-mule wagon with +John Mitchell's family, which consisted of his wife, a girl about my +own age by name of Susan, and three awkward-looking boys. The oldest +of these lads was not more than ten, I should think, and all of them +were so clumsy that it seemed almost impossible for them to avoid +treading on their own feet. About mounting a horse or rounding up +cattle, they knew no more than my Napoleon knew about good manners. + +Susan, however, was a sprightly girl, who, as it seemed to me, had +more good sense in her little finger than might be found in all the +rest of the family. Before my visit was at an end, she came to ask +concerning this or that which we might meet with on the way, and I +believed I had found one who would be a most desirable comrade. + + [Illustration] + +Unless I mistook her entirely, she was a girl to be depended upon in +the time of trouble, and when one would travel from the Missouri River +to the Oregon country, it is of the greatest importance to have with +him only those who can be relied on to a certainty when danger lurks +at hand, as it surely does, so I have heard my father say, from the +time the voyager leaves the Kansas River until he has come to the +Columbia. + +It was agreed that my mother and I should have a day in which to make +ready for this journey, which, if we met with no serious mishaps, +would require not less than five months to make; therefore it can well +be understood that we had little time to spend in sleep, if we would +present ourselves to John Mitchell at the hour agreed upon. + +It is my desire never to make a promise which I do not, or cannot +keep; consequently there were many things left undone in St. Louis +when mother and I crossed the river; but it was better thus than that +I should disappoint ever so slightly those with whom I had made a +positive agreement. + + + + +WE LEAVE ST. LOUIS + + +In order that one may the better understand how much of a journey it +is from the Missouri River to the Oregon country, I set down here the +fact that at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, on the twenty-fifth day +of April, in the year 1845, we, meaning John Mitchell's company, my +mother, and I, set off on that long march. The real journey would not +begin until we had passed that settlement on the Missouri known as +Independence, which is the point of departure for those who count on +traversing the Oregon or the Santa Fe trail. + +Therefore concerning this portion of our march I shall content myself +simply with saying that we arrived at Independence on the morning of +May 6th, and made camp two miles beyond, on the bank of a small creek, +where there was plenty of grass for the cattle. + +It must be understood that up to this time we had been traveling +through one settlement and another in a portion of the country where +were to be found as many people as lived, mayhap, in the neighborhood +from which John Mitchell had come. Yet so awkward were the men and +boys, that while we were traversing beaten roads they found it +exceedingly difficult to keep the cows from straying or the oxen from +stampeding even while they were yoked and hitched to the heavy wagons. + +I do not claim to have had any experience at driving oxen or herding +cattle, and therefore I held myself aloof, saying it were better these +people from Indiana should learn their lesson when there were but few +difficulties in the way and no dangers, so that after we should come +where the real labor began, they might at least have some slight idea +of what was expected of them. + + + + +THE HARDSHIPS TO BE ENCOUNTERED + + +But for the fact that Susan Mitchell, riding upon a small black, +wiry-looking horse, held herself well by my side, I would have been +disheartened even before we had really begun the journey, because I +was looking forward to what we must encounter, and saying to myself +that unless these people could pull themselves together in better +fashion, we were certain to come to grief. + +When a company fails to herd thirty cows, over what might well be +called a beaten highway, what would you expect when in a country where +the Indians are doing all they can to stampede and run off cattle as +well as horses? + +I soon saw that Susan was a girl of good understanding, for without a +word having been spoken, she seemed to realize those fears which had +come into my mind, and said again and again as if to strengthen my +courage:-- + +"They will know more about this kind of traveling when we reach +Independence." + + [Illustration] + +I could not refrain from saying in reply that unless they learned more +speedily it would be well we waited a full year at Independence, +rather than attempt a journey where so much danger and hardship +awaited us. + +I venture to say that there was not one among John Mitchell's company +who could have put a pack upon a horse in such a manner that it would +hold in place half an hour over rough traveling; and as for handling +a mule team, the driver of that wagon in which my mother rode had no +more idea of how the beasts should be treated than if he had so many +sheep in harness. + +To show how ignorant these people were regarding the country, I have +only to say that from the moment we left St. Louis one or another was +continually asking me whether we were likely to come upon buffaloes +before the night had set. The idea of buffaloes between St. Louis and +Independence, save perchance we came upon some old bull that had been +driven away from the herd by the hunters! + +It was by my advice that John Mitchell decided to overhaul his outfit +at Independence in order to learn whether there might be anything +needed, for after having left the settlement we would find no +opportunity of replenishing our stores save at some one of the forts, +and then it was a question, serious indeed, whether we could get what +might be needed. + + + + +THE CAMP AT INDEPENDENCE + + +The tents were hardly more than set up, and the women had but just got +about their cooking, for the breakfast had been a hasty meal owing to +our being so near the settlement, when we were visited by a dozen or +more Kansas Indians, who are about as disreputable a looking lot as +can be found in the country--dirty, ill-favored red men with ragged +blankets cast about them, and seeming more like beggars than anything +else. + +To tell the truth, I would rather have seen around the camp a +Blackfoot, a Cheyenne, or a Sioux, knowing that any of them would +murder me if he had a fair opportunity, than those beggarly Kansas +savages. + + [Illustration] + +It was the first time any of the women of our company, save my mother, +had seen an Indian near his own village, and straightway all of them, +with the exception of Susan, were in a panic of fear, believing harm +would be done. + +Even John Mitchell was undecided as to how he should treat them, until +I told him that any attempt to drive the creatures away would be +useless, and that if his people were so disposed they might give them +some food; but it was in the highest degree necessary that sharp watch +be kept, else we would find much of our outfit missing after the +visitors had taken their departure. + +The men and the boys of our company were so disquieted because of +having come thus suddenly upon the Indians, that they kept good watch +over the camp during this first day, and it would have been well for +all of us if they had continued to stand as honest guard over their +belongings. + +It was found that we were needing extra bows for the wagons, meaning +those bent hoops over which the canvas covering is stretched, that the +supply of shoes for the horses and mules was not sufficient, and, in +fact, there were half a hundred little things required which the women +believed necessary to their comfort. + +Therefore John Mitchell and I went into the settlement to get what was +wanted, and, like the good comrade she gave promise of being, Susan +insisted on going with us. + + + + +A FRONTIER TOWN + + +Independence was much like a trading post, save that there were no +blockhouses; but the log tavern had the appearance of a building put +up to resist an attack, and the brick houses surrounding it were made +with heavy walls in which were more than one loophole for defense. + +The idea that the settlement was a frontier post was heightened by the +number of Indians to be seen, while their scrawny ponies were tied +here and there in every available place. + + [Illustration] + +There were the wretched Kansas, only half covered with their greasy, +torn blankets, Shawnees, decked out in calicoes and fanciful stuff, +Foxes, with their shaved heads and painted faces, and here and there a +Cheyenne sporting his war bonnet of feathers. + +The scene was not new to me, and so did not invite my attention; but +Susan, who seemingly believed that she had suddenly come into the very +heart of the Indian country, was so interested that I went with her +here and there, while her father was bartering in the shops, and +before an hour had passed her idea of an Indian was far different from +what it had been before she left her home in Indiana. + +I had nothing to say against the savages more than can be set down +when I speak of the murder of my father, and save for the fact that +Susan was so eager to see all she might, and that everything was so +strange to her, I would not have lingered in the settlement a single +minute longer than was necessary to complete our outfit. + + [Illustration] + +There were here Santa Fe traders in Mexican costume; French trappers +from the mountains, with their long hair and buckskin clothing; groups +of Spaniards, who were evidently bound down the Santa Fe trail; and +here and there and everywhere as it seemed, were people from the +States, emigrants like those who followed John Mitchell, to the +number, I should say, of not less than two hundred, all expecting to +make homes in the Oregon country. + +It saddened me to think of what was before these people. To gain the +banks of the Columbia River they must travel more than two thousand +miles, in part over sandy plains, where would be found little or no +water for themselves and scanty feed for their animals. There were +rivers to be crossed where the current ran so swiftly that a single +misstep might mean death. Mountain ranges were to be climbed when even +the strongest would find it difficult to make progress, and all the +while danger from wild beasts or wilder men. + +And it was I who must show these men when and where to camp, how to +bring down the game which would be necessary for their very existence, +and lead them, in fact, as one might lead children. + + + + +THE START FROM INDEPENDENCE + + +We remained in camp by the creek until next morning, and then our way +lay over the rolling prairies, where was grass on every hand and water +in abundance, yet we made only fifteen miles between eight o'clock in +the morning and within an hour of sunset, owing to the awkwardness of +those who were striving to drive our few head of cattle. + +Then came the first real camp, meaning the first time we had halted +where it was necessary to guard everything we owned against the +Indians, for we knew full well there were plenty in the vicinity of +Independence, and I strove my best to show these people how an +encampment should be formed on the prairie. + + [Illustration] + +It was difficult to persuade John Mitchell that it would be better to +give the horses and mules a side hobble, than to take chances of +securing them by picket ropes. I had always heard that by buckling a +strap around the fore and hind legs, on the same side, taking due care +not to chafe the animal's legs, he could not move away faster than a +walk, while if he was hobbled by the forefeet only, it would be +possible for him to gallop after some practice. + +There were many in our party who claimed it was a useless precaution +to hobble the horses, and insisted on fastening them to picket pins, +doing so in such a slovenly manner that I knew if the animals were +stampeded they could easily make their escape. + +Before morning came we had good proof that carelessness in looking +after the live stock at such a time is much the same as a crime. + + + + +CARELESS TRAVELERS + + +When I proposed that watch be set around the encampment during the +night, every man, even including John Mitchell, protested, saying it +was a needless precaution, that they were all needing sleep, and there +was no reason why any should stand guard when they could look around +on every hand and make certain there was no one near to do them harm. + +One of the women asked me if there might be any danger from wild +beasts, and when I told her we had not yet come into that part of the +country where such game were found, every member of the company +believed I was only trying to show myself as the commander. + +I heard one of the men say grumblingly to another, that he was not +minded to put himself under the orders of a boy who took pleasure in +displaying his authority even to the extent of making them stand +needless watch. + +Never had I seen my father make camp, even though no more than two +miles from a fort or a settlement, without carefully hobbling his +horses, rounding up the cattle, if he had any, and stationing a picket +guard, insisting that those on duty remain awake during every hour of +the night. + + [Illustration] + +Now, however, these people from Indiana, who knew nothing whatsoever +of traveling in the wilderness, claimed to have a better idea of how +camp should be guarded than did I, who had already traversed the +Oregon trail twice, and I so far lost my temper as to make no reply, +saying to myself that if they were inclined to take desperate chances, +the loss would be theirs, not mine. + +Mayhap if we had been farther along the trail among the mountains, +where the danger would be greater if we lost all our animals, then for +my mother's sake I might have insisted strongly that the orders which +I gave should be obeyed. + +As I have said, however, I held my peace, while those foolish people +lay down to sleep in their tents, or in the wagon bodies, believing +they were safe beyond any possible chance of danger simply because of +being no more than seventeen miles from Independence. + +I must say to John Mitchell's credit that he outfitted me as he would +have done an older guide, and set apart for my especial use one of the +small canvas tents. + +Believing that my mother would have more comfort by herself than if +she shared a bed in one of the larger tents, or in one of the wagons +where so many must sleep, I proposed that she use my camp, and we two +laid ourselves down that night feeling uncomfortable in mind, for she +understood quite as well as did I that we were taking great chances at +the outset of the journey. + +I had hobbled Napoleon securely, as you can well fancy. In addition to +that I had made him fast to a picket pin firmly driven into the ground +so there might be no danger of his straying too far away. + +It was not a simple matter to enjoy the resting time, because of the +weight of responsibility which was upon me. + +Even though John Mitchell's people were not inclined to obey such +orders as I saw fit to give, yet I knew that in event of trouble they +would cast all the blame on my shoulders, and not until a full hour +had passed were my eyes closed in slumber. + + +OVERRUN BY WILD HORSES + + [Illustration] + +It seemed as if I had hardly more than lost myself in sleep when I was +aroused by a noise like distant thunder, and springing to my feet, as +I had been taught to do by my father at the first suspicious sound, I +stood at the door of the tent while one might have counted ten, before +realizing that a herd of those wild ponies which are to be found now +and then on the prairies was coming upon us. + +Once before in my life had I seen horses and cattle stampeded by a +herd of those little animals, and without loss of time I rushed into +the open air, shouting loudly for the men to bear a hand, at the same +time discharging all the chambers of my weapon. + +Unfortunately, however, I was too late to avert the evil. If we had +had a single man on guard he could have given warning in time for us +to have checked the rush; but as it was the ponies were within the +encampment before I had emptied my weapon. + +John Mitchell had not brushed the slumber from his eyelids before the +ponies overran the camp and passed on at full speed, taking with them +every horse, mule, ox, and cow we had among us, save only Napoleon, +who would have joined in the flight had it been possible for him to do +so. + +"What has happened? What was it?" John Mitchell cried as he came +running toward my tent with half a dozen of the other men at his +heels, and I replied with no little bitterness in my tone:-- + +"A herd of wild ponies has stampeded every head of stock, except +Napoleon." + +"But _my_ horse was made fast," one man cried, as if, because he had +left the animal with his leading rope around a picket pin loosely +driven, it would have been impossible for him to get away. + +The driver of the four-mule team declared that his stock could not +have been run off because he had seen to it that each animal was +hitched securely, while a third insisted that we must have been +visited by the Indians, who had frightened the beasts in order the +better to carry them away. + +I could not refrain from saying what was true:-- + +"If we had had but one man on guard this could not have happened. I +tell you that the disturbance this night was caused by a herd of wild +ponies." + +"Then why do we not go in search of the stock?" John Mitchell cried, +and I replied:-- + +"That you may do, if it please you; but I have never yet seen the man +who, on foot, could come up with a horse that had joined the wild of +his kind. When the morning dawns, I will do all I can to aid in +gathering up the stock, but until then there is nothing to be done." + +Then, with much anger in my heart because this thing had happened +through sheer carelessness, I went back into my tent, nor would I have +more to say to any member of the company, although no less than half a +dozen men stood outside asking this question or that, all of which +simply served to show their folly. + + + + +SEARCHING FOR THE LIVE STOCK + + +When day broke John Mitchell was man enough to meet me as I came out +of my tent, and say in what he intended should be a soothing tone:-- + +"I am willing to admit, lad, that we showed ourselves foolish in not +obeying your orders. From now on you can make certain every man jack +of us will do whatsoever you say. Now tell us how we had best set off +in search of the stock." + +"There is no haste. The horses and mules will run with the ponies +until they are tired and need food, therefore we may eat our breakfast +leisurely. My advice is that the company get under way, moving a few +miles across the prairie to the next creek, while all, save those +needed to drive the teams, go with me." + + [Illustration] + +"But we can't start a single wheel. There is no ox, horse, or mule in +the encampment," John Mitchell cried, and then my face flushed with +shame because I had forgotten for the instant that we had no means of +breaking camp. + +There is little need why I should spend many words in telling of what +we did during that day. Within an hour we found one of the mules and +succeeded in getting hold of his leading rope. Before noon we had +overtaken all the cows and eight of the oxen, bringing them back to +camp while the wild ponies circled around the prairie within seven or +eight miles of us, as if laughing to scorn our poor attempts to catch +the horses which they had stolen. + +The afternoon was not yet half spent when we succeeded in gathering up +all our stock save two horses and two mules, and then I insisted we +should go on without them. + +"Between here and the Columbia River we shall lose more stock than +that," I said, "and if we are to reach the Oregon country before +winter sets in, such misadventures as this must not be allowed to +delay us." + + + + +ABANDONING THE MISSING ANIMALS + + +I noted that more than one of the men wore a dissatisfied look, as if +believing we should remain at this camp until all the stock had been +found; but mayhap they remembered that the loss was caused by their +not listening to me, and not a word was said in protest. + +Next day, without giving further heed to the horses and mules that +were with the pony herd, we pushed forward toward the Oregon country +once more, traveling twenty-two miles and in the meanwhile crossing +the Wakarusa River. + +Then came a stretch of prairie land, and after that, near nightfall, +we arrived at the Kansas River, where camp was made. + +This time you may set it down as certain that when I claimed we ought +to set a picket guard, there were none to say me nay. Even more, I +noticed that every man carefully hobbled his horses or his mules, as I +hobbled Napoleon, and when I went into my tent I said to myself that +we need have no fear of trouble that night. + +When we started out next day, Susan Mitchell insisted on riding by my +side. She held her place there until we made camp, although it was no +slight task, for while the company was passing over twenty miles of +distance, I had ridden from the front to the rear of the train mayhap +twelve times, thereby almost doubling the length of the journey. + +Not once did the plucky girl show signs of faltering, even though a +good half of the day's march was up the side of a ridge and along the +top of it, where the way was hard even for those of us who were riding +light. + + + + +MEETING WITH OTHER EMIGRANTS + + +We were traveling within two or three miles of the Kansas River, not +yet having come to the ford, when at about four o'clock in the +afternoon we overtook a company of people who were bound for the +Oregon country, having in their train twenty-eight wagons. + +At first John Mitchell was eager to join the strangers as they +suggested; but he lost much of the desire on being told that two miles +in advance was another party having nearly a hundred wagons. I really +believe the man grew confused when he learned there were so many +people on the Oregon trail. + + [Illustration] + +When he asked my advice as to joining the larger company, I told him +that my father had ever said if he could travel independently of any +one else, it was profitable for him to do so, for then he was forced +neither to go faster than he desired, nor remain idle when it pleased +him to push on. + +I asked John Mitchell how much he could gain by forming a small part +of such a large company, unless, perhaps, he intended to dismiss me +as guide, whereupon he assured me heartily that he had no such idea, +but it seemed to him we might join the strangers for mutual +assistance. + +It was not for me to do more than offer advice, and I told him that +unless we came upon hostile Indians, we had best continue on by +ourselves, for the time was coming, and not very far in the future, +when we should be put to it to find grass for the cattle and fuel with +which to cook our food. At such times the smaller the company, the +less chance for suffering. + +It was Susan who settled the matter, for she said very decidedly that +I, who had already traveled over the Oregon trail twice, ought to know +more about such affairs than any other in the company. + +When she had spoken, her father held his peace as if convinced that +her words were wise. + +We did not overtake the company of a hundred wagons that night, but +camped near a small brook about four miles from the Kansas River, I +having led the people off the trail a mile or more so that we might +not be joined by those emigrants in the rear. + +Next morning we traveled four miles to the river ford, and there found +the water already so high that there was nothing to do but to ferry +our wagons over in a flatboat owned by a man named Choteau whom I had +already known in St. Louis. + +He was no relative of that famous Choteau of the fur company, but a +very obliging Frenchman indeed, who, because of his acquaintance with +me, did all he could to hasten our movements. It was necessary we have +a friend in such work, for it was a hard task to make the journey back +and forth across that muddy stream, which was at least two hundred and +fifty yards wide, when we could carry only one unloaded wagon at a +time. + + [Illustration] + + + + +A TEMPEST + + +It was nearly nightfall before we were all across with our outfit and +cattle, and then I gave the word that we should encamp within a mile +of the stream, for I was not pleased with the appearance of dark +clouds which were rolling up from the west. + +It would have been better had I halted the company when we first +crossed, for before we could get the tents up and the wagons in place, +a terrific storm of thunder and lightning was upon us. + +Instantly, as it seemed, our oxen and cows were stampeded, rushing off +across the prairie like wild things, and although I did my best to +round them up, all efforts were vain. + +There was nothing for it but to let them go, and seek shelter from the +downpour of water, which was so heavy that at times one could hardly +stand against it. + + [Illustration] + +Susan Mitchell had followed my mother into the tent which I had taken +care to set up immediately we halted, and because there was no other +shelter save the overcrowded wagons, the girl was there when I +entered. It made my heart ache to see the evidences of her fright. +Well was it for her that she was with my mother, for I truly believe +none could have soothed her fears so readily. + +I left the two together while the storm was at its height, and sought +shelter in one of the wagons, believing the tempest would continue to +rage throughout the night. + +Next morning, before day had fully come, I aroused all the men. We +saddled our horses and set out in search of the cattle, John Mitchell +saying in a grumbling tone as he rode forward, that it seemed to him +as if he was "doing more in the way of running down oxen and cows, +than in making any progress toward the Oregon country." + +Hardly realizing how true my words might prove to be, I told him +laughingly that we were likely to get more of such work as the days +wore on, rather than less, and another four and twenty hours had not +passed before he came to believe that I was a true prophet. + +Not until noon did we succeed in getting all the live stock rounded +up, and I believed we were exceedingly fortunate in not losing a +single animal, for it seldom happens, as I have heard, that cattle can +be stampeded during the night and every one brought into camp next +morning. + +It was my belief that we ought to travel rapidly during the afternoon +and until a reasonably late hour in the night, in order to make up the +time we had lost; but it is one thing to say and quite another matter +to accomplish. + + + + +FACING THE INDIANS + + +After traveling no more than three miles we arrived at Big Soldier +Creek. As Susan and I were riding on in advance to make certain the +ford was safe for heavy wagons, I saw coming down over a slight +incline a band of mounted Indians, who immediately, on seeing our +company, came forward at full speed, brandishing bows and arrows, or +guns, accordingly as they were armed, and yelling furiously. + +Susan Mitchell screamed with fear, as well she might; but I had +already seen just such an Indian maneuver and knew what it meant. I +hurriedly told her to ride back and join the company, while I held +Napoleon steady. + +Their intention was to stampede the cattle, as I well knew, and +although it would have been unwise for me to have sent a bullet among +them, it was my purpose to do so if I failed in checking their advance +otherwise. + +Then Napoleon took the matter into his own hands, or, I should say, +his own feet, for when the Indians were perhaps thirty yards away he +wheeled about, flinging up his heels as if he counted on kicking the +entire band over the ridge. + + [Illustration] + +Do what I might I could not get the stubborn animal wheeled around +before the savages had rushed by me, whooping and yelling in such a +manner as caused a panic among our company and a stampede of the +beasts. + +The oxen wheeled around in the yokes until they were so mixed up that +the most expert would have found it difficult to untangle them, while +the cows, their tails straight up in the air, fled back over the +trail, bellowing with fright. + + + + +TEACHING THE PAWNEES A LESSON + + +By the time all this mischief had been done, Napoleon was ready to +attend to his own business once more, and I rode among the company to +find the people in such a state of panic and fear as one would hardly +credit. + +"Get your rifles and follow me!" I shouted as I rushed forward, and it +is quite certain that more than one of the men cried after me to come +back, for all were so terrified that they would have suffered the loss +of the stock rather than make any attempt at reclaiming it. + + [Illustration] + +It must not be supposed that I am trying to make it appear as if I was +wondrously brave in thus giving chase. I knew from the experience +gained while with my father, that there is but one way to treat these +savages, and that is to put on a bold front. + +After doing any mischief the Indians would go farther and farther, +until having accomplished all their desires, if their victims made no +attempt to defend themselves; therefore it was necessary that we make +a decided stand. + +I knew full well that if we pursued, these Pawnees, as I judged them +to be, would speedily be brought to their senses. Whereas if we +remained idle in camp they would run off all the stock, and for us to +lose that herd of cows at the very outset of the journey would indeed +have been disastrous. + +It was fortunate for those under my charge that they followed as I +commanded, even though they did not do so willingly. When we had +ridden at our best pace six miles or more, we came upon all except +three of the cows who, wearied with their mad race, were now feeding; +but not a feather of an Indian could be seen. + +That the Pawnees knew we were coming in pursuit, there could be no +doubt, and because they were not in war paint I understood that they +must have an encampment near by. + +Therefore, as soon as we had rounded up the cattle, I told John +Mitchell it was our duty to search for the Indian camp, and there +demand that they return to us, or aid us in searching for, the cows we +failed to find. + + + + +THE PAWNEE VILLAGE + + +The man looked at me uncertainly an instant, as if questioning whether +we had the pluck, as the Easterners say, to ride into an Indian +encampment. Then he said grimly, almost as if doubting his own +judgment:-- + +"I shall do as you say, boy; but if mischief comes of it, remember +that I hold you responsible." + +"Mischief will surely come of it if we fail to put on a bold front," I +replied hotly, and then wheeling Napoleon around, I sent him ahead +under the whip, which he richly deserved because, but for his foolish +trick of kicking, all this mischief might have been spared us. + +We rode through our encampment, for by this time the lads and the +women had set up some of the tents, while one of the men who had +remained behind was straightening out the oxen, and from there on a +distance of about three miles, when we found that for which we were +searching. + +It was a Pawnee village, and in it there might have been forty men, +women, and children, occupying say, ten tepees, or lodges, while there +were so many ponies and dogs that one would hardly have had the +patience to count them. + +We could see no signs of our cattle, nor did I expect to find them +there; but, riding directly into the center of the village, I brought +Napoleon to a standstill, at the same time demanding in the Pawnee +language, or such smattering of it as I could command, to be brought +to the chief. + + [Illustration] + + + + +A BOLD DEMAND + + +Within a minute he came out from one of the lodges, and it gave me +more courage when I noted the fact that he was looking disturbed in +mind. + +I demanded that he, or some of his tribe, return to us the cows which +had been driven away. + +If there had ever been such a being as an honest Indian, then I might +have believed we had come upon him, for this chief, knowing there were +men enough in our company to wipe out his entire band, declared again +and again, with no little show of innocence, that neither he nor his +young men had had anything to do with our cattle. + + [Illustration] + +Straightway I pointed here to one fellow and there to another, as two +whom I recognized among those who had ridden over the ridge, and +called the attention of the chief to the ponies at the farther end of +the village, which were yet covered with perspiration. + +Instead of staying there to parley with the fellows, I insisted that +the cows be brought to us before another day had passed, and made +many threats as to what would happen in case my demands were not +complied with. + +Then we rode out of the village. When we were some distance away, John +Mitchell asked in a bantering tone if I really expected to see the +cows again, whereupon I told him we would not move from the present +encampment, save to punish the rascally Pawnees, until every head of +the three had been brought to us. + +Because he laughed I saw that he believed that he never would see his +cattle again; but I was better acquainted with the Pawnees than he. + + + + +I GAIN CREDIT AS A GUIDE + + +Because of all that had happened I found no reason to complain of the +manner in which watch was kept over the encampment that night, and at +a fairly early hour next morning, even before I had begun to expect +them, the Indians came into camp with two of the cows. They talked +much about their innocence so far as causing a stampede and claimed +that it was not possible to find the third beast. + +The Pawnee who acted as spokesman would have tried to make me believe +they were simply in sport when they overrode our camp; but I let him +know that I was acquainted with such thievish tricks, and threatened +them as to the future, much as though I had a company of soldiers at +my back. + +It may be that the Indians were not greatly frightened by what I said; +but certain it is that the members of John Mitchell's company began to +believe that I was to be treated less like a boy, and more after the +manner of one who knew somewhat regarding the work in which we were +engaged. + + [Illustration] + +They gave more heed to my words from that time on, and Susan Mitchell +seemed to think I had done some wondrously brave deed when I +frightened the cowardly red men, or attempted to; but we never again +saw that third cow. + +I believe that the Pawnees had hidden her, intending to have a great +feast after we had gone away; but I dared not go any farther in the +way of threats lest they openly defy me, when I would have been +powerless because the men of our company were not equal to fighting +the savages. + +I could have told Susan that if we had come across a party on the +warpath, then my words would have been laughed at, and I might have +found myself in serious trouble through making threats which could not +be carried into execution. + + + + +A DIFFICULT CROSSING + + [Illustration] + + +Because of having been thus delayed by waiting for the cattle, we +traveled only five miles on this day, which, if I remember rightly, +was the 14th of May. Then we arrived where Big Soldier Creek must be +crossed, an undertaking I had been looking forward to with no little +anxiety because the banks of the creek are very steep and it is +impossible to drive either mules or oxen down to the bed of the +stream while attached to the wagons. + +We were forced to unyoke the oxen and unharness the mules, after which +we let the wagons down by means of ropes, with four men to steer the +tongue of each cart. + +The ford was shallow, but on the other side the banks loomed in front +of us like the sides of a cliff. In order to get even the lightest +wagon to the top we had to yoke all the oxen in one team, and even +then every man of us put his shoulder to the tailboard, pushing and +straining as we forced the heavy vehicle straight into the air, as one +might say. + +One entire day was spent in crossing, and within an hour of sunset we +pitched our tents on the high banks, where we let down buckets by +ropes in order to get water for cooking,--this method being easier +than scrambling up and down the steep incline. + +Before night had come a party of about sixty from the Ohio country +joined us, having fifteen wagons. + +They were unaccustomed to such traveling, as I understood after seeing +them make camp. When the leader came up to John Mitchell, proposing +that we journey together from then onward, claiming that by thus +increasing the numbers each company would be in greater security from +the Indians, I gave my employer a look which I intended should say +that we would travel as we had started, independently. + + + + +WASH DAY + + +From this point on to the Little Vermilion Creek was eighteen miles +over high, rolling prairie, and I believed we ought to make it in one +day's travel, which we did. + + [Illustration] + +We arrived at the creek about four o'clock in the afternoon, and +within thirty minutes it seemed as if the banks of that small stream +were literally lined with fires, over each of which was suspended a +kettle filled with water. Tubs were brought out from all the wagons, +for the women of our company had decided on making a "wash day" of +the three or four hours remaining before sunset. + +On seeing that Susan Mitchell was not taking part in this labor, I +proposed that we ride five or six miles onward, where I knew would be +found quite a large village of Kansas Indians. She was only too well +pleased with the proposition, even though having been in the saddle +since early morning. + + [Illustration] + +To me one Indian village is much like another; but before we had come +to the end of our journey Susan could point out the difference between +a Kansas, a Pawnee, a Cheyenne, or a Sioux tepee. + +The Kansas Indians make their houses about thirty feet in length by +fifteen feet wide, and build them by sticking hickory saplings firmly +into the ground in the shape of the lodge desired. These are bent to +form an arch eight to ten feet in height, when the tops of the +saplings are bound together by willow twigs. This forms the inner +framework, which is covered with bark taken from linden trees; over +this is another frame of saplings, also tied with willows, to bind the +whole together securely and prevent the coverings from being blown +away during a high wind. + +Each of these lodges has one small door about four feet in height and +three feet wide, while at the top of the hut is an opening for the +smoke to pass out, when a fire is built in the center of the floor +during cold or stormy weather. + + + + +INDIAN PICTURES + + +There were in the village when we arrived but few women and children, +with here and there an old man, all the hunters having gone out, as I +learned, hoping to find antelopes near at hand. + +Understanding by this information that there would be no attempt made +to hinder us from gratifying our curiosity, I led Susan into one of +the largest of the empty lodges. She was filled with wonder because of +the pictures, drawn with charcoal and colored with various paints, +which were to be seen on the inside of the bark walls. + +There were mounted men fighting with bows and arrows, horses hauling +wagons, figures of beasts and reptiles, all done as one can well fancy +in a rude way; but to Susan they afforded no little amusement, and +she would have remained studying them until after nightfall, had I not +insisted that we must return to camp before darkness. + + [Illustration] + +It was an odd picture which our encampment presented when we rode in +just at twilight. The women had finished their washing, and, having no +ropes on which to stretch their clothes, had hung them on wagon wheels +and the tongues of the carts, in fact, on everything available, until +the entire place had much the appearance of a gigantic, ragged ghost. + +Because so much time was spent next morning in gathering up these +garments and packing them away, we traveled only twelve miles, +arriving at the bank of a small stream with all the animals, save the +saddle horses, showing signs of weariness. + +I insisted we should take a day for resting the cattle, although John +Mitchell would have pushed on, regardless of their condition; but I +knew we must keep them in good shape, else when we arrived at the more +difficult portion of the journey they would fail us entirely. Perhaps +because of our experience with the Indians, the men failed to grumble +at the delay. + + + + +A PLAGUE OF WOOD TICKS + + +Every member of the party was not only willing, but eager, to set out +after our long halt, for we had a most disagreeable experience with +wood ticks, little insects much like those that worry sheep. They +covered every bush as with a veil and lay like a carpet over the +ground as far as one could see. + +I have never come upon them in such numbers, and before we lay down to +rest I wished a dozen times that I had delayed the halt another day. + +These ticks fasten themselves to a person's skin so tightly that, in +picking them off, the heads are often left embedded in the flesh, and +unless carefully removed, cause most painful sores. It was like one of +the Plagues of Egypt such as I have heard my mother read about, and so +much did our people suffer that John Mitchell came to me in the middle +of the night, urging that we break camp at once rather than remain +there to be tortured. + +I soon convinced him that we could not hope to drive the cattle in the +darkness, without danger of losing one or more, therefore he ceased to +urge; but before the sun had risen, all our company were astir making +preparations for the day's journey. + + [Illustration] + +Early though it was when we set off, only fourteen miles were +traveled, owing to the difficulty in crossing the Big Vermilion River. + +The banks of the stream were steep and the channel muddy, affording +such difficult footing for the animals that we were forced to hew down +many small trees and lop off large quantities of branches to fill up +the bed of the river before the wagons could be hauled across. All +this occupied so much time that after arriving at the opposite bank we +traveled only one mile before it was necessary to make camp. + +On this night we were not troubled by wood ticks, yet I had the camp +astir early next morning, knowing that before nightfall we must cross +the Bee and the Big Blue Creeks, therefore much time would be spent in +making the passages. + +The difficulties which I had anticipated in crossing the creeks were +not realized. We got over in fairly good shape, being forced on Bee +Creek to double up the teams in order to pull the wagons across, and +when night came we were two and a half miles west of Big Blue. + +There I believed we should make a long halt, for the country was +covered with oak, walnut, and hickory trees, and, if I remembered +rightly, this would be the last time we could procure timber for wagon +tongues, axletrees, and such other things as might be needed in case +of accidents. + + + + +ANOTHER TEMPEST + + +It was well we came to a halt early, for the tents were no more than +up and the wagons not yet drawn in a circle to form a corral for the +horses, before the most terrific storm of rain I ever experienced +burst upon us. + +The women had but just begun to cook supper. The first downpour from +the clouds quenched the fires, making literal soup of the bread dough, +and it was only by building a small blaze under one of the wagons, +where it would be partly sheltered from the storm, that we could get +sufficient heat to make coffee. + + [Illustration] + +Before this was done--and nearly all us men took part in it, for the +storm was so furious that the women could not be expected to remain +exposed to its full fury--no less than two hours were spent, and I had +almost forgotten that the encampment and all within it were under my +charge. + + + + +THE CATTLE STAMPEDED AGAIN + + +Each moment the storm increased, and had I been attending to my duties +instead of trying to play the part of cook in order to enjoy a cup of +coffee, I would have noticed that the cattle were growing uneasy. +After standing with their tails to the storm for a while, they began +milling, that is running around in a circle, and by the time I +gathered my wits every animal was galloping off across the plain. + +Fortunately the horses and mules were properly hobbled, and, in fact, +some of the saddle beasts had been brought into the corral formed by +the wagons; therefore when John Mitchell would have set off in pursuit +of the oxen and cows despite the terrific storm, I insisted that he +take such ease in camp as was possible because on the following +morning we, mounted, would quickly round up the stampeded cattle. + +It was a most dismal night, and for the first time since leaving their +homes these people, who were setting their faces toward the Oregon +country, had a fair taste of what hardships awaited them. + +So furious was the wind that the rain found entrance to every camp and +beneath each wagon cover, until beds and bedding were saturated. + +Welcome indeed was the morning to my mother and me, for our tent stood +in a tiny pond when the day broke, and we waded out to a higher bit +of ground, where the gentle summer breeze, now that the storm had +cleared away, might dry our water-soaked clothing. + +Without waiting for breakfast I saddled Napoleon, calling upon the men +to follow me, and within four hours we had rounded up and brought into +camp the missing animals. + +Then came a hasty meal, and I gave the word to break camp, whereupon +John Mitchell reminded me that we were to take in a store of oak and +hickory timber for future needs; but I insisted that we push on a +short distance, knowing that this wooded country extended ten or +twelve miles farther westward, where I hoped to find higher ground, so +we might be able to camp with some comfort. + + + + +DIFFICULT TRAVELING + + +The trail was heavy. The rain had so softened the ground that the +wagon wheels sank several inches into it, and many times before +nightfall we were forced to hew trees and cut large quantities of +brush, in order to fill up the depressions in the way where the water +stood deep and the bottom was much like a bog. + +Again and again we found it necessary to double up the teams in order +to haul the heavy wagons over the spongy soil, and after we had +traveled eight miles with more labor than on the previous day we had +expended in going twice that distance, we decided to encamp. + + [Illustration] + +We were on reasonably high ground, or, in other words, we were not in +a quagmire, and after camp had been made I counted that we would spend +the following day in getting as much hickory and oak timber as we +might need when we came to the mountain ranges, where axletrees, wagon +tops, and even the wheels themselves, were likely to be splintered +because of the roughness of the way. + +Next morning while the men were hewing trees and shaping them roughly +into such forms as might come convenient, the women took advantage of +the opportunity to churn, and at noon we had fresh butter on our +bread, which was indeed a luxury. + +We were yet eating slowly in order the better to enjoy the butter, +when we saw in the distance, coming toward us, what appeared to be a +large body of soldiers and emigrants. + + + + +COLONEL KEARNY'S DRAGOONS + + + [Illustration] + +Among the foremost of the horsemen who came up and halted near us, was +Colonel Stephen W. Kearny who, with three hundred dragoons, nineteen +wagons drawn by mules, fifty head of cattle, and twenty-five sheep, +was making the first military campaign into the Far West, in order +properly to impress the Indians with the strength and power of the +Great Father at Washington. + +Colonel Kearny would not permit his train to halt where we were +encamped, but he remained with us a full half hour, taking his due +share of the newly made butter, and eating heartily of our poor store. + +It was a most pleasing break in the journey, and to me it was indeed +something to be remembered, for never before had I seen or heard of +such a number of soldiers so far away from the frontier. + +When we set off again all our teamsters pressed forward eagerly, +hoping to overtake the dragoons, who had already no less than two +hours' start of us. + +Perhaps I ought to have checked them, knowing they were forcing our +stock at too rapid a pace; but yet I did not, and when next we halted +thirty-two miles had been traversed since morning. This, though the +way was smooth and the crossings easy, I allowed was a good day's +work. + +It was on the twenty-sixth day of May, after we had traveled ten +miles, that we came to the bank of Little Sandy River, where was +already encamped a company of emigrants bound for the Oregon country. +They had thirty-two wagons, and, in addition to the other stock, +ninety cows, having started from Independence with a hundred. + +Susan Mitchell laughed with glee when we arrived at this camp and, +when I asked the reason for her high spirits, told me our people could +spend the evening visiting these strangers even as they visited their +neighbors at home. Indeed, I saw that all the members of the company +were prinking and pluming like a party of savages making ready for a +war dance. + +Men whose clothing had been well-nigh in rags suddenly appeared decked +out in finery, and as for the women and the girls, a garden of flowers +could hardly have compared with them for variety of colors. + + + + +DISAGREEABLE VISITORS + + +However, our company did not spend the evening visiting the strangers; +on the contrary, they were forced to entertain others, for before +supper had been cooked and eaten about three hundred Kansas Indians, +men, women, and children, some walking, some riding, came into camp. + +The emigrants whom our people had intended to visit were overrun even +as we were, and during two hours or more the beggars remained watching +for an opportunity to steal something, or striving to trade their +skeleton-like ponies for our horses and mules. + +Some of the visitors were clad in buckskin, others had leggings of elk +hide, with buffalo skins over their shoulders, while many wore only +greasy, ragged blankets and leggings so besmeared with blood and dirt +that one could not tell what the material might be. + +Many of the men had long hair, while the heads of others were shaved +close to the skin, save for a tuft extending from the forehead over +the crown and down to the neck, much like the comb of a rooster. + + [Illustration] + +Some had their faces painted in a fanciful manner with red, while +others had only their eyelids and lips colored. Again, there were +those with various colored noses or ears, and I failed to see any two +who were decked out, either with garments or by paint, in the same +manner. + +The costumes and decorations of the women were as varied as those of +the men, and equally filthy. All, from the smallest papoose to the +oldest brave, were repulsive, at least to me, because of their +uncleanliness. + + + + +DRIVING AWAY THE INDIANS + + +How long those representatives of the Kansas tribe would have remained +with us awaiting an opportunity to steal whatever they might, I cannot +say; but at about eight o'clock John Mitchell urged that I drive them +away, if indeed I dared. This last suggestion caused me to smile, for +what fellow would not dare anything among the Kansas Indians, who know +no more of courage than they do of cleanliness? + +I speedily sent them out of the camp, and when, next morning, the +whole tribe returned begging this or that, I threatened punishment to +any who should dare linger around. + +Again we had an opportunity to join forces with another company, for +those emigrants whom we met at Little Sandy River were eager to +journey with us, but intended to remain one full day on the bank of +the stream in order to rest their stock. + +I urged that we push on, lest they should travel with us whether we +wished or not, and so we set off at an early hour across the prairie, +arriving next day at the Republican Fork of the Blue River. + +It was on the last day of May that we came to where the trail turns +abruptly away from the stream, stretching out twenty-five miles or +more to the Platte River. + +Then we advanced in wild, fertile bottoms, where wild peas abounded, +and we were among the last of the oak and hickory trees that we would +see for many a long day. + + + + +TURKEY HUNTING + + +Here I knew we might find game, and said to those men who had been +eagerly inquiring day after day as to when we would come upon +buffaloes, that now was the time when they could display their skill +in bringing down wild turkeys. + + [Illustration] + +I had supposed that these people knew somewhat about hunting; but when +one of the men turned upon me sharply, asking how I knew turkeys could +be found near about, I nearly laughed in his face. For it seemed to me +that a child should have known we were come at last to where game of +some sort might be taken easily. + +I had no idea of hunting turkeys, for I knew that within the next few +hours there should be a possibility of bringing down as many antelopes +as Napoleon would be willing to carry. + +Therefore I remained in camp, and saw those eager hunters striding off +amid the timber, making noise enough to warn every fowl or beast of +their coming. + +The wonder of it was that the fellows brought in a feather; yet at +night they returned triumphant and excited, with two turkeys, and one +would have believed, from the way the game was displayed, that they +had shown great skill. + +When Susan Mitchell asked why I did not go out in search of game, I +told her it was not for me to spend my time in such sport, but that +before many days had passed I would show her what a hunter could and +should do in this country. + +It may be she thought I was boasting, and I fancied I read as much on +her face; but I contented myself in silence, knowing that she soon +would see what kind of hunting those, who have crossed from the +Missouri River into the Oregon country twice, could do. + + + + +EAGER HUNTERS + + +Next day every man and boy in our company was looking eagerly forward +for signs of game, and when, the afternoon being nearly spent, they +saw large herds of antelopes in the distance, it was only with +difficulty I could force the teamsters to remain on their wagons. + +Every horseman would have set off at that time in the afternoon with +weary steeds, when there was no possibility of running down the game, +had it not been for John Mitchell, who, after talking with me, +insisted that no man should leave the company until we had made camp. + + [Illustration] + +The Platte River was to be crossed before we halted, and we needed +every man with us, for I knew that the bottom of the stream was soft, +and the chances many that we would be forced to double up our teams. + +However, we gained the opposite bank without much difficulty and were +hardly more than ready to encamp, after having traveled eighteen or +nineteen miles, when it began to rain once more, and then the men +were glad that they had not set off to hunt at nightfall. + +We camped where it would be possible for us to get water without too +much labor, and set about gathering fuel before everything was soaked +by the rain, and darkness was upon us. + +Then the men began to treat me as if I was of their own age. They came +into my tent by twos and threes, asking when it would be possible for +them to hunt antelopes, and when I would go with them to bring in +fresh meat. + +I told them that on the next day they should have all the hunting that +would satisfy them and their horses, and this caused them to wonder +how I knew antelopes might be near at hand. + + + + +ANTELOPE COUNTRY + + +Next morning, when we had traveled no more than six miles, any hunter +could see that we were in a game country, and because our people were +really in need of fresh meat, to say nothing of the desire of the men +for sport, I gave the word to halt and make camp. + +John Mitchell angrily demanded why I had halted the company before the +forenoon was half spent. + +When I told him that here was our opportunity to get antelope steaks +for supper, he looked at me as if he believed I was talking of +something wholly beyond my knowledge. I have an idea he would have +countermanded my order to form camp, insisting that we move on, had +not his wife suggested that now we were so near the river, where the +bank was shelving instead of steep, it would be a good time for the +women to finish washing their clothing. + + [Illustration] + +After she had spoken he said to me:-- + +"Very well, lad, you may show the other men your antelopes. I have no +desire for a wild-goose chase across the prairie." + +I gave little heed to his banter, and those who had been so eager for +the hunt were right willing to follow me on the chance that they +might come upon something that could be killed; John Mitchell finally +consented to go with us, in order, as he said, to hear what sort of +excuse I would make for not finding game. + +We rode straight away from the river, and within half an hour came +upon a herd of from twenty to thirty antelopes feeding less than three +miles away, whereupon every member of the company would have started +off singly, taking the poor chances of getting a shot, had I not +insisted they should hold themselves under my orders, lest there be no +possibility of bringing in fresh meat that day. + +"You made a good guess, lad," John Mitchell said to me, as if he was +disappointed because we had brought the game to view, and I replied:-- + +"Any one familiar with this country may say with reasonable certainty +that he will find deer in such and such a place without first having +seen any signs. With buffaloes it is different. But on feeding grounds +like this, one can declare positively that he will come upon some kind +of deer without riding very far." + + + + +SHOOTING ANTELOPES + + +Then I gave the word for the men to divide into two parties, one going +to the right and the other to the left toward the herd, in order to +come up with them on both sides at the same moment, and the silly +animals did not note our approach until we were within half a mile. + +Then they showed how rapidly they could run. + +I have never seen antelopes in full flight without thinking how nearly +alike they are to swallows, both for swiftness and the manner in which +they bound over the ground without seeming to touch it. There are not +many horses that can come up with this game once the fleet animals +have been aroused; but I knew my pony could gain upon them in a chase +of five miles or less, and straightway urged him on, shouting for the +others to follow. + + [Illustration] + +It was like horses accustomed to the plow striving to keep the pace +with a blooded racer, when we struck off across the plains, and before +two miles had been traversed, my companions were left so far in the +rear that there was little chance they could take any part in this +sport. + +I urged Napoleon on until we were in fairly good range, when, firing +rapidly, I brought two of the beautiful creatures to the ground. + +There was no possibility of overtaking the herd, once having halted, +so swinging the game across the saddle in front of me, I let my pony +walk leisurely back to where the men waited, each of them looking with +envious eyes at the result of the chase. + +Within half an hour after our return to camp, five or six fires had +been built, and our people were busily engaged in cooking the fresh +meat, which was so welcome to them, giving little or no heed to +anything save the preparations for a feast. Suddenly a single Indian +of the Pawnee tribe stood before us, having ridden up without +attracting the attention of any member of the company. + + + + +A PAWNEE VISITOR + + +It was the first time such a thing had ever occurred while I was +supposed to be on duty, and I said to myself that until we had come +into the Oregon country and I had said good-by to these people, I +should never again be caught off guard. + +The Indian who had thus surprised me was as fine a specimen of a +Pawnee as I have ever seen. He was tall, had a good figure, and rode a +handsome pony which was really fat,--something seldom come upon, for +the Indians do not generally allow their horses to take on very much +flesh. + +He wore a calico shirt, buckskin leggings, and fancifully decorated +moccasins. It would seem as if he had set himself up as a trader in +footgear, for he carried with him half a dozen or more pairs of +moccasins, some of them well worn, which he wanted to trade for meat. + + [Illustration] + +Our people were so foolish as to bargain with him, when, had they been +content to wait a few days longer, until we were in a country +abounding with game, they might have made any number of pairs out of +fresh hides. + +This fellow remained in camp after having disposed of his wares, until +he had eaten three times as much as could any member of our company, +going from camp fire to camp fire and gorging himself as an Indian +will, until it was only with difficulty that he could mount his pony. + +I felt more at ease when the fellow had left us, for I never see one +of his race hanging around an encampment without good reason for +believing he is trying to steal something; but the women of our +company were saddened because he went so soon, and I verily believe +they would have served him with another feast had it been possible for +him to eat more. + +There was, perhaps, some petulance in my tones when I told Susan +Mitchell that she need not feel badly because he had taken his +departure so soon, for before arriving at the Oregon country she would +come across Indians to her heart's content, and perhaps to her heart's +sorrow. + +I little dreamed how soon my words were to come true, although knowing +that we would meet more red people than white during the remainder of +the journey; but next day, when we had traveled perhaps eight miles +and were halted at noon that the women might prepare dinner, our +company saw Indians in a way which was, during a few moments, anything +rather than pleasant. + + + + +THE PAWNEES TRY TO FRIGHTEN US + + +We had camped in a slight depression of the prairie, and were just +about eating the noonday meal, when the distant trampling of hoofs +told me that a party of some considerable size was approaching. + +I had barely time to spring to my feet before twenty-three mounted +Pawnees, all armed with bows and arrows, rode up over the crest of +land, halting there an instant as if to measure our strength. + +Because they were not in full paint, I understood that it was a +hunting party, and therefore I gave the word for our men to arm +themselves without delay, for it is true that in the wilderness one +expects the savages will take advantage of any opportunity to work +mischief. + +John Mitchell was not disposed to obey the command, fearing lest if we +made any show of warlike preparations it would only incite the Indians +to anger, but, fortunately, the other men did as I told them. + + [Illustration] + +Marshaling this little force, I moved out from among the wagons, +bidding every fellow to stand firm, while I motioned for the savages +to keep back. However, they urged their ponies on at full speed, +riding toward us like fiends, and, as I knew very well, striving to +throw us into a panic, in which case there is no question but that +they would have plundered the camp. + +Because I was the guide, it was necessary for me to take on the +greater share of the danger, and, stepping four or five paces in +advance of my comrades, I made signs for the savages to keep away, at +the same time leveling my rifle. + + [Illustration] + +The band was coming down upon us at the full speed of their ponies, +when I thus gave evidence that it was my intention to fire if they +continued, and immediately the horses were checked, the band riding +off toward the south, leaving the leader behind. + + + + +DEFENDING OURSELVES + + +Dismounting, while the others wheeled about to join him again, he came +toward me, his eyes roving from one member of our company to the +other, as if to learn whether we had backbone enough to stand up for +our rights. + +He must have understood that we would put up with no foolishness, for +straightway all his show of fierceness vanished. He told me that his +party had been out hunting buffaloes, but failed to come across any, +and then begged like a dog for us to give him food. + +To have admitted such a crowd into our encampment would have been +giving them a license to plunder, therefore I warned the fellow off. I +insisted that they go back to their village, where, beyond doubt, they +would find food if they were very hungry. + + [Illustration] + +John Mitchell would have argued with me because I was turning hungry +people away; but I refused to listen to him, and put on such a bold +front that without further parley the leader mounted his pony, and +away they went over the ridge, much to my relief. + +When we were making camp that night a party of emigrants, numbering no +less than fifty, all bound for the Oregon country, came up with us. + +Instead of halting as one might have supposed, for a quiet chat, they +rode on as though fearing we might want to join them, and I said to +myself that their guide must be one who, like myself, had already +traversed the Oregon trail; yet I was pleased because of their desire +to continue on alone. + + + + +SCARCITY OF FUEL, AND DISCOMFORT + + +We made only twelve miles on this day, and then camped on the open +prairie where we were sadly in need of fuel, being obliged to scrape +up dried grass and gather even the tiniest twigs. The scarcity of fuel +was no more than might have been expected, for now we were coming to +that part of the country where wood was a rarity. + +Next day the wind blew strong and cold from the northwest, and the +cattle hurried onward in order, as it seemed, to keep up a circulation +of the blood, therefore before we encamped, our party had advanced +twenty miles nearer our destination; but all the men and boys were +decidedly uncomfortable in body. + +We had crossed five or six creeks which were no more than half their +usual height; but the beds of the streams were so soft that we were +forced again and again to wade in that we might lay our shoulders to +the wheels when the wagons were stuck fast in the mire. + + [Illustration] + +To work in water nearly above your waist for half an hour or more +until having become thoroughly heated and then come out into that +chilling wind, was indeed a hardship. + +During the next day, which was the 7th of June, we saw the first signs +of buffaloes, and then indeed our hunters were wild to go out and kill +some of the huge animals, insisting that I lead the party. + +Through these bottom lands, which were from two to four miles wide, +there ran in every direction buffalo paths, which had been traversed +so often by the animals that they were no less than fifteen inches +wide and four inches deep in the solid earth, and as smooth as if cut +out with a spade. + +Although we knew that buffaloes ranged in this region, it would indeed +have been folly to set off, especially at nightfall, with the idea +that we might find a herd, and so I told the eager ones, who grumbled +not a little, believing I refused to lead them in the chase because of +my own indolence. + + + + +LAME OXEN + + +When we made camp, after having traveled sixteen miles, John Mitchell +called my attention to the fact that our oxen were growing lame, and +he seemed quite vexed because I treated it as a matter of course. + +Any one who has traveled from the Missouri River to the Oregon +country, knows that while crossing the prairies, which are covered +with a dry stubble of matted grass, the hoofs of the animals will +become hard and crack, thus allowing dirt to collect in the crevices +until the leg above the hoof swells, and sometimes festers. + +There is only one way to treat this trouble, which is to wash +thoroughly in water made very strong with soap, and then scrape away +all the diseased part of the hoof, after which tar, or hot pitch, +should be applied freely. + + [Illustration] + +Our men should have looked after the feet of the animals, but perhaps +because that required too much labor, they had allowed the poor beasts +to go neglected, and now had come the time when, unless they set about +it manfully, our journey to the Oregon country might be ended +suddenly. + + + + +AN ARMY OF EMIGRANTS + + +That evening, while every man was working for the relief of the oxen, +three companies of emigrants, one after another, came up and encamped +within half a mile of us, until we had close under our eyes, +belonging to these strangers, more than a hundred wagons. + +There were in the first company fifty-two wagons, each drawn by four +yoke of cattle; the smallest company had thirteen wagons in its train, +therefore you can understand that we were almost an army. + +Now John Mitchell and Susan understood why I had protested against +joining forces with any of the companies we came across, for at this +place the grass was scanty indeed, with many animals to feed upon it, +and we had the greatest difficulty to find for our beasts as much food +as they were needing. + +I insisted on pulling out at an early hour next morning, in order to +get ahead of this army of emigrants, and we traveled all day without +finding better food for the cattle, encamping at night, after having +journeyed twelve miles, with the knowledge that every beast we owned +was sadly in need of something to eat. + +One train of the emigrants which we had left behind, numbering +forty-three wagons, came within sight of our camp that night just at +sunset and, finding the grass poor where we had halted, continued on; +but I knew full well there were not hours enough of daylight remaining +for them to find better pasturage. + +When another day dawned the rain was falling heavily, and even John +Mitchell proposed that we remain in camp, rather than attempt to push +on; but when I reminded him that the oxen and cows were straying here +and there, striving eagerly to pick up a few scanty blades of grass, +he held his peace. + + [Illustration] + +We continued the journey while floods of water came down from the +clouds, until before we were half an hour on the way every one, save +the women and children, who were protected by the wagon covers, was +drenched. + +After traveling fifteen miles, we encamped where the ground was so +sodden that our feet sank into the soil two inches or more; however, +we gained such shelter as we could under the wagon bodies or beneath +the wagon coverings, striving to sleep while the wind drove the rain +in upon us like a shower bath. + +We could not well put up the tents in such mire, and it was more +comfortable pacing to and fro as if doing sentry duty, than lying at +full length in a veritable swamp. + +Again we set out with the rain coming down as if it would never cease, +passing village after village of prairie dogs; but the children and +the women showed no desire to spend any time looking at them, for all +our company were in such discomfort that it would have needed +something more than an ordinary animal to entice them out of their way +a dozen paces. + +Not until we arrived at the lower crossing of the Platte River did the +storm of rain subside, and while we were striving to get the wagons +across, the sun came out with full strength, making matters quite as +uncomfortable for us who labored, as when the torrents of water were +pouring down upon our bodies. + + + + +THE BUFFALO COUNTRY + + +At this crossing the water was from one to three feet deep and the bed +of the river sandy, therefore in order to get our wagons over it was +necessary to double up the teams, and in some cases put on twelve or +fourteen yoke of oxen, all of which required considerable time. + +When we were on the other side of the river, and our men so weary that +they spent but little time making camp, in order the sooner to throw +themselves down to rest, I aroused them to the highest pitch of +excitement by announcing that now we were in a buffalo country, and +that before many hours had passed they should have as many short +ribs, humps, and tongues for roasting as could be eaten at one meal, +however hungry they were. + +As if some magic change had been wrought, every man sprang to his +feet, insisting that we go at once in search of the game; but I held +firm, claiming that the horses were far too weary to take part in a +hunt. + +Before the next day had fully dawned, the men who were standing guard +aroused the camp by shouting excitedly that we were surrounded by +buffaloes. + + [Illustration] + +It was not a very great surprise to me that the huge beasts should +come so near the camp, for I had heard from men who traveled over the +Santa Fe trail that the buffaloes would often mingle with straggling +cows, and more than once had emigrants lost their live stock by having +the animals literally forced away by these big brutes. + + + + +HUNTING BUFFALOES + + +It was a difficult matter to restrain the hunters who were bent on +starting off on the instant, believing they could kill a buffalo with +but little effort, if one came within range. + +To bring a buffalo down, one must shoot him in the lungs. To hit the +skull is much like sending a bullet against a rock, for it has no +other effect than to excite the animal, and oftentimes even then not +very much. Of course if a hunter can send a ball through the brute's +heart, that settles the matter, but it is a difficult shot. + +I did my best to explain how they ought to shoot in order to kill, and +then, finding they were not inclined to heed my words, I proposed that +we set off, each going his own way and doing the work after his own +fashion. + +It caused me to smile when I saw those men creeping up on some old +bull, whose flesh was so dry and tough that none save a starving man +would eat it; but they seemed to think it was size that counted. + +Knowing that now was the time when I could again profit by my +experience as a hunter and trapper, I went off in chase of a couple of +young cows, and within thirty minutes had them stretched out on the +prairie. Meanwhile I believe that no less than a hundred shots had +been fired by the other members of the company; but I failed to see +that any of them had been successful. + + [Illustration] + +John Mitchell and one of the men who went out with him succeeded in +killing an old bull, and although during three hours of that forenoon +there were hundreds of buffaloes in sight, all our company took from +that vast herd were the two cows I had killed and the tough old fellow +that had fallen under John Mitchell's rifle. + +Because Susan's father did not call upon me for advice as to how his +share of the game should be cut up ready for cooking, I held my peace, +but set about taking the flesh from each side of the spine, from the +shoulders to the rump, of the two animals I had killed. Afterward I +cut out the tongue and the hump ribs, while those two men were hacking +at their game, apparently believing his flesh should be treated after +the same manner as that of a stall-fed ox. + +While I was making ready some of the hump ribs for roasting, my mother +came to my side, saying, as she pointed to our companions:-- + + + + +MY MOTHER'S ADVICE + + +"It pains me to see these people heedless of that which they must meet +with before we can arrive at the Oregon country. They who complain +bitterly because the sun falls upon them too warmly, or that the ford +is very deep, hope to make their way to that far-off land with no more +labor and no more suffering than they have already experienced since +we left Independence." + + [Illustration] + +"They will soon learn, mother," I said laughingly, and yet in my heart +was sorrow for the people whom I had so lately come to know, because +of the lesson that was before them. "The one fear is that when we come +to the mountains, when we must fight with all our strength to gain a +half mile in this direction or a mile in that, camping without food +and without fuel, whether they will keep on or grow disheartened and +turn back." + +"I cannot understand, my son, that you need feel anxious. Do your duty +by them as you have agreed, and even though we are forced to come +straight away back over the trail, it will be through no fault of +yours." + +I have allowed myself to set down details concerning this journey of +ours into the Oregon country as if there was ample time at my +disposal; yet if I am to tell all the story of that long tramp, and +then attend to the work which I have taken upon myself, it is +necessary I hasten in the recital, instead of striving to give the +particulars of each day's march. + +After leaving the camp where we had killed the buffaloes, we found the +traveling good, grass plenty, and game so abundant that one might go +out and shoot whatever he needed of buffaloes, antelopes, or elks, +without spending very much time at the work, providing he was +reasonably expert with his rifle. + + + + +ASH HOLLOW POST OFFICE + + +Susan rode with me, as she had from the beginning of the journey. +Nothing of note happened to us, unless I should set down that this day +was stormy, and on that day the sun shone, until we came into the +valley of the North Fork of the Platte, through a pass which is known +as Ash Hollow. + +There we drove down a dry ravine on our winding way to the river +bottoms, stopping now and then to gather a store of wild currants and +gooseberries which grew in abundance. + + [Illustration] + +Near the mouth of the ravine we came upon a small log cabin, which had +evidently been built by trappers, but the emigrants on their way into +the Oregon country had converted it into a post office, by sticking +here and there, in the crevices of the logs, letters to be forwarded +to their friends in the States. Hung on the wall where all might see +it, was a general notice requesting any who passed on their way to the +Missouri River to take these missives, and deposit them in the nearest +regular post office. + +The little cabin had an odd appearance, and Susan confessed that, +almost for the first time since leaving Independence, she was growing +homesick, solely because of seeing this queer post office. + +After crossing the stream we came upon a party of emigrants from Ohio, +having only four wagons drawn by ten yoke of oxen, and driving six +cows. + +Truly it was a small company to set out on so long a march, and when +the leader begged that they be allowed to join us, I could not object, +understanding that unless the strangers had some one of experience to +guide them, the chances were strongly against their arriving at the +Columbia River. + + + + +NEW COMRADES + + +There was in the company a girl of about Susan's age, whose name was +Mary Parker, and from that time I had two companions as I rode in +advance of the train. + +I could have found no fault with these new members of our company, for +they obeyed my orders without question from the oldest man to the +youngest child. + +Mary Parker was a companionable girl, and she and Susan often cheered +me on the long way, for even when the rain was coming down in +torrents, drenching them to the skin, they rode by my side, laughing +and singing. + + [Illustration] + + +On the twenty-fourth day of June we arrived at Fort Laramie, in the +midst of a heavy storm of rain, thunder, and lightning. We had +traveled six hundred sixty-seven miles since leaving Independence, if +our course had been the most direct; but allowing for the distances +some of us had ridden in search of cattle or here and there off the +trail looking for a camping place it must have been that we made at +least a hundred miles more. + + + + +FORT LARAMIE + + +Fort Laramie is on the west side of a stream known as Laramie's Fork +and about two miles from the Platte River. It is a trading post +belonging to the North American Fur Company, and built of adobe, by +which I mean sun dried bricks, with walls not less than two feet thick +and twelve or fourteen feet high, the tops being well guarded by long, +sharp spikes to prevent an enemy from climbing over. + + [Illustration] + +This fort, if it can be called such, is simply a wall inclosing an +open square of twenty-five yards each way, along the sides of which +are the dwellings, storerooms, blacksmith shops, carpenter shops, and +offices all fronting inside, while from the outside can be seen only +two gates, one of which faces the north and the other the south. + +Just south of the fort is a wall inclosing about an acre of land, +which is used as a stable or corral, while a short distance farther on +is a cultivated field, the scanty crops of which give good evidence +that the soil is not suitable for farming. + +About a mile below Fort Laramie, and having much the same appearance +as that fortification, although not so large, is Fort John, which is +in possession of the St. Louis Fur Company. + + [Illustration] + +We were given quarters inside Fort Laramie, which was much to our +liking, for it would have been more than disagreeable had we been +forced to camp outside the walls, where were, when we arrived, at +least three thousand Sioux Indians. Their buffalo-skin lodges dotted +the plain all around the fort until one could have well fancied there +were three times the real number in the neighborhood, and it was as +if their tepees were countless, although John Mitchell was told that +they had no more than six hundred. + +I learned shortly after our arrival that the Sioux had gathered here +for the purpose of making ready to attack the tribes of the Snakes and +Crows, and they had but just finished their war dance when we came up, +seemingly having no regard for the violent storm which was raging. + +Even as we drove into the fort the water was descending from the +clouds in torrents, but there were hundreds of these savages dancing +and singing, and in various ways striving to show their joy because a +war was about to be begun against their enemies. + + + + +A SIOUX ENCAMPMENT + + +A Sioux lodge is made of poles lightly stuck into the ground, in a +circle of about ten feet in diameter; the tops come together within +less than twelve inches, this opening being left for the smoke to pass +out, because in stormy weather the Sioux women do all their cooking +under cover, when a fire is built in the center of the tepee. Herein +they differ considerably from the Pawnees, who seem to think it +disgraceful to seek shelter, save in the most bitter weather of +winter. + +Over the framework of poles are buffalo robes, tied together with +sinews until the covering will shed water and resist wind. Inside, +the floor is covered thickly with skins of many kinds, on which by day +the occupants lounge or cook, play or gamble, as best suits their +fancy, and at night the same furs serve as a bed for all the family. + +It was at Fort Laramie that I was met by certain members of the +American Fur Company, who had in the older days been well acquainted +with my father, and had seen me more than once when I was with him. + + [Illustration] + +They paid their respects to my mother, and she and I, in company with +John Mitchell and Susan, were invited to dinner with the gentlemen. We +had cold corned beef and biscuit, with plenty of milk to drink, which +fare was to us a luxury. + + + + +INDIANS ON THE MARCH + + +We remained at Fort Laramie one day and had the good fortune to see +the Indians setting out on the march, the men to go against their +enemies, and the women to return to the villages. + +We saw the squaws taking down the lodges and fastening the poles on +either side of the pack animals, with one end dragging on the ground. +Across these poles, just behind the horse, were lashed short pieces of +wood, forming a framework on which were tied the food, furs, and +household belongings, while in many cases the children rode on top of +the load during the journey. + + [Illustration] + +Then the babies were shut up in small willow cages, and either +fastened on the backs of the pack horses, or securely tied to the +trailing poles. + +The women performed all the work from taking down the lodges to +leading the pack animals. The men did nothing save sit on their +ponies, decked out in a fanciful array of feathers, with their war +shields and spears from which fluttered gay-colored bits of cloth, as +if their only purpose in life was to present a warlike appearance. + +As I told the girls, those Sioux Indians making ready for battle were +the first real savages we had met. They would not hesitate to carry +away anything belonging to a white man, if they could get their hands +upon it, but they acted more like men, than did any we had seen +before. + + + + +THE FOURTH OF JULY + + +Within two days after leaving Fort Laramie, we killed three elks and +four deer. It was necessary to halt another day in order to cure the +meat, after which we pushed on at our best speed until the Fourth of +July, when all the company, John Mitchell's following as well as that +party of emigrants who joined us at Ash Hollow, remained in camp +during a full day to celebrate properly the winning of our +independence. + +There was nothing we could do, save follow the example of the savages, +when they want to show signs of rejoicing, and that was to make a +great feast. + +I had the good fortune to shoot an elk and an antelope shortly after +daybreak that morning, and much to my surprise John Mitchell and one +of the men brought in a small bear. + +During the feast those men who believed they excelled in speech making +showed their skill at great length. The chief part of what was said +concerned the Oregon country and the possibility that the Government +at Washington would stretch out its arms over the land to which we +were traveling, showing the English people that we claimed it as our +own, and intended to hold it against all comers. + +This halting for the celebration was of advantage to the cattle, whose +feet were yet sore, for they needed rest quite as much as did the +women of the company. + + [Illustration] + +Then, when we set off once more, it was with greater cheerfulness and +increased hope, for the way could not have been improved nor made more +pleasant. There was timber in abundance, so we were not put to it for +fuel, and as for game, a good hunter might go out at almost any hour +in the day two or three miles from our wagon train, and bring back +deer, buffaloes, antelopes, or even bears. + + + + +MULTITUDES OF BUFFALOES + + +Ten days after we celebrated the independence of this country we +encamped near the Narrows, within sight of the snow-capped Wind River +Mountains, and then it was that our company got some idea of what a +herd of buffaloes looked like. + + [Illustration] + +When we broke camp in the morning it seemed as if the entire land was +covered with the animals. They were in such throngs that the sound of +their hoofs was like the rumbling of distant thunder, and one could +hear the click, click, clicking of the thousands upon thousands of +horns when they came together in battle, for the bulls appeared to be +fighting incessantly as they moved here and there. + +Some of the brutes were rolling in the dust, turning from side to side +as if in greatest delight, others had gathered in groups as if +watching those who fought. One could compare the scene to nothing +more than to an ocean of dark water surrounding us on every side, +pitching and tossing as if under the influence of a strong wind. + +It was such a sight as I had seen more than once, but to my companions +it was terrifying at the same time that it commanded their closest +attention. + + [Illustration] + +The big brutes were in such numbers that they gave no heed to us. Had +we been needing meat, hundreds upon hundreds might have been brought +down within a mile of the encampment. As it was, four of our men could +not resist the temptation to go out and kill some, although it was +wanton butchery, for we had then so much flesh in camp that more could +not be carried. + +I was a little anxious on beginning the day's march, fearing lest we +might find ourselves in the midst of that herd, for they gave no +attention to man even when our people were shooting. + +But it was not for us to halt because of a lot of stupid buffaloes, +and I gave the word to move on, insisting that all the men, being +fully armed, should guard the cows lest they be stampeded. + +For two hours we rode in the very midst of that countless herd, with +the shaggy, heavy brutes pressing so close to our wagons that some of +the men were forced to go on ahead and drive them away by firing +pistols or using clubs, for one could get near enough to pommel them +as you might pommel a lazy horse. + +I did not breathe freely until past noon, and then we had left behind +us that surging sea of beasts. + +But for the fact that the time would come, as I knew full well, when +we should need meat, I would have said I hoped we should never see +another buffalo that side of the mountains. + + + + +WE MEET COLONEL KEARNY AGAIN + + +On this night, within about a dozen miles of the Narrows, we came upon +Colonel Kearny's soldiers, returning from their long march, having +come through South Pass. Somewhat of the hardships they had +encountered, and which we must face, could be guessed at by looking at +those seasoned troopers, who appeared to be completely exhausted by +long riding and scanty rations. + +No less than twenty of the men were on the sick list, and at least a +hundred others looked as if they soon would be. + + [Illustration] + +I believe nothing could have been shown John Mitchell's company which +would have told more eloquently of the hardships to be encountered +when we came among the foothills. + +Then we pushed onward more sturdily, and I could see that every man in +our company was looking forward into the future, understanding that +there must be no faltering now, else they would fall by the wayside, +as had so many of whom we heard from day to day. + +On the seventeenth day of July we felt the first frost of the season, +when ice formed a quarter of an inch thick, and this warned our people +that there was no time to be lost, if we would win our way through. If +winter caught us while we were among the mountains, it would be +necessary to make camp until spring, and who could say whether during +those long months we would be able to get sufficient game to keep us +alive? + + + + +ACROSS THE DIVIDE + + + [Illustration] + +Two days after we had this first token that winter was coming, we +passed over the dividing ridge which separates the waters flowing into +the Atlantic from those which find their way into the Pacific Ocean, +and, bringing the train to a stop before any of our people realized +that we had arrived at what one might call the parting of the ways, I +called out that three cheers be given for the Oregon country, at the +same time pointing to the streams which were running westward. + +There was great excitement in our company when it was known that we +were really on the Divide, and regardless of the fact that we should +have been pushing on, all insisted upon halting until late in the +afternoon, in order, as Mary Parker said, that they might celebrate +properly having accomplished thus much of the journey. + +That night the air was filled with frost, and we who had been sleeping +with no blankets over us, were glad to wrap ourselves in whatsoever we +could lay hands upon, to prevent our blood from being chilled. + +When we camped, there was no water to be seen on either hand, nothing +save the sandy bed of the stream, and I verily believe all our people +would have gone thirsty if I had not insisted that they dig in the +sand a hole from eighteen to twenty inches in depth. + +We then watched until enough brackish water had oozed up to moisten +the tongues of our thirsty stock, after which, by waiting a full hour +we got enough to satisfy us partly. + +It was the twenty-fifth day of July when we halted at Fort Bridger +and set up our tents just outside the adobe walls, for, knowing the +place right well, I had no desire to spend a night inside the +inclosure. + + + + +FORT BRIDGER + + +This fort, like many another, is little more than a trading post, and +was built two years before we started for the Oregon country, by two +old trappers who had turned fur traders. The largest building is made +of adobes and serves as storehouse, while the others are flimsy +shelters built from time to time to serve the needs of visitors. + +I remember having heard in St. Louis why James Bridger forsook his +calling of trapper to engage as trader, and have even seen the letter +he wrote Pierre Chouteau when he settled in the valley of Black's Fork +of the Green River, asking that goods for trading with the Indians be +sent to him. + +In it he wrote: "I have established a small fort with a blacksmith +shop and a supply of iron, on the road of the emigrants, which +promises fairly. People coming from the East are generally well +supplied with money, but by the time they get here are in want of all +kinds of supplies. Horses, provisions, and smith work bring ready cash +from them, and should I receive the goods hereby ordered will do a +considerable business with them. The same establishment trades with +the Indians in the neighborhood, who have mostly a good number of +beaver among them." + +John Mitchell had a very good idea of how great a profit the owners of +the fort hoped to make, when he was forced to pay five cents a pound +for flour, and three dollars a pound for powder, with other supplies +in like proportion. + + [Illustration] + +James Bridger was exceedingly kind to mother and me when he learned +who we were, for he had often trapped in company with my father, and I +believe he would have given us outright anything we might have needed +from his stores, had we told him we lacked money with which to pay for +what was wanted; but I would not have taken a dollar's worth from any +man, unless my mother had been in sore distress. + +Susan Mitchell was greatly interested in the trapper who had turned +trader, when she heard from my mother that James Bridger had been +grievously wounded in a battle with the Blackfeet Indians, had +received two arrows through his back, and yet after so severe an +injury he, with his friend, Bascus, and two other comrades, held the +savages at bay for two days, until a company of white hunters came to +his relief. + +One of the arrows was taken from Bridger's body during the fight, but +the other held firm in the wound, and Bascus cut off the wooden +portion close to the flesh, letting the iron head remain. This piece +of metal he carried in his body three years, until Dr. Marcus Whitman, +who was on his way to the Oregon country, cut it out after long and +painful work. The arrowhead was three inches long, and the barbs had +become hooked around one of the man's bones, which held it until it +was cut out by Dr. Whitman. + +We were at our nearest point to the Great Salt Lake, and at this place +a trail branched off, leading to what is known as Ogden's Hole, close +by that vast inland sea. If we had desired to go to the California +country, it would only have been necessary to continue on around the +Wasatch Mountains, and then strike off again to the westward, unless +we were inclined to climb the hills, going by the way of that salt +lake. + +There were twenty-five lodges of Indians near Fort Bridger, some of +the savages having come to trade, and not a few of them being employed +as trappers by the fur buyers. They were mostly of the Snake tribe +and had with them quite a large herd of cattle. + +Already Susan Mitchell and Mary Parker had seen enough of the Indians +to satisfy their curiosity, and whether they wore moccasins of a +little different pattern from other Indians, or fashioned their bows +and arrows after another manner, was not sufficient inducement to +persuade them to encounter such conditions as were to be found in the +lodges. + + [Illustration] + +In order to give our cattle a rest we remained at Fort Bridger two +days, after which we went on again with the hope of soon coming upon +the Columbia River. + +Our men had been told by the fur buyers that it was of the greatest +importance we push forward at all speed, lest we be caught among the +hills by the snow, and during the four or five days following our +departure from the post, we traveled more rapidly than at any other +time since leaving Independence. + +The month of August had well set in when we came to Soda Springs, and +there it was I had counted upon surprising Susan Mitchell; nor was I +disappointed. + + [Illustration] + +These springs are small hills or mounds standing at the right of the +trail near a grove of cedars and pines, while the water that has +oozed out of them in the past has formed a solid crust of soda for +miles around, so hard that one may walk upon it. + +The liquid soda is warm and sparkling as it comes to the surface, and +when it has been led some distance away where it may be cooled, is as +pleasing a drink as one can find in any of the shops in the East, for +it is the true soda water as made by God Himself. + + + + +TRADING AT FORT HALL + + +At the end of the first week in August we arrived early one forenoon, +at Fort Hall, which is a trading post belonging to the Hudson's Bay +Company and having the appearance of a regular fortification, because +of being built chiefly of adobe brick. + + [Illustration] + +There we were able to buy flour at two cents a pound, providing we +were willing to pay for it in cattle at the rate of from five to +twelve dollars per head, and since we had two lame oxen and three cows +that could travel but little farther, we laid in a supply, being +allowed for our five animals thirty-six dollars in goods. + +At this place John Mitchell's people were urged to abandon the idea of +going into the Oregon country because of the hardships and dangers +which must be encountered, and those trappers who were lounging about +the fort insisted that it would be better that we went to California, +instead of attempting to go farther on the road we had chosen. + +The emigrants who had joined us on the way became frightened because +of the many stories which were told, and decided to try their fortunes +in California rather than Oregon. Therefore when we pulled out from +Fort Hall, Susan Mitchell was saddened at parting with Mary Parker, +who had been a cheery comrade for the girl during the time they had +traveled together. + + + + +THIEVISH SNAKES + + +We were now in the country of the Snake Indians, and while one might +believe that the Pawnees are the most expert thieves in the world, he +has simply to come across the Snake tribe in order to learn what may +be done in the way of robbery. + +Two days after we left Fort Hall, when I had warned John Mitchell +that it was necessary to keep a sharp watch both day and night lest +even the clothing be stolen from our backs, he laughed me to scorn; +but I noticed that he took exceedingly good care of his saddle horse, +not only hobbling the animal, but tying him to a picket rope which was +fastened to his own wrist. + +This he did twice, and yet on the third morning, despite all such +precautions, the horse was gone, the hobble having been cut and left +on the ground, while the picket rope was severed neatly within a half +dozen inches of his hand. + +This theft had been committed while Mr. Mitchell slept, and he prided +himself upon being one who was easily aroused. After this, and I may +as well say here that John Mitchell never saw his horse again, there +was no reason why I should urge watchfulness upon any of our people. +They voluntarily redoubled the guards while we were in the Snake +country, and although I am not able to say we got through without +losing anything, nothing of great value was taken from us, with the +exception of the horse. + + + + +THE HOT SPRINGS + + +I had one more marvel on this road to the Oregon country with which to +surprise Susan Mitchell, and that was the Hot Springs, which were +within a mile of the trail; therefore I led the company directly to +them, there making camp. + + [Illustration] + +There are five or six of these springs, from which water bubbles up so +hot that one may boil meat in it without need of fire, and when I said +as much to Susan's mother, she was inclined to think I would make +sport of her; therefore she boldly plunged her hand in, with the +result that every part of the skin which came in contact with the +water was reddened to the point of being blistered. + +That night we boiled some pemmican[1] in one of the springs, and the +girls of the party amused themselves by making up balls of meal dough +and lowering them into the water by strands of plaited grass, cooking +them as dumplings are cooked in a stew of meat. + +When we camped at Portneuf Crossing, mother told us the story of the +trapper Portneuf, who was murdered at this place by the Indians, and +spoke in such a tragic manner that even John Mitchell was impressed by +the brutal details. When I made the rounds of the camp before going to +sleep, I took note that none of the men were inclined to move around +alone outside the rays of light cast by the camp fires, and he whose +turn it was to stand watch, had with him a companion, much as though +he was afraid to remain without a comrade near at hand in a place +where such an evil deed had been done. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[1] A prepared meat carried by all travelers over the Oregon trail. + + + + +THE FALLS OF THE SNAKE RIVER + + +Next day, after a march of fourteen miles, we came to the American +Falls of the Snake River, and supper was long delayed because all the +women and girls were lost in wonder and surprise at the beautiful +scene. I told them that the Snake River flows over three immense +cataracts, the American, the Shoshone, and Salmon Falls, one quite as +awe-inspiring as the other. + +We slept that night with the roaring of the cataract drowning all +other noises, and next morning we were as wet as if we had been +exposed to a smart shower. The wind had changed about midnight, and +the spray from the falls was blown into the tents as well as under +the wagon covers, until we were so uncomfortable that sleep left us at +an early hour. + + [Illustration] + +Because of thus being awakened before break of day, we set off on the +march sooner than usual, with the result that before sunset we had +arrived at Raft River, twenty-six long miles from the American falls. +The trail was difficult even for pack horses, and there were many +places where it seemed an absolute impossibility to drag the heavy +wagons with the teams doubled until we had at times as many as twelve +yoke of cattle to one cart. + +We were encamped in a valley, the bottom lands of which were covered +with heavy, rich grass that must have been a real surprise to the +animals after the scanty fare they had had from the time of leaving +Fort Bridger. I believed that we might spend a full day here, in order +to give the animals good rest before undertaking the mountainous +trail, and was on the point of telling John Mitchell what I had in +mind when Susan called my attention to six or eight wreaths of smoke +coming from as many different points on the mountains around us. + + + + +SIGNS OF THE INDIANS + + +To the girl it was a cause only for surprise that smoke should be seen +ascending in such a place; but on the instant I was alarmed, knowing +beyond doubt that signal fires had been kindled by the Indians, +warning others of their tribe that a small company of white people +were where they might be attacked with small chance of defending +themselves. + +No one except my mother knew of the anxiety which filled my heart that +night. Knowing that we were at the mercy of the savages, if they +should fall upon us while we were in the valley and they on the rising +ground around us, I could not sleep, although needing rest sadly. I +spent the time until sunrise walking from one sentinel to another in +order to make certain each man was keeping sharp watch. + +John Mitchell must have guessed that danger threatened, for he came +out from beneath the cover of his wagon shortly after midnight and +remained on the alert until sunrise. + + [Illustration] + +Then we could see many columns of smoke from the sides of the +mountains, and I knew we were surrounded by savages who would not +hesitate to make an attack in order to gain possession of our goods, +if it could be done without great danger to themselves. + + + + +BESET WITH DANGER + + +I would not listen to John Mitchell when he proposed that we make a +hurried start, for I knew the Indians were near enough to see clearly +what we were doing, and at the first show of fear on our part the +whole crew would be upon us. However, I insisted that no member of the +company should stray ever so short a distance from the train, and I +took good care that the cows were herded in close order between two of +the wagons. + +Despite all I could say to the contrary, Susan insisted on +accompanying me when I rode to and fro along the line, keeping sharp +watch for a possible ambush and fearing each instant to hear that +savage yell which would tell that the enemy was upon us. + +Yet we passed along the mountain sides and across narrow valleys in +peace until after sixteen miles we arrived at the banks of Marsh +Creek, where I gave the word that a halt be made, because then we were +where it would be possible to make some show of defending ourselves in +event of an attack, owing to a small thicket of stunted pines on a +slight elevation of land near the water. + +During all the day's journey, I knew the Indians were hovering close +around us, because of the signal fires that were lighted just in +advance of us from time to time; but we failed to see the enemy except +once, when a half-naked savage showed himself, as if by accident, as +we rounded a bend in the trail. Other than that one glimpse of a dark +form and the signal fires on every hand, we had no proof that danger +lurked near us. It is likely that the greater number of our company +were ignorant of that which menaced; but I knew full well that we had +been in peril of our lives from the moment we made camp at Raft River. + + [Illustration] + +Again I passed a sleepless night, and again John Mitchell joined me as +I went from sentinel to sentinel, asking now and then if any +suspicious noise had been heard, until another day had dawned, and +then I failed to see signal smoke, search the country with my eyes +though I did. It was evident the Snakes believed we would put up a +strong fight if attacked, and, failing to catch us at a disadvantage, +they had drawn off, most likely hoping to come across some other +company of emigrants who were not so cautious. + + + + +HUNGER AND THIRST + + +From Marsh Creek we journeyed to Goose Creek, a distance of seventeen +miles, earning by most severe labor every yard of advance and failing +to find water during the entire day. That part of the country yielded +no grass for the animals, and when we made camp at night we took good +care to see that every beast was hobbled so securely that he could not +stray very far in search of food. + +The next day's march ended at Rock Creek, and although the traveling +was quite as hard for beasts and men, we made twenty-four miles, urged +to most severe exertions because our store of food was being consumed +rapidly. I knew we could not hope to find game and therefore we must +go hungry until arriving at the trading post on the Snake River known +as Fort Boise, while the animals would have great difficulty in +finding grass. The country was stripped as bare of green as though a +fire had passed over it, and many were the distressing tales I could +have told of emigrants who had perished miserably by starvation while +trying to make this portion of the long journey. + +We left Rock Creek a full hour before daylight, urging the famished +beasts at their best pace while we ourselves strove not to think of +food lest the hunger which beset us should become more keen. Not until +forty-two miles had been traversed did I give the word to encamp, and +it was full time, for I question if we could have held on half an hour +longer. + + + + +NEARLY EXHAUSTED + + +Then we had arrived at Salmon Falls Creek. It was nearly nine o'clock +in the evening when we came to a halt, and during the last half hour +of the march we had been more nearly asleep than awake. At this camp +we found a scanty crop of grass, but no food for ourselves, and when, +weary to the verge of exhaustion, we crept under such shelters as had +been put up hurriedly in the darkness, it was with the knowledge that +sleep would come quickly, enabling us to forget, even for a short +time, our great needs. + +From this point the next camping place would be on the bank of the +Snake River, at what is known as the first crossing, twenty-five miles +away, and then we had before us a journey of seventy-three miles to +the Boise River, after which we must march forty-eight miles farther +in order to gain Fort Boise, where food could be had. + +One hundred forty-six miles stretched out ahead of us before it would +be possible to satisfy our hunger, and this distance could not be +covered in less than three days. Our animals were so nearly worn out +with severe work and lack of food that it did not seem possible we +could advance another ten miles, and yet all that long distance must +be traversed unless we gave up the struggle, leaving our bones to +bleach on the trail, as many another had done before us. + +Now and again we came upon ghastly evidences of death, in wrecks of +wagons and tokens of human beings who had perished by starvation. +Perhaps it was well we saw those things, since they forced our people +to struggle all the harder. + + [Illustration] + +We traveled in silence during the three days before arriving at Fort +Boise, eating nothing at noon, and for breakfast and supper receiving +no more than enough to prove how desperately hungry we were. I strove +to keep my mind fixed upon the danger which might menace from Indians, +in order to be ready to guard against it; but the others, even +including Susan, rode or walked listlessly, as if already despairing +of ever being able to accomplish the task before us. + +The animals moved feebly; twice an ox fell in the yoke, refusing to +rise again, and we were forced to leave him behind. The men worked +half-heartedly when it became necessary to double the teams in order +to haul the wagons over the rough road, and so great became the +suffering of all that we moved onward as if in a dream. + + + + +ARRIVAL AT FORT BOISE + + +I shall not speak of that terrible time, save to say that the good God +permitted us to arrive finally at Fort Boise at the very moment when I +believed there was no hope of our succeeding. It was as if we had been +dead and come alive again, when the trappers came out to meet us, and +carried the women and children into the inclosure, for, having arrived +where grass could be found, the hungry beasts came to a full stop +nearly a quarter mile distant, nor was it possible to force them +forward a single pace farther. + +Fort Boise is a Hudson's Bay Company's post, and if the trappers and +traders there had been members of the American Company they could not +have treated us with greater kindness. Because of our exhausted +condition the men took entire charge of our cattle, and we were +treated almost as children, being waited upon during the first hours +after our arrival as if we were not capable of caring for ourselves, +which I suppose really was the case, for if we had been allowed to +have all the food we desired some of the weaker ones might have eaten +until they died. + + [Illustration] + +Two days at this post served to put the members of the company, as +well as the cattle, in fairly good condition, and the men who had +treated us so kindly urged that we take our departure without further +loss of time lest we be overtaken by snowstorms while among the Blue +Mountains, which range it would be necessary to cross before we +arrived at the Oregon country. + + + + +ON THE TRAIL ONCE MORE + + +I understood that such advice was good, and when John Mitchell would +have lingered despite the advice of the trappers, I took it upon +myself to insist that we go forward, picturing to him in the most +vivid colors the result if winter came upon us before we had scaled +the mountain range. + +In order that we might not overtax our newly acquired strength, we +brought the first day's march from Fort Boise to an end at the bank of +the Malheur River, sixteen miles distant. Next day we traveled +thirty-one miles to Burnt River, where we halted one day to make ready +for a sixty-mile journey to Powder River. + +To make any attempt at describing this part of our journey would be +repeating the words I have set down many times before. The trail was +as rough as can well be imagined, and the labor of getting the heavy +wagons along quite as great as had been found elsewhere. + +Because of the supplies bought at Fort Boise, we did not suffer +greatly from hunger, although we were allowed only a small portion of +food each day; but the animals were in a half-famished condition all +the while until we had arrived at the Grande Ronde, which is a +beautiful valley among the mountains, where grass can be found in +abundance. + +There in that excellent camping place we remained two days, the cattle +meanwhile feeding greedily, as if realizing that it was necessary they +add to their strength in order to make the journey over the mountains, +fifteen miles away. + + [Illustration] + +Refreshed by the long halt, we began to climb the Blue Mountains, +where the trail led over such steep ascents that it became necessary +to yoke all our cattle to one wagon, pull it a mile or two up what was +much like a cliff, and then drive the oxen back for another load, thus +winning our advance with the greatest difficulty, and after the most +severe labor traveling no more than seven miles in one day. + + + + +CAYUSE INDIANS + + +It was about the middle of September when we arrived at the Umatilla +River, where is an Indian village under rule of the chief Five Crows +of the Cayuse tribe, and a more friendly tribe I have never seen. They +had not a little land cultivated,--of course all the work had been +done by the squaws,--and stood ready to trade with us for whatever we +had, but were more eager for clothing than anything else. + + [Illustration] + +On leaving the valley, the trail runs straight up the bluff, over a +high, grassy plain, affording fairly good footing for the animals; but +when we halted that night it was necessary to carry water from the +stream no less than a mile and a half up on the ridge, to our camp. + +Two days later we came upon a village of the Walla Walla Indians, who, +instead of begging, offered us venison and potatoes and seemed to be +much pleased when we accepted their gifts; we lingered with them a +day, for now the time had come when I could no longer call myself +guide. + + + + +THE COLUMBIA RIVER + + +We had come within sight of the Columbia River, which was not more +than four miles away, and farther than this I had never gone, for my +father in his trading trips had generally halted in the Umatilla +Valley, where he remained until having gathered a large supply of +furs. + + [Illustration] + +Now that the river was in full view, any of the party might have led +the way, for the trail was fairly well defined; but there were so many +chances of wandering out of the most direct course that I urged John +Mitchell to hire one of the Walla Walla Indians to serve us until we +arrived at Oregon City. + +To my surprise he refused, but insisted that I finish the task. + +It is true that I could continue as guide while we had the river near +at hand to mark out the general course, and it pleased me much that he +should be willing to put so much confidence in me, for I understood, +or believed I did, when we left Independence, that he was more than +doubtful whether a lad of my age could properly do that which might be +required. + +As I learned from the Indians, we had but one more difficult passage +to make before the journey would be finished, and although the cattle +and the horses were worn nearly to the verge of uselessness, I +believed that by making slow marches, if the winter did not come upon +us too suddenly, it would be possible to make our way through. + + + + +AN INDIAN FERRY + + +The way was hard, more difficult, it seemed to me, than any over which +we had passed. But by working carefully, sparing the cattle as much as +we could, and not forcing them more than an eight- or ten-mile march, +we succeeded in passing over the bluff, until we came to the Des +Chutes River. + +At this stream it was necessary to have assistance from the Indians, +because it would be impossible for so small a party as ours to make +the crossing. The current was so rapid and violent, besides being +exceedingly deep at places, that we could not hope to take the wagons +over except by using canoes as ferryboats. + +This last we did, lashing upon five or six of the largest a platform +of poles and split logs, until there had been formed a bed +sufficiently large to give room for a wagon. + +It seemed to me as if John Mitchell would never make a bargain for +this rough ferrying. The Indians demanded as the price of their labor +almost everything they saw in the wagons, and at least three hours +were spent in haggling, before we were ready to make the first +venture. + + [Illustration] + +Then our picket ropes were doubled and tied together until we had a +length sufficient to stretch across the stream. One end of this was +made fast to the platform of logs and canoes, and the other carried +by a party of the Indians to the opposite side of the stream, when +all the strength of every man that could be mustered was required to +keep our ferryboat from striking upon the rocks. + +We were two days making this passage, although the stream at its +widest part is not over a hundred fifty yards, and when, finally, the +task had been accomplished and we started on the last stage of our +journey, it was found that, in addition to what we had given the +Indians, they had succeeded in stealing a quantity of powder and shot, +several shirts, and two pair of trousers, one pair of which, I grieve +to say, belonged to me and were the best I ever owned. + + + + +THE DALLES OF THE COLUMBIA + + +I wish I could express the thankfulness and relief which came upon me +on the 29th of September, when we arrived at the end of our journey, +for then we had come to the Dalles, or the Methodist Missions, beyond +which no wagon had ever passed. + +At this place we found several families of would-be settlers waiting +for a passage down the river in one of the two small boats which ran +from Cascade Falls to Fort Vancouver, from which place they might +continue the journey by water to Oregon City. + +Here, at what is known as the Dalles of the Columbia, where the water +rushes through a long, narrow channel of rock with so swift a current +that when the water is high even boats propelled by steam cannot stem +it, the missionaries sent out by the Methodist Church have built a few +dwellings, a schoolhouse, and a barn, besides planting the surrounding +land by aid of the Indians whom they have converted from a life of +savagery to the knowledge of God. + + [Illustration] + + + + +OUR LIVE STOCK + + +I cannot take to myself very much credit because of having led John +Mitchell's company without serious mishap, even though I have twice +before traversed the trail from the Missouri River. Yet we had no +trouble which could not be overcome by hard labor, and every member of +the company arrived at the journey's end in good health, which is more +than can be said of other emigrants. + +When we arrived at the Dalles of the Columbia, we found there +emigrants who had lost more than half of all their live stock during +the long journey, and again my heart was overflowing with +thankfulness, because we had suffered no great loss. + +On leaving Independence there were in John Mitchell's train, as I have +already set down, thirty cows, forty oxen, twenty horses, and ten +mules. We arrived at the Dalles with twenty-one cows, thirty-two oxen, +seventeen horses, and six mules. + + + + +MY WORK AS GUIDE ENDED + + +Here at the Dalles, as I have said, the journey was nearly ended, and +here it is that I, Antoine, who now three times have crossed from the +Missouri to the Columbia River, have come to an end of my +story-telling. + +In guiding John Mitchell's company over this long journey of more than +two thousand miles, I did no more than show them what I knew of +woodcraft, how to kill the buffalo, to stalk the antelope, to creep up +on the elk, and, what in the Indian country is of the greatest +importance, how to form camp so that they might be in least danger of +a surprise. + +My mother had come over this long stretch of country with fewer +hardships than any other woman in the company. She had been, as you +might say, familiar with travel in the wilderness, for twice had she +been out with my father on his trading trips, and knew how to take +advantage of this time of rest, or of that period of toil. + + + + +I BECOME A FARMER + + +Having left our home in St. Louis, we began to realize, as the end of +the journey drew near, that we must look upon ourselves now as +settlers in the Oregon country. + +Because of not having sufficient money with which to embark in my +father's business, I must content myself with becoming a farmer, that +I might the better care for my mother. Even though it did not accord +with my wishes to abandon the life of a trapper, yet that was of no +account, so long as I was able to do my duty by my mother, even as she +has done her duty, and more, by me. + +Concerning the journey down the river, when we traveled comfortably on +a boat, there is no reason why I should set down anything, save that +we arrived at Oregon City on the twenty-second day of October. We +remained at the Mission, with other intending settlers, a long time +waiting for the boats, and when we arrived the journey which had been +begun on the sixth day of May, if we counted the beginning when we +left Independence, was at an end. + +There were many matters regarding this long march of ours, many small +adventures and larger misadventures, which I would dearly have loved +to set down. + +It would also have pleased me to tell how it was that I came to buy +land on the Columbia River, with the money earned as a guide, together +with what was received from the sale of the old home. + +All this and more, I would like to set down in detail; but I have not +the time in which to do it, therefore I will write as the last words, +that I, who once claimed St. Louis as my home, while I labor with my +hands in the fields for my dear mother, have put behind me the past +with its lure of trapping and hunting, and learned to think of myself +only as Antoine of Oregon. + + [Illustration] + + + + +BOOKS CONSULTED IN WRITING ANTOINE OF OREGON + + + BALLANTYNE, R. M.: The Dog Crusoe. Henry T. Coates. + + BRYANT, EDWIN: What I Saw in California. D. Appleton & Co. + + BRYCE, GEORGE: The Remarkable History of the Hudson's Bay + Company. Sampson Low, Marston & Co. + + CHITTENDEN, HIRAM MARTIN: The American Fur Trade of the + Far West. Francis P. Harper. + + DELLENBAUGH, F. S.: Breaking the Wilderness. G. P. + Putnam's Sons. + + DRAKE, SAMUEL ADAMS: The Making of the Great West. Charles + Scribner's Sons. + + IRVING, WASHINGTON: The Adventures of Captain Bonneville. + G. P. Putnam's Sons. + + MARCY, RANDOLPH B.: The Prairie Traveler. Harper & + Brothers. + + PARKMAN, FRANCIS: The Oregon Trail. Little, Brown & + Company. + + PAXSON, FREDERICK L.: The Last American Frontier. The + Macmillan Company. + + POWELL, LYMAN P.: Historic Towns of Western States. G. P. + Putnam's Sons. + + THORNTON, J. QUINN: Oregon and California. Harper & + Brothers. + + THWAITES, REUBEN GOLD: Early Western Travels (Palmer). + Arthur H. Clarke Co. + + THWAITES, REUBEN GOLD: Early Western Travels (Buttrick). + Arthur H. Clarke Co. + + + + +JAMES OTIS'S COLONIAL SERIES + + + Calvert of Maryland + Richard of Jamestown + Mary of Plymouth + Ruth of Boston + Peter of New Amsterdam + Stephen of Philadelphia + + Price, each, 35 cents. For grades 3-5 + + +Don't you remember the "Toby Tyler" stories, which appeared some years +ago in "Harper's Young People"? And don't you remember how impatiently +boys and girls looked forward to the next issue merely because of +those tales? Stories like those mean something to children and make an +impression. + +¶ Here are six new stories by the same author, James Otis, the first he +has ever written for schools. They are just as fascinating as his +earlier ones. They are stories and yet they are histories. Their +viewpoint is entirely original, the story of each settlement being +told by one of the children living in the colony. For this reason only +such incidents as a child might notice, or learn by hearsay, are +introduced--but all such incidents are, as far as possible, historical +facts and together they present a delightfully graphic and +comprehensive description of the daily life of the early colonists. + +¶ The style in which the children tell the stories reads as charmingly +as that of a fairy tale, and abounds in quaint humor and in wholesome, +old-fashioned philosophy. + +¶ Each book is profusely illustrated with pen and ink drawings that not +only add to its artistic attractiveness, but will be found a genuine +aid to the child's imagination in reproducing for him realistic +glimpses into a home-life of long ago. + +¶ There is no better way for your pupils to learn about the beginning +of our country. The books are just as well suited to libraries and +home use. Write us about them. + + + + +HISTORICAL READERS + +By H. A. GUERBER + + + Story of the Thirteen Colonies $0.65 + Story of the Great Republic .65 + Story of the English .65 + Story of Old France .65 + Story of Modern France .65 + Story of the Chosen People .60 + Story of the Greeks .60 + Story of the Romans .60 + + +Although these popular books are intended primarily for supplementary +reading, they will be found quite as valuable in adding life and +interest to the formal study of history. Beginning with the fifth +school year, they can be used with profit in any of the upper grammar +grades. + +¶ In these volumes the history of some of the world's peoples has +taken the form of stories in which the principal events are centered +about the lives of great men of all times. Throughout the attempt has +been made to give in simple, forceful language an authentic account of +famous deeds, and to present a stirring and lifelike picture of life +and customs. Strictly military and political history have never been +emphasized. + +¶ No pains has been spared to interest boys and girls, to impart +useful information, and to provide valuable lessons of patriotism, +truthfulness, courage, patience, honesty, and industry, which will +make them good men and women. Many incidents and anecdotes, not +included in larger works, are interspersed among the stories, because +they are so frequently used in art and literature that familiarity +with them is indispensable. The illustrations are unusually good. + +¶ The author's Myths of Greece and Rome, Myths of Northern Lands, and +Legends of the Middle Ages, each, price $1.50, present a fascinating +account of those wonderful legends and tales of mythology which should +be known to everyone. Seventh and eighth year pupils will delight in +them. + + + + +CARPENTER'S READERS + +By FRANK G. CARPENTER + + +GEOGRAPHICAL READERS + + North America $0.60 + South America .60 + Europe .70 + Asia .60 + Africa .60 + Australia, Our Colonies, + and Other Islands of the + Sea .60 + +READERS ON COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY + + How the World is Fed $0.60 + How the World is Clothed, .60 + How the World is Housed, .60 + + +Carpenter's Geographical Readers supplement the regular textbooks on +the subject, giving life and interest to the study. They are intensely +absorbing, being written by the author on the spots described, and +presenting accurate pen-pictures of places and peoples. The style is +simple and easy, and throughout each volume there runs a strong +personal note which makes the reader feel that he is actually seeing +everything with his own eyes. + +¶ The books give a good idea of the various peoples, their strange +customs and ways of living, and to some extent of their economic +conditions. At the same time, there are included graphic descriptions +of the curious animals, rare birds, wonderful physical features, +natural resources, and great industries of each country. The +illustrations for the most part are reproductions of photographs taken +by the author. The maps show the route taken over each continent. + +¶ The Readers on Commerce and Industry take up the three great +essentials of human existence, food, clothing, and shelter. The +children visit the great food centers and see for themselves how the +chief food staples are produced and prepared for use, they travel over +the globe investigating the sources of their clothing, and they learn +how the different races are housed, and of what their dwellings are +composed. The journeys are along geographical lines. + + + + +UNITED STATES HISTORIES + +By JOHN BACH McMASTER, Professor of American History, University of +Pennsylvania + + + Primary History $0.60 + School History 1.00 + Brief History 1.00 + + +These standard histories are remarkable for their freshness and vigor, +their authoritative statements, and their impartial treatment. They +give a well-proportioned and interesting narrative of the chief events +in our history, and are not loaded down with extended and unnecessary +bibliographies. The illustrations are historically authentic, and +show, besides well-known scenes and incidents, the implements and +dress characteristic of the various periods. The maps are clear and +full, and well executed. + +¶ The PRIMARY HISTORY is simply and interestingly written, with no long +or involved sentences. Although brief, it touches upon all matters of +real importance to schools in the founding and building of our +country, but copies beyond the understanding of children are omitted. +The summaries at the end of the chapters, besides serving to emphasize +the chief events, are valuable for review. + +¶ In the SCHOOL HISTORY by far the larger part of the book has been +devoted to the history of the United States since 1783. From the +beginning the attention of the student is directed to causes and +results rather than to isolated events. Special prominence is given to +the social and economic development of the country. + +¶ In the BRIEF HISTORY nearly one-half the book is devoted to the +colonial period. The text proper, while brief, is complete in itself; +and footnotes in smaller type permit of a more comprehensive course if +desired. Short summaries, and suggestions for collateral reading, are +provided. + + + + +PUPILS' OUTLINE STUDIES IN UNITED STATES HISTORY + +$0.30 + +By FRANCIS H. WHITE, A.M., Professor of History and Political Science, +Kansas State Agricultural College + + +A blank book, which is intended for the pupil's use in connection with +any good history of the United States. + +It presents an original combination of devices conveniently arranged, +and affords an unusually clear idea of our country's history in which +the chief events are deeply impressed on the learner's mind. The +entire development of the United States has been taken up in the most +logical manner, and facts of a similar nature have been grouped +naturally together. + +¶ This material is in the form of outline maps, charts, tables, +outlines for essays, book references, etc., with full directions for +the pupil, and suggestions to the teacher. Students are required to +locate places, trace routes, follow lines of development, make +pictures of objects illustrating civilization, write compositions, +etc. + +¶ The use of this book has demonstrated that the teaching of history +need no longer present any difficulties to the teacher. Mere +memorizing is discouraged, and the pupil is compelled to observe +closely, to select essential facts, to classify his knowledge, to form +opinions for himself, and to consult the leading authorities. The +interest thus instilled will invariably lead to a sufficient grasp of +the subject. + +¶ The body of the book is divided into the following general headings: +The Indians; Discovery and Exploration; Colonization; The Development +of Nationality; Military History; The Progress of Civilization; +Political History; and Our Flag and Its Defenders. While none of these +periods is treated exhaustively, each is taken up so comprehensively +and suggestively that further work can be made easily possible where +more time is available. + + + + +NEW SERIES OF THE NATURAL GEOGRAPHIES REDWAY AND HINMAN + + +TWO BOOK OR FOUR BOOK EDITION + + Introductory Geography $0.60 + In two parts, each .40 + School Geography 1.25 + In two parts, each .75 + + +In the new series of these sterling geographies emphasis is laid on +industrial, commercial, and political geography, with just enough +physiography to bring out the causal relations. + +¶ The text is clear, simple, interesting, and explicit. The pictures +are distinguished for their aptness and perfect illustrative +character. Two sets of maps are provided, one for reference, and the +other for study, the latter having corresponding maps drawn to the +same scale. + +¶ The INTRODUCTORY GEOGRAPHY develops the subject in accordance with +the child's comprehension, each lesson paving the way for the next. In +the treatment of the United States the physiographic, historical, +political, industrial, and commercial conditions are taken up in their +respective order, the chief industries and the localities devoted +largely to each receiving more than usual consideration. The country +is regarded as being divided into five industrial sections. + +¶ In the SCHOOL GEOGRAPHY a special feature is the presentation of the +basal principles of physical and general geography in simple, +untechnical language, arranged in numbered paragraphs. In subsequent +pages constant reference is made to these principles, but in each case +accompanied by the paragraph number. This greatly simplifies the work, +and makes it possible to take up the formal study of these +introductory lessons after the remainder of the book has been +completed. With a view to enriching the course, numerous specific +references are given to selected geographical reading. + + + + +STEPS IN ENGLISH + + By A. C. McLEAN, A.M., Principal of Luckey School, + Pittsburg; THOMAS C. BLAISDELL, A.M., Professor of + English, Fifth Avenue Normal High School, Pittsburg; and + JOHN MORROW, Superintendent of Schools, Allegheny, Pa. + + + Book One. For third, fourth, and fifth years $0.40 + Book Two. For sixth, seventh, and eighth years .60 + + +This series presents a new method of teaching language which is in +marked contrast with the antiquated systems in vogue a generation ago. +The books meet modern conditions in every respect, and teach the child +how to express his thoughts in language rather than furnish an undue +amount of grammar and rules. + +¶ From the start the attempt has been made to base the work on +subjects in which the child is genuinely interested. Lessons in +writing language are employed simultaneously with those in +conversation, while picture-study, the study of literary selections, +and letter-writing are presented at frequent intervals. The lessons +are of a proper length, well arranged, and well graded. The books mark +out the daily work for the teacher in a clearly defined manner by +telling him what to do, and when to do it. Many unique mechanical +devices, _e.g._, a labor-saving method of correcting papers, a graphic +system of diagramming, etc., form a valuable feature of the work. + +¶ These books are unlike any other series now on the market. They do +not shoot over the heads of the pupils, nor do they show a marked +effort in writing down to the supposed level of young minds. They do +not contain too much technical grammar, nor are they filled with what +is sentimental and meaningless. No exaggerated attention is given to +analyzing by diagramming, and to exceptions to ordinary rules, which +have proved so unsatisfactory. + + + + +WEBSTER'S DICTIONARIES + +The Only Genuine School Editions + + +These Dictionaries are the acknowledged authority throughout the +English speaking world, and constitute a complete and carefully graded +series. The spelling and punctuation in all leading schoolbooks are +based on them. + + + WEBSTER'S PRIMARY SCHOOL DICTIONARY $0.48 + + Containing over 20,000 words and meanings, with over + 400 illustrations. + + WEBSTER'S COMMON SCHOOL DICTIONARY $0.72 + + Containing over 25,000 words and meanings, with over + 500 illustrations. + + WEBSTER'S HIGH SCHOOL DICTIONARY, $0.98 + + Containing about 37,000 words and definitions, and an + appendix giving a pronouncing vocabulary of Biblical, + Classical, Mythological, Historical, and Geographical proper + names, with over 800 illustrations. + + WEBSTER'S ACADEMIC DICTIONARY + + Cloth, $1.50; Indexed $1.80 + Half Calf, $2.75; Indexed 3.00 + + Abridged directly from the International Dictionary, and + giving the orthography, pronunciations, definitions, and + synonyms of about 60,000 words in common use, with an + appendix containing various useful tables, with over 800 + illustrations. + + SPECIAL EDITIONS + + Webster's Countinghouse Dictionary. Sheep, + Indexed $2.40 + + Webster's Handy Dictionary .15 + + Webster's Pocket Dictionary .57 + + The same. Roan, Flexible .69 + + The same. Roan, Tucks .78 + + The same. Morocco, Indexed .90 + + + + +DAVISON'S HEALTH SERIES + +By ALVIN DAVISON, M.S., A.M., Ph.D., Professor of Biology in Lafayette +College. + + + Human Body and Health: + Elementary, $0.40 Intermediate, $0.50 Advanced, $0.80 + + Health Lessons: + Book One $0.35 Book Two $0.60 + + +The object of these books is to promote health and prevent disease; +and at the same time to do it in such a way as will appeal to the +interest of boys and girls, and fix in their minds the essentials of +right living. They are books of real service, which teach mainly the +lessons of healthful, sanitary living, and the prevention of disease, +which do not waste time on the names of bones and organs, which +furnish information that everyone ought to know, and which are both +practical in their application and interesting in their presentation. + +¶ These books make clear: + +¶ That the teaching of physiology in our schools can be made more +vital and serviceable to humanity. + +¶ That anatomy and physiology are of little value to young people, +unless they help them to practice in their daily lives the teachings +of hygiene and sanitation. + +¶ That both personal and public health can be improved by teaching +certain basal truths, thus decreasing the death rate, now so large +from a general ignorance of common diseases. + +¶ That such instruction should show how these diseases, colds, +pneumonia, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, diphtheria, and malaria are +contracted and how they can be prevented. + +¶ That the foundation for much of the illness in later life is laid by +the boy and girl during school years, and that instruction which helps +the pupils to understand the care of the body, and the true value of +fresh air, proper food, exercise, and cleanliness, will add much to +the wealth of a nation and the happiness of its people. + + +AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Antoine of Oregon, by James Otis + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43897 *** |