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Show FORTY YEARS AMONG THE INDIANS. 89 I would have taken a wing or leg, but don't think I would have eaten the whole of it. As it was, the saddle was allowed to dry up again, and may be in existence yet and doing well so far as I know. In Hickman's book he says he found us starving with plenty of provisions in store houses, but did not dare to take them ; that on his arrival he burst open the store houses and told us to help ourselves. Can anyone believe such stuff ? If all his book is like this for truth, one would do well to believe the reverse. Hickman left about the 6th of March, going on east. Ben Hampton and myself started to go on to Platte bridge with this party, intending to get some supplies if possible. Hickman left us two animals and with one of ours ( the other three had long since been eaten by the wolves) found nearby we felt ourselves rich. We had gone but a few miles when we met some men from the Platte bringing us some beef. They had heard in some way that we were still alive. I think the Indians must have passed the word. They could not get buffalo meat, so had killed some cattle and were bringing them to us. They had been four days on the road, tramping snow and working through drifts, expecting to find us starving. I often think of these old pioneers, who were always so ready to help a fellow-man in need. We bade good- by to Hickman and party and re-turned to the fort with the meat. We paid for it in goods from Brother Van Cott's boxes, paying mostly calico and domestic. They charged us ten cents per pound, which was very cheap considering. With our animals and meat we felt quite well fitted out ; for we had now become so used to taking what we |
