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Show 37ts AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF rangue before the others, in which he earnestly and energetically declaimed against taking the lives of white men. l-Ie concluded his oration by saying, "You have now n1y opinion, and remember, if you decide upon taking these white men's lives, I stay with you no longer." He then left the council and went down to the boat, where he advised the occupants to cross to the other side of the river, as the Indians were at that moment deliberating upon the fate of Bellemaire and three others. Garro's father happened to be on board, who was a great man among the Indians, and, on learning what business was in hand, he provided himself with a club, and entered the village with his son Peter. He then set about the council, and administered to all the In embers such a hearty thrashing, laying about him as if fighting wild bulls, that I thought he must surely slay some of them. "There!" exclaimed the old man, after having belabored them till he was out of breath, ''I'll teach you to deliberate on the lives of white men, dogs as ye are!" The Indians offered no resistance, and said not a word. We remained all night with old Garro's company, and returned to the fort in the morning. Bellemaire recovered his own horses, but could obtain none belonging to the fort. We called at all the forts that lay in our way, to collect what dispatches they had to send, making but brief stay, however, as I was impatient to be getting on. At Fort Canaille I obtained a passenger, a son of Mr. Pappen, who was going to St. Louis, and I received reiterated charges to be very care- . ful of him. Soon after our departure from the fort there came on a cold rain-storm, which lasted several hours; the storm raged fiercely, and we had to make fast to a I . JAMES P. BECKWOUUTH. 37~ snag in the middle of the river to save ourselves from driving ashore. ~ had my Indian fire-striker, and, amid all the wind and rain, I repeatedly lit my pipe. My young passenger was astonished at the performance. " If you can strike a fire," he excla1med, " in such a storm as this, I do not fear perishing." When the storm had somewhat abated, we landed to encamp. I shot two fat wild turkeys, which were quite a rarity to me, after having lived so many years on buffalo-meat, there being no turkeys in the Crow country. On arriving at Jefferson City I felt quite sick, and showed symptoms of fever; but I was anxious to reach home without laying up. A steamboat coming down the river, I went on board, canoe and all, and was soon landed on the dock of St. Louis. It was fourteen years since I had last seen the city, and what a difference was observable in those few years ! But I was too sick to take much notice of things, and hastened to my sister's house, accompanied by the carpenter of the boat. He rapped; the door was opened by my younger sister; I was supporting myself against the wall. Greetings passed between them, for 1ny companion was acquainted with my family; and he then informed her that he was the bearer of sad news-her brother James was dead. My sister Louise began to cry, and informed him they had learned the news some weeks since. Then turning to me, he said, "Come in, Jim, and see your sister cry for you." I advanced, and addressed her in my old familiar manner, " How do you do, Lou?" I must have been a curious looking object for an at:. fectionate sister to recognize. All my clothing consist- I |
