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Show 40 THE CALIFORNIA AND OREGON TRAIL. ' Drive on! drive on !' cried R petulantly. 'well,' observed the Captain, turning to us as we sat looking on, much edified by this ~y-play a~ong our con,federates, 'I can only give my advice, and If people won t be reasonable, why they won't, that's all !' Meanwhile, Wright had apparently made up his mind; for he suddenly began to shout forth a volley of oaths and curses, that, compared with the French imprecatioi1s of Delorier, sounded like the roaring of heavy cannon after the popping and sputtering of a bunch of Chinese crackers. At the same time, he discharged a shower of blows upon his mules, who hastily dived into the mud, and drew the wagon lumbering after them. For a moment the issue was dubious. Wright writhed about in his saddle, and swore and lashed like a madman · but who can count on a team of half-broken mules? ' At the most critical point, when all should have been harmony and combined effort, the perverse brutes fell into lamentable disorder, and huddled together in confusion on the farther bank. There was the wagon up to the hub in mud, and visibly settling every instant. There was nothing for it but to unload; then to dig away the mud from before the wheels with a spade, and lay a causeway of bushes and branches. This agreeable labor accomplished, the wagon at length emerged; hut if I mention that some interruption of this sort occurred at least four or five times a day for a fortnight, the reader will understand that our progress towards the Platte was not without its obstacles. We travelled six or seven miles farther, and 'nooned' near a brook. On the point of resuming our journey, when the horse~ were all driven down to water, my homesick charger ' JUMPING OFF.' 41 Pontiac made a sudden leap across, and set off at a round trot for the settlements. I mounted my remaining horse, and started in pursuit. Making a circuit, I headed the runaway, hoping to drive him back ~o camp; but he instantly broke into a gallop, made a wide tour on the prairie, and got past 1ne again. I tried this plan repeatedly, with the same result: Pontiac was evidently disgusted with the prairie; so I abandoned it, and tried another, trotting along gently behind him, in hopes that I might quietly get near enough to seize the trailrope which was fastened to his neck, and dragged about a dozen feet behind him. '"fhe chase grew interesting. For 1nile after mile I followed the rascal, with the utmost care not to alarm him, and gradually got nearer, until at length old f-Iendrick's nose was fairly brushed by the whisking tail of the unsuspecting Pontiac. Without drawing rein, I slid softly to the ground; but my long heavy rifle encumbered 1ne, and the low sound it made in striking the horn of the saddle startled him; he pricked up his ears, and sprang off at a run. 'My friend,' thought I, remounting, 'do that again, and I will shoot you!' Fort Leavenworth was about forty 1niles di~tant, and thither I determined to follow him. I made up n1y mind to spend a solitary and supperless night, and then set out again in the morning. One hope, however, remained. The creek where the wagon had stuck was just before us; Pontiac might be thirsty with his run, and stop there to drink. I kept as near to him as possible, taking every precaution not to alarm him again; and the result proved as I had hoped; for he walked deliberately among the trees, and stooped down to the water. I alighted, dragged old Hendrick through the mud, and with a |
