OCR Text |
Show 102 THE CALIFORNIA AND OREGON TRAIL. themselves on the top of the highest hill they could find, and picketing their horses near them, as a signal to me, had laid down and fallen asleep. The stray cattle had been recovered, as the emigrants told us, about noon. Before sunset, we pushed forward eight miles farther. 'JUNE 7, 1846.-Four men are missing ; R , Sorel, and two emi· grants. They set out this morning after buffalo, and have not yet made their appearance ; whether killed or lost, we cannot tell.' I find the above in my note-book, and well remember the council held on the occasion. Our fire was the scene of it; for the palpable superiority of Henry Chatillon's experience and skill made him the resort of the whole camp upon every question of difficulty. He was moulding bullets at the fire, when the Captain drew near, with a perturbed and care. worn expression of countenance, faithfully reflected on the heavy features of Jack, who followed close behind. Then emigrants came straggling from their wagons towards the common centre ; various suggestions were made, to account for the absence of the four men ; and one or two of the emigrants declared, that when out after the cattle, they had seen Indians dogging them, and crawling like wolves along the ridges of the hills. At this the Captain slowly shook his head with double gravity, and solemnly remarked: • It's a ser·I ous th'm g to b e trav eiling through this cursed wilderness '· ' an opm· 1· 0n m· w h1 · eh Jack immediately expressed a thorough coincidenc H . . . . e. emy would not commit himself by declarmg any positive opinion : 'Maybe he only follow the buffalo too far· maybe Indian kill him · maybe h 1 ' ' e got ost ; I cannot tell " With this the auditors were obliged t~ rest content; the THE BUFFALO. 103 emigrants, not in the least alarmed, though curious to know what had become of their comrades, walked back to their wagons, and the Captain betook himself pensively to his tent. Shaw and I followed his example. 'It will be a bad thing for our plans,' said he as we entered, 'if these fellows don't get back safe. The Captain is as helpless on the prairie as a child. We shall have to take him and his brother in tow ; they will hang on us like lead.' 'The prairie is a strange place,' said I. ' A month ago I should have thought it rather a startling affair to have an acquaintance ride out in the morning and lose his scalp before night, but here it seems the most natural thing in the world ; not that I believe that R has lost his yet.' If a man is constitutionally liable to nervous apprehensions, a tour on the distant prairies would prove the best prescription; for though when in the neighborhood of the Rocky Mountains he may at times find himself placed in circumstances of some danger, I believe that few ever breathe that reckless atmosphere without becoming almost indifferent to any evil chance that may befall themselves or their friends. Shaw had a propensity for luxurious indulgence. He spread his blanket with the utmost accuracy on the ground, picked up the sticks and stones that he thought might interfere with his comfort, adjusted his saddle to serve as a pillow, and composed himself for his night's rest. I had the :first guard that evening; so, taking my rifle, I went out of the tent. It was perfectly dark. A brisk wind blew down from the hills, and the sparks from the fire were streaming over the prairie. One of the emigrants, named Morton, was my companion ; and laying our rifles on the grass, we sat down together by the fire. Morton |