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Show 108 THE CALIFORNIA AND OREGON TRAIL. a great part of their baggage and provisions, and yoke cows and heifers to their wagons to carry them forward upon their journey, the most toilsome and hazardous part of which lay still before them. It is worth noticing, that on the Platte one rna y sometimes see the shattered wrecks of ancient claw-footed tables, well waxed and rubbed, or massive bureaus of carved oak. These, many of them no doubt the relics of ancestral prosperity in the colonial time, must have encountered strange vicissitudes. Imported, perhaps, originally from England ; then, with the declinina fortunes of their owners, borne across the Alleghanies 0 to the remote wilderness of Ohio or Kentucky ; then to Illinois or Missouri; and now at last fondly stowed away in the family wagon for the interminable journey to Oregon. But the stern privations of the way are little anticipated. The cherished relic is soon flung out to scorch and crack upon the hot pra1ne. We resumed our journey; but we had gone scarcely a mile, when R called out from the rear: 'We'll 'camp here.' ' Why do you want to 'camp 1 Look at the sun. It is not three .o'clock yet.' ' We'll 'camp here !' This was the only reply vouchsafed. Delorier was in advance with his cart. Seeing the ~ule-wagon wheeling from the track, he began to turn his own team in the same direction. 'Go on, Delorier ;' and the little cart advanced again. As we rode on, we soon heard the wagon of our confederates creaking and jolting on behind us, and the driver, Wright, discharging a furious volley of oaths against his mules; no doubt TAKING FRENCH LEAVE. 109 venting upon them the wrath which he dared not direct against a more appropriate object. Something of this sort had frequently occurred. Our English friend was by no means partial to us, and we thought we discovered in his conduct a deliberate intention to thwart and annoy us, especially by retarding the movements of the party, which he knew that we, being Yankees, were anxious to quicken. Therefore he would insist on encamping at all unseasonable hours, saying that fifteen miles was a sufficient day's journey. Finding our wishes systematically disregarded, we took the direction of affairs into our own hands. Keeping always in advance, to the inexpressible indignation of R , we encamped at what time and place we thought proper, not much caring whether the rest chose to follow or not. They always did so, however, pitching their tent near ours, with sullen and wrathful countenances. 'rra velling together on these agreeable terms did not suit our tastes ; for some time we had meditated a separation. The connection with this party had cost us vario\}s delays and inconveniences ; and the glaring want of courtesy and good sense displayed by their virtual leader did not dispose us to bear these annoyances with much patience. We resolved to leave camp early in the morning, and push forward as rapidly as possible for Fort Laramie, which we hoped to reach, by hard travelling, in four or five days. The Captain soon trotted up between us, and we explained our intentions. 'A very extraordinary proceeding, upon my word!' he remarked. Then he began to enlarge upon the enormity of the design. The most prominent impression in his mind evidently Was, that we were acting a base and treacherous part in desert- -...:.\~,..,. ·. \ . , ... ~ |