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Show 442 THE CALIFORNIA AND OREGON TRAIL. not a single animal had been stolen fi·om us And · our on 1y loss had been_ one old mule bitten to death by ..... r ttl 1 (.t a esna {e. Three weeks after we reached the frontier the p ' awnees and the Camanches bPgan a regular series of hostilities on the Ar-kansas trail, killing men and drivinoa- off horses · Th ey a t tac 1{ e d without exception, every party' larau e or small , that passe d du r-' ing the next six months. Diamond Sprine-, Rock Creek, Elde1· G LJ rove, and other camping places beside, were passed all in quick succession. At Rock Creek we found a train of government provision wagons under the charge of an emaciated old man in his seventy-first year. Some restless American devil had driven him into the wilderness at a time when he should have been seated at his fireside with hjs grandchildren on his knees. I am convinced that he never returned ; he was complaining that nioa ht of a dis ease, th e wastm· g e ffic cts of whw. h upon a younger and stronger man, I myself had proved from severe experience. Long ere this no doubt the wolves have howled their Inoonlight carnival over the old man's attenuated remains. Not long after we came to a small trail leading to Fort Leavenworth, di::;tant but one day's journey. Tete Rouge here took leave of us I-I · . · e was anxwus to go to the Fort m order to receive payment for his valuable military services. So he and his horse James' aft er bI'd dI' ng an affecti.o nate farewell, set out together takin u WI'th th . . • ' t) em as much provisiOn as they could conveniently carry ' I· nc1 u d I· ng a 1a rge quantity of brown sugar. On a cheerless rain Y evenr· ng we came to our last encampm· g ground. Smne pigs be 1 o ng·m g to a Sha wanoe farmer were . ' gruntmg and rooting at the edge of the grove. 'I wonder how fresh pork tastes,' murmured one of the THE SETTLEMENTS. 443 party, and more than one voic.. e murmured in response. The fiat went forth, ' That pig must die,' and a rifle was levelled forthwith at the countenance of the plumpest porker. Just then a wagon train, with some twenty Missourians, came out from among the trees. The marksman suspended his aim, deeming it inexpedient under the circumstances to consummate the deed of blood. In the morning we made our toilet as well as circumstances would permit, and that is sayjng but very liLtle. In spite of the dreary rain of yesterday, there never was a brighter and gayer autumnal morning than that on which we returned to the settlements. We were passing through the country of the . half-civilized Shawanoes. It was a beautiful alternation of fertile plains and groves, whose foliage was just tinged with the hues of autumn, while close beneath them rested the neat log-houses of the Indian farmers. Every field and meadow bespoke the exuberant fertility of the soil. The maize stood rustling in the wind, matured and dry, its shining yellow ears thrust out between the gaping husks. Squashes and enormous yellow pumpkins lay basking in the sun in the midst of their brown and shrivelled leaves. Robins and blackbirds flew about the fences . and every thing in short betokened our near ' - approach to home and civilization, The forests that border on the Missouri soon rose before us, and we entered the wide tract of shrubbery which forms their outskirts. We had pass~d the same road on our outward journey in the spring, but Its aspect was totally chancre d . The young wild apple-trees ' then . 0 flushed with their fraarant bl ossoms, wer.e now hung thickly b d 'd . with ruddy fruit. Tall grass flourished by the roa SI e In place of the tender shoots . · f. m the warm and oozy JUSt peepmg lO , |