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Show 28 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF in they bartered away the graves of thei: fathers fo~ a few worthless trinkets, and afterward their hearts cried at their folly; that such Indians were fools and women. He expressed his free opinion of the " Great Fath~r," and all his white children, and concluded by declaring that he would sign no paper which would make his own breast or those of his people to sorrow. Accordingly, Two Axe broke up the council abruptly, and returned to his home without making any treaty with his "Great ~-,ather." CHAPTER III. Return from the deserted Pawnee Villages.-Sufferings on the Way. -Prospect of Starvation.-Fall in with the Indians most opportunely .-Safe Arrival at Ely's Trading-post at the mouth of the Kansas. MY companion and myself took counsel together how to proceed. Our determination was to make the best of our way to the Grand Ne-mah-haw River, one of the tributaries of the Missouri. We arrived at that river after nine days' travel, being, with the exception of a little coffee and sugar, entirely without provisions. My companion was worn out, and seemed almost disheartened. I was young, and did not feel much the worse for the journey, although I experienced a vehement craving for food. Arrived at the river, I left Harris by a good fire, and, taking my rifle, went in quest of game, not caring what kind I met. As Fortune would have it, I came across an elk, and my rifle soon sent a leaden messenger after ' him. We encamped near him, promising ourselves a feast. He was exceedingly poor, however, and, hungry as we were, we made a very unsavory supper off his flesh. JA~fES P. BECKWOURTH. 29 The next morning we continued our journey down the Ne-mah-haw, traveling on for five days after I had killed the elk without tasting food. The elk had been so rank that we carried no part of him with us, trusting to find some little game, in which we were disappointed. We had thrown away our blankets to relieve ourselves of every burden that would impede our progress, which, withal, was extremely slow. On the fifth day we struck a large Indian trail, which bore evident marks of being fi~esh. My companion now gave entirely up, and threw himself to the ground, declaring he could go no farther. He pronounced our position to be thirty miles from the trading- post. I endeavored to arouse him to get up and proceed onward, but he could only advance a few rods at a time. I felt myself becoming weak ; still, I had faith that I could reach Ely's, if I had no hinderance; if I lingered for Harris, I saw we should both inevitably perish. He positively declared he could advance not a step farther ; he could scarcely put one foot before the other, and I saw he was becoming bewildered. In the dilemma I said to him, "Harris, we must both perish if we stay here. If I make the best of my way along this trail, I believe I can reach Ely's some time in the night" (for I was aware that the Indians, whose trail we were following, were proceeding thither with their peltry). But Harris would not listen to it. "Oh, Jim," he exclaimed, "don't leave me; don't leave me here to die! For God's sake, stay with me!" I did my best to encourage him to proceed; I ass. i sted him to rise, and we again proceeded upon our JOurney. I saw, by the progress we were making, we should |
