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Show 406 AU'l'OBIOGRAPHY OF pa Bay. I now, for the first time in my life, saw salt water, and the sickness it produced in me led me to curse General Gaines, and the trappings of war to boot. Our vessel stranded on a reef, and there she remained snug enough, all efforts to dislodge her proving fruitless. There was one small island in sight to leeward; in every other direction there was nothing visible but the heaving ocean. Wreckers, who seemed to rise from the sea-foam, flocked instantly around us, and were received by our captain with a ready volley of nautical compliment. The vessel had settled deeply into a bed of sand and rock; the water was rapidly gaining in her hold, and my commission, together with my gallant companions in arms, seemed, at that moment, to have a slim chance of ever serving our respected uncle in the "fields of renown." I ascended the rigging to take a survey of the country. Many a time an elevated prospect had delivered me from difficulties, if dissimilar, yet not less imminent, than those that now menaced me. Still I felt that, could those ratlines I was now ascending be transformed into the back of my Indian war-steed, this ocean be replaced with a prairie, and that distant speck which they called an island be transmuted into a buffalo, I would give my chance of a major-generalship in purchase of the change; for the sensations of hunger I began to feel were uncomfortably acute, and I saw no immediate prospect of alleviating the pain. Suddenly I saw a long line o_f black smoke, which I thought must be~from a prairie fire. I reported my discovery to the captain, and he hoisted our colors at half-mast, to signal for assistance. A small steamer came in sight, and made toward us, and finally ranged up under our stem. She took off all my men except myself and twelve others. r .. JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 407 I wrote to the commandant at Tampa ~ay to _inform him of our situation, and asking him for Immediate as-si. s t ance. After twelve days' stay on the reef, two small brigs came out to us, and received on board ourselves with our horses and forage, conveying us to Tamp~ Bay, where they cast anchor. ~ajor Bryant sent for me to his quarters, and I forthwith presented myself before him. . . . This officer gave me a very cordial wel_come, congtatulating the service on having an expenence~ mountaineer, and saying several other ver! comphmentary things. At length he said, "Captain Bec_kwourth, I wish to open a communication betwe~n th1s port and the head-quarters of Colonel ~ essup, d1s_tant about one hundred miles. I have received no dispatches from there, although nine couriers have been dispatched by Colonel Taylor." I replied, "Sir, I have no knowledge_ of the c_ountry ; I know nothing of its roads or trails, the ~Itu~tion of its posts, nor do I so much as know the position of Colonel Jessup's command. To attempt to convey dispatches while so little prepared to keep o~1t of harm's way, I very much fear, would be to agatn disappoint the service in the deliv_e:y of its messages, and to afford the Seminoles an additiOnal scalp to those they have already taken." He pooh-poohed my objections. "A man," said Major- Bryant, "who has fought the Indians in the ~ocky Mountains the number of years that you have, Will find no difficulty here in Florida." . . . " Well," I assented, " furnish me With the bearmgs of the country, and direct me to the colonel's camp, and I will do my best to reach there." Accordingly, the major furnished me with all the • |
