Part 16 (1/2)
One of the men was now dispatched ahead, to reconnoitre the country, and to discover, if possible, some more practicable route In the meantime, the rest of the party moved on slowly After a lapse of three days, the scout rejoined them He informed them that Snake River ran ie, upon which they were travelling; that it was free froreat distance from them in a direct line; but that it would be i a weary circuit Their only course would be to cross the e to the left
Up this mountain, therefore, the weary travellers directed their steps; and the ascent, in their present weak and exhausted state, was one of the severest parts of thisslowly froh the snow for their faltering horses At length they reached the su on the opposite side, they were often plunging through deep drifts, piled in the hollows and ravines
Their provisions were now exhausted, and they and their horses aler; when one afternoon, just as the sun was sinking behind a blue line of distant ht from which they beheld the s verdure below theht Roused to new ardor, they forgot, for a ti their jaded horses after the them to slide a distance of thirty or forty feet at a ti grass was just beginning to sprout, and the whole valley wore an aspect of softness, verdure, and repose, heightened by the contrast of the frightful region from which they had just descended To add to their joy, they observed Indian trails along the ave them reason to believe that there was an encahborhood, as it ithin the accustoe of that pacific and hospitable tribe
The prospect of a supply of food stimulated them to new exertion, and they continued on as fast as the enfeebled state of theth, one of the rass, and declared he could go no further
It was in vain to atteiven out, and his replies only showed the dogged apathy of despair His co fire, and searched about for roots hich to strengthen and revive hi round the fire, talked over past dangers and troubles, soothed themselves with the persuasion that all were now at an end, and went to sleep with the co theress in the valley--An Indian cavalier--The captain falls into a lethargy--A Nez-Perce patriarch--Hospitable treat--Value of an old plaid cloak--The family horse--The cost of an Indian present
A TRANQUIL NIGHT'S REST had sufficiently restored the broken down traveller to enable hi, and all hands set forward on the Indian trail With all their eagerness to arrive within reach of succor, such was their feeble and emaciated condition, that they advanced but slowly Nor is it a matter of surprise that they should alth It was now (the 16th of February) fifty-three days that they had been travelling in the midst of winter, exposed to all kinds of privations and hardshi+ps: and for the last twenty days, they had been entangled in the wild and desolate labyrinths of the snowyicy precipices, and nearly starved with cold and hunger
All thethe Indian trail, without seeing a hued, when, about noon, they discovered a horse directly toward the them, suddenly reined up his steed, careat earnestness, seens of peace, and endeavored, with the utmost anxiety, to induce hith, having satisfied hi up to thee, fancifully decorated, and s and equipments It was evident that he was a warrior of so his tribe
His whole deportnity; he felt, perhaps, his temporary superiority in personal array, and in the spirit of his steed, to the poor, ragged, travel-worn trappers and their half-starved horses Approaching theave thee, invited them to his camp, which was only a few miles distant; where he had plenty to eat, and plenty of horses, and would cheerfully share his good things with them
His hospitable invitation was joyfully accepted: he lingered but a ht find his ca the reins to his ht The travellers folloith gladdened hearts, but at a snail's pace; for their poor horses could scarcely drag one leg after the other Captain Bonneville, however, experienced a sudden and singular change of feeling Hitherto, the necessity of conducting his party, and of providing against every eency, had kept his mind upon the stretch, and his whole systeed in spirit, or felt disposed to succuer was over, and thetheies suddenly deserted him; and every faculty, mental and physical, was totally relaxed He had not proceeded two miles from the point where he had had the intervieith the Nez Perce chief, when he threw himself upon the earth, without the power or will to ht, and sank almost instantly into a profound and dreaain came to a halt, and encaht
The nextand heavy sleep, ress
They had not long been on thetofresh horses to bear theallantly uid fraes of the Nez Perces Here they found about twelve faether, under the patriarchal sway of an ancient and venerable chief He received the of the same kind of fare; for, while he opened his arms to make them welcome, the only repast he set before the more hearty and substantial; but, for want of better,over, the best pipe was lighted and sent round: and this was aapparatus twelve days before, a themselves, their poor horses were led to the best pastures in the neighborhood, where they were turned loose to revel on the fresh sprouting grass; so that they had better fare than their masters
Captain Bonneville soon felt hi these quiet, inoffensive people His long residence a their cousins, the Upper Nez Perces, had e, modes of expression, and all their habitudes He soon found, too, that he ell known ae of visits and es between the two branches of the tribe They at first addressed hi him his title of captain, with a French accent: but they soon gave him a title of their ohich, as usual with Indian titles, had a peculiar signification
In the case of the captain, it had so and s in the midst of them, he would occasionally take off his cap Whenever he did so, there was a sensation in the surrounding circle The Indians would half rise froaze upon his uncovered head, with their usual exclamation of astonishment The worthy captain was co in their eyes They were at a loss to knohether he had been scalped in battle, or enjoyed a natural ierent infliction In a little while, he beca ”the bald chief” ”A sobriquet,” observes the captain, ”for which I can find no parallel in history since the days of 'Charles the Bald'”
Although the travellers had banqueted on roots, and been regaled with tobacco senerous fare In approaching the lodges of the Nez Perces, they had indulged in fond anticipations of venison and dried salinations, and could not be conjured down The keen appetites of th got the better of all scruples of pride, and they fairly begged soes The latter, however, were slow to break in upon their winter store, which was very limited; but were ready to furnish roots in abundance, which they pronounced excellent food At length, Captain Bonneville thought of a ratification
He had about hi companion and comforter; upon which the rains had descended, and the snows and winds beaten, without further effect than somewhat to tarnish its primitive lustre This coat of many colors had excited the admiration, and inflamed the covetousness of both warriors and squaws, to an extravagant degree An idea now occurred to Captain Bonneville, to convert this rainbow garment into the savory viands so le in his ence; and his decision in favor of the latter was reater proht have required In a few moments, his plaid cloak was cut into numerous strips ”Of these,” continues he, ”with the newly developed talent of a man-milliner, I speedily constructed turbans a la Turque, and fanciful head-gears of divers confor such of the womenkind as seemed of most consequence and interest in the eyes of the patres conscripti, brought us, in a little while, abundance of dried salmon and deers' hearts; on which we made a sumptuous supper Another, and a more satisfactory s the peaceful invocation of our pipes, wrapped us in that delicious rest, which is only won by toil and travail” As to Captain Bonneville, he slept in the lodge of the venerable patriarch, who had evidently conceived a most disinterested affection for hi
The travellers, invigorated by a good supper, and ”fresh from the bath of repose,” were about to resume their journey, when this affectionate old chief took the captain aside, to let hiard, he had detero further than words, and put his good will beyond all question So saying, hehorse, of a brown color, was led, prancing and snorting, to the place
Captain Bonneville was suitably affected by this mark of friendshi+p; but his experience in what is proverbially called ”Indian giving,” e was necessary on his own part, to prove that his friendshi+p was reciprocated He accordingly placed a handsome rifle in the hands of the venerable chief, whose benevolent heart was evidently touched and gratified by this outward and visible sign of aht, balanced this little account of friendshi+p, the captain was about to shi+ft his saddle to this noble gift-horse when the affectionate patriarch plucked hi, leathern-skinned old squaw, that”This,” said he, ”is ood wife--I love her very reat deal--she will cry veryhim--I do not kno I shall comfort her--and that makes my heart very sore”
What could the worthy captain do, to console the tender-hearted old squaw, and, peradventure, to save the venerable patriarch froht himself of a pair of ear-bobs: it was true, the patriarch's better-half was of an age and appearance that seemed to put personal vanity out of the question, but when is personal vanity extinct? Theand whining of the seerly placed the precious baubles in her ears, and, though as ugly as the Witch of Endor, went off with a sideling gait and coquettish air, as though she had been a perfect Semiramis
The captain had now saddled his newly acquired steed, and his foot was in the stirrup, when the affectionate patriarch again stepped forward, and presented to hi Pierced-nose, who had a peculiarly sulky look ”This,” said the venerable chief, ”is reat horseht him up from a colt, and made him what he is--He is very fond of this fine horse--he loves him like a brother--his heart will be very heavy when this fine horse leaves the camp”