Page:The Prairie Flower; Or, Adventures In the Far West.djvu/119

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purring my noble horse onward, I dashed down the long slope before me at a fast gallop.

A little after nightfall, I came to a ro mantic valley, shut in by hills, through which a bright stream rolled, and foamed, and murmured over its rocky bed. Here I beheld the fires of two encampments. The one nearest the bank of the river, was evidently a party of emigrants; for by the dim light, I coul J just trace the white out line of seveial covered wagons, and a few dark, moving objects near them, which I took to be their animals. I could also see A few figures fritting to and fro, some /ound the fire-lights, and some more dis tant engaged, to all appearance, in pre paring the evening's repast, and settling themselves down for the night. The other encampment, separated from the first some thirty or forty rods, consisted of only one fire, around which were squatted a small group of mountaineers. To this I directed 017 horse, and, on coming up, said :

"Gentlemen, will you permit a solita* ry traveler to mess with you for the nitfht?"

"Well, we won't do nothin else," re plied a voice which I fancied was not un familiar to me.

Although this answer signified I was wrlcome to join them, yet not a man mov ed, nor appeared to notice me at all. This, however, did not disconcert me in the least, as I knew so well the morose, semi- eocial habits of the mountaineer, that, to gain a grunt of assent to my request, was the utmost I could expect. I therefore dismounted, and, approaching the tire, scrutinized the faces of the party closely, as, rolling out clouds of tobacco smoke, they remained fixed like posts in a circle, their eyes apparently seeing nothing but the flames. Judge of my astonishment, reader, on discovering in this party of five, two of my old acquaintances Black George, and Teddy O'Lagherty. My first impulse was to spring forward, and make myself known at once. But on second thought, 1 concluded to remain incog., and see what would be the result.

Removing the saddle and trappings from my horse, I hoppled and left him to crop the green grass of the valley. Then drawing nwir the firt, I squatted myself

down in the ring, just far enough back to bave a shade upon my face. The trappers were engaged in conversation of more than ordinary interest, and appeared not to notice me; while, for my own part, I determined not to interrupt them.

"Think she'll hevto go under," observ ed Black George, with an omincnis shako of the head. Thar's many places better to be sick in nor this here."

"Ah, jabers! but it's har-r-d now, so it is," rejoizied Teddy, looking very solemn, "Howty murther! but I wish mesilf a doc- thor now barring the physicing, that I don't like at all at all if ounly to make the face of that swaat crathur glad, by tilling her I knows her mother's ailment. Ochone! but she's the purtiest live' one I've saan since laving ould Ireland, where I wish mesilf back again. I could love her, for looking so much like me young masther, that's 'dead and gone, pace to his bones. Ochone! this is a sorry world, so it is."

"How she looked, when she axed for a doctor of me," observed another. " Ef I hadn't left soon, I'd a done somethin wo manish, sartin."

"Augh!" grunted Black George, knock ing the ashes from his pipe; "sich sights as them aint fit for us mountaineers."

"Of whom are you speaking, friends?" I now inquired, deeply interested.

"A beauthiful lady, sir, and her mother as is sick," replied Teddy, turning toward me an eager look.

I instantly shaded my face with my hand, as if to keep off the heat, and saw I was not recognized.

"And where is the lady you speak of?"

"In the wagin, yonder. The ould lady is sick, and they've not a spalpeen of a docthor among 'em, and the young miss is crying like she'd break her heart, poor thing! For the matter of that, there's two young females, now, that's crying but only one saams to be the daughther. May be it's a docthor you is, now, by your wee look and thinness?"

"I was educated to the profession, but have never practiced."

"Troth, it's no difference ye must go an' sae the lady for it's Heaven iin: ye here, I'm knowing mesilf."