Page:The Prairie Flower; Or, Adventures In the Far West.djvu/37

 acters.

The firat mentioned, Black George, was the eldest of the party, and had doubtles; received his cognomen from his dingy com plexion, which was but little removed from the sable son of Africa. Naturally dark, his skin had become almost black froip long exposure to the weather. In hight he was fully six feet, gaunt and raw-boned, with great breadth of shoulders, ponder ous limbs and powerful muscles, which gave him a very formidable appearance. Although approaching sixty, his vigor seemed not the least impaired by age. His coarse hair, once black, was now an iron gray. His face was thin and long, with high cheek bones, pointed nose, hol low cheeks, large mouth, and cold, gray eyes. The wonted expression of his coun tenance was harsh and repulsive, though occasionally lighted with a humorous, be nevolent smile. He was generally liked and respected by the whites, but hated and feared by the Indians, of whom he was a mortal enemy, that seldom failed to take their " hair "* whenever opportunity pre sented.

The next in order, Rash Will, as he was denominated, was a stout, heavy built nwn, somewhat above the medium stature, and about forty years of age. He had a large Roman nose and mouth, thick lips, low forehead, and blue eyes. The gen eral expression of his physiognomy was a blunt, straight-forwardness, without regard to consequences. He could do a good de*d or an evil one; and if he could jus tify the latter to himself, he cared not a straw for the opinions of others. Head strong and violent when excited by anger, he had been the author 'of some dark deeds among the savages, which fully entitled him to the appellation of Rash Will.

The third in order, Fiery Ned, was about tl.irty-five years of age, of a robust, hand some form, some five feet ten inches in hight, and fully developed in every part. His features were comely and prepossess ing. The only marked points of his coun tenance were his eyes which were small, black, restless, and piercing and his fore head, which was high and ample. His temperament was ardent, passionate, and 6ery. At times he was cool, frank and

Scalp.

generous; but at others, especially in an Indian fight, he became wild, furious, and, in short, a perfect devil.

The last of the four, Daring Tom, was the youngest and the most to my liking of any. He was about thirty years of age, and of middling stature. Unlike his com panions, his features were very fine, almost effeminate, with a mild, dignified expression, that instantly won the regard of all with whom he came in contact. He had a large, full, clear blue eye, which rarely varied in expression, be the circumstances what they might. Cool and collected at all times, he was never more so than when surrounded by imminent danger. There was no risk he would not run to serve a friend, and on no occasion had he ever been known to display the least sign of fear hence was he called Daring Tom.

Such is an outline sketch of the trappers who had now become our companions; and probably, take us all together, there was not, in the whole broad West, another party of the same number, that could pre sent a more formidable appearance, or per form greater feats in the heat of contest.

At the moment when I came up to the fire, each of the trappers was seated beside it on the ground, cross-legged, engaged in toasting slices of a fat buck, which one of them had killed and brought in not an hour before. They were talking away briskly all the while, telling some wonderful tale, or cracking some joke, to the great amuse ment of Teddy O'Lagherty, who, a little apart, was seated in a similar manner to themselves, and listening attentively, with mouth and eyes widely distended. A little distance from the fire, our hopled animals were quietly cropping the luxuriant herb age beneath them.

"So then, Charley," I said, after having taken a general survey, " I suppose we are to fatten on deer meat?"

"Deer meat and salt," he replied, with a laugh. " The fancy preparations of civ ilization will regale us no longer, and we

O O '

may be thankful if we always get fare as

od as this."

While saying this, Huntly had drawn nearer the fire, so that the last remark caught the ear of Black George, who was just on the point of enforcing some asser tion with an oath, but who sudden