Page:The Prairie Flower; Or, Adventures In the Far West.djvu/52

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every direction, appeared like silver threads fastening the whole together.

On our way hither, we h;id passed through Independence, one of the most important {joints in Missouri for obtaining an uu;ii., ;in 1 taking much the same route as that now followed by Oregon emigrants, had crossed the Caw or Kansns river a day or two previous to our camp on the prairie, of which 1 have given a descriplion. Al though this, as t then said, was our first camp on the prairie, I wish the reader to distinctly understand it was not our first encampment beyond the boundaries of civilization. But as I did not care to trouble him with a tedious journey, which produced no important incident, I jumped over our progress to the time when I felt our adventures had really begun. I say this in explanation, lest having traveled the route himself, he might be puzzled to understand how, in so short a time from the raising of our camp, we could have become so far advanced.

It was now the middle of June, and the sun poured down his heat with great in tensity, so that our animals perspired free ly, and seemed far more inclined to linger in the shade when we passed a timbered spot, than to hurry forward in the open sunshine. Nevertheless we managed, be fore the sun sunk to rest, to put a good thirty miles between us and our camp of the previous evening. Reaching at last a smooth, pleasant spot belted with hills, not unlike the one of our noonday halt, through which likewise murmured and sparkled a little rivulet we paused and decided to camp at once. In a few minutes our animals were hoppled, and regaling themselves with great gusto upon the sweet, green blades which here grew exuberantly.

." Somebody'll hev to stand sentinel to night," observed Black George, as we seated ourselves around the tire, which had been kindled for the purpose of toast ing our meat, and keeping off the wild beasts. " Who's a-goin to claim the privi- "ege?"

No one answered; but the other trap pers all looked toward Huntly and myself, which I was not slow to understand.

"Do you think there is any danger to night?" I inquired

"Thar's never a timj in this part of (ha world when thar isn't, stranger," was the answer.

"But do you apprehend an attack from the savages to-night?"

"Maybe, and maybe not; but yon know what happ'd to-day, and thar's yign about, clear as mud."

"Well, if you think I will answer the purpose, I am ready to volunteer my services." ,

The old trapper mused a moment, shook his head, and replied :

"I'm feared not. I'll keep guard my self; for you be young, and mightn't know a Injin from a tree; and it's like thar'll be powder burnt afore morn in."

Although these words portended danger, yet so fatigued was I from my day's travel, that in less than two hours from the time they were spoken, in common with the rest Black George excepted, who, pipe in mouth, and rifle in hand, remained squatted before the fire I was sound asleep.

CHAPTER IX.

A PAINFUL DRK-AK ATTACK FROM THE PAW NEES ALARM TREEING COWARDICE O*

THE WESTERN INDIANS COLD-BLOODED

MUTILATION COOLNESS AND VALOR OJ

THE MOUNTAINEERS.

I was once rrfore in my native land Time had flown rapidly, years had rolled onward, thousands on thousands of milea had been gone over, and now I stood in the city of my nativity. Strange and powerful emotions stirred me. I was weed ing my way through the old and well- remembered streets to the home of one who had been daily and nightly in my thoughts during my long absence. I al ready pictured myself entering her abode, and the start and thrill of joyful surprise on her beholding me again. At length I readied the well known mansion. There it stood, just as I had left it. There were the same steps I had ascended, and the bell I had rung on the night when I haJ so abruptly and cruelly torn myself from her sweet presence. I felt a nervous ixe- mor run through my whole system. 2