The Bitterroot Trail

by James W. Johnson

  As soon as Bob could slip away unnoticed, he went to bed, dead tired. For a time he lay thinking; his troubled mind traveled into unknown territory, following the trail of a flaxen-haired girl, while in fancy he took part in a scene similar to the one that had been enacted downstairs this night.

  Then his mind slipped back to the more immediate problems. It would be several days before they could get ready to start for the Basin. Some disposition of the business here must be made, and Jack would be the most likely buyer. However, from a recent conversation, he knew that Jack could see the handwriting on the wall.

  Sometime there would most likely be found easier trails into the Basin. If the rumors of gold strikes proved to be correct, the mule trails would be followed by wagon trails, which would take business from Oro Fino. Of course that might be a long time coming, but the change was sure to come, since the trail through this rough mountainous country was not only difficult but dangerous and offered the greatest advantages and protection to the professional road agents and bandits. Scarcely a day passed that someone did not bring in news of being held up and robbed of both horses and dust.

  As Bob pondered these things he realized that all this lawlessness could be abolished with the destruction of two king-pins, Plummer and Three Finger Smith. He felt that he personally was duty-bound to bring them to justice to avenge his sister, and his friend, Ford. How long would it be before he would be able to meet them? In his deep concentration he gripped the bedpost until his knuckles were white. After a restless hour he fell asleep.

  He arose at dawn to begin checking over the supplies to be taken to the Basin. Jim named them over while Bob wrote them down.

  One pack train with ten men and fifteen pack animals came through during the morning, stopping just long enough to wet up at the saloon and buy a few things at the post. It was a hard bunch of adventurers, and Bob began to wonder where they all came from.

  Bob and Jim arranged the supplies in separate stacks the way they wished them packed. They counted the pack saddles and found there were sixteen. Next came the mending of cinches and taking inventory of rope, for it would take an almost endless amount of rope to tie sixteen packs.

  Bob was glad when the bow-legged bridegroom of last night showed up.

  Shorty grinned sheepishly. "Whatcha in sech a hell-roarin' hurry about, Bob?" he greeted. "Can't a man have no honeymoon at all? I ain't had nary a danged wink o' sleep--worryin' about what yuh was up tuh."

  "Oh, you'll sleep better after a while, Shorty. Now that you're up, better take a look at the mules. Look their feet over. That reminds me, Jim, did you get any more horse shoes or mule shoes?" Jim shook his head.

  "Then go over to the post and buy all he's got in stock. Better get nails, too, and a shoeing hammer."

  Jim was cutting a coil of rope. "Didn't need tuh buy no more shoes, Bob. I had them all shod in Lewiston but the two yuh had with yuh, an' yuh lost one o' them. That makes only one mule tuh shoe. They's shoein' hammer an' everything here."

  "Lord love us! Look what's comin' here, fellers, will you?" exclaimed Shorty, getting to his feet.

  Bob gazed in wonder. It was a train almost as large as the Grimes string.

  Shorty was counting them. "Forty-eight, forty-nine, fifty, fifty-one, fifty-two, fifty-three--Gawdamighty, where'd they all come from?"

  "That's the second string today, Shorty. And look at the pack animals! Why, there's gals too. This must be a moving saloon and dance hall!"

  They halted at the saloon, and Bob and his partners dropped their work at the shed and went to talk with them.

  Bob sought out the captain, a squat little man, John Thomas by name, and asked him where they were from. He learned that they were from Walla Walla and that they were hurrying to beat the snow into the Basin.

  "Are there any following you, Mr. Thomas?" Bob solicited.

  "More?" he asked in surprise. "Why, they's herds of 'em! Wait till the next boat gets in from Portland. If some of 'em ain't snowed in somewhere in the Bitterroot Mountains, my name ain't Henry John Thomas."

  Bob sought out Shorty and Jim and took them back to the shed. "Get busy, fellows. We've got to get out of here. The stampede is on. Shorty, go tell your wife to pack her duds and be ready to start on the trail in the morning at daybreak. It looks like the Boise Basin is going to be the center of the new empire."

  "I was jest thinkin', Bob. I wondered if you figgered about headin' out on that trail with three men an' one gal, with sixteen mules an' two thousand dollars' worth o' supplies? Yuh knows the woods is maybe full o' murderin' robbers. The Injuns ain't goin' tuh be too friendly, neither, when they sees this band o' whites clutterin' up their huntin' grounds."

  Bob scratched his head thoughtfully for a few moments. "Tell you what, we'll trail the first train out in the morning, or maybe in ahead of them. We might be able to throw in with them. We've got to get through, Shorty. Every hour's wait is giving our enemies that much more advantage. As it is, we can't hope to reach there before the middle of October. Then we'll have to throw up a shack or two and get things ready for winter."

  Feverishly they worked that afternoon and far into the night. After all was in readiness for an early start if a train should show up, Bob went to Jack Darling's room, where he made a deal with him, selling him the partners' half of the saloon for five thousand dollars.

  It was almost noon the next day, September twentieth, when they trailed a company of twenty men from Walla Walla. They decided it would be better not to throw in with them, but keep their outfit separate and travel close together. When the company got strung out there were fifty-six pack mules and twenty-four saddle horses, twenty-three men and one woman. Bob also had three extra saddle horses. Bob and Jim took the lead of their outfit, then came the eighteen pack animals, while Shorty and Daisy brought up the rear.

  The company ahead was pushing as fast as possible, but Bob and his outfit took the first day easier until their animals got used to traveling. It would be a long hard grind to the Basin, barring all accidents.

  That night they camped on a little creek a quarter of a mile from the lead company. They made camp early because of the work attached to unpacking the animals and getting them to good grazing ground.

  They set up the big tent and made a fire for Daisy, who began getting supper. Bob and Jim staked the saddle horses which would not be in use the fore part of the night, and drove the others onto the side of the mountain, where the grass was knee high. The mules were so hungry that Bob knew they would not stray for several hours. They put bells on two of the leaders so they would be warned if anything disturbed them.

  When they got back to camp supper was sizzling in the pans. Shorty had cut boughs and made all the beds. Daisy spread the supper on a wagon cover and they all squatted around it and began eating hungrily.

  In the distance they could hear the tinkling of the bells on the mules, and the nearby horses munching the tall grass. Supper over, the men edged back against a big log and filled their pipes for a peaceful smoke, while Daisy gathered up the dishes.

  "Shorty, you and Jim take the first watch of the animals tonight. I'll take the morning watch. It isn't likely we'll have trouble tonight, but we can never tell. Is that arrangement all right with you, Daisy?"

  "Sure, Bob. I don't aim to be a millstone around Shorty's neck. Only I think you better let Shorty and me take the first shift, and you and Jim relieve us about one o'clock. I wouldn't sleep a wink anyhow until Shorty comes in."

  "Daisy, you're sure a pippin, and if you feel that way about it you can sure do it," Bob said admiringly. "I'd rather have you in the company than a man, any day."

  "Shore yuh ain't too tired, gal?" asked Shorty, solicitous of her comfort.

  "Sure, dear. Anyway, I'd feel better taking my turn with you," she answered, stooping over and patting him lovingly on the cheek.

  Shorty squirmed but otherwise took it without remonstrance.

  Just then the brush cracked behind them. Bob whirled abo
ut, a gun in each hand. The brush parted and a man's head appeared in the light. He stared at them wild-eyed.

  "Put 'em up! You're covered!" Bob spat savagely.

  The man hesitated a moment, then stumbled and fell in front of the fire. His bandana pack, containing only a small piece of bacon, rolled almost into the fire. His clothes were snagged and his boots run over at the heels. Bob rushed toward him, but Shorty was quicker. They turned him over.

  "What's the matter? Air yuh shot?" Shorty asked the man excitedly. The man feebly shook his head.

  "Here, Jim, bring us a cup of hot coffee! The man's fagged out!" Bob lifted his head.

  Daisy had already poured the coffee. "Here," she said, holding the cup to his lips. "Drink this. Lucky I didn't throw it out."

  "I can take it, gal," he protested weakly. "I'll tell you about it in a minute."

  "Pour soul," Daisy sympathized, "he's near starved."

  While she got something for the man to eat, Bob stood observing him critically. He was anxious to hear the man's explanation.

  After the first few bites he began talking. "I was robbed by five men yesterday afternoon. They took ten thousand in dust, two pack mules and my saddle horse and left me afoot. I tried to find a short cut to Oro Fino and got lost. My two scones gave out this morning. I've been climbin' up and down mountains so long I was completely petered out. I was up on the point yonder when I saw your camp fire and dragged myself to it."

  "Where'd you come from?" Bob interrogated.

  "Elk City," he answered. "Had a claim there. Sold it and was goin' out." Then he added bitterly, "It don't matter what I do now. I couldn't buy a grubstake and go back to the Basin."

  "Then you know about it? I mean the big strike?"

  "Sure. There's been train after train go through Elk City hell bent on beatin' each other into the Boise Basin."

  "Were you in Elk City when the Grimes train went through?"

  "I sure was, stranger."

  Bob was almost afraid to ask the next question. Anxiously he leaned toward him. "Was there another outfit following them close?"

  The man frowned, in deep thought. Suddenly his face lighted up. "Oh, yes, of course. A hard-looking gang, and I heard after that they was a bunch of the Plummer outfit. Funny thing, too, there was the prettiest gal ridin' with them I ever gazed on. I was standin' in front of the post when they hit the trail, and she didn't seem none too happy about the company she was in. I heard her say she didn't want to go into the Basin; she could fare for herself."

  Bob's shoulders drooped. He closed his eyes tight as he ran a hand roughly across his forehead as though to efface the pain. His heart was pounding heavily with despondency. Suddenly he arose and walked out from the light of the fire.

  "Don't mention the gal agin, stranger," Shorty cautioned. "She's his gal. Poor podner's damn near crazy."

  "There's a real man if there ever was one," Daisy eulogized. "Bob Bainbridge, the empire builder, and the one thorn in the side of the Plummer Gang."

  "Not Pokerface Bob?" the stranger asked in surprise.

  "That same," Shorty smiled. "The best shot an' the best man in Bannock Territory, barrin' none. He's the one man who puts the fear o' hell intuh Three Finger Smith an' Plummer. It was him that killed "

  "That's enough, Shorty!" The voice of Bob seemed so near it startled him and the speech froze on his lips. Bob had been standing just out of the shadow, but near enough to hear what they had been saying. "What's your handle, stranger?" he demanded sharply.

  "Pete Ranger," he answered without hesitation, looking Bob square in the eye.

  After a pause Bob said simply, "You'll do. Want to join us?"

  "That's the one thing I'd like to do, but I'm broke, Bainbridge. Haven't even got a horse."

  "We'll take care of that. You'll have to ride on a blanket until we get to Elk City. Then I'll get you a saddle. Jim, what do you and Shorty and Daisy say?"

  "Shore! An' damn glad tuh have him!" Shorty voiced.

  Both Daisy and Jim approved. They would have approved anything Bob Bainbridge suggested.

  "It will help a lot having you along, Pete. We're pushing through as fast as possible, and I warn you that we're going to see some fast action when we meet up with Three Finger Smith and Plummer. Unless you like to fight and are willing to go all the way, better turn back now."

  "I'll go plumb to hell with Pokerface Bob! I got a score to settle myself! Shake!"

  19

  THE LEAVES OF THE BIRCH AND QUAKING ASP had turned to red and gold in the Boise Basin when the Grimes caravan, followed by the first vanguard of the Plummer Gang, crossed Grimes Pass and entered the wooded valley. Already the winds from the north, a prophecy of the coming winter, were sweeping down the valley. The frosts of late October had nipped the grass, and the dead leaves, frosted, stuck to their feet on early mornings.

  A truer indication of coming winter was the absence of the Indians from the territory, as they always migrated to the lower valleys in the winter. It was in this valley that the brave Grimes, on his first expedition when gold was discovered, was shot by the Indians, and his party had returned to Walla Walla for reinforcements.

  The Grimes train followed down the valley from its head toward the lower Basin, where they camped and decided to winter. The first few days were spent prospecting and staking claims. Every night brought in frenzied reports of strikes, and at sight of the yellow gold great excitement prevailed.

  After the first frenzy of the strike had subsided, the axes began to resound in the woods, and cabins appeared everywhere like magic. They called the new settlement Bannock City. Feverishly they worked, knowing that winter would soon set in and they must provide against the cold, for no one knew how severe the winter would be. Almost daily new trains arrived, and followed the same procedure as those ahead.

  Mr. Polk, the leader of the Grimes train, appointed a committee of three men to herd the horses and mules at four dollars a month per head. This was not a difficult task for the men, as there was an abundance of feed in the valley.

  Three Finger Smith and his followers caught the spirit and began building three rough cabins. John Lee and Dixie were to occupy one located highest on the hillside to the north, overlooking the main valley. The men staked claims as a matter of course, but they were not the kind of men who would mine with shovels and picks. They were always laying plans for their future questionable activities. This would be indeed a rich field in which to practice their profession.

  Dixie was tired from the long hard journey on horseback, and moved from the tent into her one log room even before the shake roof was completed.

  The weeks that had passed seemed like years to her, and Bob had gradually become a memory, but one she could not efface. She knew there could never be anyone else, but she could not forget how cruel he had been. She wondered if she would ever see him again.

  Three Finger Smith had not molested her since that night out from Oro Fino. Perhaps Plummer had warned him. But in spite of this probability, she could not trust him. There was no honor among thieves and murderers.

  Several days passed when she saw no one save her father, and sometimes he stayed away overnight. She would sit out in front of the cabin during the day and watch the building of the homes below. New ones would spring up almost overnight. She wanted to go down there and see if there weren't other women in camp. "Bob's new empire," she would say to herself. She was almost dying with loneliness, but Lee had warned her and forbade her going into town alone.

  One day while she was sitting dreaming in front of the cabin, Plummer and a dozen or more men came riding up. She scrambled to her feet in fright and would have run had not Plummer stopped her.

  "Hello, Dixie, gal!" he called cheerily. "Right pert nest you've got here. Get down, men; we'll have Dixie get us some grub."

  "I didn't know you were in the country!" she remarked coldly.

  "Came in two days ago, gal, but didn't have time to come up before. Been staking claims. This is
the greatest strike ever, gal. Where's John?"

  "Haven't seen him for two days. I think he's supposed to be working or prospecting."

  Plummer chuckled at this but made no comment. "You'll get us a bite, gal? And do yourself proud, because I want these pals of mine to know what kind of cook my woman's going to be."

  She whirled upon him angrily, as the color came to her face. "Hen Plummer, I despise you, and you know it!"

  Plummer chuckled. "You see, men, she's got fire! I love to tame 'em!"

  The men laughed boisterously as they trailed up the yard and squatted against the house. Their horses stood with the reins hanging.

  Dixie, thoroughly humiliated and not a little frightened, went into the cabin and began dinner.

  Plummer was telling the men his plans. "There's about two hundred men in camp now. I've been counting them and investigating. Boys, it's a cinch! Just like I expected. They're mostly Secessionists. All Secessionists are not Democrats, but all good Democrats are Secessionists, and these men will elect me sheriff. Already there's been claim jumping. That's a good argument for me to persuade them to start an election to stand till Lincoln calls a special or regular election. We'll let the miners' meetings act as courts. There'll be a lot of dust in circulation. Then we'll pick it up; not too much at first. If anyone hollers, there'll be enough of our men to swear them out of court. That's why I planned that everyone should take up a claim and not appear to be too friendly with each other."

  While they were eating, the conversation continued.

  "But what if a Vigilance Association is started, or Pokerface Bob shows up with his gang?" one of the men asked.

  Plummer's face curled into a sneer. "I've got them beat, dead to rights. Our law will be established. That puts him in a class with the outlaws. I'm hoping he'll show up. I'm anxious to get him anyway on my own account."

  Helplessly, Dixie was compelled to listen to the diabolical plot of these murderers and robbers to wipe out the man she loved. Worse, she was powerless to do anything, even warn him. She was not sure that he would come into the Basin. He would probably stay in Lewiston with his wife, Pat Ford's widow.