Bennett, Emerson - Prairie Flower 01

by The Prairie Flower (lit)

  Fort Laramie stands upon slightly eJc vated ground, some two miles from thr Platte, and on the west bank of Laramie Fork. It is a dirty and clumsy looking edifice, built of adobes,* after the Mexican style, with walls some two feet in thick ness and fifteen in hight, in which are planted posts to support the roof, the whole being covered with a clay-like substance. Through this wall are two gateways, one at the north and the other at the south, and the top is surmounted by a wooden palisade. Over the main or front entrance is a square tower, built also of adobes ; and at two angles, diagonally opposite each other, are large square bastions, so ar ranged as to sweep the four faces of the walls. The center of the fort is an open square, quadrangular in shape, along the

  * Sun-burned bricks.

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  des of which are dwellings, store-rooms, Btablr.s, carpenter shops, smith shops, of fices, fec., all fronting upon the inner area.

  This fort belongs to the North American Fur Company, and is a general rendezvous for traders, travelers, trappers, Indians, emigrants, &c., on their way to and from the different trading posts, Oregon and the United States. Here may be found repre sentatives of all nations and colors, meet ing on an equal footing, often drinking and gambling together, many of whom may be put down as implacable enemies, and who, at another time and place, would think nothing of cutting each others' throats. Here occasionally may be seen the Ponka, the Pawnee, the Crow, the Blackfoot, the Sioux and the Shoshone intermingled with the Spaniard, the Frenchman, the Mexican, the Anglo-Saxon, the Dutchman and Xe- gro. The trapper comes in at certain seasons loaded with furs, and receives in exchange for them powder, lead, tobacco, whisky, «fec., at the most exorbitant prices. Then generally follow a few days of dissi pation in feasting, gambling, drunken ness, and sometimes riot when he finds all his hard earnings gone, and he obliged to betake himself again to the mountains, to procure a new supply, to be squandered in the same reckless manner.

  As we rode up to the fort, we noticed several Indians standing outside, carelessly leaning against the mud-covered walls, their persons bedecked with gew-gaws, and their faces bedaubed with paint, look ing surly and ferocious, evidently under the excitement of liquor, and ready at any mo ment, did not their cowardice and fears restrain them, to take the life and scalp of the first white man that should come in their way. Standing among them, and addressing one who from his superiority of costume and equipments I judged to be a chief, was a man of small stature, mostly concealed under a large sarape and broad- brimmed sombrero.

  " H 1 ! " exclaimed Black George, with an indignant scowl : Ef thar aint one o' them infernal Greasers, I wish I may be dogged ! Well, all I've got to say is, he'd better not come foolin round this child, or he'll find his hair lifted. Eh ! Ned ? "

  " Won't nothin short."

  Passing through the gateway, we soon had the satisfaction of seeing our cavallada well disposed of; and entering the com mon reception room, took a friendly drink together; after which, lighting our pipes, (Huntly and myself had already adopted this habit since leaving home,) we strolled around the fortress to gratify our curiosity, and while away the time till supper.

  We found everything in perfect order, all the various compartments cleanly, and the fort well garrisoned by a dozen hardy fellows, each of whom had seen more or less service, and the commander of whom was at least a veteran in experience if not iu years.

  The fort was not crowded by any means it not being the season of year for the traders and trappers to be " in " but still the number of guests was quite respect able. There were a few families of emi grants on their way to Oregon and Cali fornia, and one or two home-sick ones on their return to the United States, looking pale, sickK, and dejected. Some half a dozen Indians, two or three Mexicans, as many French voyageurs, four or five trap pers and. hunters all of whom were re cognized by our companions a brace of Yankee speculators, another of coureur des bois,* together with the squaw-wives and children of the garrison completed, as far as I could judge by a hasty glance, the present occupants of the station.

  On the eastern side of the fort we found an additional wall to the one I have de scribed, which connected with the main one at both extremities, and enclosed ground for stabling and carrell. A large gateway opened into this from the south ern side, and a postern communicated with it from the main enclosure. Here were carrelled a few mules and cattle belonging to the emigrants, while in the stables our own horses were; enjoying the best the country afforded, for which of course we expected to pay at least six prices. In view of this important item, and their in capacity to meet it, the mountaineers had taken care to put their mules on less ex pensive diet.

  In the main enclosure or common, were

  Itinerant trauers or peddlen.

  THh PRAIRIE FLOWER; OR,

  several heavy Pittsburgh wagvms, some of which were undergoing repairs at the hands of the various mechanics employed about the station. As we drew near them after leaving the carrel], we noticed that several had left their employment and col lected in a group round some object which we could not make out from where we stood, while others had suspended their labors and were gazing in the same direc tion, evidently on the point of joining their comrades. As by this time Huntly and I xere by ourselves, and our curiosity being excited, we eagerly sprang forward, and elbowing our way through the fast thick ening crowd, to our surprise beheld what I shall proceed to describe in the following chapter.

  CHAPTER XII.

  THE CURIOUS INDIAN PONY ALARMING RU MOR POMPOSITY THE RENOWNED MOUN TAINEER THE AMUSING MISTAKE THE

  MYSTERIOUS EQUESTRIENNE.

  IN the center of the ring stood an In dian pony of the largest class, and the most beautiful animal I had ever seen. His color was a jet black, and so glossy that it seemed to possess the power of re flection. Every point and limb was per fectly developed, with legs sleek and slim, and a beautifully arched neck, on which was a head that bore the look of conscious superiority and pride. His trappings were in perfect keeping with all the rest. A small, delicately formed Spanish saddle, designed for an equestrienne, surmounted his back, underneath which was a saddle blanket of wampum, most beautifully wrought with fine., shiny beads of all col ors, into various birds and flowers, and which being long and hanging low, almost enveloped him in its ample folds. Even his bridle, martingales, reins, and belly- girth, were worked in the same beautiful manner, with beads of red, white and blue. He was walking to and fro, snuffing the uir, pawing the ground, and occasionally turning his gaze upon the crowd Avith a proud look, as if conscious he was an ob ject both of curiosity and admiration.

  Various were the remarks of surprise

  and delight which vff-rv, pa c sed upon him by the excited spectators, some of whom ventured to pat his sleek ueck and rub his head. At length one strapping fellow caught him by the bridle, mid placed his hand upon the saddle as if w ; th (he inten tion of vaulting upon his back-. But this, according to the pony's notion, T^as carry ing familiarity a little too far; and with a loud neigh, a rear and plunge, be tore himself away, nor would he afterward permit a hand to touch him, although he still remained quietly in the ring.

  "By heavens!" exclaimed Huntly, "saw you ever the like, Frank? saw yov any thing of the brute creation so beauti ful?"

  " Never in my life," I replied ; " and J assure you I am anxious to behold his rider for by the saddle it is a female."

  " True ; I did not think of that ; and it she prove half as beautiful, i' faith I fear I shall find myself in love with her."

  "Notwithstanding the lovely unknown eh! Charley?"

  " Come, come no home thrusts now,'* answered Huntly, good humoredly. " De not rub a part already too tender."

  "Well, heyar's what's seed a good manj sights in my time, but I'll be dog-gone ef ever* I seed any thing o' the hoss kind ar could hold a primin to this critter," said the voice of Black George, who had come up behind us.

  " But who and where is the rider ? " J asked, turning to him
.

  " Don't know whar, but spect it's some squaw or other augh ! "

  " The rider is an Indian female, the most perfect I ever beheld," rejoined stranger at my elbow, and whom I recog nized as one of the speculators .previously mentioned.

  "Where is she ? where is she ?" cries' several voices, before I had time to respond to my informant ; and immediately the stranger became the center of observation

  " She is now closetted with the com mander of the garrison."

  " Then perhaps she brings important news ? " observed Huntly.

  " Nothing more proba"ble, sir," was the reply. "There is a good deal of dissatis faction among the Indians, I understand."

  "Indeed!" I replied. "And do yo»

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  think the route westward particularly dan gerous at this time ? "

  " I do ; for rumors have reached us that the Crows, the Oglallahs, the Gros Ven- tres, the Cheyennes, and one or two other tribes, have vowed to take vengeance on all the whites that fall in their way ; and it is said, 1 do not. know with how much truth, that the Oglallahs are out on the Black Hill range and in the vicinity of the lied Buttes, while the Crows are skulking through the valley of the iSweetwater."

  "Why this is alarming, truly," I re joined ; " and certainly discouraging to those who, like ourselves, are going merely for adventure and amusement."

  "if adventure or amusement is your onlv object in crossing the Rocky mount ains, take my advice, young men, and either turn buck or remain where you are."

  "And yet why should they turn back ? " said a voice behind us. "All men ar born to die, and it's not probable any will go before thar time. Courage and resolution ar every thing in this part of the world."

  I turned round and beheld in the speak er a young man of small stature and ro bust frame, over whose clean-shaven face time had not drawn a wrinkle. His fea tures were regular and prepossessing. The general expression of his intelligent countenance was so reserved and unob trusive, that I readily felt surprised he should have hazarded the remarks just quoted, without first being called upon for his opinion. To all appearance he had not seen over twenty-live winters, though in reality he might have been much older, so difficult was it to determine by his coun tenance. He had light hair a keen, rest less, eagle-like gray eye an ample fore head and a skin which, but for exposure U» all kinds of weather, had doubtless been as fair and as soft as a lady's. Though small in stature and small limbed, as 1 said before, I noticed there was in all a beautiful symmetry^ a perfect adaptation of one part to another. His limbs, though slender, were plump and wiry, with mus cles of iron ; and being someihing of a connoiseur in such matters, I at once put him down as an active, and, for his inches, a powerful man. He was costumed in the usual mountain style, and I judged had

  just entered the fort, as I did not remem her having seen him before.

  As he spoke, I noticed that several of the bystanders whispered to others, and that instantly all eyes became fixed upon him, with an air of curiosity which I could not account for there being nothing par ticularly remarkable in his appearance, as I have shown by my description. The stranger to whom he had addressed his re marks, coolly examined him from head to foot, as one who felt a little nettled at his interference, and wished to assure himself of the exact importance that should be at tached to his words before he ventured a reply. By a slight curl of the lip into something like a sneer, I saw at once he was not a judge of human nature, and had underrated the new comer not a little. He was himself a supercilious man, who delighted in giving advice with a patroni zing air, and consequently did not care to have his wise counsel questioned by what he evidently considered an interloper. He therefore, after taking a complete and rath er insolent survey of the other's person, replied rather pompously :

  "Why should they turn back, say you ? Because there is danger, great danger, to them if they advance farther, as any one who is at all acquainted with this part of the country must be aware. If you had traveled it as much as /have, sir, (there was an important stress on the pronoun,) you would, I fancy, understand the value of my advice ; but young men (the speak er was about thirty) on their first hunt are apt to be very knowing and imprudent and, sir, I may add. without wishing to be personal, a little impudent also."

  Here the speaker straightened himself up with an air of importance, and glanced around upon the spectators, where he saw many a quiet smile, which he was fain to attribute to silent approvals of his own lofty and conclusive argument. The new comer also smiled slightly, as he quietly asked :

  "May I inquire, sir, how much of the country you've traveled?"

  "Thousands of miles, young man thou sands of miles, sir ! Yes, sir ! 1 have been twice to Oregon, and once to Cali fornia."

  "Is that all?"

  THE PRAIRIE FLOWER; OR

  4 Thiu all, sir ! Umpli ! that, let me tell you, is a good deal, sir, as you will find when you have gone over the half of it."

  " I think I have already at least that's my impression, "was the somewhat nettling answer, which was rendered none the less so to the speculator, by a few half suppress ed titters and one hearty laugh from the crowd.

  " Indeed ! young man. Pray be so good as to inform us where you have been ? "

  " It would be much easier to tell you whar I've not been," answered the other pleasantly. " But I may say, without fear of contradiction, that I've seen nearly every foot of ground from the Yellow Stone to the Spanish Peaks from the Mississippi to the Pacific ocean."

  " Your name, stranger ? " said the other, a little crest-fallen.

  " I'm called KIT CARSON."

  At the quiet mention of that renowned name, better known on the mountains and over the broad West than that of any other living being, and which was as familiar to me as a household word, I involuntarily gave a start of surprise, while three deaf ening cheers went up from the crowd, mingled with boisterous shouts of laughter, to the no small chagrin and mortification of the pompous speculator, who muttered something which to me sounded very much like an oath.

  Here, then, stood the famous Kit Carson! a being I had long had a secret desire to behold, but whom I had always pictured to myself as huge, rough, brawny and fe- ocious. Nor could I bring myself to re alize that the person before me was that same incarnate devil in Indian fight I had heard him represented, and who had killed and scalped more savages in the same number of years than any two hunters west of the old Mississippi.

  When the laugh and tumult had some what subsided, the stranger, anxious to escape ridicule, observed :

  " Gentlemen, I acknowledge my ver dancy, and feel myself indebted to you a treat. Kit Carson, your hand ! and how wrilJ you have yours mixed or clear ?"

  Another burst of merriment broke from tlift crowd, with three hearty cheers for the speculator and the prospect of a speedy

  " wet " all round. Suddenly the boister ous tumult subsided as if by magic, and not a man ventured a remark above a whisper, while the eyes of each became fixed upon some object on the opposite side of the square.

  " Stand back ! stand back ! She comes ! she conies! " I heard whispered on all sides of me.

  " Look, Frank look ! " said Huntly, in a suppressed voice, clutching my arm ner vously.

  I did look ; and what I beheld I feel myself incompetent to describe and do the subject justice. Before me, perfectly erect, her tiny feet scarce seeming to touch the ground she trod, was a being which required no great stretch of imagination to fancy just dropped from some celestial sphere. She was a little above medium in stature, as straight as an arrow, and with a form as symmetrical and faultless as ;i Venus. Twenty summers (I could not re alize she had ever seen a winter) had molded her features into what I may term a classic beauty, as if chiselled from mar ble by the hand of a master. Her skin was dark, but not more so than a Creole's, and with nothing of the brownish or red dish hue of the native Indian. It wai beautifully clear too, and apparently of a velvet-like softness. Her hair was a glos s
y black, and her hazel eyes were large and lustrous, fringed with long lashes, and arched by tine, pencilled brows. Her pro- tile was straight from forehead to chin, and her full face oval, lighted with a soul of feeling, fire and intelligence. A well formed mouth, guarded by two plump lips, was adorned by a beautiful set of teeth, partially displayed when she spoke or smiled. A slightly aquiline nose gave an air of decision to the whole countenance, and rendered its otherwise almost too effeminate expression, noble, lofty and commanding.

  Her costume was singular, and such as could not fail to attract universal attention. A scarlet waistcoat concealed a well devel oped bust, to which were attached short sleeves and skirts the latter coming bare ly to the knees, something after the fashion of the short frock worn by the danseuse of the present day. Thesr skirts were show ily embroidered tfith wampum, and a

  ADVENTURES IN THE FAR WEST.

  humpum belt passed around her waist, in orhicii glittered a silver-mounted Spanish dirk. From the frock downward, leggins and moccasins beautifully wrought into various figures with beads, enclosed the legs and feet. A tiara of many colored feathers, to which were attached little bells that tinkled as she walked, surmounted the head ; and a bracelet of pearl on either well rounded arm, with a necklace of the same material, completed her costume and ornaments.