CHAPTER XXV.
Substitute for Fuel on the Prairies.- Fossil Trees.- Fierceness of the Buffaloes When in
Heat.- Three Hunters Missing.- Signal Fires and Smokes.- Uneasiness Concerning the
Lost Men.- A Plan to Forestall a Rogue.- New Arrangement With Rose.- Return of the
Wanderers.
THE plains over which the travellers were journeying continued to be destitute of trees
or even shrubs; insomuch that they had to use the dung of the buffalo for fuel, as the
Arabs of the desert use that of the camel. This substitute for fuel is universal among the
Indians of these upper prairies, and is said to make a fire equal to that of turf. If a few
chips are added, it throws out a cheerful and kindly blaze.
These plains, however, had not always been equally destitute of wood, as was evident
from the trunks of the trees which the travellers repeatedly met with, some still
standing, others lying about in broken fragments, but all in a fossil state, having
flourished in times long past. In these singular remains, the original grain of the wood
was still so distinct that they could be ascertained to be the ruins of oak trees. Several
pieces of the fossil wood were selected by the men to serve as whetstones.
In this part of the journey there was no lack of provisions, for the prairies were covered
with immense herds of buffalo. These, in general, are animals of peaceful demeanor,
grazing quietly like domestic cattle; but this was the season when they are in heat, and
when the bulls are usually fierce and pugnacious. There was accordingly a universal
restlessness and commotion throughout the plain; and the amorous herds gave
utterance to their feelings in low bellowings that resounded like distant thunder. Here
and there fierce duellos took place between rival enamorados; butting their huge
shagged fronts together, goring each other with their short black horns, and tearing up
the earth with their feet in perfect fury.
In one of the evening halts, Pierre Dorion, the interpreter, together with Carson and
Gardpie, two of the hunters, were missing, nor had they returned by morning. As it was
supposed they had wandered away in pursuit of buffalo, and would readily find the
track of the party, no solicitude was felt on their account. A fire was left burning, to
guide them by its column of smoke, and the travellers proceeded on their march. In the
evening a signal fire was made on a hill adjacent to the camp, and in the morning it was
replenished with fuel so as to last throughout the day. These signals are usual among
the Indians, to give warnings to each other, or to call home straggling hunters; and
such is the transparency of the atmosphere in those elevated plains, that a slight
column of smoke can be discerned from a great distance, particularly in the evenings.
Two or three days elapsed, however, without the reappearance of the three hunters;
and Mr. Hunt slackened his march to give them time to overtake him.
A vigilant watch continued to be kept upon the movements of Rose, and of such of the
men as were considered doubtful in their loyalty; but nothing occurred to excite
immediate apprehensions. Rose evidently was not a favorite among his comrades, and
it was hoped that he had not been able to make any real partisans.
On the 10th of August they encamped among hills, on the highest peak of which Mr.
Hunt caused a huge pyre of pine wood to be made, which soon sent up a great column
of flame that might be seen far and wide over the prairies. This fire blazed all night, and
was amply replenished at daybreak; so that the towering pillar of smoke could not but
be descried by the wanderers if within the distance of a day's journey.
It is a common occurrence in these regions, where the features of the country so much
resemble each other, for hunters to lose themselves and wander for many days, before
they can find their way back to the main body of their party. In the present instance,
however, a more than common solicitude was felt, in consequence of the distrust
awakened by the sinister designs of Rose.
The route now became excessively toilsome, over a ridge of steep rocky hills, covered
with loose stones. These were intersected by deep valleys, formed by two branches of
Big River, coming from the south of west, both of which they crossed. These streams
were bordered by meadows, well stocked with buffaloes. Loads of meat were brought in
by the hunters; but the travellers were rendered dainty by profusion, and would cook
only the choice pieces.
They had now travelled for several days at a very slow rate, and had made signal-fires
and left traces of their route at every stage, yet nothing was heard or seen of the lost
men. It began to be feared that they might have fallen into the hands of some lurking
band of savages. A party numerous as that of Mr. Hunt, with a long train of pack
horses, moving across plains or naked hills, is discoverable at a great distance by
Indian scouts, who spread the intelligence rapidly to various points, and assemble their
friends to hang about the skirts of the travellers, steal their horses, or cut off any
stragglers from the main body.
Mr. Hunt and his companions were more and more sensible how much it would be in
the power of this sullen and daring vagabond Rose, to do them mischief, when they
should become entangled in the defiles of the mountains, with the passes of which they
were wholly unacquainted, and which were infested by his freebooting friends, the
Crows. There, should he succeed in seducing some of the party into his plans, he might
carry off the best horses and effects, throw himself among his savage allies, and set all
pursuit at defiance. Mr. Hunt resolved, therefore, to frustrate the knave, divert him, by
management, from his plans, and make it sufficiently advantageous for him to remain
honest.
He took occasion, accordingly, in the course of conversation, to inform Rose that,
having engaged him chiefly as a guide and interpreter through the country of the
Crows, they would not stand in need of his services beyond. Knowing, therefore, his
connection by marriage with that tribe, and his predilection for a residence among
them, they would put no restraint upon his will, but, whenever they met with a party of
that people, would leave him at liberty to remain among his adopted brethren.
Furthermore, that, in thus parting with him, they would pay him a half a year's wages in
consideration of his past services, and would give him a horse, three beaver traps, and
sundry other articles calculated to set him up in the world.
This unexpected liberality, which made it nearly as profitable and infinitely less
hazardous for Rose to remain honest than to play the rogue, completely disarmed him.
From that time his whole deportment underwent a change. His brow cleared up and
appeared more cheerful; he left off his sullen, skulking habits, and made no further
attempts to tamper with the faith of his comrades.
On the 13th of August Mr. Hunt varied his course, and inclined westward, in hopes of
falling in with the three lost hunters; who, it was now thought, might have kept to the
right hand of Big River. This course soon brought him to a fork of the Little Missouri,
about a hundred yards wide, and resembling the great river of the same name in the
strength of its current, its turbid water, and the frequency of drift-wood and sunken
trees.
Rugged mountains appeared ahead, crowding down to the water edge, and offering a
barrier to further progress on the side they were ascending. Crossing the river,
therefore, they encamped on its northwest bank, where they found good pasturage and
buffalo in abundance. The weather was overcast and rainy, and a general gloom
pervaded the camp; the voyageurs sat smoking in groups, with their shoulders as high
as their heads, croaking their foreboding, when suddenly towards evening a shout of
joy gave notice that the lost men were found. They came slowly lagging into camp, with
weary looks, and horses jaded and wayworn. They had, in fact, been for several days
incessantly on the move. In their hunting excursion on the prairies they had pushed so
far in pursuit of buffalo, as to find it impossible to retrace their steps over plains
trampled by innumerable herds; and were baffled by the monotony of the landscape in
their attempts to recall landmarks. They had ridden to and fro until they had almost lost
the points of the compass, and became totally bewildered; nor did they ever perceive
any of the signal fires and columns of smoke made by their comrades. At length, about
two days previously, when almost spent by anxiety and hard riding, they came, to their
great joy, upon the "trail" of the party, which they had since followed up steadily.
Those only who have experienced the warm cordiality that grows up between comrades
in wild and adventurous expeditions of the kind, can picture to themselves the hearty
cheering with which the stragglers were welcomed to the camp. Every one crowded
round them to ask questions, and to hear the story of their mishaps; and even the
squaw of the moody half-breed, Pierre Dorion, forgot the sternness of his domestic rule,
and the conjugal discipline of the cudgel, in her joy at his safe return.