第12章
AtthisjunctureM。Cerrearrivedattherendezvousattheheadofasupplyparty，bringing
goods
andequipmentsfromtheStates。Thisactiveleader，itwillberecollected，hadembarkedtheyear
previouslyinskin-boatsontheBighorn，freightedwiththeyear”scollectionofpeltries。Hehad
metwithmisfortuneinthecourseofhisvoyage：oneofhisfrailbarksbeingupset，andpartofthefurslostordamaged。Thearrivalofthesuppliesgavetheregularfinishtotheannualrevel。Agrandoutbreakof
wild
debauchensuedamongthemountaineers；drinking，dancing，swaggering，gambling，quarrelling，
andfighting。Alcohol，which，fromitsportablequalities，containingthegreatestquantityoffiery
spiritinthesmallestcompass，istheonlyliquorcarriedacrossthemountains，isthe
inflammatorybeverageatthesecarousals，andisdealtouttothetrappersatfourdollarsapint。
Wheninflamedbythisfierybeverage，theycutallkindsofmadpranksandgambols，and
sometimesburnalltheirclothesintheirdrunkenbravadoes。Acamp，recoveringfromoneof
these
riotousrevels，presentsaseriocomicspectacle；blackeyes，brokenheads，lack-lustrevisages。
Manyofthetrappershavesquanderedinonedrunkenfrolicthehard-earnedwagesofayear；
somehaverunindebt，andmusttoilontopayforpastpleasure。Allaresatedwiththisdeep
draughtofpleasure，andeagertocommenceanothertrappingcampaign；forhardshipandhard
work，spicedwiththestimulantsofwildadventures，andtoppedoffwithanannualfranticcarousal，isthelotoftherestlesstrapper。Thecaptainnowmadehisarrangementsforthecurrentyear。CerreandWalker，witha
number
ofmenwhohadbeentoCalifornia，weretoproceedtoSt。Louiswiththepackagesoffurs
collectedduringthepastyear。Anotherparty，headedbyaleadernamedMontero，wasto
proceedtotheCrowcountry，trapuponitsvariousstreams，andamongtheBlackHills，andthencetoproceedtotheArkansas，wherehewastogointowinterquarters。Thecaptainmarkedoutforhimselfawidelydifferentcourse。Heintendedtomakeanother
expedition，withtwenty-threementothelowerpartoftheColumbiaRiver，andtoproceedtothe
valleyoftheMultnomah；afterwinteringinthoseparts，andestablishingatradewiththosetribes，
amongwhomhehadsojournedonhisfirstvisit，hewouldreturninthespring，crosstheRocky
Mountains，andjoinMonteroandhispartyinthemonthofJuly，attherendezvousoftheArkansas；whereheexpectedtoreceivehisannualsuppliesfromtheStates。Ifthereaderwillcasthiseyeuponamap，hemayformanideaofthecontemptfordistance
whichamanacquiresinthisvastwilderness，bynoticingtheextentofcountrycomprisedin
theseprojectedwanderings。Justasthedifferentpartieswereabouttosetoutonthe3dofJuly，
ontheiroppositeroutes，CaptainBonnevillereceivedintelligencethatWyeth，theindefatigable
leaderofthesalmon-fishingenterprise，whohadpartedwithhimaboutayearpreviouslyonthe
banksoftheBighorn，todescendthatwildriverinabullboat，wasnearathand，withanew
leviedbandofhuntersandtrappers，andwasonhiswayoncemoretothebanksoftheColumbia，Aswetakemuchinterestinthenovelenterpriseofthiseasternman，“andarepleasedwith
his
pushingandperseveringspirit；andashismovementsarecharacteristicoflifeinthewilderness，
wewill，withthereader”spermission，whileCaptainBonnevilleisbreakinguphiscampand
saddlinghishorses，stepbackayearintime，andafewhundredmilesindistancetothebankof
theBighorn，andlaunchourselveswithWyethinhisbullboat；andthoughhisadventurous
voyagewilltakeusmanyhundredsofmilesfurtherdownwildandwanderingrivers；yetsuchis
themagicpowerofthepen，thatwepromisetobringthereadersafetoBearRiverValley，bythetimethelasthorseissaddled。[ReturntoContents]Irving”sBonneville-Chapter41[ReturntoContents]WashingtonIrving”sTheAdventuresofCaptainBonnevilleChapter41Avoyageinabullboat。ITwasaboutthemiddleofAugust(1833)thatMr。NathanielJ。Wyeth，asthereadermay
recollect，launchedhisbullboatatthefootoftherapidsoftheBighorn，anddepartedinadvance
ofthepartiesofCampbellandCaptainBonneville。Hisboatwasmadeofthreebuffaloskins，
stretchedonalightframe，stitchedtogether，andtheseamspaidwithelktallowandashes。It
waseighteenfeetlong，andaboutfivefeetsixincheswide，sharpateachend，witharound
bottom，anddrewaboutafootandahalfofwater-adepthtoogreatfortheseupperrivers，which
aboundwithshallowsandsand-bars。Thecrewconsistedoftwohalf-breeds，whoclaimedtobe
whitemen，thoughamixtureoftheFrenchcreoleandtheShawneeandPotawattomie。They
claimed，moreover，tobethoroughmountaineers，andfirst-ratehunters——thecommonboastof
thesevagabondsofthewilderness。Besidesthese，therewasaNezPerceladofeighteenyearsof
age，akindofservantofallwork，whosegreataim，likeallIndianservants，wastodoaslittle
workaspossible；therewas，moreover，ahalf-breedboy，ofthirteen，namedBaptiste，sonofa
Hudson”sBaytraderbyaFlatheadbeauty；whowastravellingwithWyethtoseetheworldand
completehiseducation。Addtothese，Mr。MiltonSublette，whowentaspassenger，andwehavethecrewofthelittlebullboatcomplete。Itcertainlywasaslightarmamentwithwhichtorunthegauntletthroughcountries
swarmingwith
hostilehordes，andaslightbarktonavigatetheseendlessrivers，tossingandpitchingdown
rapids，
runningonsnagsandbumpingonsand-bars；such，however，arethecockle-shellswithwhich
these
hardyroversofthewildernesswillattemptthewildeststreams；anditissurprisingwhatrough
shocksandthumpstheseboatswillendure，andwhatvicissitudestheywilllivethrough。Their
duration，however，isbutlimited；theyrequirefrequentlytobehauledoutofthewateranddried，
topreventthehidesfrombecomingwater-soaked；andtheyeventuallyrotandgotopieces。Thecourseoftheriverwasalittletothenorthofeast；itranaboutfivemilesanhour，overa
gravelly
bottom。Thebanksweregenerallyalluvial，andthicklygrownwithcottonwoodtrees，
intermingled
occasionallywithashandplumtrees。Nowandthenlimestonecliffsandpromontoriesadvanced
upontheriver，makingpicturesqueheadlands。Beyondthewoodybordersroserangesofnakedhills。MiltonSublettewasthePelorusofthisadventurousbark；beingsomewhatexperiencedin
thiswild
kindofnavigation。Itrequiredallhisattentionandskill，however，topilotherclearofsand-bars
and
snagsofsunkentrees。Therewasoften，too，aperplexityofchoice，wheretheriverbranchedinto
variouschannels，amongclustersofislands；andoccasionallythevoyagersfoundthemselves
agroundandhadtoturnback。Itwasnecessary，also，tokeepawaryeyeupontheland，fortheywerepassingthroughthe
heartof
theCrowcountry，andwerecontinuallyinreachofanyambushthatmightbelurkingonshore。
The
mostformidablefoesthattheysaw，however，werethreegrizzlybears，quietlypromenading
along
thebank，whoseemedtogazeatthemwithsurpriseastheyglidedby。Herdsofbuffalo，also，
were
movingabout，orlyingontheground，likecattleinapasture；exceptingsuchinhabitantsasthese，
aperfectsolitudereignedovertheland。Therewasnosignofhumanhabitation；fortheCrows，
as
wehavealreadyshown，areawanderingpeople，araceofhuntersandwarriors，wholiveintents
andonhorseback，andarecontinuallyonthemove。Atnighttheylanded，hauleduptheirboattodry，pitchedtheirtent，andmadearousingfire。
Then，
asitwasthefirsteveningoftheirvoyage，theyindulgedinaregale，relishingtheirbuffalobeef
with
inspiringalcohol；afterwhich，theysleptsoundly，withoutdreamingofCrowsorBlackfeet。Earlyinthemorning，theyagainlaunchedtheboatandcommittedthemselvestothestream。Inthiswaytheyvoyagedfortwodayswithoutanymaterialoccurrence，exceptingasevere
thunder
storm，whichcompelledthemtoputtoshore，andwaituntilitwaspassed。Onthethirdmorning
they
descriedsomepersonsatadistanceontheriverbank。Astheywerenow，bycalculation，atno
great
distancefromFortCass，atradingpostoftheAmericanFurCompany，theysupposedthese
might
besomeofitspeople。AnearerapproachshowedthemtobeIndians。Descryingawomanapart
from
therest，theylandedandaccostedher。SheinformedthemthatthemainforceoftheCrownation，
consistingoffivebands，undertheirseveralchiefs，werebutabouttwoorthreemilesbelow，on
their
wayupalongtheriver。Thiswasunpleasanttidings，buttoretreatwasimpossible，andtheriver
affordednohidingplace。Theycontinuedforward，therefore，trustingthat，asFortCasswasso
nearathand，theCrowsmightrefrainfromanydepredations。Floatingdownabouttwomilesfurther，theycameinsightofthefirstband，scattered
alongtheriverbank，allwellmounted；somearmedwithguns，otherswithbowsand
arrows，andafewwithlances。Theymadeawildlypicturesqueappearancemanaging
theirhorseswiththeiraccustomeddexterityandgrace。Nothingcanbemorespirited
thanabandofCrowcavaliers。Theyareafineraceofmenaveragingsixfeetin
height，litheandactive，withhawks”eyesandRomannoses。Thelatterfeatureis
commontotheIndiansontheeastsideoftheRockyMountains；thoseonthewesternsidehavegenerallystraightorflatnoses。Wyethwouldfainhaveslippedbythiscavalcadeunnoticed；buttheriver，atthisplace，was
notmore
thanninetyyardsacross；hewasperceived，therefore，andhailedbythevagabondwarriors，and，
we
presume，innoverychoicelanguage；for，amongtheirotheraccomplishments，theCrowsare
famed
forpossessingaBillingsgatevocabularyofunrivalledopulence，andforbeingbynomeans
sparing
ofitwheneveranoccasionoffers。Indeed，thoughIndiansaregenerallyverylofty，rhetorical，and
figurativeintheirlanguageatallgreattalks，andhighceremonials，yet，iftrappersandtraders
may
bebelieved，theyarethemostunsavoryvagabondsintheirordinarycolloquies；theymakeno
hesitationtocallaspadeaspade；andwhentheyonceundertaketocallhardnames，thefamous
potandkettle，ofvituperatingmemory，arenottobecomparedwiththemforscurrilityofepithet。Toescapetheinflictionofanycomplimentsofthiskind，orthelaunching，peradventure，of
more
dangerousmissiles，Wyethlandedwiththebestgraceinhispowerandapproachedthechiefof
the
band。ItwasArapooish，thequondamfriendofRosetheoutlaw，andonewhomwehavealready
mentionedasbeinganxioustopromoteafriendlyintercoursebetweenhistribeandthewhite
men。
Hewasatall，stoutman，ofgoodpresence，andreceivedthevoyagersverygraciously。His
people，
too，throngedaroundthem，andwereofficiouslyattentiveaftertheCrowfashion。Onetooka
great
fancytoBaptistetheFlatheadboy，andastillgreaterfancytoaringonhisfinger，whichhe
transposedtohisownwithsurprisingdexterity，andthendisappearedwithaquickstepamong
thecrowd。AnotherwasnolesspleasedwiththeNezPercelad，andnothingwoulddobuthemust
exchange
kniveswithhim；drawinganewknifeoutoftheNezPerce”sscabbard，andputtinganoldonein
its
place。Anothersteppedupandreplacedthisoldknifewithonestillolder，andathirdhelped
himself
toknife，scabbardandall。ItwaswithmuchdifficultythatWyethandhiscompanionsextricatedthemselvesfromtheclutchesoftheseofficiousCrowsbeforetheywereentirelyplucked。Fallingdowntheriveralittlefurther，theycameinsightofthesecondband，andsheeredto
the
oppositeside，withtheintentionofpassingthem。TheCrowswerenottobeevaded。Some
pointed
theirgunsattheboat，andthreatenedtofire；othersstripped，plungedintothestream，andcame
swimmingacross。Makingavirtueofnecessity，Wyeththrewacordtothefirstthatcamewithinreach，asifhewishedtobedrawntotheshore。Inthiswayhewasoverhauledbyeveryband，andbythetimeheandhispeoplecameoutof
thebusy
handsofthelast，theywereeasedofmostoftheirsuperfluities。Nothing，inallprobability，but
the
proximityoftheAmericantradingpost，kepttheselandpiratesfrommakingagoodprizeofthe
bullboatandallitscontents。Thesebandswereinfullmarch，equippedforwar，andevidentlyfullofmischief。They
were，infact，
theverybandsthatoverranthelandintheautumnof1833；partlyrobbedFitzpatrickofhis
horses
andeffects；huntedandharassedCaptainBonnevilleandhispeople；brokeuptheirtrapping
campaigns，and，inaword，drovethemalloutoftheCrowcountry。Ithasbeensuspectedthat
theywere
setontothesepranksbysomeoftheAmericanFurCompany，anxioustodefeattheplansof
their
rivalsoftheRockyMountainCompany；foratthistime，theircompetitionwasatitsheight，and
the
tradeoftheCrowcountrywasagreatobjectofrivalry。Whatmakesthisthemoreprobable，is，
that
theCrowsintheirdepredationseemedbynomeansbloodthirsty，butintentchieflyonrobbing
thepartiesoftheirtrapsandhorses，therebydisablingthemfromprosecutingtheirhunting。Weshouldobservethatthisyear，theRockyMountainCompanywerepushingtheirwayup
the
rivers，andestablishingrivalpostsnearthoseoftheAmericanCompany；andthat，atthevery
time
ofwhichwearespeaking，CaptainSublettewasascendingtheYellowstonewithakeelboat，
ladenwithsupplies；sothattherewaseveryprospectofthiseagerrivalshipbeingcarriedtoextremes。ThelastbandofCrowwarriorshadscarcelydisappearedinthecloudsofdusttheyhad
raised，when
ourvoyagersarrivedatthemouthoftheriverandglidedintothecurrentoftheYellowstone。
Turningdownthisstream，theymadeforFortCass，whichissituatedontherightbank，about
three
milesbelowtheBighorn。Ontheoppositesidetheybeheldapartyofthirty-onesavages，which
they
soonascertainedtobeBlackfeet。Thewidthoftheriverenabledthemtokeepatasufficient
distance，
andtheysoonlandedatFortCass。ThiswasamerefortificationagainstIndians；beingastockade
ofaboutonehundredandthirtyfeetsquare，withtwobastionsattheextremecorners。M”Tulloch，
anagentoftheAmericanCompany，wasstationedtherewithtwentymen；twoboatsoffifteen
tonsburdenwerelyinghere；butatcertainseasonsoftheyearasteamboatcancomeuptothefort。Theyhadscarcelyarrived，whentheBlackfeetwarriorsmadetheirappearanceonthe
oppositebank，
displayingtwoAmericanflagsintokenofamity。Theyplungedintotheriver，swamacross，and
werekindlyreceivedatthefort。Theyweresomeoftheverymenwhohadbeenengaged，the
year
previously，inthebattleatPierre”sHole，andafierce-lookingsetoffellowstheywere；talland
hawk-nosed，andverymuchresemblingtheCrows。Theyprofessedtobeonanamicableerrand，
tomake
peacewiththeCrows，andsetoffinallhaste，beforenight，toovertakethem。Wyethpredicted
that
theywouldlosetheirscalps；forhehadheardtheCrowsdenouncevengeanceonthem，for
having
murderedtwooftheirwarriorswhohadventuredamongthemonthefaithofatreatyofpeace。It
is
probable，however，thatthispacificerrandwasallapretence，andthattherealobjectofthe
Blackfeet
braveswastohangabouttheskirtsoftheCrowband，stealtheirhorses，andtakethescalpsofstragglers。AtFortCass，Mr。Wyethdisposedofsomepackagesofbeaver，andaquantityofbuffalo
robes。On
thefollowingmorning(August18th)，heoncemorelaunchedhisbullboat，andproceededdown
the
Yellowstone，whichinclinedinaneast-northeastdirection。Theriverhadalluvialbottoms，
fringed
withgreatquantitiesofthesweetcotton-wood，andinterruptedoccasionallyby“bluffs“of
sandstone。Thecurrentoccasionallybringsdownfragmentsofgraniteandporphyry。Inthecourseoftheday，theysawsomethingmovingonthebankamongthetrees，which
they
mistookforgameofsomekind；and，beinginwantofprovisions，pulledtowardshore。They
discovered，justintime，apartyofBlackfeet，lurkinginthethickets，andsheered，withallspeed，
totheoppositesideoftheriver。Afteratime，theycameinsightofagangofelk。Wyethwasimmediatelyforpursuingthem，
rifle
inhand，butsawevidentsignsofdissatisfactioninhishalf-breedhunters；whoconsideredhimas
trenchingupontheirprovince，andmeddlingwiththingsquiteabovehiscapacity；forthese
veterans
ofthewildernessareexceedinglypragmatical，onpointsofveneryandwoodcraft，andtenacious
of
theirsuperiority；lookingdownwithinfinitecontemptuponallrawbeginners。Thetwoworthies，
therefore，salliedforththemselves，butafteratimereturnedempty-handed。Theylaidtheblame，
however，entirelyontheirguns；twomiserableoldpieceswithflintlocks，which，withalltheir
pickingandhammering，werecontinuallyapttomissfire。Thesegreatboastersofthewilderness，
however，areveryoftenexceedingbadshots，andfortunateitisforthemwhentheyhaveoldflintgunstobeartheblame。Thenextdaytheypassedwhereagreatherdofbuffalowasbellowingonaprairie。Again
theCastor
andPolluxofthewildernesssalliedforth，andagaintheirflintgunswereatfault，andmissedfire，
andnothingwentoffbutthebuffalo。Wyethnowfoundtherewasdangeroflosinghisdinnerif
he
dependeduponhishunters；hetookrifleinhand，therefore，andwentforthhimself。Inthecourse
of
anhourhereturnedladenwithbuffalomeat，tothegreatmortificationofthetworegularhunters，whowereannoyedatbeingeclipsedbyagreenhorn。Allhandsnowsettoworktopreparethemiddayrepast。Afirewasmadeunderanimmense
cotton-woodtree，thatovershadowedabeautifulpieceofmeadowland；richmorselsofbuffalo
humpwere
soonroastingbeforeit；inaheartyandprolongedrepast，thetwounsuccessfulhuntersgradually
recoveredfromtheirmortification；threatenedtodiscardtheiroldflintgunsassoonasthey
should
reachthesettlements，andboastedmorethaneverofthewonderfulshotstheyhadmade，when
theyhadgunsthatnevermissedfire。Havinghauleduptheirboattodryinthesun，previoustomakingtheirrepast，thevoyagers
nowset
itoncemoreafloat，andproceededontheirway。Theyhadconstructedasailoutoftheiroldtent，
whichtheyhoistedwheneverthewindwasfavorable，andthusskimmedalongdownthestream。
Theirvoyagewaspleasant，notwithstandingtheperilsbyseaandland，withwhichtheywere
environed。Whenevertheycouldtheyencampedonislandsforthegreatersecurity。Ifonthe
mainland，andinadangerousneighborhood，theywouldshifttheircampafterdark，leavingtheir
fire
burning，droppingdowntheriversomedistance，andmakingnofireattheirsecondencampment。
Sometimestheywouldfloatallnightwiththecurrent；onekeepingwatchandsteeringwhilethe
rest
slept。insuchcase，theywouldhaultheirboatonshore，atnoonofthefollowingdaytodry；fornotwithstandingeveryprecaution，shewasgraduallygettingwater-soakedandrotten。Therewassomethingpleasinglysolemnandmysteriousinthusfloatingdownthesewild
riversat
night。Thepurityoftheatmosphereintheseelevatedregionsgaveadditionalsplendortothe
stars，
andheightenedthemagnificenceofthefirmament。Theoccasionalrushandlavingofthewaters；
the
vaguesoundsfromthesurroundingwilderness；thedrearyhowl，orratherwhineofwolvesfrom
the
plains；thelowgruntingandbellowingofthebuffalo，andtheshrillneighingoftheelk，struck
theearwithaneffectunknowninthedaytime。Thetwoknowinghuntershadscarcelyrecoveredfromonemortificationwhentheywere
fatedto
experienceanother。Astheboatwasglidingswiftlyroundalowpromontory，thinlycoveredwith
trees，oneofthemgavethealarmofIndians。Theboatwasinstantlyshovedfromshoreandevery
onecaughtuphisrifle。“Wherearethey？“criedWyeth。
“There——there！ridingonhorseback！“criedoneofthehunters。
“Yes；withwhitescarfson！“criedtheother。Wyethlookedinthedirectiontheypointed，butdescriednothingbuttwobaldeagles，
perchedona
lowdrybranchbeyondthethickets，andseeming，fromtherapidmotionoftheboat，tobe
moving
swiftlyinanoppositedirection。Thedetectionofthisblunderinthetwoveterans，whoprided
themselvesonthesurenessandquicknessoftheirsight，producedaheartylaughattheirexpense，
andputanendtotheirvauntings。TheYellowstone，abovetheconfluenceoftheBighorn，isaclearstream；itswaterswere
now
graduallygrowingturbid，andassumingtheyellowclaycoloroftheMissouri。Thecurrentwas
about
fourmilesanhour，withoccasionalrapids；someofthemdangerous，butthevoyagerspassed
them
allwithoutaccident。Thebanksoftheriverwereinmanyplacesprecipitouswithstrataofbituminouscoal。Theynowenteredaregionaboundingwithbuffalo——thatever-journeyinganimal，which
movesin
countlessdrovesfrompointtopointofthevastwilderness；traversingplains，pouringthroughthe
intricatedefilesofmountains，swimmingrivers，everonthemove，guidedonitsboundless
migrationsbysometraditionaryknowledge，likethefinnytribesoftheocean，which，atcertainseasons，findtheirmysteriouspathsacrossthedeepandrevisittheremotestshores。Thesegreatmigratoryherdsofbuffalohavetheirhereditarypathsandhighways，worndeep
through
thecountry，andmakingforthesurestpassesofthemountains，andthemostpracticablefordsof
the
rivers。Whenonceagreatcolumnisinfullcareer，itgoesstraightforward，regardlessofallobstacles；thoseinfrontbeingimpelledbythemovingmassbehind。Atsuchtimestheywillbreakthroughacamp，tramplingdowneverythingintheircourse。Itwasthelotofthevoyagers，onenight，toencampatoneofthesebuffalolandingplaces，
and
exactlyonthetrail。Theyhadnotbeenlongasleep，whentheywereawakenedbyagreat
bellowing，
andtramping，andtherush，andsplash，andsnortingofanimalsintheriver。Theyhadjusttimeto
ascertainthatabuffaloarmywasenteringtheriverontheoppositeside，andmakingtowardthe
landingplace。Withallhastetheymovedtheirboatandshiftedtheircamp，bywhichtimethe
headofthecolumnhadreachedtheshore，andcamepressingupthebank。Itwasasingularspectacle，bytheuncertainmoonlight，tobeholdthiscountlessthrong
makingtheir
wayacrosstheriver，blowing，andbellowing，andsplashing。Sometimestheypassinsuchdense
and
continuouscolumnastoformatemporarydamacrosstheriver，thewatersofwhichriseandrush
overtheirbacks，orbetweentheirsquadrons。Theroaringandrushingsoundofoneofthesevastherdscrossingariver，maysometimesinastillnightbeheardformiles。Thevoyagersnowhadgameinprofusion。Theycouldkillasmanybuffaloesasthey
pleased，and，occasionally，werewantonintheirhavoc；especiallyamongscattered
herds，thatcameswimmingneartheboat。Ononeoccasion，anoldbuffalobullapproachedso
nearthatthehalf-breedsmustfaintrytonoosehimastheywouldawild
horse。Thenoosewassuccessfullythrownaroundhishead，andsecuredhimbythe
horns，andtheynowpromisedthemselvesamplesport。Thebuffalomadeprodigious
turmoilinthewater，bellowing，andblowing，andfloundering；andtheyallfloated
downthestreamtogether。Atlengthhefoundfootholdonasandbar，andtakingtohis
heels，whirledtheboatafterhimlikeawhalewhenharpooned；sothatthehunters
wereobligedtocastofftheirrope，withwhichstrangehead-gearthevenerablebullmadeofftotheprairies。Onthe24thofAugust，thebullboatemerged，withitsadventurouscrew，intothebroad
bosomof
themightyMissouri。Here，aboutsixmilesabovethemouthoftheYellowstone，thevoyagers
landed
atFortUnion，thedistributingpostoftheAmericanFurCompanyinthewesterncountry。Itwas
a
stockadedfortress，abouttwohundredandtwentyfeetsquare，pleasantlysituatedonahighbank。
HeretheywerehospitablyentertainedbyMr。M”Kenzie，thesuperintendent，andremainedwith
him
threedays，enjoyingtheunusualluxuriesofbread，butter，milk，andcheese，forthefortwaswell
suppliedwithdomesticcattle，thoughithadnogarden。Theatmosphereoftheseelevatedregions
is
saidtobetoodryforthecultureofvegetables；yetthevoyagers，incomingdownthe
Yellowstone，
hadmetwithplums，grapes，cherries，andcurrants，andhadobservedashandelmtrees。Where
thesegrowtheclimatecannotbeincompatiblewithgardening。AtFortUnion，Wyethmetwithamelancholymementoofoneofhismen。Thiswasa
powder-flask，
whichaclerkhadpurchasedfromaBlackfootwarrior。ItboretheinitialsofpoorMore，the
unfortunateyouthmurderedtheyearpreviously，atJackson”sHole，bytheBlackfeet，andwhose
boneshadbeensubsequentlyfoundbyCaptainBonneville。Thisflaskhadeitherbeenpassed
from
handtohandoftheyouth，or，perhaps，hadbeenbroughttothefortbytheverysavagewhoslewhim。Asthebullboatwasnownearlywornout，andaltogetherunfitforthebroaderandmore
turbulent
streamoftheMissouri，itwasgivenup，andacanoeofcottonwood，abouttwentyfeetlong，
fabricatedbytheBlackfeet，waspurchasedtosupplyitsplace。InthisWyethhoistedhissail，and
biddingadieutothehospitablesuperintendentofFortUnion，turnedhisprowtotheeast，andset
offdowntheMissouri。Hehadnotproceededmanyhours，before，intheevening，hecametoalargekeelboatat
anchor。It
provedtobetheboatofCaptainWilliamSublette，freightedwithmunitionsforcarryingona
powerfuloppositiontotheAmericanFurCompany。Thevoyagerswentonboard，wherethey
were
treatedwiththeheartyhospitalityofthewilderness，andpassedasocialevening，talkingover
pastscenesandadventures，andespeciallythememorablefightatPierre”sHole。HereMiltonSublettedeterminedtogiveupfurthervoyaginginthecanoe，andremainwith
his
brother；accordingly，inthemorning，thefellow-voyagerstookkindleaveofeachother。and
Wyeth
continuedonhiscourse。Therewasnownooneonboardofhisboatthathadevervoyagedonthe
Missouri；itwas，however，allplainsailingdownthestream，withoutanychanceofmissingtheway。Alldaythevoyagerspulledgentlyalong，andlandedintheeveningandsupped；then
re-embarking，
theysufferedthecanoetofloatdownwiththecurrent；takingturnstowatchandsleep。Thenight
was
calmandserene；theelkkeptupacontinualwhinnyingorsquealing，beingthecommencement
of
theseasonwhentheyareinheat。Inthemidstofthenightthecanoestruckonasand-bar，andall
handswererousedbytherushandroarofthewildwaters，whichbrokearoundher。Theywere
all
obligedtojumpoverboard，andworkhardtogetheroff，whichwasaccomplishedwithmuchdifficulty。Inthecourseofthefollowingdaytheysawthreegrizzlybearsatdifferenttimesalongthe
bank。The
lastonewasonapointofland，andwasevidentlymakingfortheriver，toswimacross。Thetwo
half-breedhunterswerenoweagertorepeatthemanoeuvreofthenoose；promisingtoentrap
Bruin，and
haveraresportinstranglinganddrowninghim。Theironlyfearwas，thathemighttakefrightand
returntolandbeforetheycouldgetbetweenhimandtheshore。Holdingback，therefore，untilhe
wasfairlycommittedinthecentreofthestream，theythenpulledforwardwithmightandmain，
so
astocutoffhisretreat，andtakehimintherear。Oneoftheworthiesstationedhimselfinthe
bow，
withthecordandslip-noose，theother，withtheNezPerce，managedthepaddles。Therewas
nothing
furtherfromthethoughtsofhonestBruin，however，thantobeataretreat。Justasthecanoewas
drawingnear，heturnedsuddenlyroundandmadeforit，withahorriblesnarlandatremendous
show
ofteeth。Theaffrightedhuntercalledtohiscomradestopaddleoff。Scarcehadtheyturnedthe
boat
whenthebearlaidhisenormousclawsonthegunwale，andattemptedtogetonboard。Thecanoe
wasnearlyoverturned，andadelugeofwatercamepouringoverthegunwale。Allwasclamor，
terror，andconfusion。Everyonebawledout-thebearroaredandsnarled-onecaughtupagun；
but
waterhadrenderedituseless。Othershandledtheirpaddlesmoreeffectually，andbeatingold
Bruin
abouttheheadandclaws，obligedhimtorelinquishhishold。Theynowpliedtheirpaddleswith
mightandmain，thebearmadethebestofhiswaytoshore，andsoendedthesecondexploitof
thenoose；thehuntersdeterminedtohavenomorenavalcontestswithgrizzlybears。ThevoyagerswerenowoutofrangeofCrowsandBlack-feet；buttheywereapproaching
the
countryoftheRees，orArickaras；atribenolessdangerous；andwhowere，generally，hostiletosmallparties。Inpassingthroughtheircountry，Wyethlaidbyallday，anddriftedquietlydowntheriverat
night。
Inthiswayhepassedon，untilhesupposedhimselfsafelythroughtheregionofdanger；whenhe
resumedhisvoyageintheopenday。Onthe3dofSeptemberhehadlanded，atmidday，todine；
and
whilesomeweremakingafire，oneofthehuntersmountedahighbanktolookoutforgame。He
had
scarceglancedhiseyeround，whenheperceivedhorsesgrazingontheoppositesideoftheriver。
Crouchingdownheslunkbacktothecamp，andreportedwhathehadseen。Onfurther
reconnoitering，thevoyagerscountedtwenty-onelodges；andfromthenumberofhorses，
computed
thattheremustbenearlyahundredIndiansencampedthere。Theynowdrewtheirboat，withall
speedandcaution，intoathicketofwaterwillows，andremainedcloselyconcealedallday。As
soon
asthenightclosedintheyre-embarked。Themoonwouldriseearly；sothattheyhadbutabout
two
hoursofdarknesstogetpastthecamp。Thenight，however，wascloudy，withablusteringwind。
Silently，andwithmuffledoars，theyglideddowntheriver，keepingcloseundertheshore
opposite
tothecamp；watchingitsvariouslodgesandfires，andthedarkformspassingtoandfrobetween
them。Suddenly，onturningapointofland，theyfoundthemselvescloseuponacampontheir
own
sideoftheriver。Itappearedthatnotmorethanonehalfofthebandhadcrossed。Theywere
within
afewyardsoftheshore；theysawdistinctlythesavages——somestanding，somelyingroundthe
fire。
Horsesweregrazingaround。Somelodgesweresetup，othershadbeensentacrosstheriver。The
red
glareofthefiresuponthesewildgroupsandharshfaces，contrastedwiththesurrounding
darkness，
hadastartlingeffect，asthevoyagerssuddenlycameuponthescene。Thedogsofthecamp
perceivedthem，andbarked；buttheIndians。fortunately，tooknoheedoftheirclamor。Wyeth
instantlysheeredhisboatoutintothestream；when，unluckilyitstruckuponasand-bar，and
stuck
fast。Itwasaperilousandtryingsituation；forhewasfixedbetweenthetwocamps，andwithin
rifle
rangeofboth。Allhandsjumpedoutintothewater，andtriedtogettheboatoff；butasnoone
dared
togivetheword，theycouldnotpulltogether，andtheirlaborwasinvain。Inthiswaythey
labored
foralongtime；untilWyeththoughtofgivingasignalforageneralheave，byliftinghishat。The
expedientsucceeded。Theylaunchedtheircanoeagainintodeepwater，andgettingin，hadthe
delightofseeingthecampfiresofthesavagessoonfadinginthedistance。Theycontinuedunderwaythegreaterpartofthenight，untilfarbeyondalldangerfromthis
band，whentheypulledtoshore，andencamped。Thefollowingdaywaswindy，andtheycamenearupsettingtheirboatincarryingsail。
Toward
evening，thewindsubsidedandabeautifulcalmnightsucceeded。Theyfloatedalongwiththe
current
throughoutthenight，takingturnstowatchandsteer。Thedeepstillnessofthenightwas
occasionallyinterruptedbytheneighingoftheelk，thehoarselowingofthebuffalo，thehooting
of
largeowls，andthescreechingofthesmallones，nowandthenthesplashofabeaver，orthe
gonglikesoundoftheswan。Partoftheirvoyagewasextremelytempestuous；withhighwinds，tremendousthunder，and
soaking
rain；andtheywererepeatedlyinextremedangerfromdrift-woodandsunkentrees。Onone
occasion，havingcontinuedtofloatatnight，afterthemoonwasdown，theyranunderagreat
snag，
orsunkentree，withdrybranchesabovethewater。Thesecaughtthemast，whiletheboatswung
round，broadsidetothestream，andbegantofillwithwater。Nothingsavedherfromtotalwreck，
but
cuttingawaythemast。Shethendrovedownthestream，butleftoneoftheunluckyhalf-breeds
clingingtothesnag，likeamonkeytoapole。Itwasnecessarytoruninshore，toilup，
laboriously，
alongtheeddiesandtoattainsomedistanceabovethesnag，whentheylaunchedforthagaininto
thestreamandfloateddownwithittohisrescue。Weforbeartodetailallthecircumstancesandadventuresofupwardofamonthsvoyage，
downthe
windingsanddoublingsofthisvastriver；inthecourseofwhichtheystoppedoccasionallyata
post
ofoneoftherivalfurcompanies，oratagovernmentagencyforanIndiantribe。Neithershallwe
dwelluponthechangesofclimateandproductions，asthevoyagerssweptdownfromnorthto
south，
acrossseveraldegreesoflatitude；arrivingattheregionsofoaksandsycamores；ofmulberryand
basswoodtrees；ofparoquetsandwildturkeys。Thisisoneofthecharacteristicsofthemiddle
and
lowerpartoftheMissouri；butstillmoresooftheMississippi，whoserapidcurrenttraversesa
successionoflatitudessoasinafewdaystofloatthevoyageralmostfromthefrozenregionsto
thetropics。ThevoyageofWyethshowstheregularandunobstructedflowoftherivers，ontheeastside
ofthe
RockyMountains，incontrasttothoseofthewesternside；whererocksandrapidscontinually
menaceandobstructthevoyager。Wefindhiminafrailbarkofskins，launchinghimselfina
stream
atthefootoftheRockyMountains，andfloatingdownfromrivertoriver，astheyempty
themselves
intoeachother；andsohemighthavekeptonupwardoftwothousandmiles，untilhislittlebark
shoulddriftintotheocean。AtpresentweshallstopwithhimatCantonmentLeavenworth，thefrontierpostoftheUnitedStates；wherehearrivedonthe27thofSeptember。HerehisfirstcarewastohavehisNezPerceIndian，andhishalf-breedboy，Baptiste，
vaccinated。
Astheyapproachedthefort，theywerehailedbythesentinel。Thesightofasoldierinfullarray，
with
whatappearedtobealongknifeglitteringontheendofamusket，struckBaptistewithsuch
affright
thathetooktohisheels，bawlingformercyatthetopofhisvoice。TheNezPercewouldhave
followedhim，hadnotWyethassuredhimofhissafety。Whentheyunderwenttheoperationof
the
lancet，thedoctor”swifeandanotherladywerepresent；bothbeautifulwomen。Theywerethe
first
whitewomenthattheyhadseen，andtheycouldnotkeeptheireyesoffofthem。Onreturningto
the
boat，theyrecountedtotheircompanionsallthattheyhadobservedatthefort；butwere
especially
eloquentaboutthewhitesquaws，who，theysaid，werewhiteassnow，andmorebeautifulthan
anyhumanbeingtheyhadeverbeheld。WeshallnotaccompanythecaptainanyfurtherinhisVoyage；butwillsimplystatethathe
made
hiswaytoBoston，wherehesucceededinorganizinganassociationunderthenameof“The
ColumbiaRiverFishingandTradingCompany，“forhisoriginalobjectsofasalmonfisheryand
a
tradeinfurs。Abrig，theMayDacres，hadbeendispatchedfortheColumbiawith
supplies；andhe
wasnowonhiswaytothesamepoint，attheheadofsixtymen，whomhehadenlistedatSt。
Louis；
someofwhomwereexperiencedhunters，andallmorehabituatedtothelifeofthewilderness
thanhisfirstbandof“down-easters。”WewillnowreturntoCaptainBonnevilleandhisparty，whomweleft，makinguptheir
packsand
saddlingtheirhorses，inBearRiverValley。[ReturntoContents]Irving”sBonneville-Chapter42[ReturntoContents]WashingtonIrving”sTheAdventuresofCaptainBonnevilleChapter42DepartureofCaptainBonnevillefortheColumbia——AdvanceofWyeth——Effortstokeepthe
lead——Hudson”sBayparty——Ajunketing——Adelectablebeverage——Honeyandalcohol——High
carousing——TheCanadian“bonvivant“——Acache——Arapidmove——Wyethandhisplans——Histravellingcompanions——Buffalohunting——Moreconviviality——Aninterruption。ITwasthe3dofJulythatCaptainBonnevillesetoutonhissecondvisittothebanksofthe
Columbia，
attheheadoftwenty-threemen。Hetravelledleisurely，tokeephishorsesfresh，untilonthe10th
of
JulyascoutbroughtwordthatWyeth，withhisband，wasbutfiftymilesintherear，andpushing
forwardwithallspeed。Thiscausedsomebustleinthecamp；foritwasimportanttogetfirstto
the
buffalogroundtosecureprovisionsforthejourney。Asthehorsesweretooheavilyladentotravel
fast，acachewasdigged，aspromptlyaspossible，toreceiveallsuperfluousbaggage。Justasit
was
finished，aspringburstoutoftheearthatthebottom。Anothercachewasthereforedigged，about
two
milesfurtheron；when，astheywereabouttoburytheeffects，alineofhorsemenwith
pack-horses，wereseenstreakingovertheplain，andencampedcloseby。ItprovedtobeasmallbandintheserviceoftheHudson”sBayCompany，underthe
commandofa
veteranCanadian；oneofthosepettyleaders，who，withasmallpartyofmen，andasmallsupply
of
goods，areemployedtofollowupabandofIndiansfromonehuntinggroundtoanother，andbuy
uptheirpeltries。HavingreceivednumerouscivilitiesfromtheHudson”sBayCompany，thecaptainsentan
invitation
totheofficersofthepartytoaneveningregale；andsettoworktomakejovialpreparations。As
the
nightairintheseelevatedregionsisapttobecold，ablazingfirewassoonmade，thatwouldhave
donecredittoaChristmasdinner，insteadofamidsummerbanquet。Thepartiesmetinhigh
good-fellowship。Therewasabundanceofsuchhunters”fareastheneighborhoodfurnished；andit
wasall
discussedwithmountainappetites。Theytalkedoveralltheeventsoftheirlatecampaigns；butthe
Canadianveteranhadbeenunluckyinsomeofhistransactions；andhisbrowbegantogrow
cloudy。
CaptainBonnevilleremarkedhisrisingspleen，andregrettedthathehadnojuiceofthegrapeto
keepitdown。Aman”swit，however，isquickandinventiveinthewilderness；athoughtsuggesteditselfto
the
captain，howhemightbrewadelectablebeverage。Amonghisstoreswasakegofhoneybuthalf
exhausted。Thishefilledupwithalcohol，andstirredthefieryandmellifluousingredientstogether。
Thegloriousresultsmayreadilybeimagined；ahappycompoundofstrengthandsweetness，
enoughtosoothethemostruffledtemperandunsettlethemostsolidunderstanding。