Theforegoingobservations，thoughgatheredfromMr。WyethasrelativetotheFlatheads，
apply，
inthemain，totheSkynsesalso。CaptainBonneville，duringhissojournwiththelatter，took
constantoccasion，inconversingwiththeirprincipalmen，toencouragetheminthecultivationof
moralandreligioushabits；drawingacomparisonbetweentheirpeaceableandcomfortable
course
oflifeandthatofothertribes，andattributingittotheirsuperiorsenseofmoralityandreligion。
He
frequentlyattendedtheirreligiousservices，withhispeople；alwaysenjoiningonthelatterthe
most
reverentialdeportment；andheobservedthatthepoorIndianswerealwayspleasedtohavethe
whitemenpresent。Thedispositionofthesetribesisevidentlyfavorabletoaconsiderabledegreeofcivilization。
Afew
farmerssettledamongthemmightleadthem，CaptainBonnevillethinks，totilltheearthand
cultivategrain；thecountryoftheSkynsesandNezPercesisadmirablyadaptedfortheraisingof
cattle。AChristianmissionaryortwo，andsometriflingassistancefromgovernment，toprotect
them
fromthepredatoryandwarliketribes，mightlaythefoundationofaChristianpeopleinthemidstofthegreatwesternwilderness，whowould“weartheAmericansneartheirhearts。”Wemustnotomittoobserve，however，inqualificationofthesanctityofthisSabbathinthe
wilderness，thatthesetribeswhoareallardentlyaddictedtogamblingandhorseracing，make
Sunday
apeculiardayforrecreationsofthekind，notdeemingtheminanywiseoutofseason。After
prayers
andpiousceremoniesareover，thereisscarceanhourintheday，saysCaptainBonneville，that
you
donotseeseveralhorsesracingatfullspeed；andineverycornerofthecamparegroupsof
gamblers，readytostakeeverythingupontheall-absorbinggameofhand。TheIndians，says
Wyeth，
appeartoenjoytheiramusementswithmorezestthanthewhites。Theyaregreatgamblers；and
inproportiontotheirmeans，playbolderandbethigherthanwhitemen。Thecultivationofthereligiousfeeling，abovenoted，amongthesavages，hasbeenattimesa
convenientpolicywithsomeofthemoreknowingtraders；whohavederivedgreatcreditand
influenceamongthembybeingconsidered“medicinemen；“thatis，mengiftedwithmysterious
knowledge。Thisfeelingisalsoattimesplayeduponbyreligiouscharlatans，whoaretobefound
insavageaswellascivilizedlife。OneofthesewasnotedbyWyeth，duringhissojournamong
the
Flat-heads。Anewgreatman，sayshe，isrisinginthecamp，whoaimsatpowerandsway。He
covers
hisdesignsundertheamplecloakofreligion；inculcatingsomenewdoctrinesandceremonials
amongthosewhoaremoresimplethanhimself。Hehasalreadymadeproselytesofone-fifthof
the
camp；beginningbyworkingonthewomen，thechildren，andtheweak-minded。Hisfollowers
are
alldancingontheplain，totheirownvocalmusic。Themoreknowingonesofthetribelookon
and
laugh；thinkingitalltoofoolishtodoharm；buttheywillsoonfindthatwomen，children，and
fools，
formalargemajorityofeverycommunity，andtheywillhave，eventually，tofollowthenew
light，
orbeconsideredamongtheprofane。Assoonasapreacherorpseudoprophetofthekindgets
followersenough，heeithertakescommandofthetribe，orbranchesoffandsetsupan
independent
chiefand“medicineman。”[ReturntoContents]Irving”sBonneville-Chapter46[ReturntoContents]WashingtonIrving”sTheAdventuresofCaptainBonnevilleChapter46Scarcityinthecamp——RefusalofsuppliesbytheHudson”sBayCompany——Conductofthe
Indians——
Ahungryretreat——JohnDay”sRiver——TheBlueMountains——SalmonfishingonSnakeRiver——
MessengersfromtheCrowcountry——BearRiverValley——immensemigrationofbuffalo——
Dangerofbuffalohunting——AwoundedIndian——EutawIndians——A“surround“ofantelopes。PROVISIONSwerenowgrowingscantyinthecamp，andCaptainBonnevillefoundit
necessaryto
seekanewneighborhood。Takingleave，therefore，ofhisfriends，theSkynses，hesetofftothe
westward，and，crossingalowrangeofmountains，encampedonthehead-watersoftheOttolais。
BeingnowwithinthirtymilesofFortWallah-Wallah，thetradingpostoftheHudson”sBay
Company，
hesentasmalldetachmentofmenthithertopurchasecornforthesubsistenceofhisparty。The
men
werewellreceivedatthefort；butallsuppliesfortheircampwereperemptorilyrefused。Tempting
offersweremadethem，however，iftheywouldleavetheirpresentemploy，andenterintothe
serviceofthecompany；buttheywerenottobeseduced。WhenCaptainBonnevillesawhismessengersreturnempty-handed，heorderedaninstant
move，
fortherewasimminentdangeroffamine。HepushedforwarddownthecourseoftheOttolais，
which
runsdiagonaltotheColumbia，andfallsintoitaboutfiftymilesbelowtheWallah-Wallah。His
route
laythroughabeautifulundulatingcountry，coveredwithhorsesbelongingtotheSkynses，who
sentthemthereforpasturage。OnreachingtheColumbia，CaptainBonnevillehopedtoopenatradewiththenatives，for
fishand
otherprovisions，buttohissurprisetheykeptaloof，andevenhidthemselvesonhisapproach。He
soondiscoveredthattheywereundertheinfluenceoftheHudson”sBayCompany，whohad
forbidden
themtotrade，orholdanycommunionwithhim。HeproceededalongtheColumbia，butitwas
everywherethesame；notanarticleofprovisionswastobeobtainedfromthenatives，andhewas
at
lengthobligedtokillacoupleofhishorsestosustainhisfamishingpeople。Henowcametoa
halt，
andconsultedwhatwastobedone。ThebroadandbeautifulColumbialaybeforethem，smooth
and
unruffledasamirror；alittlemorejourneyingwouldtakethemtoitslowerregion；tothenoble
valley
oftheWallamut，theirprojectedwinterquarters。Toadvanceunderpresentcircumstanceswould
be
tocourtstarvation。Theresourcesofthecountrywerelockedagainstthem，bytheinfluenceofa
jealousandpowerfulmonopoly。IftheyreachedtheWallamut，theycouldscarcelyhopetoobtain
sufficientsuppliesforthewinter；iftheylingeredanylongerinthecountrythesnowswould
gatherupon
themountainsandcutofftheirretreat。Byhasteningtheirreturn，theywouldbeabletoreachthe
Blue
Mountainsjustintimetofindtheelk，thedeer，andthebighorn；andaftertheyhadsupplied
themselveswithprovisions，theymightpushthroughthemountainsbeforetheywereentirely
blockedby
snow。Influencedbytheseconsiderations，CaptainBonnevillereluctantlyturnedhisbackasecond
timeontheColumbia，andsetofffortheBlueMountains。HetookhiscourseupJohnDay”s
River，
socalledfromoneofthehuntersintheoriginalAstorianenterprise。Asfaminewasathisheels，he
travelledfast，andreachedthemountainsbythe1stofOctober。Heenteredbytheopeningmade
by
JohnDay”sRiver；itwasaruggedanddifficultdefile，butheandhismenhadbecomeaccustomed
to
hardscramblesofthekind。Fortunately，theSeptemberrainshadextinguishedthefireswhich
recently
spreadovertheseregions；andthemountains，nolongerwrappedinsmoke，nowrevealedalltheirgrandeurandsublimitytotheeye。Theyweredisappointedintheirexpectationoffindingabundantgameinthemountains；
largebands
ofthenativeshadpassedthrough，returningfromtheirfishingexpeditions，andhaddrivenallthe
gamebeforethem。Itwasonlynowandthenthatthehunterscouldbringinsufficienttokeepthepartyfromstarvation。Toaddtotheirdistress，theymistooktheirroute，andwanderedfortendaysamonghigh
andbald
hillsofclay。Atlength，aftermuchperplexity，theymadetheirwaytothebanksofSnakeRiver，followingthecourseofwhich，theyweresuretoreachtheirplaceofdestination。Itwasthe20thofOctoberwhentheyfoundthemselvesoncemoreuponthisnoted
stream。The
Shoshokoes，whomtheyhadmetwithinsuchscantynumbersontheirjourneydowntheriver，
now
absolutelythrongeditsbankstoprofitbytheabundanceofsalmon，andlayupastockforwinter
provisions。Scaffoldswereeverywhereerected，andimmensequantitiesoffishdryinguponthem。
At
thisseasonoftheyear，however，thesalmonareextremelypoor，andthetravellersneededtheir
keensauceofhungertogivethemarelish。Insomeplacestheshoreswerecompletelycoveredwithastratumofdeadsalmon，
exhaustedinascendingtheriver，ordestroyedatthefalls；thefetidodorofwhichtaintedtheair。Itwasnotuntilthetravellersreachedthehead-watersofthePortneufthattheyreallyfound
themselvesinaregionofabundance。Herethebuffaloeswereinimmenseherds；andherethey
remainedforthreedays，slayingandcooking，andfeasting，andindemnifyingthemselvesbyan
enormouscarnival，foralongandhungryLent。Theirhorses，too，foundgoodpasturage，and
enjoyedalittlerestafteraseverespellofhardtravelling。Duringthisperiod，twohorsemenarrivedatthecamp，whoprovedtobemessengerssent
express
forsuppliesfromMontero”sparty；whichhadbeensenttobeatuptheCrowcountryandthe
Black
Hills，andtowinterontheArkansas。Theyreportedthatallwaswellwiththeparty，butthatthey
had
notbeenabletoaccomplishthewholeoftheirmission，andwerestillintheCrowcountry，where
they
shouldremainuntiljoinedbyCaptainBonnevilleinthespring。Thecaptainretainedthe
messengers
withhimuntilthe17thofNovember，when，havingreachedthecachesonBearRiver，and
procured
thencetherequiredsupplies，hesentthembacktotheirparty；appointingarendezvoustowardthelastofJunefollowing，ontheforksofWindRiverValley，intheCrowcountry。Henowremainedseveraldaysencampednearthecaches，andhavingdiscoveredasmall
bandof
Shoshoniesinhisneighborhood，purchasedfromthemlodges，furs，andotherarticlesofwintercomfort，andarrangedwiththemtoencamptogetherduringthewinter。TheplacedesignedbythecaptainforthewinteringgroundwasontheupperpartofBear
River，
somedistanceoff。Hedelayedapproachingitaslongaspossible，inordertoavoiddrivingoffthe
buffaloes，whichwouldbeneededforwinterprovisions。Heaccordinglymovedforwardbut
slowly，
merelyasthewantofgameandgrassobligedhimtoshifthisposition。Theweatherhadalready
becomeextremelycold，andthesnowlaytoaconsiderabledepth。Toenablethehorsestocarryas
muchdriedmeataspossible，hecausedacachetobemade，inwhichallthebaggagethatcouldbe
sparedwasdeposited。Thisdone，thepartycontinuedtomoveslowlytowardtheirwinterquarters。Theywerenotdoomed，however，tosufferfromscarcityduringthepresentwinter。The
people
uponSnakeRiverhavingchasedoffthebuffaloesbeforethesnowhadbecomedeep，immense
herds
nowcametroopingoverthemountains；formingdarkmassesontheirsides，fromwhichtheir
deep-mouthedbellowingsoundedlikethelowpealsandmutteringsfromagathering
thunder-cloud。In
effect，thecloudbroke，anddowncamethetorrentthunderingintothevalley。Itisutterly
impossible，
accordingtoCaptainBonneville，toconveyanideaoftheeffectproducedbythesightofsuch
countlessthrongsofanimalsofsuchbulkandspirit，allrushingforwardasifsweptonbyawhirlwind。Thelongprivationwhichthetravellershadsufferedgaveuncommonardortotheirpresent
hunting。
OneoftheIndiansattachedtotheparty，findinghimselfonhorsebackinthemidstofthe
buffaloes，
withouteitherrifle，orbowandarrows，dashedafterafinecowthatwaspassingclosebyhim，
and
plungedhisknifeintohersidewithsuchluckyaimastobringhertotheground。Itwasadaringdeed；buthungerhadmadehimalmostdesperate。Thebuffaloesaresometimestenaciousoflife，andmustbewoundedinparticularparts。A
ball
strikingtheshaggedfrontletofabullproducesnoothereffectthanatossoftheheadandgreater
exasperation；onthecontrary，aballstrikingtheforeheadofacowisfatal。Severalinstances
occurred
duringthisgreathuntingbout，ofbullsfightingfuriouslyafterhavingreceivedmortalwounds。
Wyeth，
also，waswitnesstoaninstanceofthekindwhileencampedwithIndians。Duringagrandhuntof
the
buffaloes，oneoftheIndianspressedabullsocloselythattheanimalturnedsuddenlyonhim。His
horsestoppedshort，orstartedback，andthrewhim。Beforehecouldrisethebullrushedfuriously
uponhim，andgoredhiminthechestsothathisbreathcameoutattheaperture。Hewas
conveyed
backtothecamp，andhiswoundwasdressed。Givinghimselfupforslain，hecalledroundhimhis
friends，andmadehiswillbywordofmouth。Itwassomethinglikeadeathchant，andattheend
of
everysentencethosearoundrespondedinconcord。Heappearednowaysintimidatedbythe
approach
ofdeath。“Ithink，“addsWyeth，“theIndiansdiebetterthanthewhitemen；perhapsfromhaving
lessfearaboutthefuture。”Thebuffaloesmaybeapproachedverynear，ifthehunterkeepstotheleeward；butthey
arequick
ofscent，andwilltakethealarmandmoveofffromapartyofhunterstothewindward，even
whentwomilesdistant。ThevastherdswhichhadpoureddownintotheBearRiverValleywerenowsnow-bound，
and
remainedintheneighborhoodofthecampthroughoutthewinter。Thisfurnishedthetrappersand
theirIndianfriendsaperpetualcarnival；sothat，toslayandeatseemedtobethemain
occupations
oftheday。Itisastonishingwhatloadsofmeatitrequirestocopewiththeappetiteofahuntingcamp。Theravensandwolvessooncameinfortheirshareofthegoodcheer。Theseconstant
attendants
ofthehuntergatheredinvastnumbersasthewinteradvanced。Theymightbecompletelyoutof
sight，
butatthereportofagun，flightsofravenswouldimmediatelybeseenhoveringintheair，noone
knewwhencetheycame；whilethesharpvisagesofthewolveswouldpeepdownfromthebrow
ofeveryhill，waitingforthehunter”sdeparturetopounceuponthecarcass。Besidesthebuffaloes，therewereotherneighborssnow-boundinthevalley，whose
presencedid
notpromisetobesoadvantageous。ThiswasabandofEutawIndianswhowereencampedhigher
upontheriver。Theyareapoortribethat，inascaleofthevarioustribesinhabitingtheseregions，
wouldrankbetweentheShoshoniesandtheShoshokoesorRootDiggers；thoughmoreboldand
warlikethanthelatter。Theyhavebutfewriflesamongthem，andaregenerallyarmedwithbows
andarrows。AsthisbandandtheShoshonieswereatdeadlyfeud，onaccountofoldgrievances，andas
neither
partystoodinaweoftheother，itwasfearedsomebloodyscenesmightensue。Captain
Bonneville，
therefore，undertooktheofficeofpacificator，andsenttotheEutawchiefs，invitingthemtoa
friendly
smoke，inordertobringaboutareconciliation。Hisinvitationwasproudlydeclined；whereupon
he
wenttotheminperson，andsucceededineffectingasuspensionofhostilitiesuntilthechiefsof
the
twotribescouldmeetincouncil。Thebravesofthetworivalcampssullenlyacquiescedinthe
arrangement。Theywouldtaketheirseatsuponthehilltops，andwatchtheirquondamenemies
huntingthebuffalointheplainbelow，andevidentlyrepinethattheirhandsweretiedupfroma
skirmish。Theworthycaptain，however，succeededincarryingthroughhisbenevolentmediation。
The
chiefsmet；theamicablepipewassmoked，thehatchetburied，andpeaceformallyproclaimed。
After
this，bothcampsunitedandmingledinsocialintercourse。Privatequarrels，however，would
occasionallyoccurinhunting，aboutthedivisionofthegame，andblowswouldsometimesbe
exchangedoverthecarcassofabuffalo；butthechiefswiselytooknonoticeoftheseindividualbrawls。Onedaythescouts，whohadbeenrangingthehills，broughtnewsofseverallargeherdsof
antelopesinasmallvalleyatnogreatdistance。ThisproducedasensationamongtheIndians，for
both
tribeswereinraggedcondition，andsadlyinwantofthoseshirtsmadeoftheskinoftheantelope。
Itwasdeterminedtohave“asurround，“asthemodeofhuntingthatanimaliscalled。Everything
now
assumedanairofmysticsolemnityandimportance。Thechiefspreparedtheirmedicinesorcharms
eachaccordingtohisownmethod，orfanciedinspiration，generallywiththecompoundofcertain
simples；othersconsultedtheentrailsofanimalswhichtheyhadsacrificed，andthencedrew
favorable
auguries。Aftermuchgravesmokinganddeliberatingitwasatlengthproclaimedthatallwho
were
abletoliftaclub，man，woman，orchild，shouldmusterfor“thesurround。”Whenallhad
congregated，
theymovedinrudeprocessiontothenearestpointofthevalleyinquestion，andtherehalted。
Another
courseofsmokinganddeliberating，ofwhichtheIndiansaresofond，tookplaceamongthe
chiefs。
Directionswerethenissuedforthehorsementomakeacircuitofaboutsevenmiles，soasto
encompasstheherd。Whenthiswasdone，thewholemountedforcedashedoffsimultaneously，at
full
speed，shoutingandyellingatthetopoftheirvoices。Inashortspaceoftimetheantelopes，
started
fromtheirhiding-places，cameboundingfromallpointsintothevalley。Theriders，nowgradually
contractingtheircircle，broughtthemnearerandnearertothespotwheretheseniorchief，
surrounded
bytheelders，maleandfemale，wereseatedinsupervisionofthechase。Theantelopes，nearly
exhaustedwithfatigueandfright，andbewilderedbyperpetualwhooping，madenoefforttobreak
throughtheringofthehunters，butranroundinsmallcircles，untilman，woman，andchildbeat
them
downwithbludgeons。Suchisthenatureofthatspeciesofantelopehunting，technicallycalled“a
surround。”[ReturntoContents]Irving”sBonneville-Chapter47[ReturntoContents]WashingtonIrving”sTheAdventuresofCaptainBonnevilleChapter47Afestivewinter——ConversionoftheShoshonies——Visitoftwofreetrappers——Gayetyinthe
camp——
Atouchofthetenderpassion——Thereclaimedsquaw——AnIndianfinelady——Anelopement——Apursuit——Marketvalueofabadwife。GAMEcontinuedtoaboundthroughoutthewinter，andthecampwasoverstockedwith
provisions。
Beefandvenison，humpsandhaunches，buffalotonguesandmarrow-bones，wereconstantly
cooking
ateveryfire；andthewholeatmospherewasredolentwiththesavoryfumesofroastmeat。Itwas，
indeed，acontinual“feastoffatthings，“andthoughtheremightbealackof“wineuponthelees，“
yetwehaveshownthatasubstitutewasoccasionallytobefoundinhoneyandalcohol。BoththeShoshoniesandtheEutawsconductedthemselveswithgreatpropriety。Itistrue，
they
nowandthenfilchedafewtriflesfromtheirgoodfriends，theBigHearts，whentheirbackswere
turned；butthen，theyalwaystreatedthemtotheirfaceswiththeutmostdeferenceandrespect，
and
good-humoredlyviedwiththetrappersinallkindsoffeatsofactivityandmirthfulsports。The
two
tribesmaintainedtowardeachother，alsoafriendlinessofaspectwhichgaveCaptainBonnevillereasontohopethatallpastanimositywaseffectuallyburied。Thetworivalbands，however，hadnotlongbeenmingledinthissocialmannerbeforetheir
ancient
jealousybegantobreakoutinanewform。TheseniorchiefoftheShoshonieswasathinking
man，
andamanofobservation。HehadbeenamongtheNezPerces，listenedtotheirnewcodeof
morality
andreligionreceivedfromthewhitemen，andattendedtheirdevotionalexercises。Hehad
observed
theeffectofallthis，inelevatingthetribeintheestimationofthewhitemen；anddetermined，by
the
samemeans，togainforhisowntribeasuperiorityovertheirignorantrivals，theEutaws。He
accordinglyassembledhispeople，andpromulgatedamongthemthemongreldoctrinesandform
ofworship
oftheNezPerces；recommendingthesametotheiradoption。TheShoshonieswerestruckwith
the
novelty，atleast，ofthemeasure，andenteredintoitwithspirit。TheybegantoobserveSundays
and
holidays，andtohavetheirdevotionaldances，andchants，andotherceremonials，aboutwhichthe
ignorantEutawsknewnothing；whiletheyexertedtheirusualcompetitioninshootingandhorseracing，andtherenownedgameofhand。Mattersweregoingonthuspleasantlyandprosperously，inthismotleycommunityofwhite
andred
men，when，onemorning，twostarkfreetrappers，arrayedintheheightofsavagefinery，and
mounted
onsteedsasfineandasfieryasthemselves，andalljinglingwithhawks”bells，camegalloping，withwhoopandhalloo，intothecamp。TheywerefreshfromthewinterencampmentoftheAmericanFurCompany，intheGreen
River
Valley；andhadcometopaytheiroldcomradesofCaptainBonneville”scompanyavisit。Anidea
may
beformedfromthesceneswehavealreadygivenofconvivialityinthewilderness，ofthemanner
in
whichthesegamebirdswerereceivedbythoseoftheirfeatherinthecamp；whatfeasting，what
revelling，whatboasting，whatbragging，whatrantingandroaring，andracingandgambling，and
squabblingandfighting，ensuedamongthesebooncompanions。CaptainBonneville，itistrue，
maintainedalwaysacertaindegreeoflawandorderinhiscamp，andcheckedeachfierceexcess；
but
thetrappers，intheirseasonsofidlenessandrelaxationrequireadegreeoflicenseandindulgence，
to
repaythemforthelongprivationsandalmostincrediblehardshipsoftheirperiodsofactiveservice。Inthemidstofallthisfeastingandfrolicking，afreakofthetenderpassionintervened，and
wrought
acompletechangeinthescene。AmongtheIndianbeautiesinthecampoftheEutawsand
Shoshonies，thefreetrappersdiscoveredtwo，whohadwhilomfiguredastheirsquaws。These
connectionsfrequentlytakeplaceforaseason，andsometimescontinueforyears，ifnot
perpetually；
butareapttobebrokenwhenthefreetrapperstartsoff，suddenly，onsomedistantandroughexpedition。Inthepresentinstance，thesewildbladeswereanxioustoregaintheirbelles；norwerethe
latterloath
oncemoretocomeundertheirprotection。Thefreetrappercombines，intheeyeofanIndiangirl，
all
thatisdashingandheroicinawarriorofherownrace——whosegait，andgarb，andbraveryhe
emulates——withallthatisgallantandgloriousinthewhiteman。Andthentheindulgencewith
which
hetreatsher，thefineryinwhichhedecksherout，thestateinwhichshemoves，theswayshe
enjoys
overbothhispurseandperson；insteadofbeingthedrudgeandslaveofanIndianhusband，
obliged
tocarryhispack，andbuildhislodge，andmakehisfire，andbearhiscrosshumorsanddryblows。
No；
thereisnocomparisonintheeyesofanaspiringbelleofthewilderness，betweenafreetrapper
andanIndianbrave。Withrespecttooneofthepartiesthematterwaseasilyarranged。”Thebeautyinquestionwas
apert
littleEutawwench，thathadbeentakenprisoner，insomewarexcursion，byaShoshonie。Shewas
readilyransomedforafewarticlesoftriflingvalue；andforthwithfiguredaboutthecampinfine
array，“withringsonherfingers，andbellsonhertoes，“andatossed-upcoquettishairthatmade
her
theenvy，admiration，andabhorrenceofalltheleathern-dressed，hard-workingsquawsofheracquaintance。Astotheotherbeauty，itwasquiteadifferentmatter。Shehadbecomethewifeofa
Shoshoniebrave。
Itistrue，hehadanotherwife，ofolderdatethantheoneinquestion；who，therefore，took
command
inhishousehold，andtreatedhisnewspouseasaslave；butthelatterwasthewifeofhislast
fancy，
hislatestcaprice；andwaspreciousinhiseyes。Allattempttobargainwithhim，therefore，was
useless；theverypropositionwasrepulsedwithangeranddisdain。Thespiritofthetrapperwas
roused，hispridewaspiquedaswellashispassion。Heendeavoredtoprevailuponhisquondam
mistresstoelopewithhim。Hishorseswerefleet，thewinternightswerelonganddark，before
daylighttheywouldbebeyondthereachofpursuit；andonceattheencampmentinGreenRiverValley，theymightsetthewholebandofShoshoniesatdefiance。TheIndiangirllistenedandlonged。Herheartyearnedaftertheeaseandsplendorof
conditionofa
trapper”sbride，andthrobbedtobefreefromthecapriciouscontrolofthepremiersquaw；butshe
dreadedthefailureoftheplan，andthefuryofaShoshoniehusband。Theyparted；theIndiangirl
intears，andthemadcaptrappermorethanever，withhisthwartedpassion。Theirinterviewshad，probably，beendetected，andthejealousyoftheShoshoniebrave
aroused：a
clamorofangryvoiceswasheardinhislodge，withthesoundofblows，andoffemaleweeping
and
lamenting。Atnight，asthetrapperlaytossingonhispallet，asoftvoicewhisperedatthedoorof
his
lodge。Hismistressstoodtremblingbeforehim。Shewasreadytofollowwhithersoeverheshouldlead。Inaninstanthewasupandout。Hehadtwoprimehorses，sureandswiftoffoot，andofgreat
wind。
Withstealthyquiet，theywerebroughtupandsaddled；andinafewmomentsheandhisprize
were
careeringoverthesnow，withwhichthewholecountrywascovered。Intheeagernessofescape，
they
hadmadenoprovisionfortheirjourney；daysmustelapsebeforetheycouldreachtheirhavenof
safety，andmountainsandprairiesbetraversed，wrappedinallthedesolationofwinter。Forthe
present，howevertheythoughtofnothingbutflight；urgingtheirhorsesforwardoverthedrearywastes，andfancying，inthehowlingofeveryblast，theyheardtheyellofthepursuer。Atearlydawn，theShoshoniebecameawareofhisloss。Mountinghisswiftesthorse，heset
offinhot
pursuit。Hesoonfoundthetrailofthefugitives，andspurredoninhopesofovertakingthem。The
winds，however，whichsweptthevalley，haddriftedthelightsnowintotheprintsmadebythe
horses”
hoofs。Inalittlewhilehelostalltraceofthem，andwascompletelythrownoutofthechase。He
knew，however，thesituationofthecamptowardwhichtheywerebound，andadirectcourse
through
themountains，bywhichhemightarrivetheresoonerthanthefugitives。Throughthemostrugged
defiles，therefore，heurgedhiscoursebydayandnight，scarcepausinguntilhereachedthecamp。
It
wassometimebeforethefugitivesmadetheirappearance。Sixdayshadtheytraversedthewintry
wilds。Theycame，haggardwithhungerandfatigue，andtheirhorsesfalteringunderthem。The
first
objectthatmettheireyesonenteringthecampwastheShoshoniebrave。Herushed，knifein
hand，
toplungeitintheheartthathadprovedfalsetohim。Thetrapperthrewhimselfbeforethe
cowering
formofhismistress，and，exhaustedashewas，preparedforadeadlystruggle。TheShoshonie
paused。
Hishabitualaweofthewhitemancheckedhisarm；thetrapper”sfriendscrowdedtothespot，and
arrestedhim。Aparleyensued。Akindofcrim。con。adjudicationtookplace；suchas
frequentlyoccurs
incivilizedlife。Acoupleofhorsesweredeclaredtobeafaircompensationforthelossofa
woman
whohadpreviouslylostherheart；withthis，theShoshoniebravewasfaintopacifyhispassion。
He
returnedtoCaptainBonneville”scamp，somewhatcrestfallen，itistrue；butparriedtheofficious
condolementsofhisfriendsbyobservingthattwogoodhorseswereverygoodpayforonebad
wife。[ReturntoContents]Irving”sBonneville-Chapter48[ReturntoContents]WashingtonIrving”sTheAdventuresofCaptainBonnevilleChapter48Breakingupofwinterquarters——MovetoGreenRiver——Atrapperandhisrifle——Anarrival
incamp——Afreetrapperandhissquawindistress——StoryofaBlackfootbelle。THEwinterwasnowbreakingup，thesnowsweremelted，fromthehills，andfromthelower
parts
ofthemountains，andthetimefordecampinghadarrived。CaptainBonnevilledispatchedaparty
to
thecaches，whobroughtawayalltheeffectsconcealedthere，andonthe1stofApril(1835)，the
campwasbrokenup，andeveryoneonthemove。Thewhitemenandtheirallies，theEutawsand
Shoshonies，partedwithmanyregretsandsincereexpressionsofgood-will；fortheirintercoursethroughoutthewinterhadbeenofthemostfriendlykind。CaptainBonnevilleandhispartypassedbyHam”sFork，andreachedtheColorado，orGreen
River，
withoutaccident，onthebanksofwhichtheyremainedduringtheresidueofthespring。During
this
time，theywereconsciousthatabandofhostileIndianswerehoveringabouttheirvicinity，
watching
foranopportunitytoslayorsteal；butthevigilantprecautionsofCaptainBonnevillebaffledall
their
manoeuvres。Insuchdangeroustimes，theexperiencedmountaineerisneverwithouthisrifle
even
incamp。Ongoingfromlodgetolodgetovisithiscomrades，hetakesitwithhim。Onseating
himselfinalodge，helaysitbesidehim，readytobesnatchedup；whenhegoesout，hetakesit
upasregularlyasacitizenwouldhiswalking-staff。Hisrifleishisconstantfriendandprotector。Onthe10thofJune，thepartywasalittletotheeastoftheWindRiverMountains，where
theyhalted
foratimeinexcellentpasturage，togivetheirhorsesachancetorecruittheirstrengthforalong
journey；foritwasCaptainBonneville”sintentiontoshapehiscoursetothesettlements；having
alreadybeendetainedbythecomplicationofhisduties，andbyvariouslossesandimpediments，
farbeyondthetimespecifiedinhisleaveofabsence。WhilethepartywasthusreposingintheneighborhoodoftheWindRiverMountains，a
solitaryfree
trapperrodeonedayintothecamp，andaccostedCaptainBonneville。Hebelonged，hesaid，toa
partyofthirtyhunters，whohadjustpassedthroughtheneighborhood，butwhomhehad
abandoned
inconsequenceoftheirilltreatmentofabrothertrapper；whomtheyhadcastofffromtheir
party，
andleftwithhisbagandbaggage，andanIndianwifeintothebargain，inthemidstofadesolate
prairie。Thehorsemangaveapiteousaccountofthesituationofthishelplesspair，andsolicited
theloanofhorsestobringthemandtheireffectstothecamp。
