第43章 Irving’s Bonneville - Chapter 15(1)

A hunt after hunters--Hungry times--A voracious repast--Wintry weather--Godin'sRiver--Splendid

winter scene on the great Lava Plain of Snake River--Severe travelling and tramping in thesnow--Manoeuvrs of a solitary Indian horseman--Encampment on Snake River--BanneckIndians--The horse chief--His charmed life.

THE continued absence of Matthieu and his party had, by this time, caused great uneasinessin the

mind of Captain Bonneville; and, finding there was no dependence to be placed upon theperseverance and courage of scouting parties in so perilous a quest, he determined to set outhimself

on the search, and to keep on until he should ascertain something of the object of his solicitude.

Accordingly on the 20th December he left the camp, accompanied by thirteen stark trappersand

hunters, all well mounted and armed for dangerous enterprise. On the following morning theypassed

out at the head of the mountain gorge and sallied forth into the open plain. As they confidentlyexpected a brush with the Blackfeet, or some other predatory horde, they moved with greatcircumspection, and kept vigilant watch in their encampments.

In the course of another day they left the main branch of Salmon River, and proceeded southtoward

a pass called John Day's defile. It was severe and arduous travelling. The plains were swept bykeen

and bitter blasts of wintry wind; the ground was generally covered with snow, game was scarce,so

that hunger generally prevailed in the camp, while the want of pasturage soon began to manifestitself in the declining vigor of the horses.

The party had scarcely encamped on the afternoon of the 28th, when two of the hunters whohad

sallied forth in quest of game came galloping back in great alarm. While hunting they hadperceived

a party of savages, evidently manoeuvring to cut them off from the camp; and nothing had savedthem from being entrapped but the speed of their horses.

These tidings struck dismay into the camp. Captain Bonneville endeavored to reassure hismen by

representing the position of their encampment, and its capability of defence. He then ordered thehorses to be driven in and picketed, and threw up a rough breastwork of fallen trunks of trees andthe vegetable rubbish of the wilderness. Within this barrier was maintained a vigilant watchthroughout the night, which passed away without alarm. At early dawn they scrutinized thesurrounding plain, to discover whether any enemies had been lurking about during the night; nota

foot-print, however, was to be discovered in the coarse gravel with which the plain was covered.

Hunger now began to cause more uneasiness than the apprehensions of surrounding enemies.

After

marching a few miles they encamped at the foot of a mountain, in hopes of finding buffalo. Itwas

not until the next day that they discovered a pair of fine bulls on the edge of the plain, amongrocks

and ravines. Having now been two days and a half without a mouthful of food, they took especialcare that these animals should not escape them. While some of the surest marksmen advancedcautiously with their rifles into the rough ground, four of the best mounted horsemen took theirstations in the plain, to run the bulls down should they only be maimed.

The buffalo were wounded and set off in headlong flight. The half-famished horses were tooweak

to overtake them on the frozen ground, but succeeded in driving them on the ice, where theyslipped

and fell, and were easily dispatched. The hunters loaded themselves with beef for present andfuture

supply, and then returned and encamped at the last nights's fire. Here they passed the remainderof

the day, cooking and eating with a voracity proportioned to previous starvation, forgetting in thehearty revel of the moment the certain dangers with which they were environed.

The cravings of hunger being satisfied, they now began to debate about their furtherprogress. The

men were much disheartened by the hardships they had already endured. Indeed, two who hadbeen

in the rear guard, taking advantage of their position, had deserted and returned to the lodges ofthe

Nez Perces. The prospect ahead was enough to stagger the stoutest heart. They were in the deadof

winter. As far as the eye could reach the wild landscape was wrapped in snow, which wasevidently

deepening as they advanced. Over this they would have to toil, with the icy wind blowing intheir

faces: their horses might give out through want of pasturage, and they themselves must expectintervals of horrible famine like that they had already experienced.

With Captain Bonneville, however, perseverance was a matter of pride; and, havingundertaken this

enterprise, nothing could turn him back until it was accomplished: though he declares that, hadhe

anticipated the difficulties and sufferings which attended it, he should have flinched from theundertaking.

Onward, therefore, the little band urged their way, keeping along the course of a streamcalled John

Day's Creek. The cold was so intense that they had frequently to dismount and travel on foot, lestthey should freeze in their saddles. The days which at this season are short enough even in theopen

prairies, were narrowed to a few hours by the high mountains, which allowed the travellers but abrief enjoyment of the cheering rays of the sun. The snow was generally at least twenty inches indepth, and in many places much more: those who dismounted had to beat their way withtoilsome

steps. Eight miles were considered a good day's journey. The horses were almost famished; forthe

herbage was covered by the deep snow, so that they had nothing to subsist upon but scanty wispsof the dry bunch grass which peered above the surface, and the small branches and twigs offrozen

willows and wormwood.

In this way they urged their slow and painful course to the south down John Day's Creek,until it lost