I could not
take them, and I would not leave them to be neglected perhaps. The
"Tiger" was still a tiger, and as wild and fierce as when he came from
the saw-mill, and was undoubtedly an old squirrel not to be taught new
tricks. The flying thing was wholly lacking in sense. I scattered
pounds of nuts all about and hope that the two little animals will not
suffer. The Chinaman insisted upon our taking those chickens! He goes
out every now and then and gives them big pans of food and talks to
them in Chinese with a voice and expression that makes one almost want
to weep, because the chickens have to be left behind.
We are to start on the eighteenth, and on the nineteenth we had
expected to give a dinner - a very nice one, too. I am awfully sorry
that we could not have given it before going away, for there are so
many things to do here during the winter. The doctor has had no
experience whatever in camp life, and we are wondering how he will
like it. He looks like a man who would much prefer a nice little
rocking-chair in a nice little room.
CAMP NEAR JUNOT'S, IN THE JUDITH BASIN,
August, 1880.
THIS will be left at a little trading store as we pass to-morrow
morning, with the hope that it will soon be taken on to Benton and
posted.
So far, the trip has been delightful, and every bit as nice as I had
anticipated. The day we left the post was more than hot - it was simply
scorching; and my whole face on the right side, ear and all, was
blistered before we got to the ferry. Just now I am going through a
process of peeling which is not beautifying, and is most painful.
Before we had come two miles it was discovered that a "washer" was
lacking on one of the wheels of a wagon, and a man was sent back on a
mule to get one. This caused a delay and made Faye cross, for it
really was inexcusable in the wagon master to send a wagon out on a
trip like this in that condition. The doctor did not start with the
command, but rode up while we were waiting for the man with the
washer. The soldiers were lounging on the ground near the wagons,
talking and laughing; but when they saw the doctor coming, there was
perfect silence over there, and I watched and listened, curious to see
what effect the funny sight would have upon them. First one sat up,
then another, and some stood up, then some one of them giggled, and
that was quite enough to start everyone of them to laughing. They were
too far away for the laughing and snickering to be disrespectful, or
even to be noticed much, but I knew why they laughed, for I laughed
too.
