I Was Looking At It With Longing Eyes When
Suddenly Something Came Down The Bank And On Into The Water, And Not
Being Particularly Brave, I Thought Of The Unprotected Position I Was
In.
But the terrible monster turned out to be our pilot, and as he
came nearer, I saw that he had something on the wagon - whether men or
women or mere bags of stuff I could not tell.
But in time he got near enough for me to see that two men were with
him - most miserable, scared tourists - both standing up on the
seesawing boards, the first with arms around the pilot's neck, and the
second with his arms around him. They were dressed very much alike,
each one having on his head an immaculate white straw hat, and over
his coat a long - very long - linen duster, and they both had on gloves!
Their trousers were pulled up as high as they could get them, giving a
fine display of white hose and low shoes. The last one was having
additional woe, for one leg of his trousers was slipping down, and of
course it was impossible for him to pull it up and keep his balance.
Every turn of the wheels the thick yellow water was being spattered on
them, and I can imagine the condition they were in by the time they
reached the little inn on the island. The pilot thought they were
funny, too, for when he passed he grinned and jerked his head back to
call my attention to them. He called to know what had happened to me,
and I told him that I was a derelict, and he would ascertain the cause
farther on.
After a while - it seemed hours to me - Faye and the wagons came up, and
in time we got out of the awful mess and on dry land. It was the
Fourth of July, and we all wished for a gun or something that would
make a loud noise wherewith we could celebrate - not so much the day as
our rejoicing at getting out of the wilderness. The men were in a
deplorable condition, wet and tired, for no one had been able to sleep
the night before because of the vicious mosquitoes and the stamping of
the poor animals. So, when Faye saw one of the drivers go to a spring
for water, and was told that it was a large, fine spring, he decided
to camp right there and rest before going farther.
But rest we could not, for the mosquitoes were there also, and almost
as bad as they had been on the island, and the tents inside were
covered with them as soon as they were pitched. If there is a person
who thinks that a mosquito has no brain, and is incapable of looking
ahead, that person will soon learn his mistake if ever he comes to the
Missouri River, Montana! The heat was fierce, too, and made it
impossible for us to remain in the tents, so we were obliged, after
all, to sit out under the trees until the air had cooled at night
sufficiently to chill the mosquitoes.
The chickens were let out at every camp, and each time, without fail,
they flew up to their boxes on the wagons. Charlie would put in little
temporary roosts, that made them more comfortable, and before daylight
every morning he would gather up the little ones and the mothers and
put them in the crates for the day. He is willing and faithful, but
has queer ideas about some things. Just as I was getting in the
ambulance the second morning on the trip, I heard a crunching sound
and then another, and looking back, I saw the Chinaman on top of the
mess chest with head bent over and elbows sticking out, jumping up and
down with all his strength.
I ran over and told him not to do so, for I saw at once what was the
matter. But he said, "He velly blig - he no go downee - me flixee him,"
and up and down he went again, harder than ever. After a lengthy
argument he got down, and I showed him once more how to put the things
in so the top would shut tight. There were a good many pieces of
broken china, and these Charlie pitched over in the water with a grin
that plainly said, "You see - me flixee you!" Of course the soldiers
saw it all and laughed heartily, which made Charlie very angry, and
gave him a fine opportunity to express himself in Chinese. The rest of
the trip was pleasant, and some of the camps were delightful, but I am
afraid that I no longer possess beautiful white chickens - my Chinaman
seems to be the owner of all, big and small.
FORT SHAW, MONTANA TERRITORY,
August, 1880.
THE company has been ordered to "proceed without delay" to Fort
Maginnis, a post that is just being established, and to assist another
company in building temporary log quarters. The other company will go
from Fort Missoula, and has to remain at the new post during the
winter, but Faye's company will return here in November. We were all
ready to go to the Yellowstone Park next week with General and Mrs.
Bourke, but this order from Department Headquarters upsets everything.
The company was designated there, and go it must, although Faye has
been at Fort Shaw only six weeks. He has command, of course, as
Colonel Knight is East on recruiting service, and the first lieutenant
is abroad.
General and Mrs. Bourke could not understand at first why I would not
go with them to the park, just the same, but I understood perfectly,
and said at once that I would go to Maginnis with Faye. For, to go in
one direction where there is only a weekly mail, and Faye to go in
another direction where there is no mail at all, and through an Indian
country, was not to be considered one second.
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