第135章 Irving’s Bonneville - Chapter 48(2)

If he rose to go forth, there was nothing to delay him. I searched the thought that was in his heart,to save him the trouble of speaking. When I went abroad on errands for him, the chiefs andwarriors

smiled upon me, and the young braves spoke soft things, in secret; but my feet were in thestraight

path, and my eyes could see nothing but him.

"When he went out to hunt, or to war, who aided to equip him, but I? When he returned, Imet him

at the door; I took his gun; and he entered without further thought. While he sat and smoked, Iunloaded his horses; tied them to the stakes, brought in their loads, and was quickly at his feet. Ifhis

moccasins were wet I took them off and put on others which were dry and warm. I dressed all theskins he had taken in the chase. He could never say to me, why is it not done? He hunted thedeer,

the antelope, and the buffalo, and he watched for the enemy. Everything else was done by me.

When

our people moved their camp, he mounted his horse and rode away; free as though he had fallenfrom the skies. He had nothing to do with the labor of the camp; it was I that packedthe horses and

led them on the journey. When we halted in the evening, and he sat with the other braves andsmoked, it was I that pitched his lodge; and when he came to eat and sleep, his supper and hisbed

were ready.

"I served him faithfully; and what was my reward? A cloud was always on his brow, andsharp

lightning on his tongue. I was his dog; and not his wife.

"Who was it that scarred and bruised me? It was he. My brother saw how I was treated. Hisheart

was big for me. He begged me to leave my tyrant and fly. Where could I go? If retaken, whowould

protect me? My brother was not a chief; he could not save me from blows and wounds, perhapsdeath. At length I was persuaded. I followed my brother from the village. He pointed away tothe

Nez Perces, and bade me go and live in peace among them. We parted. On the third day I saw thelodges of the Nez Perces before me. 1 paused for a moment, and had no heart to go on; but myhorse

neighed, and I took it as a good sign, and suffered him to gallop forward. In a little while I was inthe midst of the lodges. As I sat silent on my horse, the people gathered round me, and inquiredwhence I came. I told my story. A chief now wrapped his blanket close around him, and bade medismount. I obeyed. He took my horse to lead him away. My heart grew small within me. I felt,on

parting with my horse, as if my last friend was gone. I had no words, and my eyes were dry. Ashe

led off my horse a young brave stepped forward. 'Are you a chief of the people?' cried he. 'Do welisten to you in council, and follow you in battle? Behold! a stranger flies to our camp from thedogs

of Blackfeet, and asks protection. Let shame cover your face! The stranger is a woman, andalone.

If she were a warrior, or had a warrior at her side, your heart would not be big enough to take herhorse. But he is yours. By right of war you may claim him; but look!' - his bow was drawn, andthe

arrow ready! - 'you never shall cross his back!' The arrow pierced the heart of the horse, and hefell

dead.

"An old woman said she would be my mother. She led me to her lodge; my heart wasthawed by her

kindness, and my eyes burst forth with tears; like the frozen fountains in springtime. She neverchanged; but as the days passed away, was still a mother to me. The people were loud in praiseof

the young brave, and the chief was ashamed. I lived in peace.

"A party of trappers came to the village, and one of them took me for his wife. Thisis he. I am very happy; he treats me with kindness, and I have taught him thelanguage of my people. As we were travelling this way, some of the Blackfeetwarriors beset us, and carried off the horses of the party. We followed, and myhusband held a parley with them. The guns were laid down, and the pipe was lighted;but some of the white men attempted to seize the horses by force, and then a battlebegan. The snow was deep, the white men sank into it at every step; but the red men,with their snow-shoes, passed over the surface like birds, and drove off many of thehorses in sight of their owners. With those that remained we resumed our journey. Atlength words took place between the leader of the party and my husband. He tookaway our horses, which had escaped in the battle, and turned us from his camp. Myhusband had one good friend among the trappers. That is he (pointing to the man whohad asked assistance for them). He is a good man. His heart is big. When he came infrom hunting, and found that we had been driven away, he gave up all his wages, andfollowed us, that he might speak good words for us to the white captain." [Return to Contents].