BANCROFT 
 LIBRARY 
 
 o 
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
UNDER the above title will be issued, in rapid succession, a 
 series of stories by the most popular Foreign and American 
 authors. These will be stories with a single continuous plot, 
 containing the pith of what in more pretentious works is 
 usually extended over a wide field. The series will be hand 
 somely printed, tastefully bound in cloth, and published at 75 
 cents. 
 
 No. 1. THE COMING RACE. By BULWER LYTTON. 
 "Together with his usual strength of style and 
 power of arousing interest, ' The Coming Race ' 
 contains a vein of philosophy peculiarly inter 
 esting to those who study social questions and 
 science." 
 
 No. a. THE BELLS. A Romantic Story from the 
 French novel, " Le Juif Polonais." By MM. 
 ERCKMANN-CHATRIAN, authors, also, of the play 
 "The Bells," which is founded upon this story. 
 No. 3. POWDER AND GOLD. A Story of the Franco- 
 Prussian War. From the German of LEVIN 
 SCHtlCKING. 
 No. 4. A BROWN-STONE FRONT. A Story of New 
 
 York Society. By CHANDOS FULTON. 
 No. 5. THE MAIDEN OF TREPPI. A Romance of 
 the Apennines. From the German of PAUL 
 HEYSE. 
 
 No. 6. NOT IN THEIR SET ; OR, DIFFERENT CIR 
 CLES OF SOCIETY. From the German of 
 MARIE LENZEN. 
 
 No. 7. HELENS MORTEN. From the German of 
 PAUL HEYSK. 
 
 HENRY I. HINTON, Publisher, 
 
 No. 744 BROADWAY, NEW YORK. 
 
BUCKSKIN MO8E; 
 
 OB, 
 
 LIFE FROM THE LAKES TO THE PACIFIC, 
 
 AS 
 
 ACTOR, CIRCUS-RIDER, DETECTIVE, RAJST- 
 
 G-ER, G-OLD-DIG-G-ER, INDIAN SCOUT. 
 
 AND G-UIDE. 
 
 WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. 
 
 'There nre more things in heaven nnd earth, Horatio, 
 Than are dreamt of in your philosophy." HAMLET. 
 
 EDITED, AND WITH ILLUSTRATIONS, 
 
 BY C. G. ROSENBERG. 
 
 i 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 
 HENRY L. HINTON, PUBLISHER, 744 BROADWAY. 
 1873. 
 
34 
 X 
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, by 
 
 CUETIS B. HAWLEY, 
 In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 
 
 Stereotyped at the 
 WOMEN'S PRINTING HOUSE, 
 
 50, 58 and 60 Park Street, 
 New York. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 As a young author, although scarcely what the world would 
 consider a young man, I should scarcely feel inclined to say a 
 word in presenting this volume to it, were it not that I wish the 
 public to comprehend one of the two reasons which have induced 
 me to write it. As it would be idle, even for a man of decided 
 literary genius, to deny that pecuniary profit is, in most instances, 
 the incentive to the exercise of his power, so, in a humbler fashion 
 (for I consider myself a man of no genius), I will scarcely affirm 
 that I do not look with a degree of longing on the possible suc 
 cess of my first effort. 
 
 Let me, however, frankly say that I have another and a stronger 
 reason for writing this work. 
 
 While hoping that I have not thrust this into undue promi 
 nence, as I have, in every case, made it secondary to the facts 
 which are detailed, it is my wish to demonstrate to the public of 
 the United States, that the manner in which the Government pro 
 tects the settler is neither good for him nor for the Indian. It 
 must equally fail in satisfying its children and its vassals. At 
 times, it leaves the first totally unprotected. When they grow 
 accustomed to the habit of self-protection, it not infrequently 
 represses the sturdy independence thus begotten, instead of guid 
 ing it by the ability, wisdom, and honesty of its appointed offi 
 cials. In like manner, it has no settled course of policy with the 
 latter. At one time it bribes, and at another, it lashes them into 
 subjection. 
 
 Perhaps, the settler is not entirely elevated in character, nor the 
 Indian thoroughly debased. But this wavering and uncertain 
 line of policy cannot do otherwise than lower the nature of the 
 first, while it certainly cannot raise that of the last. 
 
 That one considers his Government as weak and capricious, 
 while this one believes it to be both tyrannical and asinine. 
 
 In addition to this, those who are selected to command the 
 troops employed in the neighborhood of the Reservations, or to 
 act as Indian Agents, are, in nine cases out of ten, utterly igno- 
 
6 PREFACE. 
 
 rant of the nature of the savage with whom they have to deal, the 
 character of the country in which they have to move ; and, in the 
 lattsr position, not infrequently deficient in one of the cardinal 
 virtues that of honesty. In this last case, they will not only dis 
 gust the settler, but enrage the savage, who. on the score of his 
 own dishonesty and treachery, is far less disposed to smile at 
 these vices in others, when he himself suffers from their exercise. 
 The false philanthropy, also, is deeply injurious, which believes 
 in the possibility of guiding uneducated nature without a due 
 degree of compulsory restriction. 
 
 If in mentioning these few points in relation to the dealings of 
 our Government with the white settler and the red-skin, I awaken 
 the attention of the public to the real obstacles for the preserva 
 tion of a steady and creditable peace on the Indian territory and 
 in the Reservations, without the complete extermination of the 
 original inhabitants of my country, I shall be satisfied. Nor do I 
 feel that I have said nearly as much, nor said it one-tenth as 
 strongly, as the necessity for plain speaking might have justified 
 me in doing. 
 
 Before concluding, I would, however, call attention to oife por 
 tion of my volume which, without corroborative proof, might 
 cause considerable doubt as to my veracity. This is my positive 
 mention of the existence of Masonry, of my own knowledge, 
 among the Cheyennes, and by hearsay from them, among other 
 Western tribes. 
 
 If I am right, it was in 1854, that Judge Harrison, of Red 
 Bluffs, in California, with his wife and children, was captured by 
 the Cheyennes. Like myself, he was a Mason, and was indebted 
 to that circumstance for the liberation of himself and his family. 
 This he told me in Susanville, where he afterwards died. "When 
 he mentioned this circumstance to me, he showed me a war-club 
 presented to him, which was almost identical in its decorative carv 
 ing with my own, and which is now, or lately was, in the pos 
 session of his widow. Nor have I any reason to doubt that there 
 may be others now living, who have also been indebted, for a sim 
 ilar immunity, to the fact of their belonging to the Masonic order. 
 While touching upon this, I might also mention that Peter Las- 
 sen, killed by the Indians, at Black Rock, in 1859, was the first 
 Mason who carried a Charter to, and founded the first Masonic 
 Lodge, on the Pacific coast. Peace be with the old man's ashes. 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 How I SOLD POP-CORN 16 
 
 MY CAPTURE OF JACKSON 31 
 
 SPOTTING A COUNTERFEITER .34 
 
 A SECOND OFFER OF MARRIAGE 63 
 
 MY FIRST APPEARANCE IN SUSANVILLE 92 
 
 A STRUGGLE FOR LIFE . . . . . . . . 125 
 
 THE MONUMENT ERECTED TO PETER LASSEN IN HONEY 
 
 LAKE VALLEY 102 
 
 BEING REQUESTED TO CHANGE TREES . . . . 119 
 
 BOUND TO THE STAKE . 140 
 
 AN UNEXPECTED ALLY 155 
 
 CLO-KE-TA'S WARNING 222 
 
 TAKING PAYMENT . 249 
 
CHAPTER I. 
 
 MY FIRST EXPERIENCE IN THE CIRCUS AN ACCIDENT AND A 
 CHANGE OF CALLING FAMILY AFFECTION POP-CORN A LIT 
 TLE CHEEK, AND A GREAT DEAL OF DISMAY SUCCESS AS A 
 DEALER IN GRAIN BEING AN ACTOR CAUGHT AGAIN 
 BLOOD, AND ITS CONSEQUENCES BAILED OUT, AND IN AGAIN 
 THE GOOD-NATURED IRISHMAN CHANGE OF VENUE 
 ANOTHER PROFESSION. 
 
 ACTOR, trapper, scout, gold-digger, and guide, my 
 life, very unlike that of most of my readers, has been 
 one of plenty of change and adventure, but certainly 
 not of money-making. They say " A rolling stone 
 gathers no moss." I have had good reason to feel this 
 proverbial truth, having been a wanderer on the face, 
 if not of this earth, at all events, of this continent. 
 
 My earliest recollection, which is worth my own 
 remembrance, is a decidedly unpleasant one. When 
 no more than eight years of age I was connected with 
 the Circus of Dan Rice. Necessarily, I was a very 
 unimportant member of it; and not feeling that it was 
 in every respect what I thought a circus-life ought to 
 be, I took it into my head to run away from it. Before 
 I had covered sufficient ground to get out of the agent's 
 reach, he caught me, and I had the gratification of 
 being very well and soundly flogged. The smart of 
 this judicial visitation upon my skin still recurs to me 
 at times, and renders the locality in Kentucky, where 
 the flogging took place, a very sore spot in my memory. 
 I consequently will not name it. 
 
10 BUCKSKIN HOSE. 
 
 In spite of this escapade, I gradually became a pro 
 ficient in bare-back riding, vaulting, on the slack-rope 
 and in the trapeze-performance, excelling all the boys 
 attached to the circus, and in consequence became the 
 pet of Old Dan, with whom I remained for three years. 
 My youthful ambition to shine in this career was, how 
 ever, brought to an untimely close. An uncle of mine 
 discovered me on the Mississippi, and immediately 
 wrote to my father, who, at the time I left home, had 
 been the landlord of the United States Hotel in Ga 
 lena. Making a somewhat wrathful pilgrimage in 
 search of his missing offspring, he caught up with me 
 at some small place in Kentucky, reclaimed me from 
 the vocation of my choice, and after taking me home 
 and chastising me in a truly parental fashion, bound 
 me out as an apprentice to the village blacksmith. It 
 would be needless to say, that the forge was by no 
 means as pleasant an occupation, to my youthful mind, 
 as the daring life on the sawdust of the arena. 
 
 Some six months after, I forgot the parental scourge, 
 and wrote a letter to the manager of Older and Orton's 
 Circus, which was then performing at Portage City, 
 "Wisconsin. 
 
 What sort of a letter it was, I can now scarcely tell. 
 But my education had not been remarkable in its extent, 
 and it may be presumed the orthography as well as the 
 calligraphy, possibly, astonished him who received it. 
 If so, he never mentioned the fact to me, but returned 
 me a favorable answer. Consequently, I once more 
 made tracks, and joined ihem for the season. 
 
 Here I was so successful, and became such a general 
 favorite, that I received the offer of a star-engagement 
 from Levi North, with whom I remained until an injury 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 11 
 
 received on the occasion of my benefit, in the execution 
 of an unusually daring feat of horsemanship, brought 
 our connection to an end. The company were obliged 
 to leave me behind them hi Chicago. 
 
 My recovery was slow and tedious. Although my 
 professional brethren displayed great kindness to me, in 
 every way, the means I had made, even with their as 
 sistance, were insufficient for my needs. Once or twice, 
 I thought of writing to my relatives in Galena. 
 
 The supposable wrath of my paternal proprietor, 
 however, deterred me from doing so. The shiver of 
 filial fear at his retributive justice induced me to make 
 an effort to support myself in a new field. This was in 
 a grocery store at the corner of Randolph and Deer- 
 borne streets, kept by a man named Martin. It was 
 a widely different sphere of exertion from that in which 
 my previous employment had been cast, as well as one 
 even more different from that in which I was after 
 wards to make my mark. Often, since, I have laughed 
 over this period of my life. In the Forge and the Cir 
 cus, I had learnt much which might fit me for my fut 
 ure. But, it is somewhat curious for Buckskin Mose 
 ever to have figured in peddling or carrying out tea 
 and sugar, potted fruits and whiskey, with other such 
 necessaries and luxuries, from a corner-grocery. 
 
 But I was not destined to continue at this work for 
 any length of time. One day, a fire occurred on the 
 premises, and in endeavoring to rescue a keg of brandy 
 from the flames, I slipped upon the ice in front of the 
 store it was then midwinter and broke my arm. 
 
 This untoward accident threw me again out of em 
 ployment, and I remember my angry feelings while the 
 doctor was placing my maimed limb in splints, and I 
 
12 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 was thinking what I could do for a living. Some few 
 days after, when, worn out by the suffering and con- 
 pulsory inaction consequent upon this accident, I was 
 wandering through the streets, I stumbled upon another 
 uncle of mine. 
 
 He was one of the millionnaires of Chicago. As many 
 men have grown rich by the sudden growth of the cities 
 in which they live, rather than by their own efforts, he 
 had gained his dollars. But in doing so, he had for 
 gotten his love for those who bore his name. At any 
 rate, he had done so for me, as far as extending me any 
 helping hand in my immediate necessity. 
 
 " You must work, my boy ! Only see what I have 
 done. No friends assisted me. I began at the lowest 
 rung of the ladder, and now I am pretty well off in the 
 world. God bless you ! " 
 
 Then he tapped me on the shoulder in a benevolent 
 manner, and walked on, never thinking of assisting the 
 beneficence he had asked to bless me. 
 
 But I had to live. With my broken arm, what was 
 there left for me to attempt? Davy Crockett mentions 
 the shell-corn business at one period of his eventful life, 
 as having suggested itself to him. Why should not I 
 become a pop-corn merchant in a humble approach to 
 the calling the hero of Kentucky had once followed. 
 But, to my intense disgust, on diligent inquiry, I could 
 find no pop-corn in the whole of Chicago, whether for 
 love or money, save in one store. The amount de 
 manded for this was thirty dollars. Of the last article 
 mentioned above money I had none. Of the first, I 
 had plenty. But this was not a circulating medium. 
 As, with my unlamed hand, I was scraping my forehead 
 in the hope of exhuming an idea, I looked up and 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 13 
 
 found myself in front of a grocery store. Its owner was 
 standing behind the counter. His face wore a benevo 
 lent and kindly expression. At no time in my life, from 
 that in which I ran away from Dan Rice's Circus, have 
 I been long in forming a determination. So I walked 
 in, and asked him for the loan of the money, with which 
 I intended to monopolize the pop-corn trade. 
 
 " Thirty dollars ! " he exclaimed. 
 
 He was profoundly astonished, and on reflection, I 
 am compelled to say, well he might be. 
 
 " That's the exact sum I want," was my answer. 
 
 "But, young fellow! you're an entire stranger to 
 me." 
 
 " So you are to me," I undauntedly replied. " I 
 don't know you from Adam or any other fellow. But 
 I like your face, and so, if you want a lift, I don't mind 
 taking you with me into the pop-corn business." 
 
 He smiled. His smile was indeed a full-fed and jolly 
 laugh. 
 
 " Well ! " he said, " upon my word, I rather like your 
 frank cheek. We'll go and see about it." 
 
 The result of the inquiries of Mr. Dobbs, the grocer 
 in question, was that lie not only advanced me the 
 money to purchase the whole stock, but allowed me to 
 store the corn in his own establishment. At the time 
 it did not strike me as being so, but was doubtless the 
 result of a sagacious forethought, as, should I fail in 
 keeping my daily accounts square, he could easily fore 
 close on my stock-in-trade. Be this as it may, Mr. 
 Dobbs did more for me. All well-regulated communi 
 ties indulge in the licensing business to a greater or 
 less extent. So did, and probably does, Chicago. The 
 unlicensed sale of pop-corn would have been a risky af- 
 
14: BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 fair. "When he told me this, my face fell. How was I 
 to get a license. 
 
 Mr. Dobbs was equal to the emergency on this occa 
 sion, also. 
 
 " Come along with me to the Mayor." 
 
 It was the first occasion on which I had ever stood in 
 the actual presence of such a high civic dignitary. The 
 introduction was an era in my life. It would have been 
 in that of any boy. The reader may therefore imagine 
 that my equanimity, which my new friend had thought 
 proper to denominate " cheek," felt somewhat abashed, 
 as the magistrate looked up from his desk, and gazing, 
 as I fancied, sternly at me, said : 
 
 " What is the matter now, Mr. Dobbs ? " 
 
 " Mr. Mayor," responded Mr. Dobbs, " I wish to intro 
 duce to you a young friend of mine, who wishes to take 
 out a license to sell pop-corn." 
 
 " It will be a hundred and fifty dollars." 
 
 I looked from the Mayor to my new friend. One 
 hundred and fifty dollars ! Where' was the money to 
 come from ? I never before felt so near whimpering. 
 Very certainly, I have never since. My boyhood must 
 be remembered, as an apology for this tendency on my 
 part. I was unable, in the extremity of my trouble, to 
 ntter a word of entreaty. 
 
 " He has no money, Mr. Mayor ! " answered Mr. 
 Dobbs. " So you must deal as kindly as possible with 
 him." 
 
 The magistrate laughed, not at what my friend had 
 said, but at my painful look of dismay. Mr. Dobbs 
 also chuckled slightly. Then the Mayor observed : 
 
 " I will see what can be done for the lad. He seems 
 a bright young fellow." 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 15 
 
 After saying tins, lie named the most liberal terms 
 for the license, and when it was made out by his clerk 
 and Mr. Dobbs had paid for it, with a very low bow, I 
 turned to leave the office. At this moment a gentle 
 man entered, whom the Mayor introduced to my bene 
 factor. After doing so, he was beginning to mention 
 what I had come to him for, when the new-comer 
 turned to me, saying : 
 
 " Why, I know this young lad. He is my nephew." 
 
 The Mayor gazed at me and Mr. Dobbs, with some 
 considerable surprise, as he ejaculated: 
 
 "Indeed!" 
 
 I felt that my face had crimsoned up to the very 
 roots of my hair, but my reply was prompt and very 
 bitter: 
 
 " You are entirely wrong, sir ! " 
 
 It was impossible for me to avoid recalling the fact 
 that he had not made me the slightest offer of assistance, 
 while my generous benefactor had not only loaned me 
 money, but given me some three hours of his time 
 the last, possibly, being the greatest amount of 
 kindness. 
 
 " How ? " said my nncle, knitting his brows. " Are 
 not you the son of Mr. , of Galena \ " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " And you were born there ? " 
 
 " Of course, I was." 
 
 " Your father had a brother in this city ? " 
 
 " I know he had." 
 
 " Then, I am that brother and your uncle. You 
 know it, for you spoke to me only yesterday." 
 
 " Did I ? " was my angry exclamation. 
 
 Making another bow to the Mayor, I turned and 
 
16 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 walked out, leaving my disgusted uncle to stare, and, 
 if he was given to profanity, to swear after me. 
 
 The pop-corn business, so strangely commenced, grew 
 and prospered. From my one small basket, it gradu 
 ally extended itself. At last a regiment or rather one 
 small company of boys with cans containing it, with 
 the name of " Mose " painted on them, strapped upon 
 their shoulders, sold pop-corn in the streets, the cars, 
 the theatres, and the hotels. Why or how I came to 
 take the name of "Mose," it is perhaps difficult to 
 say. But I had commenced life in the Circus, when 
 the " Mose " of Chanfrau was an universally quoted 
 name throughout the country. It had been my name 
 on the bills with Dan Rice, Older and Orton, and Levi 
 North. Remaining in my memory, it probably stuck to 
 me when I embarked in my new calling. 
 
 Comparative wealth seemed to be pouring in on me. 
 In a measure, I was becoming not only a lad of means, 
 but somewhat locally celebrated under the name of 
 my adoption. 
 
 To account for my rapidly gaining money,' it must be 
 remembered that one bushel of shelled, makes eleven 
 of popped corn. My profits were consequently in pro 
 portion, even if the whole trade of Chicago, in this 
 thriftily manufactured commodity, had not been in my 
 hands. 
 
 With the termination of my winter's sale of pop-corn 
 which closed, 1 may state, with gratification, with as 
 much gain for the good Mr. Dobbs as for myself, I had 
 again to think of employment. Luckily, the results of 
 my two accidents were now entirely healed, and although 
 1 could scarcely have risked appearing yet in the circus, 
 I saw no reason to preclude me from going behind the 
 
" The pop-corn business, so strangely commenced, .grew and pros 
 pered. Page 16. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 17 
 
 footlights. After some difficulty, theatricals being less 
 overstocked then, than now, I obtained an engagement 
 at Rice's, latterly known as MacYicker's Theatre. 
 
 It was here decided that comic business was my 
 " line," and the public, not unnaturally, were more than 
 kind to one whom pop-corn had made a sort of favorite. 
 
 However, it was not until the following winter that a 
 positive success rewarded me in my new profession. I 
 had been offered an engagement by Langrish and At- 
 water, of Wisconsin, and accepted it. This was when 
 I had nearly reached the rawly ripe age of sixteen. 
 These managers gave me every chance of displaying 
 what talent I chanced to have. Not only were such 
 parts as Ragged Pat and the Irish Tutor intrusted to 
 me, but I shone also with, I now suspect, a somewhat 
 doubtful light in u The Flying Dutchman," " The Spec 
 tre Bridegroom," " Nick of the Woods," and " Ten 
 Nights in a Bar-room." Irishman, Dutchman, Cockney, 
 Yorkshireman, and Yankee all came indifferently to 
 my share. 
 
 Bright visions of future reputation as a legitimate 
 actor began to rise upon me ; but at the close of this 
 season, the difficulty of procuring another engagement 
 forced me to become a theatrical Arab in Yankee 
 Simpson's travelling company. 
 
 After a brief wandering under their tent, I dissolved 
 my connection with it, and returned to my last year's 
 Eldorado Chicago. The reason for my taking this 
 step, it is unnecessary to put in print. The theatrical 
 profession will readily divine it, when they are told that 
 shortly after, I formed a not unimportant member of a 
 joint-stock travelling company, which for the next six 
 months ran through Illinois and Wisconsin. We had 
 
18 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 reached Racine, in the latter State, when our co-operative 
 speculation came to a sudden end. One morning, on 
 quitting our virtuous couches, we found that the bed on 
 which our treasurer reposed had not been tenanted. 
 The vagabond had " absquatulated " with the whole of 
 the joint-stock funds. 
 
 Here was a situation for the future Forrests, Placides, 
 Broughams, and Jeffersons of the American stage for, 
 as such, we considered ourselves. We were "dead 
 broke." 
 
 Four of these budding reputations, Wolf, Sam Ryan, 
 McManus, and myself, were tendered by the tender 
 hearted public a Benefit, to rescue us from our finan 
 cial difficulties. It need scarcely be said with what a 
 buoyant sense of gratitude its pecuniary results were 
 received by us. 
 
 Once more, I struck for Chicago. It was in a bee- 
 line. 
 
 It need scarcely be explained that I, at any rate, was 
 heartily sick of the joint-stock travelling business in 
 theatricals. 
 
 Here, old Dan Emmett, of Emmett's Varieties, in 
 Randolph Street, Chicago, gave me a short engagement, 
 after the close of which I accompanied Maggie Mitch 
 ell to Milwaukie, where I played with that lady at the 
 Academy of Music. 
 
 The engagement had been for Miss Mitchell most 
 successful, when one evening my horror may be imag 
 ined at seeing the face of my father among the au 
 dience in front of the scenes. For the moment, I felt 
 as if I should be glad to see the stage open, and sink 
 through it. My tongue seemed cleaving to the roof of 
 my mouth. How I got through my part, it would be 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 19 
 
 impossible to say. But I managed to do so, and was iu 
 my dressing-room when the call-boy entered and in 
 formed me a gentleman was waiting to see me. 
 
 "Why was lie let in ? " I roared out. 
 
 " Please; Mister ! he said he wanted to see you on 
 most important business." 
 
 Rushing to the window of the dressing-room, I looked 
 out. It was no use of thinking of escape, that way. 
 The room was on the third story. A leap from it was 
 not to be thought of, even if the loose brick and timber 
 piled at the base of the wall of the theatre had not ren 
 dered it doubly a mad experiment. Delaying as long 
 as I could, I was at last forced to descend. It was, 011 
 my part, a decidedly unrehearsed scene in real life. 
 
 I do not like to speak of my father's remonstrance, 
 or the tears which accompanied his appeal to me to 
 return home. My pride prevented me from weeping, 
 but it could scarcely do so. And, indeed, when he 
 took some considerable blame to himself for having 
 thrown me upon this (as he was pleased to call it) vag 
 abond life, I am not quite certain that my eyes were 
 not wet as well as his. 
 
 Suffice it, that, at the close of my present engage 
 ment, I consented to comply with his wishes, and re 
 nounce the stage. Then, and only then, he left me. 
 
 On my way home, at the close of the performances, in 
 Milwaukie, of Maggie Mitchell, I had determined to 
 pause for a day or two with a friend who was then in 
 Waukegan. Lewis was considerably older than myself, 
 and since we had first met I had become much attached 
 to him, as youth generally does to greater years when 
 they choose to associate with it. Here occurred my 
 third physical misadventure. 
 
20 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 One evening, while walking, with him, down the 
 principal street, a man, in company with several others, 
 accosted him. 
 
 What words were interchanged between them, I can 
 scarcely recollect. All I know, is, that it was one of 
 those inexplicable quarrels which arise about females. 
 
 They came to blows, and endeavoring to separate the 
 two, I received a heavy one upon my jaw from a slung- 
 shot, which knocked out two of my back teeth, and 
 stretched me senseless on the ground. After this I 
 knew nothing more, save that when I recovered con 
 sciousness I was led to the room of Lewis, by himself. 
 While lying upon the bed, not yet aware of the full ex 
 tent of the injury done me, I was recalled to my com 
 plete senses by a terrific clamor in the street. Then, 
 for the first time, I learnt from Lewis that he had made 
 short work of one of the gang who had attacked him, 
 by stabbing him fatally. 
 
 The infuriated populace had followed us, and had 
 determined upon lynching both, as speedily as possible. 
 
 Lewis looked white, and fearfully scared, as he lis 
 tened to their savage yells. But it must frankly be 
 owned that I was as thoroughly scared as he was ; al 
 though I retained my presence of mind, leapt from the 
 bed, and was about barricading the door of the apart 
 ment because it would have been impossible to prevent 
 them entering the house. Then there came a momen 
 tary pause, and the voice of some one having authority 
 was heard in the street, addressing the crowd. 
 
 " Thank Heaven ! " cried Lewis. " It is the sheriff." 
 
 The pause, however, had only been momentary. So 
 wild was the fierce burst of derision that followed, I al 
 most thought my companion had been premature in his 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 21 
 
 thankfulness. There was a fierce struggle audible with 
 out, which lasted for some few minutes, and then the 
 sheriff and his officers were victorious. They demand 
 ed admittance in the name of the law, and after enter 
 ing the house, arrested Lewis on the charge of murder, 
 and myself as an accomplice. 
 
 A brief examination, however, soon proved my com 
 plete innocence, and I was discharged, but ordered to 
 give bonds for my appearance against my friend. Of 
 course I was unable to provide the requisite sureties, 
 being an entire stranger ; and in consequence was 
 locked up in the debtors' prison. Here was a situation. 
 With my face swollen from the effects of the blow, two 
 of my teeth knocked out, and my lip and nose fearfully 
 cut, and incarcerated because I could not get bail! 
 Lewis, nevertheless, did not desert me. A stranger in 
 Waukegan who had seen me in Milwaukee, and had 
 heard part of my story from a friend of my father's, 
 recognized my name, and after verifying my identity 
 by ocular proof (it must have been somewhat difficult in 
 my then disfigured condition), wrote the particulars of 
 my trouble to him. He had but just returned to Galena, 
 and was daily expecting me. Only judge what my sur 
 prise must have been, on seeing him one fine morning 
 appear in the place of my confinement. If on our last 
 encounter I would have avoided him, what would I 
 not now have given to have escaped seeing him ; under 
 such circumstances. 
 
 It seemed, however, that my fears of his reproaches 
 were wrong. He gave bail for my appearance upon 
 the trial at the next term, and took me home with him, 
 without uttering a single reproach. 
 
 Perhaps, as I have since imagined, he may have 
 
22 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 thought all such reproach would have been useless with 
 such a confirmed " ne'er-do-weel " as he must perforce 
 have believed me. 
 
 At the time appointed I, of course, reappeared in 
 Waukegan. Unfortunately my father had been unable 
 to leave his home, never for an instant imagining his 
 services might again be required. Owing, however, to 
 the incompetency of the District Attorney or the astute 
 ness of my friend's counsel, the trial of the latter was 
 deferred until the succeeding term of Court ; and what 
 was my disgust at finding, having surrendered on my 
 bail, I was again to have a domicile under lock and key 
 until the new trial, unless my parent again put in an 
 appearance upon the scene. But, even while the sheriff 
 was preparing once more to escort me to jail, a voice 
 from among the crowd in the Court-room sang out, in 
 that delicious Irish brogue I had so often endeavored 
 on the stage to imitate with my own tongue : 
 
 " Would yer honor accept the likes of bail, for the 
 poor boy ? " 
 
 It must be candidly admitted, that I had never before 
 entertained so warm a love for the Irish brogue. It 
 sounded like perfect music to my ears. Still more did 
 it do so, when, after a brief confab between the Judge 
 and the District Attorney, the proffered bail was ac 
 cepted, and with a kindly but vigorous slap on my 
 back, my new bondsman exclaimed : 
 
 " Now ! my boy, all I ask of ye, is, that ye don't 
 throw me in for the bail. When ye were shut up be 
 fore, yer face didn't spake much for ye. But now, I 
 couldn't bear to see a good-looking fellow as ye are 
 trotting off to jail for nothing at all." 
 
 A roar of laughter from those who were present fol- 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 23 
 
 lowed this speech. Very certainly, as my Irish friend said, 
 my " face didn't spake much for me," upon that previous 
 occasion, if it did possibly justify his warm-heartedness 
 now. But, as the great dramatist says : " One touch of 
 kindness makes the whole world kin ; " and to a certain 
 extent at any rate, on this occasion, it did so. His good 
 ness of heart had struck an answering chord in the 
 bosom of all the spectators. They crowded around me, 
 offering their congratulations, and shaking my hands 
 with a vigor which might have gone far to prove that 
 they would have done the same kindness for me, pro 
 vided they had merely chanced to think of it. 
 
 Once more, I returned to my father, and resided with 
 him until the Court a third time convened, when I 
 again returned to Waukegan, and proved to the good- 
 hearted Irishman that the lad he had become bondsman 
 for, was not " the boy to throw him in for the bail." 
 
 ISTow, however, I found that a change of venue had 
 been obtained for the trial, and I was obliged to go to 
 Chicago. It was a fourth time deferred, and on my 
 inability or unwillingness to give new bonds in a city 
 where I could easily have procured bail, I was ordered 
 to prison for a third time. The sheriff, of course, had 
 no discretion allowed him in obeying the order of the 
 Court. He therefore conducted me to prison, when he 
 duly locked the door of my cell upon me. Immediately 
 after, he unlocked it, saying : 
 
 " Look here, Mose ! I have obeyed orders and locked 
 you, up. Now I have unlocked the door, and am going 
 to let you out, if you choose to act as my deputy." 
 
 Gladly enough, I consented and entered at once upon 
 my duties. It would perhaps be unnecessary to say that 
 the sheriff had a few years since contributed by his 
 
24 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 own patronage to my success as a pop-corn merchant, 
 and had subsequently been acquainted with my theat 
 rical struggles. In addition to this, he had heard the 
 history of my connection with the case, and felt a 
 kindly disposition to befriend one who had been un 
 fairly implicated in the matter from the beginning. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 As A DETECTIVE HUNTING UP A HORSE AND BUGGY A RUN 
 AWAY FROM THE SHERIFF ON THE TRACK THE HIDDEN 
 CORPSE FOLLOWING THE MURDERER UP STRUGGLE AND 
 CAPTURE QUICK JUSTICE A GOOD "UTILITY" MAN MOS 
 QUITOES AND AN OLD STEAM-BOILER" How RICH YOU BE" 
 BECOMING A RUM-SELLER WHAT is IN THE BONE WILL 
 OUT OF THE FLESH. 
 
 As his deputy, I endeavored conscientiously to answer 
 the good opinion of the sheriff. Suffice it, I so far suc 
 ceeded, that he recommended me very strongly to Pink- 
 erton, the celebrated detective of Chicago. At this time, 
 Pinkerton was going to Waukegan for the purpose of 
 arranging the means with the authorities there for 
 breaking up a gang of counterfeiters, then flooding the 
 whole of Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin 
 with bogus money. x\fter a brief interview with me, 
 Pinkerton appointed me upon his staff,, and on his 
 return from Waukegan, left me in that city. 
 
 Shortly after this, I received a telegram from my 
 chief. It stated that a man, very gentlemanly in ap 
 pearance (his description was given), had stolen a horse 
 and buggy in Chicago. The fellow had gone northward, 
 and Waukegan was designated as the place where he 
 might probably fetch up. 
 
 When I received the despatch I was with the sheriff, 
 
 and had just handed it to him, when an individual 
 
 drove up with a horse and buggy, both of which closely 
 
 answered Pinkerton's description. This person was 
 
 2 
 
20 BUCK8KIN M08K. 
 
 hailed with the familiarity whose command is peculiar 
 to the functionaries of the Law, and as politely, and 
 with even more oppressive familiarity, requested to 
 
 " Get out ! " 
 
 The stranger was necessitated to obey this peremptory 
 injunction, and requested information of its object in a 
 blandly imperturbable manner. 
 
 u You are my prisoner," curtly responded the sheriff. 
 
 " For what, sir?" demanded the man. 
 
 " For stealing that horse and buggy." 
 
 " Good God ! " was the instantaneous ejaculation. 
 " You were never more mistaken in your life." 
 
 Certainly, the rascal would have made his fortune 
 upon the stage, his look of astonishment was so perfect, 
 while the touch of indignation in his manner heightened 
 this appearance on his part so admirably. The sheriff 
 looked at me as if in doubt. I nodded my head slightly. 
 That which the fellow was only doing as an amateur, 
 was within my professional experience. 
 
 " Yes, sir ! you are the man," replied the sheriff. 
 
 " In a few minutes," said the stranger, " I will prove 
 to you, you are the most mistaken man in the world." 
 
 "How?" 
 
 " Do you know Mr. Sutherland, sir 1 " 
 
 He had named one of the most prominent citizens in 
 Waukegan. 
 
 " Very well, indeed ! " was the response of the sher 
 iff. 
 
 "Jump in my buggy, then, and we'll drive to his house. 
 There, I can readily convince you, you are thoroughly 
 mistaken." 
 
 " All right," ejaculated the sheriff. 
 
 In spite of my remonstrating look, he jumped into 
 
BUCKSKIN MO8E. 27 
 
 the buggy, followed by the stranger, and they drove 
 off. 
 
 It would be needless to detail my reflections. The 
 reader, if gifted with a fair share of acumen, can readily 
 determine them. In less than three-quarters of an hour 
 the horse and buggy once more appeared, driven by the 
 sheriff, lie had been making the poor animal pay for 
 his obtuscness. 
 . " Well ! " I inquiringly uttered. 
 
 " When we arrived at Sutherland's," said the local 
 official, " the fellow got out and rang the bell. He was 
 some time in waiting for the door to be opened. Then, 
 he told me he would ' go round the house to the back 
 door, and wake them up.' I waited some time longer, 
 when the front door was opened by one of Mr. Suther 
 land's servants. Naturally enough, I got out, expecting 
 to see the man within the house. Would you believe it, 
 the rascal had never entered it." 
 
 " Very decidedly I should," was my exclamation. 
 
 Jumping into the buggy, I requested the sheriff, it is 
 to be feared in a somewhat too dictatorial tone, to " lay 
 it into the horse," and drive back. On arriving at Mr. 
 Sutherland's, I asked him to indicate to me the way the 
 man had gone. lie could only point out the side of 
 the house the runaway had passed round. Leaping out, 
 I prepared to track him. It was then, that, for the first 
 time in my life, I discovered, I possessed something of 
 that sleuth-like certainty and readiness, which fitted me 
 for portion of my future career. 
 
 The morning had been somewhat damp, and by the 
 help of the print his feet had left upon a field at the 
 back of Mr. Sutherland's dwelling, the fellow's track 
 was distinctly visible for some half a mile. Here, the 
 
28 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 broken branches and twigs of a low hedge proved that he 
 had crossed it into a lane. On the damp sandy gravel his 
 track was even clearer. Then, he had encountered some 
 one else, and near this spot traces of a recent struggle 
 were apparent. From this point I could merely see one 
 track, and was induced to believe there had been foul 
 play, and that the fellow I was in chase of, had contin 
 ued his flight alone. This led me to make a brief search 
 in the neighborhood of the spot on which the scuffle 
 had taken place. Just beyond the fence, roughly con 
 cealed by torn-up branches, lay the dead body of a man. 
 The skull had been crushed in as if by the blow of a 
 heavy club, and the pockets were turned inside out. I 
 raised the arm of the corpse with ease. The muscles 
 were limp and flaccid, not having had time to stiffen. 
 It was evident that the murder had but recently been 
 committed. My future trapper instinct was strong upon 
 me, and I pursued the one trail for some mile and a 
 half farther. There it was lost upon a stretch of higher 
 and harder soil into which the lane had widened. Half 
 an hour was spent in vainly trying to detect it, and then 
 I made up my mind to return to the town, and give in 
 telligence to the authorities that a murder had been 
 committed. 
 
 After doing this, and reinforcing my somewhat jaded 
 system with a draught of good Monongahela, I returned 
 with the local police to the place where I had found the 
 'body. 
 
 On the way, I had made inquiries about the locality, 
 and found that some half a mile beyond the spot where 
 I had lost the trail, I should reach the main road, which 
 led to Shiloh. Convinced now that the man was a 
 determined ruffian, my young professional pride was 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 29 
 
 aroused, and the determination was already formed by 
 me to capture him. 
 
 Consequently, on reaching the scene of the murder, I 
 left the authorities to convey the corpse to Waukegan, 
 and recommenced my pursuit, making every possible 
 inquiry at the houses and farms near the road, until I 
 arrived at Shiloh. But I have neglected to state, that 
 on my return to Waukegan I had disguised myself as 
 thoroughly as possible, and placed in the pockets of my 
 disguise a pair of darbies, (handcuffs) a revolver, and 
 a brass-knuckle. The suspected murderer, and now 
 known horse-thief, was a man of robust, almost of Her 
 culean build. When recognized in the buggy, he had 
 been dressed in the most fashionable style. Added to 
 this, he had sported black flowing locks, with a dark and 
 well-trimmed beard. He had now to be found in what 
 ever other guise of dress or complexion he might choose 
 to adopt, for the criminal alias of person or apparel is 
 to the full as perhaps even more variable than that of 
 name. 
 
 My whole evening was passed in Shiloh, in wander 
 ing from one place of resort to another. 
 
 As yet, my search had been fruitless. But I never 
 dreamt of failing in it, because I had determined to 
 succeed. I felt certain, I should capture my man. 
 
 At last, I found myself in a beer-saloon, where, while 
 standing at the bar and in the act of drinking, my eyes 
 fell upon an individual whom I instinctively knew was 
 the criminal I was in chase of. He had, however, un 
 dergone a great change. His beard was cropped, or 
 rather it was shingled off short. As for his hair, it was 
 notched and jagged, as if it had been curried with a 
 comb that had razor-like teeth. His dress was by no 
 
30 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 means of that distinguished character which it had 
 borne earlier in the day. This, however, arose more 
 from the apparently slovenly fashion in which it was 
 worn, than any other change in it. 
 
 It is true, he had been unable to alter his eyes, al 
 though, now, when he was off his guard, their glance 
 was freer and more insolent than it had been when I 
 had first seen him. 
 
 Besides, he had kept with him a cane which he had 
 carried that morning. This was subsequently a damn 
 ing proof against him, as the sheriff of Waukegan was 
 able, as well as myself, to identify it. 
 
 When convinced beyond the possibility of doubt 
 that this was the man, I quietly approached him, and 
 dealt him a heavy blow with my brass-knuckles under 
 the jaw. 
 
 This stretched him upon the floor. In a moment I 
 was seated on his chest and his hands were secured and 
 pinioned. 
 
 All had been effected so rapidly, that I was again 
 upon my feet, before the by-standers had recovered 
 from their surprise, and, it might almost seem, before 
 the criminal could realize what had occurred. 
 
 The persons who had been so suddenly rendered mute 
 by the rapidity of my assault upon the scoundrel, now 
 found tongue. They approached me in an anything 
 but friendly guise, demanding what all this meant, and 
 why I had assaulted " Jackson " in this cowardly fash 
 ion. Only two or three, as I ought to mention, had 
 given him this name, and these were decidedly the most 
 disreputable-looking individuals present. Naturally 
 enough, opening my coat, I displayed my official badge, 
 and told them of the murder which the fellow had 
 
u This stretched him on the lloor. In a moment, I was seated on 
 his chest, and his hands were secured and pinioned. " Page 30. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 31 
 
 committed on the morning just passed, for plunder. 
 The two or three I have alluded to as calling him by 
 name, slunk out, while the rest, changing their tone, 
 complimented me warmly upon the coolness and skill 
 with which they were pleased to say the arrest had been 
 made. 
 
 As for myself, I must own that when I looked at 
 the thew and muscle of my prostrate captive, I was far 
 more inclined to compliment myself upon the recklessness 
 with which I had, single-handed, effected his capture. 
 
 Word was immediately despatched to the sheriff, and, 
 by the following morning, Jackson was safely lodged in 
 the jail at Waukegan, the county seat of Lake County. 
 Shortly after this, he was indicted by the Grand Jury, 
 and a change of venue having been granted, he was 
 removed for trial to Chicago ; where, pleading guilty, 
 he was sentenced to be hanged, and paid the penalty of 
 his crime upon the gallows. 
 
 As for my poor friend Lewis, he had already pleaded 
 guilty to manslaughter, and been sentenced to imprison 
 ment for eight years. lie died before the term of his 
 imprisonment had expired. 
 
 In those days, in the West, justice was far shorter 
 and sharper than it has recently been in New York. 
 There was more pride in the detection of crime, and 
 considerably readier justice in its punishment. Red- 
 handed murder had especially little chance of escaping 
 the prompt retribution of the Law, and it will, I think, 
 be granted by the inhabitants of the metropolis that 
 the consequent fear was a tolerably fair degree of pres 
 ervation for human life, considering the character of 
 the various elements from which life in that portion of 
 tlio States was then composed. 
 
32 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 Having shortly after tins returned to my home, I 
 assumed the position of under-sheriff to my parent, and 
 lived for several months somewhat quietly, being lion 
 ized in no small degree by my friends and neighbors 
 on account of the capture of Jackson. In a few 
 months, however, Pinkerton, who had evidently consid 
 ered me a good " utility " man in the detective line, 
 wanted my services again. He was engaged in ferret 
 ing out a gang of counterfeiters and horse-thieves, who 
 had been circulating bad notes, and thinning out the 
 stables above Chicago. Their base of operations had 
 been made by them at the foot of Little Dalls, now 
 called Dallton. This was some twenty miles above 
 Portage City. 
 
 Excitement was the only thing I lacked while under 
 my father's wing, and consequently, in spite of his re 
 monstrances, I determined upon accepting the offer of 
 employment which Pinkerton made me. 
 
 Starting at once, after seeing my chief, I joined the 
 party with whom I was to work, at Madison. Here, 
 after laying our plans, or rather, arranging for the exe 
 cution of those Pinkerton had laid out for us, we sep 
 arated, with the understanding that wherever we met, 
 we were to proceed as if we had been strangers. The 
 following day, myself and a companion found ourselves 
 at Big Bull Falls. It would be unnecessary to trace 
 out our after-route from place to place. For some time 
 we discovered nothing which might afford any clue to 
 the object of our search. At last we arrived at Grand 
 father Bull Falls, when something occurred which con 
 vinced us we had continued too far in that direction. 
 We consequently returned, and took a straight line to 
 wards Black River Woods. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 33 
 
 By the bye, the man who gave them this name must 
 have had a hide tanned to the toughness of a leather 
 boot, or he certainly never would have omitted to com 
 memorate the plague of the mosquitoes which infest it. 
 
 Of all sections of the country populated with this de 
 lightful insect, that I have ever crossed, this is decidedly 
 the worst. So much BO, that I believe it must have been 
 that part of it, in which the man we have heard of, took 
 refuge from these winged atrocities under an old steam- 
 boiler, amusing himself while in his fancied security by 
 (damping their murderous beaks, with an old hammer he 
 chanced to have with him, to the iron shell through which 
 they were penetrating. The result of this style of pro 
 ceeding was perfectly unforeseen by him. In some hour 
 and a half, the muscle of the trapped mosquitoes was 
 sufficiently strong for them to raise the iron shell and 
 fly off with it. 
 
 Be this as it may, it is a complete purgatory. You, 
 in vain, try to smash one mosquito whose fangs you feel 
 in your forehead. While doing so, another fastens on 
 your nose, and half a dozen more upon either cheek. 
 The amount of profanity they caused on the tongue of 
 myself and my companion, I even now look back upon, 
 with considerable contrition. 
 
 The whole of this portion of the country, as far as 
 Black Hiver, w r as under Mosquito dominion ; and when 
 we quitted it, it was with the sincere hope, upon my 
 part, that nothing might oblige me to revisit it. 
 
 When we once more met the balance of our party at 
 Stevens Point, which had been as unsuccessful as our 
 selves in tracking out the game, it is now a question to 
 me how our swollen and disfigured faces could be at all 
 recognizable. 
 2* 
 
34 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 After Borne consultation, it was decided that portion 
 of the party should strike for the Little Eauclaire River, 
 while another should go up the larger stream called 
 the Big Eauclaire. Myself and companion remained for 
 a few days at this place, and finding nothing deter 
 minate, dressed ourselves as raftsmen, in red shirts 
 and overalls, making up our minds to separate. Then, 
 I hired myself out to run the Caughnaut Rapids, on a 
 trip to Plover Portage. 
 
 It was on our way in return, when "gigging back," 
 as the raftsmen term it, that I first caught a glimpse of 
 success. One of the pilots, had to employ a term well 
 used in the west and south of the States, " cottoned " to 
 me. This was probably on account of my youth and 
 apparent verdancy, as well as my muscle. I was just 
 the sort of fellow he evidently supposed could be em 
 ployed as a green hand in his illegal calling. We had 
 been talking of the ways of living in the Yfest one 
 morning, when he said : 
 
 " Look here, young fellow, thar's many a way of 
 making enough to live, that's easier than your'n is." 
 
 " How is that ? " 
 
 "D'yer see this?" 
 
 At the same time he pulled out of his pocket a lot of 
 " queer," or counterfeit bills. He must have had more 
 than two hundred dollars of bogus money of different 
 denominations fives, threes, and twos with him. 
 
 " How rich you be ! " I ejaculated, with an innocent 
 look of wonder. 
 
 " Do you think so ? " he asked, with a sly wink and 
 chuckle. 
 
 " Good Lord ! " I cried out, as if the idea had just 
 come to me. " They're not " 
 
' 'D'yer see this?' 
 
 "At the same time he pulled out of his pocket, a lot of ' queer' 
 or counterfeit bills." Page 34. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 35 
 
 " Ya-as ! They ar' but don't make si eh a row 
 about seeing them." 
 
 As lie said this, lie glanced around as if he had been 
 afraid somebody might have been within earshot of us. 
 
 " I only wish I could get hold of sonic of the blamed 
 
 Btllff." 
 
 " If yer do," replied lie, " I'll introduce yer to them 
 as makes it." 
 
 " Will you re-eelly, do that I " 
 
 " Ya-as! young fellow, I will." 
 
 Accordingly, we started on the day after our return 
 down the river, and having passed Dutchman's Rapids, 
 entered upon what is called the jaws of the Little Dalls, 
 at the Shingle. Thence, going by the Devil's Elbow 
 and the Sag safely enough, we came out at the foot of 
 the Dalls proper. Here my companion showed me the 
 entrance to the cave in which the work of the gang was 
 carried on. 
 
 He then told me I would have to wait at Portage 
 City, until he could see his fellows in the business and 
 obtain their permission to introduce a new recruit to 
 them. Otherwise, it might be dangerous. 
 
 Afterwards, he himself returned to the neighborhood 
 of the Sag. 
 
 While remaining at Portage, I met portions of my 
 party, to whom I communicated the success I had met 
 with. After talking the matter over with them, it was 
 suggested by me that I should enter into the drinking- 
 saloon business, which would not only afford me an ap 
 parent opportunity for disposing of the false money, 
 but render it easy for me to bring my companions in 
 contact with the counterfeiters. This was agreed upon, 
 and when the pilot returned, I suggested it to him. He 
 
36 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 literally jumped at the idea, and ostensibly helped me in. 
 hunting up a location for my debut in rum-selling, as 
 well as vouching for me most strongly to the individual 
 from whom I hired it. The rascal was well known in 
 the place. 
 
 The whole of the time since I had arrived in Portage 
 City, I was in constant correspondence with Pinkerton, 
 who thoroughly approved of every step I was taking, 
 and gave me to understand he would be ready at any 
 moment to join me. 
 
 Well ! my saloon was opened, and liquor-drinking was 
 in full blast in it. The pilot was as good as his word. 
 At different times, he brought down to rne most of his 
 accomplices, or rather of his employers, and I quickly 
 became a sort of licensed favorite with them. Of course, 
 if I had been detected in "shoving the queer," and 
 found myself within the grasp of the law, they wouldn't 
 have cared one red cent, but while I apparently bought 
 their bogus notes, I was the best of fellows living. In 
 the meantime, I had gradually introduced them to most 
 of my companions, some of whom also took portion of 
 their spurious money, paying for it in good cash. It must 
 be admitted that the whole of the gang were capital 
 judges of the genuineness of any of, or all, the currency 
 of the various States. " Wild-cat " notes nothing could 
 induce them to take in exchange, even for any of their 
 own shinplasters. 
 
 Shortly after this, I found that the counterfeiters were 
 to have a full meeting in the cave, which I had now 
 several times visited. It was, I had reason to believe 
 from what the pilot told me, for the purpose of dividing 
 the spoils of the last month, whkjh had been, so he 
 hinted to me, unusually large. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOST5. 37 
 
 My chief was immediately notified. 
 
 Very soon after, he joined me, with the United States 
 Marshal, and made arrangements with the sheriff and 
 city marshal to pounce upon the whole gang. 
 
 I say, he joined me. But this is scarcely the case, as 
 he only saw me once previously to the night on which I 
 knew they were to meet at the cave. 
 
 Arrangements, under his shrewd supervision, were 
 capitally made. The cave had two entrances, one at the 
 side of it, some considerable distance from the main 
 one. A part of his men, with a section of the local po 
 lice, under the United States and city marshals, were 
 to be placed there to prevent any chance of escape. 
 Jlimself and the sheriff of Portage were to be con 
 ducted by me to the main entrance. It would be need 
 less to say, that as a desperate resistance to us was within 
 the probable chances, every man in either party was 
 well armed. Our suspicions respecting this were not, 
 however, destined to be realized. Pinkerton's precau 
 tionary measures had been too well taken. When we 
 were discovered, a rush had been made for the other en 
 trance. Here, they found out that they had been com 
 pletely trapped. 
 
 Then, rightly believing that the party at the main en 
 trance was the principal one, they returned, and had a 
 parley with the sheriff and Pinkerton, or rather with the 
 last, ultimately corning out and surrendering. 
 
 After having been handcuffed, and placed in the 
 boats, part of onr men were left in the cave to secure 
 the spoils, while the rest of us returned with our prison 
 ers to Portage. It was one of the largest hauls of coun 
 terfeiters, with their implements of trade and spurious 
 money, as well as a fair amount of good paper, which 
 
3 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 had up to that time ever been made in the West, and 
 redounded very much to the credit of my chief, as well 
 as myself the last, mainly on account of the warm 
 way in which he was pleased to compliment the share I 
 had taken in it. Most certainly it resulted in the break 
 ing up of the gang at that time known as the Guy Fox 
 band, whose depredations had extended for several years 
 from the Lakes to the Gulf. It had been the terror of 
 the country, as it had resorted to every species of crime 
 with the view of furthering their schemes. In due time 
 they were all convicted and sent for various terms to the 
 Penitentiary. All of them had the satisfaction of serv 
 ing out their time, with one solitary exception. This 
 was my friend the pilot of the raft, whose wish to make 
 me a tool had led to their apprehension. 
 
 He was not, in every respect, a bad fellow, and his 
 look of bewildered astonishment when, with the hand 
 cuffs on his hands, he saw me on the boat with Pinker- 
 ton, was so miserably pitiable, that I could not help feel 
 ing some tenderness towards him. 
 
 In the fulness of my heart, I spoke to my chief about 
 him on the same night after our return to Portage. 
 
 "I will see about it, Mose," he replied, with a dry 
 smile. "But, if you had as long an experience as I 
 have, you would know how useless mercy would be to 
 him. What is in the bone will out in the flesh/' 
 
 The fellow was released, upon Pinkerton's application, 
 some twelve months afterwards, and, as I have heard, 
 verified my chief's appreciation of rascality. It has 
 been said he was shot by a stalwart farmer, some three 
 years afterwards, in the neighborhood of Dubuque, 
 Iowa, in consequence of an attempt at highway robbery. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSK. 39 
 
 This fact, however, I am unable to verify. So, let my 
 readers charitably hope, the lesson he had received bore 
 the good fruit of turning him again into the paths of 
 honesty. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 UNDER THE SHADOW OP MY OWN VINE AND FIG-TREE Too 
 MUCH SYMPATHY AGAIN IN THE THEATRE MY FIRST TRIP 
 ACROSS THE PLAINS A FlDDLE AS A SENSATION THE FREE 
 FIGHT MY FIRST LESSON IN SWIMMING WANTED, A NEW 
 Bow JUDGMENT ON A WHISKEY-DRINKER THE THIRD 
 TIME OUT HE GOES A STAMPEDE GROWING INTO FAVOR 
 THE HORSE-THIEVES MILITARY JUDGMENT. 
 
 FOR a brief time, I again returned to my father, who 
 had been unwilling that I should rejoin Pinkerton. He 
 could stand my being deputy-sheriff under his own eye, 
 but he did not relish my becoming a regular detective. 
 
 However, his term of office as sheriff was now expired, 
 and I told him : 
 
 " I must do something." 
 
 " So you shall," he replied. " There is a nice little 
 farm at some fifteen miles distant. I will buy it for 
 you." 
 
 I had never yet resided under what Scripture calls 
 " the shadow of my own vine and fig-tree." The idea 
 struck me in a favorable light, and I cordially accepted 
 his offer, although somewhat doubting my capacity in 
 an agricultural line. 
 
 However, the die was cast, and in a few weeks I had 
 settled down in the original occupation of our common 
 parent, having at the same time become a married man. 
 
 It must be admitted that from the very start I found 
 wedlock infinitely more agreeable than tilling the soil. 
 
 My previous almost nomadic style of existence had 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 4:1 
 
 to a great measure incapacitated me for this weari 
 somely primitive style of life. It was of no use trying 
 to relish it. Luckily, there are all sorts of tempera 
 ments in this world, or what would humanity do for 
 wheat, corn, and garden-stuff. My nature was decidedly 
 not adapted to raising them. 
 
 My w r ife saw my utter incapability as a farmer. She 
 was a good little soul, and frequently condoled with me 
 on it. 
 
 This was the very worst thing, possibly, that she could 
 have done. It added edge to my disgust with it. Night 
 after night, when the day's work was over, were spent 
 by me in querulously grumbling, and by her in consol 
 ing my discontent at my condition in life. 
 
 At length the farming season ended, and then my 
 detestation of agriculture was doomed to be inconceiva 
 bly heightened. 
 
 While I had out-of-door occupation, I could stand 
 its regular monotony. Without it, what was there for 
 me to do ? I could but wander round the yard, and 
 look at my pigs, fodder my cattle, take a stroll to the 
 next farm, some three miles away, return to my little 
 wife, expect her to console me, and then retire to bed, 
 with the expectation of awaking to another day of the 
 same humdrum existence. 
 
 My life had a necessity for positive activity. 
 
 The good little soul to whom I was married saw this ; 
 possibly too late. However this was, it came about 
 that, with her full consent, although not without many 
 tears on her part, and a considerable quantity of gloomy 
 sorrow on mine, I left her at home, and struck out once 
 more into the world. 
 
 It would be useless to narrate every incident of this 
 
42 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 winter, but in the spring of 1S55 I brought up at St. 
 Joseph, Missouri. 
 
 Here, Maggie Mitchell was at this period playing as 
 a " star," and to her I was indebted for a short engage 
 ment in the Theatre. It lasted for six weeks. When 
 it came to a conclusion, I determined upon visiting 
 California, at that time the Ophir and Golconda of the 
 further side of this continent. However, it was no use 
 starting with the small means I then had, unless some 
 positive manner of living in San Francisco, at my first 
 arrival there, was secured. Therefore, I telegraphed to 
 Thomas McGuire, of McGuire's Opera House, who was 
 about to open the New Metropolitan Theatre. In reply, 
 he offered me an engagement for the September follow 
 ing. It was a long time to wait, but luckily I had re 
 cently become acquainted with John Crim, of the firm 
 of Crim, Ebright and Coutts, who was organizing a party 
 to cross the Plains. 
 
 lie spoke to me about joining them, and in almost 
 less time than it takes me to pen these few lines, I had 
 arranged to accompany him. 
 
 It was upon the 6th of May, after having written a 
 long and lovingly explanatory letter to my wife, I started 
 from St. Joseph. 
 
 There were three hundred and seventy -five head of 
 horses, and seventy-five men, all thoroughly armed and 
 equipped. Each of them was furnished with a Sharp's 
 carbine with sabre-bayonet, and a revolver. It was al 
 most like the moving of a little army. The organiza 
 tion had been made in thorough military style, and per 
 haps with even more discipline, being under the com 
 mand of Captain Crim himself. 
 
 Naturally, I was almost a total stranger to all of them 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 43 
 
 except our leader, but I soon began to form acquaint 
 ances, and in a few days became more especially linked 
 in friendship with Dave Ilorner, tlie brother to Puss 
 Homer, and the blacksmith of the party. The last was 
 a sturdy Englishman, rejoicing in the sobriquet, by 
 which he was commonly known amongst us, of Brighton 
 Bill. 
 
 Our first halting-place was opposite Marysville, on the 
 Big Blue River. 
 
 It then consisted of some four or five rough stone 
 houses, covered with dirt, half a dozen adobe huts, as I 
 have since learnt to call them, and a gambling hell, 
 specially designed to pigeon emigrants in those delight 
 ful games known as Three-card Monte, the Strap Game, 
 and others of an equally holy and pleasant character. 
 This building, only of one story, was also the station at 
 which the Pony Express changed horses. 
 
 After supper, Brighton Bill, Ilorner, and Pigeon thus 
 denominated because his outside attire was a swallow- 
 tailed coat strolled through Marysville. It was the first 
 settlement we had struck since leaving St. Joseph, and 
 we were curious about the customs, habits, and style of 
 living of the place. In any case, I was so decidedly. 
 
 Dave had brought his violin with him. He was a 
 capital fiddler, and in travelling across the plains, it is 
 not always necessary to leave our business behind us. 
 Dave certainly carried the means of displa} 7 ing his ac 
 complishment with him. 
 
 That fiddle created a veritable sensation. It might 
 have been imagined that none of the inhabitants of 
 Marysville had ever seen a fiddle before. His music 
 was taken in exchange for whiskey, cigars, and anything 
 else we wanted. Indeed. I began to believe that Cap- 
 
44: BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 tain Grim might run the risk of losing Horner as a 
 member of the party. It almost seemed to me, as if, in 
 a clay or two, Dave might have become the owner of the 
 whole settlement. However, in supposing this, I had 
 not precisely calculated the full effects of temper and 
 whiskey upon Brighton Bill. He began to feel the ef 
 fects of the latter and by degrees lost the former. A 
 somewhat scurrilously jocose allusion to his nationality 
 was made by one of the natives. The indignant Briton 
 no sooner heard it, than he struck out, right from the 
 shoulder, in true Johnny Bull fashion. The offending 
 native went down on the sandy soil of the High Street 
 of Marys ville as if he had been projected by a catapult. 
 
 Some few rows I had seen in my life before this, but 
 never such a free fight as followed. 
 
 The whole of the male portion of the settlement (by 
 the bye, it was nearly all of it) joined in the metee. 
 
 Had it not been for the assistance of many of our 
 companions, who had also amused themselves with an ex 
 ploring tour through Marysville, we might have got the 
 worst of it. Luckily, they took a hand in the game, 
 which saved us. Pistol-shots were, however, freely in 
 terchanged, and an individual was dropped, who had just 
 drawn a bead upon Bill, with a bullet behind his ear. 
 
 After this, we retreated in as good order as we could, 
 towards the river which lay between us and the spot 
 where our camp was pitched. 
 
 The darkness of night had, however, by this time, 
 fallen upon us, and being strangers, our party managed 
 to become separated. Horner and myself kept together, 
 but when we reached the stream, it was at a different 
 portion of it from that where the skiff lay that had borne 
 us over. We knew not which side to turn. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 45 
 
 While standing there, we heard the sound of oars; or, 
 more properly, of a means of propulsion bearing an 
 equal consanguinity to oars and paddles. They were pe 
 culiar to the Plains at that time. What was to be done ? 
 If we had shouted to our friends, we should have dis 
 closed our whereabouts to our enemies. 
 
 Homer, however, was a man of educational resource, 
 and volunteered to swim across and return with the skiff 
 for me, as I was unable to accompany him. 
 
 It may be imagined I felt some repugnance at being 
 left to the mercy of Marys ville, if it should chance to 
 lind me. Searching around, I stumbled over something, 
 which, on examination, I discovered was an old "dug 
 out," or species of impromptu ark. To this I at once 
 determined upon committing myself and my fortunes, 
 with a broad piece of board which I found at some lit 
 tle distance. This might serve as a paddle. Accord 
 ingly, as Horner plunged into the river, I availed myself 
 of it. But the cursed thing gave me a lesson I have 
 never since forgotten, when the chance was given me to 
 remember it. It is contained in the old proverbial say 
 ing, "look before you leap." The dug-out had a hole 
 in it. Scarcely had it got a dozen yards from the shore, 
 than it was fast filling. In a few yards more, it was 
 under water ; and for the sake of remaining above its 
 unpleasantly chilly surface, I, very considerately, let it 
 go to the bottom. 
 
 This was the worst fix I had yet found myself in. 
 
 But there is no lane without a turning, although it 
 must be confessed some of these turnings are occasion 
 ally sharp and rough. Thinking my last moment was 
 come, and that some time next morning my unconscious 
 body might arrive on shore some miles lower down the 
 
46 BUCKSKIN M08E. 
 
 river, to afford a meal to the stray dogs or crows of this 
 part of the country, I struck out recklessly in a battle 
 for as much more of life as I could possibly keep. 
 
 A few moments passed. Great Heaven ! I did not 
 sink. I was actually swimming. 
 
 " Where are you, Dave?" I shouted out, joyously. 
 
 " Here, old boy ! " was the cheery answer. 
 
 That single exclamation settled my wish for conver 
 sation while in the Big Blue River. It had filled my 
 mouth with water, and was very nearly on the point of 
 bringing my first lesson in swimming to a most abrupt 
 close. So I kept, iny tongue quiet, until at length I 
 arrived drippingly joyous at the further side of the 
 stream. 
 
 Homer was, necessarily, there before me, and assisted 
 me to mount the bank. 
 
 ** I thought, Mose, you told me you couldn't swim." 
 
 " Nor could I, Dave ! You know, necessity is the 
 mother of invention." 
 
 " So it seems," he dryly replied. " I only wish it 
 would find me a new bow for my fiddle. The black 
 guards smashed that." 
 
 " It was lucky," I said, " they left you a whole skin." 
 
 " Upon my word ! it was so," was his answer. 
 
 We then from the summit of the bank looked round 
 us, and saw the welcome glow of our smouldering 
 camp-fires, some half a mile below. 
 
 Horner spent the remainder of that night, after our 
 return, in attending to his violin. The truth is, it 
 needed it. I, however, slept soundly, and was awoke 
 on the following morning at an early hour in very fair 
 trim. The truth is, early experience had taught me 
 what the results of bad whiskey are, and led me to 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 47 
 
 refrain from an unhealthy indulgence in that exhilarat 
 ing class of strong drink. But few of our companions 
 had been as prudent. Brighton Bill and Dave more 
 expressly felt the full effects of it ; and with a parched 
 tongue, and a splitting headache, heaped their fullest 
 maledictions upon Marysville, and all the ungodly 
 dwellers in that location, during the whole of that day. 
 His cold-water bath on the preceding night had, 
 however, so modified the effects of whiskey upon 
 Homer, that I was unprepared to find him so depraved 
 in his appetite for it. 
 
 He was indifferent how he got it, whether clandes 
 tinely, to use the mildest possible phrase, or not. Hap 
 pening to be on guard one night at our camping-place, 
 he felt this thirst strong upon him. Not having the 
 means of gratification with him, he actually bored a 
 hole in one of the whiskey-barrels, and made free with 
 its contents by means of a straw. In the morning he 
 was what politeness would call "frightfully overcome." 
 In good old Saxon, he was drunk. 
 
 Now Captain Grim had a holy horror of peculation 
 more especially, perhaps, of whiskey-peculation, when 
 it was committed in the manner Dave had been guilty 
 of. Nor in truth do I much blame him. Instead of 
 boring the hole near the top of the barrel, and insuring 
 himself merely sufficient, Homer had bored it about 
 one-third down. He had also omitted to plug it up 
 when he had satisfied himself. There was perhaps 
 some reason for this, as when he had finished drinking 
 he might have failed again to find the aperture. 
 
 At all events, when Captain Grim rose in the morn 
 ing, one-third of the whiskey had dispersed itself over 
 the bottom of the wagon devoted to its carriage, and 
 
48 BUCKSKIN MUSE. 
 
 Horner's guilt was self-evident, putting his own state 
 entirely out of the question. 
 
 A drum-head, or rather a whiskey-barrel, court-mar 
 tial was immediately called together. The impenitent, 
 because scarcely conscious, thief was arraigned, tried, 
 and found guilty. Sentence was, however, suspended. 
 This was partly, because, at the moment, he would have 
 failed to comprehend its justice. More so, because it 
 was hoped that when restored to complete consciousness, 
 his friends might have influence enough with him to 
 prevent the recurrence of so gross a breach of the laws 
 of social equity. At first it appeared it would have 
 done so. But again he fell from the high standard of 
 morality on the Plains, and the captain had determined 
 upon expelling him from the camp. Brighton Bill and 
 myself headed the rest of the party in a strong remon 
 strance. At first Grim was disposed to defy us, but 
 finding us all united in the wish to save the poor fellow, 
 finally gave way. 
 
 The luckless Dave swore himself to perennial sobriety. 
 But, alas! he once more fell from grace, in an emi 
 grant-train. Then Captain Grim insisted with Spartan 
 justice on the rigid execution of the lately postponed 
 sentence. 
 
 What could be said upon his behalf? These who 
 had been willing to deal kindly with him upon the 
 score of his fiddle, could find no word to urge in his 
 favor. Possibly, in their eyes the liquor he had been 
 guilty of abstracting was of greater present value, even, 
 than his violin. One only of us stuck to him. This was 
 a relative, I believe a nephew, of our captain. 
 
 " If you turn Dave out, you shall turn me, too ; " he 
 said pluckily. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 49 
 
 Crim's lips whitened. 
 
 " Then, by the Lord ! " he said. " Out you both go." 
 
 And out both did go, with such provisions as might 
 be immediately necessary, horses, arms, and a suf 
 ficiency of powder and shot to last them until they 
 were picked up by another train or scalped by the In 
 dians. The last, however, I doubt, as although I never 
 again heard of Dave Homer, I have reason to believe 
 his companion is now settled in*Sacramento, and is a 
 prosperous merchant in that thriving city. 
 
 Until we arrived at Ash Hollow, on the south side of 
 the North Platte, nothing of any moment occurred. 
 Here as we were camping, a magnificent and noted bay 
 horse, called Captain Fisher, took fright and started off 
 at a furious pace with a number of the stock. In fact, 
 it was a regular stampede, and one of the most exciting 
 sights I had ever seen, However, I had no more than 
 the first moment to enjoy it in. Action was a necessity, 
 and my old circus-training stood me in good stead, to 
 be of some service. I darted after the bay with a speed 
 that nearly equalled his own. How long this would 
 have held out, it is, of course, impossible for me to say. 
 Something, however, caused Captain Fisher to swerve 
 across my line of pursuit. Leaping, rather than run 
 ning after him, I succeeded in grasping him by the 
 rope attached to the hackamoor or halter. His terrified 
 speed was so great that I was thrown upon the ground 
 and dragged by him for a considerable distance. But 
 for my long experience as a boy on the sawdust of the 
 arena, it would have been absolutely useless for me to 
 have attempted regaining my feet. How I escaped 
 serious bodily injury from the remainder of the stam 
 peded horses, I never knew. Escape I however did, as 
 3 
 
50 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 well as again recover a stand ing or rather a running 
 position. The rest of the business was now compara 
 tively easy indeed, a mere matter of time. Clinging 
 to the rope, I compelled him to slacken his pace, until> 
 at last, I succeeded in grasping the affrighted animal 
 by the mane and vaulting upon his back. There, I 
 was the master, and he was not long in finding it out. 
 
 It was about three miles from our halting-place when 
 I succeeded in turning him. The remainder of the 
 stampeded horses followed us. Thoroughly cowed by 
 his past fright, and the certainty that he had to do as I 
 chose, we arrived at the camp. 
 
 All my mates crowded round me with congratula 
 tions, and Captain Grim shook me by the hand as I 
 leapt from the back of the other Captain with a warmth 
 that was at the least as effective as it was affecting. It 
 was the second time he had honored me. The first 
 occasion was when I had entered upon my service with 
 him in St. Joseph. Nor did his second grip mean 
 nothing. It established me, with him, from that hour, 
 as a prime favorite. 
 
 In the vicinity of Chimney Rock,, we encountered an 
 apparently agreeable party of some half-dozen travel 
 lers, who applied for permission to travel with our train. 
 Captain Crim complied with their request, extending 
 to them the camp privileges on condition of their com 
 plying with its necessary restrictions. Our new friends 
 seemed not only grateful for his hospitable kindness, 
 but too eager to displa}^ their gratitude. 
 
 They continued with us some two days, without ex 
 citing any suspicion. 
 
 During the second night after their admission to the 
 camp, it happened to be my watch, and while on my 
 
BUCKSKIN HOSE. 51 
 
 rounds, I seemed to notice a movement in some of the 
 animals which indicated that all was not perfectly as it 
 should be. They did not seem as quiet as usual. 
 
 Bending closer to the earth and gazing along it, with 
 my eyes covered by my hand from the glare of the 
 camp-fires, I saw some description of animal, which I 
 at once supposed was a coyote or Prairie-wolf. As yet, 
 such an animal was unknown to me. To make assur 
 ance doubly sure, I raised my rifle to my shoulder, and 
 in another instant should have blazed away at it, when 
 it suddenly straightened itself up, yelling out franti 
 cally : 
 
 " For God's sake, don't shoot ! " 
 
 " Come in, then," was my answer. 
 
 As the fellow gradually sneaked nearer to me, it 
 seemed that I recognized him. And, very certainly, 
 when he was within the light of the camp-fires, I did 
 so. It was one of the party of .agreeable gentlemen 
 whom our captain had hospitably permitted to travel 
 with us. The scoundrel had been tampering with the 
 fastenings of our horses, preparatory to stealing them. 
 
 Never shall I forget Captain Crim's look of unutter 
 able horror at the fellow, when I woke him up in his 
 tent, with my prisoner. The indignation which he had 
 exhibited on poor Dave Horner's third detection in 
 whiskey-stealing, was nothing to it. 
 
 " A darned horse-thief ! Who'd ever have thought 
 it!" 
 
 " I assure you, Captain " 
 
 " Hold your tongue, you infernal rascal, or, by Heaven ! 
 I'll make short work of you and your companions." 
 
 " Let me explain, my dear sir ! " he whined. 
 
 " Have them all turned out, Mose ! " thundered Crim. 
 
52 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 " They are lucky to have me to deal with them. Any 
 one else would have hanged the whole lot." 
 
 By this time, the whole camp was alive, more espec 
 ially our forty-eight hour acquaintances. These dis 
 owned the culprit, as a stranger who had but recently 
 joined them. Their defence was, however, too thin ; 
 and as the ominous murmur arose around them that 
 
 " Lynching would be the shortest and best settlement 
 of the matter" 
 
 It was concluded by them, it would be wisest to obey. 
 This, the more especially, as I had collected some dozen 
 of my immediate friends, who stood ominously close to 
 me, with rifles in hand, and six-shooters very palpably 
 visible. 
 
 In another ten minutes, they had all left the camp. 
 
 When w T e arrived at Fort Laramie, Grim reported 
 this gang of marauding horse-thieves to the officer in 
 command of that post. Several days on our route be 
 yond the fort, we were overtaken by the Pony Express, 
 and learned that this very band had been captured in 
 its immediate vicinity. Military justice is very prompt. 
 It may make an occasional mistake, although not often. 
 They had all been hung. 
 
CHAPTER IY. 
 
 CAUGHT BY THE INDIANS A PLEASANT BIDE ONE PITYING 
 FACE BENEFIT OP BEING A MASON THE EVIL EYE INDI 
 AN BEAUTY AND INDIAN EATING THE OFFER OF MARRIAGE 
 DECLINING IT, MAKES ME A FRIEND A SECOND AND MORE 
 TEMPTING OFFER DECLINING IT, DOES NOT MAKE ME AN 
 ENEMY PULLING UP MY STAKES WITH HONOR THE PONY 
 EXPRESS AGAIN WITH THE TRAIN. 
 
 PREVIOUS to our reaching Fort Laramie, we had been 
 able to procure plenty of fresh meat. 
 
 The antelope and buffalo had almost seemed waiting 
 for our rifles. Now, however, we met with few or none 
 of either of these, and the scarcity began to be severely 
 felt. 
 
 Even Captain Crim grew more peppery with us than 
 he had before been, and Brighton Bill lost his usual 
 ruddy jollity. 
 
 Consequently, one morning, I started out with a de 
 termination to find fresh meat or die. To tell the truth, 
 it came very near to being the latter. 
 
 As yet, all the Indians we had met with on the Plains 
 had been of friendly tribes, and at this time no danger 
 was anticipated. I was already some six or seven miles 
 from our train, on the upper side of the North Platte, 
 past what they call the Rattlesnake Hills, when I be 
 held approaching me a party of Indians. At this time, 
 I was unaware what tribe they were, although now I 
 should pretty readily be able to tell that they were 
 Cheyennes. These are generally hostile to the whites, 
 
54 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 unless overawed b} r superior numbers. I necessarily 
 mean, a proportionately superior number about one, 
 perhaps, to three. The party approached me in an ap 
 parently friendly manner, or else the fleet gelding I 
 was mounted on might easily have distanced them. 
 On approaching nearer, they requested, in the usual 
 Indian manner, for tobacco or powder. The first, I 
 readily enough gave them. The latter I was not in 
 clined to part with. Suddenly one of the Indians 
 drew closer to me, and laid his hand on my rifle. I 
 pulled it back from him, and at the same moment was 
 grasped round the waist from behind, by a savage whom 
 I had not previously noticed. 
 
 My desperate struggles were in vain. I was torn 
 from my horse, and in a few moments more found 
 myself weaponless, with my arms pinioned behind me, 
 and lashed on the back of one of their ponies. The 
 raw hide-whangs round my waist were tied so tightly 
 as almost to stop the circulation. 
 
 The animal was then turned loose, and followed with 
 whoop and yell by the savages as if they had been 
 nothing else than a band of devils. The Cheyenne who 
 was probably their chief had appropriated my horse. 
 How madly I wished that Charlie would throw the red 
 demon as he galloped after me, shouting and whooping 
 like an incarnate fiend. 
 
 In that mad race, for at the moment I almost fancied 
 the Indians and myself were all lunatics on a wild race 
 to the infernal regions, what a paroxysm of despairing 
 thought rushed through my mind. AVus I to go out of 
 life something like the dying snuff of a caudle, without 
 one free blow in a square fight ? And these were the 
 Indians I had read of as a boy, these cowardly, sneaking 
 
BUCKSKIN HOSE. 55 
 
 red curs, who had not dared to give me a chance for my 
 life. Great God ! Where was Brighton Bill and my 
 other companions ? What would Captain Grim say if 
 he ever heard of this ? Then I thought of my father, 
 Pinkerton, Maggie Mitchell ; and, as my wife's face rose 
 on my vision my good little wife, I could or would 
 think no more. All became momentarily a blank. 
 Again, however, I returned to my senses. I heard the 
 whooping yell of the red devil who was astride of my 
 gelding, Charlie, and I cursed him in good round Saxon, 
 as if he could understand me. 
 
 But what is the use of dwelling upon this. After a 
 ride of some two hours and a half, in a fashion I had 
 never expected to attempt, my captors came in sight of 
 an Indian village. 
 
 Here I was cut loose from the pony upon which I 
 had performed the most painful feat of horsemanship I 
 had ever attempted, and dragged instead of led into the 
 presence of the chief of the tribe. All the inhabitants 
 of the village surrounded me. Squaws, old and young, 
 papooses of either sex, and all the components of an 
 Indian mob, were crowding around the white captive. 
 
 One only face I saw which displayed anything like 
 pity. It was that of an Indian girl of some sixteen years. 
 Whether it was pretty or ugly, I knew not. I only felt 
 that I saw sorrow in her large and star-like eyes, as they 
 gazed upon me. 
 
 Curiously enough, they gave me a sensation of hope. 
 The moment before I had been madly desiring that the 
 drama of life, with me, might come to an end. Now, I 
 began to think and weigh my chances, which, to own 
 up, at the present moment appeared slim enough for 
 safety. 
 
56 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 My hands and arms seemed almost dead, and some 
 minutes elapsed before they recovered* the consciousness 
 of life. Looking in the face of the chief, I saw that he 
 was an old man. As in great age it not unfrequently 
 happens, his face had regained somewhat of the kindli 
 ness of youth. At any rate it lacked the repulsive char 
 acter which marked that of my captor. Suddenly, it 
 seemed to me was I dreaming ? No ! This time, I 
 was certain of it. He had made the Masonic sign of 
 distress. The girl's sympathetic glance had been pal 
 pably an omen of good. 
 
 Trembling with agitation I responded. 
 
 What immediately followed I am unable to recall. 
 Indeed, I doubt whether at the time I was thoroughly 
 conscious of it. 
 
 When I undoubtedly had fully recovered my presence 
 of mind, I found that matters had completely changed 
 for me. The death at the stake, which had seemed to 
 be my destiny, had faded from my senses. The red 
 devils almost seemed to have been transmuted into cop 
 per-colored angels. I was seated on a buffalo-robe, and 
 some of the elder squaws were bathing my swollen 
 limbs with cooling lotions, and looking gratitude was 
 almost compelling me to say what literal truth cannot. 
 They certainly did not look in any wise amiable or 
 handsome. 
 
 While this was going on, a tall and splendidly formed 
 specimen of the red man entered the hut. He was 
 dressed in a robe or tunic, magnificently embroidered 
 with shells and beads. He had evidently been sent for 
 by the chief, as I soon discovered, because he was able 
 to speak English. The only blemish in his personal ap 
 pearance was a sort of dip in his right eyebrow, which 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 57 
 
 partially closed the organ beneath. White supersti 
 tion might possibly have gifted him with the evil eye. 
 The Indian name he bore somewhat corresponded with 
 this, as he was called Par-a-wau, or " The Warning Devil." 
 
 First, addressing the chief (I afterwards found this 
 was Old Spotted Tail) in their own tongue, he received 
 an answer. 
 
 Then turning to me, he extended his hand and gave 
 me the Masonic grip. After this, he seated himself be 
 side me, and addressed me in my own tongue, asking 
 how I came upon the hunting-grounds of the Cheyenncs, 
 where I was from, and whither I was going ? When he 
 had received my answers and repeated them to the 
 chief in the tongue of their tribe, he next began to in 
 quire very minutely about Masonry among the pale 
 faces. In subsequent conversations with him, for in the 
 present case I had only to reply, I found that the In 
 dians had first been initiated in its mysteries by the 
 agents of the Hudson Bay Company. Neither had it 
 been much carried beyond the northern and western 
 tribes. This was learnt from Par-a-wau, when I began 
 to feel perfectly at ease with him. 
 
 At this time I was merely a captive, although I had, 
 from the mere chance of Old Spotted Tail's apprecia 
 tion of my personal appearance, escaped the risk of no 
 longer being one, by the most speedy means of escape 
 from life my red acquaintances could have devised for 
 me, consistently with their own amusement. Be it re 
 membered, in stating this fact, individual vanity bears 
 no part the Indian idea of comeliness being very much 
 the reverse, in general, of the white man's idea of that 
 desirable qualification. 
 
 After his examination of me had been brought to an 
 3* 
 
58 BUCKSKIN HOSE. 
 
 end, he made an oration of some length to the aged 
 Cheyenne chief. He had risen to his feet as he did so, 
 and the grace of his movements, with his full and roll- 
 ingly sonorous voice, might have done credit to the best 
 of our own orators. Indeed, so completely did his gest 
 ure translate his speech, that I could almost follow 
 every word of the appeal he was making for me. He 
 was evidently pleading for my pardon. This I feel I 
 should have received, if I am sufficiently a judge of 
 human features to have translated the benign savage- 
 ness of Old Spotted Tail's countenance. But there are 
 always two sides to a question, and the young chief, who 
 had appropriated not only myself but my gelding, 
 Charlie, now put in for a long talk. I could swear he 
 was not half as eloquent as Far-a-wau. However, what 
 he said in a harsh voice, and with a large amount of 
 what might be called temperate wrath, settled the ques 
 tion in discussion. The elders of the tribe gave him, 
 twice or thrice, that discordant grunt of acquiescence 
 which Fenimore Cooper, the modern writer, has trans 
 lated more musically as 
 
 " Ugh ! " 
 
 Consequently Old Spotted Tail pronounced a few 
 words, and my red lawyer so I began to consider 
 Warning Devil, although I had been unable to fee him 
 turning to me, said in English: 
 
 "Will my brother come with Par-a-wau to his dwell- 
 ing?" 
 
 Of course I would, because I must. How, indeed, 
 could I do otherwise ? So I followed him. The fact 
 is, I had begun to entertain a certain degree of liking 
 for the chief with the evil eye. He had befriended 
 me. If my Cheyenne captivity had been a long one, I 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 59 
 
 scarcely doubt that this liking would have ripened. 
 However, I had now to accompany him. Let my read 
 ers conceive how great was my astonishment when I 
 entered his hut after him, to find my first glance riveted 
 by his daughter. 
 
 She was the Indian maiden whose look of sympa 
 thizing pity had, some two hours previously, called back 
 my numbed senses to new life and hope. 
 
 " Will Clo-ke-ta provide my brother food ? " 
 
 She too, then, spoke, or at any rate comprehended, 
 my language, for she made no reply, but began to busy 
 herself in preparing an Indian meal. During the time 
 which elapsed before it was ready, I was able in a most 
 satisfactory manner to take an inventory of her personal 
 attractions. These I shall, however, refrain from in 
 flicting upon my readers. Let it be sufficient to say that 
 she was one of the most beautiful children of the red 
 man (if not the only really beautiful one) I had ever seen. 
 
 Perhaps it was well for me, that while I was watch 
 ing her every supple and graceful movement, the 
 thought of the dear little wife who was waiting for me 
 in the far East, appealed to my love for her. 
 
 Otherwise, it may have been possible that I might 
 have forgotten civilization forever. The nomadic life 
 had always great attractions for me. Where could I 
 more thoroughly have indulged in it, than as the son. 
 in-law of Warning Devil, and the owner of such a 
 
 c5 ' 
 
 charming squaw as Clo-ke-ta might have proved to me ? 
 However, this was a wrong, as well as not altogether 
 agreeable, reflection. 
 
 Turning my head with something like a sigh on my 
 lips to Par-a-wau, I saw that his one unhidden eye was 
 fixed steadily upon me. 
 
60 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 " My brother is sad," he said. " But the trees are not 
 always green. He must wait in peace until they once 
 more bud." 
 
 He had scarcely interpreted the meaning of my sigh. 
 Yet his poetical words (whatever nonsense may be prated 
 about them by novelists, such Indians as I have met 
 with rarely display any trace of poetical feeling) brought 
 me thoroughly back to my present position, and I asked 
 him : 
 
 " How long I should have to remain a captive with 
 the Cheyenries?" 
 
 This he was unable to say, but he informed me Old 
 Spotted Tail had granted me the freedom of the village, 
 although with the precaution that an Indian guard should 
 accompany me whenever Par-a-wau could not. 
 
 Clo-ke-ta now had the meal prepared, which was a 
 very satisfactory spread for an appetite which had been 
 unattended to since the early hour in which I left Cap 
 tain Crim's camp. The jerked antelope and the roasted 
 maize were in truth excellent, and if I only had been 
 offered a horn of whiskey to wash it down with, I might 
 not altogether have regretted the dinner I had lost. 
 This, especially when I now remember the bright eyes 
 and raven hair of her who attended to the need of my 
 inner man. 
 
 The fancy, which Old Spotted Tail had evidently taken 
 for me, was destined to exhibit itself in true Indian 
 fashion. 
 
 He offered me one of his own daughters in marriage. 
 
 But I was not educated in Mormonism ; and even 
 had I been, it may be questionable, while I daily saw 
 Clo-ke-ta, whether El-eu-e-na, which was the name of 
 the chief's daughter, would have had any attractions for 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 61 
 
 me. She was not particularly interesting in appearance. 
 Whether she had any fancy for my luckless self or not, 
 it would be impossible for me to say. An Indian girl's 
 affections do not count for much in the eyes of their 
 fathers. In spite of this, I most respectfully declined 
 the alluring offer, through Par-a-wau, with, as he after 
 wards informed me, the most profound expression of 
 thankfulness for the undeserved honor Old Spotted Tail 
 had done me. 
 
 This seemed to me, as I listened without understand 
 ing, to greatly gratify the chief who had captured me, 
 and led to a result that was infinitely more gratifying to 
 myself, as he aspired to the honor of registering himself 
 as one of Old Spotted Tail's sons-in-law. 
 
 On the same evening, however, I was destined to a 
 really far greater temptation. It was after the evening 
 meal, and I was seated near Par-a-wau. His child was 
 putting away the wijlow platters and other means of 
 serving up and disposing of the food she had, as cus 
 tomary, prepared. While she was attending to her do 
 mestic duties, Warning Devil, without any warning, 
 addressed me. 
 
 " My brother has keen eyes." 
 
 " They are sharp enough at times, but they could not 
 keep me out of the hands of the Cheyennes." 
 
 " He knows that El-eu-e-na is not fair to look on." I 
 could not help laughing as he said this. " Nor would 
 she make a good squaw. She could not prepare the 
 buffalo or the antelope, nor clean my brother's rifle, nor 
 embroider his moccasins, as a great chief needs that 
 she should." What the deuce was he coming to? 
 I was not doomed to wait long, for after a pause he 
 addressed me this question in an affirmative manner, 
 
b2 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 -vlrieli I at once understood. "My brother has seen 
 31o-ke-te ? " 
 
 "Yes!" 
 
 " And what does he think of her ? " 
 
 For my life, I could not have helped casting a swift 
 glance at the Indian girl. She was standing near us, 
 with her eyes veiled by their brown lids, and a crimson 
 blush glowing through her dusky skin, over her cheeks, 
 forehead, neck, and all of the upper portion of her 
 person which was exposed. So fierily red was this 
 flush, I could not help seeing it even in the gathering 
 gloom. 
 
 " Cannot my father see with his own eyes," I replied. 
 " She is as fair as the young red morning." 
 
 This was said by me in a grave and reserved tone, 
 which among men of my own race would have precluded 
 the continuance of the parent in what I felt he had been 
 about to say. But I had not counted truly upon the 
 Indian nature. My present gravity was the exact re 
 production of his own. It was so unlike my usual man 
 ner, that he evidently supposed I had taken the matter 
 he was about to propose into serious consideration. He 
 consequently again spoke. 
 
 " If my brother will take Clo-ke-ta as his squaw, he 
 shall be to Par-a-wau as a son, in place of the young 
 warrior who is dead. He knows, for he has seen what 
 Clo-ke-ta can do for her father's friend. She will do 
 more for him who marries her. Shall it be as Par-a-wau 
 Bays?" 
 
 It must frankly be admitted that for one moment the 
 loveliness of the face I had just seen, and which I dared 
 not again glance at, made me waver. Then, the mem 
 ory of my wife and my own actual father rushed across 
 
\ 
 
 "Looking up, 1 told the uobie savage, tor I have the right to call 
 Mm noble, all. ".?%<? 63. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 63 
 
 me with passionate force, and I spoke. 1 was no longer 
 a coward. 
 
 Looking up, I told the noble savage for I have the 
 right to call him noble all. I told him that I was al 
 ready married, and had my father still living ; that if I 
 were to do what he had offered me the means of doing, 
 I should bring a stain upon my name their tenderness 
 might never blot from it. 
 
 For some time, all was silent. 
 
 Then I felt my hand clasped in the cold fingers of 
 two small and dusky ones, and raised to the lips of 
 Clo-ke-ta. 
 
 " My brother is right," she said. " If he made Clo- 
 ke-ta his squaw, and left her to return to the East, Clo- 
 ke-ta would die." 
 
 Immediately after, I and the Warning Devil were 
 alone in the gloom. 
 
 It almost seemed to me as if Par-a-wau must have 
 resented my implied refusal to marry his daughter. 
 But he did not. Nay ! on the contrary I soon found he 
 either assisted me in my wish for liberation, or was glad 
 to get rid of me. Nevertheless, I am inclined to think 
 that my captor also assisted in promoting my liberation. 
 In his wish to become the son-in-law of Old Spotted 
 Tail, he was, at least, equally anxious to get rid of my 
 presence in the tribe. On the ninth day of my captivity, 
 the aged chief gave me permission to pick up my stakes 
 and quit my enforced camping-ground. 
 
 In doing so, he presented me with many presents, 
 among which was a war-club, magnificently decorated 
 with Indian carvings. This, he informed rne through 
 Par-a-wau, would be a protection to me from all hostile 
 tribes, east of the Rocky Mountains. 
 
G4r BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 However, it was to the gratification of finding me no 
 longer opposed to the chief who had captured me, that 
 I was mostly indebted, This young brave restored me 
 not only the gelding he had deprived rne of, but my 
 rifle, the revolver I carried, and even the tobacco-pouch 
 which he had appropriated. Let no one, from this time, 
 henceforth say that there is no gratitude in a savage 
 breast. He had found that I did not propose standing 
 in his way. Why should he interpose any obstacles to 
 my removing myself completely out of it. 
 
 Par-a-wau also gave me a pony and a magnificent 
 Indian robe or tunic. But the farewell that touched me 
 most was that of Clo-ke-ta. 
 
 As I was about leaving the Cheyenne village, she 
 placed in my hand, with a pair of embroidered moccasins, 
 a flower. It was the one which among the Indians is 
 supposed to typify memory and regret. 
 
 Regretfully, I looked after her as I left the Cheyenne 
 settlement. She had, however, vanished. Only the 
 Warning Devil and the young chief who had taken me 
 prisoner, were visible among the thronging red men 
 who were watching my departure. The last made a 
 single gesture. It might have been interpreted to mean 
 one of two things, either 
 
 " God speed I " or 
 
 " Please the devil ! that I may never see you again ! " 
 
 I was, at any rate, once more a free man, and had full 
 liberty to wander where or in w T hat direction I would. 
 
 The chief had given me two guides. As these Indians 
 could not speak a word of English, I was in one sense of 
 the word companionless. It was barely some two miles 
 from the Cheyenne village when the wild waste of the 
 country spread out in an unbroken plain before my view, 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 65 
 
 and I almost seemed to feel alone in the world. The 
 primal days of Adam seemed to have settled on the sol 
 itary waste. There was no friendly word to greet our 
 progress, no hostile arm to impede our rushing gallop. 
 Not the slightest sign of civilization was visible. The 
 enforced taciturnity of the two Indians made this but 
 the more obvious. 
 
 So, the first day passed. 
 
 On the second, I saw an antelope. The stillness, 
 which had heretofore been unbroken by anything save 
 the tramp of our animals, our own breath, or the mut 
 tered exclamations of my two guides, was now shattered 
 by the crack of my rifle. As the antelope fell to the 
 earth, I heard the guttural exclamations of my guides, in 
 which they gave the expression of their wonder as well 
 as their gratification. 
 
 It was very certainly a good shot. The antelope had 
 been at long range. The two Indians had been as 
 tonished. 
 
 As they trotted off, to secure the fallen animal, I 
 could not help feeling that in their eyes, at least, I had 
 in some measure justified the benevolence towards me 
 of Old Spotted Tail. 
 
 On the third day we struck the Emigrant trail. The 
 night before, we had encamped in a spot which was as 
 lovely as any I have ever seen. A running rivulet of 
 deliciously cool water, fledged by green trees and 
 arched in by the broad blue heaven, which girdles in 
 life on the Plains, gave us, on its banks, a resting-place. 
 Here, I slept well, and woke in the morning with a 
 fresh consciousness of the life, vigor, and beauty of the 
 world. 
 
 Two hours after our start this day, we struck the trail. 
 
66 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 The guides came to a sudden halt, and pointing to 
 the route I had to continue, abruptly left me. Their 
 characteristic taciturnity had not deserted them for a 
 single instant. 
 
 During the whole of this day I followed the trail, 
 overtaking and passing one Emigrant train, from whom, 
 naturally enough, I could learn nothing of any which 
 had preceded it. On the succeeding morning, I, how 
 ever, encountered the Pony Express, and on inquiry 
 learnt that a long train, with a large number of horses, 
 had been passed by it. This train had been encamped 
 at Sweet Water, close to Independence Rock, near what 
 the rider called the old Frenchman's. 
 
 " How far off, is it 3 " I asked. 
 
 " You may reach them or their halting-place by to 
 morrow noon," was the response. 
 
 He evidently did not know the speed of the animal I 
 was mounted on, or my temper. It was before nine on 
 the following morning, that I arrived at Captain Crim's 
 halting-place. He had been detained here by a dis 
 temper which had attacked the horses, and possibly, as 
 Brighton Bill asserted, by a faint hope that I might 
 yet make my re-appearance. 
 
 The first who saw me approaching the carnp was 
 Tom Doyle. His wild shout startled all in the camp. 
 
 "Hillo! Here's Mose." 
 
 The cry was enough. In a few moments, I was sur 
 rounded and almost torn to pieces by the nervous hands 
 which clutched mine. Even Captain Crim squeezed 
 my fingers with his own stalwart grip, and told me, 
 " how glad ' he ' was to see me, whole and safe again." 
 
 After this came question and reply, so fast, that 
 my tongue, silent during the last two days and a half, 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSK 67 
 
 literally ached with its answers, and I was glad enough 
 when the hour for eating came, to which portion of the 
 antelope I had killed on the preceding day made no 
 despicable addition, as game had still been scarce with 
 the boys. 
 
CHAPTEE Y. 
 
 A TEMPEST THE BRUTE WITH NO RHEUMATIC PITY AN IM 
 PROMPTU GALLOWS HANGING A RASCAL MY STAGE WARD 
 ROBE UNDER WATER WITH A WATER-TIGHT WAGON THE 
 KEG OF WHISKEY ITS UNFORESEEN RESULTS A MOUNTAIN 
 CANNON NATURAL SODA-WATER AN INDIAN ATTACK 
 RAISING MY FIRST HAIR TAKING A LESSON FROM THE RED 
 MAN BRITISH CRITICISM THE VALLEY OF A THOUSAND 
 SPRINGS. 
 
 THE rest which had been given the horses partially 
 restored them, and on the following day the train was 
 again in motion. 
 
 After reaching what is known by the old Emigrants 
 as the last crossing of the Sweet Water, Captain Grim 
 decided to take a road farther north than the usual one. 
 He had crossed the plains several times before. Know 
 ing that the Sublett's route and Headspath Cut-off, as 
 well as the Salt Lake line of travel, were peculiarly 
 hard upon stock, he determined this time, to try a track 
 of his own. 
 
 We therefore followed up the Sweet Water, crossing 
 it repeatedly, and at length passed the Rocky Moun 
 tains. Thence we went to Green River. 
 
 This river presented us with great difficulties to find 
 a place for passing it. The current is, at all times, 
 swift and strong. On this occasion it was greatly 
 swollen, in consequence of the heavy snows of the pre 
 ceding winter, higher in the mountains. After hunting 
 for an available ford more than half a day, one was at 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 69 
 
 lust discovered, and the horses were brought over with 
 out the slightest loss. 
 
 That night, however, we experienced a fearful storm, 
 or rather a hurricane. 
 
 It was indeed such a tempest as I had never yet ex 
 perienced. Neither has it had its parallel since in the 
 whole records of the Storm Bureau established in 
 Washington. The rain and hail descended in literal 
 sheets of water and ice. The camp-fires were extin 
 guished by their fury. Tents were torn down and the 
 wagons containing our stores were flooded. The light 
 ning blazed incessantly, and the thunder seemed to roll 
 in one continuous peal. 
 
 Luckily for its, it was not of long duration. In some 
 three hours it had spent its fury. Yet its effects were 
 felt by some of us, for a length of time. Poor Pigeon 
 especially was taken down by it with a severe attack of 
 inflammatory rheumatism. Since his name was first men 
 tioned, it has not again recurred. However, his sickness 
 here forces him upon my notice in connection with an 
 other member of our party. 
 
 The next morning, all damage having been repaired, 
 the train was a^ain in motion. 
 
 O 
 
 Having passed the three Tetons, gigantic sentinels pro 
 jected from the main range of mountains, we followed 
 a little stream which Crirn christened Pine Creek. 
 Beyond this, we unexpectedly came upon a vast belt of 
 snow, extending through the Wind River Range. With 
 three companions, I went over it as far as Salt Creek. 
 It was found to be completely impassable for the horses, 
 averaging from six to twenty feet in depth. 
 
 After holding a council, Captain Crim decided upon 
 striking directly south until we should reach Sublett's 
 
70 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 Cut-off. Consequently we had to retrace our steps, and 
 encamped some twenty miles down Pine Creek, for the 
 purpose of doing that class of recoimoitering which is 
 nothing else than exploring. 
 
 Here it is, that we have once more to do with Pigeon. 
 
 There was a man who had some interest in a small 
 portion of the stock. For want of a better and less ap 
 propriate name, I may as well call him Rascall. While 
 delayed in our enforced encampment, some of us were 
 occupied in grazing the stock. Others were exploring 
 in every direction for a means of crossing the belt of 
 snow which hedged us in from our westerly route. 
 Rascall had nothing to do. Poor Pigeon was lying in 
 his wagon, as helpless from rheumatic pain as the train 
 was in presence of its blockading impediment. Rascall, 
 having no rheumatic pity, took advantage of the solitary 
 and forlorn Pigeon, by ordering him out of the wagon. 
 In vain did the poor devil remonstrate with him. He 
 was utterly unable to move. Rascall determined upon 
 proving this, and being alone with Pigeon in the camp, 
 tried the common experiment of brutes, by thrashing 
 him in the most unmerciful manner possible. 
 
 Like many other brutes, he did this without counting 
 the possible consequences. 
 
 On the return of the boys to the camp, they heard 
 of this from Pigeon, who was, from his harmless good 
 temper, a general if somewhat despised favorite. Nat 
 urally enough, their contempt was forgotten in their 
 pity. They determined upon a queer revenge for his 
 treatment of poor Pigeon. They, consequently, rigged 
 up an impromptu gallows by joining two wagon poles 
 together. From this they suspended a full-length por- 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 71 
 
 trait of the offender, although, at first, serious thoughts 
 had been entertained of suspending himself, 
 
 It would be needless to say that the likeness was 
 scarcely of sufficient academic correctness to have justi 
 fied its limner in claiming any position as a portrait- 
 painter. 
 
 Seeing this, in order to avoid any mistakes, with the 
 artist's permission, I inscribed beneath it " RASCAL," in 
 very unmistakable letters. 
 
 Either the portrait or the name had an immediate ef 
 fect. Captain Grim, who certainly had an artistic eye 
 for painting or printing, one or both, as well as an un 
 mistakable love of justice, saw it. He immediately in 
 quired into the matter, and then visited Pigeon. The 
 poor fellow's statement was enough. As has been seen, 
 Grim was not a man of many words, but of very deci 
 sive temper. He expelled Rascall from the camp, and 
 it was only after some four or five days' wandering in 
 its vicinity, and imploring any of us lie chanced to meet 
 for pardon, that on consultation with his boys the Cap 
 tain finally allowed him to re-enter it. 
 
 At length, a way out of our difficulty was found. 
 Through deep gorges and canons we reached Lambert 
 Creek, and after following it for some distance, crossed 
 it, finding ourselves once more in the Green River re 
 gion. Thence, striking across a lower range of moun 
 tains, we came to Sublett's Cut-off. 
 
 Shortly after this, above Ham's Fork an accident oc 
 curred to one of the wagons, which, although of slight 
 account to the train, was of serious moment to myself. 
 
 In passing this stream, the wagon containing, with 
 other property, the whole of my wardrobe, stage and 
 otherwise, sprung a leak. It should be mentioned that 
 
72 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 wagons for crossing the Plains, are, for obvious reasons, 
 generally made water-tight. Being struck by an under 
 current which rendered it impossible to move it rapidly, 
 it foundered with all its contents. Seeing the mishap 
 from the shore, our Captain sung out to the boys to save 
 whatever of the unlive stock in it they could. However, 
 without waiting for orders, I and Brighton Bill, whose 
 personal property had gone under the water with mine, 
 had both rushed to the scene of our loss, and entering 
 the stream, were hard at work. 
 
 We remained in that wretched Fork for five hours, 
 fishing out of it, as it seemed, everything but our own 
 property. Necessarily, much besides this was lost. The 
 infernal undertow of the stream carried all it could 
 bear with it, away. Not only had it plundered me of 
 my stage-wardrobe, but of the whole of my wearing ap 
 parel, exclusive of that I then stood upright in. Not 
 even a single shirt was left me. At length, when it was 
 evident no hope remained of finding it, sulkily angry, 
 wet and chilled not only to the bone, but to my very 
 marrow, I struggled, with the well-nigh as miserable 
 Bill, to the farther bank. Here we found Captain Grim 
 awaiting us. At his side, stood a consolatory keg of 
 whiskey, and in his hand was the immortal tin-cup, so 
 lovingly identified with daily life on the Plains, and the 
 early history of our nation upon the Pacific coast. He 
 was a sagaciously provident leader. Praiseworthily in 
 terested in our health, he supplied both of us with a lib 
 eral cupful of the fortifying elixir. Hungry, as well 
 as cold, for it was now three o'clock in the afternoon, 
 and I had eaten nothing since morning, I forgot my 
 usual prudence, and asked him for another cupful of 
 the inspiring fluid. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 73 
 
 " Do you think you can stand it, Mose ? " was his far 
 from unnatural inquiry. 
 
 The whiskey had not yet sufficient time to put an end 
 to the shivering produced by my protracted cold bath. 
 My teeth were actually chattering in my head, with a 
 castanet accompaniment to my discomfort. 
 
 " Certainly-a-a-a, I can-n-n-n, Cap ! " 
 
 " The cup holds a good half -pint." 
 
 " And I have been-n-n-n in the water ha-a-a-lf a day, 
 Captain ! " 
 
 " Very well ! " he replied, with a commiserating look 
 at my drowned-rat-like appearance, " you shall have it." 
 
 He very certainly would never have allowed me to 
 soak so much inwardly, had it not been for my thorough 
 outward soaking. Nor, indeed, but for my tribulation 
 under my recent loss, should I have desired such an 
 inward soaking. As I swallowed the whiskey, I felt my 
 whole frame bursting into a tingling and generous glow. 
 However, nothing more is remembered by me until the 
 following morning. 
 
 Then I awoke in Captain Crim's tent. I had been 
 stripped to the skin and wrapped in a blanket. 
 
 My clothes, now, alas! iny only suit, had been re 
 moved from my person by his orders, and dried at a 
 large fire, whose smouldering embers were in the last 
 stage of inanition without the tent. They were lying 
 beside me. It was with a somewhat sheepish look, I 
 imagine, that I got into them, for the Captain was al 
 ready out and about. What blowing up might be in 
 store for me from such a rigid disciplinarian as he was, 
 I could scarcely imagine. 
 
 As 1 went, or to speak more truly, sneaked out into 
 4 
 
74: BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 the sharp morning air, what was my surprise to hear 
 him say, in a cheery voice : 
 
 " Well, Mose ! You are all right now, are you not ? 
 To work, my lad ! I wish all my boys were like you 
 and Bill ! You worked yesterday, like a couple of he 
 roes." 
 
 It was an agreeable reception, and so widely different 
 from the one I had anticipated, that for the moment I 
 forgot my loss. Straightening myself up, with a mod 
 est disclaimer of his praise, I resolved to keep my in 
 tended apology under the lock and key of a silent 
 tongue. 
 
 It was, I think, about noon, some two weeks after 
 this, we reached Bear River. Following its course until 
 we came to Soda Springs, our camp was pitched for the 
 night, between them and the silenced volcanic crater 
 beyond. 
 
 This has been so often described, that to do so again 
 would be a waste of words. But on a hunting trip 
 some ten miles more or less North, I discovered another 
 natural curiosity, to which I was the first to call atten 
 tion. On entering a small valley, I heard a continuous 
 whizzing and grumbling noise, which was unlike any 
 thing I had before listened to. Looking around, I saw 
 in the scarped face of an almost perpendicular moun 
 tain a cavity some twenty-five or thirty feet above the 
 level on which I was standing. From this cavity came 
 a broad and persistent jet of steam. This evidently 
 caused the sound which had startled me. It was the 
 result of volcanic action of some description, although I 
 was scarcely scientific enough, even in a small way, to 
 reason this out. 
 
 Suddenly, without the slightest note of preparation, a 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 75 
 
 huge ball of hot mud and fragments of stone was pro 
 jected across the valley from this opening in the preci 
 pice. It was followed by a sharp roar, like the report 
 from some heavy piece of artillery. 
 
 As I stood watching the orifice from which the jet of 
 steam poured for some twelve or thirteen minutes, this 
 phenomenon was repeated, and in something more than 
 an hour I counted some five repetitions of it. 
 
 Farther up the valley, which was about a hundred 
 and fifty yards in width, according to a rough guess, I 
 came to another curious phenomenon. Opposite this 
 natural cannon, the valley formed a broad semicircle, 
 and on the extreme side of this was a tolerably large 
 plateau of hard and sandy soil, from the summit of 
 which I heard a singular hissing sound. Hobbling my 
 horse below, I climbed to the summit of this, and my 
 curiosity was rewarded by the discovery of another 
 freak of Nature. The summit of the plateau was sur 
 rounded with a number of funnel-shaped apertures, 
 from which water constantly rose and fell again, bub 
 bling and sparkling like the contents of a soda-water 
 bottle after the cork has been removed. The taste of 
 this water, which was warm, was, however, scarcely so 
 agreeable as the temperance beverage to which I have 
 compared it. 
 
 Slightly behind me, the natural cannon still contin 
 ued to belch forth its projectiles from the scarp of the 
 rocky f ortalice in which they were stored. Here, per 
 haps, were a number of relief-valves which prevented 
 its destruction by a wider and more devastating explo 
 sion. 
 
 There is naturally small marvel that on this day 
 I killed no game. My time had been too much occu- 
 
76 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 pied in the examination of these singular exhibitions of 
 created oddity, for me to track deer or buffalo, if in 
 deed any were in the neighborhood. 
 
 For what reason 1 can scarcely say, the name I gave 
 this place was Death's Head Yalley. It retains it to the 
 present day. 
 
 Our camp was broken up on the next morning, and 
 we continued, in an almost westerly line, our course. We 
 were advancing into a thickly inhabited Indian country. 
 From time to time what we believed signals were given 
 and answered from either side of the train. No Indians 
 were, however, visible. 
 
 It became clear, when we encamped for the night by 
 Raft River, that if the natives put in any show at all, it 
 would be a hostile one. 
 
 The result of this was, that after our brief supper was 
 over, Captain Crini detailed me to make a reconnois- 
 sance of the country round our camping-place. We 
 had long since begun to employ military terms. The 
 reconnoissance proved him to have been right. Low 
 and partially smothered Indian fires were detected by 
 me, through the smoke rising from them, upon every 
 side, and on my report being made, our guards for the 
 night were doubled. 
 
 Next day, by its events, amply proved the advisability 
 of this vigilance. 
 
 We had reached the City of Rocks, some seven or 
 eight miles from the point at which we had crossed the 
 last-mentioned stream. The advanced guard under me 
 were moving cautiously along, exploring, almost, I had 
 said, every inch of the road, and occasionally throwing 
 a quick and marvellous glance at the springing spires, 
 stretching battlements, cupolas and towers which bore 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 77 
 
 witness to the plentiful imagination of the great Primal 
 Architect and Supreme Master Mason of the earth, 
 when we began to discover visible traces of Indian life. 
 Some ten minutes after, the whole of this strange city 
 of the unliving was literally blackened by live and 
 threatening red-skins. The word, inappropriate as it 
 may be to their color, must be pardoned. There was, 
 and consequently is, no more time to pick phrases than 
 to indulge in any descriptive power I may possess. 
 
 Giving the alarm, we fell back on the main body of 
 our party. 
 
 Never before had I so much occasion afforded me to 
 admire the natural nerve and military capacity of our 
 leader, in a position of emergency. 
 
 The wagons of the train were formed in a close circle, 
 with the horses hobbled inside, so as to prevent the 
 chance of a stampede. 
 
 As for ourselves, we were posted under cover of our 
 improvised fortification, to await the attack, which was 
 not long before it burst upon us. 
 
 These preparations had been as speedily made, as the 
 orders had been readily given. 
 
 They did not take the boys more than ten minutes. 
 Nor had we been any too rapid in perfecting them. 
 
 A description of the fight would be impossible for 
 me, as I only could detail that portion of it in which I 
 was bodily concerned. It may be sufficient to say, that 
 the first pitched battle with the red man, in which I was 
 concerned, lasted for perhaps some fifteen minutes. The 
 savages then seemed to have enough of it, and retired 
 in admirable disorder. The right term would possibly 
 be this they ran away. 
 
 Dashing out after them, we followed the flying red- 
 
78 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 4 
 
 skins for some distance, and I had the satisfaction of 
 raising my first hair, or in the language of the East, 
 taking my first scalp. 
 
 An Indian, who concealed himself behind a large 
 rock, discharged four arrows at me almost with the 
 continuous rapidity of the lightning in the tempest we 
 had so recently experienced. But what might be good 
 for the goose might be equally good for the gander. 
 Rocks were at a fairly large discount in that city of 
 them. Taking advantage of one of these, I seized the 
 opportunity afforded me by an unguarded movement of 
 the enemy and dropped him with a bullet through his 
 brain. 
 
 Some three more dead Indians lay scattered round 
 the wagons, while only one of our men had received 
 any hurt. He was an Irishman, who had received a 
 shot in the right side. It had been made with a ragged 
 ball, which had torn his flesh frightfully. However, the 
 wound did not prove fatal. 
 
 The City of Rocks was now quiet enough, and shortly 
 after Captain Grim gave orders for again starting. 
 
 Very necessarily, we were too fully employed in dis 
 cussing our first Indian fight (or more properly perhaps 
 I was, as several of my companions had crossed the 
 Plains before) to indulge in a prolonged examination 
 of the quaint, natural architecture through which we 
 were moving. 
 
 On arriving at sundown near Goose Creek, our captain 
 decided upon an extended examination of the country 
 round, before entering the canon. His reason for this 
 was, that, on two previous occasions, the Indians had in 
 this locality robbed him of all his horses, leaving him to 
 find his way to California on foot. Little wisdom ex- 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 79 
 
 ceeds that which is taught ns by past misfortune. At 
 least, I may safely swear that I have generally found 
 this to he the case. 
 
 Our men were accordingly divided into three parties, 
 of tolerably equal numbers. 
 
 One had the care of the train and horses. Another 
 had to pass across the mountains on the right, and the 
 last, those on the left of the canon. Grim did me the 
 honor of detailing me in command of the second party, 
 because his past experience had convinced him this was 
 the side from which most danger might be expected, 
 and as he was pleased to observe, I " had not only pluck 
 enough for anything, but plenty of prudence." In the 
 first part of this compliment, I completely justify his 
 eulogy. The second portion of it may be subject to 
 more question, especially when my youth is remem 
 bered. 
 
 My party consisted of twenty-eight of the best men 
 connected with the train, amongst whom were Brighton 
 Bill. 
 
 Some three miles along the side of the canon we 
 began to move in regular Indian fashion, singly and as 
 quietly as we could, availing ourselves of every cover 
 possible. Neither was this one whit too soon. As we 
 crept over a small hill, we discovered, not more than six 
 hundred yards from us, a party of red-skins. These 
 were some fifty in number. 
 
 Luckily, perhaps, I had been the first of my party. 
 Dropping as if I had been picked off by a bullet, I 
 motioned my men to imitate me. 
 
 Then, placing my finger on my lips with a warning 
 movement, we began crawling to the right, behind a 
 number of huge rocks, and managed to advance to with- 
 
80 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 in some two hundred yards of them, without giving 
 them the slightest alarm. The red devils were watch 
 ing the movement of the train as, below them, it wound 
 slowly np the canon. More than probably, if they 
 could count the number of boys we had left with it, 
 they were congratulating themselves on the way, in 
 which they must have supposed, they had thinned us out. 
 
 Eaising my rifle I took deliberate aim, in which I 
 was imitated by the rest of my party. Each of us had 
 selected his own man. 
 
 The report of my weapon was followed simultaneously 
 almost by the whole of those of my fellows, ringing out 
 sharply and clearly. 
 
 As the smoke cleared away immediately after, we 
 saw the whole of the Indians, who had not been slain, 
 flying at the top of their speed across the mountain. 
 
 Twenty-three of them were on the ground, dying or 
 dead, of which flve were undoubtedly white men. 
 Brighton Bill gazed upon the dead bodies reflectively. 
 
 " You're as good as an Injin, Mose ! " he said. 
 " But look 'ere. Wouldn't it 'ave been better to give 
 'em the lead, face to face." 
 
 " D' yer think the skulking beasts would ha' given 
 yer a fair chance?" 
 
 This was said by one of the most silent men, and best 
 shots, who had enlisted with Captain Grim. 
 
 " That's so, for sartain ! " cried one of my boys, with 
 an oath. 
 
 "I jist tell yer, Cap!" said the man who had replied 
 to Brighton Bill, as he kicked over one of the dead 
 bodies in wliich a ball had perforated the skull proba 
 bly it was that of the Indian he had drawn a bead on, 
 " this was a darned square bit of Injin cunning. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 81 
 
 Yer've shown 'em, two can play their game. I'm 
 proud to sarve under yer." 
 
 Brighton Bill said no more. 
 
 He was evidently thinking profoundly upon the dif 
 ferent style in which matters were managed in crossing 
 the Plains, to that in which they might have been, 
 in case of necessity, in his own country. 
 
 On rejoining the train at the head of the canon, and 
 reporting the affair to our Captain, he was pleased to 
 say, I had proved the justice of what he had said, when 
 he appointed me to the command of the party. The 
 congratulations on my success, however, which I re 
 ceived from my companions, were considerably warmer 
 and more gratifying. For some twenty-four hours, I 
 actually found myself promoted by general acclamation 
 to the position of a hero. A little pluck and caution 
 count heavily on the Plains. 
 
 Bill, however, did not change his opinions. Although 
 still as warmly as ever attached to me, he said on the 
 same evening, while sitting round our camp-fire: 
 
 " I don't care, Mose ! It would 'ave been more 
 square to give 'em the lead, face to face." 
 
 Late on the following day we reached Thousand 
 Spring Valley, where the head-waters of the Humboldt 
 .River take their rise. Here water and game were good 
 and abundant, and the train remained two days to rest 
 the stock, while I and some others scoured the adja 
 cent country in quest of fresh meat. 
 
 A lovelier spot than this valley, it would, perhaps, be 
 impossible to find in the whole continent, and I could, 
 while I wandered through it, scarcely avoid reflecting 
 on the change which a hundred, or in all probability no 
 more than fifty, years might produce here. Then, it will 
 
82 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 be thoroughly peopled. Possibly, a great inland city 
 may have been reared by the bustling and intelligent 
 life of my country. The red man will have been 
 effaced by the onward march of civilization, or compelled 
 by sheer necessity to accept a settled life. A Sharp's 
 rifle or a colt will no longer be possessions of paramount 
 necessity to him who travels thitherward. The buffalo 
 will have been cleared out from this section of the 
 States, and an antelope steak will be a rarity. At that 
 period a man of my, at this time, nomadic instincts will 
 be compelled to search for fresh ground in which to de 
 velop and enjoy them. The interior of Africa or South 
 America will be the only parts of the world in which 
 he can follow the life of a wanderer, unchecked and 
 unhindered. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE MISTY MORNING ANOTHER INDIAN SCRIMMAGE MOUNTAIN- 
 FEVER NEVER SAY DIE A RASCALLY PROCEEDING MY SIX- 
 SHOOTER AND A SOMERSAULT u Lo ! THE POOR INDIAN ! " 
 His LETTER OP INTRODUCTION THE ULTIMATE WARMTH OP 
 His RECEPTION NEARLY SQUARING ACCOUNTS A RELAPSE 
 LEFT BEHIND IN HIGHLY DRAMATIC ATTIRE FIRST RE 
 SULTS WITH NEW ACQUAINTANCES KINDNESS OF MY CAPTAIN 
 GREATER KINDNESS OP His FRIEND BECOMING A GOLD- 
 DIGGER. 
 
 IT was what sailors term a nasty day when we left 
 this valley. A heavy mist, which was almost rain, 
 veiled the surrounding range of country. Little beyond 
 the eighth of a mile, in front of us or on either side, 
 was visible. 
 
 About noon, some of our scouts brought the Captain 
 information that matters looked squally, ahead of the 
 train. 
 
 In fact, they had discovered some fresh traces of our 
 red enemies. A halt was at once ordered, and I was 
 despatched ahead with forty of the men to discover, if 
 possible, what the present danger might be. 
 
 Nothing for some time presenting itself to verify the 
 report Captain Crim had received, I took a leaf from 
 his book and divided my boys into two parties. This 
 resulted about half a mile farther in a sharp firing from 
 the other party, which suddenly ceased, and in a few 
 minutes more we came across the Indians, who were 
 retreating in good^order. Once more, I turned what I 
 
84 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 had learnt since I first joined Grim, to good account. 
 Concealing my men, we astonished them by a round 
 volley, which sent them off in double-quick time. 
 
 We were once more masters of the situation, and 
 shortly after the train was again advancing. 
 
 Keeping a careful look-out, in order to prevent an 
 ambush, this evening we struck Gravelly Ford, on the 
 southern bank of the Humboldt. 
 
 After we had crossed this, I was taken sick with that 
 terrible disease, emigrants have named the mountain- 
 fever. For the last two days, I had been feeling some- 
 w r hat under the weather, with occasional racking pain 
 and headache. Never having previously known what 
 actual sickness was, save from the result of accident, I 
 had fancied it was nothing, and would speedily pass 
 away. But, I was wrong. Unable either to walk or 
 ride, my companions were obliged to place me in a 
 wagon, and I became an invalid under the charge of 
 the doctor who had accompanied us. 
 
 Gaptaiii Grim was more than kind to me at this time. 
 In fact, he would not give me up, although the doctor, 
 ignorant of the toughness of my constitution, actually 
 told him that I was past recovery. 
 
 " We'll never say die, doctor, until we leave him be 
 hind us, with a wooden board at his head." 
 
 It was impossible for me to avoid hearing this, as the 
 observation was made by Grim at a few yards' distance 
 from the head of the wagon in which I was stretched. 
 In spite of the pain and thirst from which I was suffer 
 ing, as well as my exhausted condition, I could not re 
 frain from a hollow chuckle, knowing how much life 
 there was yet in my body. At the same time, I could 
 not but feel grateful to the Captain for his words. It 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 85 
 
 was clear he did not intend my bones to be cleaned by 
 a stray wolf or some carrion-devouring bird, whose scent 
 might lead them to my carcass. 
 
 But I did not know how the villany of one man was 
 watching for the chance of putting me out of the way. 
 
 My protection of 'poor Pigeon had made me an enemy 
 in Rascall. He had heard what the doctor said, and 
 went among the men, some of whom detested me on 
 the score of the favor the Captain had accorded me, 
 grumbling over the necessity of carrying " dead 
 weight ! " In this kindly manner, he had disposed of 
 me before I was fit for burial. 
 
 Through 'this fellow's instrumentality, I was, when 
 the Captain happened to be at the head of the train, 
 taken out of the wagon, and placed upon the earth, 
 wrapped in a couple of blankets, with a small quantity 
 of water beside me. 
 
 At this time, I was too weak even to utter a feeble 
 remonstrance. 
 
 By a fortuitous circumstance, or I should possibly 
 say a providential one, Brighton Bill carne by shortly 
 afterwards. In his astonishment he approached and 
 spoke to me. I was utterly unable to make any reply. 
 My friend for in spite of his opinion in regard to my 
 manner of settling accounts with the Indians, lie proved 
 himself a true one hurried on to the Captain, whom 
 he reached some quarter of an hour afterwards. 
 
 His rage, as well as that of most of my companions, 
 was, as Bill subsequently told me, frightful He grew 
 absolutely livid with wrath, ordering an immediate halt, 
 and coining back himself, to superintend my removal 
 from my present couch to the wagon Rascall had taken 
 me from. 
 
86 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 " We'd better string this Eascall up, at once. He's a 
 dirty varmint, and not worth shot or powder." 
 
 This was the expression of opinion of the silent indi 
 vidual, who had declared his gratification at " sarving 
 under me." It would have been put in execution, there 
 can be small doubt, if Captain Grim had not chanced to 
 hear it. Nor, do I think lie would deeply have grieved 
 over this way of settling matters between me and Ras- 
 call. However, the position of the latter with regard 
 to the cattle which has been earlier stated, prevented 
 Cri m's having any ostensible hand in such a condign 
 punishment. He consequently suppressed this inclina 
 tion on the part of my companions, giving the fellow, 
 who for several hours kept out of his way, a severe 
 reprimand, and adding a significant hint, that should I 
 chance to recover, it would be well for him if he gave 
 me a wide berth in future. 
 
 Singularly enough, from the hour in which Rascall 
 had calculated to leave me behind the train like a worn- 
 out dog kicked from the door of a brutal master's 
 dwelling I began slowly to recover. 
 
 One might have supposed that the lesson lie had re 
 ceived, in the way his conduct had been met with, both 
 by the boys and our Captain, might have prevented any 
 further exhibition of his dislike to me. However, this 
 was not so. Some two days after, while I was still too 
 weak to leave the wagon, he seized the opportunity of 
 its being comparatively alone, to order me in an insolent 
 manner to 
 
 " Get out of it, and walk." 
 
 As I gave him no answer, he jumped into it for the 
 purpose of beating me, doubtless, as he had formerly 
 treated Pigeon. While his hand was lifted, however, 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 87 
 
 lie found himself covered with my six-shooter. Al 
 though too weak to walk, I was now strong enough to 
 have pulled a trigger, and he saw I was. 
 
 " You had better get out of this, you infernal scoun 
 drel ! unless you prefer a bullet in your body." 
 
 Low and weak as my voice was, it was determined 
 enough, to rid me of Ilascall's presence. The way in 
 which he vanished was so rapid, that had I been in a 
 condition for it, one of my old peals of laughter would 
 have accompanied the somersault with which his retreat 
 from the wagon was effected. 
 
 We had reached Smoke Creek before I was enabled 
 to rise and crawl, rather than walk, for the first time 
 through the camp. Here we passed two days, only re 
 lieved by an attempt, on the part of the Indians, to stam 
 pede our stock. It seemed to me as if this attempt had 
 settled the fact of my recovery. At any rate, I found 
 myself again able to use my rifle with something of my 
 old vitality. 
 
 Then we passed to Mud Springs, where we again 
 rested for two days, the feed for the cattle being excel 
 lent. 
 
 From this place, our track was one of the meanest 
 ever fashioned by God or man. Rough fragments of 
 rock, deep gullies, rapid descents, and almost perpen 
 dicular rises, with occasional quagmires and tangled 
 grease-wood, barred the road. We had to move over 
 the ground with as great hesitation and caution as a 
 fair dame displayed in navigating Broadway, during the 
 snows of the last winter. It was possibly in the very 
 worst part of this diabolical track, that we were con 
 fronted, as if by magic, with a red-skin. 
 
 He made signs of peace, and on being permitted to 
 
88 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 advance, presented Captain Grim with a paper from the 
 Indian agent at Pyramid Lake. This Indian agent, 
 like all the others of the class employed by our Govern 
 ment, was undoubtedly as little acquainted with the 
 nature of the red man as any Member of Congress 
 could well be. Phil Sheridan understands him a good 
 deal better. Well, this document set forth that the 
 bearer was a good Lo, and friendly disposed, recom 
 mending any emigrant-train who might encounter him, 
 to give him biscuit, bread, tobacco, or any other such 
 luxuries in their power to bestow. Of course, I do not 
 vouch for the exact words of this precious paper. 
 
 Our Captain complied with the half -request and half- 
 order, and the Lo left us. 
 
 Scarcely had we advanced a mile farther, than he 
 appeared again at the head of our train, in the com 
 pany of thirty or forty other Los, all mounted on the 
 regular Indian pony. Let me here say, that a dirtier 
 and filthier set of red-skins, I never saw. Had the 
 wind set in our direction, I feel the perfume exhaled 
 from their carcasses would have been overpowering. 
 Once more displaying the paper he had before shown, 
 they again commenced begging. More provisions were 
 given them by Crim. Actually loaded down with 
 bread, corned meat, flour, sugar, and other dainties 
 adapted to tickle the aboriginal palate, they at last de 
 parted. 
 
 " Did you see, Cap ! " I asked, " how, the red beggar 
 to the right of the fellow was eying our horses ? " 
 
 " Yes ! We shall have a little trouble before long." 
 
 " Good Heavens ! Then, why did you give the stink 
 ing devils what they asked for ? " 
 
 " You see, Mose, the scoundrels showed me that worth- 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 89 
 
 less paper. To be sure, I might have done what many 
 would, and peppered them at once. It would have 
 saved us a few hours' time and trouble. However, if we 
 have to go in for them, there will be some satisfaction 
 in knowing it is entirely their own fault." 
 
 " Do you not see they have stopped at the turn of the 
 darned track, Captain ? " 
 
 " Yes, Mose, I do." 
 
 " You do not mean to give the thieving vagabonds, 
 anything more ? " 
 
 " Certainly I do, Mose." He said this, grimly finger 
 ing his rifle in an ominous manner. "But " 
 
 "Well, Cap!" 
 
 " Look here. Just leave the vagabond who showed 
 us the agent's dirty hieroglyphic, to me." 
 
 In another instant, yelling like demons, the Los 
 dashed upon our line. By accident, it may be pre 
 sumed, Captain Crim's rifle, with mine and a dozen 
 others, were discharged; and in five minutes more not 
 a living red-skin was to be seen, on either side or in 
 front of us. In a country traversed by a road like this, 
 pursuit was of course vain, although it was attempted. 
 
 It ought, however, to be here stated that, until this 
 occasion, I never knew what a capital shot our leader 
 was. He was essentially a modest man. Nevertheless, 
 his bullet had crushed through the skull of Lo, "the 
 poor Indian," immediately above his left eye. 
 
 Towards night we pitched our camp at the lower end 
 of Honey Lake Valley, some three miles from the en 
 trance of Susan Eiver into the lake. Continuing from 
 this spot for two days, towards the small town of 
 Susanville, and fording the river witli our horses, we 
 turned them out to graze for the balance of the day. 
 
90 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 It was while seated under a large cotton wood tree, 
 with four or five of the boys, watching our stock, that I 
 nearly squared accounts with Rascall. No apparent re 
 mains of the mountain-fever forced me to rest in the 
 wagon at the close of a day's ride, and having crossed 
 the stream with them, while keeping a watch upon the 
 horses, I was indulging in the first hour or two's free 
 conversation I had with any of them, for some time. 
 Suddenly, Brighton Bill, who had hitherto remained 
 silent, looked up. 
 
 " 'Ow was hit, Mose ? " 
 
 "How was what?" I inquiringly demanded from 
 him. 
 
 " Why, 'ow was hit that villin Rascall didn't thrash 
 you, as 'e did Pigeon, when 'e got hinto your wagon ?" 
 
 As I was relating a somewhat ludicrously-exaggerated 
 account of the somersault performed by him, when he 
 saw my six-shooter peeping out from beneath the cov 
 ering blanket, Rascall, who had crept up behind the 
 tree under whose branches \ve were sitting, roared out 
 with savage vehemence : 
 
 " You're a lying son of a " 
 
 No sooner had the blackguardly epithet left his lips, 
 than I was on my feet. My pistol was at once in my 
 hand, and I fired. 
 
 Fortunately for him, as I did so, Bill struck up my 
 hand, and the ball passed over his head. The cowardly 
 rufHan took to his heels, very much as if he fancied the 
 devil himself was after him. 
 
 We afterwards found that he skulked round the town. 
 Nor did he join the train again until it reached Moun 
 tain Meadows. If I can fairly estimate a man's thoughts 
 by the expression of his face, I should candidly say that 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 91 
 
 Captain Crim's features betrayed as little pleasure at 
 seeing him again, as I undoubtedly felt. Tie had neces 
 sarily heard of this occurrence, although he never in 
 any way alluded to it, when chancing to speak with me. 
 
 The natural excitement of this affair caused a relapse, 
 and it became apparent that 1 must have some positive 
 rest from the wear and tear of the journey. It was 
 consequently decided that I should remain at Hoop's 
 Ranche, when we reached that place. With great kind 
 ness, Brighton Bill decided upon accompanying me 
 there. 
 
 But at this time, the only suit of clothes I possessed 
 were those I stood up in, and these had been, by travel, 
 hardship, and exposure, reduced to so thoroughly a di 
 lapidated condition, that each separate garment barely 
 held together. In addition to this, they were worn out 
 both at the knees and elbows. While I was disconso 
 lately thinking of this, Bill had been occupied in look 
 ing through the various wagons. Suddenly I heard my 
 name pealing joyously from his lips. 
 
 Hi ! Mose. Look 'ere ! " 
 
 Yes ! It was, unequivocally, a carpet-bag which be 
 longed to me. My theatrical wardrobe had departed 
 from me. Very probably this precious waif from my 
 baggage contained all that I needed. Judge what my 
 disgust must have been, when, on opening it, I drew 
 forth one pair of corduroy knee-breeches, a scarlet waist 
 coat, and a long frieze coat. It was nothing, more nor 
 less, than the complete stage costume of an Irish peasant, 
 which I now remembered having stowed away in the 
 carpet-bag, for the sake of packing my more reputable 
 daily clothes where they might lie flat, without the chance 
 of creasing more than necessary. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 I was too weak to swear, and far too depressed in 
 spirit even to grumble. These clothes were, at any 
 rate, sound and whole. This was a point in their fa 
 vor. So I decided upon wearing them. 
 
 On finding myself at the ranche, I was a decided 
 object of curiosity and jeering comment to those with 
 whom I was about to make my temporary home. Hav 
 ing very little money, and being still too weak to work, 
 the immediate prospect was by no means a cheering 
 one. While I was gazing round me, Governor Roop 
 came b}^, and seized with no unnatural wonder at the 
 unusual clothes of the new inhabitant, paused to ques 
 tion me. Had I been in good health at the time, it may 
 be presumed that my tongue would readily have found 
 words. Now, my teeth seemed to stick together, and 
 my lips could not move. It appeared to me I was like 
 some sailor stranded upon a strange shore, without any 
 help, among treacherous and jeeringly inhospitable na 
 tives. 
 
 As this thought crossed me, a kindly hand was laid 
 upon my shoulder, and a cheery voice cried out : 
 
 " My boy ! you surely did not 'think I had forgotten 
 you?" 
 
 It was Captain Grim who spoke. He had ridden into 
 the town for the express purpose of recommending me 
 to Governor Hoop, with whom he was an old acquaint 
 ance. It would be useless, as well as a gross piece of 
 vanity, were I here to relate all my late leader said of 
 me. It will be enough to state here, his w r ords were 
 more than enough. The Governor gave him his ready 
 assurance that I should want for nothing, until my for 
 mer health and energy were completely restored. 
 
 Then, turning to me, he bade me follow him. On 
 
" On finding myself at the ranche, I was a decided object of curi 
 osity and jeering 1 comment to those with whom I was about to make 
 my temporary home. Page 92. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 93 
 
 arriving at the only hotel in the place, he told the land 
 lord to give me the best room in the house, and allow 
 me to remain as long as I desired. The account was to 
 he charged to himself. 
 
 It would he impossible for me to keep my engage 
 ment in San Francisco, on the tenth of the coming Sep 
 tember. Indeed, I had requested Captain Grim, before 
 quitting the train, to explain this to McGuire. As for 
 my dear little wife, to whom I had written so hopefully 
 from St. Joseph, what could I now say to her ? I dared 
 not write. In spite of Crim's kindness, and the even 
 greater kindness of the Governor to a perfect stranger, 
 that afternoon and evening were passed by me in a 
 condition of extreme depression. 
 
 With the next morning, a happier state of mind came. 
 For the first time in many weeks, I had slept in a decent 
 bed. It was certainly not a palatial hotel, yet my break 
 fast was a better one, as well as more approximating to 
 civilization, than any I had recently enjoyed. The sun 
 shone through the curtainless windows in an inspiring 
 way. The movement of the life around me was differ 
 ent from that which I had recently experienced. In 
 fact, all, for the time, seemed new. The complete 
 change had already comparatively reiuvigorated me. 
 
 From this moment I began rapidly to recover my 
 health, and in a few weeks was able to look around for 
 such employment as the place could afford. 
 
 Nothing available could be found. 
 
 During this period, I had frequently met with miners 
 and conversed with them. The chances and struggles 
 of their life had a considerable attraction for me. At 
 last I decided upon " prospecting " for gold. Success 
 in this appeared to offer me the only possibility I could 
 
94 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 see of repaying Governor Hoop what I had cost him 
 (his kindness to me it would be impossible to repay) 
 and leaving the ranche, like an honest man. After 
 spending some two weeks with little or no success, I, at 
 length, established what I believed to be a good claim 
 in Light's Canon. 
 
 Honestly, I may say that I went to work with a will. 
 Fortune, however, was long in coming. For many 
 weeks, I made merely enough from my claim to whet 
 my appetite for more. 
 
 Perseverance however generally pays. At last I made 
 more than enough to pay my debts. A few days after 
 accomplishing this, I had cancelled my debt to him who 
 had so kindly befriended me. Then, as the winter had 
 begun somewhat earlier than usual, with many thanks 
 
 O v 
 
 to the Governor, I located in Snsanville, where I 
 decided to remain until the spring. 
 
 The truth is, I had already tasted the keenest excite 
 ment I had yet found in life, because it is the most fluc 
 tuating and uncertain. The chances in gold-prospect 
 ing and gold-digging are so variable, that I defy any 
 young man who has once tempted them, readily to put 
 them from him. The poor devil who has been at it 
 for months, and gained merely enough to sustain his 
 existence, may, in a single afternoon, find his toil mu 
 nificently rewarded. Like the gambler, he stakes. It is 
 not money, so much as life and work. A single hour 
 may possibly give him a thousand-fold the value of 
 that which he, perchance, considers an almost worthless 
 stake. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 AFTER GOLD THE PAH-UTE AND WASHO INDIANS RUNNING OFF 
 STOCK PAYING TRIBUTE THE OATH OF VENGEANCE SOME 
 SILVER BULLETS "KNOWING DEM VELLERS" AN UN- 
 GIRTHED SADDLE THE UNBALANCED ACCOUNT RECRUIT 
 ING THE BUCKSKIN RANGERS A LITTLE BIOGRAPHY MY 
 NEW HORSE A STORM IN THE MOUNTAINS UNINTENTIONAL 
 FIRING OUT OF THE TEMPEST. 
 
 IT is unnecessary for me to detail the events of my 
 campaign for gold during the following year and a half. 
 At this moment, wealth seemed within my grasp, and 
 in the next I might be mourning over or cursing my un 
 realized hopes. However, in 1857, wearied out with my 
 apparently vain battle with Fortune, chance called me 
 to another field of adventure. 
 
 There were in that year, all told, very certainly no 
 more than seventy or seventy-five persons living in the 
 Valley of Honey Lake. Of these, the larger proportion 
 were engaged in ranching and stock-raising. Among 
 them, the leading men were, after Governor Hoop, Peter 
 Lassen, W. T. C. Elliott, more familiarly known as Ruff 
 Elliott, the Bass Boys, David Titherington, Tom Har 
 vey, the Spencers, Captain W. Hill Naileigh, David 
 Blanchard, Albert Smith, Orlando Streschley, Ed Mul- 
 rooney, Laninger, Storff, Watson, Kingsberry, Doc. 
 Slater, and a few others. 
 
 At this time, the "Washo and Pah-ute Indians were in 
 the neighborhood. Occasionally, they appeared quite 
 friendly, and would do a spell of work for the settlers, 
 
96 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 taking provisions in payment for such labor as they 
 might choose to do. 
 
 No sooner, however, had they a good supply on hand 
 than they would indulge in their natural propensity for 
 stealing stock, frequently running off thirty or forty 
 head of cattle at a time. It made no difference to 
 them whether these were working oxen or milch cows, so 
 long as they had horns. As none of the settlers were 
 wealthy men, this unscrupulous appetite for marauding 
 upon their stock was exceedingly disgusting. Treaty 
 after treaty had been made with the Indians, and were 
 equally worthless, whenever they had a fair show for 
 stealing cattle with the chance of escaping retributive 
 justice. 
 
 At length, the matter came to a head. The red rob 
 bers had run off nearly the whole of the stock belonging 
 to a particular friend of mine. The nearest neighbors 
 held an immediate meeting and determined, if possible, 
 upon tracking the rascals and bringing them to book. 
 
 Arming ourselves, we* started at once in pursuit. 
 Striking their trail, which was very plain, we continued 
 after them for the best part of two days. 
 
 In the noon of the second day, discovering that they 
 were pursued, the Indians resorted to the cowardly ex 
 pedient of killing the whole of the cattle. They cut 
 open their sides, and let out their intestines, afterwards 
 scaling the side of the mountain, to the north-east of 
 the valley in which we had sighted them. 
 
 It was a lamentably pitiable spectacle to see the poor 
 brutes moaning their moan of death, with their glazing 
 eyes turned upon those who had come too late to save 
 them. 
 
 Out of gun-shot, the Fah-utes for the cruel scoundrels 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 97 
 
 belonged to this tribe taunted ns in no very heroic style. 
 Tins was effected by extending their hands in front of 
 their noses, as well as by a most expressive and insulting 
 pantomimic slap on a very significant portion of their 
 bodies. Blackguardism seems confined to no special 
 race or country. So, at least, it appears to me. 
 
 After a brief council of war, pursuit was decided 
 upon, and we began to mount the precipice. Harry 
 .Arnold was with me, and we managed to delude the 
 Indians into the belief that they were beyond the range 
 of our rifles, by letting the few shots we considered it 
 advisable to fire, fall short of them. This ruse tempted 
 one of them on an eminence at some distance, to repeat 
 his aggravating gesture. 
 
 " I believe I can pick that scamp off with my old 
 Kentucky rifle, Harry ! " 
 
 " He's more than three hundred and fifty yards off, 
 Mose!" 
 
 " I don't think he is." 
 
 " If any man can fetch him, you or I can. It's worth 
 trying." 
 
 He had scarcely concluded when the crack of my rifle 
 was heard. 
 
 The Pah-ute, who had been standing up in a more de 
 fiantly noble position than previously, uttered a loud 
 yell, bounding into the air and rolling over the edge of 
 the cliff, on to the rocks below. 
 
 His mashed and mangled body furnished me with his 
 scalp. The shot, however, fair as it was, had been an 
 ill-advised one. Its result was, that when we reached 
 the bluff on which he had been standing, not another of 
 the red scoundrels was visible. Nor did any of them 
 show themselves after this, even at double the distance 
 5 
 
98 BUCKSKIN HOSE. 
 
 which had tempted him to indulge in such an insulting 
 gesticulation. 
 
 On returning home, we found the whole of the valley, 
 or, rather, those of its inhabitants who had not formed 
 part of our party, in a state of intense excitement. The 
 Indians had threatened a general massacre of the whites 
 in it, if they refused immediately to leave it. It may 
 be readily imagined, the death of the Pah-ute brave was 
 ill -adapted to mollify such a determination. Under 
 these circumstances, it was decided, should the affair 
 come to the worst, on giving the red-skins as warm a re 
 ception as was in our power. But, in the meantime, 
 Peter Lassen and one or two of the older settlers, with 
 Governor Hoop, were despatched to Pyramid Lake to 
 hold a conference with Win-a-muc-ca, the Pah-ute chief, 
 and, if they could do so, make a treaty with him. 
 
 This was effected. We had to give a certain number 
 of head of cattle, several thousand pounds of flour, 
 sugar, and tobacco, as well as many other small articles, 
 in order to remain unmolested. It -was neither more 
 nor less than tribute. 
 
 It is said that years bring wisdom. In any case Age 
 had decided against an Indian war in the neighborhood 
 of Honey Lake Yalley. Youth necessarily had to sub 
 mit. 
 
 The demands of this treaty were a severe drain upon 
 the settlement, the more especially as the winter set in 
 early, with unusual severity. We were for more than 
 four months shut in from the outer world, not even be 
 ing able to reach Indian Valley, where we had been ac 
 customed to have our wheat ground. It was ground 
 during this time in a coffee-mill, and being out of coffee, 
 we were compelled to use roasted barley as a substitute. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSB. 99 
 
 In addition to this, we had robbed ourselves of blankets 
 to supply the Indians ; and in this comparatively desti 
 tute condition, it was at times a difficult matter to sup 
 ply the wants of the women and children. 
 
 Towards the close of the following year the Indians 
 again became troublesome, until, in 1859, another treaty 
 was patched up .with them. 
 
 During this period one of the most popular and esti 
 mable men in the settlement, named Painter, was shot 
 by a party of Pah-utes, who were in ambush at the head 
 of Surprise Valley. Intelligence of this was brought 
 us, by two or three companions who had been with 
 him. 
 
 Painter's brother Ben applied to myself and some 
 others to accompany him and bury the body. When 
 we reached the spot, we found it cut and mutilated in 
 the most frightful manner. Ben, with the rest of us, 
 kneeling beside it, took a solemn oath to be avenged, 
 whenever the opportunity was afforded us. Having 
 then buried the body, we named the valley Painter's 
 Canon. It holds this name to the present day. 
 
 In the fall of the same year, a report spread that a 
 man called Foreman had struck a valuable silver-mine 
 in the vicinity of Black Rock. This was the same 
 place, in which one of the settlers had discovered a large 
 lump of silver ore. His name was Harding. Being 
 on a limiting expedition at the time, and out of lead, 
 he had run it into bullets. 
 
 A tolerable degree of excitement was caused amongst 
 us, by the confirmation of previous suppositions, we pre 
 sumed was thus given. But Black Rock was more than 
 a hundred and twenty miles beyond Susanville, on the 
 north-west side of Queen's River Desert. Its distance 
 
100 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 prevented many from going to prospect the place. 
 However, after two or three days' talk over the matter, 
 old Pete Lassen, with a man named Clapp, myself, and 
 two other of the boys, determined upon verifying this 
 report. On the following day, therefore, striking the 
 old Emigrant Road, and continuing it as far as Granite 
 Creek, our little party followed the Granite range of 
 mountains up to Stove-pipe Springs. Thence, we 
 crossed them to the Black Rock range. On the whole 
 of the way, recently, we had encountered wandering 
 Indians. They had seemed very friendly. We were, 
 however, in a section of the country which the red-skins 
 evidently considered their rightful property. 
 
 The place of encampment this night, selected by 
 Uncle Peter, was very unfavorably situated. But when 
 I advised him to allow me to select a more defensible 
 location, on higher ground than that adjoining the small 
 creek which he had chosen, the old German was obstin 
 ate. 
 
 " Tamn it, my poy ! Don't you 'spose I know dem 
 vellers. Dey von't hurt old Pete. You must give 
 dem some crub, my poy ! Dat ish all dey vants." 
 
 "That may be, Uncle Peter," I replied; "but I 
 wouldn't trust the last three or four lots of red devils 
 we have met, out of the range of my rifle." 
 
 Just at this moment a party of some dozen Indians 
 approached the little camp, and the peaceful Peter mo 
 tioning them with his hand, shouted out : 
 
 " Comes t'here ! " 
 
 Understanding his inviting action, if not his words, 
 they flocked around him. The old Dutchman gave 
 them some bread, meat, and tobacco. Before they left 
 us, he added to these things some powder and caps. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 101 
 
 " A very dangerous gift," as I grumbled out in a low 
 tone of voice. 
 
 When, after having got all they could, they quitted 
 us, I expressed my wish to Uncle Pete to stand on 
 guard during the night. 
 
 " Don't be a tamned vool ! " was his reply. " I dink 
 you ar' scared of dem Injins. If you vants, go on de 
 hill, and leaff old Pete by himself. I hafe no vear." 
 
 Irritated by his answer, I blurted out : 
 
 " As you are determined to stay here, Uncle Peter, 
 we'll not leave you." 
 
 But although, shortly after, the rest who were with 
 him followed the old Dutchman's example, and after a 
 smoke the usual night-cap of the scout or trapper, 
 spread out their blankets and prepared for rest, I was 
 unable to do so. The unerring presentiment, which, 
 without inspiring terror, tells us to be prepared for 
 danger ahead, kept me on the watch. It was, therefore, 
 at an early hour I aroused the camp. 
 
 " I'll pet," exclaimed the Dutchman, wrathful at 
 what he considered his untimely wakening, turning to 
 Clapp, " dat Mose vas not sleep all night." 
 
 " I tell you," was my sharp reply, " we had better get 
 out of this place, cursed quickly ! " 
 
 All of them, the old man excepted, turned out. In 
 spite of Clapp's remonstrances, he, however, re-rolling 
 himself in his blanket, petulantly exclaimed : 
 
 " Yell ! I shleeps, some more." 
 
 It was scarcely a quarter of an hour after this, when 
 we were iired upon from the craggy rocks which com 
 manded our position. This volley slaughtered two of 
 our doomed band. "With very pardonable anger, al 
 though I have since regretted this ebullition of temper, 
 
102 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 I administered a sharp kick to the form of Uncle Peter, 
 who was rolling out of his blankets. 
 
 " Get up, at once," I sung out. " I suppose you'll 
 follow my advice, now." 
 
 u Dey von't hurt old Pete," he responded, " so I vill 
 get my plankets." 
 
 Thoroughly out of patience with him, I leaped into 
 my saddle, and it was none too soon. Another volley 
 took down Clapp, who was just mounting. Thinking, 
 at last, there might be some danger, the Dutchman 
 made a spring for Clapp's horse. In consequence of 
 the saddle not being properly girthed, it slid round with 
 him, and he fell to the ground. Before he could spring 
 to his feet, the concealed Indians had put two bullets 
 through his body. Then, quitting their hiding-place, 
 they rushed upon me. One ball from my rifle settled 
 the foremost of them. With a vigorous thrust from 
 my heels to the flanks of the horse 1 was mounted on, I 
 shook out my bridle and fled, in the midst of a perfect 
 shower of bullets and arrows. All but one of the last 
 missed me. This inflicted a scalp-wound, and for a 
 moment I reeled in my saddle. 
 
 Turning immediately after, I once more raised my 
 rifle, and had the satisfaction of wiping out one more In 
 dian life, as a partial payment for the four they had 
 taken. 
 
 Fairly out of danger of pursuit, I groaned over the 
 death of Peter Lassen and my three companions. 
 
 No longer, my anger (the results had amply proved 
 its justice) reproached him for the obstinate hardihood 
 with which he had so untowardly ended our silver- 
 hunting expedition. 
 
 Nevertheless, I was in no position to indulge either in 
 
" The monument erected to Peter Lassen in Honey Lake Valley." 
 -Page 103. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 103 
 
 wrath or sorrow. My present course was to be deter 
 mined on. After a brief counsel with myself, I decided 
 on continuing my flight through that part of the country 
 settlers called the Desert. Few trees or rising hills 
 marked this. Consequently I should here have less 
 chance of risking a second Indian ambuscade. In 
 deed, on approaching Granite Creek, surrounding in 
 dications betrayed the presence of red-skins in the 
 neighborhood, and although in want of water for my 
 self and the animal I was mounted on, I preferred 
 taking my chances on the comparatively barren plain. 
 
 Providentially, about nightfall I reached a spring. 
 Here I dismounted, and gave my horse some two hours' 
 rest. 
 
 Remounting, I then continued my way, piloting my 
 self by the stars, as a fugitive on the Plains has fre 
 quently to do, if, as in the present case, although there 
 was no moon, the night is clear enough to afford such a 
 series of guide-posts to the wanderer. 
 
 Sunrise brought me to Smoke Creek. After another 
 short rest, I again pulled out for Susanville. 
 
 The last fifty miles was hard work for the worn-out 
 and jaded animal, whose enduring bottom had so largely 
 contributed to my escape. 
 
 All in Susanville and around it were struck with 
 horror, when I detailed the circumstances of the 
 slaughter, from which I was the sole survivor. A large 
 portion of the prominent settlers, amongst which Gov 
 ernor Hoop was the most influential, coincided with me 
 in denouncing all further treaties with the treacherous 
 Indians, whether Pah-utes or of any other tribe. 
 
 However, some who had families, and were not un 
 reasonably apprehensive for their safety in the event of 
 
104 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 a continuous struggle, warmly opposed our views. At 
 this time, they believed that the red-skins around us 
 numbered some eight or ten thousand. 
 
 In the face of their opposition, with the co-operation 
 of Governor Hoop, I determined upon a plan of action. 
 
 The first man I spoke to about joining me was Harry 
 Arnold. He was a good shot, and a man of dauntless 
 courage not knowing what an impossibility might be. 
 Not only did he consent to work with me, but gave me 
 invaluable assistance in drawing together such tough 
 and determined fellows as each of us could rely upon. 
 Amongst these was Ben Painter, Luther Spencer, David 
 Blanchard, my old friend Brighton Bill, Butch' Has- 
 brouck, and a number of others, as good men as ever 
 rammed a ball down a rifle. In all, on the succeeding 
 day, when we compared notes, we found twenty-four 
 men had signed the roll, and pledged themselves to 
 readiness at twenty minutes' notice. Both agreeing 
 these were enough, we met on the following day in 
 Willow Creek Valley, some fourteen to sixteen miles 
 north of Susanvillej where we completed our organiza 
 tion. The company was to take the name of the BUCK 
 SKIN RANGEKS, of which I was to be the captain. 
 Harry Arnold and Ben Painter were chosen as my 
 first and second lieutenants, while every one else was 
 to act as an orderly sergeant, as well as his own com 
 missary. Our agreement was that we should all dress 
 in buckskin, at our own expense. Indeed, every man 
 was to furnish his entire fit-out, complete for active 
 service. 
 
 It will afterwards be seen, what this active service 
 actually meant. 
 
 The next tiling we had to do, was to select our horses. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 105 
 
 Jack Bird, settled at the lower end of Honey Lake, 
 owned a large stock. Besides presenting me with one 
 of his own special favorites, to which he had given the 
 name of the Tipton Slasher, he contributed to mount 
 ing the Rangers, most liberally. 
 
 The animal he gave me was a dapple iron-gray, partly 
 of Spanish stock, with fine clean limbs, and of great 
 speed and endurance. When Jack gave it to me, he 
 said : 
 
 " Look here, Mose ! if you ever let a darned red-skin 
 catch you, it will be when you are not on Tip's back." 
 
 So much for the horse. Now, for myself. 
 
 Here was another change in my life. Circus-rider, 
 pop-corn merchant, actor, detective, enlisted in an emi 
 grant-train, gold-digger, and engaged with stock, I was 
 now a ranger, and about to start in a new avocation. 
 Hitherto, the red men I had come across had been look 
 ing after me and mine. Now, I was about to look after 
 them. 
 
 The wild, dense forest, the gigantic mountains, the 
 untrodden wilderness, sweeping beneath the sky with its 
 varying swell, the unbroken waste and desert with the 
 savage dwellers in it, whose crimson hands were against 
 all civilization and gory with the uncounted murders 
 of the white man, were now to furnish me with all the 
 delight my nature could crave from a life of constant 
 excitement. If I thought of my home and my friends, 
 hundreds upon Hundreds of miles away from me, I fear, 
 at this time, it was with 110 inconsolable feelings of re 
 gret. In truth, I was about to become the veritable 
 pioneer and protector of the scarcely-rooted civilization 
 in which my lot had lately been cast. What chance 
 was there I could over-much think of the past, in the ab- 
 
106 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 solute toil and the positive demand for vital activity of 
 the present ? 
 
 I was now about twenty-four years of age. My frame 
 always promising strength, had become robust and pow 
 erful. Nature had gifted me with a sufficiently good 
 constitution, as well as some considerable amount of en 
 ergy. In addition to this, I possessed self-confidence 
 enough to render me equal to the position in which fort 
 une and adventure had placed me. 
 
 By the bye, it may be as well for me here to say a 
 few w r ords respecting Jack Bird, who was commonly 
 called by his acquaintances " the " Captain. 
 
 About fifty-five years of age, and rather above the 
 medium height, he possessed a powerful frame. Of 
 dark complexion, and w r ith piercing hazel eyes; he was a 
 Mississipian, or, as he was used to say, he " came from 
 old Massisip." In a word, a native, as he himself told 
 me, of Arkansas, he was a splendid specimen of the 
 class of men raised between civilized life and the ex 
 treme frontier of that civilization. Thus he had been 
 made a backwoodsman by nature and predisposition, as 
 well as necessity. With an active and energetic mind, 
 he had carved out for himself in this wild country, a 
 comparative fortune. 
 
 Had he been reared in New York State, he might 
 have grown to the proportions of a Yanderbilt. 
 
 As, however, he had neither ferries to cross, nor rail 
 ways to layout, lie occupied himself in traversing moun 
 tains, and in creating settlements. Not having legislat 
 ures to buy np, his restless energy had occupied itself 
 in the control of savage life. An. emigrant to Califor 
 nia in 1849, he had engaged at first in mining. After 
 wards, he went into stock-raising. It had been in 1857 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 107 
 
 that he settled on the boundaries of Honey Lake. Here 
 he remained, until the close of the late war. Then, he 
 decided upon returning for a brief period to his old 
 homestead. He was, however, doomed never to reach 
 it. Starting overland by stage, he was slaughtered, with 
 the driver and other of the passengers, by the Indians, 
 and never reached the place of his birth. He was one 
 of the far too numerous victims, thrust forward by the 
 restless progress of the day, in the face of the red sav 
 ages, who have up to the present time been sheltered 
 under the protecting aegis of our Government. A no 
 bler, kinder-hearted, and franker man, perhaps, I have 
 never met with. 
 
 It was somewhat previous to the formation of the 
 Buckskin Rangers, to whose efficiency he had so largely 
 and liberally contributed, that new silver-mines had 
 been discovered, near what is now known as Virginia 
 City, as well as in Gold Hill near Carson City, in 
 Nevada. This discovery had created considerable ex 
 citement, and a large number of fortune-seekers were 
 already flocking to the mines. The Indians, however, 
 were quite as active as the searchers after wealth. 
 Scarcely a day passed which was unmarked by the 
 murder of some poor prospector, in that vicinity. 
 
 Their scalped remains invariably attested the means 
 by which they had met their death. 
 
 The red-skins seemed almost as ubiquitous as devils. 
 Wherever they passed, the trail of blood was left behind 
 them. 
 
 In order to put a stop to their murderous depreda 
 tions, Major Ormsby, at that period, well known through 
 out the country, in the neighborhood of Carson City, 
 formed a company. Another smaller company, which 
 
108 BUCKSKIN HOSE. 
 
 had organized in Virginia Cit} r , for the same purpose, 
 and already started out for the Pyramid Mountains, near 
 the Reservation, had also joined him. Altogether, this 
 party numbered something over one hundred and fifty 
 men. 
 
 Large as this body was, it was destined to meet with 
 ill-luck, or, probably, 1 should give it a much graver 
 name. 
 
 Finding that the Indians had retreated into the 
 mountains, Ormsby determined on advancing upon 
 them, and driving them from their stronghold. 
 
 In doing so, he probably counted upon punishing 
 them with a severity, which should free the neighbor 
 hood for some length of time from their murderous 
 presence. 
 
 Whether it arose from his ignorance of the mode of 
 warfare pursued by the red-skins, or from his over-con 
 fidence in his own numbers, it would be impossible now 
 to determine. All I know is, that Orrnsby's command 
 was met with a terrific fire, which drove them back. 
 
 Whilst they were in full retreat, their enemies broke 
 from their cover, and created a thorough panic in theii 
 ranks. 
 
 This resulted in a frightful disaster. Out of the 
 hundred and fifty men, barely nineteen made theii 
 escape, the Major himself being among the slain. 
 
 The news of this terrific slaughter spread from settle 
 ment to settlement in the vicinity, like wildfire. But, 
 previously, having heard of Major Crm~oy's intended 
 movement, the Rangers had decided upon lending him 
 a helping hand. I had consequently moved with them 
 from Honey Lake, upon the opposite side of Pyramid 
 Mountains. On our way there, we had picked up a 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 109 
 
 considerable number of volunteers, and counted some 
 forty-five or fifty men in all. On reaching the base of 
 the mountains, I found that it would be impossible to 
 use our horses in any farther advance. We conse 
 quently decided upon leaving our four-footed compan 
 ions, and I detailed half a dozen of our party to look 
 after their safety. 
 
 After carefully examining our weapons, we then 
 cautiously commenced ascending the rocky declivity. 
 
 Scarcely had we counted upon the almost immediate 
 result of this step. Some three quarters of an hour 
 after, we entered on a heavy mist or fog, which grad 
 ually became thicker and more dense, until it almost 
 i'elt like a wet and sodden blanket, actually saturating 
 us to the skin. 
 
 Suddenly, from the midst of this sheet of gloom, 
 burst a spear of lightning. No ! not a spear. It was, 
 or seemed to be, one broad sheet of flame, which actually 
 enveloped us, for the moment, blinding our eyes, and 
 rendering us unable to see any of our companions. 
 
 This flash was followed by another and another, with 
 incredible rapidity, until their scathing glow seemed 
 almost continuous, while the roll of the unintermittent 
 thunder made the mountain-side tremble beneath our 
 feet. 
 
 By the first effect of this fearful storm, all our rifles 
 had been instantly and involuntarily discharged. Stal 
 wart men, who would have kept their feet in any 
 ordinary commotion of the elements, were prostrated on 
 the earth. Brave men, who had faced danger of almost 
 every description, trembled like the veriest children. 
 Their bronzed cheeks whitened with fear, and when 
 able to stand, their knees quivered under them with 
 
110 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 terror. Perhaps none of us expected to escape from 
 that shroud of living light alive. Yery certainly I did 
 not, and am not ashamed to own, that, in the midst of 
 the rolling thunder, a cry to God for mercy, which none 
 but the Almighty One Himself could possibly have 
 heard, broke from my panting lips. 
 
 Possibly, that unpremeditated appeal was listened to. 
 Soon after the flashes relaxed their continuity, and in its 
 occasional pauses the thunder might have allowed the 
 voice of any who had spoken to be heard. Gradually, 
 the tempest passed away, and I heard a rough male 
 voice say : 
 
 " The Lord be thanked ! " 
 
 There was, in all probability, not one of us, un-church- 
 going and reckless as we had all for many years been, 
 who did not, within his own heart, re-echo that solitary 
 thanksgiving. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 SCOUTING AND ITS RESULTS CAUGHT NAPPING FRANTIC WITH 
 TERROR "Wno HAVE BEEN TRIMMED so NEATLY" MY 
 FAT FRIEND IN A PICKLE PERSPIRATION AND BULLETS THE 
 REQUEST TO "SWAP" TREES VIRTUE ITS OWN REWARD 
 HIGH TREASON TO UNCLE SAM GOING OUT FOR GAME 
 AN UNPLEASANT MEETING THE TUSSLE FOR LIFE PUT 
 TING AN END TO AN ORATION U A TUFF 'UN." 
 
 ORDERS were shortly after given to continue the as 
 cent, and in a sufficiently brief space of time, we had 
 mounted above the belt of dark clouds, which were now 
 drifting along the mountain-side beneath us, into a fresh 
 and warm sunshine. 
 
 The revulsion in our feelings was almost instantane 
 ous. Those who had quaked before, were now inclined 
 to jeer at their own fright. Lips that had been whit 
 ened with terror were now actually laughing. Indeed, 
 I much doubt whether he, whose involuntary audible 
 piety had announced its feelings a few moments since, 
 would have thanked any of us for reminding him of 
 the exclamation. Very certainly, none of us did. We 
 had, at any rate, the grace, not, in our present security, 
 to scoff at the thanks in which we had so cordially al 
 though quietly participated. 
 
 When we were thoroughly above the heavily wet 
 mass of cloud, we paused to rest and dry our clothing. 
 
 Then, having examined our weapons and reloaded 
 them, we continued our progress in the direction in 
 which it was supposed the Indians were to be found. 
 
112 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 Night at last overtook us, and orders were given for 
 camping. After a brief sleep of some four Lours, with 
 Harry Arnold, Butch' Hasbrouck, and Brighton Bill, I 
 started out to find the position of the Indians. After 
 we had moved in almost complete silence for a distance 
 of some three miles, the faint light of their camp-fires 
 might be seen by us. Touching Butch' and Bill, I in a 
 whisper ordered both of them to remain where we then 
 stood, and with Arnold crept quietly in the direction of 
 the dying embers. Here, in their presumed security, 
 were slumbering the men who had slain nearly the whole 
 of Major Ormsby's party. 
 
 As yet, we were unaware of this fact, and I had only 
 the knowledge of old Pete's death, and those of my 
 other three companions, to square with the red rascals, 
 whether they had any hand in that affair or not. 
 
 In consequence of this, I and Harry took a good sur 
 vey of their situation, and, as noiselessly as we had ap 
 proached it, returned to our own camp, taking Butch' 
 and Brighton Bill with us, on our way. There we 
 speedily aroused all the boys, and telling them we had 
 spotted the game, bade them make ready. The night 
 was clear and cold, although cloudy overhead, and in five 
 minutes more we were upon our way, with an imperative 
 injunction, upon my part, of perfect silence. This was 
 perhaps needless, as few of the Hangers or those who had 
 volunteered with us were novices in Indian fighting. 
 
 When I had, with Arnold, made my reconnoissance, 
 we had thoroughly examined the position of the Indian 
 camp. It was placed upon the summit of a precipice 
 some two hundred and fifty feet in height, which beetled 
 over a cleft or ravine in the mountain of considerable 
 width. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSK. 113 
 
 On the side which we had approached it, it had been 
 entirely unguarded. 
 
 Had it not been for their defeat of the large party 
 under Major Ormsby on the preceding day, they would, 
 even in such a position, scarcely have neglected to 
 keep a watch. 
 
 However, now, from our side of the mountain, they 
 had not any suspicion of the possibility of an attack. 
 
 But, although unable to count their positive number, 
 Harry Arnold and myself had seen that they were ex 
 ceedingly numerous ; at the very least, six or seven times 
 outnumbering our own party. It was, therefore, a 
 matter of absolute necessity for us, even in taking them 
 by surprise, to secure every possible advantage of posi 
 tion, in order to counterbalance this disproportion. To 
 the left of the camp, in the rear of the plateau occupied 
 by the slumbering red men, the ground rose more pre 
 cipitously than it did on the side from which, some three 
 hours earlier, we approached them. A portion of the 
 boys, under the command of Arnold, was therefore 
 detailed to this spot, while the remainder crouched 
 under cover where it, at the time, was. 
 
 After this we waited impatiently for the rapidly com 
 ing dawn. This was a necessity, that we might have 
 sufficient light to catch the sights of our rifles. We 
 dared not throw away a single shot. 
 
 A long red streak, like a band of flame, colored the 
 eastern horizon when the Indians began to stir. The 
 flrst of the unconscious savages had risen to his feet, 
 when my order rung out sharp and clear : 
 
 " Fire ! " 
 
 The red-skin fell, and in an instant all was terror and 
 confusion in the doomed camp. 
 
114 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 Startled and confused by the sudden volley which was 
 delivered with slaughterously fatal precision, the scarcely 
 awakened red-skins leapt to their feet. Then came a 
 volley from the party of Rangers with Harry Arnold. 
 It was followed by another from mine. I had taken the 
 precaution of ordering every other man to fire with each 
 discharge, so as to give the preceding marksmen time to 
 reload. Like clock-work rang out our deadly rifles, 
 each shot dropping a man. 
 
 Fright had almost maddened the Indians, from the 
 first intimation we had given them of our presence. 
 Some ran from side to side of the plateau, looking vainly 
 for a chance to escape. Others attempted to scale the 
 declivity on which my portion of the boys were posted, 
 and the rocks above which Harry held his position, in 
 the very face of our fire. A few stood and endeavored 
 to return us what we were giving them. However, they 
 were considerably below either party ; consequently, 
 their shots rattled on the rocky sides of either slope 
 short of us. 
 
 Again and again our untiring volleys rang out on the 
 no longer quiet dawn. 
 
 Then, actually frantic with terror, many of the doomed 
 savages leapt from the brink of the precipice. Others 
 contrived to scramble over the broken edge of it, on the 
 precarious and jutting portions of which they would 
 scarcely, even in mid-day, under other circumstances, 
 have trodden. In less than probably ten minutes from 
 our first fire, not a living Indian remained in the camp 
 where they had lately been sleeping. On examining 
 this for it would have been useless and, perhaps, dan 
 gerous for us to follow the runaways we found enough 
 to convince ns that the white men had lately been se- 
 
BUClvSKIN MOSE. 115 
 
 verely punished. Scalps, shot-pouches, and carbines, 
 with other tokens, were hurriedly left behind in their 
 flight, to testify to this. 
 
 " We were not quick enough after the red devils, 
 Mose!" 
 
 Arnold said this, as, with a positively qualmish sensa 
 tion in my throat, I was standing upon that stony stretch 
 of level ground which was now reekingly slippery with 
 blood. 
 
 " We had better leave at once for the place where our 
 horses are." 
 
 " I'd like to know who the whites were the darned 
 scoundrels have trimmed so neatly ? " 
 
 While saying this, he was meditatively turning over 
 two scalps which lay on the gore-stained rock, beside a 
 motionless red-skin, now as scalpless as the bodies from 
 which he had taken them. 
 
 "P'raps," ejaculated Brighton Bill, whose feelings 
 had in the last few years marvellously changed in regard 
 to the legitimate manner of fighting the red-skins, " they 
 be some o' Ilorinsby's chaps." 
 
 " Nonsense ! " exclaimed Harry. 
 
 " Bill ! " I said, " do you think the Major would have 
 been such an idiot as to get trapped by the red skunks ? " 
 
 " Why not ? 'E mightn't be h'as thundering cute as 
 you h'are, Cap ! " 
 
 Unfortunately, as we soon discovered, my English 
 friend was right in his supposition. 
 
 The sun had just risen when we started on our re 
 turn, and before we reached the place where we had 
 picketed our horses under guard the preceding day, we 
 fell in with two of the survivors of the ill-fated party, 
 and learned from them the details of the massacre, for 
 
116 BUCKSKIN MOSE, 
 
 which we liad unwittingly just taken so large and whole 
 sale a vengeance. This information completely obliter 
 ated every trace of compunction, for the morning's even 
 more wholesale slaughter, which I had previously felt. 
 
 Crossing over to the south side of Honey Lake Val 
 ley, we followed it up to Captain Bird's old ranche. 
 
 After passing it, we found every house arid farm 
 empty and stripped of all that was in any way portable. 
 The whole of the stock had also been driven off. But 
 for the trarnp of our hoofs, this portion of the valley 
 would have been as silent as a desert. 
 
 "I'd say, Cap!" exclaimed Butch', "the cuss'd red 
 devils had been here, too only there are no dead men, 
 laying round promisc'ons like." 
 
 Upon reaching Epstine's Ranche, we discovered the 
 meaning of this. The owner, Joe, here informed us, 
 the news of Orrnsby's death, and that of most of the men 
 with him, had reached the upper end of the valley on 
 the day before. A complete terror had seized upon the 
 whole of those then dwelling in it, and a general stam 
 pede had taken place amongst them for Dr. Slater's 
 Ranche, above what is now the town of Janesville. 
 
 "Ilowev'r I guess'd I'd wait a bit, and see what 
 turn'd up." 
 
 He was fingering his rifle, as he made the last obser 
 vation. But on receiving the information of our retal 
 iation his face brightened, and he gave utterance to a 
 guttural exclamation of fierce and somewhat blasphem 
 ous delight, to which it will be needless for the pen to 
 do justice. 
 
 On arriving at the ranche where he had told us his 
 brother settlers had taken refuge, we found the men 
 liard at work building a regular stockade around a 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 117 
 
 cabin, which had the year previous been erected for 
 the double purpose of a school-house aud Masonic JTall. 
 In spite of the joy with which our intelligence was re 
 ceived, they did not however desist from their labors. 
 And, possibly, they were right, as the Indian troubles 
 continued, and though the savages refrained from posi 
 tively besieging the stockade while the Buckskin Ran 
 gers were around, they on one or two occasions ran off 
 large quantities of the stock. 
 
 During the remainder of the season, we were occu 
 pied in a continuous scouting through this entire section 
 of the country. 
 
 It was during one of our expeditions that Tom Har 
 vey, one of us, was the subject of a good joke. 
 
 Human nature, in whatever situation it may be placed, 
 lias always a ludicrous side. Commonly, indeed, hu 
 mor would almost appear to be the twin-sister of sorrow. 
 They would, indeed, seem to walk through life, leaning 
 upon each other, and hand in hand, to the very edge of 
 the grave. The marvellous creations of Shakespeare's 
 genius partake well-nigh equally of Tragedy and Com 
 edy. Even so was it with the Buckskin Hangers, and 
 their leader may be pardoned if he presumes to recall 
 one of those creations (without the remotest hope of 
 rivalling the intellect he has just called attention to) 
 with the view of justifying himself. 
 
 " Falstaff " was most undeniably, as he has been drawn 
 by the great dramatist, a fat man. Wherever fat can 
 be found, the spirit of Fun almost invariably selects 
 it as the subject or perpetrator of a joke. Now Tom 
 was a man of enormous dimensions, if not in length, 
 very certainly in width. Brighton Bill once said of 
 him, that : 
 
118 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 " Ilif 'e was 'ammered liout, 'e would be long lienough 
 to reach the Nor' Pole, hand find Sir John Franklin." 
 
 If he had not been slenderer than Tom, I think his 
 scalp, the moment after Bill had uttered this obser 
 vation, might very possibly have been in the possession 
 of Harvey. 
 
 However, this is a digression. 
 
 On one of our numerous scouts we had left our hor 
 ses, guarded as usual, and were passing up a small val 
 ley, covered with a scattering growth of diminutive and 
 remarkably lean trees, when some Indians, concealed in 
 a small grove immediately in front of us, pulled trigger. 
 Luckily their fire drew no blood. But, as in such cases, 
 it is natural for him who is the subject of such an un 
 expected attention to jump behind anything which may 
 be at hand, to shelter himself, we, each of us, made for 
 the largest and nearest tree. None of them were 
 sufficiently broad to make any of us a tolerably good 
 cover. 
 
 In this situation, Tom also made for a tree. 
 
 Its exaggeratedly narrow trunk, merely concealed his 
 head and the centre of his prodigious frame. Butch', 
 who was nearest to him, could not help crying out. 
 
 " Look out, Fattee, or we shall only have the middle 
 of yer left," 
 
 " Hold your darned tongue, you infernal fool ! " 
 roared out Harvey. 
 
 While saying this he had dodged to the one side of 
 the tree, to escape an arrow which whistled by the other. 
 With commendable judgment, he lost no time in leap 
 ing to the side he had left. This exertion of agility 
 saved him from a bullet. 
 
 Butch' had drawn a bead on the head of the red-skin 
 
" ' I forgive you, old boy I ' panted out Tom, as he leapt back once 
 more." Page 119. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 119 
 
 who had fired the last, and with a yell of agon} 7 , he 
 toppled over, struck by the Ranger's unerring ball. 
 
 " I forgive you, old boy," panted out Torn, as he leapt 
 back once more. 
 
 This time he was scarcely quick enough, as another 
 ball passed through the flying portion of his Buckskin 
 upper garment. 
 
 u Why don't yer hide yer fat carcass," sung out 
 Butch' in fierce wrath. There was no more time for 
 jesting. " If yer don't, we shall have to bury yer." 
 
 " How can I ? " 
 
 As the perspiring Harvey screeched out this amidst 
 a general chorus of laughter, he took another wild leap, 
 which was not one bit too soon. 
 
 All this had taken place in considerably less time 
 than I have occupied in recounting it, or I fear all 
 would have been up with the too fat Tom. The tree 
 which I had been fortunate enough to secure was a 
 fairly large pine. From behind it, I had the luck of 
 picking off an incautious red-skin, and was already 
 sighting another, when I heard our fat companion's 
 voice. He had (how he dared to look round, I never 
 knew) moaned or rather barked out, in a plaintive 
 way: 
 
 " For God's sake, Mose ! swap trees with me." 
 
 The irrepressible scream of laughter with which this 
 pathetic appeal was received by me, caused my shot to 
 be useless. It missed the Pah-ute I was aiming at. 
 
 Temporary inability on the part of our boys, from the 
 painfully absurd position of Harvey, to maintain a con 
 tinuous fire, now induced the red-skins to show them 
 selves more boldly. They quickly found the mistake 
 they had made in doing so. A general although 
 
120 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 scattering volley stretched a third of them upon the 
 earth. They then evidently changed their opinion, and 
 once more getting under cover, rapidly scattered. 
 
 We pursued them a short way, when we were over 
 taken by the remainder of our party, which we had left 
 in charge of our animals. 
 
 Remounting them, we again started in pursuit. The 
 red rascals had met, however, with too warm a recep 
 tion to wait for any further attention at our hands. 
 They had cleared out, and made good their escape across 
 the mountains. 
 
 For many days the luckless Harvey did not hear the 
 last of his offer " to swap trees " with me. At length, 
 I, who had refrained from cutting any of the tolerably 
 coarse witticisms which were uttered at his expense, was 
 obliged to remonstrate warmly with Butch' and Bright- 
 ton Bill. 
 
 " Yer are right, Cap ! " exclaimed the former. " But 
 I sware, it war too good a joke." 
 
 " Wouldn't it be better to split 'im down, and splice 
 'is two hends ? " 
 
 As Bill said this they both burst into a peal of laugh 
 ter, loud enough to be called Homeric, by any but a 
 backwoodsman. They were, however, two good fel 
 lows, for they spoke to the other Rangers, and after 
 this, fat Tom Harvey was left in peace. How he dis 
 covered the hand, I had, in easing him off, it would be 
 impossible to say, as I never knew. But some two days 
 afterwards ho came up to me and Harry Arnold, as we 
 were riding along slightly in advance, and said : 
 
 "Mose! you're a darned good fellow, and I'll be 
 blamed if I ever forget it." 
 
 What do you mean, Tom ? " 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 121 
 
 "For stopping the chin-music of them fellows. What 
 on airth else, should I mean ? 
 
 At the 4 same time, he jerked his thumb across his 
 shoulder in the direction of the rest of the party, who 
 were at some little distance in our rear, very signifi 
 cantly. 
 
 " You see, Cap ! " exclaimed Harry with a slight 
 chuckle, " what the copy-book tells us, is right, after 
 all." 
 
 " What are you driving at ? " 
 
 " It says, Virtue is its own reward." 
 
 We had retraced our steps, passing Eagle Lake into 
 Willow Creek Yalley, on the far side of the range of 
 hills which divide it from Honey Lake, until we arrived 
 at the stockade built by the settlers, which has earlier 
 been alluded to. 
 
 A few days subsequently, we struck into Long Yalley, 
 and having crossed Pea- vine Mountains, reached the 
 Truckee River. Here we encamped, and on the next 
 morning, following it for some distance, struck across 
 the hills, towards the Sink of the Carson River. Passing 
 this stream below Fort Churchill, we continued in a 
 southerly direction until we came to the Walker River. 
 Near it, we had a little brush with the Walker Indians, 
 which did not detain us very long. During this, one of 
 our boys received a slight flesh wound from an arrow. 
 Why these red-skins have received this name is matter 
 of question, as they are certainly a branch of the Pah-ute 
 tribe. However, it had been given the savages in this 
 small portion of the country, and while I was living in 
 that section, of which it forms part, it stuck to them. 
 
 On the west fork of Walker River, we were met by 
 a company of United States cavalry. 
 6 
 
122 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 The officer in command inquired for our leader, and I 
 presented myself. 
 
 He behaved very courteously in manneu, although 
 his orders, given to me with a degree of imperative 
 sharpness, which was scarcely as courteous in reality, 
 were by no means agreeable. His instructions were to 
 make peace with the Indians, and lie commanded us to 
 return homewards. If we would not desist from our 
 present employment, he told us, he should be obliged to 
 arrest us and take us down to Fort Churchill. These 
 peremptory orders were unpalatable to the last degree. 
 But what could be done. He was Uncle Sam's servant 
 in blue-coat, brass buttons, and shoulder-straps. We 
 were children of the aforesaid Unc^e Sam. 
 
 Like obedient boys, although most unwillingly, we con 
 cluded, after a brief hesitation, to bend our steps home 
 wards. 
 
 "With a cordial grasp of the hand for, on finding we 
 had so frankly accepted the compulsory situation, the 
 officer unbent himself considerably I bade him " Fare 
 well," and we silently, for some time, rode along the 
 course of the stream. The first words I heard subse 
 quently, were some ten minutes after this. They came 
 from the lips of Brighton Bill. 
 
 " Huncle Sam his nothing but a blasted hidiot." 
 
 Possibly, I might have been valuing some of his ser 
 vants at much the same weight, but I was too good an 
 American to stand such an expression of opinion from 
 a Britisher. Turning in my saddle, I roared out : 
 
 u None of that. It's high treason. I'll be hanged if 
 I haven't half a mind to ride after the blue-coats, and 
 hand you over to them." 
 
 When I said this, there was a general laugh, and the 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 123 
 
 whole of us recovered, in some measure, our good 
 humor. 
 
 After continuing about twenty miles along the road 
 the soldiers had just traversed, we encamped about two 
 o'clock in the afternoon, turning our horses out to graze, 
 as there was good pasture in the neighborhood. Por 
 tion of the boys commenced cooking. Butch', having a 
 somewhat more dainty tooth in his head on this occasion 
 than usual, felt it crave for fresh meat, and said to me : 
 
 " 'Spose I. go out, and kill yer something to eat." 
 
 " All right," was my answer. " You may find a Jack 
 or two," meaning a Jack rabbit, " down the valley. I'll 
 go up the canon, and see whether I can't find some 
 grouse." 
 
 Saying this, I had pointed to a small canon on one side, 
 stretching irregularly from the vicinity of our camping 
 ground. At the same instant, Brighton Bill, who had 
 been stretched on the cool turf with his eyes closed, 
 leapt to his feet. 
 
 " You're hawful smart, hain't you, Mose ? Ili'll 'ave 
 some hof that fun myself. If hi don't, blow me." 
 
 He, however, thought fit to try another canon to the 
 left. 
 
 For the first time since I had been an inhabitant of 
 the Plains, I neglected to arm myself, as I had constantly 
 been accustomed to, when scouting. The good servants 
 of Uncle Sam, whom we had met earlier in the day, had 
 travelled up the road. Of course they had sharp eyes. 
 Besides, if the red-skins had seen them, they would 
 certainly have got out of their way as quickly as pos 
 sible. How should they know our Uncle wanted to 
 be theirs, too ? Peace would be the very last thing they 
 thought of, when they set eyes upon his uniform. So, 
 
124 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 thinking there could be no danger, I placed my sheath- 
 knife in my belt, and taking my Kentucky rifle with me, 
 started. 
 
 Walking carelessly up the canon, now examining the 
 trees for game, then scaling the declivity to the right, or 
 pushing through the chapparal and the heavy timber, I 
 had wandered on, for more than an hour. 
 
 Suddenly, in one of the thick and tangled clumps of 
 chapparal, I fancied I heard the familiar note of one 
 of the birds I was in search of. At once, I stopped to 
 listen. 
 
 While standing there silent and motionless, it could 
 scarcely have been more than fifty seconds, I heard a 
 noise almost immediately behind. Instinct or experi 
 ence, one or both, told me what that sound was. The 
 red-skins had not been so scared by the advance of 
 Uncle Sam's servants, as necessarily to refrain from a 
 dash for one of his children, if the chance was given 
 them. I felt the chance w r as now. 
 
 Turning immediately, I had barely time to see two 
 Indians. 
 
 In another instant, before I could lift my gun to my 
 shoulder, one of them had bounded towards me and 
 wrenched it from my grasp, while the other sprung at 
 me with the evident intention of clinching me. If I 
 had then the time to think, I fear, loyal American as I 
 might be, my thoughts might have corroborated Brigh 
 ton Bill's opinions touching the sanity of Uncle Sam. 
 Fortunately, I had no time to become critically dis 
 loyal. My hunting-knife had been drawn, and at 
 the very moment when his hot and vindictively fierce 
 breath came searingly to my face, was buried to the 
 very hilt in his heart. 
 
" He opened his mouth to gasp for breath; I was above him, and 
 grasping a handful of sand, I forced it into his gaping mouth." 
 Page 125. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 125 
 
 As lie fell, the other of my assailants, with my own 
 rifle clubbed, struck me a heavy blow upon the shoul 
 der. It nearly felled me to the earth. 
 
 Then, dropping the weapon, he sprang upon me, 
 making a desperate clutch for the hand in which my 
 knife was grasped. As he seized my wrist, I threw the 
 knife from me as far as I could, and grappled with 
 him. He attempted to draw his own. I, however, had 
 grasped him by a peculiarly tender portion of his per 
 son, which modesty prevents me from naming. The 
 pain of this prevented his using his knife, and in the 
 contest we both fell "on the sloping side of the canon, 
 clinched together firmly. 
 
 Now, commenced the struggle for life. 
 
 Rolling over and over, now on the short turf, and 
 again amidst the dense and tangled chapparal at one 
 moment the red-skin would be above me, and in the 
 next I would be stretched on his writhing body. 
 Whenever I got the chance, and one of my hands free, 
 I would seize a handful of sand, if it was within reach, 
 and thrust it in the mouth and eyes of the Indian. 
 
 He was not slow in taking the lesson I gave him. 
 He began to follow suit. 
 
 After rolling down the side of the canon for some 
 hundred yards or more, panting with the desperate 
 struggle, he opened his mouth to gasp for breath. At 
 the time I was above him, and grasping a handful of 
 sand, I forced it into his gaping mouth. 
 
 It had its effect. Literally choking with the enforced 
 dose, he loosened me. At the same time, he violently 
 threw up his hands, as a man might do in the agony of 
 strangulation. 
 
 Then, with a supreme effort, I groped for his knife. 
 
126 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 Having found it, I drew it from its sheath, and, at last, 
 the terrible struggle which had been forced upon me 
 was over. 
 
 When, at occasional times, I recall it now, it seems 
 to my recollection as if that brief contest for existence 
 had nearly maddened me. Scarcely did I appear to 
 possess consciousness of any of my actions. And yet, 
 I know that I inflicted on him some fifteen to twenty 
 wounds, any one of which might or must have been a 
 fatal one. 
 
 As I found myself once more upon my feet, it was a 
 tolerably difficult matter for me 'to realize that I was 
 still living. 
 
 While engaged in attempting to do so, the whole 
 landscape seemed to quiver vaguely under my fading 
 eyes. Its lines and colors fairly danced before me. I 
 felt that I w r as falling, and everything around settled 
 into a dense blackness. 
 
 I knew no more. 
 
 On, after some time, recovering my senses, I found 
 that I was lying by the side of the Indian, literally 
 drenched with the blood flowing from his wounds. 
 Sitting up, after a few minutes, I was enabled to recall 
 my lagging senses and realize the struggle I had -gone 
 through. Yes ! there it lay, stark and motionless in 
 the shadow thrown across it from. the rocky side of the 
 canon, by the sun which was now far beneath it. As for 
 the corpse beside me, it was stabbed and hacked in a 
 frightful manner. But for the fearful strife I had 
 been engaged in with it, when living, and the danger I 
 had, as it seemed to me, so unaccountably escaped, I 
 should positively have sickened at the sight. The 
 memory of this strung my nerves once more to endur- 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 127 
 
 ance, although rny garments were dripping with its 
 blood, and absolutely soaked through with my own 
 sweat. 
 
 Staggering to my feet, 1 re-collected my senses, which 
 had, for a short space, again wandered. Then, with some 
 difficulty, I again ascended the rough hill, until I reached 
 the space on which the first Indian, I had, made an end 
 of, was lying. His teeth were forced together his eyes 
 staring unconsciously up to the blue sky. My knife 
 was at some distance from the spot. The rifle was close 
 to him. Its barrel was bent and its stock broken with 
 the heavy blow I had received. 
 
 Let me squarely own that never, either before or since, 
 have I raised the hair of any Indian, with a more secure 
 feeling of angry joy than I felt in taking those two 
 scalps. 
 
 I had now to return. 
 
 The position of the sun, low beneath the western sum 
 mit of the canon, testified to the fact that some two hours 
 must have elapsed since the two Pah-utes had leapt upon 
 me. 
 
 Slowly, and with great difficulty, I commenced my way 
 towards the camp. While looking on the scene of my 
 danger, I had been kept up by the remains of the excite 
 ment I had experienced. I had felt no pain, and been 
 unconscious of fatigue. Now, my dead enemies lay un 
 consciously on the earth. The exhaustion consequent 
 on my fierce struggle for life, and the suffering from 
 the blow upon my shoulder, became apparent to me. 
 Scarcely, was I able to walk. Frequently was I obliged 
 to lean on a jutting boulder of rock, or steady myself for 
 a minute or two against the trunk of a tree, before I 
 could again persistently renew my progress. Not yet 
 
128 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 had I reached the month of the canon, when some of the 
 boys met me. 
 
 It seemed that Butch' and Brighton Bill had long 
 since returned, and, although scarcely alarmed, had 
 grown in some slight degree uneasy at my not putting in 
 an appearance. Consequently, with some of the others, 
 they had come out to seek for me. 
 
 No sooner was I seen by them, than they shouted out 
 to me. My lips strove to frame a shout in reply. But 
 even to myself, my voice sounded a long way off. It 
 was so faint and low that they did not hear a word. 
 
 Rushing towards me, Bill cried out : 
 
 " What his the matter, Mose 3 " 
 
 Butch' demanded : 
 
 " Have yer got any game ? " 
 
 The only answer I could give them was to hold out 
 the two scalps I had taken. 
 
 Startled by this and my struggling silence, for they 
 knew I was attempting to speak, they looked at my 
 dress, and in spite of the fading light, saw its torn and 
 dilapidated condition, and the blood with which it was 
 smeared and streaked almost in every part. Bill gave 
 a groan, and said : 
 
 " Get Mose to the camp, Butch' ! Hi'll go hand look 
 hafter 'is rifle, before some hother thieving Hingin 
 cusses find hit." 
 
 In an another instant Ben Painter had lifted me, and 
 throwing me, gently enough, although it caused me 
 frightful suffering in my shoulder, across his own, strode 
 down the canon. Indeed, so great was the pain from 
 the merciless blow I had received, that I remember lit 
 tle beside it, until I found myself sitting on the ground, 
 leaning against Painter's knee. The whole of the upper 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 129 
 
 portion of my dress had been stripped off, while Butch' 
 was bathing the black and swollen flesh which had been 
 struck with the clubbed rifle. How it happened that no 
 bones were broken by it, is, even now, a marvel to me. 
 
 When they found me again able to speak, the boys 
 began to ply me with questions. But while I was an 
 swering them, Brighton Bill appeared on the scene. 
 
 His search of the ground on which I had run such a 
 risk of being completely chawed up, must have been a 
 pretty thorough one. He brought in, not only two rifles, 
 but two United States blankets, several unopened boxes 
 of caps, two cans of powder, and, in addition to these, a 
 small keg of Uncle Sam's whiskey. This had already 
 been opened, and may possibly account for the red ras 
 cals having forgotten the reason for which they had so 
 liberally partaken of his bounty. 
 
 The whiskey was a veritable God-send, for we were 
 out of the article. A tincupful (this time I did not 
 ask for a second before eating) did more to put me to 
 rights, and enable me to forget my pain, than the care 
 which the Rangers had been bestowing on me. 
 
 " If ever there was a good Samaritan, Bill, you are one." 
 
 Let me here record the fact that Bill knew nothing 
 about Samaritans, for good or evil. Nor, indeed, am I 
 inclined to think, had any of the others a very correct 
 idea of my meaning. Even the teaching of a New 
 England Sunday-school had been forgotten, as I deeply 
 regret being obliged to say one of the boys hailed from 
 the classically Methodist locality of New Bedford. 
 
 But, if Brighton Bill was not well versed in Scripture, 
 he displayed himself this evening in a new light that 
 of an orator. No sooner had he served round the 
 whiskey which lie had captured from the already 
 
130 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 slaughtered enemy, than he produced from one of the 
 blankets in which he had wrapped it, my twisted and 
 broken rifle. 
 
 "Jist look 'ere, boys," he said, " hat the popper of 
 hour Cap. This h'is the harticle with which 'e smashed 
 ha couple of Hingins. Ili'rn blowecl h'if you didn't, 
 Mose ! H'it's no huse 'iding your light bunder a bushel, 
 when H'i 'ave the hevidence in my hown 'and, and show 
 bit." Here I endeavored to put in a word, but it was 
 drowned in the general applause, and seizing on the in 
 stant of its cessation, he continued : " H'if you 'ad only 
 seen those blarsted Hingins. Wnn of 'em stood seven 
 an a 'alf foot 'igh in 'is stocking-feet, and the h'other " 
 
 I could no longer refrain, but cried out : 
 
 " It's quite clear who tapped the whiskey keg, before 
 we had a chance of looking at it." 
 
 The Britisher gazed in pathetic wonder on his par 
 tially maimed leader, as he heard this ungenerous in 
 sinuation against his sobriety. Then with a sadly 
 melancholy smile, he said : 
 
 " H'i forgive you, Cap ! But, may H'i be blamed if 
 you harn't a tuff 'un." 
 
 That night, guard being kept by Butch' and Ben 
 Painter, I slept well and soundly. On the next morn 
 ing I was up by daylight, and we returned to Honey 
 Lake through Carson City. 
 
 When we arrived there it was to hear that another 
 treaty had actually been made with the Indians. Once 
 more they were to be allowed to re-enter the valley. 
 The settlers were to resume possession of their ranches, 
 and what stock was left on them, or could be found. 
 How long it would continue, the Devil and the red 
 men themselves, only, could form an opinion. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 THE PICK, PAN, AND SnovEL SOMEWHAT DOWN IN THE MOUTH 
 
 " ROPING IN A GrREENEY" TlIE SHREWD YANKEE A SQUARE 
 
 MEAL, AND A BAD ONE No GOLD NEARLY AT STARVATION 
 POINT THE ELK, AND now LONG IT LASTED MOUNTAIN MEAT 
 CAPTURED BY THE INDIANS MY EXPERIENCE OF THE STAKE 
 CONVERTED INTO A CANDLESTICK THE CRACK OP A DOZEN 
 RIFLES. 
 
 IN something less than two weeks, my shoulder was 
 completely well, and the enforced inactivity had made 
 me restless. 
 
 At this time, the vast treasures of gold said to be 
 awaiting the miner in British Columbia, near Frazer's 
 River, created great excitement through the "West. 
 The fever of this excitement was like all such fevers 
 contagious among the idle. Having then nothing to do, 
 I caught it. In an informal meeting with several of 
 the Hangers, I proposed to them that we should visit the 
 new land of promise. As they were willing to accom 
 pany me, a full meeting was summoned. At this it was 
 unanimously determined that the journey should be 
 undertaken, if we could make it by land. 
 
 After some few days spent in the necessary inquiries, 
 it was finally decided we should start for the recently 
 discovered locality, where fortunes were believed to be 
 awaiting the pick, pan, and shovel as speedily as we 
 could make due preparation for doing so. 
 
 This did not take any very great length of time. In 
 less than a week the whole of us were in readiness. 
 
132 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 And after a kindly, and, in some cases, more than kindly, 
 farewell to our friends in Susanville and round Honey 
 Lake, we put ourselves on the road to the new locality. 
 
 The natural rush and active whirl of my life during 
 the last few years, had, by this, almost deadened my 
 memory for those friends I had left in the East. He, 
 who is from day to day almost carrying his life in his 
 hand, has not overmuch time or wish for reflection. Oc 
 casionally, I would think of my wife and my other 
 relatives. But I had not yet made enough, really to 
 contemplate returning to them. Young still, it appeared 
 to me that there were yet days and years sufficient be 
 fore me, to dismiss all such dreams for, at any rate, the 
 present. 
 
 In fact, as I have earlier said, I relished the constant 
 change and dasli of the life I had entered on. 
 
 It was no use disguising it, my nature was, in every 
 respect, a vagrantly instinctive one, full of vaguely 
 wild hope, it is true, yet mingled with an almost pro 
 found indifference to what the future chance might be. 
 
 Nevertheless, on the night before we had determined 
 upon commencing our arduous journey, I could not 
 help feeling somewhat down in the mouth. It was with 
 a rare and scant attack of homesickness, which, how 
 ever, passed away from me on the next morning, almost 
 as soon as I found myself in the saddle. 
 
 It would be unnecessary for me to catalogue the va 
 rious points we touched, through our course, in the 
 fashion of a guide-book. This, the more especially 
 as nothing of great interest occurred on the way, 
 until, in due time, we struck Frazer's River, near Fort 
 Hope. 
 
 Here we remained for a few days, in order to give 
 
 * 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 133 
 
 our animals the rest they needed. They had done us 
 good service. 
 
 In this place, we found that the hunger for gold was 
 drawing men of the same nature as ourselves, to the 
 last-discovered Eldorado, from every part of the country. 
 Young men who wished to grow wealthy without patient 
 toil, and men more advanced in years, whose days of 
 labor had as yet profited them little, with an occasional 
 " rough " from one of the larger cities, whose reputation 
 forced him into a new country, or the gambler, whose 
 practice in " stocking the cards " or " roping in a green ey," 
 had become too well known. Some few came also, 
 whose talents should have enabled them to do battle 
 with the world successfully, in any location they had 
 chosen. Their reasons for seeking Frazer's River were, 
 however, kept to themselves. None of my companions 
 had sufficient time on his hands, or enough curiosity, to 
 seek to draw the veil from the past life of any of them. 
 
 There were, however, some few who had tried the 
 mines and were returning. Want of patience or want 
 of luck, one, or, it may be possible, both of these had 
 conjointly made them unsuccessful. 
 
 With neither gold in their pockets nor grub in their 
 packs, these men were for the most part dead-broke, 
 and heaped their imprecations on the country they were 
 quitting in vigorously round terms. Nor could it be 
 said, that granting their ill-fortune might somewhat 
 have colored their opinions, these were too flattering. 
 
 One of these whom we met with, was a stalwart 
 specimen of the shrewd Yank. I and Ben Painter had 
 encountered him, wandering round in a disconsolately 
 drifting manner, and with a hungrily wolfish look on 
 his lean jaws, which inspired us with a degree of sym- 
 
134 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 pathy. Moreover, we were mentally " prospecting " the 
 yet unseen diggings. The information he could give 
 us, might be valuable. So, although provisions were 
 already scarce, and even coffee a luxury, we asked him 
 into the camp to share our evening meal, which, to tell 
 the truth, was by no means too plentiful. After feeding, 
 he honored us by saying : 
 
 " 'Tarnation bad as yer supper is, it is the first square 
 meal I've eat, for three days." 
 
 u How war that ? " Butch' asked. 
 
 " Yer see, in the mines there war nothing to get for 
 love or money. And here, I guess, there's darned little 
 love unless yer can buy it." 
 
 " We heard that, up here, you had only to turn a 
 shovel to find gold." 
 
 ;i And b'lieved it, as I did," he quietly growled out. 
 
 " Yer don't mean to say there are none," ejaculated 
 Ben. 
 
 " I guess yer won't do more than any o' the rest on us." 
 
 " But, some must have had a fair share of success," I 
 said. 
 
 "Why d' yer think so, Captain?" he drawled out, 
 nasally. 
 
 "From the row about the diggings that has been 
 made through the whole of the West." 
 
 O 
 
 " Well, I'll tell yer. I was one of the first that come 
 out here, from Kalifornee. I'd been duing a smartish 
 bit of business down thar. But I tell yer, the dollars 
 didn't come in fast enough. Than, 1 heerd of this 
 darned place, and thought I'd strike for it and find 'ile, 
 sure. So, I made up a good kit o' things to last me two 
 months, and sit out. Darn the diggings. I've been at 
 work thar, more nor three months, and here I am at 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 135 
 
 the first square meal I've sot down tu for three days, 
 as I told yer before, and a darned bad one, too, as I 
 said when I finished it." 
 
 " Then you don't believe there is much gold in this 
 part of the country \ " 
 
 " Thar may be, Captain ! " 
 
 " What do yer mean, then \ " inquired Ben Painter. 
 
 " I found none," drawled out the Yank as he slowly 
 rose, " and by the 'Tarnal ! I nev'r met one as has." 
 
 The groan that issued from the bottom of Brighton 
 Bill's stomach, would, at any other time than this, have 
 provoked mirth. It did not, however, do so now. The 
 matter was far too serious for laughter. 
 
 If the disgusted Yankee had told us the truth, it was 
 evidently no use for us to help thicken the crowd of 
 deluded seekers for gold, thronging to the diggings. 
 Provisions, as I have earlier said, were scarce. They 
 were consequently dear. Our own stock had for sev 
 eral days been running low. What was to be done ? 
 
 More inquiries were made by us. The replies, al 
 though varying in degree, were all of them confirmatory, 
 more or less, of the Yankee's opinion. 
 
 After a brief council of war, the Rangers, therefore, 
 decided upon striking once more for Puget Sound, in 
 search of game. If we found it, we would kill enough 
 for us to take our return-trail. Game, however, was 
 scarcer in that locality than we had found gold to be in 
 the neighborhood of Frazer's River. We had to betake 
 ourselves to digging ; not in the soil for the precious 
 metal, but in the sand on the shore of the Sound for 
 clams and mussels. Even these were rarely found by 
 us. In short, the Rangers and their leader were re 
 duced to the very verge of starvation. Nor did we run 
 
136 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 any risk of meeting any charitable person who might 
 have the means of giving ns ".one square meal," even if 
 it were " a darned bad one." 
 
 In this strait, it was resolved on to start for the 
 mountains, and take the chance of killing or being 
 killed, to save us from dying by hunger. 
 
 Here, for the first two days, we met with scarcely 
 anything. About noon on the third, I and Arnold were 
 standing together. During the whole morning we had 
 found no game, and were gazing around us with that 
 sense of discomfort a continuously empty stomach is 
 certain to produce in humanity, when we heard a shot 
 in the distance. It was to the right of us. Almost 
 immediately it was followed by another. As the two 
 puffs of smoke drifted above the stunted pines which 
 covered the unequally rough ground in that direction, I 
 heard a sound which, faintly as it came to us, I imme 
 diately recognized, from the use of it by Brighton Bill. 
 It was what he called : 
 
 " A 'onest British cheer." 
 
 " You know the voice, Mose ? " 
 
 " Yes ! Let's break for it." 
 
 We accordingly " broke " in its direction. Three 
 more of the boys had already joined him and Ben 
 Painter by the time we had arrived there. The two 
 first mentioned had met with the good fortune of spot 
 ting a huge elk. The animal had been killed, and 
 while still warm, the men were engaged in skinning 
 him. 
 
 A fire was quickly kindled, and, by the time, portion 
 of the elk was ready for our ravenous appetites, the re 
 mainder of the Rangers entered their names as partners 
 in the welcome feast. For, that it was right welcome, 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 137 
 
 my present remembrance of it unmistakably assures 
 me. 
 
 Stopping here until we had jerked most of the meat 
 on the elk's large carcass, we again started on our jour 
 ney back. 
 
 Having travelled in an easterly course through a 
 magnificently wooded country, we reached the Colum 
 bia River, near Fort Okimakane, and passing down it 
 through the territory occupied by the Flat-head tribe 
 of Indians, arrived at the Walla- Walla. Thence we 
 crossed the Blue Mountains ; and, after several days' more 
 travelling through the rocky wilderness and broken 
 canons, arrived at the Owyhee, which, some distance 
 higher up, we crossed and continued over the range of 
 hills by the side of this stream, until we at length 
 reached Surprise Valley. 
 
 We camped in this spot for two weeks, for the pur 
 pose of recruiting our horses and hunting up game. 
 The jerked elk-flesh was already very nearly brought to 
 an end. 
 
 It was, while we were in this neighborhood, that I met 
 with an adventure which very nearly ended this volume 
 before I had even written a page of it, if I may be par 
 doned the Irishism of this expression. But, for the 
 opportune arrival of the Buckskin Rangers, my life 
 would very certainly not have been worth an empty 
 powder-can. 
 
 Early one sharply fresh morning, I had left the camp 
 in the direction of High Rock Canon. This was at a 
 distance of some ten miles. 
 
 While upon my way, perhaps some six miles or more, 
 I saw a mountain-sheep. Having a liking for wild 
 mutton, I cautiously crept round the cliff upon which 
 
138 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 he was standing, to get a fair shot at him. At length 
 reaching a spot from which I might consider myself 
 fairly sure of the meat, I fired. 
 
 The shot told, and the animal fell. 
 
 However, instead of dropping where he stood, and 
 where I could not inconveniently have become possessor 
 of the toothsome flesh, the perverse sheep preferred 
 rolling down the cliff. 
 
 Well ! It would be some more trouble, but I could 
 easily get him. I therefore went round to the base of 
 the cliff. On arriving there, I could not help swearing 
 a most ungodly oath. That wretched lump of mountain- 
 meat had chosen to remain some half-way from the bot 
 tom on which I was, and the top of the precipice, on 
 which he had been standing. 
 
 My readers may already have been enabled to give me 
 credit for what I consider my resolution, although some 
 of my good friends have not nnoccasionally denominated 
 it obstinacy. 
 
 It came very decidedly into play, upon this occasion. 
 
 I was determined not to be balked in my love for 
 mountain-mutton. In accordance with my resolve, I 
 prepared to climb after it. The face of the cliff was so 
 steep and rugged that, in order to have the use of both 
 my hands, I was compelled to relinquish my rifle. 
 Therefore, depositing it where I stood, I commenced 
 the ascent. Being a good climber, I naturally thought 
 I should have no more difficulty than that which gener 
 ally attends such an operation. Neither, had I. After 
 reaching the jutting point upon which my mutton had 
 so pertinaciously lodged, I dislodged it, and sent it 
 down the rough precipice. It was now time to think of 
 myself regaining the base of the cliff, in a less rapid 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 139 
 
 mode. But, to descend was no child's play. Now I 
 could not find the footing which I remembered pre 
 viously having. Consequently, I was obliged to wriggle 
 my body to one side or the other, in order to find a 
 place to rest on. Afterwards, the rock would crumble 
 under me, or fragments upon which my feet were rest 
 ing would slip out of their bedding. Moreover, my 
 sight was utterly useless. I had to depend upon 
 the trained sense of feeling in my moccasined toes. 
 Having covered some space of the face of the cliff, I 
 began to find I was not descending it in the same direc 
 tion in which I had ascended it. The cliff was sloping 
 inwards. Again I had to climb and try a new line. 
 This was apparently somewhat better. However, plac 
 ing my feet upon the roots of a sage-bush, I was incau 
 tious enough to trust my whole weight to it. 
 
 It tore out from the face of the cliff. 
 
 When I felt it giving way, I threw out my hands to 
 grasp at some support. 
 
 While falling, all the errors and faults I had com 
 mitted, seemed to rush across my mind. Why it was, I 
 know not, but the star-like eyes of Clo-ke-ta blazed 
 upon my memory. 
 
 Then I struck the rocky ground beneath me, and, for 
 the time, remembered no more. 
 
 Upon coming to my senses, I found that my hands 
 were bound behind me. 
 
 Looking with scarcely conscious anger around, I saw 
 several red-skins. 
 
 These, I presume, had been watching me, amusing 
 themselves with my desperate efforts to descend the 
 cliff, and calculating upon trapping me when I reached 
 its foot. 
 
140 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 No sooner had I seen them than the positive danger 
 restored my senses. 
 
 Resistance was, however, useless. Raising me to my 
 feet, they commenced driving me down the valley. 
 Deliberately, I say, "driving." Nor was this driving 
 done by any means in a merciful fashion. It was 
 effected with heavy blows and sharp sticks, which were 
 aimed at and thrust into my ribs and sides, with no pity. 
 
 For the moment, however, I was unconscious of this. 
 
 The red devils were going straight in the direction of 
 our camp. Great God ! If they only did not pause 
 until they arrived there. 
 
 This was a futile hope. 
 
 They paused about two miles and a half from the 
 place where my boys were. With a vain effort at being 
 heard, I gave vent to a loud shout. A burly Indian 
 struck me heavily across the mouth to silence what he 
 haply considered my bravado. " I was a white brave, 
 and I knew that I must die." It was natural red-skin 
 reasoning. 
 
 Then spitting in my face, he spoke briefly in their 
 guttural tongue, and in a few moments more I had been 
 stripped of all my clothing, and compelled to stand with 
 my feet about twenty inches apart. Stakes were driven 
 into the earth by the side of these, to which my legs 
 were tightly lashed. Then, planting in the ground other 
 stakes at a short distance, my arms were extended at 
 full length, and bound to them. A cord around my 
 neck was fastened to another stake in my rear. In 
 addition to this, two sharpened stakes were planted di 
 rectly under my arm-pits. It was thus rendered almost 
 impossible for me, even to stir. 
 
 No sooner had this been effected, than the entertain- 
 
" The braves would squat upon the earth and rest, while their 
 squaws subjected me to more horrible tortures than the mind could 
 conceive without personal experience." Page 141. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 141 
 
 ment, for such they evidently considered it, com 
 menced. 
 
 The Mahalas or squaws had been pointing splinters 
 of grease -wood, about three inches in length. As the 
 braves danced round me, whooping, yelling, or singing 
 one of their wild war-songs, the squaws would strike 
 the pointed splinters into my flesh and leave them 
 sticking in it. After somewhat wearying of their share in 
 this cheerful pandemonium, the braves would squat upon 
 the earth and rest, while their squaws subjected me to 
 more horrible torture than the mind of the white could 
 conceive without personal experience. Human excre 
 ment was thrust in my face, and rubbed over my mouth. 
 When they would pause awhile, it seemed as if they 
 were only trying to invent some more disgusting and 
 possibly more painful mode of torture. 
 
 But what is the use of prolonging such a recital ? 
 
 This infernal orgy was kept up until night set in, 
 when the climax of their devilish fury was capped by 
 their taking burning brands from the fires which had 
 been kindled, and igniting the splinters of grease-wood 
 which they had thrust in my body. 
 
 It is absolutely impossible by mere words to convey 
 any idea of even the tenth part of the agony which this 
 caused me. Ten thousand needles, red-hot, seemed to 
 be piercing my flesh and stabbing me in every part of 
 my body with their lancing flame. 
 
 Up to this moment, I had not abandoned all hope. 
 
 Perhaps, the boys might come up in time to save me. 
 
 In my now maddening suffering, 1 actually prayed 
 that it might end. Heaping every species of oppro 
 brium on the red demons, that I could, in my own 
 tongue, I added to them such galling Indian terms 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 as I had been able to pick up during my life in the 
 West. These were not over-numerous, but they would 
 have been more than sufficient to have inspired the in 
 carnate devils with a greater fury, and, in a few moments 
 more, I should have been quit of all the trouble and 
 suffering of the world in which 1 had been a dweller. 
 
 As this desire was surging incontrollably above my 
 bodily agony, I heard the crack of a dozen rifles. 
 
 The same number of the Indians dropped in the very 
 places on which they had been sitting or standing, and 
 I knew that I was saved. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 
 
 BETWEEN TORTURE AND SAFETY THE VALUE OP POPULARITY 
 UNCLE SAM'S BLUE-COATS A TRAPPING EXPEDITION IN FOR 
 IT THE CAPTURE OF MY FIRST PET GRIZZLY SKINNING AND 
 CARVING u PROSPECTING " FOR SILVER A LIVING BLANKET 
 DARKNESS AND THE SURPRISE CARRIED OFF AS A CAPTIVE 
 OUT OF THE THONGS THE BUTT AND THE MUZZLE WHO is 
 THE REAL HERO ? 
 
 IT seemed, that when I had not returned to the camp 
 by dusk, the boys had begun to be somewhat uneasy on 
 account of my prolonged absence. Butch' Hasbrouck 
 then volunteered to hunt me up. Ben Painter was the 
 only one with him. Although uneasy, none of them really 
 believed I was in a serious difficulty. If they had, as 
 Butch' subsequently said, when, some weeks later, talk 
 ing the matter over with me, they would have had me 
 " out of the tight place I war in, a good hour sooner." 
 
 It was not long ere they heard the noise made by the 
 howling and yelling devils. 
 
 " There war something up," as Painter whispered to 
 Butch'. 
 
 Then they crept nearer. 
 
 On discovering the light of the camp-fires, and recog 
 nizing through the trees the forms of the red-skins mov 
 ing rapidly amongst them, they instantaneously con 
 cluded that I had been killed, and that the savages were 
 celebrating the event in their own fashion. " By sheer 
 luck," as Painter expressed it, they did not come near 
 enough the Campoody or Indian camp to discover me. 
 
144 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 Had they done so, they were two men only, and could 
 not have saved me, although they might, or rather 
 would, beyond any doubt, have made my death a some 
 what costly one to the Indians, who would most cer 
 tainly have finished me before their two rifles could have 
 settled enough of the scoundrels to prevent their doing so. 
 
 They returned to the camp and told Arnold and the 
 rest what they had seen. 
 
 If I had previously any doubt of my popularity with 
 the boys, the result of the information thus given would 
 have dispelled it. 
 
 In an instant every man was on his legs, and in 
 another half-minute, armed with their rifles and revol 
 vers, they were following the two scouts who had 
 located the red-skins. 
 
 On drawing sufficiently near, they had discovered me. 
 
 It would be needless to recapitulate what I have already 
 stated. Their plan was determined upon, and they 
 carried it fully out. Not a single red-skin, male or 
 female, nor even a papoose, was suffered to escape. In 
 deed, I believe that if any of Uncle Sam's Agents or 
 Blue Coats had ventured to interfere with their prompt 
 judgment, supposing they had been on the ground, it 
 might have gone badly enough with them, in spite of 
 our presumable loyalty. 
 
 All that night, I lay on my blankets, in terrible agony. 
 It seemed as if I was losing my reason. A tough con 
 stitution and the care of my companions, however, 
 brought me through my suffering. Let none tell me 
 that men, rough as they may be, are unfitted to attend 
 the sick. Brighton Bill and Butch' constituted them 
 selves not only my medical men, but my nurses. They 
 never left me for an instant. While one ate or slept, 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 145 
 
 the other was at my side. Their rough hands were as 
 gentle with me, as those of any woman might have been. 
 
 Arnold and Painter were also unceasing in their 
 attendance. 
 
 Yet I feel that I am perhaps wrong in particularizing 
 any of the Rangers, when all were so kind. Suffice it, 
 therefore, to say, that after some ten days I was able to 
 stand once more and move slowly about. The effects 
 of my fall, and the Indian treatment after it, were 
 obviated by the more civilized care and love, for I may 
 surely call it so, the boys bestowed upon me. In some 
 thing less than a fortnight I was able again to ride, and 
 we started for Honey Lake Valley. 
 
 On reaching it, winter was just approaching, and as 
 peace had been promised by the chief of the Pah-utes, I 
 foresaw there would be little occupation for me during 
 this season. So, after a little talk, Butch' Hasbrouck 
 and Brighton Bill agreed to go with me, on a trapping 
 expedition to the Humboldt River. Providing ourselves 
 with the necessary number of traps and other requisites, 
 we in a few days started, pitching our camp in the Las- 
 sen Meadows, at La Due Yery's, generally known as " Old 
 Bible-back," on the banks of that stream. For some 
 time we were very successful; indeed, as we afterwards 
 found, remarkably so, gathering together a large num 
 ber of beaver, otter, and other skins. Then, needing a 
 re-supply of many necessary articles, we struck back to 
 the valley, and finished the winter near the Black Buttes. 
 Here we had as great a success in trapping mink, mar 
 ten, and foxes. 
 
 It was while we were here, that I had the satisfaction 
 of killing my first grizzly. 
 
 Early on one sharply cold morning I had started out 
 7 
 
14:6 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 to make the round of our traps. As I entered a dense 
 cliapparal, I saw, moving towards me, a large bear with 
 two young cubs. Of course it was their dam, and I 
 knew I was in for it. If I had taken to my heels, I felt 
 assured the speed of the ungainly brute would exceed 
 mine. There was no large tree near, in which I might 
 have taken refuge. She had already seen me, and her 
 small, twinkling eyes were sparkling like black diamonds. 
 Naturally, therefore, I could not treat her to any Indian 
 strategy. 
 
 The only chance I had was in my skill as a marks 
 man. Realizing this, I dropped upon one knee, and 
 raising my rifle to my shoulder, awaited her approach. 
 
 She was at this time about twenty yards away from 
 me, advancing at a rapidly awkward and shuffling run. 
 
 I waited until she had lessened this distance probably 
 one-half. Then, with my bead drawn behind her ear, I 
 let her have my ball, and she dropped. It was with no 
 small degree of pride that I contemplated her large 
 size, for the bullet had passed through her brain, as 
 clearly as in any shot I ever made, and she died in her 
 tracks, mutely and gravely as any Indian brave, whose 
 death-struggles have been chronicled by the novelist. 
 Then, taking her two cubs under my arms, I returned to 
 camp. Butch' skinned the grizzly. Bill on this occa 
 sion officiated as butcher. Cutting out the choicest 
 parts of the meat, he brought them back with him. It 
 was lucky he did so, for on visiting our traps, for the 
 second time in that day, towards the evening, I found 
 her bones picked tolerably clean. 
 
 Our share of the grizzly, however, lasted us for four 
 days, and I must say, choicer meat never crossed my 
 palate. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 147 
 
 On our return to Honey Lake Valley, I presented one 
 of the two cubs to Governor Hoop. The other, I myself 
 kept. At this time, it was as playful as a young kitten. 
 Owing to its youth, I was able to thoroughly tame it, so 
 that it would follow me wherever I went, like a spaniel. 
 When it had increased in size to bear's estate, I made it, 
 in after life, my constant companion. Brighton Bill 
 gave it the name which stuck to it, of " my body-guard." 
 
 While we were upon the Humboldt, Butch' and my 
 self had discovered what we believed to be silver ore. 
 Brighton Bill shared our belief. 
 
 When once more near Honey Lake, we informed the 
 various members of the Buckskin Rangers of our dis 
 covery. 
 
 All were smitten with the usual fever resulting from 
 an intimation of the presence of either of the precious 
 metals in any locality. It was, therefore, in the spring 
 of 1860, that we went out and pitched our camp in a 
 rocky defile, to which we gave the name of Prince Royal 
 Canon. The reason of our bestowing this title on it, 
 will, when the date is remembered, be obvious to my 
 readers. We were engaged " prospecting," the remain 
 der of the spring and the succeeding summer, having 
 located a large number of ledges. 
 
 About September we had, however, grown tired of 
 silver-prospecting without any immediate results, and 
 determined on adjourning our metal-mining for the 
 winter. It was, therefore, decided that we should visit 
 Klamath Lake arid the Modoc country with the view of 
 trapping and hunting. 
 
 We accordingly, at the commencement of the follow 
 ing month, struck out for the Blue Mountains, in portion 
 of which range we pitched our camp for the purpose of 
 
148 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 looking out for good hunting-grounds. After talking 
 the matter well over, we concluded to separate. By so 
 doing, we could hold the whole of that portion of the 
 country, as any good hunter and trapper can take care of 
 ten miles square without any other help. Some of the 
 boys accordingly went to the Klamath Lake others 
 I betook themselves to the Sierras. In fact, they were 
 scattered round, within no more than a day's ride of 
 each other, while I and my pet bear, whom I had named 
 Charley, remained on the spot we had originally camped 
 in. 
 
 That winter set in with unusual severity. It was, in 
 deed, the severest I had yet known, through the whole 
 of that region. 
 
 Possibly, for twenty years, the one just past, has 
 alone exceeded it, whether in its average temperature 
 or the amount of the snow which fell and remained 
 upon the earth. 
 
 In the Blue Mountains, the snow averaged from a 
 depth of ten to eighteen feet. It covered my rude log- 
 cabin so completely, that at times it might have been 
 difficult for me to find it. Here it was that my bear 
 first became of positive value to me, in addition to his 
 affording me something like companionship. 
 
 When I left my cabin, I would leave him behind to 
 keep house. 
 
 The result of this was, that on my return, I was sure 
 to find him half-a-mile or more from home, to which he 
 would pilot me unerringly. 
 
 During the night, Charley always slept with me. 
 After building a large fire, I would lie down in his 
 arms or rather fore-paws. He was far better than any 
 blanket. If, however, in my sleep, the fire had gone 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 149 
 
 down and the cold drove me unconsciously closer to 
 him, than was pleasant to his Grizzlyship, he would raise 
 his hind paw and push me into the middle of the floor. 
 Then, it would seem as if a sense of the duty he owed 
 his owner returned. He would roll out, himself, snuff 
 around me, and if I kept quite still, which I have fre 
 quently done, insert his nose under my side and trundle 
 my apparently still slumbering body back upon the 
 bed. lie possessed other qualities also, given him by 
 nature, in which he was eminently my superior. 
 
 His hearing was wonderfully acute. Of a sudden, he 
 would start out of the cabin, with a quick look of in 
 telligence that was well-nigh human. After nosing 
 around, if everything was quiet, he would slink back, 
 with an unmistakably sheepish look. Coining up to 
 me, he would lick my hands and face. It was precisely 
 as if he had said : 
 
 " Don't kick up a row, old boy ! I was wrong and I 
 know it. But, it is all for the best, I should keep a 
 bright look-out. My ears are quicker than yours, you 
 know." 
 
 If, however, on leaving the cabin, any game, or a man 
 should happen to be near it, he would utter a continu 
 ous low growl until I joined him. 
 
 One day he displayed his sagacity in an even stronger 
 manner. I had gone out with my rifle in the mom ing 
 and did not return until the middle of the afternoon. 
 It was at considerably greater distance than usual from 
 our dwelling that he met me. He would not, however, 
 accompany me directly back, but shambled off with his 
 rapid and swinging gait to a considerable distance. 
 Knowing he wanted me to see something, 1 followed 
 him almost as rapidly. Suddenly, he came to a dead 
 
150 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 lialt. "VYlien I joined him, I learnt the reason for this 
 strange proceeding on Charley's part. I had come 
 upon soine half-dozen or more moccasin-tracks, which 
 led directly towards my cabin. 
 
 Of course, I now proceeded with great caution, as he 
 also did. 
 
 About a hundred yards from the entrance, I however 
 found precisely the same number of moccasin-tracks, 
 bearing in an entirely different direction. They very 
 evidently led directly from the spot to which the others 
 had been going. 
 
 As I was examining them, his juvenile Grizzlyship low 
 ered his quaint head above them, and as evidently scru 
 tinized them with even greater inteiitness than I had done. 
 
 Then, he gave a low growl. It was exactly as if he 
 had uttered the phrase of 
 
 " All right ! " 
 
 After this, dropping all semblance of caution, and 
 shaking himself as a huge dog might, he shuffled off 
 hurriedly to the hole in the snow which led to his and 
 my habitation. When I entered it, he was circling 
 round the whole of the somewhat narrow interior, 
 smelling in every part, and repeating, from time to time, 
 the low growl I have just alluded to as so significant. 
 
 It would be unnecessary to say, I did not enjoy a par 
 ticularly sound slumber that night. 
 
 That the owners of these moccasins were Indians, it 
 was impossible to doubt. 
 
 If, as some say the red men are able to do, I am 
 unable to detect the moccasined foot-print of one tribe 
 from that of another, I can at any rate tell whether the 
 foot within the moccasin may chance to be a white one. 
 These were not. Of this I had been, at once, assured. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 151 
 
 But why had they visited my hole in the snow, and why 
 had they afterwards left it ? This last question I was 
 unable satisfactorily to settle. 
 
 In any case, it was necessary to let the other boys 
 know red-skins were around. Accordingly, breaking 
 my fast early, I started towards Brighton Bill's cabin, 
 as he was my next-door neighbor, living merely at a 
 distance of some iifteen miles. Arriving there in the 
 forenoon, I found him seated by a roaring fire. But 
 scarcely had I stepped within his door, than he was on 
 his feet with his rifle, which had been between his knees, 
 cocked, raised, and pointed at me. It was, however, as 
 rapidly dropped. 
 
 " By 'eaven, Mose, H'i thought you was han H'ingin." 
 
 " The Indians brought me here, Bill ! " 
 
 " The blasted red devils turned hup 'ere, when H'i 
 was hout yesterday." 
 
 " So they did, in my cabin. We ought to let the other 
 boys know, and decide upon what had best be done." 
 
 " Butch' will be 'ere this morning. H'i seed 'im honly 
 yesterday," said Bill. " Hif you like, H'i will go hand 
 fetch hup some of the hother chaps." 
 
 " I think, it would be better." 
 
 " Very well, Cap ! Ili'rn hoff." 
 
 Putting on his snow-shoes, he started immediately. 
 
 He had scarcely left me for twenty minutes, when I 
 heard a slight noise on the snow without. Seizing my 
 rifle, I moved cautiously to the door, when something 
 heavy leaped against me, which very nearly reduced me 
 to a prostrate position. It was my bear Charley, who 
 had thought proper to follow rne. We retired within 
 the cabin, which was considerably larger than mine. 
 Bill was in a slight degree inclined to grandeur and 
 
152 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 luxury, if there can be such things in a log-hut. There, 
 in company, we resigned ourselves to expectation. All 
 at once the Grizzly raised his head. Yes! I had heard 
 it, too. It was the movement of snow-shoes. A few 
 moments after, Butch' entered. 
 
 On the preceding day, he also had seen Indian tracks 
 around his dwelling. 
 
 In the afternoon, Brighton Bill reappeared. He had 
 seen Harry Arnold, and told him to see his nearest 
 neighbor, and send word to the other Rangers, bidding 
 them to repair immediately to my quarters. 
 
 After a hasty feed on some jerked deer, we then set 
 out for my dwelling. Darkness had settled on us, long 
 before we reached it; and, but for the chilly sheen 
 of the sheet which draped the earth with its spotless 
 white, it might have been difficult to keep the track. 
 
 Yet I am wrong. In any case, Charley's unerring 
 scent would have proved a sure guide. Why it was, 
 however, I can scarcely say, save that he had con 
 fidence in our numbers, but certainly, on this occasion, 
 he uttered no warning growl ; and scarcely had we 
 descended through the sloping snow to the doorway than 
 two powerful arms were thrown about me. I heard 
 Bill's voice roar : 
 
 " Look hout, Mose ! " 
 
 We were in the grip of the red-skins. 
 
 The struggle was furious but brief. Our assailants 
 had been joined by a dozen other Indians, who had been 
 lurking without, and it was not long before we had our 
 hands tied behind us, and we were on our way to Goose 
 Lake. 
 
 Before starting, it must frankly be said, that with the 
 usual red instinct for appropriating everything which 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 153 
 
 comes in their way, my cabin had been thoroughly 
 gutted. Ammunition, provision, blankets nay, every 
 thing portable and there was nothing which was not 
 portable in it had become the property of the copper- 
 colored rascals. 
 
 Placing me in front, and Butch' and Bill behind me, 
 in regular Indian file, they kept on either side of us, 
 forcing us to hurry on as speedily as they could compel 
 us to move. 
 
 It was impossible for me to forget my past experience, 
 and I mentally resolved, if I were able to ,do so, that I 
 would sell my life in square fight, rather than undergo 
 a second time the torture to which I had then been 
 subjected. At last, there seemed a chance for doing so. 
 We had been compelled to move along at a smart trot 
 for some six or seven hours, so far as I was able to meas 
 ure time, when, from what cause I cannot say, although 
 it was probably the continual friction, I felt that the 
 ligature round my wrists was sensibly looser. My 
 hands were able to slip through the thongs. I dared 
 not tell either of my companions what I had done, and 
 ask them whether or not they might be able to do the 
 same. Some of the red rascals might understand Eng 
 lish. One or more of them might even be renegade 
 whites. What could I do to release them ? The idea 
 came to me like a flash of lightning. Pretending to 
 stumble, I pitched forward, and recovering myself, got 
 a blow on my face from one of our captors. It was ap 
 parently from one of the same thongs with which our 
 wrists had been bound. Then, I uttered a shrill and 
 prolonged cry as if of pain. 
 
 After this, I found myself the last of the three. 
 
 Two minutes had scarcely passed, and Bill's hands 
 7* 
 
154 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 had been freed. Mine had untied the thongs which 
 bound them. He would have wit enough to loose 
 Butch'. Life on the Plains and in the great West, 
 sharpens man's mother-wit wonderfully. 
 
 Day was not yet breaking. 
 
 That heavy darkness was upon us, which so generally 
 precedes dawn. 
 
 At this very moment we came to some low foot-hills, 
 where the timber was dense and thick. We were 
 obliged to move more slowly. My friends had just 
 crossed a log, and the Indian on the left of me was 
 stepping over it, when I fetched him with my clenched 
 fist a violent blow under his ear. At any rate, I felt 
 that was the place in which I struck him. 
 
 As he reeled and fell, I wrenched the gun from his 
 hands, shouting out, 
 
 " Now's your time, boys." 
 
 The brute instinct of self-preservation answered for 
 their closely following, without knowing that they did 
 so, my action. In another instant we were clubbing 
 right and left, and so soon as we could change our guns 
 for some that had not been injured by such an employ 
 ment, we commenced shooting. Scarcely had I heard 
 the report of my first shot than I felt two vigorous arms 
 thrown around my waist. They were lifting me from 
 the ground, probably for the purpose of dashing me to 
 the earth, when they suddenly relaxed their grip. A 
 madly wild yell broke from the lips of that Indian, 
 mingled with a ringingly fierce growl which I at once 
 recognized, although I had never before heard it so 
 savagely shapen, as Charley's voice. 
 
 My pet had followed on our track, and was actually 
 assisting us in rescuing ourselves. 
 

 " My pet had followed in our track, and was actually assisting us 
 to rescue ourselves." Page 154. 
 
BUCKSKIN HOSE. 155 
 
 Strangely enough, since the moment in which we had 
 first found ourselves captives and were marched away in 
 the fashion I have above described, no thought of Griz 
 zly's absence from my side had ever crossed my mind. 
 His memory had however been better than mine. Per 
 haps, when all circumstances are fairly considered, it 
 had some reason for being so. 
 
 After a very brief struggle, the wholly unexpected 
 assault of their three prisoners, and their four-footed or 
 four-handed ally, on the red devils, resulted in a com 
 plete victory. 
 
 The yet living Indians cleared out, leaving us mas 
 ters of the field. As the day was now gradually break 
 ing, we were enabled to count the dead, and exercise a 
 proprietary right in their scalps. What was of much 
 more advantage to myself, I was enabled to recapture 
 nearly the whole of my stolen property, as well as a 
 number of guns, corresponding with that of the dead, 
 which necessarily changed hands. 
 
 Eight of the scoundrels would have 110 more chance 
 of troubling their white brethren. 
 
 This enumeration includes the one whom Charley had 
 so considerately squeezed out of this life, very much, as 
 Butch' afterwards remarked 
 
 " As a younker squeezes a ripe orange." 
 
 It was late in the afternoon, when" we arrived again 
 at my cabin. Upon entering the hole in the snow which 
 led to it, we found Harry Arnold, Ben Painter, and 
 many of the boys there. They had preceded our com 
 ing by some twenty minutes. The footprints visible on 
 the outside of my dwelling, as well as the thoroughly 
 emptied condition of its interior, had readily given them 
 a thorough apprehension of our condition. When we 
 
156 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 returned, they were on the point of preparing to follow 
 on the trail of the red savages. 
 
 Of course, we had to relate our adventures since the 
 preceding night. This, however, did not take long, as 
 the demands of famished nature were too exacting. We 
 had tasted neither bite nor sup since noon on the pre 
 ceding day. 
 
 I may here state, that much to the mortification of 
 Butch' and Brighton Bill, as well as somewhat to my 
 own, it became evident that the Rangers considered my 
 young Grizzly as the real hero of the occasion. Indeed, 
 Painter proposed to give him a horn of old Eye, and 
 would have done so, had I not peremptorily forbidden 
 it, not only on the score of its possible effects upon his 
 innocent inside, but also because our stock of that nec 
 essary article was getting very low. 
 
 After our meal, which I ate ravenously, and presume 
 the two who had been my fellow-captives did the same, 
 " Long " Dorsey (he stood six feet two, in his stockings) 
 and Lute Spencer arrived. Some minutes after, we 
 heard a voice whistling the familiar tune " Joe Bowers." 
 This was " small " Tom Harvey, who had lingered in 
 their rear. Seeing they had entered without exciting 
 any commotion within the cabin, he concluded no In 
 dians were in the immediate neighborhood. Otherwise, 
 he would undoubtedly have refrained from allowing his 
 lips this exercise. 
 
 We were told by Lute Spencer that they had paused 
 at Bob Thorn's cabin by the way. He was more gener 
 ally known by his intimates and associates as Dirty 
 Bob. 
 
 " The place war gutted, as you say yours war," con- 
 tin ued Lute, "and Bob war nowhere." 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 157 
 
 "The red devils had been there," added Dorsey. 
 " We counted the tracks of some ten of them." 
 
 Fatigued as I was, I at once proposed starting for 
 Bob's cabin. The memory I have already alluded to, 
 gave me a sharp twinge of commiseration for any 
 unlucky fellow who might be treated to a similar phase 
 of personal experience. 
 
CHAPTER XL 
 
 LOTS OF PLUCK ONE OP THE RANGERS KILLED THINKING OF 
 A BROTHER TAKING A GOOD POSITION Loss OF HAIR, AND 
 WHAT THE RED-SKINS THINK OF IT "CAPTAIN JACK'S" OR 
 THE MODOC COUNTRY "CAPTAIN JACK'S" STRONGHOLD ON 
 OUR WAY BACK SIGNAL-FIRES AND SOME STRATEGY HALF 
 A HUNDRED SCALPS FOR ONE THE PAH-UTES ON THE WAR 
 PATH FISHING FOR THE DEAD THE WHITE FLAG WASHO 
 BRAVERY. 
 
 BOB'S location was at some thirty miles' distance from 
 my cabin, and we arrived there, shortly after the daz 
 zling rays of the morning sun were blind ingly increased 
 in strength by the reflection from the snow. 
 
 Spencer and Dorsey had told us the bare fact. 
 Butch', however, had a keener nose than they apparently 
 possessed. 
 
 "Dirty Bob fit well for it," he said, after glancing 
 through the cabin. " Some of the red skunks war hurt, 
 and no mistake. He al'ays had lots o' pluck." 
 
 He was unmistakably right. There were marks of 
 blood on the hard soil of the floor. But, whether the 
 soaked in and dead crimson had once run in his veins 
 or those of his Indian enemies, remained to be seen. 
 We almost at once struck their trail, which led through 
 the forest, beyond the spot he had selected for his hunt 
 ing-ground. This we followed, for something more than 
 six miles. The track was by no means an easy one, 
 rising and falling, broken up by rocks and intersected 
 with the stumps of fallen trees. In short, it was one 
 which none of the delicate nurslings of city civilization 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 159 
 
 would have cared about following, even for the purpose 
 of pulling trigger at their first live venison, and, of ne 
 cessity, missing it. 
 
 Arnold and Painter were in advance. 
 
 The fatigue of the past two days and night had kept 
 me somewhat in the rear of the party, with Butch' and 
 " Fatty." 
 
 Painter uttered a savage oath. 
 
 We ran up to him. He and Arnold were standing 
 close to the body of poor Bob. His knife, smeared with 
 dried or frozen blood, was still clenched in the hands of 
 the corpse, which was frightfully mutilated. It had also 
 been scalped. Evidently, his death had been the result 
 of a vigorous struggle to escape; for the snow on which 
 he was lying was crushed in and trodden down in every 
 direction ; while a young tree had been torn from its 
 roots by the force with which some one had fallen 
 against it. Glancing at Ben Painter, I saw that his 
 teeth were set tightly together, and his under lip, which 
 his beard permitted me to see, was rigid and almost 
 blue. I took him by the hand and squeezed it. 
 
 " I war thinking of my brother." 
 
 This was all he said, as we continued upon the trail. 
 
 From this point, it could very readily be followed. 
 The marks of blood were visible enough all along it. 
 One or more of the red-skins had been wounded. In 
 about half a mile further, the road became easier and 
 the trees were more scattered. Arnold, who was still in 
 front with Painter, and Brighton Bill, had sighted what 
 they supposed to be a dead Indian. 
 
 "Here's one of them," cried Arnold. 
 
 Scarcely had he uttered this than, wounded as he was, 
 the savage leapt to his feet and ran. His strength, how- 
 
160 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 ever, only availed him for a short spurt. He again 
 dropped, and, while on the ground, drew his bow. The 
 arrow struck Bill on the left arm, making a slight flesh 
 wound. But before the red devil could discharge 
 another, Ben Painter was up with him, and the knife 
 he had drawn was buried in his heart. On examining 
 the dead body, we discovered the wound Bob had in 
 flicted on its side. Blood was still slowly oozing from 
 it. 
 
 From this point, the trail diverged towards the Lower 
 Klamath Lake. We followed on it as rapidly as possi 
 ble, passing Shasta Mountain, until we arrived at Fall 
 River. Beyond this stream lies the country, which is the 
 stronghold of the Modoc and Pit-River tribes. 
 
 It is certainly a fitting section to have such an ap 
 pellation applied to it. 
 
 Throughout, it is covered with natural fortifications. 
 Huge rocks rise from the earth, varying from two hun 
 dred to three hundred and fifty feet in height. A 
 single precipitous and narrow path, sometimes natural, 
 not unfrequently fashioned by the Modocs or their trib 
 utaries, the Pit-River Indians, who are by no means as 
 warlike, leads to the top of these. Here, in many cases, 
 the summit is defended by a. breastwork. In the beds 
 of lava, for this part of the country has formerly been 
 volcanic, you will also occasionally come upon a triangle 
 of rocks, from four to six feet in height, with a steep 
 cavity in their centre, large enough in every case to ad 
 mit a man, and frequently much larger. The reasons 
 of these curious formations I leave to more inquiringly 
 scientific minds than my own. They are certainly too 
 numerous, as well as now too low, to be supposed the 
 series of small craters from which lava formerly flowed. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 161 
 
 Even in saying this, I feel I am getting beyond my 
 depth. 
 
 Let me, therefore, confine myself to the details of ac 
 tions which I am assuredly able to speak of, from tho 
 mere fact that I very decidedly took part in them. 
 
 We had followed the Modocs as far as Battle Creek. 
 
 Here, knowing the situation they intended to trap us 
 into, we halted for two days, in order to give ourselves 
 some rest, and enable a portion of the Rangers whom 
 our speed had outstripped to catch up with us. 
 
 On the second day we consulted together for a long 
 time. This council was the first in which my advice 
 had not been immediately taken by the Rangers, with 
 out any opposition. 
 
 It was, that we should make what a military tactician 
 would call a feint. 
 
 In other words, we should seem to retire as if we did 
 not dare to carry the pursuit any further. During the 
 succeeding night we might return, and, under its cover, 
 secure one of the best positions in the section of coun 
 try immediately beyond Fall River. 
 
 Harry Arnold and Lute Spencer decidedly objected 
 to this. They asserted that it would be the first time in 
 which we had ever backed from any number of the 
 " darned red skunks." Many of the others agreed with 
 them, amongst whom were Butch' and " Fatty." 
 
 Painter, however, greatly to my surprise, in the teeth 
 of their opposition, took my side of the question, as did 
 Brighton Bill. Laying his broad hand on my shoulder, 
 the latter said : 
 
 " The Cap's more nor 'arf ha Hinjun. Hi'll be blamed 
 hif 'e hisn't right ! " 
 
 At length we carried the day, and broke np our camp 
 
If) 2 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 on the following morning. Upon the same night we 
 returned, moving with the greatest silence and caution, 
 securing a position admirably adapted for my purpose. 
 Part of the ifangers took possession of one of the nat 
 ural forts which commanded an area of some two hun 
 dred yards in width. The rest of us were posted in a 
 series of the triangular pits opposite this position. 
 Their duty was similar to that of sharpshooters, al 
 though I may say not a single Ranger would have been 
 unfit for such a duty, or would have failed in it. 
 
 It w r as a little after daybreak, when we first caught 
 sight of a party of the Modocs. These counted barely 
 ten. They had evidently come out to see whether we 
 had quitted our late position by Battle Creek. 
 
 Nothing was to be seen of us. The Creek was visible. 
 Consequently returning, they halted immediately be 
 tween the rock on which part of our number were en 
 camped and the rifle-pits opposite. From this spot they 
 despatched a runner to warn the remainder of the red 
 skins. So far, everything had worked rightly. In some 
 twenty minutes more fifty or sixty of the remaining 
 Modocs had joined their scouting party. 
 
 They were together, some pointing in the direction 
 they supposed us to have taken, and others talking, it 
 may be presumed, on the wisdom of following us, when 
 I gave the word. 
 
 We all had Sharp's carbines. Indeed, these were our 
 invariable fighting weapons. Throwing in cartridge 
 after cartridge, we kept up an almost continuous fire. 
 Those who escaped our balls, scattered in every possible 
 direction. 
 
 Forty-three of the red-skins had been slain. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 163 
 
 After taking their scalps, we started off in the direc 
 tion of Pit Hiver. 
 
 Here, possibly, the reader may feel some shrinking 
 horror at the constant repetition made by me, of this, to 
 his mind, unpleasantly barbaric proceeding. Let him 
 remember that the unscalped Indian is supposed, by his 
 red brethren, to hold a higher rank in the Happy Hunt 
 ing Grounds of his belief than the one who has lost his 
 hair. He will then form some idea of the reason for 
 which the white ranger or scout invariably scalps the 
 red-skin who has fallen under his ball. 
 
 When we were near old Fort Crook, a signal-fire was 
 seen, far to our left. 
 
 Having advised with Arnold, he and Bill ascended 
 the mountain nearest us, to answer it from that point. 
 Crossing the valley to the further side, I repeated the 
 answering signal from the opposite hill. Then, passing 
 the low "divide" or range of insignificantly steep 
 ground between Pit and Fall Rivers, we once more 
 started a signal-tire, on the highest point we could find. 
 
 All that seemed at the moment left for us to do, was 
 to conceal ourselves and wait what might next turn up. 
 While hidden, Brighton Bill touched my arm. 
 
 "Hi'm blamed hif the red rascals harn't hat hit 
 hagain." 
 
 His eyes had been quicker than mine or any of the 
 rest of us. Another signal had been kindled on a large 
 bald or bare mountain on our left, and slightly in our 
 rear. Butch' was sent to a hill lying some half of a 
 mile to our right, to answer this. He was one of the 
 quietest scouts amongst the Rangers ; and saying this, is 
 paying him a high compliment, when all of us had learnt 
 to be so apt and ready. He had been, on this occasion, 
 
164 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 selected by me, because the last signal-fire had ignited 
 so near to us, that caution and care were absolutely 
 necessary in him who replied to it, to prevent any de 
 tection of the white man who might be employed to 
 kindle it. W e waited for his reply some time. Almost 
 immediately after it was seen by us, the smoke from an 
 answer to it was seen upon a low hill to the right of our 
 ambuscade. There was certainly no possibility of mis 
 taking the meaning of this signal. It was an inquiry 
 whether the friends who had so kindly answered them 
 were " on our trail I " 
 
 We were waiting for Hasbrouck to come back, when 
 we saw in the gathering gloom the crimson light of 
 another signal-fire, farther up the valley. 
 
 Without coming back for new orders, Butch' had 
 exercised his own judgment. He had displayed his 
 rapidity of decision and accuracy of calculation, in what 
 he had done. 
 
 He had not yet returned when I saw a party of 
 Indians, numbering in all, from twenty to twenty-five, 
 stringing, with great care and silence, up the valle} r . 
 Quite unconscious of our ambush, they advanced right 
 into it. 
 
 But, that the boys fired too soon, not a single one of 
 the luckless red-skins would have escaped. 
 
 As it was, eight of them paid the penalty of having 
 mistaken our signal-fires for those of their own friends. 
 In almost a word, I may say that the slaughter of fifty- 
 one Modocs had atoned for the death of our luckless 
 associate, Bob Thorn. 
 
 His was the first name wiped out from the Buck 
 skin Rangers, and, after we had punished the tribe 
 which had taken his life, not unnaturally, his memory 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 165 
 
 was frequently recalled by most of us, with sor 
 row. 
 
 I was possibly the only one of the Rangers that 
 remembered the close of his life, with something ap 
 proaching pleasure. The dead man had been enabled 
 by it, to escape that most horrible of dooms, as I was 
 too well aware, the slow death at the stake. 
 
 About the end of February, we once more reached 
 the settlement at the lower end of Honey Lake. We 
 were enabled to carry with us a fair stock of skins, or 
 as the traders call them, " peltry." 
 
 These we disposed of at a reasonable and remunera 
 tive figure. No sooner had we done so, than after a 
 few days' idleness spent with friends and acquaintances, 
 the larger part of us decided upon returning to our 
 silver lodes upon the Ilumboldt River. The truth is, 
 that during the past fall and winter, the report of our 
 success in prospecting for ore in that locality, had 
 spread far and wide. It had exercised the usual charm 
 which the news of such a discovery invariably does. 
 If we had delayed in the occupancy of our claims, we 
 might, in the sequel, have found them a subject of dis 
 pute. The law of the mines is an unwritten one. Con 
 sequently, its strictness in some points is only equalled 
 by its vagueness in others. Here our luck was various 
 enough, but on the whole we fairly prospered. Noth 
 ing of particular account, however, presents itself for 
 me to put on record, save the presence of my friends 
 and his Grizzlyship, my now considerably large pet, 
 Charley. 
 
 On returning from our life at these mines, we spent 
 the whole of the following winter in the valley or at 
 Susan ville. 
 
166 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 It would be useless to inquire into the reason of our 
 doing so. Possibly we were lazy, or more probably 
 had reaped too much profit from mining and trapping, 
 during the past year. However, there were no Indian 
 troubles that season. There may be an equal chance 
 that this was the reason of our comparative inactivity. 
 
 The succeeding winter, that of 1861 and '62, will be 
 remembered by all old Californians as one of the most 
 severe which had ever occurred in that part of our 
 country. The mountains were closed very early, so 
 early, indeed, that few or none of the settlers in the 
 up-lands had got in their winter supplies. They were 
 actually shut in by the heavy snow-falls, from the possi 
 bility of doing so. 
 
 In addition to this trouble, our old enemies, the Pah- 
 ute Indians, had again become restless. 
 
 Possibly, Uncle Sam had forgotten to purchase their 
 forbearance. At any rate, they were again upon the 
 war-path, for the purpose of stealing stock. 
 
 My first knowledge of this arose from the following 
 occurrence : 
 
 A lame man, named Thomas Bear, was at this period 
 keeping the Deep Hole Spring Station, on the Hum- 
 bold t road. He chanced to be in the valley upon busi 
 ness, when some travellers from the Humboldt passed 
 through it, on their way to Susan ville. In passing Deep 
 Hole, they had paused at the Station. It was to find it 
 deserted and plundered of almost everything which an 
 Indian would be likely to take. The floor was marked 
 with numerous stains of blood, and there were unmis 
 takable signs visible, which clearly told them a savage 
 struggle had recently taken place there. Meeting Tom, 
 they recounted these facts to him. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 167 
 
 He had known me for some three years, and hunting 
 me up for if anywhere in this end of Honey Lake 
 Yalley, no man was very difficult to find, asked me to 
 accompany him to the Station, to discover what was the 
 matter. The request was a natural one, and I at once 
 complied with it. 
 
 From snow the roads were almost impassable, save 
 on foot. I, nevertheless, set out with my lame com 
 panion on this pleasant tramp. 
 
 While resting during the night at George Laithrop's 
 Ranch, as a matter of course, I explained the facts 
 which induced me to accompany Bear. A young lad 
 no more than sixteen years of age overheard me, and 
 wished to go with us. In fact, he displayed such a de 
 termination to make a third in our party, that I could 
 not refuse him. 
 
 " You must get a rifle from Laithrop," I said, when 
 he asked me to take him with us. 
 
 " I've one of my own, and a Colt's six-mouthed bark 
 er, too," was his reply. 
 
 " If so, you can come with us." 
 
 On the next morning, we started again, Tom, the 
 boy, and myself. Little trouble was anticipated by me 
 from the red-skins, in spite of what Bear had heard. 
 The road from the Humboldt was so constantly trav 
 elled over, and lay so much out of the usual line of 
 their depredations, that I was almost disinclined to put 
 full faith in the account which he had so implicitly 
 accepted. Mud Spring Station had, however, been 
 apparently abandoned, and we were compelled to push 
 on to Smoke Creek without resting there. Next day, 
 we rose early, and made the best speed we could, in the 
 hope of reaching Deep Hole on the same night. This 
 
1C8 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 * 
 
 was, however, in consequence of the depth of the snow 
 in many places, impossible. We were forced to stop at 
 Wall Springs. This was at six miles' distance from the 
 point to which our steps were directed. 
 
 When, on the succeeding day, shortly after dawn, we 
 arrived at the Station, we found that the travellers had 
 told Tom nothing but the truth. 
 
 Nevertheless, on a thorough examination, I found 
 that none of the provisions or blankets had been taken. 
 Nothmg but the guns and ammunition had been made 
 away with. But for the marks of blood on the floor 
 and in the doorway, it is more than probable Bear's 
 suspicions might have been equally divided between 
 the man he had left in charge of the Station and the 
 red-skins. 
 
 As yet, nothing had been found inside the premises 
 to indisputably settle the fact of the man's murder, or 
 if he had been murdered, to prove how or by whom the 
 outrage had been committed. 
 
 The snow in front of the house might possibly have 
 offered some proof ; but the feet of the party who had 
 brought the news to Honey Lake, had effaced all such 
 evidence, which might have been left on it. Some days 
 had, to a certainty, elapsed. My life in the last few 
 years had, however, taught me the two great Indian 
 virtues, patience and persistence. Only half of our 
 search was yet over. 
 
 I began to examine the grounds* round the Station, 
 and found, leading to one of the largest and deepest of 
 the springs from which it lias taken its name, the track 
 of moccasins. 
 
 Getting a long lariat* which lame Tom had procured 
 for rne, I extemporized a hook from the hoop of an old 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 169 
 
 keg, and with the line to which I had attached it, began 
 fishing in the spring, for anything I might find in it. 
 
 Nor, was my search long unrewarded. 
 
 Shortly after, in dragging the bottom, my hook 
 caught hold of something heavy. When we had raised 
 it to the surface of the water, it proved to be a body. 
 As I glanced at Bear, he said, with almost a groan : 
 
 u Sure enough, it's poor Dave." 
 
 The head of the murdered man had been split with a 
 hatchet, and afterwards scalped. A fragment of rock 
 had been tied to the body by the Pah-utes for the pur 
 pose of sinking it. 
 
 After we had interred it, as decently as we could, we 
 proceeded to cache the blankets, provisions, and any 
 thing else which might be of value. All of the stock 
 had been driven off, with the exception of a lame horse. 
 This we took away with us, as, otherwise, it must have 
 perished. 
 
 On our return, when we had reached the low Sand 
 Hills at the foot of Smoke-creek Canon, we saw eight 
 or ten red-skins coming down the side of the mountain 
 to the right of the track in front of us. Each of them 
 carried a stick with a piece of white rag tied to it. In 
 the hands of an Indian, a flag of any sort means fight, 
 and we knew it. Our preparations were speedily made. 
 Telling the boy to lead the horse and draw his revolver, 
 I gave his rifle to Tom Bear, who had none, bidding him 
 cover our rear. Then, before taking my place in front, 
 an uncommon one for most generals, and only to be 
 pardoned on account of the exceedingly restricted num 
 ber of my army, I gave my directions to the boy. They 
 were very simple. lie was to follow after me, and not 
 use his Colt, unless I fired if necessitated to do so. 
 8 
 
170 . BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 When all was settled satisfactorily, we steadily ad 
 vanced. 
 
 Soon after, the Washos reached the road. So, at 
 least, my lame friend afterwards said they were, and it 
 appears probable, as ten Pah-ntes to two whites and a 
 boy, even if a tall one, would scarcely have been cowed 
 so easily. They had drawn up on either side of the 
 track, and attempted to induce us to stop. Pushing 
 them right and left with my rifle, I paid no attention to 
 this, and as soon as we had passed, faced round, bidding 
 
 Tom to do the same, until we were out of the ran^e of 
 
 7 & 
 
 their arrows. None of them had fire-arms. 
 
 On reaching the canon, instead of going through it, 
 we crossed to the west side, in the view of preventing 
 any risk of an ambush from them while we were in the 
 defile. Had we exposed ourselves to this chance, and 
 had they enough resolution to have availed themselves 
 of it, their arrows would have told, while, unless they 
 had incautiously uncovered themselves, there would 
 have been exceedingly small risk of their losing any of 
 their own party. Tom Bear was right. They very 
 certainly could not have been Pah-utes. 
 
 We had no more trouble until we reached Laithrop's 
 Ranch, which we did in as short a period as lame Tom 
 and the still lamer quadruped could traverse the dis 
 tance. Here, the lad who had accompanied us was to 
 remain ; and when I left him there, I was unable to re 
 frain from giving him a few words of warm praise. 
 
 " You behaved very well, my boy, when yon gave up 
 your rifle, at once. If you obey orders so promptly now, 
 some day you will be in a position to give them." 
 
 " I'm right glad, Captain Mose, to hear you tell me 
 that." 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. . 171 
 
 As he said this, the young fellow flushed through his 
 richly bronzed skin up to the very roots of his hair, with 
 pleasure. 
 
 When I saw him, a somewhat sad and bitter reflection 
 came over me. In the far West, self-reliance comes 
 early as well as quickly. Manhood grows with action, 
 not by years. How soon, life must rob him of the ca 
 pacity of blushing at any such recognition of obedience. 
 
 There, amid the roughly hardy dwellers on the fron 
 tier, exertion rapidly blots out the modest valuation of 
 our own merits. It, indeed, teaches a self-appreciation 
 which frequently approaches the style of Bombastes, and 
 which I have not uncommonly heard stigmatized as 
 braggadocio. 
 
 This is, nevertheless, an unfair judgment. He who 
 has to be ready for anything, whose energy and audacity 
 have drawn him through difficulties and dangers his 
 Eastern fellow-countryman never has been exposed to, 
 will at times necessarily glorify his own pluck and en 
 durance. And why should he not do so, having none 
 around him who would be inclined to sing his praises, 
 while they believe themselves equally or more gallant 
 and plucky than he is ? 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 DANGER IN THE Am THE CHOICE OF A CAPTAIN AN EFFECT 
 UAL SARCASM GOING LAME "THE HEATHEN CHINEE" 
 A MILITARY ENGINEER WITHOUT A COMMISSION No VENTI 
 LATION SMOTHERING LIKE BATS IN A HOLE THE MOMEN 
 TARY SURPRISE Two BED- SKINS LEAVING THEIR GUNS 
 OUTSIDE TRAPPED "THE HEATHEN CHINEE" ONCE MORE 
 SOME QUIET TALK 
 
 THE next two or three weeks passed, to all appearance, 
 quietly enough. There was, however, an unpleasant 
 feeling in Susan ville and around Honey Lake, of danger 
 in the air. Perhaps, this feeling was not wholly un 
 pleasant. The Rangers had now been idle for a toler 
 ably long time. That is to say, there had recently been 
 no positive Indian troubles. 
 
 However, the Deep Hole Spring murder had sounded 
 the preparatory note. 
 
 Not long afterwards the gathering storm broke on us. 
 A large stock of cattle belonging to Bill Long and Al 
 len Wood had been in the charge of five good and 
 trusty Buccahros or herdsmen, at the upper end of the 
 valley. But red cunning, in this case, baffled white 
 honesty. One dark night, three hundred head of stock 
 were driven off; and in the morning the herdsmen 
 found themselves without any herd to look after. At 
 the time when the intelligence reached it, I was in 
 Susan ville. In less than an hour after we heard the 
 facts, the Rangers, with the exception of three, were in 
 the saddle, and on their way to Emmerson's Ranch, from 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 173 
 
 which the cattle had been driven. Two of the three we 
 picked up on the road there. The third overtook us, 
 long before we had arrived at the spot where our ser 
 vices were required. 
 
 About fifty volunteers had collected at the Ranch, 
 when we reached it. They were occupied in the mo 
 mentous duty of choosing a captain, and appeared to 
 find no small difficulty in making their selection. As 
 soon as Harry Arnold appreciated this difficulty, he ap 
 proached me with an air of very far profounder respect 
 than he had ever before exhibited to me, and raising his 
 hand to his forehead in soldier-like style, said with great 
 gravity : 
 
 " Captain ! Don't you think we had better take the 
 trail ? They won't have chosen their commanding officer 
 until" 
 
 " The Day hof Judgment ! " broke in Brighton Bill, 
 with an oath. 
 
 "And after that," continued Harry with the same im 
 perturbable seriousness, " they will have to elect a Lieu 
 tenant, a Sergeant, and " 
 
 " 'Alf ha dozen Ilorderlies! " 
 
 For once in my life I very nearly forgot duty, as I 
 looked at the two whose criticism on the election going 
 on, was couched in styles so widely opposed. To avoid 
 roaring with laughter, I roared out in a very different 
 tone. 
 
 " Rangers ! take the trail." 
 
 In another instant, we were following its sufficiently 
 oroad and plain indication. 
 
 Let me, as we pursue it, mention that Harry Arnold's 
 gentlemanly reproof, and Bill's coarser satire produced 
 an immediate result. David Blan chard was chosen 
 
174 BUCKSKIN M08E. 
 
 captain of the Volunteers, in less than five minutes, and 
 in no more than ten after we were on the trail, they 
 also were in the saddles, and following it, closely behind 
 us. 
 
 Blanchard had lived on the Plains for years, and was 
 in every respect well adapted for his present position. 
 We soon had a good understanding, and when we arrived 
 at Smoke Creek where the Indians had evidently 
 camped for the night, on the day before, a plan of ac 
 tion was agreed upon. 
 
 The horses were accordingly sent back under a suffi 
 cient guard to the Ranch, and we divided ourselves 
 into two parties. One of these was to follow the red 
 robbers up Painter's Cafion, which direction they had 
 taken. The other was to continue down Smoke Creek, 
 by Buffalo Springs, to protect the settlers from any other 
 bands of the Pah-utes which might be out, after any 
 thing they could pick up provision or stock, weapons 
 or lives. 
 
 Very unfortunately, shortly after we had started, 
 John Partridge and myself, with one of the pack- 
 horses retained to carry blankets and provisions, as well 
 as a Chinese who had accompanied the volunteers as a 
 man of all work, became so lame that it was impossible 
 for us to continue at the same speed as the rest of the 
 party. 
 
 It was a matter of obvious necessity, that \ve should 
 give up all idea of doing so. 
 
 In consequence of this, Arnold took my place in 
 command of the Rangers, and with a sore heart in one 
 bosom at least, I turned my back upon the men whose 
 labors and dangers I had so long partaken. It would 
 be almost impossible for me to explain precisely what 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 175 
 
 my feelings were at that moment. Of course, I felt 
 none who had shared my previous struggles would im 
 pute my disability to anything approaching fear, or a 
 disinclination to endure privation. And yet, in the 
 immediate pursuit of the rascals who had plundered 
 two of our prominent settlers, I was compelled to leave 
 it entirely to others. In my eyes, this almost seemed a 
 humiliation which it must be long before I could sur 
 mount, and which subsequent toil and courage might 
 alone wipe out. 
 
 Necessarily, this now appears childish to myself as it 
 will doubtless to my readers. However, I felt it, and 
 my heart seemed to weep tears of blood and shame as I 
 did so. 
 
 We had determined upon returning through Rush 
 Valley, for two reasons. One of them was, that know 
 ing the ground, we fancied it would be easier to travel 
 for us in our partially disabled condition. The other 
 was even a simpler one. On reaching Mud Springs, 
 which even in our present state we might fairly count 
 upon doing by nightfall, we should find a resting place. 
 This was in the house of a man whom I knew tolerably 
 well, and who had formerly kept the Station at this 
 place. 
 
 Upon reaching Mud Springs, which we did earlier 
 than we had calculated on doing, we repaired to his 
 dwelling, where we were welcomed warmly. 
 
 Scarcely, however, had he placed food before us, with 
 some capital coffee, than he began questioning us about 
 the Indians. He asked us what we had heard of them 
 whether they were yet moving what action had been 
 taken with regard to them, and lastly, how it was that J, 
 Buckskin Mose, as I was now generally called, chanced to 
 
176 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 be here? In reply, I recounted to him the plunder of 
 Emmerson's Ranch, of which, he had as jet heard 
 nothing, and the steps which had been taken to pursue 
 the Pah-ute thieves. My narration was concluded 
 with, I fear, no peculiarly pious expression of pleasure 
 at having been compelled to leave the Hangers at a 
 time when I should so desire to have been at their head. 
 
 As he listened to what I was saying, he chuckled 
 audibly, and seeing my look of astonishment, afterwards 
 explained what had induced him to indulge in so 
 strange an exhibition of merriment. 
 
 " Yer see, Cap ! I'm ready for 'em if they look me 
 up. I don't choose to turn tail, like some of my neigh 
 bors." 
 
 " What do you mean ? " 
 
 " I was sartain the copper-colored devils were pre 
 paring for something o' the sort, and so made a hole 
 under the chapparal behind the house, whar I don't 
 much think they'll spot me, when 'I take to it." 
 
 The hole he alluded to was a large and comfortable 
 excavation conducted to by a subterranean passage of 
 considerable length. It had taken him several weeks 
 to dig out the passage and room, which last was suffi 
 ciently spacious to cache all his goods, and even portion 
 of his stock, if the necessity of doing so was forced 
 upon him. He exhibited his fortification, or we should 
 perhaps call it his citadel, to myself, Partridge, and the 
 Chinaman, with a good deal of pride. 
 
 Nor, indeed, was it a place of security to be laughed 
 at, by a solitary dweller on the frontier during Indian 
 troubles. Nature had evidently not dealt on the square 
 with him. With the advantages of education, the fellow 
 would have made a good military engineer. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 177 
 
 t 
 
 Fatigued with our day's tramp, we retired at an early 
 hour, and had been asleep but a short time, when we 
 were aroused by the. continual barking of his two watch 
 dogs. These, I had noticed on arriving at the house. 
 They were noble-looking animals. 
 
 Throwing aside my blanket, and sitting up, I noticed 
 that Partridge had done the same. 
 
 As for the person who had failed to find his natural 
 avocation, he was already on his feet, as also was our 
 Chinese friend. The latter volunteered a very un 
 necessary explanation. 
 
 " Doggee too much barkee. Pig-tail Bobbee, no 
 sleepee." 
 
 The dogs certainly did keep up a confounded row. 
 We concluded that, under the circumstances, a renewed 
 attempt at slumber would be useless. In accordance 
 with this view of the situation, John Partridge, and my 
 self also rose, " keeping an eye out " for what might 
 turn up next. 
 
 We had only been on our legs for a few minutes, 
 when one of the dogs rushed against the door with a 
 prolonged howl. On opening it, he ran in, and we saw 
 an arrow sticking in his body. The door was instantly 
 closed and barred. It was clear that we were attacked, 
 and I instantly peered through one of the small holes 
 with which the boarded and sodded walls of the house 
 were pierced, to see what I could. 
 
 It was dark enough. Yet my eyes were sufficiently 
 keen to discern the dusky forms of objects moving in 
 front, which were evidently red-skins. 
 
 But the gloom was too great for us to fire with a 
 reasonable chance of hitting them. We must wait for 
 the daylight. It was now some two hours past mid- 
 8* 
 
178 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 night, and when the dawn broke we should ha ! what 
 was this? Smoke driving through the dried sods on the 
 inside of the walls, followed here and there, where the 
 shrinking of the matted earth had given such a chance, 
 by lancing tongues of flame. 
 
 Light had been afforded us much sooner than we 
 had, in any way, anticipated. 
 
 The red devils had set the house on fire. 
 
 It was clear that we should have to abandon our 
 outer works, and retire into the stronghold. 
 
 We accordingly made an orderly retreat through the 
 tunnel which has already been mentioned, carrying all 
 our ammunition and weapons with us. The Pah-utes 
 had of course expected us to attempt an escape above 
 ground. In that case, they would have been able, by 
 the light of the blazing dwelling, to have counted us out 
 and raised our hair. As it was, we preferred concealing 
 ourselves under the earth. This enabled us to save our 
 scalps, at any rate, for the time. 
 
 We had carried a spade with us. It was necessary to 
 fill up the passage through which we quitted the burn 
 ing dwelling. In any less pressing necessity than the 
 present, I should certainly have set Pig-tail Bobbee at 
 the work of closing it. Chinese labor, however, although 
 thorough, is by no means rapid enough in moments of 
 necessity. 
 
 So, I began it. Partridge and the engineer followed. 
 Each worked in turn, almost as fast as chain light 
 ning. 
 
 In some ten or twelve minutes the mouth of the nar 
 row tunnel was blocked up, I may honestly say, with a 
 speed and completeness which even a Brunei or a 
 Stephenson would have appreciated. McClellan would 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 179 
 
 have been nowhere, if his work had been brought into 
 comparison with ours on the score of rapidity. 
 
 We then transferred ourselves to the citadel. As I 
 before intimated, it was sufficiently large. However, 
 it possessed one inconvenience with regard to John and 
 myself. 
 
 The engineer was a short man. He had dug it out, 
 with an eye to his own convenience. The Chinaman 
 was even shorter. Consequently, he also found it lofty 
 enough for his height. But we counted nearly six 
 feet in stature. However, in such a case as the present 
 one, minor personal discomforts had to be overlooked. 
 A graver one now presented itself. The engineer had 
 provided no means of ventilation. We had tenanted 
 the internal fort for some half an hour, when the atmos 
 phere became unpleasantly close. It might even have 
 been pronounced stifling. Some means of procuring 
 fresh air had at once to be found. I questioned our 
 friend as to the presumable distance between the top of 
 my skull and the bottom of the cha/pparal. 
 
 " Tain't far, Cap, atween one and the other," was his 
 answer. 
 
 "How far?" 
 
 " Mebbee, six inches," he reflectively answered. 
 
 " You're sure of that?" 
 
 " Or mebbee, six foot ! " 
 
 "Good Heavens! man, have you no clearer idea 
 about it than that 3 " 
 
 " How on airth should 1, Cap ? " 
 
 " Don't you know that there's a good chance of our 
 being smothered, like rats in a hole which has been 
 stopped up ? " 
 
 " Yow could I help it ? " 
 
180 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 There was no use in discussing the subject with the 
 luckless engineer. That was evident. Something, 
 however, had to be done, and very shortly. A rat in 
 such a case would use its teeth without pausing to dis 
 cuss how much or how little he had to gnaw through. 
 My teeth were not exactly adapted to such an experi 
 ment. But my ramrod might be a good probe, and if 
 it found bottom or top (which it was, it would have been 
 difficult to say) the spade might save us. 
 
 In another instant I was working my ramrod through 
 the earthen roof of our air-tight, although scarcely 
 pregnable citadel. 
 
 The earth was soft, and in less than a minute I felt 
 its end had reached fresh air, although none of that 
 desirable commodity had yet reached us. In order to 
 enlarge the hole I had made, I was working the slip of 
 wrought-iron with which I had produced it, round and 
 round, when a large piece of rock fell down from the 
 side of it, with a quantity of loose soil. 
 
 It scraped my shoulder. 
 
 " What tumblee ? " screamed Pig-tail Bobby. 
 
 " Hold your tongue, you fool ! " said Partridge. 
 " Don't you feel, Mose has saved us from stifling." 
 
 With the fresh air, a little light, it was very little, 
 came through the hole to us. As for me, I felt a new 
 man. Looking around for a barrel which I had seen in 
 the excavation when we had first visited it, with its 
 proprietor, I set it erect under the ventilator so unexpect 
 edly manufactured. Mounting on it, I protruded my 
 head through the bottom of the chapparal. Day had 
 already broken. Through the under branches of the 
 trees I could see the still smoking timbers of the burned- 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 181 
 
 down house. The rascally Pah-utes were dancing 
 around them, in fiendish glee. 
 
 It was too great a temptation to be resisted, and I 
 asked John to hand me my rifle. 
 
 After he had handed it to me, I passed its barrel 
 through the bushes with great care, so as to avoid any 
 noise which might, attract the attention of the Indians. 
 
 Never, possibly, was any red devil more surprised 
 than that Pah-ute, when he felt the leaden messenger of 
 death crashing through his skull. 
 
 His surprise, however, was but momentary. It 
 silenced him forever. 
 
 They handed me another rifle, and another of the 
 red -skins fell. 
 
 Yet another, and another until, at last, when nine of 
 the Indians had been slain, the remainder of them fled 
 from the scene they had so recently fancied one of com 
 plete victory. 
 
 We now quitted the cave which had served us so 
 well, having taken some pork from the barrel I had 
 used to stand upon with so much advantage. While 
 cooking this on the still burning embers of the house, I 
 saw the charred carcase of the poor hound, who had 
 given us so timely a warning. He had been forgotten 
 by his master, when we took refuge in the citadel, con 
 structed by him without the indispensable requisite of 
 an air-hole. 
 
 As we were drinking a little sugarless and milkless 
 coffee, chancing to turn my head, I saw something mov 
 ing in a large sage-brush. 
 
 Leaping to my feet, I started for it, and as I did so 
 an Indian broke from it and ran. He did this in a zig 
 zag manner, leaping from side to side, which rendered 
 
182 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 it a matter of extreme difficulty to fetch him. At 
 length, however, I was enabled to accomplish this, lie 
 must have been on a scouting expedition from the party 
 we had so narrowly escaped. If so, he had not well 
 calculated the time of his return. Half an hour later 
 or earlier, he might have kept his scalp. 
 
 Although still lame, I was enabled to cover more 
 ground on our way back to the Ranch of George Lai- 
 throp, which we arrived at, close upon four o'clock in 
 the afternoon. 
 
 A little after we had entered it, and while we were 
 eating our supper, Laithrop, who had been out when we 
 got there, turned up. He was astonished to see me, 
 supposing I had been witli the Rangers; but he had lit 
 tle time to devote to the expression of any such feeling. 
 Two mounted Pah-utes were advancing to the house. 
 Three months since they would have been received as 
 friends, so far at least as a red-skin can ever be deemed 
 friendly by the white man, of whom, on the slightest 
 chance or whim, he is ready to become the enemy. 
 After the preceding few days, they could merely be re 
 garded in the light of the latter designation. 
 
 " Let them enter, Laithrop ! but without their guns. 
 We will go into the back-room." 
 
 In two or three minutes the red-skins were at the 
 door. He told them, they must " leave " their " guns out 
 side." They were probably upon an expedition for spy 
 ing out the nakedness of the land, and counted on doing 
 no immediate harm, as they consented to do this. 
 Leaning one gun on either side of the door, they accord 
 ingly entered the main-room of the Ranch. Partridge 
 and myself quitted the house by the rear doorway, and 
 passing round it on either side, secured their two 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 183 
 
 weapons. Having effected this, I entered the room, fol 
 lowed by my companion, and told them they were "our 
 prisoners." An indescribable mixture of rage and fear 
 Hashed over the features of the taller red-skin. 
 
 " The Pah-ute know Buckskin Mose. lie laugh at 
 his words, a heap." 
 
 While saying this, he had leapt into a corner of the 
 room, caught up an old repeating rifle which was stand 
 ing there, and struck heavily with it at George Laithrop. 
 Had Laithrop not dodged the blow, it would have 
 severely injured him. As it w^as, it caught him slant 
 wise on the back and sent him staggering across the 
 room. 
 
 The next instant he was struggling with myself and 
 Partridge. 
 
 He managed to draw his knife. 
 
 O 
 
 However, this had been seen by me in time to avoid 
 the thrust. With a blow from my fist, I dashed him from 
 me. At the same instant a shot from his own Minie 
 rifle, which Laithrop had caught up from the place where 
 I had laid it, passed through his breast, and he fell. 
 
 Then I looked round for his companion. 
 
 To my surprise, I found him on the bed in the grip of 
 Pig-tail Bobby. Never before had 1 seen a Chinaman 
 with any fight in him. It was my first experience of a 
 new phase in the character of the " Heathen Chinee." 
 Bobby's knife was out, and in another minute the Pah- 
 ute's life-blood would have been staining the blankets. 
 This was a most useless proceeding, as blankets, at this 
 time, were not over-plentiful round Honey Lake. There 
 fore 1 pulled Pig-tail back, with a round exclamation of 
 disgust at the lavish profligacy of such a proceeding. 
 
 The red-skin, however, had more teg and less pluck 
 
184 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 than his companion. Leaping from the bed, he darted 
 through the door, and was off. 
 
 However, I was as quick as he was. No sooner had 
 I seen him make for the open, than I was after him. 
 As I left the house I had caught up a double-barrelled 
 shot-gun, and brought him down before he had run fifty 
 yards from it. 
 
 After burying the Indians, Partridge started with me 
 for Susan ville, taking their ponies with us. 
 
 A few days only had passed when Harry Arnold also 
 returned with the rest of the Rangers. They had re 
 captured only a few head of cattle. The rest of the 
 herd had been killed by the thieving red-skins, in the 
 same cowardly manner which I have elsewhere detailed. 
 
 One might have fancied the lesson they had received 
 at Mud Springs, and the close pursuit which had induced 
 their main body to resort to this expedient, would have 
 kept them quiet. It, however, did not. The periodical 
 lust for robbery and bloodshed which seems, from time 
 to time, to possess them, had mastered their nature. 
 More complete punishment could alone stop it. 
 
 A week later, George Laithrop sent me a pressing de 
 mand to come down with a few of the boys and pass 
 some time with him. Two Pah-utes had recently ap 
 peared at the Ranch, and told him they had seen Buck 
 skin Mose and himself kill their two companions and 
 bury them. They had then threatened him with prompt 
 vengeance, openly telling him that they intended not 
 only to kill him and burn his house in a few days, but 
 to slaughter every white man in the valley. 
 
 It must be owned that the open hardihood of these 
 threats looked ominous. The red-skin so seldom threat 
 ens before he strikes, that it seemed to me the dwellers 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 185 
 
 about the Lake might be exposed to a graver danger 
 from the Indians, than any they had as yet incurred. 
 
 In consequence of this belief, my men were at once 
 summoned. The same day we started for George's 
 Ranch, and got there after nightfall. On consulting 
 with Laithrop, it was considered advisable to keep the 
 Rangers as much out of sight as possible, to prevent the 
 red-skins from realizing how well he was protected. 
 In compliance with this idea, only some half-dozen of 
 the boys, amongst whom was Tom Harvey and myself, 
 became occupants of the house. Half of the remainder 
 were stationed in a large log corral about one hundred 
 yards distant on the south side. The rest were secreted 
 in an old root-shed, or rather in the cellar of one, to the 
 west. 
 
 George and myself sat by the burning logs on his 
 hearth, talking on until a late hour. 
 
 Our subject was the red man, and he bitterly de 
 nounced the way in which our Government dealt with 
 such a grave subject. It was, he said, continually pat 
 ting them on the back, and buying a temporary truce. 
 This, he believed, made the Indians actually think that 
 a power which had only to plant its heel firmly upon them 
 and crush them out of existence, actually feared their 
 strength. "Greater liars, more unblushing thieves, as 
 well as more reckless murderers," he continued, never ex 
 isted. And these were the men whom Uncle Sam pro 
 tected against his own children, whenever the blue-coats 
 appeared upon the frontier. 
 
 Nor can I affirm but that he is, in the main, right. 
 It is only by terrible punishment for their crimes, the 
 whites are able to keep the red-skins within anything 
 like reasonable bounds. 
 
186 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 My knowledge of them, up to tins time, vouched for 
 the necessity of such retaliation. In no case which I 
 have yet recounted had the settlers commenced an In 
 dian war, if these struggles are entitled to such a name. 
 When we struck, the blow was called for, by gross 
 outrage or bloodier murder. Since I had met and 
 known them, I had encountered no red-skin who had 
 dealt squarely with me, except the father of Clo-ke-ta 
 and Old Spotted Tail. And, possibly, of all the tribes 
 I had yet any acquaintance with, the Pah-utes possessed 
 the fewest virtues and the most thorough vices. George 
 Laithrop's opinion of the Indian, founded in a great 
 measure upon their character, was, in a fuller or lesser 
 degree, shared by all who had ever been brought in 
 contact with them. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 A LITTLE COMPASSION WHITE FOLLY AND RED TREACHERY 
 A SQUEAK FOR LIFE MAKING TRACKS FEMALE SOCIETY 
 A TASTE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION DEFERRING A HONEY 
 MOON THE ARMY OFFICER TRAILING AND SPOTTING A 
 CHANCE TO LOOK AT A LITTLE INDIAN FIGHTING WRATH 
 FUL AND RIGHTEOUS BUNCOMBE FORCED TO BEND ONE'S 
 HEAD MIRTH EVEN AT THE POINT OF DEATH. 
 
 had not to wait long for the red-skins to attempt 
 carrying out their late threats. On this occasion, we 
 also had a good example afforded us of their gratitude, 
 and keen sense of obligation for kindness. 
 
 About ten o'clock on the following day, I discovered 
 some thirty -five or forty of them descending the side of 
 the mountain near the Ranch, on their ponies. Tom 
 Harvey was at the moment standing by me. He re 
 cognized an Indian at their head whom he had almost, 
 as he himself expressed it, raised. He had lived with 
 Tom for several years, and on one occasion, had saved 
 Tom's life. Naturally enough, old love for the lad, who 
 was now barely eighteen years of age, moved Harvey's 
 bowels strongly with compassion. 
 
 Being, as my readers already know, a largely fat man, 
 his compassion for the young Pali-ute was as oilily large 
 and full-sized. 
 
 To state matters briefly, he wished to save him, and 
 applied to me for permission to go out and warn him to 
 leave. 
 
188 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 " If I grant it, you must keep your tongue still, upon 
 our being here." 
 
 "In course I will, Cap!" 
 
 " Not one word must you utter about our presence at 
 the Ranch." 
 
 "D' yer think I'm a fool, Cap?" 
 
 Well ! It can be no use to induce the belief that I 
 did not wish him to go. Perhaps, at the time, owing to 
 my conversation with Laithrop on the night before, I 
 may have fancied we had judged the red rascals too 
 harshly. Possibly but there is no reason for my hesi 
 tation, or beating the cover. I may as well have it out, 
 at once. The truth is, like an idiot, I permitted him to 
 constitute himself good adviser to the one red-skin in 
 particular, and necessarily to the others in general. 
 
 With iny full sympathy he walked towards the In 
 dians, and motioned to him he had recognized, to come 
 forward. The young Pah-ute advanced. 
 
 Tom spoke to him, and the red-skin replied, making a 
 gesture of dissent as he did so. After this Harvey coiit 
 tinned long and earnestly, apparently urging him 
 warmly to induce his colored friends to desist from 
 their hostile intentions. The Indian, with an emphatic 
 movement of the arm, seemed positively to refuse at 
 tempting to bring them to any such concession. It was 
 then I saw the Ranger point in the direction of the cor 
 ral in which I had stationed portion of my men. 
 
 Immediately that I saw this, I became aware of the 
 folly I had been guilty of, even more clearly than Har 
 vey himself, soon afterwards, was of his 
 
 The young red-skin turned at once to his compan 
 ions, pointing to the corral, and uttering a few rapid 
 words. Then I saw Tom Harvey rushing back towards 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 189 
 
 me, while the Pah-utes fired a volley on the house or 
 shed to which the Ranger's insane frankness had directed 
 them. It was merely made of boards, an inch in thick 
 ness, reared end- ways. Their bullets riddled it, with 
 the rattle of a storm of hail. All we could do in return 
 was to fire on them from the corral and the house, as 
 they turned tail and urged their ponies up the mountain 
 they had been descending. -We saw five or six of them 
 reel in their saddles. But they were prevented from 
 falling from them, by their companions, until the whole 
 of them were out of sight. 
 
 One of our own men had been instantly killed by 
 their volley. 
 
 My wish was to follow them instantly. But, in this 
 instance, my orders were not attended to. The boys had 
 rushed upon Harvey and seized him. They were al 
 ready violently discussing the question whether they 
 should shoot or hang him for the crime he had commit 
 ted. It was fortunate for him that my wrath, as well as 
 that of Arnold and Painter, although fierce enough, 
 was scarcely so savage as theirs was. Brighton Bill 
 and Butch', I knew, would stand by me in almost any 
 case, whether they agreed with me or not. If matters 
 came to the worst, I also felt certain that we might 
 count upon the assistance of George Laithrop. Rush 
 ing amongst them, it was with no small violence, and 
 even a fierce blow or two, that I struggled to the side of 
 the pale and weaponless Harvey, and wrenched him 
 from their hands. 
 
 " What are you doing Rangers \ " 
 
 " A' going to hang him, darned quick." 
 
 " Without even a trial ? " I demanded. 
 
 " We'll jist try him, arter wards." 
 
190 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 " Then, by God ! " I said, " you will have to hang me 
 and try me afterwards, too." As they paused for per 
 haps half a minute, I continued without giving them a 
 chance to speak. " I believed you chose me your Cap 
 tain, yet here you are going to hang one of my boys, 
 without letting me say a single word." 
 
 " Say it darned sharp, then, Cap ! " 
 
 " And give us your orders to run him up with a rope, 
 or put a bullet through his skull, in two minutes," 
 roared out another. 
 
 As they were again crowding up and one of them 
 had grasped Harvey by the collar, Ben Painter, follow 
 ed by Arnold, had struggled to my side and thrust him 
 back. 
 
 " I tell yer," he shouted out, for otherwise he would 
 scarcely have been heard, " Mose is right. He's Cap 
 tain. We mustn't have any Vigilance Committee busi 
 ness, but do up things square." 
 
 " We'll take him down to Susanville, and give him a 
 fair trial," added Arnold. 
 
 " And then yer can hang him, if yer choose to," ex 
 claimed Butch'. " Yer'll only have tu wait twenty-four 
 hours." 
 
 By this time, the last speaker and Brighton Bill had 
 vigorously thrust their way to my side, and I felt I had 
 a sufficient support to carry my point and save Harvey 
 from the menacing rope and tree which had so lately 
 reared themselves before him. 
 
 But he also seemed to feel his increased chance of 
 safety, and anxious to improve it, attempted to com 
 mence defending himself. When, however, he did so, 
 I cut him short with a fierce whisper, announcing to him 
 that if he uttered " a single word," I would abandon 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 191 
 
 him. The Rangers were in a moment of such wild ex 
 citement, that, had lie spoken, every effort we might 
 have made would have been useless. Their savage fury 
 would very speedily have settled the question, in spite of 
 us. Even as it was, we had to contend with them for 
 more than an hour, before we had calmed them down 
 sufficiently to listen to our arguments. 
 
 When this was at last effected, I placed him in the 
 charge of Painter and Brighton Bill, while we buried the 
 man who had been slain through his insane want of 
 judgment. 
 
 That night we slept in George Laithrop's house, and 
 on the following morning we were no sooner stirring, 
 than it was discovered that while we had been sleeping, 
 Tom Harvey had been awake. In other words, he had 
 made tracks. 
 
 It must be remembered that there was scarcely one 
 of our party who, while engaged in active work, looking 
 after the Indians, was not in the habit of keeping one 
 eye at least half -open in the hours of his intermittent 
 rest. Possibly, however, it was the belief that there was 
 no actual danger immediately around us, as well as the 
 security Tom's size and weight appeared to afford 
 against any attempt on his part to escape, that prevented 
 our slumbers from being broken. At all events, it was 
 difficult for us to realize the fact that he had managed 
 it. We were all of us sleeping upon the floor of the 
 house. Our blankets were all we had. Beds were then 
 a scarcity, in this portion of the West, as, indeed, they 
 would be now, at any Ranch in a section of it not too 
 thickly populated. How the deuce he managed to step 
 over the prostrate forms of so many of us as were lying 
 between him and the door, without disturbing one of 
 
192 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 the sleepers, it would be impossible to say. Had he 
 made the error of half an inch, in placing one of his feet 
 upon the ground, he could not have failed to waken the 
 Ranger on whose body or limbs he must have trodden. 
 Fear had evidently much lightened his person. In ad 
 dition to this, I could not help suspecting that George 
 Laithrop had connived at his escape. Of course, there 
 was a frightful commotion about it amongst the boys, 
 whose feelings of security amongst themselves had been 
 so unpleasantly dispelled by his conduct. George, how 
 ever, escaped without the slightest suspicion. If any 
 one was imagined to have aided and abetted his flight 
 it was myself and Harry Arnold. In fact, as we were 
 riding back to Susan ville, Butch' could not help say 
 ing : 
 
 " I'm -darned if yer didn't manage the thing well, 
 Mose." 
 
 After this, none of us again alluded to it. Life was 
 too active and full of daily excitement, to give us time 
 for recalling such an event after it had reckoned itself 
 with the doings of the past. 
 
 Only once since then, did I hear anything of 
 " Fatty." He had been seen by a trapper on the Hum- 
 boldt River, and had then said he was on the way to 
 Salt Lake City. He may possibly by this time have 
 become a Mormon, and been enrolled as an elder of 
 that polygamous community. 
 
 Some time in July, 1862, I received a letter from the 
 last-named place. A few months earlier I had written 
 to iny wife, begging her to come to me, and giving her 
 directions how to cross the Plains. This letter was from 
 her. She had immediately complied with my wishes, 
 and requested me to meet her as soon after she left 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSK. 193 
 
 Salt Lake as might be possible. It would be impossi 
 ble to express the delight which I felt in knowing she 
 was so near me. None of those who have not experi 
 enced the pleasures of a life with little female society, 
 and no near female relative to whom they can unbosom 
 all their joy as well as all their weariness, discomfort, 
 and trouble, can realize it. In the excess of my gratifi 
 cation, I fear I must have exposed myself to the laugh 
 ter and jocularity as well as the envy of many of my 
 comrades, as I cannot doubt but that, in my first mo 
 ments of well-nigh delirious pleasure, I must have made 
 a complete fool of myself. 
 
 Almost immediately, I left Susanville for Virginia 
 City, Nevada. Thence, I went to Dayton. 
 
 Here I met an overland stage-driver. From him I 
 heard that he had passed a train at Austin, in which I 
 might find my wife. Accordingly, I purchased a horse 
 and side-saddle from the keeper of the hotel, who was 
 named Jaquish, and on the succeeding day was again 
 in the saddle. 
 
 Dan Yanderhoof, a friend of mine whom I had known 
 for several years, accompanied me portion of the way to 
 Carson City. I went to this place with the view of 
 meeting Colonel P. E. Connor with his command of 
 California Volunteers. My friend introduced ine to 
 him and Major Gallagher, and I was asked to accom 
 pany them some eight miles down the Carson River to 
 Heed's Station. It was to talk upon " business." Oth 
 erwise, I should have certainly declined deviating from 
 the road, so increasingly anxious was I to see the little 
 woman from whom I had so long been separated. 
 
 This business was, after the evening meal, speedily 
 arranged. 
 
194: BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 They needed a guide and scout through Idaho and 
 Utah, in the Fall. My qualifications as the last, would 
 counterbalance any deficiency I might have as to the 
 first-named. The necessary details were quickly agreed 
 upon, and early on the next morning I was crossing 
 the Desert towards the big bend of the Carson River. 
 On the day following this, I came upon a large train of 
 stock, and one of the guides told me a larger train was 
 then some four miles behind them, at a distance of 
 something more than a mile from the main track. 
 Pushing on at once, in less than half an hour I came 
 in sight of the encampment. 
 
 While I was riding up to it, my wife recognized me. 
 How she was able to do so, has, on thinking the matter 
 over, always astonished me. The tan of exposure on 
 the frontier, fuller muscle, and the general style of my 
 dress and equipment, had so thoroughly changed my 
 personal appearance. 
 
 However, she certainly did know me. As for her, I 
 should have recognized her features, even had she been 
 dressed in the unsightly garb of an. Esquimaux. 
 
 It would be little use for me to detail the words and 
 actions of this meeting. Any man who has been so long 
 separated from his wife as I had been, and any female 
 who had, for so long a period, not seen the face of her 
 husband, will readily imagine what passed between us. 
 We were, nevertheless, quickly compelled to bring our 
 outburst of natural joy to an end, by the approach of 
 Chart Gregory with Mr. and Mrs. Devine, and others 
 of her companions on the train. Then I heard of all 
 the trouble she had been exposed to, and more especially 
 of a fellow named Mat Carpenter, who had been con 
 sistently unkind to her since they had first struck the 
 
BUCKSKIN HOSE. 195 
 
 Plains. He had been an old school-mate of hers, and 
 had displayed the memory of their childish intimacy, 
 by doing all he possibly could to increase the discomfort 
 she had experienced in her preliminary taste of Western 
 civilization. 
 
 " You needn't look round for him, Mr. P ," said 
 
 Gregory, as he saw my eyes wandering round the camp, 
 with an ominous look for him. " l^o sooner had your 
 lady recognized you, than the scamp cleared out." 
 
 At the instant, the employment of my real name, for 
 the first time in so many years, as well as the polite 
 appellation he had bestowed on " Mrs. P ," so com 
 pletely astonished me, that I momentarily lost my self- 
 possession. After this I could not help laughing, as my 
 wife also did, although she, very certainly, could not 
 comprehend the motive which induced such an audible 
 peal of merriment on my part. Then she told me that 
 Mr. Gregory had already thrashed Mat, some two days 
 since. At the same time he had told him, I should be 
 made acquainted with his conduct the moment that I 
 met the train. This very clearly accounted for his dis 
 appearance, without waiting for an introduction. 
 
 Having adjusted the side-saddle for my wife, and 
 seen that she was safely mounted, I took behind me what 
 positively needful articles she might require. With a 
 friendly farewell upon our part, and a grateful leave- 
 taking on mine to those of her fellow-travellers who had 
 shown her kindness, we started across the great Desert. 
 
 Continuing all night, we broke fast next morning at 
 one of the stage stations, and after resting for an hour, 
 once more started. 
 
 From this point the road followed the river, and in 
 my anxiety to save some eight or ten miles of a track 
 
196 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 which I knew must be toilsome in the extreme to a 
 female whose life had not been passed in this part of 
 the country, I cut across the low range of hills by an 
 old Indian trail. When, however, I observed some In 
 dians approaching from our right, I recognized the want 
 of caution I had displayed. Without calling my wife's 
 attention to their dark specks in the distance, for they 
 were a long way from us, I urged the horses into a 
 harp gallop, trusting they might not have seen us. But 
 the red man has eyes quite as keen as the white ranger. 
 They changed their course, with the evident purpose of 
 cutting us off from the river. 
 
 My decision was rapidly formed. 
 
 Knowing we should soon mount a small ridge, and 
 should on its far side be unseen by them for some time, 
 we had no sooner crossed it, than I turned left into the 
 ravine known as Six mile Canon. Pushing rapidly up 
 this, we made our escape, and I did not mention the nar 
 row chance we had run of an Indian fight, until my 
 wife and myself were in sight of Virginia City. 
 
 This was, I may undoubtedly say, the first case in 
 which I had turned tail on the red-skins without an in 
 terchange of hostile salutations. 
 
 On arriving at Susanville, my friends told me that the 
 Indians had, the day before, killed Loomis Kellogg and 
 a man of the name of Block, beside wounding Theodore 
 Perdum, at a place more than half-way between 
 Laithrop's Ranch and Mud Springs. They had been 
 attacked by a party of Indians, which were generally 
 in the vicinity of Honey Lake and closely upon the 
 Ilumboldt. These had been baptized by the settlers as 
 the Sinoke-creek tribe, although by no means a tribe in 
 the same sense as the Pah-utes and Modocs were. 
 
BUCKSKIN MO8E. 197 
 
 This band of red-skins was composed of the offscour 
 ings of these two tribes who had either fled or been chased 
 from them, simply because they were too scoundrelly and 
 contemptibly degraded, in the eyes of their original 
 brethren, to be trusted or consorted with. 
 
 Smoke-creek Sam was their chief. He had earned 
 this pre-eminence by being, at long odds, not only the 
 most blood-thirsty villain in this gang of red devils, but 
 perhaps the most irredeemable ruffian the Indian history 
 of the "West can chronicle. The outrages in which he 
 and his band had been involved, both at our immediate 
 expense and that of all the settlers anywhere in our 
 vicinity, were well-nigh numberless. During the past 
 year, whether Uncle Sam's patience had been worn out 
 by the accounts he had received of his namesake's ras 
 cally and bloody offences, or from a wish to make some 
 capital in the East by bestowing a little affection on his 
 "Western nephew, it would be impossible to say. He, 
 however, condescended to bestow a little attention upon 
 Smoke-creek Sam. Some blue-coats had been sent out, 
 and two military posts had been formed. These were, 
 respectively, on Smoke and Granite Creeks, in the centre 
 of the sweep of country exposed to this scoundrel's de 
 predations. 
 
 For a short time, he became somewhat quieter ; but 
 as the blue-coats did not busy themselves in punishing 
 him, he had again plucked up courage, and since the 
 Pah-ute troubles had anew commenced, was, once more, 
 on the war-trail. 
 
 Harry Arnold had already called the Buckskin Ban 
 gers together, and they had determined upon starting 
 for the purpose, if possible, of completely exterminat 
 ing Smoke-creek Sam and his gang of cut-throats. 
 
198 BUCKSKIN HOSE. 
 
 My presence in Susanville was speedily known by them, 
 and I was unanimously called to take my position as 
 the leader in this expedition. 
 
 The second honey-moon of my one marriage was, 
 therefore, brought to an end, or, rather, indefinitely de 
 ferred. It had, most certainly, scarcely begun, unless 
 the commencement of such an agreeable period of life 
 may be supposed to take place in the saddle, and in 
 flight from a party of hostile Indians. 
 
 Short time was allowed me to make my wife as com 
 fortable as the exigencies of the moment permitted. 
 The little woman submitted to them like a veritable 
 heroine. 
 
 In something less than an hour, we were on our way 
 to the spot where the murders had taken place. While 
 going, we were joined by two companies of soldiers, 
 ordered out for the same purpose. Captain Knight was 
 in command of them ; and shortly after we had passed 
 Summit Lake, and reached the place where Fort War 
 ner now stands, I touched on a fresh Indian trail. 
 
 My readers will not be unlikely to inquire how in the 
 dry season of the year, when the cracked and parched 
 earth takes no footprint, I was able to discern it. A 
 small pebble here and there, freshly turned over, or a 
 few stones formed into a sign for other red-skins, either 
 to tell the day of the month on which they passed,* or 
 
 * These stones are ranged in a circle or semicircle, to indicate the 
 quarter of the moon. Within these, the number of fragments of 
 rock calendars the number of days from it. Other signs tell whether 
 these indications are left by a war or hunting party, and how many 
 of them there are. There are, besides, other marks, which tell whe 
 ther the deer is in the velvet and all the changes it is subject to, 
 which are invaluable to the hunter who is able to read them. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 199 
 
 indicate the period of the year, are more than sufficient 
 to the ordinary scout and trapper. In this case the 
 first sign of a trail had been sufficient for me. It was 
 clear that a very large number of the red-skins were in 
 front of us, and, very certainly, scarcely as much as 
 twelve hours ahead. 
 
 Consequently I sent Arnold up the side of the moun 
 tain, to see whether the red-skins might not be still in 
 our neighborhood. 
 
 The Rangers were on foot, and I and Harry had 
 been in advance of them. As I now continued, Captain 
 Knight overtook me, almost immediately after I had 
 been joined by Brighton Bill and most of the other 
 boys. 
 
 " They say, Mose, you are on the trail ? " 
 
 " So I am, Captain." 
 
 " I can see nothing ! " 
 
 " Perhaps not. It needs quick eyes to follow this 
 one." 
 
 " If there really is one," he said sharply. 
 
 His tone was not the most agreeably confiding possi 
 ble, and I raised my eyes from the ground on which 
 they had hitherto been fixed, to contemplate him, when 
 Bill inquired : 
 
 "'Ow long, Cap, was hit since the blamed cusses 
 went by 'ere?" 
 
 " From four to six hours. Possibly, something more," 
 was my answer. 
 
 The officer gave utterance to a low and very dubious 
 whistle, which unmistakably suggested a disbelief in 
 the authority Bill had appealed to. On hearing it the 
 Ranger's bronzed face flushed, and he turned on the 
 captain, exclaiming : 
 
200 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 " What Lin ? ell do you know habotit hit ? Hi'll bet 
 my bottom dollar, Mose hain't made no mistake." 
 
 " Well, my lads," said Knight, who, I must do him 
 justice, immediately saw the mistake he had made, " go 
 ahead, if you feel so confoundedly sure of the rascals." 
 
 " In course we are," put in Butch'. " You just leave 
 Mose alone, and we'll have their hair, afore night." 
 
 By this time, Arnold had rejoined us. He had as yet 
 seen nothing. Leaving him, therefore, to follow the 
 trail, I went up the mountain to try my luck. As I 
 reached its summit, and cast a careless glance down 
 the other side, which was bare of timber, I caught sight 
 of what I believed must be our Indians. Some juniper 
 trees concealed me. Descending a few paces on the 
 side where I had left the boys, I swung my hat. They 
 understood my meaning and came to a halt. Arnold 
 and Painter very soon joined me, and carefully conceal 
 ing our movements, we crept again to the summit. As 
 they coincided with me, we immediately returned to 
 our party. 
 
 Upon informing Captain Knight of what we had 
 seen, he condescended to express his gratification, and 
 immediately ordered his men to continue the trail we 
 had hitherto been pursuing, and follow the red-skins 
 round the far side of the mountain. 
 
 On my venturing to suggest that he had better send 
 only a portion of his men up the valley, he inquired 
 what reason induced me to advise such a division of his 
 command. 
 
 " All the red devils are smart enough, Captain ! 
 Smoke-creek Sam is 'cuter than every Yankee pedler 
 rolled into one, if that one had been between Honey 
 Lake and the Humboldt for the last five years." 
 
BUCKSKIN HOSE. 201 
 
 " Well ! What if he is ? " 
 
 " lie's sure to smell us out. But if you will give 
 me part of your men, I will take them with my boys 
 across the mountain. Between us, not a red-skin shall 
 escape." 
 
 " That's so, Captain ! " said Harry Arnold, emphati 
 cally. " Mose gives good advice." 
 
 Whether or no Harry's opinion was so little flatter 
 ing to his own judgment or not, that he was riled by the 
 preference given to my counsel, modestly as it had been 
 offered him, I am unable to say. With an obstinacy 
 which may be a good thing in regular war, but is surely 
 the reverse of it in following Indians, he would neither 
 abandon his previous determination, nor give me one 
 of his men. He, indeed, did all but order me to con 
 tinue with him. 
 
 My back was now up. To his astonishment he found 
 out that I was to the full as perhaps, even more deter 
 mined to have my own way in a matter I thoroughly 
 understood, than he was. Possibly, although I do not 
 like to venture such an opinion touching any of Uncle 
 Sam's servants, he may have had no wish to catch the 
 red-skins. In entertaining such a disinclination, he 
 would only be imitating too closely the general policy 
 of our respected relative. 
 
 Whatever his wish may have been, I ordered the 
 boys to their saddles, and leaving him, struck a long 
 canon we had recently passed, which led us almost to 
 the spot on which the Indians had just been sighted, 
 whom Arnold and Ben Painter as well as myself believed 
 to be the Smoke-creek gang. When we reached the 
 valley in which they were, we found ourselves immedi 
 ately ahead of the course they were taking. 
 9* 
 
202 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 No sooner had they spotted our party, which it was 
 easy to do, in a tract of country almost entirely bare of 
 foliage of any description, than they came to a halt. 
 
 We were yet far beyond rifle-range, and I actually 
 thought they were going to give us the chance of a fair 
 arid square stand-up fight. 
 
 True, however, to their invariable character, the red 
 men thought twice upon the matter. Turning from us 
 they started up the valley, in the direction Knight's 
 command was coming. However, they did not con 
 tinue their retreat (it was a tolerably rapid one, as our 
 pursuit also was) for more than a mile. Here they 
 plunged into a rocky gorge on their left. Fancying 
 that they might intend drawing the Rangers into a trap, 
 I sent Brighton Bill and four others up the right side of 
 the gorge, which was the most precipitous. Ben Painter, 
 and some half-dozen more, were told to mount the other 
 side. My directions were that they should advance as 
 quickly as was possible, so that they might be able to 
 head the party we were pursuing. It was fortunate 
 that the ground presented tolerably rough travelling for 
 horses, or, as they had necessarily dismounted, it would 
 have been impossible for them to do this. 
 
 After pursuing the uneven and broken track in the 
 centre of the gorge for a considerable length, perhaps 
 some three-quarters of a mile, it turned suddenly to the 
 right. 
 
 Here it formed a deep and irregular basin, from 
 which there w r as only one means of escape. 
 
 This was a narrow and rocky defile, running up the 
 steep side of the canon. As they saw us behind them, 
 they endeavored to mount this. 
 
 Bill, and the boys who were with him, had, however, 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 203 
 
 moved too quickly. Scarcely had they entered the 
 defile, than he administered them a sharp warning to 
 retreat. 
 
 Astounded by the totally unexpected warmth with 
 which they had been saluted, they faced round, with 
 the intention of lighting their way through their pur 
 suers. 
 
 Upon reaching the bend of the gorge, at which it 
 widened into this basin, Ben's party received them with 
 a round volley. 
 
 The red-skins now knew they were fairly trapped, and 
 drawing back into the basin, commenced, with the frag 
 ments of rock, to pile up a rude sort of breastwork. 
 As the boys were dismounting for active business, a 
 blue-coat suddenly appeared upon the scene. The sol 
 diers had reached the mouth of the gorge, and Captain 
 Knight had despatched him to find out what the firing 
 he had heard, meant. 
 
 It must be owned, this was a sufficiently curious ques 
 tion. As Arnold not unnaturally asked the sergeant, 
 who addressed it to me : 
 
 " What the devil could it mean ? " 
 
 I replied even more sharply : 
 
 " You can see for yourself. If the Captain wishes to 
 look at a little real Indian fighting, he's got a chance." 
 
 Time and words were, at this moment, too valuable 
 for me to waste any more of them. I again turned to 
 the work on hand, and the blue-coat rode back. It may 
 be suspected he was glad enough to do so, as Indian 
 bullets and arrows were at the time rather lively. We 
 were left to finish the affair, without the slightest as 
 sistance from the paid servants of Uncle Sam. As we 
 subsequently had reason to know, this was not, however, 
 
204 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 owing to any want of courage on the part of Captain 
 Knight. His men had proved too cowardly to lend us a 
 hand. They did not relish exposing themselves to the 
 Indians. Neither the angry commands nor threatening 
 appeals of their indignant officer could in any way in 
 duce them to give us an effective support. 
 
 Wrathful as we not unnaturally felt, we had no 
 opportunity at the instant of discussing the matter with 
 that righteous amount of Buncombe, which is, in similar 
 cases, so gratifying to the average American mind. 
 
 It should be mentioned, nevertheless, that one of the 
 boys became fearfully disgusted with the conduct of 
 his paid protectors. 
 
 Indeed, Mart Gilbert, for such was his name, jumped 
 from behind the mass of rock under which he was 
 crouching. In his rage he actually executed an indig 
 nant pas seulj as I should in my earlier years have 
 styled it, in the very face of the enemy. While dis 
 playing his maniacal agility, he roared out for any 
 " darned red skunk " to show himself and fight him. 
 None of those to whom he addressed himself, however, 
 displayed any wish to accept his invitation. But, natu 
 rally enough, they thought they had an excellent chance 
 afforded them for picking him off. A regular storm of 
 bullets and arrows rang and whistled round him. 
 
 Fortune generally seems to have a sympathy with 
 madness. 
 
 It certainly had so in this instance. Not one of these 
 missiles even scraped his body. And before a second 
 volle.y could be discharged at him, with, in all proba 
 bility, a more successful result for the red-skins, Fainter 
 had crept to a point from which he could rake them a 
 second time. This volley was delivered at short range 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 205 
 
 and, as an officer of the regular army might say, de 
 stroyed their morale. As Ben subsequently thought 
 proper to say, in a more vernacular phrase than I choose 
 at present to employ, it impaired their digestion. 
 
 Seeing the disorder into which they were thrown, I 
 gave the boys the order to advance. 
 
 My words were not quite rapid enough. The boys 
 Brighton Bill had with him were once more in a posi 
 tion available for following the example those with 
 Painter had set them. 
 
 Demoralized as they were by the second volley, the 
 red-skins nevertheless exhibited what Saxons denomi 
 nate pluck, and made a furious rush upon the main 
 body of their assailants, meeting us about half-way up 
 to their breastworks. Our work was now short and 
 thorough. 
 
 Harry and myself had not dismounted. He was a 
 capital horseman, and rode in Comanche . style, better 
 even than I did. It was in this fashion that he ap 
 proached an old Indian who was literally hailing his 
 arrows at us, and shot him from under the neck of his 
 horse. Ridding his hand of the revolver which was 
 attached to his wrist by a strap, he rushed the animal 
 past his prostrate enemy, and took his scalp very neatly, 
 almost at the same instant recovering his seat. 
 
 The red-skin, however, although dropped by Arnold's 
 shot, very evidently disapproved of the loss of his hair. 
 Raising himself from the ground, precisely at the mo 
 ment when the former reappeared above the back of his 
 horse, he let fly another arrow. 
 
 This struck Harry in the back of the neck, imme 
 diately behind the vertebral bones, passing directly 
 through it for more than half its length. 
 
206 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 No time was given the Indian for another shot, as I 
 was sufficiently near to settle him. 
 
 " I say, Mose! lend me a hand." 
 
 On looking round, I could not forbear laughing. 
 The manner in which the arrow had passed through 
 Arnold's neck compelled him to protrude his head in 
 front of him in such a strangely quaint fashion. Mirth 
 would have been compulsory, even in one at the point of 
 death. 
 
 Of course, while laughing, I had pulled out the un 
 pleasant addition to his muscular anatomy. 
 
 Upon counting the bodies of the dead, we found sev 
 enteen. The remainder of the party had managed to 
 effect an escape. 
 
 After this we returned to the mouth of the gorge, 
 where we did not find Captain Knight and the blue- 
 coats waiting for us. We felt considerably mortified by 
 the fact, that although the slain red-skins might have 
 been a portion of Smoke-creek Sam's band, he himself 
 was, as decidedly, not amongst them. 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 ANOTHER ATTEMPT AT A HONEY-MOON LEARNING AND LOVING 
 Two UNEXPECTED RECRUITS PLENTY OP WORK TO Do A 
 FEW OF THE SAINTS WHAT A PITY HE is NOT AN INDIAN 
 SIGHTING THE ENEMY FREEZING WEATHER SOME CLEVER 
 GENERALSHIP THE FIGHT IN THE RIVER A NARROW 
 ESCAPE DESTROYING SUPPLIES A LITTLE MINING HOME 
 AGAIN. 
 
 ON returning to Susan ville, I had the satisfaction of 
 resuming my interrupted honey-moon, and learning from 
 my wife in our lovingly long talks together, much about 
 my friends, which no letter is ever voluminous enough 
 to tell. To say the truth, letters are nothing but the 
 headings of the chapters of life, condensed according to 
 the peculiar temperament of the writer. Sometimes, 
 they give scarcely any idea of the real contents. Not 
 infrequently, they afford an unqualifiedly false index to 
 that which they are in a measure supposed to represent. 
 
 Moreover, she was far more of a woman than she 
 had been. Self-dependence had in a measure changed 
 her, as my life on the frontier had altered me. 
 
 I had to re-study her nature, as she very certainly had 
 to re-learn mine. 
 
 There were many moments when, in spite of her love 
 I caught her studying my face as if she was scarcely 
 able to realize how completely the crude civilization 
 of frontier-life had warped mine, for the better or the 
 worse. While I, as frequently, detected myself won 
 dering at the change a few years of absence had made 
 
208 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 in the girl I had loved well enough to tic myself to for 
 life. 
 
 Yet, I believe, the change was not an unpleasant one 
 to either of us. At least, I may safely affirm that it was 
 not so to me. 
 
 The summer and great portion of the autumn passed 
 but too quickly. Some few weeks of them had been 
 spent with the boys at our mining claims on the Hum- 
 hold t. Nor were we, on the whole, unsuccessful, having 
 made a tolerably fair pile, in reward for our labor. 
 When the autumn was nearly over, my companions 
 went up the river as far as Gravelly Ford, with the 
 intention of pitching their camp there for the winter. 
 This was with the purpose of hunting and trapping. I 
 had to keep the agreement already made with Colonel 
 Connor. After leaving my pet bear, Charley, in the 
 care of Butch', with whom lie was almost as friendly as 
 he was with me, I, therefore, again rejoined my wife for 
 a brief time, while I commenced my preparations. 
 
 These were prolonged until the last moment, when I 
 was astonished by a visit from Harry Arnold and 
 Brighton Bill, whom I had left scarcely more than a 
 week since at Gravelly Ford. In my surprise I asked : 
 
 " What, in the name of Heaven ! brings you back 
 here 3 " 
 
 " Can't you guess, Mose ? " Harry asked. 
 
 " Has anything happened ? " 
 
 " Nothing particular." 
 
 This was the reply of the previous speaker, as Bill 
 added, with his peculiarly British pronunciation : 
 
 *' We've made h'np hour minds to pull h'up stakes and 
 join you." 
 
 " What do you really mean ? " 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 209 
 
 The question was far from an unnatural one. My 
 engagement with the Colonel had been repeatedly 
 talked over with the boys when they were present. 
 Neither of them, up to this time, had displayed the 
 slightest indication of a desire to accompany me. 
 
 " To henlist with hour Cap ! " exclaimed Bill. 
 
 " That's exactly what we mean." 
 
 I was but too glad to have them with me, and felt 
 sure Connor would be even more pleased. A few hours 
 were sufficient for them to get ready, and on the follow 
 ing morning the three of us quitted Susanville. 
 
 For some hours after leaving it, I felt as I had never 
 before done, when starting on any expedition. The 
 tear-blurred eyes of my wife kept painting themselves 
 before me. It must be remembered how long we had 
 been separated from each other, and how recently, for 
 the second time, w r e had again commenced married life. 
 Even the gay jests of Arnold, and the coarser, but 
 equally well-meant consolation of Brighton Bill, failed 
 to restore my usually blithe spirits until the noon was 
 long past. 
 
 Movement and action, however, possess a large de 
 gree of comfort in them. 
 
 By this time I had recovered my equanimity, and on 
 the following day I was as gay as either of them. 
 Nothing of note beyond the common everyday occur 
 rences of travel of this class occurred while we were on 
 our road, until we reached Egan Canon. Here we met 
 some of Connor's men, who had been stationed there to 
 protect the Overland stages. Thence we passed through 
 Camp Floyd to Stockton, where we found the Colonel's 
 command encamped near a small lake. Both lie and 
 Major Gallagher welcomed me in the most cordial man- 
 
210 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 uer. On presenting my two companions, whose names 
 were well known to both of them, this cordiality was 
 greatly increased. 
 
 " I knew we had secured one good man when we got 
 you to join us," said Connor. " But I little thought 
 you would bring us two more, as good as yourself." 
 
 He then informed us that we might take things as 
 easily as we chose for the next few days, after which, he 
 quietly said, he trusted to give us plenty of work. 
 Arnold replied: 
 
 " The more of it, Colonel, the bettter." 
 
 The hearty readiness with which this answer was 
 made, seemed to please him very much. When, shortly 
 after, he left us, I heard him say to Gallagher : 
 
 " We are in luck, Major!" 
 
 Nor can I be charged with undue vanity, in supposing 
 his congratulatory sentence referred to myself and my 
 two companions. 
 
 We necessarily resigned ourselves to the comfort or 
 discomfort, as man chooses to consider it, of doing 
 nothing for the following week, or somewhat less. One 
 morning, however, we were startled by a visit from the 
 notorious Port Rockwell, Bill Hickmau, Lot Smith, and 
 others of the so-called Mormon Dauites. Why they 
 came was, of course, none of our business. Yet, we had 
 heard too much of them to fail in examining them 
 closely, and I am free to own I was not too deeply im 
 pressed by the sanctity of their appearance. The 
 greater portion of them were, however, pretty muscular 
 examples of saintship, and exhibited, what I always 
 supposed they would, considerable oiliness as a veneer to 
 their even less pure and peaceable proclivities. While 
 we were inspecting them, I could not refrain from ask- 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 211 
 
 ing Arnold what lie thought of them. He delayed a 
 minute or two in making his reply, and Brighton Bill 
 improved the occasion by propounding to me in a 
 solemn, and exceedingly audible voice, the following 
 query : 
 
 " H'i say, Mose ! 'ave they h'all ha dozen wives 
 h'apiece ? " 
 
 u I suppose so, Bill," I replied with a quiet smile. 
 
 " 'Eaven take care of 'em ! " he ejaculated with a 
 mournful air of pity. 
 
 " What ? of these fellows ? " 
 
 " No ! Mose ! IPof the poor lambs that hare tied hup 
 to such ha blamed lot of Turks. H'if Hi had my will 
 with the blackguards, Ili'd lock 'em hup, hin the Hold 
 Bailey, or," he added reflectively, as if he feared I might 
 not understand the character of the place he had al 
 luded to, u four prison-walls for the 'ole of their life." 
 
 My companion had announced his views, with regard 
 to the Dam'tes, in tones which were something too loud. 
 They were very evidently heard by Bill Hickman, who 
 turned to look at him. As he did so, Harry for the first 
 time spoke in a voice whose pitch was decidedly in 
 tended to reach the saintly ears. 
 
 " A truly delightful face, Mose ! " 
 
 "Do you think so?" 
 
 " How I wish he was a red-skin ! " 
 
 " Blamed hif you h'arn't right, Hank ! " cried Bill, 
 " 'ow neat you could track and wipe 'im hout." 
 
 The part of this conversation which had been audible 
 to Hickman, could scarcely have been highly agreeable. 
 
 Yery certainly, I never saw a more diabolical scowl 
 spread over any face, than did over his. It was, how 
 ever, no very great length of time before they left us. 
 
212 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 " I would scarcely fid vise you, Harry ! to come in St. 
 Hickman's way," I remarked when they were quitting 
 the camp, " without having your revolver quite ready." 
 
 " I don't intend to, Mose ! " he replied, with a sharp 
 laugh. 
 
 Some two days after this, Colonel Connor detailed 
 me to accompany a detachment under the command of 
 Lieutenant Ether, up through the .Bear River country. 
 Arnold was assigned to another, which was to take the 
 road through Ogden Canon, while a third was provided 
 with Brighton Bill as a guide, and were to go in the di 
 rection of Goose Creek and the City of Rocks. The 
 two parties were to meet near Soda Springs. 
 
 Our detachment had only been out for a few days,* 
 when I, who was a long way in advance, sighted a large 
 body of Indians. Necessarily I fell back, and reported 
 this to the officer in command. He immediately sent 
 information of this to Colonel Connor. Afterwards, I 
 heard that the two other parties had made a similar dis 
 covery, and sent him intelligence to the same effect. 
 He immediately ordered his whole command to march 
 towards Bear River, having sent instructions to the re 
 maining detachments. The interval which elapsed be 
 fore he joined us, was passed by me in keeping a keen 
 look-out for the Indians. From the very first, I had 
 seen that the colonel was a widely different class of offi 
 cer from any of the servants of Uncle Sam I had yet 
 met. If he meant business, it would be a pity to balk 
 good intentions, and it should not be iny fault if he 
 failed to have plenty of it. Consequently, I did not 
 
 * During our absence, Colonel Connor established Camp Douglas, 
 a few miles from Salt Lake City. It was on a rising ground, and very 
 thoroughly commanded the Mormon capital. 
 
BUCKSKIN HOSE. 213 
 
 feel disposed to let the red-skins slip, from my neglect 
 to keep my eyes wide open. 
 
 No sooner had he joined ns and received my daily 
 reports from Lieutenant Ether, as well as the last one 
 from myself, than he, in person, made a reconnaissance. 
 
 The result was, that he came to the conclusion already 
 formed by me, that the Indians were concentrating their 
 forces on Bear River. 
 
 It was in the dead of winter, and the temperature was 
 intensely cold. The soldiers were suffering dreadfully, 
 and but for the kindness and precaution of their colonel 
 for them, many must have been lost or have perished by 
 their exposure. He was a very strict disciplinarian. 
 There was, however, not one of his men who did not 
 love him the better for an inflexibility which was 
 equally resolute in as far as possible providing for their 
 comfort. This case was clearly one of necessity. If 
 the Indians moved in this bitterly freezing weather, his 
 men were obliged to move also. Nor did he shrink 
 from sharing their sufferings and labors. 
 
 Consequently, on the following morning we started 
 early on our way up the river, continuing until we were 
 within ten miles of the Soda Springs. 
 
 Here, we saw the red-skins encamped in a strong po 
 sition on the other side of the stream. It was almost a 
 natural fortification, being protected by a deep canon 
 and huge rocks. While we were advancing, they fired 
 on us. Their shots, however, failed. We were out of 
 the range of their guns. Colonel Connor's dispositions 
 for the attack were simple in the extreme, but very mas 
 terly. He ordered one party up the river to occupy a 
 bluff which projected into it. Another was sent down 
 the stream to take their position on the bank which 
 
214 BUCKSKIN HOSE. 
 
 commanded it, at no very great distance. The fire from 
 either spot commanded the passage of the river. 
 
 When these two points were held, he ordered the 
 main body to ford the stream, still keeping a portion of 
 his force in reserve. 
 
 Bitterly cold as the water was, and as I found it, the 
 soldiers did not evince the faintest shadow of hesitation 
 when he gave the word. 
 
 Up to this moment, I believe the red-skins did not 
 believe that Connor would attack them. Scarcely un 
 reasonably, they counted too much upon their past ex 
 periences with Uncle Sam's blue-coats. In the present 
 case, the blue-coats were tarred with a widely different 
 brush. They had barely seen us in the river, than a 
 rolling series of yells and whoops broke from them, 
 which it would be utterly useless for words to attempt 
 giving any idea of. The wall of icily chill water they 
 had counted on to secure the front of their camp was 
 useless. They had to fight, and dashed into the stream 
 to drive back the enemy. Not more than one minute 
 had they plunged into the freezing water, than from 
 the bank and bluff rang out the rifles of the men Con 
 nor had posted there. 
 
 It was a terrible discharge, and drove them back. As 
 they found themselves on dry earth, our gallant fellows 
 followed them. 
 
 Dripping witli the water, which would have frozen on 
 them, but for the savagely fierce passion of that terribly 
 mad struggle shooting, clubbing, knifing, with the 
 shouts and yells of actual devils never do I believe a 
 more bitter strife, considering its numbers, has been 
 seen on any battle-field. It took two hours of hard 
 fighting for us to completely rout them. This is the 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 215 
 
 first time I have ever applied such a term to the defeat 
 of a body of red-skins, simply because it is the first 
 time in which I ever saw them really stand up and 
 fight. 
 
 Often enough they slay when their numbers are fif 
 teen to one, or are slain if the proportion chances to be 
 an inferior one. It is, nevertheless, very rarely that 
 they resist an open attack. This, more especially when 
 it is made by any force which, in number, approaches 
 their own. 
 
 When the last living Indian had fled, orders had been 
 given us to destroy their supplies. There were several 
 tons of dried meats, Government bacon, sugar, with no 
 inconsiderable amount of whiskey and United States 
 blankets, besides tobacco and other articles of native 
 luxury. The red rascals had evidently a good commis 
 sariat, and had provided themselves for what they im 
 agined would be a lengthy campaign. We also found 
 a large quantity of powder. This we rolled into the 
 river, and burned the rest. 
 
 In the meantime, our men who had not been employed 
 in this necessary task, had been reckoning those who 
 had been killed. 
 
 About one hundred and nineteen dead bodies were, I 
 believe, counted in all. 
 
 The effects of the battle of Bear River were for the 
 time decisive in pacifying this section of the country, 
 and compelling the Indians in the whole neighborhood 
 to remain quiet. And, may I not here, in all proper 
 humility, ask our Government why it does not con 
 stantly employ such men as Colonel Connor to enforce 
 peace upon the red-skins. Let it give us an Indian 
 Bureau in the Cabinet. Place it in the control of such 
 
216 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 a man as General Sheridan, General Cook, or other al 
 most equally able military men, whose names will readily 
 suggest themselves to the reader. Give this Bureau 
 unchecked authority to deal with the red man. It will 
 sweep away the whole race of thieving Indian agents, 
 and save the country many a dollar, as well as many a 
 more valuable life which at present would seem to rep 
 resent no positive value to the Government of the 
 United States. 
 
 Perhaps, I should mention the narrow escape the 
 officer, whose detachment I had been detailed to ac 
 company on its advance in this direction, had, during the 
 battle. 
 
 It was well nigh over. He was on the summit of a 
 small ridge of rock which jutted from the eastern side 
 of the camping-ground, when a red-skin fired on him, 
 scarcely from a distance of some twenty yards. The 
 ball missed Ether, but grazed the cheek of Hughey 
 Greer, a private who was close to him. Wheeling 
 round, Greer saw the Indian and took him between the 
 eyes with a shot from his revolver, killing him instantly. 
 Greer subsequently received promotion. 
 
 Naturally enough, the results of this victory enabled 
 the Colonel to dispense with my services, although he 
 would willingly have retained me longer with him. 
 Shortly after, Arnold, Brighton Bill, and myself, there 
 fore started for Idaho City, with the intention of again 
 trying our luck in mining. We located a placer or 
 claim on Bannock Bar, just above the Marion Moore 
 claim. This turned out very favorably. After work 
 ing it for nearly two months, we sold it to Henry 
 Allen for a fairly round price, and determined upon 
 making our return to Honey Lake. 
 
CHAPTEK XY. 
 
 OFF TO THE NEW MINES " GOD'S COUNTRY" A SHOWER OF 
 SPARKS THE CHEYENNE MAIDEN SEEING is BELIEVING 
 A SHARP WAIL BEHIND THE BRUSH THE LEAP LIKE A 
 WILD-CAT THE EFFECT OF UNPALATABLE NEWS EVADING 
 CROSS-QUESTIONING THREE DAYS' FIGHTING THE ENEMY 
 PREPARING FOR VICTORY ADVICE FROM EXPERIENCE Two 
 BRAVE FELLOWS BACON-FAT%ND A KNIFE WAITING AND 
 HOPING. 
 
 BUT we were destined not to return as quietly as we 
 had proposed doing. Upon our arrival at Boice City, we 
 were induced to join a company who were going to 
 Jordan Creek for the purpose of prospecting. It had 
 been made up by Jeff Stanaford and another man of the 
 name of Jennings. After depositing our gold-dust, 
 therefore, with Wells, Fargo and Company, one of whose 
 branch-offices was in this place, we started with our new 
 acquaintances for the spot named, which Stanaford as 
 serted from his own personal knowledge, was very rich. 
 
 All told, our party numbered some twenty-seven men 
 well armed and provided. 
 
 When some three or four days out, we camped at noon, 
 about four o'clock, on a small rocky knoll, from the 
 summit of which a deliciously clear and cool spring 
 was oozing. Round the rise of this knoll there was 
 excellent pasturage for our horses, and stretching beyond 
 this on every side was a level plain, broken up with 
 small sage-brush. At night-fall, our horses were brought 
 in and picketed closed to the spring. No suspicion of 
 the slightest danger was entertained by us. Indeed, we 
 10 
 
218 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 all of us slept soundly during the first part of the night, 
 save Jennings, who was on the watch. 
 
 Some three hours before dawn, however, I became 
 restless, and my slumbers were broken. A feeling of 
 impending danger seemed to present itself to me, which 
 I was unable to shake off. ^ 
 
 Sitting up, I looked around. The night was as dark 
 as pilch. Nothing could be seen by me, save the forms 
 stretched upon the grass by the dying embers of the 
 camp-fire, which scarcely gave light enough to detect 
 them. I, however, managed to make out the figure of 
 Jennings, who was sitting on the ground at a little dis 
 tance. He was leaning forward upon his rifle, and was, 
 I at once felt certain, fast asleep. 
 
 Possibly somewhat annoyed by this carelessness, I had 
 caught up one of the half-extinguished brands from the 
 fire, and was about hurling it at him, when I felt a light 
 hand touch my shoulder. 
 
 The brand fell from my grasp as I rapidly turned, and 
 the scattering sparks thrown from its burning end 
 showed me a face which, since I had first looked on it, 
 had never entirely passed from my memory. 
 
 How it was, my lips did not give utterance to a cry 
 of astonishment, it is now, as it would have been then, 
 im]X)ssiblc for me to say. 
 
 There were the superbly dark eyes, whose eloquence 
 of expression I had never forgotten. There was that 
 wealthy mass of raven hair, which had crowned the head 
 of the Cheyenne maiden, for whom I had so nearly 
 thrust from me the memory of the little woman 1 had 
 left behind me in the East, or " God's country," as so 
 many of the settlers and trappers call it. 
 
 It was Clo-ke-ta. 
 
BUCKSKIN M08E. 219 
 
 As she moved slowly away, I rose to my feet and fol 
 lowed her. 
 
 I seemed to be in a dream. 
 
 All I remember is, that the sleeper near me, on my 
 right, stirred. My movement had startled him. He, 
 nevertheless, did not wake. 
 
 Pausing for an instant where the horses were picketed, 
 I once more heard her voice. 
 
 Although in a whisper, it was riper, fuller and more 
 womanly than when it last sounded on my ears. 
 
 " Let my brother take his horse." 
 
 " Why should he do so ? I asked in a tone no louder 
 than hers had been. 
 
 " My brother must have many miles between himself 
 and this place, before the dawn." 
 
 "And why?" 
 
 " Clo-ke-ta's master " the intonation of this epithet 
 was scornful, and, as it seemed to me, full of regret, 
 which she disdained suppressing "has his braves gath 
 ered around." 
 
 " Is Clo-ke-ta, then, married ? " 
 
 I could not help the passionate inflexion with which I 
 framed this whisper. For the moment, I had not only 
 forgotten the wife who had so recently joined me, but 
 the very information the Cheyenne woman had just 
 given me. 
 
 " The daughter of Par-a-wau could not go childless 
 to the grave." 
 
 " Certainly not," I answered mechanically. 
 
 My memory had bridged the intervening years be 
 tween the present and the time when the parent of Clo- 
 ke-ta, as well as Old Spotted Tail, had done me the honor 
 of wishing to enroll me as a Cheyenne chief. 
 
220 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 " Will my brother do as Clo-ke-ta has bidden him ? " 
 
 The impatience of the request was more like her 
 father's manner and voice than anything she had yet 
 said. It recalled me to the life of my present. 
 
 "And who is Clo-ke-ta's husband ? " 
 " A Bannock chief." 
 
 " The Indians from whom I am then to fly are the 
 Bannocks?" 
 
 " My brother is right." 
 
 " Does not Clo-ke-ta know that the braves with her 
 brother are numerous." 
 
 " The Bannocks who are waiting for the dawn, num 
 ber more than the leaves of the sage-brusli my brother 
 has seen, before he laid himself down to rest." 
 
 Figurative as the expression was, there was no mis 
 taking its significance. We were decidedly in for it, if 
 her words were true, in even the thousandth or ten- 
 thousandth part of her somewhat extensive style of 
 reckoning the forces of our enemy. However, my ex 
 perience of the Indian character for veracity had greatly 
 modified the faith which, when I first knew her, I might 
 have placed in her words. Considering our former re 
 lations, it would seem to be a matter of difficulty to 
 make her understand this. But life in the hills and 
 plains of the West considerably impairs sentimental 
 delicacy in conversation, even witii one whom a man 
 hkd so narrowly escaped from wedding, as I had her. 
 After a brief pause, I said : 
 
 " What the white man sees, he believes." 
 
 " What says my brother ? " 
 
 " Let Clo-ke-ta prove her words, to his eyes!" 
 
 " The white chief does not think Clo-ke-ta has told 
 him the truth 1" 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 221 
 
 Her whisper was shapen so contemptuously that, at the 
 moment, I could almost have bitten out my tongue in 
 wrath at what it had given breath to. However, it was 
 of importance that I should know whether her informa 
 tion had been exaggerated or not. I consequently re 
 plied : 
 
 " He does not." 
 
 Her fingers were laid upon my arm with an impera 
 tive gesture, as she whispered in a tone where scorn and 
 affection were curiously blended : 
 
 " Let the white chief follow Clo-ke-ta. But his feet 
 must be as light as the first leaf the autumn wind 
 strews upon the plain." 
 
 As her last word fell upon my ear, she glided away 
 from me. Nor was it without some difficulty I kept 
 my sight upon her undulating form, as my steps sped 
 noiselesslyafter. 
 
 We must have covered some eight hundred yards, or 
 possibly less, when she pointed a little to my right, in 
 advance of the spot we had reached. There I saw the 
 struggling light of a small camp-fire, carefully smothered 
 down with the torn-up roots of sage-brush, as I concluded, 
 and could just make out the forms of the slumbering 
 red-skins around it. Still further on the right I caught 
 the faint glow of another. To the left, I could just 
 make oat two more ; the farthest of these was so distant, 
 that it was no larger, although less defined, than the 
 flash of the fire-flies I had been accustomed to watch 
 round my home in Galena, even earlier than the period 
 at which I commenced this history of my adventures. 
 As I turned towards her again, she said in a lower voice 
 even than she had previously adopted : 
 
 " My brother has sharp eyes." 
 
222 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 "He has." 
 
 " Does lie now believe what Clo-ke-ta has told him ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " And he will listen to her counsel 3 " 
 
 " He cannot." 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 " He is a white brave." 
 
 " Clo-ke-ta knows it." 
 
 " The red man might run away, by himself. Who 
 would call him a coward ? " 
 
 " His tribe would" 
 
 She commenced thus, indignantly. Then she saw 
 the error she was committing, and broke short off, as I 
 continued : 
 
 " Without those who are with him can fly too, the 
 white brave must remain." 
 
 A single sharp wail of grief rose from h^r lips. As 
 it did so, I threw myself upon the ground and speedily 
 commenced crawling back as rapidly as I could, to the 
 camp. 
 
 Such a cry was enough to arouse every sleeping Ban 
 nock who might be within earshot of her, and quicken 
 them to my presence. 
 
 One glance I cast upon her, before the darkness 
 blotted her out from my sight. She was standing erect 
 and motionless, and it appeared to me that she made a 
 gesture with one of her arms as if to quicken my move 
 ments. There was no need for her to do so. The neces 
 sity for my reaching my friends was too obvious. Un 
 less I was detected, she would be safe. 
 
 Already I had covered half the distance between the 
 place, where I had paused with her, and our camp, when 
 I rested for a moment. It was an almost compulsory 
 
1 ' Does my brother now believe \vhat Clo-ke-ta has told him ? ' " 
 -Page 222. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 223 
 
 pause. The speed with which my retreat had been 
 commenced, and the position in which it had been 
 made, had for the moment taken away my breath. 
 There was now also, in the darkness, no absolute neces 
 sity for my continuing my creeping posture. I had, 
 therefore, half risen to my feet, when I caught the 
 rapid sound of Indian footsteps. A red-skin was be 
 hind me. 
 
 Remaining upon my knee, I drew my knife, and 
 listened. There was, evidently, only one who had dis 
 believed what Clo-ke-ta might have said. Possibly, 
 although this is very unlikely, one only may have been 
 awakened by her wail. 
 
 Had there been more than the one, I might have used 
 my revolver, for the purpose of alarming the boys. If 
 I had done so, it must have brought out the rest of the 
 red devils. We had need of time for consultation. 
 Could I get rid of my pursuer, without giving him the 
 chance for one dying whoop, we should, at least, have 
 this. 
 
 A clump of sage-brush would have hidden me from 
 the rapidly approaching Indian, even had the dawn been 
 already breaking. 
 
 He could only have fancied he heard my stealthy 
 flight, as I knew I heard his rapidly approaching, 
 tread. 
 
 Now he was close to the sage-brush, behind which I 
 was kneeling. An instant after, a dark figure, relieved 
 against the comparatively lighter sky, is passing it. His 
 limbs nearly touch me. 
 
 One leap, like that of a wild-cat, has fastened me 
 upon him. 
 
 Fortunately my left hand has clutched him by the 
 
224 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 throat. He struggles desperately, and attempts to 
 shout. My knife was, however, ready. 
 
 In less than half a minute, all was over. 
 
 When I re-climbed the knoll, I found the boys already 
 stirring. The wailing cry of Clo-ke-ta had aroused 
 Arnold, who, finding me absent, had awakened the 
 rest. Jennings could tell them nothing of my absence. 
 Brighton Bill had proposed to Harry a search for me. 
 The latter, however, saw that until the morning had 
 broken, any such search must be worse than useless. 
 
 " And here are Mose, by Heaven ! " ejaculated 
 Jennings. 
 
 He rounded off his sentence with a fearful oath of 
 delight, as by the light of the camp-fire, which had been 
 heaped with fresh brush, he was the first to recognize 
 me. Without a word, I was trampling out the flame, 
 in which attempt I was assisted by Bill, who had a pro 
 found faith in my sagacity, and would, I firmly believe, 
 have lent me a hand in cutting Harry Arnold's throat, 
 had I thought proper to do so. When the affair had 
 been accomplished, he would probably have inquired 
 my reason for such a bloody proceeding, but not until 
 then. 
 
 " What on airth ! are yer about ? " roared Stanaf ord. 
 " Can't yer leave the fire alone ? " 
 
 " Mose must have a sufficient reason," said Arnold. 
 "Wait 'till he tells it to you." 
 
 " Hingins ! " was Bill's suggestive explanation. 
 
 " Wall ! arn't we enough for 'em ? " 
 
 " Scarcely ! " I answered. Then I added, as I tram 
 pled out the last burning embers with my heel, " they 
 are all around us." 
 
 " How many ? " inquired Arnold. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 225 
 
 " I cannot tell, jet" was my reply, given with what, 
 could it have been seen by him, was a grim smile. 
 " Probably, some two hundred and fifty." 
 
 " Yer can't mean it ! " exclaimed Jennings. 
 
 " Boys ! " I then said, " we are in the tightest fix I 
 have yet been in. They are Bannocks, and the Ban 
 nocks will fight, as you all know." 
 
 " How do you know what they are ? " inquired 
 Arnold. 
 
 A flush stole over my face as I delayed to answer. 
 Had there been sufficient light to have detected it, I 
 might have been exposed to an awkward cross-question 
 ing. However, I replied : 
 
 " By taking one of their scalps." 
 
 This was a possible reason, although by no means 
 a probable one, save in the case of an old Indian fighter. 
 Nevertheless, it answered the purpose, for the announce 
 ment that we were, as it turned out afterwards, actually 
 besieged by a large body of red warriors, was by no 
 means adapted to raise the spirits of the men who were 
 listening. Indeed, those of many of them dropped to 
 zero. 
 
 Little more of the ordinary talk in a miner's camp was 
 likely to pass between us, during the remainder of the 
 night. It would not, however, be long for us to wait 
 until the morning light verified my words. None of us 
 cared about attempting again to sleep. We watched 
 impatiently until the day broke. Then it was dis 
 covered that I had greatly under-estimated the number 
 of the enemy. Although unable to reckon them, pre 
 cisely, there were certainly more than five hundred red 
 skins waiting to raise our hair. 
 
 When we realized our position, we saw that the con- 
 10* 
 
226 BUCKSKIN HOSE. 
 
 test against such odds must be almost a hopeless one. 
 We consequently determined upon selling our lives as 
 dearly as possible. 
 
 The first day passed in a succession of charges upon 
 the knoll by the red rascals, broken by their repulse, 
 and intervals of rest for us, following each separate 
 attack. Our position was, by good luck, a remarkably 
 strong one, and in these intervals we succeeded in 
 greatly strengthening it. With our shovels and picks 
 we tore up huge 'fragments of rock, with which we 
 built ourselves breastworks, and excavated trenches for 
 our own security, from which we could pick off the 
 advancing Bannocks, whenever they indulged them 
 selves in a charge. 
 
 At first, it somewhat puzzled me how Clo-ke-ta had 
 learned of iny being here. But my name, as w r ell as 
 those of Arnold and Brighton Bill, had become tolera 
 bly well-known among the Indians in the section of 
 country around Susanville, and I at last concluded that 
 it was known that all three of us were with the party. 
 If so, the reason for these comparatively dilatory attacks 
 was obvious. A prudent fear of exposing themselves to 
 our unerring aim, kept them from resolutely putting an 
 end to the matter. 
 
 During the whole of the ensuing night, a sharp look 
 out was kept up. None of our guards, who were regu 
 larly relieved at stated intervals, slept as Jennings had 
 done on the preceding one. 
 
 Early on the following day, their Mahalas, or squaws, 
 began to clear off a piece of ground beyond the range 
 of our rifles. It was in vain, I attempted to recognize 
 the form of Clo-ke-ta among them. Possibly she did 
 not share their labors, although it is more than probable 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 227 
 
 the distance prevented my sight from distinguishing her. 
 While I was watching this operation, interesting not 
 only to me but the rest of us, from its too evident in 
 tention, Brighton Bill said : 
 
 " Ila blamed pretty sight, hain't hit, Mose ? " 
 
 " You know what it's for, then ? " I could not help 
 asking him. 
 
 " Ilin course Hi do. Il'it's ha kind hof theayter 
 where the blamed Ilingins mean to torture h'us." 
 
 " If they catch us, Bill ! " 
 
 " They will have 1ms, sooner h'or later, that's sartain." 
 
 " They had me once, Bill. But while I have a kiiife, 
 they shall never have me again." 
 
 "Ili'm blowed, Mose, hif you hare'nt right. Ili'll 
 tell 'Ank, hand 'e and Hi will take care we're not 
 roasted halive, too." 
 
 " You will be doing wisely." 
 
 After the Mahalas had picked the spot which had 
 been selected as clear of sage-brush and rocks, as the 
 back of a child's hand, they reared their rude and dis 
 gusting banners around it. Their design was perfectly 
 clear. They intended to stairve us out and take us pris 
 oners. While we were discussing the probabilities of 
 this, however, one of the Bannocks approached a little 
 too near. It was a somewhat long shot, yet Arnold suc 
 ceeded in dropping him. This excited the rest to fury, 
 and they charged upon us with such a roar of whoops 
 and yells, as seemed to be a perfect Pandemonium. 
 Never have I, before or since, listened to such a devil's 
 Babel. We shot two of them during the attack, which 
 was repeated, again and again, during the remainder of 
 the day. Its result occasionally varied. But on each 
 attack they paid for it in something the same ratio. 
 
228 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 On this afternoon they received reinforcements, and 
 on the next morning their numbers again heavily in 
 creased. Arnold, indeed, calculated that there must, 
 on the third morning, have been more than twelve hun 
 dred red-skins surrounding us. 
 
 Some discussion had on the second day taken place 
 as to the feasibility of our cutting our way through 
 them. This large increase in their force had, however, 
 rendered such an attempt a matter of mere insanity. 
 The whole of that day, they kept making dashes at us. 
 Up to this, nevertheless, they had inflicted no damage 
 upon our party. One result of their tactics, had, how 
 ever, caused us serious uneasiness. Our ammunition was 
 wasting gradually away. Moreover, our stock of pro 
 visions was running very low. It was clear, if things 
 continued as they now were, we should not only find 
 our guns useless, but might, if the Bannocks waited 
 long enough, be unable to raise a finger in self-defence. 
 
 That night, it was evident to the most thick-headed 
 amongst us, that it would be impossible fo/ us to hold 
 out much longer. 
 
 Things were looking desperate. We had already 
 been placed upon short allowance for our stomachs. It 
 had now become necessary to place some restriction upon 
 our frequency of firing at the red devils. At the coun 
 cil in which we discussed ,our situation, two of us, named 
 Gardiner and Jasper, volunteered to attempt passing the 
 Indian lines during the jiight. If they were unable to 
 procure us relief, they would at any rate perish in the 
 attempt to do so. 
 
 It was a gallant offer. But they were like the rest of 
 us, inen of pluck. Had we not been so, necessity would 
 have produced it. Nothing gives a man so much bra 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 229 
 
 very, as the knowledge that his own con rage alone keeps 
 death at bay for a day or two longer. Their resolution 
 was certainly increased by this knowledge. 
 
 Suffice it, this offer was accepted. 
 
 About eleven o'clock on that night, they stripped 
 themselves perfectly naked, and, greasing their bodies 
 with a portion of the bacon-fat which chanced to be left, 
 prepared for their task. The reason for doing this last, 
 was, in order to avoid their clothes catching on or being 
 entangled by the brush, as well as to afford a chance of 
 their escaping the grasp of the red devils, should their 
 progress alarm them. 
 
 They were each armed with a sheath-knife. If caught, 
 they had determined upon fighting as long as they had 
 any life left to fight with. Neither of them would be 
 taken captive. My experience, while in the hands of 
 the Pah-utes, had been detailed to them on the preced 
 ing night, by Brighton Bill, in a full audience of the 
 rest of our party. Nor did he narrate it, with mitigat 
 ing circumstances. As may be very readily supposed, 
 this had been by no means a highly consolatory recital. 
 
 It was, therefore, with a prayer for their safety from 
 our lips, and with small hope of it in their own thoughts, 
 that they left us. 
 
 The words in which our farewell had been uttered, 
 seemed like bidding a last " good-bye" to actual brothers. 
 Darkness had fallen heavily around us. We were un 
 able to pierce the dense gloom with our eyes, and could 
 see nothing. What was left to us but to wait and hope? 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 A GOOD SHOT THE WHITE HORSE APPROACHING HELP ONLY 
 A FLEA-BITE A SHOUT OF JOY RAISING THE SIEGE AN 
 INDIAN PANIC THE PURSUIT RECOVERING MY SENSES FOR 
 THE LAST TIME A BEAD AND NO POWDER BARE FEET AND 
 THE SHARP "SHALE" HEROIC SELF-SACRIFICE A RAPID 
 AND DASHING RESCUE. 
 
 THE hour of suspense which followed their having 
 left the camp, was terrible. Every moment of it passed 
 so slowly, that it appeared to be winged with lead. 
 Each instant we were expecting to hear the crack of 
 fire-arms, or the sound of a fierce struggle not for life, 
 but death. As the minutes passed slowly away, at length 
 we began to realize the fact that they might have suc 
 ceeded in passing undetected through the midst of the 
 slumbering Indians. This belief gradually ripened into 
 a positive certainty. 
 
 Brighton Bill was the first of us who found sufficient 
 hardihood to give voice to this. Bringing down his 
 hand with a ringing slap upon his thigh, lie blurted out : 
 
 " May IFi be blamed, hif pluck don't pay haf ter h'all. 
 The boys hare safe." 
 
 " I'll bet they are," said Stanaford with a round oath. 
 " The red skunks haven't nabbed 'em." 
 
 And so, that night, for the first time in three days, I 
 was able to get some few hours of slumber, and woke 
 with something akin to hope stirring in my bosom. 
 
 This day the Indians conducted themselves much as 
 they had before done. We, however, were more prudent, 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 231 
 
 and wasted no more ammunition save when we were sure 
 of one of them. They, also, when they saw this, grew 
 more cautious. Possibly, they were reasoning on our 
 condition from the same stand-point we did ourselves. 
 Seeing we wasted no more powder, they were probably 
 reckoning that it was getting smaller in quantity, and 
 thought it useless to run any more risk, until we were 
 starved into making a dash for the open. 
 
 About the middle of the day, however, they began to 
 tire of waiting. 
 
 A party of them would ride from their camp, and en 
 deavor, by insulting gestures and exclamations of deri 
 sion, to induce us to come out. This was always out of 
 rifle-range. At length one of them, more daring than 
 the rest, approached us within a hundred yards, and re 
 peated their taunts. Stanaford, who was near me, said : 
 
 " I'll pick that red devil off, anyhow." 
 
 No sooner had he said this, than he dropped his cheek 
 to his rifle, and in another moment the Bannock fell 
 from his horse. Scarcely had he seen the Indian tum 
 ble, than, dropping his gun, he leapt out of the trench, 
 in whose cover he was lying, singing out as he did so : 
 
 " I'll have his darned hair." 
 
 Jennings and the rest of us shouted for him to 
 come back. This was of no use. He had reached the 
 dead Indian and scalped him, before the other Ban 
 nocks realized what he was doing. 
 
 One of them, who was mounted on a beautiful white 
 horse, and whom we had noticed on the preceding day, 
 with a fancy that he must be some prominent chief, 
 rushed towards Stanaford. Dropping on my knee, I 
 was taking dead aim, when Jennings sang out : 
 
 " Hold on ! Let me have a shot at him." 
 
232 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 " Don't yon be ha blamed fool ! " roared out Brighton 
 Bill. " H'if the Cap don't 'it 'im, you can take my 
 wig." Then' he added, " D'idn't Hi say so f " 
 
 The last question was caused by the chief's falling 
 backward and dropping to the ground, while his horse 
 made straight for our camp. Like Stanaford, I was 
 bound to take his scalp, and ran to get it. This was, 
 nevertheless, close work. We had been right in imag 
 ining the fallen brave to be a chief. Almost as soon 
 as he had dropped, and I was in clear view, some dozen 
 or more of the red-skins made a rush for me. 
 
 Had they been a moment speedier, I should have ex 
 changed my own hair for that I had taken. 
 
 The loss of their chief seemed to have excited them 
 almost to madness. Every few minutes they would 
 dash at us, shaking their clinched hands, brandishing 
 their rifles, and yelling out taunts, which we were una 
 ble to comprehend, save from the beastly gestures with 
 which they were accompanied. Their latter experience 
 of our skill as marksmen, nevertheless, prevented them 
 from getting within range of our guns. 
 
 The afternoon was rapidly passing away, when Arnold 
 called my attention to some dust in the east. It was 
 moving rapidly down the side of a small hill. 
 
 " White help ! " he curtly said. 
 
 " Please Heaven ! it may be, Hank ! " I answered, as 
 I watched the approaching cloud intently. 
 
 In a few moments, we were able to detect the forms 
 of some fourteen horsemen coming straight toward us, 
 at a rapid rate. 
 
 " They are a mere flea-bite for die red devils," he ex 
 claimed, querulously. " However, we may make a bet 
 ter show, with them to help us." 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 233 
 
 The whole of onr companions were now watching them, 
 as also were the Indians, who commenced a movement, 
 from our right and left, towards the approaching party. 
 
 " We must go to their assistance," I said to Harry. 
 
 " H'in course we must," cried Brighton Bill, making 
 a step to the spot where our horses were. 
 
 " See ! " cried Arnold, with a shout of irrepressible 
 joy, " the red skunks are trapped." 
 
 When he uttered this, he pointed to one side of the 
 knoll. At the same instant, Stanaford grasped my 
 shoulder and called my attention to the other. Our at 
 tention had hitherto been so engrosed by the approach 
 of this party, that we had not detected the advance upon 
 either side, of two much larger bodies. These reckoned, 
 as we subsequently learned, more than two hundred 
 each. Gardner and Jasper had done their work well, 
 and deserved all gratitude for the courage and speed 
 with which they had carried through the work they had 
 entered upon. 
 
 Moreover, the attention of the Bannocks had been 
 engrossed with the approach of that party of our fellow- 
 countrymen which I had, the very moment before, in 
 company with Harry Arnold, noticed. 
 
 When they heard the rolling thunder of our shout of 
 joy, and knew that we were mounting our horses, they 
 gazed round upon either side. In an instant, they be 
 came aware of the manner in which they had been 
 trapped. There was a moment of hurried consultation. 
 After this, they seemed to be stricken with perfect dis 
 may. The presence of our friends had smitten them 
 with a thorough panic. A telling volley had been 
 poured in upon their shrinking figures, when we charged 
 upon them. 
 
234 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 It was with the yell of a band of tigers. 
 
 Shouting, clubbing, striking, and stabbing, we broke in, 
 upon all we came across. 
 
 For the time, we were in a complete delirium of sav 
 age rage. So much so, indeed, that no incident of the 
 struggle can be in any way recalled by me, for the next 
 two hours. 
 
 At the close of these, my recollection had come back. 
 I was far to the north of our camping-ground. Koon 
 was waning into evening. The blue sky of the morn 
 ing was seamed and blurred with rushing cloud. The 
 horse I was mounted on was urged by me, in a head 
 long chase, after two flying figures. In the commenc 
 ing shadow of the evening, I was enabled to see that 
 they were Indians. 
 
 Did I not recognize one of them ? 
 
 What if I did do so ? Was I not maddened with the 
 long siege I had endured ? Was I not wild from my 
 lengthy imprisonment on the mound, and eager upon 
 the work of death ? Suddenly, one of their horses stum 
 bled and fell. Its rider was thrown under the body of 
 the fallen animal. With a wild scream of delight, I 
 urged my own steed up to them. 
 
 When I did so, the other Indian had dismounted, and 
 was standing between me and the fallen red-skin, in a 
 cjueenly and defiant posture. 
 
 It was a Mahala. 
 
 " The white chief has killed the husband of Clo-ke- 
 ta. Let him now, if he wills it, take the life of her 
 father." 
 
 Par-a-wau was stretched upon the dry earth, crushed 
 under the motionless body of the animal he had been 
 riding. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 235 
 
 For a moment, I gazed upon the two. My brain 
 seemed to whirl in a wild dance, as I did this. Then it 
 was stilled, and, without a word of reply, I leapt from 
 the back of my horse. With some little difficulty I ex 
 tracted the Cheyenne chief from beneath the dead body 
 of the animal he had been mounted upon. The gallant 
 little beast had been stricken, earlier, by one of our balls. 
 It had passed through its hind quarter. Yet, in spite 
 of the loss of blood and the weakness gradually growing 
 on it from this, it had carried the Cheyenne thus far. 
 
 Although bruised severely by the fall, when I raised 
 him, Par-a-wau was able to stand erect. 
 
 Neither of us spoke. 
 
 He, very evidently, supposed that it was my intention 
 to make him a prisoner. In all probability, he had too 
 much Indian pride to make any entreaty. Very possibly, 
 he believed white blood might run in as hard veins 
 as that of the red-skin. I led my own horse toward 
 him. 
 
 " Will Par-a-wau mount the horse of his brother ? " 
 
 Without a word of answer, he obeyed me. Then, I 
 raised his rifle, which was still upon the ground, and 
 placed it in his hands. 
 
 After this, I turned to the Mahala. She had been 
 standing motionless, watching every movement which I 
 had made. Touching her widowed brow with my 
 parched lips, dry and smeared as they were with the 
 grime of battle, I lifted her into the saddle of her pony, 
 which had been standing near us, saying : 
 
 " Clo-ke-ta will sometimes think of the brother who 
 has never forgotten her ! " 
 
 As I quitted her side, I heard the same cry of anguish, 
 which had been uttered by her, when I refused to obey 
 
236 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 her counsel and fly from the men with whom my lot was 
 at the moment cast. My heart throbbed fiercely, yet I 
 would not turn to her. Haply, she was thinking of the 
 husband whom I had slain perchance, she may mo 
 mentarily have recalled the long-quelled dream of her 
 youth. What was it to me what she was thinking of ? 
 Resolutely, I commenced my return. 
 
 In a few seconds after, I heard the tramp of the horse 
 which had borne me, as well as that upon which I had 
 placed Clo-ke-ta, ringing upon the plain behind me. 
 Par-a-wau had breathed a few words to his daughter, as 
 she passed from my hearing, in their own tongue. It 
 almost seemed to me, as though a portion of my life had 
 been torn from me. 
 
 Treading rapidly along the plain, I was buried in the 
 mingled gloom of the present and the past. 
 
 Yes ! This was the end. My hand had widowed the 
 woman, for whom I had once been so sorely tempted to 
 forswear civilization. 
 
 In spite of the excitement of the last few hours, my 
 thoughts were for the moment with the past, when they 
 were suddenly brought back by a voice, whose tones I 
 had recently become more than well acquainted with. 
 They were characterized by a somewhat coarse and inso 
 lent surprise. 
 
 " Wall ! I swar, if this don't beat all. It's Buck 
 skin Mose." 
 
 This exclamation was followed by the heartier and 
 more energetic utterance of Brighton Bill. 
 
 " Hi'm blamed, Cap, hif you weren't lucky ; we 'adn't 
 no more powder." 
 
 " Whar's yer horse ? " 
 
 " May Hi be blamed hif h'it hain't nabbed by them 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 237 
 
 thieving Ilingins. Nare' a matter, Mose ; 'ang me hif Hi 
 don't get h'it back for you." 
 
 Bill's horse was already plunging by me, when my 
 grasp was on its bridle. 
 
 " You won't, Bill ! " 
 
 " What d' you mean ? " 
 
 "What I say!" 
 
 Jennings, the man who had been with Bill when the 
 two had caught sight of me, was already some ten yards 
 from the place where I was standing. 
 
 "Comeback!" 
 
 Glancing over his shoulder at me, he saw me drawing 
 a bead upon him. Not knowing I also was out of pow 
 der as well as himself, he thought it best to pull in and 
 return, swearing at what he considered my stupidity. 
 The opinion of Brighton Bill was, however, of greater 
 importance in my estimation. This, the more especially, 
 when I found out he evidently had settled my conduct 
 as an undoubted example of temporary insanity. At 
 any rate, I saw him, when he fancied my glance was 
 turned away, looking at Jennings, and touching his fore 
 head in a very significant manner. 
 
 " What are you thinking of, Bill ? " I asked him, sud 
 denly. 
 
 "Nothing, Cap ! Hi'll be blamed hif Hi am. H'only 
 hit's queer." 
 
 And so, I can scarcely doubt, it seemed to him. Re 
 turning to the carnp on foot, I neither explained in 
 what way I had lost my horse whether it had been shot, 
 stolen, or run away. Nor did I in any way allude to 
 my share in the battle. My questions were, however, 
 numerous enough during our return. The Bannocks 
 had, indeed, been completely routed. Saving Colonel 
 
238 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 Connor's defeat of the Indians on Bear River, it was 
 the most terrible defeat the red-skins had met with, 
 since I had taken up my residence in this portion of the 
 country. As I afterwards learned, some four hundred 
 of them had been slain, and almost as large a number 
 of horses had been captured. 
 
 By the bye, I may mention that the white animal 
 previously mentioned, subsequently was known as one 
 of the fleetest race-horses in all Idaho. 
 
 On our way back to Boice City, the party who had 
 come to our rescue related to us the adventures and 
 sufferings of the two brave fellows who had succeeded 
 in carrying them intelligence of our position. 
 
 After quitting the knoll upon which we were besieged 
 they had commenced their stealthy advance through 
 the Indian lines, crawling flatly upon the earth, like a 
 serpent. Each of them had taken a different direction. 
 Frequently they passed close to a slumbering Indian. 
 But for the grave necessity which imposed every pre 
 caution upon him to avoid detection, Gardner said 
 more than once, he was tempted to knife some of the 
 red devils, who had reduced him and the rest of us to 
 so sore a strait. However, feeling that if he did so 
 the struggle he might possibly cause would rouse the 
 camp, he had wisely enough refrained from doing so. 
 
 After they had passed their enemies and were some 
 mile or more beyond them, each rose to his feet. 
 
 Jasper had followed a small creek for some distance, 
 and then struck across the rock and shale of the moun 
 tains until he reached Boice City. His body was 
 scratched and cut by the brush he had stricken against 
 in the commencement of the route, while the flesh had 
 been actually torn from his feet by the jagged shale he 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 239 
 
 had passed over. "When he arrived in. the cit} T , those 
 who first saw him fancied he had jnst made his escape 
 from the Indians, who had been amusing themselves by 
 torturing him. Gardner had struck in a more northerly 
 direction for Idaho City. His way had been nearly as 
 bad, and he was almost dead when he arrived there. 
 It should be mentioned that the former of these two 
 unrecorded heroes died within a short time, after reach 
 ing Boice City. He had, voluntarily, as Gardner had 
 also clone, exposed himself to the almost sure risk of 
 death, on behalf of his companions. Peace be with the 
 gallant fellow, in that long sleep, for which we shed 
 tears of blood ! 
 
 No sooner had his information been given than Jake 
 Jordan leapt upon his horse, and stopping at every 
 house, called for volunteers. Every horse was placed 
 in requisition. They were even taken from the teams 
 that were standing in the main street, and mounted by 
 those who were eager to join the expedition, whether 
 their owners or not. 
 
 A well-equipped party soon after came in from Idaho 
 City, and joined them. 
 
 When everything was in readiness, and not a moment 
 had been lost by them, they placed themselves under 
 the command of Jordan, and took the road. Nor did 
 they slacken rein, even for an instant, until they had so 
 bravely opened the doors of the trap into which we had 
 unfortunately fallen. It was one of the most rapid and 
 dashing rescues I ever remember in the West, and does 
 infinite credit to him who carried it through, in every 
 particular, with such complete success. 
 
CHAPTEE XVII. 
 
 THE RESPECTABLE PILE AND AN IDLE WINTER ONLY ONE 
 STREET GAMBLING AND DRINKING A WESTERN COMMUNIST 
 "KEERDS" A STICKY WRIST EIGHT HUNDRED PER CENT 
 NORTH OR SOUTH A BLOW FOR THE OLD FLAG NECK 
 OR NOTHING A COMPULSORY COLD BATH NOT VERY MUCH 
 DAMAGED UNABLE TO GET COMPENSATION. 
 
 AFTER a somewhat brief rest, Harry Arnold, with 
 Bill and myself, determined upon returning to Honey 
 Lake Valley. Nothing worthy of notice occurred until 
 we reached Susanville, except that we travelled by 
 night, and lay in camp during the day, to avoid the 
 chance of discovery by any scouting party of Indians. 
 
 It was now late in the year, and as, after hearing the 
 danger I had run, my wife was unwilling that I should 
 so soon leave her again, we determined, with the balance 
 of the Rangers whom we had left on the Humboldt, to 
 pass this winter in comparative rest. That is to say, 
 we would hunt deer for the market in Virginia City, 
 and set a few traps. 
 
 The probability is that we arrived at this conclusion, 
 from the fact that we had all of us more or less made 
 money during the past year. Those of us who had been 
 mining nearer home had done sufficiently well ; while, in 
 addition to what the three of us had been paid as guides 
 by Colonel Connor, we had gathered a very reasonable 
 pile of gold-dust while in the neighborhood of Idaho. 
 Consequently, we were all of us disposed to enjoy the 
 
BtTCKSKlN MOSE. 241 
 
 proceeds of our toil, and do as little hard work as pos 
 sible. 
 
 My first business was, of course, to see to the comfort 
 of the little woman whom I had been again absent from, 
 for so many months. 
 
 Indeed, there was some surprise on the part of my 
 friends to find me now and then declining, not only to 
 join their hunting expeditions, but in addition some 
 times refusing to form one in their raids upon the Faro 
 and Monte banks which were run in various saloons, one 
 of the most notorious being that in Burkett's Saloon, 
 kept going by Heap and Hale, the John Chamberlains 
 of Susanville. It will, probably, not astonish my readers 
 to hear that these raids were by no means altogether 
 flattering in their results to the skill and good fortune of 
 the Rangers. 
 
 There is one anecdote which will not prove unam us 
 ing. It is, indeed, so characteristic of the inner life of 
 the place, as well as of the general inner life of the 
 mining districts, that I cannot refrain from recounting it. 
 
 Up to the present time, I have neglected to describe 
 Susanville. It was by no means a large city, according 
 to the Eastern notion of what a city should be. Nor, 
 possibly, did it enjoy an over and above large share of 
 civilized respectability. 
 
 A single street contained the whole of its actual busi 
 ness population. And of what was this whole visible 
 street composed ? Almost entirely of frame buildings 
 for the retail of ardent spirits ; in other words, of drink- 
 ing-saloons. " Good Old Bourbon," " The Best Cognac," 
 " Capital Rye," and other inviting appellations, of the 
 same class, were the only evident appeals to those who 
 chanced to pass through it, for their custom. Occasion- 
 11 
 
242 v BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 ally, indeed, you might find a liquor-store which in 
 a measure protected a different class of business. In. 
 the front of one, you might find piles of ready-made 
 clothing. Within another were all the appliances for 
 three-card Monte or Faro. Here, were cigars and to 
 bacco. This one, also, did duty as a corner-grocery. 
 
 These places were generally left to their own care, 
 from the hour at which they were closed until the fol 
 lowing morning. 
 
 The honesty of frontier-life protected them from 
 being broken into. 
 
 At this time there was living in Susanville an aged 
 settler named Pascal Taylor, but more commonly known 
 as " Old Zac." He was an independent sort of Com 
 munist. Did he need chicken for a pot-pie, he would 
 appropriate the fowls of his fellow-settlers without the 
 slightest scruple. If he needed a new pair of panta 
 loons, it was equally indifferent to him whether he made 
 a requisition upon the piles of clothes in front of the 
 store of a dealer of such articles, or upon the dwellings 
 of his nearest neighbors. However, let me do him 
 justice. When detected, he would invariably repay the 
 injured party in kind, by appropriating another article 
 of the same sort and bringing it to him. 
 
 In fact, he might be termed a continual debtor to life, 
 paying, from time to time, by incurring another debt. 
 Whether at the close of his career his account with life 
 might be balanced, must, nevertheless, remain a matter 
 of considerable doubt. 
 
 Tom Long was the owner of one of the drinking- 
 saloons, I have mentioned, as composing the line of street 
 or road which was named Susanville. His residence 
 was on the hill rising from one side of the line of liquor- 
 
BUCKSKIN HOSE. 243 
 
 shanties in which its regular inhabitants made money. 
 One night, old " Zac " was standing beside the spot where 
 Tom was dispensing liquor. lie was i favorite of 
 Tom's. For what reason he was so, it would be impos 
 sible to say. But Tom employed him to do up odd 
 " chores " for him, and occasionally assisted him in a 
 way which in the East might have been stigmatized as 
 " red-hot" charity. In Susanville, it was not considered 
 so. Old " Zac " was a privileged person. Well, the 
 truth is, Torn was tired with the employment of the 
 day. lie wanted to quit business and retire to his home. 
 Turning to " Zac," he pushed out the bottle and a tum 
 bler. 
 
 "Take a drink, Zac?" 
 
 " You bet " responded the recipient of Tom's 
 bounty. " I say," he continued, lifting the Old Rye to 
 his lips, " here's long life to you." 
 
 " I want to go home." 
 
 " Why in thunder don't yu go, then ? " 
 
 " Zac, I think I will, if you'll 'tend business for me." 
 
 "You bet !" 
 
 "Thank you, Zac! Here's the key of the door. 
 Mind you lock it in about half an hour, and open it 
 again, to-morrow morning." As Tom concluded, he 
 took a fair dose of Rye himself, to render his skin im 
 pervious to the night air. In this he was imitated by 
 old Zac. Then putting on his coat, and taking his hat, 
 he quitted the saloon with a cheery " Good-night, old 
 boy ! " 
 
 Now, " Zac " had no intention of remaining long after 
 his friend and patron had gone. He had rinsed out 
 the two glasses he and Tom had just emptied, and was 
 on his way to the door, when four of us stepped in. 
 
24A BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 "Eh, Zac ! whar's Tom? " 
 
 " Gon to 1mm." 
 
 "Wall, you'll du!" exclaimed Butch'. " Jest, shet 
 the doors." 
 
 " Ili'll see to hit better than 'e will, by ha blamed 
 sight ! " said Brighton Bill. 
 
 At the moment he said this, he was striding to the 
 back-door of the saloon, which he very coolly locked 
 and put the huge key in one of his pockets. No sooner 
 was this done, than, returning to the front entrance, he 
 performed the same operation. 
 
 Butch' had meanwhile seated himself at a square 
 deal table in one of the corners of the room. 
 
 " Whar are the keerds ? " 
 
 " Here you bet ! " 
 
 Ben Painter produced the pack, and was speedily, 
 with myself and Bill, seated at the other three sides of 
 the table. Our gold was produced, and laid beside us. 
 At that time, as now, paper money was an unknown 
 quantity in California. Then we began to play. 
 
 During the whole afternoon, we had been drinking. 
 Necessarily, after playing for some fifteen minutes, we 
 felt somewhat dry. Butch' possibly felt drier than 
 any of us. At any rate, he was the one who cried out : 
 
 " Bring up the licker, Zac ! " 
 
 The old fellow brought us the Rye and four glasses 
 on a tray. "We drank. But when he had again re 
 moved the glasses and held out his hand for the four 
 " bits," or twenty-five-cent pieces, habit required, his 
 unprincipled customer produced a revolver which he 
 very deliberately cocked and laid down upon the table 
 beside him. 
 
 "D'yu see that?" 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 245 
 
 "You bet Mr. Hasbrouck." 
 
 " Wall, then ! don't stick out yure paws for money 
 but bring along the licker when we ask for it." 
 
 Old " Zac's " lower jaw dropped as he looked in the 
 face of him who spoke. There was a general shout or 
 rather scream of laughter from the three other card- 
 players. The face of Butch' was, however, as inflexi 
 ble as if it had been hewn from granite. 
 
 " What du yu mean ? " was the question at length 
 propounded. 
 
 " Exsag'ly what I say. Jest mind your business, and 
 we'll mind ourn." 
 
 After this, we continued playing. 
 
 California had, before this time, a monopoly of such 
 rough and possibly dishonest jests. The very men who 
 would have scorned implicating themselves in any busi 
 ness swindle, saw no harm, in occasionally, when under 
 the influence of liquor, perpetrating a joke of this de 
 scription. When younger, Taylor himself may have 
 been an. accomplice in some of the same sort. He 
 walked back to the bar, with a countenance as grave as 
 that of a man who is going to the gallows. 
 
 Speedily another round of drinks was ordered. This 
 was followed by another and another. 
 
 Occasionally I glanced at him, and saw the hard 
 lines of his countenance growing longer and longer. 
 At last, about one o'clock, when we had been playing 
 for some three hours and the log on the hearth had 
 burnt down to scarcely more than a white mass of wood, 
 which would have blistered any hand that touched it 
 even while it threw out no heat, we felt the place grow 
 ing cold. Old " Zac's " face lost its melancholy at the 
 moment when Ben Painter sang out, with a lusty shiver : 
 
246 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 " Put another log on the fire, Zac ! " 
 
 " Wliar am I to git one ? " 
 
 " What d' yer mean ? " 
 
 " You bet, Mr. Painter ! I hain't got the key. How in 
 thunder am I to go fur wood ? " 
 
 The old fellow was quite right. How in thunder 
 could lie go to the wood-pile, while the door was locked ? 
 It was dangerous to let him have the key. He might 
 run to Tom Long's, and inform him of our use of the 
 contents of his cellar, without cashing up. Tom Long 
 was by no means such a pacifically disposed individual 
 as his temporary substitute. A similar thought to this 
 evidently suggested itself to the mind of Brighton Bill. 
 Rising from his seat, he said : 
 
 " Hi'll go with 'im, and may IPi be blamed hif the 
 hold rip bolts." 
 
 Some time elapsed before the fresh log made its 
 appearance, and the door which Bill had opened was 
 once more locked. The log was placed upon the embers 
 by old " Zac," and, in a brief time, the cheerful blaze 
 from it was again warming the chilly temperature of 
 the saloon. 
 
 We recommenced playing. Presently more drinks 
 were called for. 
 
 As before, the old fellow brought them. This time, 
 however, he had not placed the glasses upon a tray. 
 He brought them two in each hand. Leaning across 
 the table he placed the first two between Butch' and 
 me. The other two were planted between Painter and 
 Brighton Bill. As I chanced to look at him, shortly 
 after, I saw the roughly rigid lines of his mouth actually 
 curving into a smile. When another round of drinks 
 were demanded, they were brought in the same fashion, 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 247 
 
 but placed between Brighton Bill and Butch', and be 
 tween Painter and myself. 
 
 Shortly after this, it struck me that my pile of eagles 
 had lessened more than it should have done. 
 
 I and Bill had, however, been losing. The probability 
 was that I had not noticed how rapidly my money was 
 going. Nevertheless, when drinks were again called for I 
 saw old " Zac's " wrists on Dutch's money and Painter's, 
 as the two glasses were set down, between them and the 
 remaining two players. When Long's substitute left 
 the table, it was clear fewer gold pieces laid between 
 them and us than had been heaped there before. I was 
 on the trail and followed it with my eyes. When I had 
 detected, however, the means of which the shrewd old 
 vagabond had availed himself to get even with us, I was 
 too much amused to turn State's evidence, even in the 
 row which ultimately arose between Brighton Bill and 
 Butch', from the former accusing the latter of conceal 
 ing his winnings. Bill had lost about as much as Iliad. 
 He was, nevertheless, unaware that his crony, for such 
 next to myself Butch' Hasbrouck was, had lost equally 
 in amount, although more in proportion, than he had 
 himself. 
 
 The astute " Zac " Taylor had managed to prolong his 
 apparently enforced embassy to the wood-pile, until he 
 had been able to cover the lower sides of his wrists with 
 pitch. 
 
 This shrewd dodge had enabled him to pay Tom Long 
 or himself, seven or eight times more than the amount 
 due the former for the liquor we had been consuming. 
 Every time he stretched across the table to place two 
 glasses upon it, or repeated the action by my side, his 
 wrists would rest upon two of our piles of gold pieces. 
 
24:8 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 Each time, one or two half -eagles were secured by the 
 pitch with which the old scamp had anointed the side 
 of his wrists necessary for this shrewd trick. The con 
 sequence was, that, for the only time in my life when 
 such an unusual chance occurred, the whole of the four 
 players were almost dead-broke. 
 
 But for the quantity of rye we had all of us been 
 swallowing, the others must have seen through this im 
 pudent operation as I had done. 
 
 If so, it may be a matter of question whether " Zac's " 
 undeniable popularity would have saved him from an 
 entire coating of the pitch he had so acutely employed. 
 Relishing the trick, I, however, held my peace. Possi 
 bly, had it occurred when Hush times had passed, or before 
 they had begun with me, I might have acted differently. 
 
 Early in the next spring, as our funds had almost 
 touched low- water-mark, the boys held a council of war, 
 and it was decided upon, without a single dissenting 
 voice, that we should once more try our luck upon the 
 Ilumboldt River. 
 
 Accordingly we started to the mines, there. For the 
 first time we met in this locality with indifferent success, 
 or rather with no success at all. We, therefore, decided 
 upon prospecting at a further distance, and repaired to 
 Austin, Here we found the mines less promising even 
 than those we had just left, and pushed on to Belmont 
 ?u the hope of doing better. A similar want of fortune 
 pursued ns to this place. 
 
 One evening as we were sitting in camp, in no very 
 agreeable mood, as respected the world and things in 
 general, a bright idea struck one of us. 
 
 " Look here, boys ! " he said. " Haven't you ever 
 thought of fighting ag'in Seo^sh ? " 
 
" Each time one or two half -eagles were secured by the pitch with 
 which the old scamp had anointed the sides of his wrists necessary 
 for this shrewd trick."- Page 248. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 249 
 
 " May Hi be blamed," exclaimed Brighton Bill, " hif 
 you 'averi't 'it hit! What's the h' use of prospecting 
 hand digging where we don't git nothing. Ili'm game 
 for heither side. Let's go h'iu, Cap ! " 
 
 " I'm not exactly game for either side, Bill ! " was my 
 reply ; " but for the old Stars and Stripes, I think I'd 
 like to take a turn." 
 
 " So would I. It will be some variety, old fellow, in 
 any case, 'though I'd as soon fight it out on either side," 
 said Painter. 
 
 " So would I. Ye're right, Ben ! " ejaculated Butch' 
 Ilasbrouck. 
 
 " We'll put it to the vote, which side we go in for, 
 Mose," quietly said Arnold. 
 
 Not one of ns declined fighting. It was merely a 
 question as to which side the fight was to be entered 
 upon. A brief discussion had the result of our taking 
 Harry's advice. The old flag, however, carried the largest 
 number of votes. We were to strike a blow for the 
 Union. 
 
 After we had determined upon this, the next thing 
 which presented itself to our consideration, was the line 
 of travel it would be best for us to take. We had a fair 
 stock of coffee, sugar and jerked meat. This would, 
 however, be insufficient, if we intended to cross the 
 continent. We should have, consequently, to direct our 
 march through a section in which game would be toler 
 ably plentiful. My suggestion was that we should pass 
 through the Paranagut country and the southern part 
 of Utah, until we struck the Colorado River. From that 
 point our line of march would be clear enough. 
 
 " Have yer ever been through that part, Mose ? " 
 asked Butch'. 
 11* 
 
250 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 " No." 
 
 " Then yer've a darned good nose for game, I will say." 
 
 " And red-skins, too," said Arnold, " if we are to be 
 lieve all we hear." 
 
 " Whar thar's game, ye're sure to find the skunks," 
 exclaimed Painter sententiously. 
 
 And so, the first part of our route was settled without 
 much difficulty. 
 
 Next morning we broke up camp, and after a few 
 days of hard travelling, struck the south fork of the 
 Colorado. Game had been scarcer than we had supposed. 
 However, it was absolutely necessary that we should 
 here replenish our stock of provisions. The jerked 
 meat began to run low, and we had na more than a 
 single day's rations of coffee on hand. A halt for a few 
 days was therefore proposed, during which we might 
 devote our time to hunting, and laying in sufficient 
 meat for us to continue our route to the East. 
 
 On the second morning after we had camped, I 
 started alone up the river. 
 
 After ascending it for some three or four miles, I 
 crossed and broke from it towards the south. In a 
 brief space of time, I spotted an antelope, and was creep 
 ing up to it, against the wind, when almost close to me, 
 beneath a large rock which had hitherto concealed it, I 
 caught sight of another. My rifle was in a moment at 
 my shoulder, and with no more trouble than it takes in 
 telling it, I rolled him over. 
 
 This had occurred in the afternoon, and as I should 
 have to carry the animal back with me, I thought it 
 might be as well to retrace my steps. 
 
 Tying its feet together, I accordingly slung the dead 
 antelope upon my back and started on my return. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 251 
 
 The side of the Colorado in which our camp had 
 been pitched, swept down to its banks with a park-like 
 slope, although its herbage and the trees with which it 
 was broken up, were wilder and more luxuriant than 
 such a qualifying epithet might lead the reader to sup 
 pose they were. On the side to which I had crossed, 
 the stream was bounded by an almost perpendicular 
 wall of cliff, about sixty or seventy feet in height. 
 Calculating that I should readily iind some spot at 
 which to descend, I had taken my way almost in a bee- 
 line to the spot opposite our camping-ground. Scarcely 
 had I covered more than a mile in this direction than, 
 happening to turn my head to the left, 1 saw a number 
 of red-skins rushing towards me. 
 
 So thoroughly unmolested had our party been by 
 Indians, since we had left Belmont, that I had entirely 
 forgotten Arnold's warning hint about their presence in 
 this part of the country. Indeed, I had not even 
 thought about them lately, so apparently secure from 
 their presence did we seem to be. 
 
 Here, however, they were, and plenty of them. 
 Dropping the antelope in order to save myself, I took 
 to my heels. 
 
 On arriving at the top of the cliff, immediately oppo 
 site the camp, I found no place at which I could man 
 age to reach the bottom. The side of the cliff appeared 
 to be one unbroken wall of rock. 
 
 Dashing up the river along the summit, at a little 
 distance above I found a small notch in its face, haply, 
 worn by some one of the numerous rivulets which seam 
 the hills and mountains in winter. This afforded a 
 means of partially sliding down or dropping to the level 
 of the stream. The boys, on the opposite side of the 
 
252 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 Colorado, discerned me just as I had discovered fliis. 
 They also saw the Indians, who were gradually closing 
 upon me, and a volley of balls rattled amongst them. 
 
 At the same time, I had dropped upon my knee be 
 hind a rock, and given one of them a very conclusive 
 hint, that, on his part, at least, any further pursuit of 
 me must be useless. 
 
 But my discharge had scarcely rung upon the ear, 
 than two red-skins had seized me. 
 
 They had attempted to cut me off, and my unlucky 
 wish to take a hand in the play of my friends, had given 
 them the chance of succeeding. In the struggle my 
 rifle was kicked over the brink of the precipice, and fell 
 into the river. I had dashed one of the Indians from 
 me, and had gripped the other by the throat, when they 
 were joined by two more. Forcing me upon the ground, 
 they speedily tied my hands together, and dragging 
 me from behind the rock to the brow of the cliff, in 
 plain sight of the boys, threw me over. 
 
 The next thing I remember was the voice of Brighton 
 Bill. 
 
 " H'it's ha blamed good chance," he said to some one 
 who was standing by him, " 'e didn't smash 'is 'ead lion 
 the rocks, or 'e'd this time be ha goner. Il'i guess Vll 
 go 'ome now, hand give hup wanting to tight for Ilun- 
 cle Sam." 
 
 " He'd do the old boy more good by ridding the coun 
 try of them cussed red devils, than by any other way," 
 was the reply of Butch'. 
 
 Bill had seen my body flying over the face of the 
 precipice. He was an excellent swimmer, and, almost 
 as I struck the water, had plunged in after me. When 
 I heard what Hasbrouck said, I endeavored to speak, 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSK. 253 
 
 but for some moments conld not manage to make a 
 single word audible ; while the boys, seeing the motion 
 of my lips, were crowding round me, and uttering every 
 class of kind comfort, and not unchristianly profane 
 tenderness. When, at length, I was able to find utter 
 ance, it was to Hasbrouck I spoke. 
 
 " You are about right, Butch'. We'll first wipe out 
 some of these cursed Apaches." 
 
 " How do you feel now, Mose ? " asked Arnold, upon 
 whose knee I found my head was resting. 
 
 " Not very much damaged," I replied, as I managed 
 to sit up, " except by the loss of my rifle." 
 
 "Hif that's hall," said Bill joyously, " Hi'm blowed 
 hif you're much 'urt. H'as for your gun, Painter can 
 tell you h'if hit's much hout hof geer." 
 
 " It only got a good wetting," was Ben's answer. " It 
 war wuss for the cartridges than 't war for the barrel." 
 
 Like a practical man, he had been employed in taking 
 it to pieces, drying and cleaning it, after Bill had dived 
 for it and brought it to land with him. 
 
 " Now, tell us, how you got into this darned scrape, 
 old boy?" 
 
 In compliance with Arnold's request, I gave them a 
 thorough narration, and as the moon had risen and it 
 evidently promised to be a clear night, in another hour 
 some half of the Rangers crossed the Colorado to look 
 after the antelope, and if they could to pick off one or 
 two of my assailants. However, they succeeded in find 
 ing neither antelope nor Apaches. The last had carried 
 off not only all of their own scalps, but also the carcass 
 of the game I had counted on for our supper. 
 
 We remained in this part of the country for some 
 little time. 
 
254 BUCKSKIN HOSE. 
 
 Nevertheless, we scared up no more red-skins. The 
 Apaches, perhaps, had more respect for our rifles than 
 the Bannocks lately had. Possibly, also, they were, at 
 the time, not in force between Prescott and the Colo 
 rado. In any case, we saw nothing of them, and were 
 unable to punish them for their disturbance of our hunt 
 ing. In addition to this, we killed very little game, and 
 at length crossed from Prescott down the Gila River to 
 Fort Ynma. Thence, after remaining in its neighbor 
 hood for a few days, we returned and followed up the 
 Colorado, through the Mojava and Navajos settlements, 
 occupied by partially civilized red-skins, until, late in 
 September, we once more found ourselves in the Honey 
 Lake Yalley. 
 
CHAPTER XYIIL 
 
 CIVILIZED LIFE IN A LARGE AND YOUNG CITY WHAT A RED 
 SKIN WOULD THINK OP IT A CHANDELIER AND A BONFIRE 
 
 THE OLD FRIEND THE WELL-KNOWN PIPE Too OLD TO 
 KILL SPITTED THE WHITE MAHALA AGAIN IN CO-OPERA 
 TION WITH THE GOVERNMENT THREE MORE INDIAN MUR 
 DERS OUR INDIAN RECRUIT " SHOOT HEAP, BUT NO GUN" 
 "A CONVARTED RED DEVIL." 
 
 THE following winter was passed by me in San Fran 
 cisco. It was for the first time since I had joined Cap 
 tain Grim in crossing the Plains, that I had trodden the 
 streets of a large city. All seemed to me so new, so 
 busy, so thickly populated, that, for a few days, it ap 
 peared to me like the real Wilderness, while I looked 
 back on the mountains, the forests, the canons, and the 
 desert 1 had left, as my actual world. 
 
 My feelings partially realized those of the savage, 
 when for the first time he treads in the active marts of 
 trade, and their equally laborious wealth or poverty. 
 
 Mingling with his wonder at the thronged and toiling 
 stores, the superficial wealth everywhere apparent, the 
 spars and masts of the huge shipping, the numerous 
 spires, the sloping-eyed and high cheek-boned Chinese, 
 the buzz of countless life surging around him, the 
 clanging bells from the churches, haply the decorated 
 volunteers stepping out to the voice of drum and trum 
 pet, with the elegantly dressed women, the inanely sim 
 pering dandies, and blear-eyed spectacled old men, who 
 have been working on and on without pause or cessation 
 
256 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 for scores of years there cannot but rise in him a feel 
 ing of contempt for all he sees before him. 
 
 lie may not but contrast his own chainless and un 
 fettered existence with that walled-in life whose pas 
 sions are merely, so it would appear to him, things 
 of routine ; whose enjoyments seem to him meaningless 
 shadows ; whose loves and hates \vould count in his eye 
 as nothing ; and whose range, from the cradle to the 
 grave, is to him narrower than the glad gallop of a 
 single day on which he sights his game, or spots his 
 enemy. 
 
 But what have I to do with such thoughts as these ? 
 My white friend cannot realize them nor can my 
 red enemy even read them. The first will consequently 
 laugh at me for indulging in, while the last will never 
 hear of my having entertained, any such reflections. 
 
 Moreover, after the first week of my sojourn in San 
 Francisco, they gradually wore away. In my early life, 
 which had been for so many years almost forgotten, I 
 had been upon the stage, had dealt in pop-corn, and had 
 proven my skill as a detective. If I could now find 
 no occasion to employ one of the last-named class, I 
 could in any case purchase and eat the second when it 
 came in my way, and gaze upon that which was enacted 
 on the first, either laughingly or applausively. So, by 
 degrees, the old-time fancies came back, and I began 
 to believe there might be some delight in civilization 
 after all. I saw a few friends, and, as I was not with 
 out money, made many new. Some of these have been 
 really friends, and some of them well ! it would be use 
 less to sum up their characters, as they were not the red 
 devils I had latterly been brought in contact with. 
 Possibly, none of them would have felt any pleasure in 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 257 
 
 making my body serve as a living chandelier, by way of 
 a prelude to lighting a bonfire with my person as the 
 central faggot. Yet, very certainly, they would have 
 cleaned me out of all I had about me, without the 
 slightest compunction, not even allowing me to retain 
 the price of one meal. 
 
 Amongst my old friends, I met Captain Grim, then 
 a wealthy horse-dealer, dwelling on the Mission, and 
 one whose word would have been good for thousands. 
 
 After our first interview, we dined together; and when 
 I had given him a rough sketch of my adventurous 
 life after he had left me at Susan ville, we had a long 
 talk over the events attending my first appearance on 
 the Plains under my engagement with him. Many of 
 the incidents which had occurred during it had almost 
 been forgotten by me until he recalled them, and three 
 or four of them were solemnized by a hearty roar of 
 laughter upon my part, in which my old Captain joined 
 with a will. 
 
 However, all pleasures must end. It was thus with 
 my visit to the capital of the West. 
 
 After the first week of my stay in San Francisco, 
 there is no doubt but that I began to enjoy the novelty 
 of complete civilization thoroughly. Neither can there 
 be any doubt but that complete civilization as thoroughly 
 enjoyed me. In truth, in some three months it literally 
 cleaned me out. An offer was made me of a brief 
 engagement on the stage. But my first week's repug 
 nance, when my pockets were not empty, had with their 
 emptiness deepened into a strong disgust. Shaking off 
 the dust from the soles, not of my feet, but my boots, 
 in the spring, I again turned my face towards Honey 
 Lake. 
 
258 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 It need scarcely be affirmed that iny little wife was 
 glad enough to see me again. Without imputing to her 
 any lack of affection, it may, however, be assumed that 
 the Rangers were almost as pleased as she was, at my 
 reappearance in Susan ville. Brighton Bill, as I after 
 wards heard, said : 
 
 " Now, Hi'm blowed hif we shan't 'ave ha little fun. 
 Mose his has good ha Cap for ha lark, has ha Hingun 
 skrimrnage." 
 
 Whether so or not, the boys rallied round me at once, 
 and, greatly to my wife's disgust, commenced a series 
 of plannings and plottings for the occupation of the 
 ensuing summer and winter. 
 
 This year was commemorated by a very heavy emi 
 gration to Idaho by the way of Susan ville, Surprise 
 Yalley, and Peuabla Mountain. General Wright, who 
 was on his way to the vicinity of the latter, for the pur 
 pose of prospecting with a party of some twelve men, 
 had been specially recommended to me, and tarried with 
 me for some four or five weeks. 
 
 After this, he had started in the direction of Peuabla. 
 For a considerable length of time no news came back 
 to us, in any way, of his party. Naturally, this, at first, 
 caused small uneasiness on our parts. Neither the Pony 
 Express nor the Telegraph have yet penetrated every 
 part of the great but sparsely settled West. In conse 
 quence of this, the lack of constant intelligence scarcely 
 argued that the receipt of news must unmistakably be 
 unpleasant, if not disastrous. 
 
 However, I chanced to be out with a party of the 
 Rangers, on our way to the Humboldt River. We were 
 near Black Rock, when we happened to meet an old 
 Pah-ute Indian with several squaws, possibly or not, his 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 259 
 
 own property. There was an appearance of a sort of 
 Mormon respectability about the wrinkled red-skin, 
 which at the moment impressed me, to a certain extent, 
 favorably. Feeling this, I stepped up to him for the 
 purpose of speaking. Judge what my astonisment was, 
 when, drawing near him, to notice that he was smoking 
 a pipe which I positively remembered as having been 
 in the possession of the General. 
 
 There could not be the slightest mistake in this fact. 
 
 It was much too costly a pipe to have come into the 
 possession of any Indian, save as a present, or by the 
 more usual means in which the red-skin may acquire 
 such property. My readers will very readily understand 
 what such means are. Wright had himself told me how 
 highly he valued this pipe. It had been presented to 
 him by a dear friend, who w T as at this time dead. There 
 must necessarily have been but small probability that it 
 should have been a voluntary gift to the old Pah-ute. 
 
 Taking it at once from him, I demanded " where " he 
 "got it." 
 
 " Me heap find em," was his leisurely reply. " Injin 
 no steal 'em." 
 
 By this time, Bill Dow and several of the other Ran 
 gers had joined' us. Dow also had happened to notice 
 the pipe iii the General's possession. With an angry im 
 precation, he exclaimed : 
 
 " Yer lie, yer red devil ! " Then turning to me, he 
 said: " Mose ! as sure as God's in Heaven, that 'ere cuss 
 has had a hand in killing Wright, for sartin. I reckon 
 we'd jist better go over to Pabla, and look arter his 
 party. Not, Cap ! as I wants to dictate to yer. Only 
 knowing as how the Gineral was a real friend of your'n, 
 I thought, perhaps " 
 
260 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 " Thought ! " I cried out, " Dow, when you know you 
 are right." 
 
 " I'm dead sartin of it," he muttered between his teeth. 
 
 The aged Pah-ute had, while this was passing, been 
 regarding me with that stoical indifference of feature 
 which is so characteristic of the red man. Looking 
 fixedly at him, I said : 
 
 u If you were not an old fellow, I would at once kill 
 you. But if anything has gone wrong with the General 
 or his party, see that you never again allow yourself to 
 come within sight of me." 
 
 Immediately after this, we started for Summit Lake, 
 and passing it, went down the canon as far as the Puabla. 
 On the following day about noon, we came to a cabin 
 which had very evidently been occupied by Wright and 
 his companions. It was now empty. > The small canon 
 in which this rough cabin stood was filled with cotton- 
 wood trees and a dense growth of small underbrush. 
 As we were examining the place, I came upon the first 
 fragmentary testimony of the dark tragedy which had 
 branded this spot with an ineffaceable stain. This was 
 the leg of a man, which had been hewn off just below 
 the knee. While I was yet looking at it, Arnold called 
 out in a tremulously hollow voice, which at once indi 
 cated from how intensely nervous an agitation he must 
 be suffering: 
 
 " Come here, Mose." 
 
 He was but a short distance in advance of me ; and 
 when I arrived where he was standing, let me own that 
 I frankly regretted not having cut the throat of the 
 wrinkled old ruffian whose possession of the General's 
 pipe had placed me on the track of this most dastardly 
 and savage murder aye ! and the throats of all the 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 261 
 
 squaws who were with him, too. Had I not, in my own 
 person, had a sufficient experience of the gentleness of 
 these she-devils ? Could I doubt that it had been also 
 displayed in the atrocious massacre of General Wright 
 and the unfortunate men who had accompanied him ? 
 
 I shall, of course, be asked for the full particulars of 
 this ferocious butchery. Let me be as brief as I can in 
 penning the details, which almost sicken me while I re 
 call them. 
 
 We found the General actually spitted, a pointed 
 stake having been forced lengthwise from behind through 
 his body, and protruding beneath his chin. This stake 
 had then been placed upon two crotched limbs of trees, 
 above a fire, of which nothing but the dead embers now 
 remained. As far as we could make out, there were no 
 other marks of violence on the charred shape of the vic 
 tim. He must have been killed by the terrible torture of 
 thrusting this stake through his entrails. The remainder 
 of his party had been literally cut into pieces. Arms, 
 hands, heads, feet, legs, thighs, and bodies had been 
 hewn apart, and were scattered around in the brush. 
 'Noi- was there more than one of the victims who might 
 have been slain before they were subjected to this inch 
 by inch torture. Only a single wound by a bullet 
 could be found by us, on any of these mutilated frag 
 ments of what had once been life. 
 
 And these brutal devils are the race that the Govern 
 ment of the United States demand should be dealt 
 gently with by its children. I should refrain from 
 denouncing them, perhaps, when the barbarities I had 
 twice experienced at their hands are remembered by 
 me. But in such a case as the present one, where my 
 memory has no individual suifering to give it edge 
 
262 BUCKSKIN: MOSE. 
 
 and bitterness, I may surely be permitted to express 
 my opinions. This, the more specially, when I know 
 that these opinions are shared in by every settler who 
 has had some two or three years' practical dealing 
 with the falsehood, rascality, treachery, blood-thirsti 
 ness, and demon-like barbarity, which, almost invaria 
 bly, in every instance, characterize the Western In 
 dian. 
 
 What, let me fearlessly ask, could in any way have 
 been the natural result of the hesitation of the Govern 
 ment at Washington, to operate efficiently for the pro 
 tection of its own children ? 
 
 These men had, undoubtedly, the right to claim such 
 a protection. Any other country to which they might 
 have belonged, would have given it to them. It has, 
 however, been consistently refused, or accorded them in 
 a way which renders it worse than useless. They have, 
 consequently, been compelled to rely upon themselves 
 for protection, it being carried out after their own fash 
 ion. Necessarily, this fashion has varied. But, in no 
 case, could it take a shape other than of the struggle 
 ever-existent between the conflicting parties, when law 
 has become paralyzed, or neglects to put in a satisfactory 
 appearance. For many years^ legal restraint had been 
 overridden in San Francisco. At length, the condi 
 tion of society resulting from this became unbearable. 
 It was then that the citizens of the capital of the young 
 and vigorous West took the matter into their own 
 hands, independently of the State authorities. A vigil 
 ance committee sprung from their actual necessity, and, 
 in a short space of time, daily crime was reduced to the 
 ordinary ratio it bears in civilization. Even in the 
 great Eastern metropolis, during the past two or three 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 years, a similar necessity has been proclaimed, and a 
 like exertion of the popular will has been predicted by 
 some of the leading New York journals. There, how 
 ever, law seems recently to have awakened from its 
 long slumber, and, if consistently active and severe, 
 will repress the lawlessness of passion or criminality. 
 
 But where there is no law, save on sparsely rare oc 
 casions, as is sufficiently evidenced on the mountains, and 
 in the valleys and plains bordering on California, the 
 action of vigilance committees, or some restraint as sharp 
 and certain, is a paramount necessity. 
 
 How can it be wondered at, while crime of the nat 
 ure of the last-mentioned, and others which I have re 
 counted, are of well-nigh yearly occurrence, that it should 
 have exerted, on the part of those exposed to its visita 
 tion without the interference of national protection 
 except at rare intervals the determination to repress it, 
 bloodily and mercilessly, as the instances in which it 
 develops its own atrocity and pitilessness, too evidently 
 require ? 
 
 However, let me avoid the appearance of defending 
 what I believe to be the righteous exertion of a spirit 
 of self -protection, and leave it to the unbiassed judgment 
 of my readers. 
 
 Burying the fragments of the bodies of the poor vic 
 tims, or as many of them as we could find after a long 
 and sorrowful search, in as decent a manner as we could, 
 we resumed our way to the Ilumboldt. Here we lo 
 cated some six miles above Lancaster, on this river, and 
 met with no very great success in our search for the 
 precious metals. While here, an Indian from above 
 Gravelly Ford, known by us as Shoshonee John, came 
 in to our party. He could talk very fair English, and 
 
264: BUCKSKIN MOSE.' 
 
 had been driven from his tribe in consequence of his 
 openly professed friendly feeling to the whites. After 
 a brief discussion among the boys, he was permitted to 
 remain with us, until we started on our return. This 
 was some time in August, in 1865. 
 
 We had reached the back of Granite Creek Station, 
 which was then kept by Allen Simmons, from Oroville, 
 and a man of the name of Bill Curry, when we fell in 
 with some eight or ten Mahalas, with their papooses or 
 children. 
 
 One of the Mahalas was a white woman. She had 
 been taken by the Bannocks when she was no more 
 than twelve years of age, in 1851. All her relatives 
 and companions had been killed by them. Only her 
 self had been spared. She was now married to a red 
 skin, by whom, she told us, she had live children. On 
 our asking her to leave her captors, with the tears stand 
 ing in her eyes, she refused to do so. She said that she 
 knew of no friends who would receive her. What, she 
 did not attempt to disguise that she considered as the 
 disgrace of her present life, would, as she felt, preclude 
 her from all white friendship. In consequence of this, 
 she avowed herself determined to remain. On being 
 further questioned, she told us that we were the first 
 white men she had seen since the period of her capture. 
 I then asked her, if she had heard of the horrible mas 
 sacre of General Wright and his party. Bursting into 
 tears, she affirmed that it had been " the work of Smoke- 
 creek Sam, and the wretches who were with him." 
 
 Her grief and disgust at this were so marked and un - 
 mistakable, that I had no hesitation in asking her to 
 tell us how and where we might find this scoundrel and 
 his gang of ruffians. "Without the slightest hesitation, 
 
BUCKSKIN HOSE. 265 
 
 she did so. Indeed, from the sudden flash in her eyes, 
 and the rush of color to her tanned, yet still smooth 
 cheeks, I felt convinced she experienced a bitter delight 
 in believing that we might punish him. It is generally 
 impossible for the necessity of life, or even for love, to 
 blot out the ties of blood. She might be compulsorily a 
 Mahal a, yet was still, at heart, a white woman. 
 
 Again I endeavored to induce her to quit her present 
 mode of life, but, unhesitatingly, although sadly, she 
 refused to abandon the red-skin with whom her ex 
 istence had been for so many years' linked, and his and 
 her children. 
 
 At Granite Station, Al. Simmons gave us additional 
 information respecting Smoke-creek Sam. He had a 
 few days before surprised a party of Chinamen, between 
 the Peuabla mountain and Owyhee River. Some sixty, 
 in all of them, had been murdered by the gang. This 
 had been effected, in a similar way to the cruel mode 
 of death by which General Wright had perished. 
 
 Pushing on, therefore, to the military station at 
 Smoke Creek, we detailed the circumstances of these 
 bloody outrages to Captain Smith, who was then in 
 command of it. 
 
 His horror at hearing of the last, and being made 
 acquainted with the details of the first, by those who 
 had seen the remains of the murdered party, was as 
 thorough, almost, as ours had been. An arrangement 
 with him was, in consequence, speedily concluded, 
 by which we were to proceed to Susan ville, and, after 
 giving our horses and ourselves a few days' rest, return 
 to the station. Thence we were to start, in company 
 with himself and men, to inflict, if possible, a well- 
 12 
 
266 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 deserved and retributory punishment on Smoke-creek 
 Sam and his gang. 
 
 On arriving at the station, we found a party of three 
 or four men from the Humboldt, who had preceded us 
 by a few hours. 
 
 They had brought the intelligence that a party of 
 Indians had visited Granite Creek on the day before. 
 The station, as they informed us, had been burned to 
 the ground. Al. Simmons, Bill Curry, and another 
 man, had been killed. When A. R. Le Roy, who had 
 joined the Rangers previous to our leaving the Hum 
 boldt River, heard this, he was fearfully excited. Al. 
 Simmons had been one of his dearest friends, and the 
 news of this additional murder increased not only his 
 rage, but that of all of us. 
 
 Captain Smith was by no means dilatory. His men 
 were soon in their saddles, after we had rejoined him, 
 and we pushed on rapidly to Granite Creek. 
 
 About one hundred yards west of the station, we 
 found the body of Simmons, lying on his face upon the 
 ground. A small bullet-hole was just outside of his 
 heart. He must have been slain instantly. Myself 
 and the other boys felt his death as keenly as we had 
 done anything, for some time. Scarcely eight days 
 since, we had been sitting with him, and talking of the 
 butchery of the Chinese ; and now we saw that his life 
 had been sacrificed by the red devils as relentlessly, 
 although in a less cowardly manner. As for Le Roy, 
 when he saw the body, lie flung himself on the ground 
 beside it, and throwing his arms around the lifeless 
 form of his friend, burst into a savage flood of tears. 
 Within the burned-up timber of the station lay poor 
 Curry, who had been slain there* The third man had 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 267 
 
 evidently attempted to escape by flight. But the Indians 
 had been too quick for him. Judging by their tracks, 
 which were still clearly visible, he had been pursued, 
 overtaken, and brought back. Less fortunate than the 
 others, his death had not been so speedy. He had been 
 stretched upon the earth with his face downwards. 
 His hands and feet had been fastened by thongs to 
 stakes driven into it. Brush and branches, hewn from 
 the trees, had been then heaped upon his body and set 
 fire to. 
 
 It would be unnecessary to say, that had anything 
 been wanting to quicken our desire for retaliation, this 
 must have done so. After attending to a hurried 
 burial, we took the trail, which led us evidently in the 
 direction the white Mahala had indicated to me, when I 
 had asked her to tell me where Smoke-creek Sam and 
 his gang were generally to be found. 
 
 .Two days after, we camped for the night in a small 
 valley in the mountains above Black Rock. 
 
 This valley was some six miles, or more, distant from 
 an almost level piece of ground, to which the name of 
 Soldier Meadows had been given. 
 
 After attending to the demands of our stomachs, for 
 we had been on our own legs or those of our horses 
 since daybreak, I went out with some other of the 
 Hangers, as scouts, to discover if we were yet near the 
 red-skins. Possibly an hour and a half may have 
 elapsed, when some camp-fires were seen by me in the 
 direction of the upper part of Queen's River. Shosh- 
 onee John had accompanied me, and detected them as 
 quickly as I had done. 
 
 " Pah-ute Ingin ! " he at once said. 
 
 " Or Smoke-creek Sam ! " I could not help replying. 
 
268 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 " All, heap same. Pah-ute as bad, only Smoky- 
 creek Sam some worse." 
 
 Without pausing to discuss his exceeding Irish sum 
 mary of the merits of the original tribe, and those who 
 had absconded or been expelled from it, we immediately 
 returned to our camp, being joined upon our way by 
 Butch' Hasbrouck, who had also detected the same camp- 
 fires. 
 
 " How far off, Butch', did you believe the red-skins 
 were ? " 
 
 " Ten miles will bring yer to 'em." 
 
 " He right ! " sententiously observed the Indian who 
 had accompanied me. 
 
 My estimate of the distance agreed with theirs, and 
 upon our reaching the camp, the Rangers immediately 
 took to their saddles, and Captain Smith ordered his 
 men to mount. While they were doing this the red 
 skin addressed me, saying : 
 
 " Give Shoshonee John a gun, to help shoot heap Pah- 
 utes." 
 
 " How do I know you will ? " 
 
 The question was prompted by the knowledge I had 
 acquired of the Indian character. It seemed to me that 
 if the petitioner had owned a gun at the time about 
 which he first joined us, he might, not improbably, have 
 kept out of our neighborhood. He, however, answered 
 me promptly enough. 
 
 " Pah-ute Ingin heap shoot Shoshonee John when 
 catch him. Shoshonee John shoot him, too." 
 
 It might be so. But Harry Arnold and Ben Painter 
 took the same view of the case as I did, and the matter 
 was compromised by Captain Smith ordering him to be 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 269 
 
 given a cavalry sabre. At the same time, Brighton 
 Bill, who had been listening, growled out : 
 
 " 'E's ha convarted red devil. lii'm blamed hif Il'i 
 wouldn't 'a given 'im a rifle." 
 
 When within a mile or something more of the camp, 
 a halt was ordered, while some of us made a reconnois- 
 sance. Creeping up to their position, we found the 
 band must count heavily. It had encamped on the very 
 edge of the desert, which was here some forty miles 
 across, without a single bush or shrub growing upon it. 
 It formed almost a dead level, and in the dry season 
 was so hard that a horse would scarcely leave the 
 slightest track by which scout or red-skin could have 
 trailed it. 
 
CHAPTEK XIX. 
 
 A LIVELY COMMENCEMENT THE FIGHT IN THE DESERT EX 
 TERMINATION OP A BAND OF CUT-THROATS THE CAVALRY 
 SABRE A CONTRAST PERMITTED TO RETIRE AND RECEIV 
 ING PROMOTION A LITTLE LOVE CHANCE AND TROUBLE 
 WHAT CAME OF IT "SMOKING OUT A VARMINT" A FEW 
 PRISONERS THE INDIAN AGENT NEW FRUIT ON A TREE- 
 ALONE ON A TRAIL THE END. 
 
 AFTER a brief council, in which Captain Smith, 
 Harry Arnold, and myself were the principal ones who 
 took a part, it was determined to surround them on the 
 side where we then were, and immediately day had bro 
 ken, to drive them to the desert. By doing this, we 
 calculated scarcely one of them would have a chance of 
 escaping. 
 
 " At last, Mose ! " said Le Hoy, who happened to be 
 near me, " we have the blood-thirsty devils ! and may 
 God not spare me, if I fail to kill, while a single one of 
 them is left alive." 
 
 He scarcely seemed to be aware of the meaning of 
 his muttered words. But I knew of what he was think 
 ing. It was of the death of Al. Simmons. 
 
 In some forty minutes the necessary orders had been 
 given, and we had advanced nearly within gun-shot of 
 them. We had moved into our position with the most 
 complete silence. What had startled the Indians, I was 
 and still am unable to imagine. They had, however, dis 
 covered our approach, and yelling out their war-whoop, 
 dashed towards us, on our centre. It was j ust light enough 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 271 
 
 for them to make out our strength. When they found 
 this, they recoiled, and, almost at the same instant, made 
 a charge upon our left. For some few minutes the boys 
 and soldiers on that side of our position had lively work, 
 and then, finding out that there also we were too strong 
 for them, the red-skins started out on the desert. 
 
 We pursued them leisurely for some six miles. Then 
 putting the spur to our horses, we galloped up and sur 
 rounded them. 
 
 It was now daylight. We could see the work before 
 us. 
 
 Justice must be done even to such a rascally set of 
 murdering thieves as Smoke-creek Sam's gang. When 
 caught, they did fight, as I honestly believe no Pah-utes 
 have ever before done. However, the blue-coated ser 
 vants of Uncle Sam and the Buckskin Hangers fought 
 better. The soldiers rode amongst the red-skins, hewing 
 them down with their sabres, while our boys were 
 equally busy with revolver and knife. 
 
 This had scarcely been going on for as many minutes 
 as we had covered miles of the desert, when I marked 
 one Indian. From descriptions of Smoke-creek Sam, 
 which we had almost all of us heard, I determined 
 that this must be the scoundrel, and rode up to him. I 
 was lying on the side of my horse when he saw me. 
 Lifting his revolver, he fired three or four shots at me 
 as rapidly as he could. 
 
 The last of these crashed through the skull of the 
 noble brute, that had borne me so well and gall an tly for 
 so many years. I felt, even at the moment in which he 
 fell in spite of the enemy who were in the front and 
 on all sides of me a cruel pang. 
 
 It so happened that when I fell, Arnold was near me 
 
272 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 and had seen the shot take effect on the animal I was 
 mounted on. He knew how greatly I valued the gift 
 of Jack Bird, not simply on acount of the giver, but on 
 its own account. I heard his voice, as the report of his 
 own pistol rang on the ear, almost immediately follow 
 ing that of the red-skin's. Giving utterance to a fierce 
 cry, he yelled out : 
 
 u You have killed the Tipton Slasher. Take that, you 
 red devil ! " 
 
 Harry's ball had broken the right arm of Smoke- 
 creek Sam, and he had gone to grass as it struck him, 
 or, at all events, I thought so.. The red ruffian had cer 
 tainly fallen, and, extricating myself from the panting 
 body of my dying horse, I leapt towards him for the 
 purpose of raising his hair. While I was in the act of 
 doing this, I saw that he was not yet dead. With a des 
 perate clutch of his left hand, he was trying to grasp 
 the revolver which had fallen from his maimed limb 
 upon the ground. It was lying a trifle beyond his reach, 
 and before I had time even to think of putting him out 
 of his misery, I saw the gleam of a cavalry sabre flash 
 ing through the air. 
 
 The blade fell. 
 
 In another instant, the savagely brutal head of Smoke- 
 creek Sam was hanging from his shorn neck, attached 
 to it merely by a small portion of bleeding flesh. At 
 the same moment when this was effected, a voice 
 shrieked out : 
 
 " Buckeeskin Mose, he now see whether Shoshonee 
 John fight. Think him kill heap." 
 
 There was clearly no more reason for doubting the 
 sincerity of our Indian ally. 
 
 " Smoke-creek Sam ? " 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 273 
 
 This demand was made by me with an inquiring gest 
 ure, as, in doing so, I extended to him the scalp I had 
 just lifted. Looking first at it, and then at the head he 
 had so nearly severed from the body it belonged to, as if 
 to make sure of their former connection, he replied : 
 
 " Heap sure." 
 
 The answering affirmative was uttered with a senten 
 tious gravity, exemplarily characteristic of his red as- 
 cestry, as Cooper has painted similar races long since 
 wiped out by our rushing civilization. Striding from 
 us, he then looked around the battle-field for more of 
 his brethren, upon whom he could display the reality of 
 his detestation of them, as well as his capacity as a 
 headsman. 
 
 However, by this time the strife was well-nigh over. 
 Not one of Smoke-creek Sam's gang could be seen stand 
 ing upon his feet. The hard soil of the desert, for more 
 than quarter of a mile square, was strown with their 
 dead bodies. Eighty-one of the merciless scoundrels 
 had paid with an honorable end for their bloodily dis 
 gusting crimes. Not a single red-skin had escaped from 
 the bullet or the sabre. The band of torturing and vil- 
 lanous cut-throats and murderers had been totally ex 
 terminated. 
 
 In this instance also, I can justly say, as I have done 
 in Colonel Connor's battle on Bear River, that Captain 
 Smith, although an officer in the regular service, did his 
 work well and thoroughly. 
 
 The Pah-utes, however, had n'ot been reduced to tran 
 quillity. As I have earlier explained, this gang was 
 merely a section of that tribe whose atrocities and law 
 lessness had compelled their expulsion from it. Not, 
 indeed, their atrocity arid lawlessness against us, the 
 12* 
 
274 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 white settlers, but that which they displayed at the ex 
 pense of their red brethren. 
 
 Scarcely had I returned and been, for a short time, 
 in the society of my little wife, settled down in Susan - 
 ville, when an incident occurred which fully demonstrat 
 ed this fact. 
 
 At this time, a body of Uncle Sam's blue-coats were 
 stationed in the vicinity of Summit Lake. The cavalry 
 was under the command of Captain Hall, and the in 
 fantry under that of Captain Meyers. It happened that 
 two of our most prominent citizens were crossing the 
 mountains, some four miles nearer than this post, when 
 they were attacked by a party of red-skins. The leg 
 of one of them, named Kesler, was broken by a rifle- 
 ball at the first volley aimed at them by the attacking 
 Indians. The other of the men was possessed of cool 
 courage and indomitable pluck. This was Frank Drake. 
 ~No sooner did he see his companion fall, than he asked 
 briefly : 
 
 " Are you wounded ? " 
 
 " The red cusses have broken my leg, Drake ! " 
 
 " Yer must be off, then." 
 
 " How on airth can I \ " 
 
 " We'll soon see," cried Frank cheerily. 
 
 Cutting one of the horses loose from their team, he 
 helped Kesler on to it, in spite of the bullets which were 
 rattling on the other side of the wagon. Then, bidding 
 him ride to the Lake to ask for assistance from the sol 
 diers, he proposed to fight it out alone with the Indians. 
 Kesler remonstrated vainly with him. Giving to the 
 horse he had cut loose a heavy lash with the whip he 
 had previously been using, he said : 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 275 
 
 " Go, yer darned fool, unless yer wish both on ns to 
 be done for, by the red skunks." 
 
 The animal started with Kesler, followed by a pelting 
 shower of bullets. None of them, however, struck either 
 him or the horse. This unusual hint, in all probability, 
 accelerated the speed of the latter, for he seems to have 
 made good time. In about twenty minutes, Kessler 
 arrived at the place where the blue-coats were stationed, 
 and on seeing Captain Hall, told him the situation in 
 which he had left Frank Drake, and begged him to send 
 his friend "help at once." This officer replied in the 
 usual official slang of the Plains: 
 
 " I've lost no Indians, and I'll be hung, if I'm going to 
 trot out my men for nothing." 
 
 " Nothing ! Hain't I told yer Frank Drake is fight 
 ing the red devils, by himself?" 
 
 " By this time," was Hall's reply, " the man is killed. 
 We shan't find him." 
 
 In spite of this refusal, in which Uncle Sam's servant 
 persisted, some few of his men, accompanied by several 
 settlers who chanced to be present, at once mounted 
 their horses and galloped off, leaving Kesler behind, to 
 have his leg attended to by the army surgeon, if the 
 post rejoiced in such an appendage. This is by no 
 means invariably the case. The party galloping to save 
 the plucky Frank Drake, made even better speed than 
 his companion had done. 
 
 No sooner were their rapidly advancing hoofs heard, 
 than the cowardly Indians fled. 
 
 Upon arriving at the point where the team had been 
 left standing, they, at first, saw no living creature save 
 one of the remaining horses. Frank Drake was found 
 by them stretched under the wagon. When the red- 
 
276 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 skins ran, lie knew relief was at band, and had fainted 
 away from loss of blood. Wounded in almost every 
 part of his body as he was, by great luck, not one of the 
 holes made by the Pah-utes was dangerous. Two of 
 them were lying dead on the farther side of the road ; 
 and when he revived, he told those who had rescued him 
 he thought he had seen a third of them carried away 
 as they were approaching. 
 
 The preceding incident of frontier life is mentioned 
 by me for the purpose of striking a just balance with 
 regard to the protection afforded the settlements by the 
 Government. This will be the better appreciated by 
 the reader, when he hears I have been told that Captain 
 Smith was " permitted to retire," while Captain Hall has 
 since received the reward due to his services, by promo 
 tion. 
 
 Let me, before closing this. volume, relate another in 
 cident which displays, in an even more striking light, the 
 love for Uncle Sam's relatives which is so very generally 
 exhibited by his servants. 
 
 Some time in 1865 or 1866, a family had moved into 
 Honey Lake Valley consisting of an old man and his 
 wife, with a daughter, whose charming face and winning 
 manners might have entitled her to a place in far better 
 society than Susan ville could by any possibility afford 
 her. The name of the family was Pierson. Their child 
 was called Ilattie. They had settled on a ranche just 
 below Laithrop's place and near the Hot Springs. Butch' 
 Ilasbrouek had, shortly after the family arrived, become 
 acquainted with them, and greatly to the pleasure of the 
 parents, had made arrangements to reside under their 
 roof. 
 
 Of course, such fair readers as I may not have terri- 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 277 
 
 fied into closing this volume, by the too bloody tales I 
 have written out in these pages, will readily enough 
 divine the reason which had led him so quickly into an 
 intimacy with the parents and their daughter. 
 
 Ilasbrouck loved Hattie Pierson. 
 
 lie had, I believe, told me, only, of his happiness when 
 he became engaged to her. Certainly, it was not gener 
 ally known. She was still so young, that her father had 
 insisted upon the marriage being deferred until the fol 
 lowing year. 
 
 In the meantime, Hattie's beauty had attracted other 
 admirers. 
 
 These she had managed to make understand that she 
 did not love them, without* inflicting upon them, or her 
 own kindly and gentle nature, the pain of a refusal. 
 One of them was, however, more obstinately pertina 
 cious. This was a man of the name of Cockrell, who, 
 in spite of every hint she had given him, persisted in his 
 attentions, and at last made her an offer of marriage. 
 Being thus cornered, as it were, the girl was compelled 
 to refuse him. In the hope of softening her refusal by 
 giving him a positive reason for it, she blushingly owned 
 that she was engaged to Butch' Ilasbrouck. She had 
 learnt to give him the same appellation which all his 
 friends had so long done. 
 
 What was her horror when Cockrell burst into a fu 
 rious fit of passion, not only reproaching her in the vilest 
 manner, but swearing not only to kill him but the girl 
 also. 
 
 When this occurred, Butch' had been absent with the 
 Hangers. This was only for a short time, and on his 
 return, Hattie told him how Cockrell had terrified her. 
 Her lover comforted her by laughing away her fears. 
 
278 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 However, on the next day, lie made his appearance 
 where I was living, and asked me to go with him in 
 search of this man. 
 
 "What for, Butch' ?" I asked. 
 
 "Nare yer mind, Mose! When I find the darned 
 cuss, yer'll know, soon enough.' 7 
 
 Of course, I went with him. But our search was a 
 fruitless one. Cockrell had disappeared from Snsan- 
 ville the day before. No sooner had he heard that the 
 Rangers had returned than he had quitted the place. 
 When JIasbrouck found that this- was positively so, he 
 frankly told me the reason which induced him to search 
 for the fellow. 
 
 " But if you had found him, Butch', what was it you 
 meant to do ? " 
 
 " What war it I meant to do ? In course, shoot the 
 darned blackguard." 
 
 Up to this moment, he had been as cool as a cucum 
 ber, or, rather, as the winter snow on Bear River during 
 my campaign in that locality. Your quiet men are 
 always dangerous, and so I told him. At the same 
 time, I consoled him with the reflection that Cockrell's 
 conduct had proved this fact. After abusing little 
 Hattie Pierson like a dastardly cur, he had cleared out, 
 immediately after the return of her plighted lover. 
 
 " P'raps yer're right, Mose ! " 
 
 " I know I am, my boy ! A white liver always tells. 
 So has his." 
 
 " The varmint has run tu the nearest hole he could 
 find," he said with a smile. 
 
 " If we catch him, we'll smoke him out." 
 
 We both laughed, and we were both wrong to laugh. 
 In the following year, we again went upon the Ham- 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 279 
 
 T)oldt, and shortly after we had done so, old Mr. Pierson 
 decided to move further south, to Winamucca Valley, 
 near Red Hock. "When the family were passing up the 
 east side of Honey Lake, they were attacked by Indians 
 and all of them were murdered. When found, the 
 body of the old man was literally riddled with bullets. 
 Mrs. Pierson and Hattie were lying in each other's arms, 
 clasped tightly, as if in the effort to shield each other 
 from death. They had been slain in the same manner. 
 
 Intelligence of this was brought to us. And I can 
 never forget the effect it had upon Butch' Hasbrouck 
 when he heard it. 
 
 His face became lividly white, in spite of the tanning 
 by exposure it had so long had. Without a word, he 
 turned, lifted his rifle and his shot-pouch, took a small 
 bag which lie filled with parched corn, and was leav 
 ing us. Throwing my arm around his neck, I said : 
 
 u Where are you going ? " 
 
 " After them as killed my Hattie." 
 
 " Do you think I shall not go with you ? " I asked. 
 
 " Hand H'i too ? " exclaimed Brighton Bill. 
 
 Arnold and Painter were already preparing to accom 
 pany him, and, in less than an hour, we were all upon 
 the homeward road. 
 
 Our search was, for some two weeks, completely in 
 vain. Although, near the scene of the murder, keen 
 eyes could make out the trail, it was lost at a short dis 
 tance from it, owing to the rocky nature of the soil. 
 However, where we had first seen it, Butch' affirmed 
 that he had discovered the track of a white man. Ar 
 nold and myself thought as he did. If so, this man 
 was Cockrell. The belief in this fact made Ilasbrouck 
 untiring in his attempt to recover the trail. 
 
280 BUCKSKIN MOSK. 
 
 Iii spite of every effort on his part and ours, we were 
 unable to do so. It was a providential chance which 
 enabled us, at last, to fasten upon a portion of the guilty 
 parties. These were, unfortunately, all red-skins. 
 
 One morning, while on Willow Creek, we fell in with 
 five Pah-utes. It was a surprise party both for them 
 and us, and a luckless surprise for the red-skins. There 
 was no chance for their showing fight. We were 
 nearly five times their own number. Neither could 
 they fly ; we had surrounded them. Butch' had at 
 once recognized upon them portions of old Pierson's 
 clothing and some of Hattie's trinkets. We could not 
 shoot them down in cold blood, and after a brief coun 
 cil, decided upon disarming and taking them with us 
 as prisoners to Susan ville. Had Cockrell been with 
 them, I honestly believe he would never have left the 
 spot alive. Hasbro uck would certainly have slain him 
 where he stood. Nevertheless, he made no opposition 
 to our present purpose. In his horror and wrath at the 
 crime of the white scoundrel, he seemed to pass over 
 that of the red devils who had aided him in accomplish 
 ing it, as scarcely worthy of notice. 
 
 Accordingly, they were taken to Susanville and placed 
 in a species of lock-up which there did duty as a jail. 
 
 As we quitted Willow Creek, it may perhaps be men 
 tioned that one of the red ruffians appealed to us to let 
 him go, on the score that he had done nothing but 
 " shoot him gun into old white man." This plea of in 
 nocence was necessarily unattended to. 
 
 We had intended to give them a fair trial, and it was 
 to come off very quickly. It is only in large cities that 
 justice is slow and dilatory. But on the morning im 
 mediately preceding the day which had been fixed for 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 281 
 
 it, I mean the second morning of their imprisonment, 
 Harry Arnold, in company with Butch' Hasbrouck, met 
 me. It was in front of J. I. Steward's hotel. The for 
 mer said : 
 
 " Cap ! we were coming to see you." 
 
 " What is up now ? " 
 
 He had given me the rank I had held when out with 
 the Rangers. This he seldom did, even then, unless 
 we were in active and trying pursuit of the red-skins. 
 What did it mean ? 
 
 " Wall, Mose, du yer want the infarnal red cusses 
 who helped murder my Hattie to git clean off ? " de 
 manded Butch'. 
 
 "Certainly not!" 
 
 " Shut up, Butch', 5 ' exclaimed Harry, " until we are 
 somewhere, where none can hear a word you are saying." 
 
 " Ye're jist right. I will." 
 
 When Arnold spoke last, I noticed that his strong 
 fingers had grasped the arm of his companion, tightly. 
 Moreover, I was enabled to remark that the face of the 
 latter had more of its old vitality. This was, however, 
 at present, by no means of an alluringly agreeable char 
 acter. His eyes seemed to have the very devil in them. 
 When he replied to Harry, he strode rapidly up the 
 street. Arnold and myself followed him, until we had 
 passed the last house or log shanty in it, and had 
 reached a clear and open spot. Here I came to a dead halt. 
 
 " And now, man, what is it yon have to tell me ? " 
 
 " Du yer know the skunk the folks in Washington 
 sent to Pyramid Lake, last fall, as *Injun agint?" 
 
 * Unfortunately, I am unable to recall the name of this individual, 
 and therefore cannot pillory it. 
 
282 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 "Yes!" 
 
 " What d'yer think he's a' goin' tn du with the cuss'd 
 red devils we cotched up thar, " as he said this, he 
 gave a jerk with his thumb in the direction leading to 
 it, "at Wilier Crik?" 
 
 " What can he do with them ? " 
 
 " He's a' goiri' to rin 'ern off to-morrer, on to the Re- 
 sarvation. So we can't du nothing with them," Has- 
 brouck replied savagely. 
 
 " You must be dreaming, Butch'," I exclaimed an 
 grily. " The thieving scoundrel doesn't dare do it." 
 
 " Doesn't he ? " asked Arnold, with a bitter smile. 
 " Why ! he isn't even one of Uncle Sam's blue- 
 coats ! " 
 
 Arnold then explained to me how the other Ranger had 
 learned that this plan had actually been decided upon, 
 and gave me the names of some of our more timidly loyal 
 fellow-citizens, who had been induced by the agent to 
 guarantee him their support. What was there for us to 
 do ? This fellow actually represented our respected 
 Uncle ! He had probably called for the assistance of the 
 regulars stationed in the vicinity of Susanville. Little 
 doubt, perhaps, existed in our minds that our boys could 
 have whipped them with the help of their friends, who, I 
 firmly believe, would have turned out in mass, at such 
 a call as we might have made. But this would have 
 been insurrection, or treason, or something of the sort. 
 I could see nothing left for us to do, but to grin and 
 bear it. That was a natural necessity. 
 
 But somehow or other, on that night the matter was 
 removed from our hands, as well as that of the Indian 
 agent aforesaid. While we were all sleeping the sound 
 slumber of law-abiding citizens of the United States, a 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 283 
 
 party of masked men overpowered the jailer, and broke 
 into the prison. 
 
 On the next morning, a fine tree which stood at the 
 side of Albert Smith's dwelling-house bore a new kind of 
 fruit. The red-skins who had murdered Hattie Pierson 
 and her parents were dangling from its brandies. They 
 had paid for their crime with its legitimate penalty. 
 
 It was a sound and vigorous specimen of frontier justice. 
 
 Suspicion pointed its finger at many of my fellow- 
 citizens, possibly, myself included. The Indian agent 
 was furious. But the perpetrators of this act of justice, 
 outside of law, kept their own counsel. Up to the 
 present, as I have reason to know, suspicion has failed 
 to obtain positive proof of the hands that hung the five 
 Pah-ute assassins. 
 
 This volume is now drawing to a close, as in 1869 I 
 quitted that portion of the country in which I had so 
 long been residing. Nevertheless, in the preceding year, 
 one more bloody act occurred which it may be necessary 
 to record. Hiram Partridge and Vesper Coburn were 
 at this period keeping the station at Deep Hole Springs, 
 to which my pilgrimage in the winter of 1861 with 
 lame Tom Bear may be remembered by any one who 
 has not shrunken from my company up to the present 
 time. Hiram was a cousin of John Partridge, and had 
 once been a partner with me in working my claim at 
 the mines on the Humboldt. Vesper Coburn was an 
 old schoolfellow and playmate of mine, when we were 
 no more than children. Consequently, I no sooner 
 heard of their murder than I determined, were it within 
 my power, to avenge it. 
 
 Previous to this, the organization of the Buckskin 
 Eangers had been broken up. 
 
284 BUCKSKIN MOSE. 
 
 Susanville had somewhat declined from its old pros 
 perity. If the settlement round Honey Lake had been 
 growing at all, it was certainly not doing so, at its right 
 end. Montana had sprung into sudden prominence, 
 Idaho was greatly increasing in wealth and the number 
 of its inhabitants, while other places in the surrounding 
 section of the country, to the south and west, were rapidly 
 outstripping us. Many of my old comrades had gone 
 to the two places I have more distinctly named, while 
 some of them had struck on beyond, as far as Lower Cali 
 fornia. 
 
 "When this outrage occurred, I chanced to be at Reno, 
 a small town on the line of the Central Pacific Railroad, 
 which was then completed as far as Salt Lake City. It 
 is at Reno the junction is now formed with the line for 
 Virginia City, Nevada. 
 
 Some months had passed subsequent to the death of 
 Partridge and Coburn, when I encountered three red 
 skins in the vicinity of this place, and recognized the 
 horse on which one of them was mounted as Hiram's 
 property. Beside this, they all of them wore articles of 
 clothing which were decidedly not made by the Indians. 
 Had anything else been wanting to convince me of their 
 being the criminals, this was supplied by my personal 
 knowledge of the faces of two of them. These had 
 been in the actual employment of the murdered men. 
 
 They started on their return to the mountains, and I 
 followed them. 
 
 My pursuit only counted one white, all told myself. 
 Their number was triple mine. The odds were sufficient 
 to justify the weaker party in employing stratagem. 
 Suffice it that I did so, and counted three scalps against 
 the deaths of my old playmate and recent partner. 
 
BUCKSKIN MOSE. 285 
 
 If any doubt had been entertained by me of the jus 
 tice of this action, it would have been speedily dispelled 
 by the additional proof shortly after afforded me. It 
 was only a few days after my return to the Humboldt, 
 that a red-skin, known by me as Pah-ute Jim, accused 
 me of killing his brother, one of the two Indians who 
 had been employed by my murdered friends. 
 
 " Yes ! " I unhesitatingly answered. " I did kill him, 
 because he helped to kill Partridge and Coburn." 
 
 " Umph ! " he ejaculated. " Batches heap tell 'urn 
 kill. No kill, Natches heap kill Injin." 
 
 Natches, I ought possibly to mention, was, at this 
 time, the chief of the Pah-utes. 
 
 With this incident, I may fairly conclude. My Indian 
 hunting, trapping, and fighting ended with it. Since 
 this I have been engaged in mining and other pursuits, 
 having resided for some length of time in Salt Lake City 
 among the Mormons. Should my first literary venture, 
 my dear reader, prove tolerably successful, Heaven only 
 can tell whether it may not be followed by another. If 
 so, it is just within the range of possibility, I may turn 
 from Indian fighting to Mormon polygamy. I can 
 scarcely say which you may think the least interesting. 
 But I can honestly vouch for it, the many-wife business 
 will be the most amusing. 
 
HENRY L. HINTON, 
 74:4= BROADWAY, INTEW YORK. 
 
 RIP VAN WINKLE, JEFFERSON EDITION. IRVING'S 
 Legend Illustrated with original designs by Darley, 
 Hoppin and other eminent artists, and photographs in 
 photo-relief printing of Jefferson as "Bip Van Winkle," 
 by Sarony. Folio, cloth extra, black and gold, $2.50. 
 
 WINTER'S TALE. SHAKSPEARE'S PLAY. EDITED BY 
 HOWAED STAUNTON, containing twenty-seven illustra 
 tions by John Gilbert. Bound in white morocco paper, 
 with an illustration by Henry Van der Weyde. Square 
 folio, gilt, $1.25. 
 
 Two very beautiful little volumes are Shakspeare's "Winter's 
 Tale" and Irving's "Rip Van Winkle," in the "Jefferson Edition." 
 The former work is illustrated by John Gilbert and Henry Van der 
 Weyde, and we hardly need say, is an exquisite example of illustra 
 tive art. The "Rip Van Winkle" is elegantly printed, and is em 
 bellished and enriched by four of Sarony's beautiful pictures of 
 Jefferson, of which we have already had occasion to speak in terms 
 of the highest praise. These pictures are what are known as carbon 
 prints, and are fine specimens of the furthest reach of the photo 
 graphic art. N. Y. Evening Post. 
 
 SCHOOL DAYS AT MOUNT PLEASANT. INCLUDING 
 Sketches and Legends of the "Neutral Ground," by 
 RALPH MOKLEY. Illustrated by Forbes, Bon well and 
 Waude. Tinted paper, 328 pages, 12mo., cloth extra,, 
 elaborate, designs in black and gold, $1.50 
 The records of the scholastic novitiate, when pleasantly written, 
 are always entertaining, for they recall the most delightful period of 
 of every man's existence, when life was but a giddy anticipation of 
 worldly success and coveted fame. Tom Brown's ' ' School Days at 
 Rugby " won the universal heart, chiefly because it described scenes 
 that are common to all academies the world over, and gave expres 
 sion to feelings that are experienced as keenly by school-boys in New 
 York as by school-boys in Warwickshire. The author of this little 
 volume, which has been beautifully published by Henry L. Hinton, 
 744 Broadway, has narrated under the pseudonym of Ralph Morley, 
 the joys and sorrows, the pastimes and emulations of a cadet of the 
 Mount Pleasant Military Academy at Siug Sing. The scenery of the 
 Hudson Highlands, and the traditions and legends of the "Neutral 
 Ground," are skillfully and effectively interwoven with the story, 
 which is destitute of plot, and which seeks only to present the cadet 
 life at Mount Pleasant truthfully and agreeably. There are many 
 fine passages, both of dialogue and description, in the book, which 
 has the obvious and decided merit withal of being a genuine out 
 growth of the soil, a distinctive production of New York. New York 
 Evening Post. 
 
THE PUCK NOVELS. UNDER THE ABOVE TITLE WILL 
 be issued, in rapid succession a series of stories by the 
 most popular foreign and American authors. These 
 \\ill be stories with a single continuous plot, containing 
 the pith of what, in more pretentious works, is usually 
 extended over a wide field. The series will be hand 
 somely printed, and tastefully bound in cloth, and pub 
 lished at 75 cents. 
 
 I. THE BELLS. A Romantic Story from the French of MM. 
 EBCKMANN-CHATEIAN, authors of the drama of "The Bells," which is 
 founded upon this story. 
 
 H. POWDER AND GOLD. From the German of ScnucKiNa. 
 A Story of the Franco-Prussian War. 
 
 in. THE MAIDEN OF TREPPI. From the German of PAUL 
 HBYSE. A Story of the Appenines. 
 
 IV. HELENE MORTEN AND LA ARRABIATA. From the 
 German of PAUL HEYSE. 
 
 OPIRITUALISM ANSWERED BY SCIENCE. CONTAINING 
 
 O Proofs of a Psychic Force, by EDWAED W. Cox, S. L. , 
 F. B. G. S. 12mo., flexible cloth, 50c. The Pheno 
 mena Is it Delusion or Fraud? Is it Unconscions Mus 
 cular Action? Are the spectators Biologised? "What 
 is the Psychic Force ? The Theory of Spiritualism. 
 The Scientific Theory of Psychic Force. How to In 
 vestigate. 
 
 The book is written in a calm spirit by one who reports the evi 
 dence of many experiments, and reasons upon them like a man 
 determined to sift evidence, and believe accordingly. The subject 
 needs further investigation. If there be a force antagonistic to gravi 
 tation, or exempt from its influence, or at least operating to counteract 
 gravitation on the bodies in which it is diffused, science should be 
 eager to discover all that can be known about it. We recommend 
 Mr. Cox's most interesting book to the inquiring and curious. The 
 psychologist and physiologist should be equally alive to the state 
 ments it contains. The Westminister Review. 
 
 BOOTH'S ACTING PLAYS. SHAKSPEARE AND OTHER 
 Plays Adapted for representation at BOOTH'S THEATRE. 
 8vo., Paper, 30c. 
 
 I. RICHARD HI. X. RICHELIEU. 
 
 II. MACBETH. XI. MERCHANT OF VENICE, 
 
 III. MERCHANT OF VENICE. [ending with the 4th act 
 
 IV. FOOL'S REVENGE. of Sbakspeare.] 
 
 V. ROMEO AND JULIET. XH. RICHARD III. Colley Gib- 
 VI. BRUTUS. b rs's version. 
 
 VII. LADY OF LYONS. XIII. HAMLET. 
 
 VHI. OTHELLO XIV. THE IKON CHEST. 
 
 IX. MUCH ADO ABOUT NO- XV. JULIUS CAESAR. 
 
 THING. 
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