There is to be a praise and thanksgiving service for our safe conduct
through the deep waters and our protection from the Indians. The people
are beginning to gather near the bonfire and I must go, too.
* * * * *
Later.
Our service is over; it was grand, the singing of the old familiar
hymns by so many voices spontaneously was inspiring, the talks by five
or six ministers of different denominations were full of love for the
Master, and brotherly love for every one.
An invitation was then given for all who had enlisted in the service
of the Master to come forward and shake hands with the preachers, thus
testifying for Christ. Neelie was the first one in that long procession
to give her hand. Precious girl, she is always first in every good
work. I noticed Dr. Howard in line, and I also noticed that Mr. Reade
and Milt Walker were not among the soldiers of the cross.
The feed for stock is abundant, if it were not so, all these cattle and
horses could not find pasture.
* * * * *
Monday, July 3.
The scenes in this great expanse of low, level land on the north side
of the Platte in the early hours of this morning is hard to describe.
Corrals and camps here, there and everywhere. Cattle and horses being
driven into corrals to be harnessed and yoked, men and women cooking
by camp-fires and on stoves, everybody seemed to be in a great hurry,
all was animation and life, men riding after horses, oxen and mules;
yelling, hallooing and calling, but not a profane oath did I hear.
Among so many children, we rarely ever hear a child cry, and never hear
a woman scold.
Our train was the third to break camp and file into the road this
morning. The place that knew us yesterday will know us no more forever.
Our town of tents and wagons that was teeming with life this morning
is this evening deserted, silent, and uninhabited. We have folded our
tents and driven or rode away. I did not mount immediately, but led
Dick by the bridle, and gathered a magnificent bouquet of the most
beautiful wild flowers. I had loitered by the way and did not notice
that I was getting far behind our train, when I looked up and saw only
strangers in the train that was passing. I thought it was time to
mount, threw the bridle over Dick’s head, while arranging my flowers,
so that I would not crush them. I saw a gentleman in the train throw
down his whip and start toward me, as if to assist me in mounting. I
waited until he was quite near, then placing a hand on either horn I
sprang lightly into the saddle, turned and waved my bouquet toward him
as Dick galloped off. Such a cheer as the men in the train did raise,
and then such merry laughter; it was fun to hear them.
Dr. Howard says it was Colonel Woolfolk--a gallant young widower--and
the men that witnessed it guyed him unmercifully on having been
snubbed. We came to the western extremity of Fremont’s Orchard, ten
miles, and stopped for lunch. Then came the Sand Hills, where all the
heaviest wagons had to double teams to get through. The captain came on
four miles and selected a camping ground, and we drove to our places,
to wait for the heavy wagons to get through the sand.
Hillhouse, and several others, who came on with us, went hunting for
antelope. We have been feasting on antelope for several days; it is
fine, but if I could have my choice I would rather live on ham and
bacon all the while than to have our men go hunting in this Indian
country. Since we have crossed the Platte we have no protection from
the soldiers, as there are no stations on this side the river.
We suffer agony when our boys are away from camp guarding stock or
hunting. I have no fears for myself nor any of us while we are all
together in corral; but just a few away by themselves, how easily they
might be cut off. There were Indians seen this morning by men looking
for feed for the stock. It is almost dark and the boys have not come. I
think the captain is getting anxious; he keeps looking in the direction
the boys have gone. Ten P.M. The boys have just come with one
antelope. They lost their bearings and came to the river, one mile or
more above camp, and that was what kept them so late. When we scolded,
they said they were obliged to stay to get at least one antelope for
our Fourth of July dinner to-morrow.