We rode on to Memphis as rapidly as our horses could travel--far too
slow for our desires. Thence a steam-boat carried us to Little Rock,
and another to Van Buren. Many days had been consumed while waiting for
each boat--so many that on arriving at Van Buren, we found that the
caravan had the start of us by full two weeks! Its probable route we
ascertained without any difficulty--up along the Arkansas to the Rocky
Mountains, through the valley of the Huerfano, and the passes Robideau
and Coochetopa--thence across the head waters of the Colorado, and by
the old Spanish trail to California. It was principally a caravan of
gold-seekers: adventurers of all nations. Even Indians had gone with
it--of the half-civilised tribes of the frontier--red and white equally
tempted by the yellow attractions spread out for them in California.
Though large, it was what is termed a "light train"--having more
pack-animals than waggons. On this account, it would make way all the
faster; and unless delayed by some accident, we might be a long time in
coming up with it. It was not without a large measure of vexation that
we learnt how far it had got the start of us.
I should have submitted with less resignation to the necessary delays,
but that my mind had been to some extent tranquillised by the contents
of Lilian's letter. They had inclined me to the belief that the
emigrants were simply _en route_ for California--as was all the world
just then--and that the Mormon was, after all, not so strong in his new
faith as to resist the universal golden lure. His design in taking the
squatter with him might be merely of a secular character--having for its
object the securing of a partner, in whose brawny arms the wash-pan and
rocker might be handled to advantage. That they whom we sought were
gone with the caravan, we were soon satisfied. Holt was too marked a
man to have escaped observation, even in a crowd of rough squatters like
himself; but more than one eye had rested upon his fair daughter that
longed to look upon her again. _Her_ traces were easily told--as
testified by the answers to my shy inquiries. Like some bright meteor,
whose tract across the heavens remains marked by its line of luminous
phosphorescence, her radiant beauty was remembered. I needed not to
inquire of her. Scarcely a coterie of which she was not the subject of
conversation--to my infinite jealousy and chagrin. Not that aught was
said of her, that should have given rise to such feelings: they were but
the offspring of love's selfishness.
Not long had I to submit to such torture. Our stay in Van Buren was of
the shortest. In less than twenty hours after our arrival in the
village, we took our departure from it--turning our faces towards the
almost limitless wilderness of the west. I had endeavoured to add to
our company but without success. The caravan had cleared Van Buren of
its unemployed population; and not an idler remained--at least not one
who felt inclined to adventure with us. Even the needy "loafer" could
not be induced to try the trip--deeming ours too dangerous an
expedition. To say the least, it was reckless enough; but impelled by
motives far more powerful than the thirst of gold, my comrade and I
entered upon our journey with scarce a thought about its perils. The
only addition to our company was a brace of stout pack-mules, that
carried our provisions and other _impedimenta_; while the old horse of
the hunter had been replaced by a more promising roadster.
It would be idle to detail the incidents of a journey across the
prairies. Ours differed in no way from hundreds of others that have
been made, and described--except, perhaps, that after reaching the
buffalo range, we travelled more by night than by day. We adopted this
precaution simply to save our scalps--and along with them our lives--
since the buffalo range--especially upon the Arkansas--is peculiarly the
"stamping" ground of the hostile savage. Here may be encountered the
Pawnee and Comanche, the Kiowa and Cheyenne, the Waco and fierce
Arapaho. Though continually engaged in internecine strife among
themselves, all six tribes are equally enemies to the pale-faced
intruders on their domain. At this time they were said to be especially
hostile--having been irritated by some late encounters with parties, of
ill-behaved emigrants. It was not without great peril, therefore, that
we were passing through their territory; and what we had heard, before
leaving Van Buren, had made us fully conscious of the risk we were
running.
To meet with one of the hunting or war-parties of these Indians, might
not be certain death; but certain they would be to disarm and _dismount_
us; and that, in the midst of the great prairie ocean, is a danger that
often conducts to the same _denouement_. It was not preference, then,
but precaution, that led us to adopt the "secret system" of travelling
by night. Our usual plan was to lie by during the day or for the
greater part of it, concealed in some selected cover--either among rocks
or copsewood. By stealing to a conspicuous eminence, we were enabled to
view the route ahead of us, and map out our journey for the night. Upon
this we would enter an hour or two before sundown: for then the Indian
hunter has returned to his encampment, which can be easily avoided, by
seeing its smoke from afar. We often saw their smokes, and more than
once the Indians themselves; but were never seen by them--so cautiously
did we carry out our measures.
In this fashion we "groped" our way with considerable rapidity. Guided
by the waggon tracks--especially when there was a moon--we could travel
almost as fast as by daylight. Only upon dark nights was our progress
retarded; but, notwithstanding every impediment, we were enabled to
travel faster than the caravan, and we knew that we were rapidly gaining
upon it. We could tell this by the constantly freshening trail; but we
had a more accurate criterion in _the count of the camps_. By the
number of these, we knew to a certainty that we were approaching the
caravan. We were in high hopes of being able to come up with it, before
it should enter the mountain-passes--more dangerous to the traveller
than even the plains themselves: because at that season more beset by
bands of marauding savages. Under the influence of these hopes, we were
pressing forward, with all the haste it was in our power to make; when
our journey was varied by an incident of a somewhat unexpected
character.