第28章 Irving’s Bonneville - Chapter 8(3)

A march of three or four days, through savage and lonely scenes, brought CaptainBonneville to the fatal defile of Jackson's Hole, where poor More and Foy had beensurprised and murdered by the Blackfeet. The feelings of the captain were shocked atbeholding the bones of these unfortunate young men bleaching among the rocks; andhe caused them to be decently interred.

On the 3d of September he arrived on the summit of a mountain which commanded afull view of the eventful valley of Pierre's Hole; whence he could trace the winding of itsstream through green meadows, and forests of willow and cotton-wood, and have aprospect, between distant mountains, of the lava plains of Snake River, dimly spreadforth like a sleeping ocean below.

After enjoying this magnificent prospect, he descended into the valley, and visited thescenes of the late desperate conflict. There were the remains of the rude fortress in theswamp, shattered by rifle shot, and strewed with the mingled bones of savages andhorses. There was the late populous and noisy rendezvous, with the traces of trappers'

camps and Indian lodges; but their fires were extinguished, the motley assemblage oftrappers and hunters, white traders and Indian braves, had all dispersed to differentpoints of the wilderness, and the valley had relapsed into its pristine solitude andsilence.

That night the captain encamped upon the battle ground; the next day he resumed histoilsome peregrinations through the mountains. For upwards of two weeks he continuedhis painful march; both men and horses suffering excessively at times from hunger andthirst. At length, on the 19th of September, he reached the upper waters of SalmonRiver.

The weather was cold, and there were symptoms of an impending storm. The night setin, but Buckeye, the Delaware Indian, was missing. He had left the party early in themorning, to hunt by himself, according to his custom. Fears were entertained lest heshould lose his way and become bewildered in tempestuous weather. These fearsincreased on the following morning, when a violent snow-storm came on, which sooncovered the earth to the depth of several inches. Captain Bonneville immediatelyencamped, and sent out scouts in every direction. After some search Buckeye wasdiscovered, quietly seated at a considerable distance in the rear, waiting the expectedapproach of the party, not knowing that they had passed, the snow having covered theirtrail.

On the ensuing morning they resumed their march at an early hour, but had notproceeded far when the hunters, who were beating up the country in the advance,came galloping back, making signals to encamp, and crying Indians! Indians!

Captain Bonneville immediately struck into a skirt of wood and prepared for action. Thesavages were now seen trooping over the hills in great numbers. One of them left themain body and came forward singly, making signals of peace. He announced them as aband of Nez Perces or Pierced-nose Indians, friendly to the whites, whereupon aninvitation was returned by Captain Bonneville for them to come and encamp with him.

They halted for a short time to make their toilette, an operation as important with anIndian warrior as with a fashionable beauty. This done, they arranged themselves inmartial style, the chiefs leading the van, the braves following in a long line, painted anddecorated, and topped off with fluttering plumes. In this way they advanced, shoutingand singing, firing off their fusees, and clashing their shields. The two parties encampedhard by each other. The Nez Perces were on a hunting expedition, but had been almostfamished on their march. They had no provisions left but a few dried salmon, yet findingthe white men equally in want, they generously offered to share even this meagerpittance, and frequently repeated the offer, with an earnestness that left no doubt oftheir sincerity. Their generosity won the heart of Captain Bonneville, and produced themost cordial good will on the part of his men. For two days that the parties remained incompany, the most amicable intercourse prevailed, and they parted the best of friends.

Captain Bonneville detached a few men, under Mr. Cerre, an able leader, toaccompany the Nez Perces on their hunting expedition, and to trade with them for meatfor the winter's supply. After this, he proceeded down the river, about five miles belowthe forks, when he came to a halt on the 26th of September, to establish his winterquarters. [Return to Contents].