Chapter 20 - Page 2

each other in stories

of their adventures and achievements. Here the free trappers were

in all their glory; they considered themselves the "cocks of the

walk," and always carried the highest crests. Now and then

familiarity was pushed too far, and would effervesce into a

brawl, and a "rough and tumble" fight; but it all ended in

cordial reconciliation and maudlin endearment.

The presence of the Shoshonie tribe contributed occasionally to

cause temporary jealousies and feuds. The Shoshonie beauties

became objects of rivalry among some of the amorous mountaineers.

Happy was the trapper who could muster up a red blanket, a string

of gay beads, or a paper of precious vermilion, with which to win

the smiles of a Shoshonie fair one.

The caravans of supplies arrived at the valley just at this

period of gallantry and good fellowship. Now commenced a scene of

eager competition and wild prodigality at the different

encampments. Bales were hastily ripped open, and their motley

contents poured forth. A mania for purchasing spread itself

throughout the several bands--munitions for war, for hunting, for

gallantry, were seized upon with equal avidity--rifles, hunting

knives, traps, scarlet cloth, red blankets, garish beads, and

glittering trinkets, were bought at any price, and scores run up

without any thought how they were ever to be rubbed off. The free

trappers, especially, were extravagant in their purchases. For a

free mountaineer to pause at a paltry consideration of dollars

and cents, in the attainment of any object that might strike his

fancy, would stamp him with the mark of the beast in the

estimation of his comrades. For a trader to refuse one of these

free and flourishing blades a credit, whatever unpaid scores

might stare him in the face, would be a flagrant affront scarcely

to be forgiven.

Now succeeded another outbreak of revelry and extravagance. The

trappers were newly fitted out and arrayed, and dashed about with

their horses caparisoned in Indian style. The Shoshonie beauties

also flaunted about in all the colors of the rainbow. Every freak

of prodigality was indulged to its fullest extent, and in a

little while most of the trappers, having squandered away all

their wages, and perhaps run knee-deep in debt, were ready for

another hard campaign in the wilderness.

During this season of folly and frolic, there was an alarm of mad

wolves in the two lower camps. One or more of these animals

entered the camps for three nights successively, and bit several

of the people.

Captain