Across America; Or, The Great West and the Pacific CoastRusling, James Fowler
History
Across America; Or, The Great West and the Pacific Coast
Rusling, James Fowler
Overland journeys to the Pacific; Pacific States -- Description and travel; West (U.S.) -- Description and travel
matches, in return for his broken talk, and he went trotting off with
the rest.
That night we spread our blankets as usual, in the corral, at the foot
of a hay-stack, and before going to sleep fell to talking about this
affair, and its possible consequences--perhaps even to Ganow and his
family themselves. He had a smart wife and two bright children, and
it seemed strange a man like him would expose them thus, in such a
remote and dangerous locality. From this we strayed to other topics,
and talked far into the night, as was often our wont on this trip--the
stars were so brilliant, and the night-air so inviting. Near midnight,
while T. was spinning one of his longest yarns, and I was lazily
listening--on my back, with my hands under my head, and knees at an
angle--suddenly an Indian, half naked, loomed up just at our feet,
with bow and arrows in hand, and a revolver at his waist. To seize my
Spencer was the work of an instant, and the next I demanded:
"Who's there? What do you want this time of night?"
T. stopped talking, and quickly fished up his revolver from the hay,
not seeing the Red Skin till after I challenged him. Back jumped the
Indian, exclaiming excitedly:
"Ugh! No shoot! Me friend! Me Charley!"
"Well, what are you doing here at this hour? What do you want now?"
"Me been down to Indian Wells. 'Tother fellow got him knife and
dollar. Good! Dieganos much friend to Gen-e-ral. Heap!"
"Well, then, Charley, why don't you go home, with the others? What
are you loafing here for?"
"Me been playin' cards, till now! Charley gamble a heap! _Mucho! O
mui mucho!_ Lost all. Coat, hat, shirt, all gone. Me beggar now; got
nothing. Charley want Gen-er-al and fat friend (T. _was_ a little
stout) give him one dollar. Win um all back, quick! Heap more!"
We pitied the poor fellow, but bade him leave till morning. He still
lingered, reluctant to go, but presently walked slowly off muttering
to himself, and we both became uneasy, as we knew there were a
hundred savages close within his call. However, after lying awhile
undisturbed, we concluded there was no use borrowing trouble, and
T. agreed to keep watch, if I would try to sleep. Once or twice he
woke me up with a "hist," and we fancied we heard the stealthy tread
of Red Skins about us; but none molested us, and morning broke at
last much to our relief. We breakfasted and were off too early for
Indian habits, so that Charley missed his "dollar," after all; but
we left him a plentiful supply of matches and "smoke-tobacco," which
doubtless served him far better. This experience, altogether, was
rather exciting at the time; and it is not too much to say, that our
friend Charley just escaped getting a bullet or two through him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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