They Were Fresh From The Winter Encampment Of The American Fur
Company, In The Green River Valley; And Had Come To Pay Their Old
Comrades Of Captain Bonneville's Company A Visit.
An idea may be
formed from the scenes we have already given of conviviality in
the wilderness, of the
Manner in which these game birds were
received by those of their feather in the camp; what feasting,
what revelling, what boasting, what bragging, what ranting and
roaring, and racing and gambling, and squabbling and fighting,
ensued among these boon companions. Captain Bonneville, it is
true, maintained always a certain degree of law and order in his
camp, and checked each fierce excess; but the trappers, in their
seasons of idleness and relaxation require a degree of license
and indulgence, to repay them for the long privations and almost
incredible hardships of their periods of active service.
In the midst of all this feasting and frolicking, a freak of the
tender passion intervened, and wrought a complete change in the
scene. Among the Indian beauties in the camp of the Eutaws and
Shoshonies, the free trappers discovered two, who had whilom
figured as their squaws. These connections frequently take place
for a season, and sometimes continue for years, if not
perpetually; but are apt to be broken when the free trapper
starts off, suddenly, on some distant and rough expedition.
In the present instance, these wild blades were anxious to regain
their belles; nor were the latter loath once more to come under
their protection.
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