登陆注册
14363800000129

第129章

Spring Arrangements at Astoria.- Various Expeditions Set Out.-The Long Narrows.- Pilfering Indians.- Thievish Tribe at Wish-ram. - Portage at the Falls- Portage by Moonlight.- An Attack, a Route, and a Robbery.- Indian Cure for Cowardice.- A Parley and Compromise.- The Despatch Party Turn Back.- Meet Crooks and John Day.- Their Sufferings.- Indian Perfidy.- Arrival at Astoria.

AS the spring opened, the little settlement of Astoria was in agitation, and prepared to send forth various expeditions.

Several important things were to be done. It was necessary to send a supply of goods to the trading post of Mr. David Stuart, established in the preceding autumn on the Oakinagan. The cache, or secret deposit, made by Mr. Hunt at the Caldron Linn, was likewise to be visited, and the merchandise and other effects left there, to be brought to Astoria. A third object of moment was to send despatches overland to Mr. Astor at New York, informing him of the state of affairs at the settlement, and the fortunes of the several expeditions.

The task of carrying supplies to Oakinagan was assigned to Mr.

Robert Stuart, a spirited and enterprising young man, nephew to the one who had established the post. The cache was to be sought out by two of the clerks, named Russell Farnham and Donald M'Gilles, conducted by a guide, and accompanied by eight men, to assist in bringing home the goods.

As to the despatches, they were confided to Mr. John Reed, the clerk, the same who had conducted one of the exploring detachments of Snake River. He was now to trace back his way across the mountains by the same route by which he had come, with no other companions or escort than Ben Jones, the Kentucky hunter, and two Canadians. As it was still hoped that Mr. Crooks might be in existence, and that Mr. Reed and his party might meet with him in the course of their route, they were charged with a small supply of goods and provisions, to aid that gentleman on his way to Astoria.

When the expedition of Reed was made known, Mr. M'Lellan announced his determination to accompany it. He had long been dissatisfied with the smallness of his interest in the copartnership, and had requested an additional number of shares;his request not being complied with, he resolved to abandon the company. M'Lellan was a man of a singularly self-willed and decided character, with whom persuasion was useless; he was permitted, therefore, to take his own course without opposition.

As to Reed, he set about preparing for his hazardous journey with the zeal of a true Irishman. He had a tin case made, in which the letters and papers addressed to Mr. Astor were carefully soldered up. This case he intended to strap upon his shoulders, so as to bear it about with him, sleeping and waking, in all changes and chances, by land or by water, and never to part with it but with his life!

As the route of these several parties would be the same for nearly four hundred miles up the Columbia, and within that distance would lie through the piratical pass of the rapids, and among the freebooting tribes of the river, it was thought advisable to start about the same time, and to keep together.

Accordingly, on the 22d of March, they all set off, to the number of seventeen men, in two canoes - and here we cannot but pause to notice the hardihood of these several expeditions, so insignificant in point of force, and severally destined to traverse immense wildernesses where larger parties had experienced so much danger and distress. When recruits were sought in the preceding year among experienced hunters and voyageurs at Montreal and St. Louis, it was considered dangerous to attempt to cross the Rocky Mountains with less than sixty men;and yet here we find Reed ready to push his way across those barriers with merely three companions. Such is the fearlessness, the insensibility to danger, which men acquire by the habitude of constant risk. The mind, like the body, becomes callous by exposure.

The little associated band proceeded up the river, under the command of Mr. Robert Stuart, and arrived early in the month of April at the Long Narrows, that notorious plundering place. Here it was necessary to unload the canoes, and to transport both them and their cargoes to the head of the Narrows by land. Their party was too few in number for the purpose. They were obliged, therefore, to seek the assistance of the Cathlasco Indians, who undertook to carry the goods on their horses. Forward then they set, the Indians with their horses well freighted, and the first load convoyed by Reed and five men, well armed; the gallant Irishman striding along at the head, with his tin case of despatches glittering on his back. In passing, however, through a rocky and intricate defile, some of the freebooting vagrants turned their horses up a narrow path and galloped off, carrying with them two bales of goods, and a number of smaller articles.

To follow them was useless; indeed, it was with much ado that the convoy got into port with the residue of the cargoes; for some of the guards were pillaged of their knives and pocket handkerchiefs, and the lustrous tin case of Mr. John Reed was in imminent jeopardy.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 火葬场灵异事件

    火葬场灵异事件

    我是一名火葬场的员工,工作这些年遇到了大量令人毛骨悚然的恐怖经历……
  • 神谕之行

    神谕之行

    文七月,出身在七月,所以他有了这个名字。文七月从小就有一个梦想,一定要娶隔壁老王家的女儿做老婆。隔壁老王的女儿叫王虞雯,生的那叫一个水灵。即使是天上人间下来收徒的仙女都没她漂亮,可是老王家的要求可高了,听姑姑说隔壁老王说过至少也得当上双庆城的城主才能配上他家的闺女。为了能娶到王虞雯,还是和仙女姐姐去学本事吧。她可说了,学好本事,回来当一个城主,那叫大材小用。于是文七月决定跟着仙女姐姐去学本事。其实最主要的原因还是因为仙女姐姐也很漂亮,而且她手上还有一个棒棒糖。后面一个理由才是重点。
  • 邪王宠妻:特工狂妃很诱人

    邪王宠妻:特工狂妃很诱人

    她是二十一世纪的冷血特工,意外穿越,直接入冷宫。肚子里多了个小包子。咱不怕,咱有金手指。金手指一开,财富滚滚来,美男,你咋也来了,而且咋还这么多呢?某人黄衣贵金邪魅无边∶我是你的丈夫,你应该和朕走,朕是皇上……秦沫雯不屑一顾∶皇上有什么了不起的?既然把臣妾打入冷宫,那就是恩断义绝。超凡脱俗的某王爷暧昧地凑近∶还是和我一起吧,我们是同盟……秦沫雯躲开∶同盟?同盟就一定要在一起吗?紫衣飘飘的异国王子理直气壮∶你必须和我在一起。我是你的救命恩人……秦沫雯嗤之以鼻∶救命恩人怎么了,你救了我,我就要以身相许啊?好像没有法律规定这一点吧。众人∶你到底选哪个?秦沫雯∶我要独身。【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 甜心专宠:倒追男神100次

    甜心专宠:倒追男神100次

    (1v1复仇宠文,开头虐,中间暖,结局温馨有爱。)“现在的童堇夏消失了,你是不是,就会马上忘了这个人?”三年前,她一笔一划的在离婚协议书上写下自己的名字,心痛和他给她的耻辱深深的刻在她的心上。她发誓,一定要让面前的男人后悔他现在的决定。三年后,她背上沉重的复仇包袱,逆袭归来。处心积虑的用带着“面具”的自己接近他和他的家人……当他彻底迷恋于她,她忍下心痛,狂笑着:“易安然,你不配!”她被迫撕下面具,与他对峙,却不料他的阴谋中暗藏的深情……瑾年夏日,有你便是安好时光。
  • 蓝色薰衣草的约定

    蓝色薰衣草的约定

    她是c市的神秘统治者和少女组合主唱,他人前是无权无势的明星,人后他是神秘家族唯一继承人。“千儿,我喜欢你,从来就只喜欢你。“易烊千玺认真的对蓝千玺说。”蓝千玺低声一笑,道:“梨玺,不爱我吗?“怎么可能!我不爱自己都不会忘记爱你!”易烊千玺连忙解释,着急的样子逗极了。“卑微的爱情永远没有结果。“你是你,她是她,你终究变不成她。“不是一个世界的,就不该在一起。“喜欢你只不过是因为你跟她长的很像罢了。“若是从未来过,又何曾遇见。“讨厌你还需要理由么!“一一此文又名《TFBOYS蓝色薰衣草的相遇》情结纯属虚构,请勿模仿。
  • 轮回圣域

    轮回圣域

    曾因爱痴狂,也曾兄弟情深。曾万众瞩目,是修道的奇才。却因心爱之人和兄弟的背叛,道根被废,从此与道绝缘。朝问道则不得死,道心使然,由死向生。少年因缘弃道,因缘得道,背后竟是一只无形的大手在默默的操纵着一切.............
  • 阴阳诡案

    阴阳诡案

    千万别照大头贴,没死算你命大!小镇上演扒皮鬼案,市中富人相继自杀,多少恶鬼缠身,只因些不易察觉的小事?我是个神棍,靠死人吃饭,在死者头七那晚,遭遇回煞惊魂。以往被忽略的东西,救下我的命,一身本事,终于有了用武之地。除恶鬼、斗邪士、追虫人、闯佛坑等,我多次濒临死亡,只为查出真凶。生活里,有太多离奇诡事,我用经验告诉你,想活着,处处请小心......
  • 我不是宇宙英雄

    我不是宇宙英雄

    宇宙,未知且神秘。且看叶权带领人类如何横扫万族,迈向宇宙之巅。——————————————————不跟你多说请打开本书,观看这一场华丽的个人秀本文慢热型爽文,希望各位看官慢慢看下去……
  • 爱妃千千宠:皇上请让开

    爱妃千千宠:皇上请让开

    【宠文,独宠】别的妃子千思万想,怎么爬上皇上的龙榻。唯有她,嫌弃起一国之君了。“妾身什么都不会,皇上你找别的妃子吧。”某人说。“爱妃,不会就学,朕教你。”某不要脸的帝王,死皮赖脸。
  • 替嫁:暴王的宠妃

    替嫁:暴王的宠妃

    本书移动阅读基地平台名为:《孽债:替嫁残妻》新文《阴毒继母:暴王,妃要一纸休书》求收藏http://www.*****.com/?book/137675/index.html小姑姑挖空心思陷害设计玩阴谋,她却成了牺牲品,被迫替嫁给了传说中喜怒无常暴虐不仁的暴戾王爷,开始了水深火热的生活,一次次的逃亡,却次次被抓回,换来了一次比一次更加残暴的……精彩片段一:冰冷的嗓音在大堂里回荡:“本王没时间在这里和你一个不守妇道的小女子耗,直接抬进去洞房,不拜堂了!”一句话,激起千层浪!不拜堂,哪里还是正妻?连一个低等妾室都不如!潇潇悚然惊怒……精彩片段二:“看,本王多宠爱你,你说放了她就放了她,只不过,你就要先和本王的宠物玩一会了呢。”君帝天残忍的将潇潇放进了笼子里,对面的苍狼一脸凶狠,獠牙呲开,焦燥的用力扑向潇潇……精彩片段三:“本王的小奴隶,若再敢违背本王或再逃走,小心你脆弱的小脖子。”男人邪肆一笑,残忍冷酷的话无情刺穿她脆弱的心房他霸道低吟:“潇潇,你是用来抵债的,今生,天堂地狱你也逃不掉!宠和伤害都只能是我赐予你!”“魔鬼,爆君,我一定会杀了你!”她怒吼着坠入深渊支持画纱吧,收藏+票票+留言=画纱的动力,万分感谢!