i must tell you how it was that deerfoot the shawanoe came to bring the important letter of george linden to his son frederick.
it has already been stated that it was the custom of a party of hunters and trappers to leave the settlement of greville in the autumn of each year and spend most of the cold weather among the streams at the foot of a certain part of the ozark mountains. at that period, the fur bearing animals abounded in the section, as they were found in hundreds of other portions of the vast area known under the general name of the louisiana territory. you must bear in mind that there were thousands of square miles that had not been trodden by a white man, and so sparse were the indian villages that large portions of the country remained to be visited even by them.
beaver, otter, foxes, bears, and buffaloes were the chief animals that were afterward driven west by the advancing tide of civilization, until the agents of the missouri and western fur companies were forced to do most of their work in the far west and north-west, where they came in collision with that vast monopoly known as the hudson bay company, which, until recent years, not only trapped and hunted throughout oregon, but along the pacific coast as far south as california.
george linden, rufus hardin and james bowlby composed the party who, in the autumn of the year of which i am writing, rode each a horse a hundred miles to the south of the frontier settlement of greville, and pitched their tent at the foot of the ozark range. beside the animals ridden, each hunter took a pack-horse to help bring back the peltries that were to be gathered during the cold weather. as a matter of course, they were provided with guns and plenty of munitions, and indeed with every necessity for their limited wants. they had spent several winters there and knew what was before them. they had hunted and trapped for years in other parts of the great west, and more than once had made the long journey to the post of st. louis to dispose of their furs, a necessity that, as i have explained, was removed by the annual visit of the agents with their long train of pack-horses to gather up the peltries.
and so, without giving any of the interesting particulars of the ride southward from greville, let us take a look at the little party gathered at their primitive camp in the wild ozark region.
the six horses had been relieved of their burdens on reaching the place, and were turned loose to crop the grass that was plentiful in many places. although there was snow now and then through the winter, there was hardly enough to cause any suffering on the part of the animals. when the storms, however, were violent or prolonged, the hardy beasts were provided with some of the stores of dried grass that was kept in stock, as may be said. in case that gave out they could make shift with the cottonwood and other trees, whose bark was not lacking in succulent qualities.
although a tolerable shelter could have been found in any one of the numerous caves within reach, the hunters preferred to erect a rough cabin, that was almost strong enough to withstand a cyclone. the keen axes enabled them to trim off the interfering limbs, and they were joined at the corners so well that very little, if any, rain or snow could force its way through. other logs and branches were laid across the top and ends fastened to the logs beneath by means of withes, so that the roof was not likely to be carried away unless the cabin itself went with it.
on the top of the roof was a thick layer of branches and leaves, packed so closely that little moisture could find its way through. there were no windows, for none was needed. the single door in front was large enough to allow free egress and ingress. at night, when there was a possibility that some curious wild animal might come snuffing around, the door was closed by means of a framework of thick limbs, also fastened together with withes, swinging on leathern hinges, and made secure by a brace leaning against it from the inside.
within this structure were stored their supplies, and the blankets on which they slept were spread upon the bare ground. their slumber was sweeter, too, than it would have been had they stretched themselves on "downy beds of ease," for health and weariness are two soporifics which art can never supplant.
the traps and appurtenances used in their toil were never taken away from the place, for there was no call to do so. such repairs as were needed from time to time were made in the cabin or on the spot, as the necessity arose. the rifles, of course, furnished the food needed, while an abundance of fish could be taken at any time from the streams in the neighborhood.
a diet solely of flesh and fish is not acceptable to any one. therefore, among the supplies annually brought to the cabin, were a quantity of coarse flour, meal, sugar, coffee, salt and tea. it may be said, that in one respect they were like modern campers out, except that they took the wrong season of the year for what so many boys consider the acme of enjoyment.
there was little in the appearance of the three men to call for special description. all were in middle life, strong, rugged, and inured to hardship. linden was rather tall, his face covered by a heavy beard in which not a gray hair had yet appeared. hardin was fully as tall, with shoulders somewhat bent, and his scant, dark beard was plentifully sprinkled with gray. bowlby was short and stocky in appearance. when in the woods he allowed his black beard to grow all over his face, but at home he was always smooth-shaven. he was of a swarthy complexion, inclined to be silent, and often moody, but like his companions he was brave, industrious and patient, holding a strong dislike of all indians, though not inclined to go to any unjustifiable length in his feelings.
the dress of the three men was similar to that of fred and terry, which has already been described. no one of them knew any thing about the modern overcoat or cloak. if there should come a spell of unusually severe weather, they had only to wrap a blanket or buffalo robe about the shoulders when compelled to visit the traps or remain long outdoors. should it become necessary to kindle a fire within the cabin for the sake of warmth, a broad, flat stone was removed from an opening in the roof directly over the blaze, and the smoke, if so inclined, found its way to the clear air outside. the cooking was done under the adjoining trees. of course it was of the most primitive character, but it suited, and that is all that is necessary.
the hunters reached their cabin about the middle of the forenoon of an autumn day. they had eaten their regular morning meal, and they got to work without delay. the horses were unloaded and turned adrift, the stores safely housed, the blankets spread on the floor of simple earth in the cabin, and then the men scattered to look after their traps. this was a large job, for the implements had to be examined and many of them slightly repaired, after which they must be carried long distances and set.
these traps were of the ordinary pattern, such as have been in general use for hundreds of years. the iron jaws was forced wide apart and kept in place by a catch, which was sprung by a slight pressure on the broad, flat portion in the middle. the trap being carefully hidden from sight, the unsuspecting animal had hardly time to rest one paw on this plate, when the fierce jaws, impelled by steel springs of prodigious strength, came together with the suddenness of lightning, and the animal, whatever he be, was in a grip from which there was no escape.
you can understand the care required to set these traps so that they would do their work. the beaver is highly intelligent, and quick to detect the signs of man's presence. nothing can tempt him to venture where he sees that his worst enemy has been before him. the fox is the synonym of cunning, and will often outwit the shrewdest trapper. he will walk around the trap and stealthily secure the bait without harm to himself. one of those animals has been known to reach forward and spring the implement, jerking back his paw quickly enough to escape the sharp teeth. a fox, too, when caught in a steel trap will sometimes gnaw off the leg just above where it is imprisoned, and afterward go through life with little inconvenience on three legs. you may be sure that he is never caught again in that fashion.
it was easy to see where the sagacious beavers were in the habit of leaving the water and climbing the bank. the trap was carefully placed below the surface out of sight, and often it had no bait at all, for it would seem that the bait itself was liable to awaken the suspicion of the beavers. occasionally, however, when it was desirable to attract them to the spot, an oily odoriferous substance obtained from the animal itself was smeared over the ground near the bank.
the otters were scarcer than the beavers, but were hunted much in the same manner. for foxes and fur-bearing animals that roamed the the woods, the steel trap was baited with such food as they were fond of (which was about every thing), and they were so numerous through that part of the territory that the hunters had little difficulty in securing what was wanted.
at the end of the second day all the traps were in position, and the three friends were grouped on the outside of the cabin smoking their pipes and talking over the outlook for the winter, which all agreed was favorable.
the bison or buffaloes, of which mention has been made, were found in the open spaces or prairies where there was plenty of grass. no such multitudinous herds were seen as have been gathered in later years on the western prairies, but there were enough to make very lively hunting for the trio, who had shot and skinned several while on their way to the beaver runs.
within a half hour's walk of the camp was a beaver dam fully half a mile wide, built with astonishing skill and strength. the backwater flooded the country for many square miles, and gave the remarkable animals just the place they wanted for their curious huts, of which i shall have something to tell you further on.
