As my sickness abated, I lost no time in making my way back, and remained under my father's roof until I had in some measure recruited my forces.
Being possessed with a strong desire to see the celebrated Rocky Mountains, and the great Western wilderness so much talked about, I engaged in General Ashley's Rocky Mountain Fur Company. The company consisted of twenty-nine men, who were employed by the Fur Company as hunters and trappers.
We started on the 11th of October with horses and pack-mules, Nothing of interest occurred until we approached the Kansas village, situate on the Kansas River, when we came to a halt and encamped.
Here it was found that the company was in need of horses, and General Ashley wished for two men to volunteer to proceed to the Republican Pawnees, distant three hundred miles, where he declared we could obtain a supply. There was in our party an old and experienced mountaineer, named Moses Harris, in whom the general reposed the strictest confidence for his knowledge of the country and his familiarity with Indian life. This Harris was reputed to be a man of "great leg,"[1] and capable, from his long sojourning in the mountains, of enduring extreme privation and fatigue.
There seemed to be a great reluctance on the part of the men to undertake in such company so hazardous a journey (for it was now winter). It was also whispered in the camp that whoever gave out in an expedition with Harris received no succour from him, but was abandoned to his fate in the wilderness.
Our leader, seeing this general unwillingness, desired me to perform the journey with Harris. Being young, and feeling ambitious to distinguish myself in some important trust, I asked leave to have a word with Harris before I decided.
Harris being called, the following colloquy took place:
"Harris, I think of accompanying you on this trip."
"Very well, Jim," he replied, scrutinizing me closely, "do you think you can stand it?"
"I don't know," I answered, "but I am going to try. But
- ↑ I.e., a great traveller; able to go a great distance in a day.
