Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-09-21

e'i 'ne party IN the evening. lie came skul
king into camp like u beaten cur, and all his
hnery was gone. His fellow travellers AZ
first did not know him, but supposed il To be
some vagrant ront-digger sneaking into
camp; but when they recognised in this for
lorn object their prime wag, She wee she,
whom they had .eep depart in the morning
IN such high glee and high feather, they could
not contain their merriment, hut hailed HIM
with loud and repeated pcals ol Ilughler.
She wee she was not of spiril 10 he east
iy cast down; he soon joined in The merri.
mcnt as heartily as any one, and seemed Ia
consider his reverse oi fortune an excellent
joke. Captain Bonneville, however, though,
proper TO check the good hun and teman
ded with some degree Of s,ernncss tie cause
oil his altered condition. He replied, ia the
most natural aad seli.complacent ST, lie ina
! ginable, "lhat he had been among his cous-
ms, who were very pnor they hsd been de-
! lighted I" see him still much more delight
ed with his good fortune they had taken him
10 their arms, admired his equipments one
had begged for this, another fnr that :" IN
tlne, what with the poor devils inherent
heedlessness, and the real generosity OF his
dispositiIn, his needy Cousins had succeeded
IN stripping him OF all his clothes and accou>
tremcnts.
Seeing his total want Of care and force
thought, Captain Bonneville de,ermInet! TO
let him suffer little, in hopes it might prove
a salutary lesson; and, al any rate, To make
him no more presents while in the ncig hher-
hood of his needy cousins. lie was left,
therefore, 10 shii, for himself in his naked
condition which, however, did not seem to
give hi'n any concern, or 10 abaie one lot Of
his good humnr. In the course of his i1ung-
! ing ahnut the camp, however, he get posses
sion oil deer>skin whereupon, cutting a
slit IN the middle, he thrust his head through
II, so that The two ends hung down behind
and before, something like South Ameri
Can pancho, or the tabard ofa herald These
ends he tied toge her, under the armpits g.
thus arrAycd, presented himself once more
before the Captain, with an air of I've. feet self,
satisfaction, as though he thought i, inpos
sibie Tor any fault 10 he found 18th his toilet
n lille further jnurneying brought the
travellers 10 The petty village ot Nez Perces,
governed Ivy the worthy and affeclionate old
| patriarch who had made Capt. Bonneville
the costly present of the very fine horse The
old man welcomed them once more 10 lis vii
I, lage with his usual cordially, and his re-
spectacle sqnaw and hopeful son, cherishing
grateful recoIleCtions of the Ratchet and ear
hobs, joined Ia a course OF friendly gratula-
| lions
| As the much>vaunied steed once the Joy
and pride OF this interesting family, was now
nearly knocked up by travelling, and totally
Inadequate 10 the mountain scramble that
lay ahead, Captain Bonneville restored him
I" The venerable patriarch, with rene ed &C.
acknowledgements for the invaluable gift.
Somewhat TO lis surprise, he was immedi.
ately Supplied with fine two years old colt
I in his stead, substitution which, he after
wards learnt, according To Indian custom in
: such be IA 4 bar CHI al
Ter OF right.
While at this village the Perez guide had
held consultations with some Of the inhabi-
'anIS as 10 the mountain tract the party were
about 10 traverse. lie now began 10 wear
| an anxious aspect, and 10 indulge IN gloomy
iOrebodIngs. The snow, he had been told,
lay to great depth in The passes ofibe noun
| Iains, and difficulties would increase as he
proceeded. He begged Captain Bonneville,
therefore, TO trave! very slowly, so as 10 keep
The horses in strength and spirit for the hard
times they would have 10 encounter. The
captain surrendered the regulation OF the
march entirely 10 bis discretion
In the mean time the Others plndGed on al
the heels Of the guide, and accompanied by
the merry yagabond She wee she The pri-
miIIve garb worn by this droll left all his
neither man exposed TO the biting blasts of
the mountain. Still his wit was never fro
zen, nor his sunshiny temper beclouded and
his lnhumershle antics and practical jokes,
while they quickened The circulation Of his
! own blood, kept his companions in high
good humor.
So passed the first day after the departure
from the patr:arch's. The second day com.
menced in the same manner, the captain in
/ the advance, the rest of the party following
or slowly. She she for The greater part
Of The time trudged on foot over the snow
Keeping himself warm by hard exercise, and
all Kinds OF crazy capeFs. In The height OF
his iooIery, the patriarchai colt, which, I'M
broken 10 the saddle, was suffered 10 follow
on at lsrge, happened 10 come within his
reach; IN moment he was on his back
swapping hrs fingers, and yelping with de-
light. The colt, unused 10 such burden,
and bali wild by nature, follto praucing and
| rearing, a1d snOrting, and plunging & kick
ing and at length set off full speed over The
most dangerous ground. As the route led
generally along the steep and craggy sides Of
tbe hills, both borse and borsemen were con
SANITY IN danger, and more than once had a
hsr>btesdth escape from deadly peril No.
thing, however, could dauni this madcap sa
wage. He stuck to The colt like plaster,
up ridges, down gul!ies, wbooping and yelp,
ing with The widest glee. Never did beg
gar on horseback display more horseman
ship. His companions followed him with
! their eyes, sometimes laughing. sometimes
holding 10 their breath at his y8gsries, until
they saw the colt make sudden plunge or
start, and pitch his uplucky rider headlong
! over precipice. There was general cry
Of horror, and all fastened TO the spot. They
found The poor fellow lying among the rock,
! eelow, sadly bruised and mangled. II was
almost miracle that he had escaped with
life. EYen In Ibis condition his marry st,ir