The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1837-12-02
THE RECLAIMED BEAUTIES.
BY WASHINGTON IRVING.

discovered two. who had figured as tneir
Snnaws These connections frequently take
Mace for season; and sometimes commune
for wears. if not perpetually; but are apt 10 De
broken when the free trapper starts OIL SUD
denly on some distant and rough expedi-
ton. .,,,, 4
Tn the n ,sent instance, these wild blades
Wore anxious to regain the bellies: nor were
the latter loath once more to come under their
protection. The free trapper combines, IN
the eve of an Indian girl, all that is dashlng
and heroic in warrior of her own race,
whose gait, and garb and bravery, he EMU
lates, with all that is gallant and glorious IN
the white man. And then the indulgence
with which he treats her; the fnery III which
he decks her out; the state in which shel
moves; the sway she enjoys over both his
purse and person, instead of being the drudge
and slave of an Indian husband obliged to car
nv his pack, and build his lodge, and make
his fire, and bear his cross humours and dry
blows No; there is no comparison in the
ewes of an aspiring belle of the wilderness, be-
tween free trapper and an Indian brave.
With respect to one of the parties, the mat
ter was easily arranged. The beauty in ques-
ton was pert little Eutaw wench, that had
been taken prisoner, in some war excursion,
by Shoshonie She was readily ransomed
for few articles of trifing value; and forth
with figured about the camp in fine array,
"with rings on her fingers, and bells on her
toes" and tossed up, coquettish air, that
made her the envy, admiration, and abhor-
renee of the leathern-dressed, Woodworking
squaws Of her acquaintance.
AS to the other beauty, it was quite diff
ferent matter. She had become the wife of a
Shoshonie brave. 1t is true, he had another
wife, Of older date than the one in question
but the latter was the wife of his last fancy
his latest caprice, and was precious in his
ewes. All attempt to bargain with him, there
fore, was useless: the very proposition was
repulsed with anger and disdain. The spiri
of the trapper was reused; his pride was
piqued as we'll as his passion. He endeavo
red to prevail on his quondam mistress t.
elope with him. His horses were fleet; thu
winter nights were long and dark before
daylight, they would be beyond the reach O
pursuit and once at the encampment il
Green river valley, they might set. the Who'll;
band of Shoshonies at DEF nee.
The Indian girl listened and ongcd. He
heart yearned after the ease and splendor o
the condition of a trappers bride, and throb
bed to be freed from the capricious control 0
the premier squaw but she dreaded the fail
ure of the plan, and the fury of Shoshonie
husband. They parted; the Indian girl in
tears, and the mad-captrapper more mad than
ever with his thwarted passion.
Their interview had, probably, been detect
ed, and the jealousy of the Shoshonie brave
aroused-a clamor of angry voices was hearc
in his lodge, with the sound of blows, and ;
female weeping and lamenting. At night, a.
the trapper lay tossing on his pallet, sof
voice whispered at the door of his lodge His
mistress stood trembling before him. She was
ready to follow whithersoever he should lead.
In an instant, he was up and out. He had
two prime horses sure, and swift of foot, and
of great wind. With stealthy quiet, they were
brought and saddled and, in a few moments
he aud his prize were careering over the snow,
with which the whole country was covered
In the eagerness of escape, they had made no
provision for their journey: days must eapse
before they could reach their haven of safety,
and mountains and prairles be traversed,
wrapped in all the desoations Of winter. For
the present, however, they thought of nothing
but flight; urging their horses forward over
the dreary wastes, and fancying, in the how
ling Of every blast, they heard the yell of the
pursuer.
At early dawn the Shoshonie became aware
of his loss. He soon found the trail of the
fugitives, and spurred on in hopes of overta-
king them. The Winds however, which
swept the valley had drifted the snow into
the prints made by the horses hoofs In a lit
tie while, he lost all trace of them, and was
completely thrown out of the chase. He
knew, however, the situation of the camp to-
wards which they were bound, and direct
course through the MOUNTAINS, by which he
might arrive there sooner than the fugitives
Through the most rugged deflcs, therefore,
he urged his course day and night, scarce
pausing until he reached the camp 1t was
sometime before the fugitives made their APP
pearance. Six days had they been traversing
the WINERY wilds. They came haggard with
hunger and fatigue, and their horses fatering
under them. The first object that met their
eyes, on entering the camp, was the Shohos-
ME brave He rushed, knife in hand, to plunge
it in the heart that had proved false to him
The trapper threw himself before the cover
ing form of his mistress, and feeble and ex-
hausted as he was, prepared for deadly
struggle. The Shoshonic paused. His ha-
bituaI awe of the white man checked his arm: