Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-05-19
Ersm the Pictorial Drawing Room Companion.
THE TRAPPERS DAUGHTER. =.
A Western Sketch.
pY DIR U. H. ROBINSON.

Atouttwo years ago, found myself at
ST. Louis, on my way to Fort Laramie,
and the wild regions Of The West. / was
anfiaencsd in my movements, partly by an
inmate love Of adventure, and pnrily by the
love of gain; was also the bearer Of gov
eefnment dispatches of some importance.
Afiercompleting my outfit al ST. Louis
4 resolved 10 employ two royagsnrs, and
go as far as Council Blufs, in a canoe.
wilence,.--having procured horse from
some friendly Indians, / would make tie
best of my way IA ahe North Fork OF the
Platte River.
Having decided upon this course, began
10 look about fer the proper person to assist
sne in carrying out my plans. Voyageurs
were plenty, but most Of them was drunken.
4rollioking fellows, not fit to be trusted;
and even those of this character would not
engage themselves while they had cent
Of money TO make merry with. tier
considerable delay, and a great deal Of
bargaining, Two individuals were engnged.
10 describe Them would be q work OF some
difficulty, and shall condense what have
10 say Of them as much as possible. s
Vanbufton was as ugly q compound Of
French and Indian blood as could be found
be.woen ST. Louis and the Rocky Noun
aains.. He ~as short in stature, and re-
markably muscular. His face was cover
ed with a dirty beard of some months
growth, nnd il was a subject of some curi-
.osity 10 me to know. how he ceu,d insinu-
ale his food through such forest of hair.
But 1 wns soon convinced tAat he ex.
perienced no difficulty in finding his mouth
especially when whiske ey was to be disposed
Of. His dress consisted of. a 4eatherr
hunting shirt and deerskin breeches. He
never cofiversed, but answered all questions
by a series Of grun.s, far from musical.
His worthy companion differed from him
quite materially IN person. He was tails
'er and more symmetrical, bat no less ugly
in feature. never heard him called by
any other name than Nick which cogno,
men appeared to answer his purpose gust as
well as a longer enc. ae belonged to nc
particular race of men, but seemed mix
ture of all; and among what people be
will be classed, when all the tribes anc
kindred of the earth shall be gathered to
gelher for q final adjustment OF human af
fairs, is q subject which pnzzles me not {
little. Perhaps he will aurn up Mexi
can; perhaps French. Canadian; perhaps
anIndian; possiblya Negro but lis m,
huable opinion that he will find his rela
tiona.an.ong nn these varieties Of men.
Nick was net much more talkatiye thar
Vanbursen,l and loved whiskey quite a
well 3e. az
Everything being in readiness, / left st
Louis with my two yoyageurs, but no
greatly prepossessed in favor Of either. =
soon, discovered, not much to my satisfac
aioh, that Vanburton. kept his eyes on
small .keg of brandy which / had tokel
wilhSnae; and that Nick had fallen in lovt
wathmy excellent rifle; in short, both par
tics regarded my superior outfit with envi
Gus eyes. My silver mounted 'reyolyers,
with their elaborate workmanship ant
cast steel barrels, were obviously, in thei
estimation, objects TO be ecoveted. f. E.s
i reached Westport without accident
WYhenI passed itfairly, and9found mysel
getting into the Indian country, the voya
Eenrs began TO talk in an unintelligibl
iargon. Their usual apathy and indlher
snce disappeared, in a measure, and thei
gestures and ceRyersation-if conyersatio
i could be called-grew quite animated
and at intervals even fierce. While ! o
sected to be wholly Indifferent to this sudde
change Of manaer, was watching the'
with jealous eye. TaL
.altswas about noon, and the second da
from Mestport. We were skTmmin
tightly along the surface of the water
near the right bank of the river. tt
tall trees which grew luxuriantly upon Il
margin, were mirrored in the dark deptl
beneata. Whether the sombre SHADOW
reflected upon our way, together with Ii
3