Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1851-05-13
From the Pictorial Drawing Room Companion
The Trapper'S Daughter
A Western sketch.
BY DR. J. II. Robinson.

About two yeaIs ago, found myself a
ST. Louis, on my way TO / oTt Laramie, dnc
the wild regions OF tue West. | was iu1u-
enced IN my movements, partly by an inmate
love of adventure, and partly by the love o
gain; was also the bearer OF government
dispatches of some importance.
Alter completing ny outfit at 81. LoGis,
resolved TO employ two Uoydgeurs' ana {"
as far as Council Bluffs. in a canoe, whence
having procured horse from some friend
iy Indans,--I would make the best Of my
way to the North Fork Of The Platte River
Having decided upon this course, began
10 look out about for the proper person to
assist me in carrying out my plans. Voya-
geurs were plenty, but most Of them were
drunken, irollickjng fellows, not fit TO be
trusted; and even those Of this character wo ID
not engage themselves while they had cent
Of money to make merry with. AIter con-
siderable delay. and great deal OF bargain
ing. two individuals were engaged TO de-
scribe them would be IA work OF some dun
Gully, aud shall condense what have TO
say of them as much as possible.
Vanbuuon was as ugly a compeGnd OF
French and lnlian blood, as could be found
between ST. Louis and the Rocky Noun
tans. tle was short ir stature, and iemar-
kably muscular His face was covered with
4 diity beard OF some months grOsth. .aud
II was a subject Of sume curiosity To me TO
know how he could iusiuua;e his food thro'
such forest of hair.
But was soon convinced that he eXpetl.
enced no difficulty in finding his mouth, es-
pecialy when whiskey was 10 be disposed OF.
His dress consisted Of leathern hunting
shirt and deerskin breeches. He never con-
vetsed but answered all questions by series
OF gru3ts, Tar from musical. His worthy
companion differed from him quite material
Iy III person. He was al,er and more sym
metrlcal, but 40 less ugly in feature. new
er heard him called by any other name than
Mex which cOgnomen appeared tn answer
his purpose just as well as i lougor one he
belonged to no particular race OF men. but
seemed a mixture OF all; and among what
people he will be chased when all the tribes
and kindred of the earth shall be gatheI ed
together for final adjustment Of human az
fairs, is subject which puzzles me not
little. Perhaps he will turn up NJ MexicaD;
perhaps French Canadian; perhaps an
Indian; possibly Negro; bat IT'S my hum
bic opinion that he will find his relations a.
mong all these varieties of men.
Nick was not much more talkatve than
Fanburton, and loved whiSkey quite as we'll.
Everything being in readiness, LETT 81.
Louis with my Two voyageurs, bu, not great
ly prepossessed Ia favor of either. ! suOn
discovered,.with not much satisfaction, that
Vanburton kept his eyes upon small keg OF
brandy which had taken with me; and that
NICK had fallen in love with my excellent ~
ne; 10 short, both parties regarded my snpe-
nor outfit with envious ewes. NV silver
mounted 'revolVers' with their elaborate
workmanship aud cast slee! barrels. were OBJ
VIously, 10 their estimation, objects to be
coveted
l reached Westpor without accident -
When had passed il fairly. and found my
self getting into the Indian country, the voy-
sseurs began 10 talk in an uuintelllgblo
Jargon. Thefr usual apathy and indifference
disappeared, in a measure, and their gcs
lures and conversation--it conversation i
could be ealled-grew quite animated, and
al intervals even fierce. While | affected
TO be wholly Indifferent to ;hIs sudden change
"i manner, | WIS watching them with q leal
Gus eye. 1t was about noon, and the second
day from Westpott. We were skImmng
highly along the surface Of he waters. near
the right bank Of the river. The tall tees
which grew luNuranily upOn tho margin,
were nluored IN the dark depths beneath.
Whcther the sombre shadows reflected W
on our way, together with the solemn still
ness Of everything about us, affected my spir-
ITS, am not able To determine; but certain
Il is that | felt my heart sinkN within nc
Sensations OF the most gloomy and ominous
character took possession OF my faculties -
IL has been affirmed that when one is very
near death, cold, uueduhly, and heart
sicAenng shuddsr passes over the entire sys-
ten; nov whether this be the fact. or other !
wise, II is not for me TO decide; but no per-
son will convince me that did not expert.
ence a sensation analogous 10 what | have
described. struggled manfully TO Danish /
my melancholy presentiments. attempted /
TO converse with Nick. bur he was silerl and
moody, while bIs countenance grew more |
sinister aud iorbiddpg.
L think we had better 60 ashore said |
Vanburton, IN edingly bad French, ad
dressing himself 10 me.
4 urdeistood French perfectly. but the |
thought occurred TO me on the instant, that /
u would be better for me to affect to be ea-
tirely ignorant OF that language; according |
Iy shook my head. and made no answer.
Would Monsieur like veuison for bis dio
nerl' he asked, after short interval, in the
same tongue.
shook my head as before, and msdo no
reply. This seemed TO convince him that
knew nothing Of French, aud IN that Ian
gusge he and his companion commenced
conversation which | never shall forget. !
should live to the venerable age of the old |
est patriarch. Each Wed with the other 10 /
the enormity Of his iehesrsals. They told
ofirsuds, rspioe and murder, which they had
Committed at different times upon trsppers,
sdventureIs. white settlers. and Ind!ans-.
Plunder, and sp inordinaie love OF the OK.
eItement Of crime, were the motives that had /
urged them 90 their infamous career
After they had proecedsd awhtia ,n ,b,s