Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1855-03-08
A FUR TRADE ADVENTURE.
BY WASHINGTON IRVING.

BY WASHINGTON IRVING.
Golfer, with the hardihood Of regu-
lar trader, had cast himself loose from
the party of Lewis and Clark, in the
very heart of the wilderness, and had
remained to trap beaver alone, on the
head waters of the Missouri. Here he
fell in with another lonely trapper like
himself, named Potts, they agreed to
keep together They were in the very
region of the terrible Blackfeet, at that
time thirsting to revenge the death of
their companions, and knew that they
had to expect no mercy at their hands.
They were obliged to keep all day in
the woody margins of the rivers, set
ting their traps at nightfall, and taking
them up before daybreak. 1t was a
fearful risk for a few beaver skins, but
such is the life of trapper.
They were on branch of the Mis-
souri, called Jefferson's Fork, and had
set their traps at night, about six miles
from a small river that had emptied
itself into the forks. Early in the
morning they assembled the river in a
canoe to examine the traps. The banks
on each side were high and perpendicu-
lar and cast shade over the stream
As they were softly padding along,
they heard the trampling of many feet
upon the banks. Golfer Immediately
gave the alarm of 'Indiansl' and was
for instant retreat. Potts scoffed at
him for being frightened at the trampling
of herd of buffaloes. Golfer checked
his uneasiness, and padded forward
They had not gone much farther, when
frightful whoops and yells burst forth
from each side of the river, and several
hundred Indians appeared on either
bank. Signs were made to the unfor-
tunate trappers to come on shore
They were obliged to comply. Before
they could get out of their canoe, a
savage seized the rifle of Potts. Golfer
sprang on shore, wrested the weapon
from the hands of the Indian, and re-
stored it to his companion, who was
still in the canoe, and Immediately
pushed into the stream. There was a
sharp twang of bow, and Potts cried
out that he was wounded. Golfer urged
him to come on shore and submit, as his
only chance for life; but the other knew
there was no prospect of mercy, and de-
ter1nined to die game, leveling his rifle,
he shot one of the savages dead on the
spot. The next moment he fell himself,
pierced with numerous arrows.
The vengeance of the savages was
now turned upon Golfer. He was strip
ped naked, and having some knowledge
of the Blackfoot language, overheard
a consultation as to the mode of dis
patching him, so as to derive the great
est amusement from his death. Some
were for setting him up as a mark, and
having trial of skill at his expense
The Chief, however, was for nobler
sport. He seized Golfer by the collar,
and demanded if he could run FAST
The unfortunate trapper was too well
acquainted with the Indian customs not
to comprehend the drift of the question.
He was to run for his life, to furnish a
kind of human hunt to his prosecutors.
Though in reality he was noted by his
brother hunters for swiftness on foot, he
assured the Chief he was very bad
runner. His stratagem gained him
some vantage ground. He was led by
the Chief into the prairie, about four
hundred yards from the main body of
savages, and then turned loose, to save
himself if he could.
A tremendous yell let him know that
the whole pack of blood-hounds were in
full cry. Golfer few rather than run;
he was astonished at his own speed;
but he had six miles of prairie to trav-
erse before he could reach Jefferson
Ford of the Missouri; how could he
hope to hold out such distance with
the odds of seven hundred to one
against him? The plain, too, abounded
with the prickly pear, which wounded
his naked feet. Still he few on, dread
ing each moment to hear the twang of
bow, and feel an arrow quiver at his
heart. He did not even dare to look
round, lest he should lose an inch of
that distance on which his life depended.
He had run nearly halfway across the
plain, when the sound of pursuit grew
somewhat fainter, and he ventured to
turn his head. The main body of his
pursuers were considerable distance be-
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