Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1876-05-25

possibly it was the voice of disappointed
applicant, and no further attention was paid
TO the remark An hour after the wagons
had departed, followed after and caught the
hindmOst team two or three miles out, but
the cooks wagon was nowhere in sight. Gal
Looping ahead, shortly caught sight of its
white cover mile ahead, enveloped in a
cloud of dust Evidently the horses must be
running away, thought, and only after con
siderable urging of my horse | overlook the
wagon, but great was my surprise to find that
Tanning was beating the animals most un-
mercifully and ripping out oaths that would
have done justice to a Colorado bull whacker.
For moment | was dumb-founded, not
knowing what was the cause of his excite
ment, yet feeling some respect for the man S
age and general abilities, lhesitated to speak,
hoping that when he realized my presence he
would desist from beating the horses. But
not bit OF 1.-THE lashings and oaths kept
up in no very harmonious unison Finally |
called to him not to whip them any more,
and as he drew in the reins letting them take
an easy gait, he said something about ''train-
ing the horses" And as this was, indeed, the
first time they had ever been in harness, |
thought it was possible that his plan, though
cruel, may have possessed some merit But
as he still interlarded Lis remarks with oaths,
had finally to check him in that, matter
that he seemed not to take with a very good
grace, though he said nothing. Involuntari-
ly began to think less of my Shakesperian
man Friday, and yet was puzzled by his be-
havior, and inclined to think he was in some
degree eccentric and possessed of bad tenn
per, of which this was perhaps only tenn
porary and an unusual display, and finally
my better opinion returned in some measure
as We rode along together.
We came to camp that night about halt
way up the mountains in the Ten Mile Pass,
at point where fine sping crossed the road
and where a little opening in the pine timber
promised to afford pasture for the horses.
Tanning cooked the supper admirably and
put everything away in systematic manner.
! noticed however, that he would Occa-
sionally mutter an oath clenching his teeth
when spoon for moment appeared to be
mslaid. Gathered around the fire was the
group of fifteen, and stories began to be told
in soto voice by some of the members eXpe-
rienced in the mountains. That was my first
night in the Rocky mountains, and l shall
never forget the exhilirating sensation that
possessed me.
The noisy brook in the dark ravine was an
untledged and unnamed tributary of the
"Father of Waters" and headed above as
not more than a mile on the great continental
divide, separating the waters flowing into the
Pacific and the Atlantic the line between the
Occidental and the Oriental world High
overhead the white tleecy moon lit clouds ap-
peared to be scudding through the top-most
branches of the pines which plaintively and
tunefully moaned with the night wind.
Across the ravine the distant mountains were
ablaZe in one place with fire, and we could
hear now and again the dull crash Of a fallen
forest monarch. which had succumbed to the
devouring tiend. Near by the horses, pick
eted, stamped and snorted as the campfire
occasionally revealed in weird outline, in
dark shadows the spectre of our high can
vassed wagons. Tanning, however, APP
peared not to care for sociability and going
off little ways rolled himself up in his
blankets alone to sleep.
The next drive found Us thirty miles ad-
vanced and on the western slope of the
mountains, overlooking the beautiful Deer
Lodge Valley The fourth day we reached
our starting place, the initial point Of our
survey at the mouth of Little Black foot the
head of the Helgate river
Two weeks later, we had surveyed about
twenty-five miles, and nothing Of interest in
connection with this story had transpired.
1t was true that had become hearty tired
of Tanning, and wished him out of the party,
and only awaited his recovery from Slight
attack of sickness, to discharge him. He had
quarrelled With every one in the party. from
transitman down to the aXnan. He appear
ad to be morOse, and never once did he tighten
his words with the attic salt His only
complaints were that invariably the handles
OF the pans were turned beyond his reach by
agencies unknown. But it was vile SANDER
on the men, for they left him and his pans
most severely alone. He had been sick for
two days, and confined himself nearly alto
gctier to his tent, which he had fallen sole
heir to, by the desertiOn OF uis comrades to
other tents. In the meantime Mckinstry-
our Oldest axman, had taken his place as
cook.
Camp was ordered to be NOV ed that after
noon, and after dinner, before the party
packed up excepting the Cooks tent, and a
few utensils After the departure of the men.
[ remained some time at the wagons. waiting
for Rourke, the teamster, to bring my horse
which had strayed off some distance He
had only come in with him, having thereby
missed the regular dinner. He, however,
helped himself to a bile from the tail of the
cooks wagon, where he found some tomatoes,
and other things put aside in pan. McKin-
stry, under the direction of Tanning, who
had come out Of his tent for the purpose,
was busy cooking a batch ofbread for supper.
Before leaving, l spoke to Tanning in his
tent He appeared to be nervous and excited;
he said he felt very ill, and asked my opinion
of his case. l felt his forehead and hands;
there was no fever, though his pulse was
quick but weak, while his eyes had peculiar
and unnatural brilliancy He said he suf-
fered pain in his head etc., and asked for
morphine, but there was none of that drug
in our medicine chest. could form no idea
of the nf hia int hi1fo