The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1924-08-28

49, 49, HoA ~ In III
There seemed to be no ALTERNATIVE,
for the officers Of the boat, but t.
dump us all, together with our bag
age, on the shore, and leave us t
find our way to our destination a.
best we could.
This decision reached, the plar
was carried out, although Ions
enough afterwards to admit q
notifying Assinaboine and For
Benton Of it. This was absolutely
necessary, as the neighborhood o.
Cow Island was then-whatever i
may be nova most desolute re-
gion, and far removed from any
dwellings. The boat left us a lit
tie food; but that was all. Fol
the rest, it remained that we must
put our trust in Providence, and ir
the prompt action of Il distant
friends.
We were scarcely landed before
the army wagons drawn by mules
we're in sight, and we enviously
saw the Captain, the Lieutenant,
and the rest of their party hur-
ried away in the direction of AS
sinaboine. Then the steamboat
left the landing, and as it disap-
peared around the bend in the riv-
er, its former passengers began to
wonder how they would pass the
night on the open prairie with no
protection from the cold or possible
storm. 1t was not a cheerful OUT
look for a woman with two small
children.
Along about the middle of the af-
ternoon, a lumber wagon ratified
into our midst, and the driver, lay
ing down his whip, inquired for
Rolfe." I responded with
alacrity. WELL" the stranger
continued, "Ro1fe and Wetzel have
sent me for their wives and child
rem, and I reckon we'd better start
away"
We did not need a second invi-
tation. Then the thought struck
us which we voiced: "How about
There's plenty of that aboard.
you worry" the driver as
sured us. 1t was well he did SO for
some Of the remaining passengers
we're already beginning to quarrel
over the division of the provisions
eft by the boat.
Our wagon was an old mud wa
gon familiar to stage-coaching
lays; springless, with spring seats
which all the spring was ia
Ken by the large amount of bag-|
lge slowed away under them. The
pace set for us by the driver had
10 regard for comfort, and to ride
or hours in a springless vehicle
trotting horses over a
smooth road is almost unendur-
BILE torture. Our road was not
mooth except at intervals, yet the
peed maintained was not inter
upted on that account.
Our first meal was cooked at a
amp fire that evening. There was
lenty to eat but we had to impro-
Use dishes, as none were included
1 Il SUPPLIES. The driver had a
ew, enough for himself, butt
hitch he generously shared, even
the frying pan, which had to be
sed as a plate. An imaginary line
vas drawn through its center
hen he ate from one side and I
rom the other. For the rest, be-
ides the drivers plates, empty cans
r papers held the food.
"Other times other manners"
nd Necessity is the mother of in
ention," r sayings singularly ap-
ropriate to that camping trip.
At night a cover was stretched
yer the wagon; bedding laid on
s floor; and there six of us
acked ourselves in like sardines,
nd slept as only one can out of
Our driver rolled himself
/ his blankets and slept with the
arth for a mattress. He was our
uard and our cook, relieving us of
II responsibility, and bringing us
t the end of three days safely to