The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1924-08-29

Z even on the part of the passengers
/ 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 long
enough afterwards to admit OF
notifying Assinaboine and Fort
Benton of it. This was absolutely
necessary, as the neighborhood Of
lCow Island was then-whatever If
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. For
the rest, it remained that we must
put our trust in Providence, and in
the prompt action of our 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
"Mrs. Ro1fe." ] responded with
alacrity. WELL" the stranger
continued, "Rolfe and Wetzel havel
sent me for their wives and child
rem, and I reckon we'd better start
right away"
We did not need a second invi-
tation. Then the thought struck
us which we voiced: "How about
food?"
There's plenty of that aboard.
Don't you worry" the driver as
sured us. 1t was we'll he did so for
some of the remaining passengers
we're already beginning to quarrel
over the division of the provisions
left by the boat.
Our wagon was an old mud wa
gon familiar to stage-coaching
days; springless, with spring seats
from which all the spring was ia
ken by the large amount of bag I
age slowed away under them The .
pace set for us by the driver had
40 regard for comfort, and to ride
for hours in a springless vehicle
behind trotting horses over a
smooth road is almost unendur-
lble torture. Our road was not
smooth except at intervals, yet the
speed 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- 1
Use dishes, as none were included
4 our SUPPLIES. The driver had a |
ew, enough for himself, but l
Which he generously shared, even
. the frying pan, which had to be
sed as a plate. An imaginary line :
yas 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 Z
r papers held the food.
"Other times other manners" .
nd Necessity is the mother of in !
ention," are sayings singularly ap- .
to that camping trip.
At night a cover was stretched +
yer the wagon; bedding laid on :
S floor; ANDY there six of us
acked ourselves in like sardines,
nd slept as only one can out of
oors. Our driver rolled himself
4 his blankets and slept with the .
arth for mattress. He was our
uard and our cook, relieving us of
Il responsibility, and bringing us
the end of three days safely to
ur journeys end at Fort Benton !