side they moved thru heavy forest of pine trees. No sign of the Indians. Moving north by northwest a large plains was encountered. Moving into the plain a large party of painted savages came out of the trees to the west. Their Horses were painted white and red .They looked menacing. The trappers moved into a small clump of aspen trees and hurriedly threw up breast works of pack saddles and logs.
Soon the warriors came from the trees and started to attack. War hoops filled the mountain meadow. The trappers with two rifles apiece and a pistol stopped the attackers in their tracks. The rifles with their long range, dropped eight braves. The warriors returned to the trees. Soon the Indians tried again. With only bows and arrows and a few lances. Eight more braves were sent to the happy hunting grounds. The warriors again retreated back to the trees. Soon the Indians came on foot too pickup the dead. The trappers held their fire and watched as the Braves carried their dead back into the trees.
Darkness fell. Back in the trees the trappers could see fires were started and could hear the Indians singing, dancing and beating on drums. They sang death songs and yelled war chants late into the night.
As the morning light came, the Warriors massed for a big attack, just as the rest of the trapper party came into the meadow. They saw what was going on and set up on the flank of the attackers and sent a hail of lead into the massed Indian warriors. The four in the aspen trees sent their volley of lead at the mounted braves, the Indians again retreated back into the trees. The party joined the four in the aspens. Tom Fitzpatrick told them, “The warriors are Tanto Apaches. A different tribe from Victoria’s in the south. His tribe is Mescalero Apaches. These are said to be mountain Apaches. Few if any had ever seen a white man. I hope they’ll give in and let us alone.”
Darkness fell there was no sign of the Indians. Next morning Sam and Tom crossed the plain to check on the warriors. None were there. They had vanished into the forest. They had taken they’re dead with them.
The party loaded the mules and horses and turned to the northwest. Sam and the three again were sent out to scout the trail ahead. Late the next day the four came upon the biggest canyon Sam had ever seen. A river ran in the bottom. They stood at a point where the canyon made a turn to the west from the north. The men were in awe of such a sight. It was absolutely magnificent. No one had any idea of such a place. It must be a mile across. They all agreed the main party must turn in a north east direction.
Sam was sent back to tell of their find. All agreed to go have a look see. The entire party camped on the edge of this canyon. They stayed for two days just to marvel at such a sight.
They turned away from the canyon and headed northeast across a vast open country. Another tribe of Indians scouted, watched and followed the trappers. Never moved to stop or interfere with their travel. Tom said these Indians were Navajos.
The party after days of travel found them in the high rocky mountains. Streams were teeming with beaver. The trappers stayed the summer and into the fall. When the snow came, they moved to a valley location and prepared for the winter. They built log cabins and smoked all the meat they could. The snow stayed on the ground until late spring.
The Bent brothers talked all winter of starting a trading post. They took their leave and went east to find a proper location.
Charles and William had asked Sam, “Come with us, we like your company. You’re free to do your own mind.”
Sam thanked them and said, “I owe my life to you, I’ll always be in your debt, I would like to stay and trap in these mountains.”
Sam and the others heard later the brothers had settled on the Santa Fe Trail along the Arkansas River and married Indian women.
A new trapper joined the party, a man most of the older men knew. All the men seemed to be happy to have the new comer with them. John introduced him to Sam. “Jim Bridger, most call him Old Gabe. You’ll soon know why he’s called that.”
Sam soon found Old Gabe was a tall tale teller and a run away talker. Sam found the man to be friendly and a desirable companion. Fact is Sam and Old Gabe became fast friends. Old Gabe had just come from St Lu. Jake Hawkin had sent Sam a new rifle as the word had drifted back of his ordeal, this rifle was the new type cap lock. All the men had to look her over. Some didn’t like it, until Old Gabe showed how it worked. Didn’t need a primer pan or flint? With the caps the gun was always ready to fire. “Just hammer her back and let her go.” Everyone said it was just a great idea.
Old Gabe had been in these mountains for some time before and knew the Indian tribes well, he had lived with some. “We can get along with all except the Blackfeet. They’re the ornery, meanest, doggone fightenest bunch he ever ran into. They fight all the other tribes. I don’t think they like themselves. Be on guard for them all the time.” He told Sam and the others.
John Colter bids the men goodbye and decides to go farming in the Missouri country. He dies before Sam can see him again. People and things change rapidly even in the mountains.
The American fur company is established and Mexico gets its independence from Spain and opens its streams and rivers to American trappers.
General Ashley sets up the first rendezvous on the Green river for all the trappers. Sam and his party attend and it’s fun and games. Business is conducted and the General buys all the furs the trappers have. The General sets up the next rendezvous for the following year. Sam had made more than five hundred dollars for his share for the entire year.
All the next years, the party Sam is with having the best trapping there ever could be, it’s the high mark of the fur trade. Most of the Indian tribes trade with the trappers, many trappers take Indian Squaws for wife’s. By now Sam is feeling he should return home to see his Ma and Pa and at the rendezvous he tells Old Gabe his plans to go home.
“How long you’s was gone from home?”
Sam tells him, “Best part of ten years.”
Gabe tries to tell him, “Nutt-n gon-a be the same. Some times it’s best not to get your hopes up, it ain’t gonn-a be like it was when you’s left.”
“I hope it will be better,” Sam said with hope in his voice. Sam’s mind is made up to go home.
Chapter 2
The Farmer
Sam sold his extra ponies. Kept the two best, one to ride, the other to pack. Sold his traps and rigging’s he wouldn’t need any longer. After selling his pelts and skins, he pocketed one thousand dollars in gold Coin.
Sam said goodbye to Old Gabe. “I’m gonna miss you Gabe. You have been a good friend. I’ll always remember you, the rest of my life.” Old Gabe tried to hide the tear in his eye. He brushed it away with his left hand.
Sam had never seen him with a tear before. They gave a big hug to each other. Gabe slapped him on the back. “Get the hell on the trail, you’s a loosen daylight.”
Sam mounted and with the pack horse in tow, turned his face east. It was a long ride out of the mountains. Out on the plains he could make better time. Small villages, houses, and farms began to appear where there hadn’t been anything before. “Looks like farmers are taken over the whole prairie,” he said to himself. At one farm he stopped to talk. He was told emigrants were coming by the thousands from Europe to take the land the government was making available for homesteading.
Most of the homes were made from the prairie
