Читать книгу The Two Sams: Men of the West - F. M. Worden - Страница 7
ОглавлениеOld 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.