The Rainbow of Gold
Copyright© 2023 by Joseph A. Altsheler
Chapter 7: The Wilderness
It was well on towards morning when we halted, though our pace had sunk long since into an easy jog-trot. But we waited in silence for the word of our leader, and I was right glad when he pulled his horse to a standstill, jumped to the ground and said:
“It’s time to halt, boys, and take a little rest”
And we needed rest, every one of us. The drip of the rain had ceased, but we were soaked and chilled, and our bones were sore. After we had cast round us a bit we found near by a grove of dwarfed cotton-wood, and in that we made our camp. With much difficulty we built a fire, but when at last the ruddy light of the blaze leaped up and sparkled and shone under the trees our spirits began to rise rapidly. Warmth and light bring life, and when the chill had left our bodies and our clothes were dry we felt fit for anything from a fight to a foot-race, as Pike put it. Then we wrapped ourselves in our blankets and went to sleep.
When I awoke the sun was already creeping up towards the zenith, and Henry and I were the only ones who still lay rolled in the blankets.
“We thought we’d give you kids a good rest,” said Pike, “considerin’ your gallop of last night and the fact that you ain’t used to wild life yet. But it’s been day a long time now and here are some birds b’ilin’ for your breakfast.”
I thanked him for his kindness, and soon Henry and I were helping to eat several prairie-chickens, which the men had shot. Then we prepared to start on, refreshed and full of courage and enthusiasm.
“Now, boys,” said Pike, as we mounted, “as near as I kin calkerlate, it’s about 1,500 miles from here straightaway to Californy. The summer’s gettin’ along, and now we’ve got to hustle to get across the mountains afore we’re snowed in. So we must stick to each other and the line of march, and have no skulkin’.”
“Right you are, my hearty,” said Starboard Sam; “and wherever the cappen leads, we’ll jest trim our sails and follow.”
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