CHAPTER VII--MOUNTAIN TROUT
It was not until he was left alone that the full sense of hisdifficulties came upon Reuben Benton. He watched his recent companionas leading his little train he slowly passed to the north and soon washidden from sight among the foothills. He might have gone with him,although the man had not been cordial in his suggestion, but the chiefbarrier was that Reuben had taken an intense dislike to the boastfulman. Not the least of the grounds for his prejudice was the ridiculewhich the giant had heaped upon Reuben's hero, Kit Carson. For amoment, however, Reuben almost wished that he, too, had gone with theman, much as he disliked him. At least he would be certain to gosomewhere, and now he did not even know what fate had overtaken JeanBadeau. As yet no suspicion had occurred to him that any seriousmisfortune had befallen the trapper. Indeed, Reuben was inclined to beangry with the man for having departed without awaiting his return.
He thought, too, of Kit Carson, and the band which he had led into thedefiles of the Rocky Mountains on their trapping expedition. He hadbeen eager to join that party, but the same opposition greeted himwhich years before had been faced by Kit Carson himself. The men wereafraid that he was not sufficiently strong to endure the hardships ofthe long journey and the trying winter that was certain to come. Forthat reason Reuben had accepted the invitation of Jean to go with him.
Jean did not wish to trap with a band, as we know. And yet he did notplan to be entirely alone. His own thought had been that if Reubenshould accompany him, at least he would provide company, and if evilbefell him he would not be bereft of all help.
And Reuben had listened to the appeals of Jean, not only because of hiseagerness to become a trapper, but also because he was compelled tochoose between being bound out to some of the Missouri pioneers or elseto learn the harness trade, as Kit Carson had learned it before him.
Reuben's father, a ne'er-do-well, had urged Reuben to accompany hisolder brother William when he had migrated from Virginia to find a newhome in the rich lands of western Missouri. Reuben had been treatedwith a degree of kindness by his older brother, but his brother's wifeobjected to his remaining longer a member of the household. She now hadsix children of her own to care for, and the addition of anotherdependent had become somewhat irksome. She was a worn, nervous,scolding, irritable woman, and Reuben, after a long talk with hisbrother, had decided that it was wiser as well as better for him tofind a home somewhere else.
It was soon after this decision had been made that the homeless lad hadmet Jean, who had returned from his annual trip to the fur country. AndJean had not found it difficult to persuade Reuben to accompany him.There were visions held out before him of the great wealth that was tobe obtained by trapping, and the adventures which Jean graphicallydescribed with many gestures also had their own appeal for Reuben. Hewas now a well-grown boy of sixteen, strong, skilled in the use of therifle, and he confidently believed that he was equal to any of thehardships which an ordinary party of trappers might be compelled toundergo.
Not much time was required in preparations for the journey. Reuben'srifle, a few traps, most of which were unreliable, and a few otherbelongings were collected. A pony was provided by Jean, and when he setforth from Pain Court, aside from his brother William, there was slightregret in his heart for any one he was leaving behind him.
The long journey had been made with but few mishaps. They were nowwithin sight of the land of promise, but on the very border he had losthis companion. And yet, as has been said, Reuben was by no meansconvinced that Jean was lost. He was inclined to believe that Jean hadleft him, either expecting to return or that the boy would soon findhim. Perhaps he had seen the Indians whom Reuben had met and wasfearful of their evil intentions. They might be only the scouts of alarge band not far away.
The thought for a moment made even Reuben uneasy and he glancedapprehensively about him. The noisy little mountain brook not far awaymade the only sound he could hear. Above him in the sunlight toweredthe summits of the lofty mountains. Trees and grass were about him, andno scene upon which he had ever looked had been more peaceful in itsoutward appearance.
It was now late in the afternoon. Reuben was aware that he was not onlytired, but also hungry. It was necessary for him to obtain something toeat, although he was uncertain where food was to be found. That, likecertain other disagreeable facts, however, must be faced.
Near the little brook he suddenly saw a deer approaching from the upperpart of the gorge. A moment later he was aware that it was a doeleading her fawn to the brook for a drink. Reuben, who had been seatedmotionless, had not been discovered by the timid creatures, and as thewind was blowing toward the valley below him the keen-scented animalshad not noticed his presence.
Here was his supper sent directly to him!
The sight of the graceful little fawn, however, caused Reuben tohesitate. He hated to shoot the pretty little creature. He watched thefawn as it glanced up into its mother's face with an expression thatwas as filled with affection as that which he had seen sometimes in theface of a child. Already he had raised his rifle to his shoulder, butfor some reason he did not shoot. The sudden loosening of a stone byhis foot produced a sound which made the two animals look quickly inhis direction, and instantly he was aware that he had been discovered.For a moment the doe anxiously gazed at the intruder, and then like aflash she was gone, followed by the fawn. The supper which had come tohim almost miraculously was lost, and for a moment Reuben was inclinedto blame himself for yielding to his feeling of sympathy for the fawn.
And yet what was he to do for his supper? Carelessly he advanced to theborder of the brook and looked with interest at the hoof-prints of thedoe and the fawn. He was aware that there were occasional pools in thelittle stream, and as he glanced into one he had a momentary vision ofa fish darting under the shadow of the overhanging bank. Reuben hadnever heard of mountain trout, but the sight of the fish instantlysuggested a plan by which he might be able to obtain his supper.
A few yards below the place where he was standing the stream narroweduntil it was not more than two feet wide. Quickly he rolled some of theloose stones to the place so that when they fell into the water theyserved as a barrier in the stream. When a half-dozen stones had beenplaced in the narrow neck of water Reuben cut a good sized club, and,going up the stream a short distance, stepped into the water. As headvanced he shouted and struck the water and was positive that severaltimes he saw fish dart swiftly down the stream before him. Proceedingcautiously and using his club all the time, he soon drew near the damhe had made. As he did so he began to leap up and down in the water andshout and strike the bank as well as the stream with his club.
The hungry boy was delighted when a few moments later a fish, findingits progress barred in either direction, leaped out of the water.Reuben succeeded in striking it with the club he was carrying, andwatched it as it fell on the ground several feet away from the stream.If there was one fish in the water, he concluded there must be others,and quickly he repeated his tactics. After two failures he succeeded inobtaining another fish, and finally threw the third up on the bank. Thelast was larger than the other two combined.
Again the problem of his supper had been solved. He soon secured thethree fish he had taken and, returning to the spot where he had lefthis belongings, he at once made them ready for cooking. Afterward hecollected a mass of branches which had fallen from the nearby trees andwas preparing to kindle a fire.
In the midst of his occupation he abruptly stopped. Should he light afire? It is true it might not only provide a means of cooking the fish,but also indicate to Jean, who could not be far away, the presence ofhis camp. On the other hand, the Indians he recently had seen had toldhim that many more redmen were among the mountains. They, too, mightsee the fire and might steal upon him unaware.
The feeling of hunger, however, was so strong that Reuben soon decidedin favour of a fire. Disregarding the danger, by means of his flint andtinder he soon started a roaring blaze. He had made a rude littlefireplace by
piling some of the stones in such a manner that the topwas covered. On this top he placed a large, flat stone, and upon thishe laid two of the trout.
It was not long before Reuben had a supper not only "fit for a king,"but such a supper as a king is seldom permitted to enjoy. It is trueall the salt which he and Jean had brought had been in the saddlebagsof the trapper, but the mountain trout were delicious even withoutsalt.
By the time Reuben's supper was eaten he was aware that the briefsunset was nearly ended. Much of his anxiety had now departed and hewas quite content, as he said to himself, to let Jean do the searching.He seated himself upon the ground, leaning back against the trunk of ahuge tree, and as he listened to the music of the noisy little brookand watched the scurrying clouds pass across the evening sky he waseven more decided that Jean might find him if he should searchdiligently.
Not long after the coming of the night, however, this feeling ofconfidence gave place to one of loneliness. Indeed, the consciousnessthat he was alone soon became oppressive. He recalled the sight of thepack of gaunt and hungry wolves that had run down the buffalo calf.Perhaps they would be glad to feast upon a young trapper for supper,just as he himself had feasted upon the trout he had taken from themountain stream. Aroused by the suggestion, Reuben started to his feetand made a tour of his camp. Although he walked one hundred yards inevery direction, he was unable to discover any signs of danger. When hereturned to his camp the fire had burned low, but it was plain thateverything was as he had left it. His troubles might wait untilmorning, he finally decided, and not long afterward, stretching himselfupon his blanket, he was sleeping soundly.
It was daylight when he awoke, and as soon as consciousness returnedReuben was aware that he had been awakened by sounds that even now hecould still hear in the distance.
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