第57章 Irving’s Bonneville - Chapter 20(1)
Gathering in Green River valley--Visitings and feastings of leaders--Rough wassailingamong the trappers--Wild blades of the mountains--Indian belles--Potency of brightbeads and red blankets-- Arrival of supplies--Revelry and extravagance--Madwolves--The lost Indian THE GREEN RIVER VALLEY was at this time the scene of one of those generalgatherings of traders, trappers, and Indians, that we have already mentioned. The threerival companies, which, for a year past had been endeavoring to out-trade, out-trap andout-wit each other, were here encamped in close proximity, awaiting their annualsupplies. About four miles from the rendezvous of Captain Bonneville was that of theAmerican Fur Company, hard by which, was that also of the Rocky Mountain FurCompany.
After the eager rivalry and almost hostility displayed by these companies in their latecampaigns, it might be expected that, when thus brought in juxtaposition, they wouldhold themselves warily and sternly aloof from each other, and, should they happen tocome in contact, brawl and bloodshed would ensue.
No such thing! Never did rival lawyers, after a wrangle at the bar, meet with more socialgood humor at a circuit dinner. The hunting season over, all past tricks and maneuvresare forgotten, all feuds and bickerings buried in oblivion. From the middle of June to themiddle of September, all trapping is suspended; for the beavers are then shedding theirfurs and their skins are of little value. This, then, is the trapper's holiday, when he is allfor fun and frolic, and ready for a saturnalia among the mountains.
At the present season, too, all parties were in good humor. The year had beenproductive. Competition, by threatening to lessen their profits, had quickened their wits,roused their energies, and made them turn every favorable chance to the bestadvantage; so that, on assembling at their respective places of rendezvous, eachcompany found itself in possession of a rich stock of peltries.
The leaders of the different companies, therefore, mingled on terms of perfect goodfellowship; interchanging visits, and regaling each other in the best style theirrespective camps afforded. But the rich treat for the worthy captain was to see the"chivalry" of the various encampments, engaged in contests of skill at running, jumping,wrestling, shooting with the rifle, and running horses. And then their rough hunters'
feastings and carousels. They drank together, they sang, they laughed, they whooped;they tried to out-brag and out-lie each other in stories of their adventures andachievements. Here the free trappers were in all their glory; they consideredthemselves the "cocks of the walk," and always carried the highest crests. Now andthen familiarity was pushed too far, and would effervesce into a brawl, and a "roughand tumble" fight; but it all ended in cordial reconciliation and maudlin endearment.