JOE AND LAUGHFY. 119 



that is to say our two "hired hands," and myself and 

 the partner and companion mentioned in the buffalo hunt 

 already narrated completed the party. A small one, but 

 sufficiently large ; because the ultimate success of the 

 expedition depended, amongst other things, upon the dis- 

 cretion and faithfulness of all concerned ; and no danger 

 was to be apprehended of molestation except from Ute 

 Indians, who were at peace with the whites ; and as they, 

 being a warlike, well-armed tribe, could, if so inclined, 

 dispose of any force short of a regiment, there would have 

 been no added safety in increasing the party ; while, once 

 away from our base, having to depend entirely on the sup- 

 plies taken along, more men would have been but adding 

 to expense, trouble, and annoyances. The two who accom- 

 panied us had long been in our (myself and comrade's) 

 employ, and their courage in danger, readiness in difficulty, 

 and caution in matters of importance were well known 

 to us. 



Joe was a big, good-natured, pleasant-looking Missourian, 

 who had received only a slight common-school education, 

 but was one of the best pistol-shots I ever met, and very 

 nearly as good a one with the rifle. He considered that 

 the accomplishments of life were to be an " elegant " axe- 

 man, a dead shot ; to possess ability, while sitting on the 

 " waggon-box," to flick a fly with a driving-whip off the 

 nigh ear of the off-leader of a six-mule team without hitting 

 the other leader ; and, finally, to be a good horseman. Book 

 learning he had great respect for in its way, as a sort of 

 thing that some people ought to know ; but he considered 

 there was much humbug about it. Once when in a con- 



