PRAIRIE LIFE. 417 



Of all circumstances that try the teamster none are so pre- 

 carious as taking heavy loads clown the steep slopes, on the 

 summit of which the pine timber is found. In winding round 

 the gulches and wash-outs, the wagon has constantly to run 

 at a slant; and the greatest judgment and experience are 

 required to guard against a "tip-over" — a mishap which will 

 occur occasionally even under the deftest management. It 

 then becomes a matter of pulling the wagon back on to its 

 wheels, replacing the load piece by piece, and, as the lumber- 

 wagon of the country is not easily hurt, very little harm usually 

 results beyond an hour's extra work and one more page in the 

 driver's record of " things better not said." He himself has 

 probably on such occasions been walking on the upper ground ; 

 and the wagon accordingly rolls away from him — while, as to 

 the team, it is well used to such little incidents, and stands 

 quietly, until unhitched for the next move in the game. 



One day, however, Bronson's natural caution would seem to 

 have deserted him. The wagon was slipping alarmingly on 

 the sloping and glassy road (for wherever a wagon has once 

 been is termed a road in this primitive region) : his previous 

 journeys had been made without mishap ; and he was anxious 

 to reach home while daylight lasted. So, as the load swung 

 and quivered and the balance was threatened, he lent himself 

 in over-confidence to a course that might have found favour 

 with a " tenderfoot," but was altogether out of keeping with 

 the practice of an old teamster — one who had hauled loads in 

 all weathers for years past, and who had even driven the 

 Deadwood mail (of Buffalo Bill notoriety) through a whole 

 season of winter nights, across the almost trackless mountains. 

 He walked on the down side of his load, pushing, and sup- 

 porting it to maintain the equilibrium. An extra jerk, a heavy 

 roll — the load of planks swung over : the poor lad's strength 

 and activity availed nothing against the ponderous weight — 

 and in a moment he lay under the mass, his limbs crushed 

 and pinned from waist to feet. Miles from any house; no 

 hope of search before morning — or even then, for he had more 



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