LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 217 



among the Mormons, which had belonged to some one his equal 

 in stature. This coat, which was of a snufF-brown color, had iia 

 waist about a hand's span from the nape of Rube's neck, or abouL 

 a yard above its proper position, and the skirts reached to his 

 ankles. A slouching felt-hat covered his head, from which long 

 black hair escaped, hanging in flakes over his lantern-jaws. His 

 pantaloons of buckskin were shrunk with wet, and reached mid- 

 way between his knees and ankles, and his huge feet were encased 

 in moccasins of buffalo-cow skin. 



Rube was never without the book of Mormon in his hand, and 

 his sonorous voice might be heard, at all hours of the day and 

 night, reading passages from its wonderful pages. He stood tho 

 badgering of the hunters with most perfect good humor, and said 

 there never was such a book as that ever before printed ; that the 

 Mormons were the "biggest kind" of prophets, and theirs the best 

 faith ever man believed in. 



Rube had let out one day that he was to be hired as guide by 

 this party of Mormons to the Great Salt Lake ; but their destina- 

 tion being changed, and his services not required, a wonderful 

 change came over his mind. He was, as usual, book of Mormon 

 ill hand, when brother Brown announced the change in their 

 plans ; at which the book was cast into the Arkansas, and Rube 

 exclaimed — " Cuss your darned Mummum and Thummum ! 

 tliar's not one among you knows ' fat cow' from ' poor bull,' and 

 }ou may go to h — for me." And turning away, old Rube sp9,t 

 out a quid of tobacco and ftis Mormonism together. 



Among the Mormons was an old man, named Brand, from 

 Memphis County, state of Tennessee, with a family of a daughter 

 and two sons, the latter with their wives and children. Brand 

 was a wiry old fellow, nearly seventy years of age, but still stout 

 and strong, and wielded ax or rifle better than many a younger 

 man. If truth be told, he was not a very red-hot Mormon, and 

 had joined them as much for the sake of company to California, 



K 



