LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 219 



sils of the Brand family. The teams were driven by the young 

 boys, the men following in rear with shouldered rifles — old 

 Brand himself mounted on an Indian horse, leading the advance. 

 The women were safely housed under the shelter of the wagon 

 tilts, and out of the first the mild face of Mary Brand smiled 

 adieu to many of her old companions, who had accompanied them 

 thus far, and now wished them " God-speed" on their long jour- 

 ney. Some mountaineers, too, galloped up, dressed in buckskin, 

 and gave them rough greeting — warning the men to keep their 

 " eyes skinned," and look out for the Arapahos, who were out on 

 the waters of the Platte. Presently all retired, and then the 

 huge wagons and the little company were rolling on their solitary 

 way through the deserted prairies — passing the first of the mauy 

 thousand miles which lay between them and the " setting sun," 

 as the Indians style the distant regions of the Far West. And 

 on, without casting a look behind him, doggedly and boldly 

 marched old Brand, followed by his sturdy family. 



They made but a few miles that evening, for the first day tlie 

 start is all that is efl^ected ; and nearly the whole morning is 

 taken up in getting fairly under weigh. The loose stock had 

 been sent ofi' earlier, for they had been collected and corralled the 

 previous night ; and, after a twelve hours' fast, it Avas necessary 

 they should reach the end of the day's journey betimes. They 

 found the herd grazing in the bottom of the Arkansas, at a point 

 previously fixed upon for their first camp. Here the oxen were 

 unyoked, and the wagons drawn up so as to form the three sides 

 of a small square. The women then descended from their seats.. 

 and prepared the evening meal. A huge fire was kindled before 

 the wagons, and round this the whole party collected ; while large 

 kettles of cofiee boiled on it, and hoe-cakes baked upon the em- 

 bers. 



The Avomen were sadly down-hearted, as well they might be, 

 with the dreary prospect before them ; and poor Mary, when she 



