TEAMSTERS MUTINY. PERILOUS DETERMINATION. 127 



between both of which existed a most extraordinary 

 affection. I had but to go ahead, and the latter was 

 certain to follow ; so if I did not fall into an ambuscade, 

 I knew full well I could distance most Camanchee braves 

 till I regained camp, where, behind the waggons backed 

 by the stalwart Missourian teamsters, who knew well the 

 use of their rifles, 1 would be safe. Unfortunately the 

 principal of the expedition was a most unpleasant and 

 unpopular person, so that between his bullying and un- 

 pleasant manner, a mutiny arose among his retainers, and 

 the consequence was that the majority started en masse on 

 their own hook to seek another employer, or find their 

 way back to their native State. 



My education and antecedents had been such as to give 

 me a horror of mutiny ; moreover, up to this date, I had 

 nothing to complain of, so I determined to stick to the 

 waggons, and use every effort in my power to save the 

 owner from the only alternative that appeared left, deserting 

 his property in the wilderness. Ere long, however, I was 

 compelled to change my resolution, for no one could submit 

 to his irascible temper and constant insulting language ; 

 so, with no companions but my mare and mule, I left the 

 camp one bright morning in the month of February, with 

 the determination of returning eastward alone. The step 

 was full of danger, but I preferred running the risk rather 

 than remain to be further insulted, or seek redress by 

 recourse to weapons, too often done in this lawless portion 

 of the world. 



As the teams were being hitched up I started in the 

 reverse direction to their route, little aware of the trying 



