Chapter I: Preface

“I hate a Preface!” Such will probably be the reader’s exclamation on opening this volume. I will, however, pursue the subject a little further in the form of a dialogue.

_Author._—“I entirely agree in your dislike of a Preface; for a good book needs none, and a dull book cannot be mended by it.”

_Reader._—“If then you coincide in my opinion, why write a preface? Judging from appearances, your book is long enough without one!”

_A._—“Do not be too severe; it is precisely because the road which we propose to travel together is of considerable extent, that I wish to warn you at the outset of the nature of the scenery, and the entertainment you are likely to meet with, in order that you may, if these afford you no attraction, turn aside and seek better amusement and occupation elsewhere.”

_R._—“That seems plausible enough; yet, how can I be assured that the result will fulfil your promise? I once travelled in a stage coach, wherein was suspended, for the benefit of passengers, a coloured print of the watering–place which was our destination; it represented a magnificent hotel, with extensive gardens and shrubberies, through the shady walks of which, gaily attired parties were promenading on horseback and on foot. When we arrived, I found myself at a large, square, unsightly inn by the sea–side, where neither flower, shrub, nor tree was to be seen: and on inquiry, I was informed that the print represented the hotel as the proprietor _intended it to be_! Suppose I were to meet with a similar disappointment in my journey with you?”

_A._—“I can at least offer you this comfort; that whereas you could not have got out of the stage half–way on the road without much inconvenience, you can easily lay down the book whenever you find it becoming tedious: if you seek for amusement only, you probably will be disappointed, because one of my chief aims has been to afford you correct information respecting the habits, condition, and character of the North American Indians and those bordering on their territory. I have introduced also several incidents founded on actual occurrences; and some of them, as well as of the characters, are sketched from personal observation.”

_R._—“Indeed! you are then the individual who resided with the Pawnees, and published, a few years since, your Travels in North America. I suppose we may expect in these volumes a sort of _pot–pourri_, composed of all the notes, anecdotes, and observations which you could not conveniently squeeze into your former book?”

_A._ (_looking rather foolish._)—“Although the terms in which you have worded your conjecture are not the most flattering, I own that it is not altogether without foundation; nevertheless, Gentle Reader——“

_R._—“Spare your epithets of endearment, or at least reserve them until I have satisfied myself that I can reply in a similar strain.”

_A._—“Nay, it is too churlish to censure a harmless courtesy that has been adopted even by the greatest dramatists and novelists from the time of Shakspeare to the present day.”

_R._—“It may be so; permit me, however, to request, in the words of one of those dramatists to whom you refer, that you will be so obliging as to

‘Forbear the prologue,
And let me know the substance of thy tale!’”

_The Orphan._

CONTENTS

FIRST VOLUME

CHAPTER PAGE

I. IN WHICH THE READER WILL FIND A SKETCH OF A VILLAGE IN
THE WEST, AND WILL BE INTRODUCED TO SOME OF THE DRAMATIS
PERSONÆ. 1

II. CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF THE MARRIAGE OF COLONEL
BRANDON, AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. 8

III. CONTAINING SOME FURTHER ACCOUNT OF COLONEL AND MRS.
BRANDON, AND OF THE EDUCATION OF THEIR SON REGINALD. 15

IV. CONTAINING SUNDRY ADVENTURES OF REGINALD BRANDON AND
HIS FRIEND ETHELSTON ON THE CONTINENT; ALSO SOME FURTHER
PROCEEDINGS AT SQUIRE SHIRLEY’S; AND THE RETURN OF
REGINALD BRANDON TO HIS HOME.—IN THIS CHAPTER THE
SPORTING READER WILL FIND AN EXAMPLE OF AN UNMADE RIDER
ON A MADE HUNTER. 20

V. AN ADVENTURE IN THE WOODS.—REGINALD BRANDON MAKES THE
ACQUAINTANCE OF AN INDIAN CHIEF. 31

VI. REGINALD AND BAPTISTE PAY A VISIT TO WAR–EAGLE.—AN
ATTEMPT AT TREACHERY MEETS WITH SUMMARY PUNISHMENT. 39

VII. CONTAINING SOME PARTICULARS OF THE HISTORY OF THE TWO
DELAWARES AND OF BAPTISTE. THE LATTER RETURNS WITH
REGINALD TO MOOSHANNE, THE RESIDENCE OF COLONEL BRANDON. 50

VIII. CONTAINING A SKETCH OF MOOSHANNE.—REGINALD INTRODUCES
HIS SISTER TO THE TWO DELAWARES. 59

IX. HOW REGINALD BRANDON RETURNED TO MOOSHANNE WITH HIS
SISTER, ACCOMPANIED BY WINGENUND; AND WHAT BEFELL THEM
ON THE ROAD. 71

X. IN WHICH THE READER IS UNCEREMONIOUSLY TRANSPORTED TO
ANOTHER ELEMENT IN COMPANY WITH ETHELSTON; THE LATTER
IS LEFT IN A DISAGREEABLE PREDICAMENT. 79

XI. ETHELSTON’S FURTHER ADVENTURES AT SEA, AND HOW HE BECAME
CAPTOR AND CAPTIVE IN A VERY SHORT SPACE OF TIME. 87

XII. VISIT OF WINGENUND TO MOOSHANNE.—HE REJOINS WAR–EAGLE,
AND THEY RETURN TO THEIR BAND IN THE FAR WEST.—M.
PERROT MAKES AN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTACK ON THE HEART OF A
YOUNG LADY. 97

XIII. IN WHICH THE READER WILL FIND THAT THE COUCH OF AN
INVALID HAS PERILS NOT LESS FORMIDABLE THAN THOSE WHICH
ARE TO BE ENCOUNTERED AT SEA. 107

XIV. NARRATING THE TRIALS AND DANGERS THAT BESET ETHELSTON;
AND HOW HE ESCAPED FROM THEM, AND FROM THE ISLAND OF
GUADALOUPE. 117

XV. WHAT TOOK PLACE AT MOOSHANNE DURING THE STAY OF ETHELSTON
IN GUADALOUPE.—DEPARTURE OF REGINALD FOR THE FAR–WEST. 128

XVI. THE ESCAPE OF ETHELSTON FROM GUADALOUPE, AND THE
CONSEQUENCES WHICH ENSUED FROM THAT EXPEDITION. 136

XVII. EXCURSION ON THE PRAIRIE.—THE PARTY FALL IN WITH A
VETERAN HUNTER. 148

XVIII. REGINALD AND HIS PARTY REACH THE INDIAN ENCAMPMENT. 156

SECOND VOLUME

I. REGINALD AND HIS PARTY AT THE INDIAN ENCAMPMENT. 165

II. REGINALD HOLDS A CONVERSATION WITH THE MISSIONARY. 173

III. AN ARRIVAL AT MOOSHANNE.—A CALM ASHORE AFTER A STORM
AT SEA. 181

IV. AN ELK–HUNT.—REGINALD MAKES HIS FIRST ESSAY IN
SURGERY.—THE READER IS ADMITTED INTO PRAIRIE–BIRD’S TENT. 193

V. SYMPTOMS OF A RUPTURE BETWEEN THE DELAWARES AND
OSAGES.—MAHÉGA COMES FORWARD IN THE CHARACTER OF A
LOVER.—HIS COURTSHIP RECEIVES AN UNEXPECTED INTERRUPTION. 212

VI. ETHELSTON PREPARES TO LEAVE MOOSHANNE.—MAHÉGA APPEARS AS
AN ORATOR, IN WHICH CHARACTER HE SUCCEEDS BETTER THAN IN
THAT OF A LOVER.—A STORM SUCCEEDED BY A CALM. 222

VII. IN WHICH THE READER WILL FIND A MORAL DISQUISITION
SOMEWHAT TEDIOUS, A TRUE STORY SOMEWHAT INCREDIBLE, A
CONFERENCE THAT ENDS IN PEACE, AND A COUNCIL THAT
BETOKENS WAR. 239

VIII. WAR–EAGLE AND REGINALD, WITH THEIR PARTY, PURSUE THE
DAHCOTAHS. 257

IX. A DESERTED VILLAGE IN THE WEST.—MAHÉGA CARRIES OFF
PRAIRIE–BIRD, AND ENDEAVOURS TO BAFFLE PURSUIT. 264

X. AN AMBUSCADE.—REGINALD BRANDON FINDS HIS HORSE, AND M.
PERROT NEARLY LOSES HIS HEAD.—WHILE INDIAN PHILOSOPHY
IS DISPLAYED IN ONE QUARTER, INDIAN CREDULITY IS
EXHIBITED IN ANOTHER. 273

XI. ETHELSTON VISITS ST. LOUIS, WHERE HE UNEXPECTEDLY MEETS
AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE, AND UNDERTAKES A LONGER JOURNEY THAN
HE HAD CONTEMPLATED. 290

XII. THE OSAGES ENCAMP NEAR THE BASE OF THE ROCKY
MOUNTAINS.—AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR ARRIVES. 297

XIII. WAR–EAGLE’S PARTY FOLLOW THE TRAIL.—A SKIRMISH AND ITS
RESULTS.—THE CHIEF UNDERTAKES A PERILOUS JOURNEY ALONE,
AND HIS COMPANIONS FIND SUFFICIENT OCCUPATION DURING HIS
ABSENCE. 307

XIV. AN UNEXPECTED MEETING.—REGINALD PREPARES TO FOLLOW THE
TRAIL. 328

XV. SHOWING HOW WINGENUND FARED IN THE OSAGE CAMP, AND THE
ISSUE OF THE DILEMMA IN WHICH PRAIRIE–BIRD WAS PLACED BY
MAHÉGA. 337

XVI. MAHÉGA FINDS THE BODIES OF HIS TWO FOLLOWERS SLAIN BY
WAR–EAGLE.—SOME REFLECTIONS ON THE INDIAN
CHARACTER.—WAR–EAGLE RETURNS TO HIS FRIENDS, AND THE
OSAGE CHIEF PUSHES HIS WAY FURTHER INTO THE MOUNTAINS. 347

THIRD VOLUME

I. WAR–EAGLE AND HIS PARTY REACH THE DESERTED CAMP OF THE
OSAGES.—THE LATTER FALL IN WITH A STRANGE BAND OF
INDIANS, AND MAHÉGA APPEARS IN THE CHARACTER OF A
DIPLOMATIST. 367

II. CONTAINING VARIOUS INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED TO THE PARTY
FOLLOWING THE TRAIL.—PLOTS AND COUNTERPLOTS, AND A
DISCUSSION UPON ORATORY, WHICH IS VERY MUCH OUT OF PLACE,
AND, FORTUNATELY FOR THE READER, IS NOT VERY LONG. 385

III. A SCENE IN THE TENT OF PRAIRIE–BIRD, WHO GIVES SOME GOOD
ADVICE, AND RECEIVES IN A SHORT SPACE OF TIME MORE THAN
ONE UNEXPECTED VISITOR.—THE CROWS LED BY MAHÉGA ATTACK
THE DELAWARE CAMP BY NIGHT.—THE DEFEATED PARTY ACHIEVE A
KIND OF TRIUMPH, AND THE VICTORS MEET WITH AN UNEXPECTED
LOSS. 403

IV. THE NEGOTIATION SET ON FOOT BY REGINALD FOR THE RELEASE
OF HIS FRIENDS.—BESHA BECOMES AN IMPORTANT PERSONAGE. 422

V. DAVID MUIR AND HIS DAUGHTER PAY A VISIT TO COLONEL
BRANDON.—THE MERCHANT BECOMES AMBITIOUS; HE ENTERTAINS
PROJECTS FOR JESSIE’S FUTURE WELFARE, WHICH DO NOT
COINCIDE WITH THAT YOUNG LADY’S WISHES. 430

VI. BESHA PURSUES HIS CAREER AS A DIPLOMATIST.—AN AGREEABLE
TETE–A–TETE DISAGREEABLY INTERRUPTED.—THE STEPS THAT
MAHÉGA TOOK TO SUPPORT HIS DECLINING INTERESTS AMONG THE
CROWS. 440

VII. WINGENUND DEVISES A PLAN FOR THE LIBERATION OF HIS
FRIENDS, AND SEEKS TO OBTAIN BY MEANS EQUALLY UNUSUAL AND
EFFECTIVE THE CO–OPERATION OF THE ONE–EYED
HORSE–DEALER.—A FURTHER MARCH INTO THE
MOUNTAINS.—WINGENUND PAYS A VISIT TO HIS FRIENDS, AND THE
LATTER MAKE ACQUAINTANCE WITH A STRANGE CHARACTER. 460

VIII. THE ROOT–DIGGER MAKES FRIENDS WITH THE PARTY.—AN
ADVENTURE WITH A GRISLY BEAR.—THE CONDUCT OF WAR–EAGLE. 478

IX. MAHÉGA IS FOUND IN STRANGE COMPANY, AND WINGENUND DEFERS,
ON ACCOUNT OF MORE IMPORTANT CONCERNS, HIS PLAN FOR THE
LIBERATION OF HIS FRIENDS.—A COUNCIL, A COMBAT, AND A
SKIRMISH, IN WHICH LAST THE CROWS RECEIVE ASSISTANCE FROM
A QUARTER WHENCE THEY LEAST EXPECTED IT. 487

X. WINGENUND AND HIS FRIENDS RETURN TOWARDS THEIR CAMP.—A
SERIOUS ADVENTURE AND A SERIOUS ARGUMENT OCCUR BY THE
WAY.—SHOWING, ALSO, HOW THE EXTREMES OF GRIEF, SURPRISE,
AND JOY MAY BE CROWDED INTO THE SPACE OF A FEW MINUTES. 507

XI. CONTAINING A TREATY BETWEEN THE CROWS AND DELAWARES, AND
THE DEATH OF AN INDIAN CHIEF. 527

XII. WAR–EAGLE’S FUNERAL.—THE PARTY COMMENCE THEIR HOMEWARD
JOURNEY.—BESHA EXERTS HIS DIPLOMATIC TALENTS FOR THE LAST
TIME, AND RECEIVES SEVERAL REWARDS, WITH SOME OF WHICH HE
WOULD WILLINGLY HAVE DISPENSED. 540

XIII. THE SCENE IS SHIFTED TO THE BANKS OF THE MUSKINGUM, AND
PRAIRIE–BIRD RETURNS TO THE HOME OF HER CHILDHOOD. 553

SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER. 557

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

MONSIEUR PERROT IS SCALPED FACING PAGE i

WINGENUND AND LUCY ” ” 70

PRAIRIE–BIRD AND MAHÉGA ” ” 218

REGINALD AND THE CROW CHIEF ” ” 313

MAHÉGA SPYING THE CAMP OF THE DELAWARES ” ” 398

WAR–EAGLE AND THE GRIZZLY BEAR ” ” 482

THE

PRAIRIE–BIRD.