The other three
left us to our determination to fall together, and took to
the prairie; but, changing their minds, they returned, and
joined us in our position, deeming our means of defence better
in one body than when divided. We all, therefore, determined
to sell our lives as dearly as possible should the enemy
attack us, feeling sure that we could kill five times our
number before we were overpowered, and that we should, in all
probability, beat them off.
By this time the supposed enemy had advanced toward us, and
one of them hailed us in English as follows:??”
???Who are you????
???We are trappers.???
???What company do you belong to????
???General Ashley's.???
???Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!,??? they all shouted, and we, in turn,
exhausted our breath in replying.
???Is that you, Jim Beckwourth???? said a voice from the party.
???Yes. Is that you, Castenga???? I replied.
He answered in the affirmative, and there arose another
hurrah.
We inquired where their camp was. They informed us it was
two miles below, at the ford. Baptiste and myself mounted
our horses, descended the bank, plunged into the river, and
were soon exchanging salutations with another of the general's
old detachments.
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