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I must here give the words of my journal； for one exclamation in it has a sort of schoolboy ring that recalls the buoyancy of youthful spirits； the spirits indeed to which in early life we owe our enterprise and perseverance：
'As I was dozing off； a pack of hungry wolves that had scented us out set up the most infernal chorus ever heard。 In vain I pulled the frozen buffalo…robe over my head； and tried to get to sleep。 The demons drew nearer and nearer； howling； snarling； fighting； moaning； and making a row in the perfect stillness which reigned around； as if hell itself were loose。 For some time I bore it with patience。 At length； jumping up； I yelled in a voice that made the valley ring： You devils！ will you be quiet？ The appeal was immediately answered by silence； but hearing them tuning up for a second concert； I threw some wood on the blazing fire and once more retired to my lair。 For a few minutes I lay awake to admire a brilliant Aurora Borealis shooting out its streams of electric light。 Then； turning over on my side； I never moved again till dawn。'
The first objects that caught my eye were the animals。 They were huddled together within a couple of yards of where we lay。 It was a horrible sight。 Two out of the three mules； and Samson's horse； had been attacked by the wolves。 The flanks of the horse were terribly torn； and the entrails of both the mules were partially hanging out。 Though all three were still standing with their backs arched； they were rapidly dying from loss of blood。 My dear little ' Strawberry' … as we called him to match William's 'Cream' and my mare were both intact。
A few days after this； Samson's remaining horse gave out。 I had to surrender what remained of my poor beast in order to get my companion through。 The last fifty miles of the journey I performed on foot； sometimes carrying my rifle to relieve the staggering little mule of a few pounds extra weight。 At long last the Dalles hove in sight。 And our cry； 'The tents！ the tents！' echoed the joyous 'Thalassa！ Thalassa！' of the weary Greeks。
CHAPTER XXIX
'WHERE is the tent of the commanding officer？' I asked of the first soldier I came across。
He pointed to one on the hillside。 'Ags for Major Dooker；' was the Dutch…accented answer。
Bidding Samson stay where he was； I made my way as directed。 A middle…aged officer in undress uniform was sitting on an empty packing…case in front of his tent； whittling a piece of its wood。
'Pray sir；' said I in my best Louis Quatorze manner； 'have I the pleasure of speaking to Major Dooker？'
'Tucker； sir。 And who the devil are you？'
Let me describe what the Major saw： A man wasted by starvation to skin and bone； blackened； almost； by months of exposure to scorching suns； clad in the shreds of what had once been a shirt； torn by every kind of convict labour； stained by mud and the sweat and sores of mules； the rags of a shooting coat to match； no head covering； hands festering with sores； and which for weeks had not touched water … if they could avoid it。 Such an object； in short； as the genius of a Phil May could alone have depicted as the most repulsive object he could imagine。
'Who the devil are you？'
'An English gentleman； sir； travelling for pleasure。'
He smiled。 'You look more like a wild beast。'
'I am quite tame； sir； I assure you … could even eat out of your hand if I had a chance。'
'Is your name Coke？'
'Yes；' was my amazed reply。
'Then come with me … I will show you something that may surprise you。'
I followed him to a neighbouring tent。 He drew aside the flap of it； and there on his blanket lay Fred Calthorpe； snoring in perfect bliss。
Our greetings were less restrained than our parting had been。 We were truly glad to meet again。 He had arrived just two days before me； although he had been at Salt Lake City。 But he had been able there to refit； had obtained ample supplies and fresh animals。 Curiously enough； his Nelson … the French…Canadian … had also been drowned in crossing the Snake River。 His place； however； had been filled by another man； and Jacob had turned out a treasure。 The good fellow greeted me warmly。 And it was no slight compensation for bygone troubles to be assured by him that our separation had led to the final triumphal success。
Fred and I now shared the same tent。 To show what habit will do； it was many days before I could accustom myself to sleep under cover of a tent even； and in preference slept； as I had done for five months； under the stars。 The officers liberally furnished us with clothing。 But their excessive hospitality more nearly proved fatal to me than any peril I had met with。 One's stomach had quite lost its discretion。 And forgetting that
Famished people must be slowly nursed； And fed by spoonfuls； else they always burst；
one never knew when to leave off eating。 For a few days I was seriously ill。
An absurd incident occurred to me here which might have had an unpleasant ending。 Every evening； after dinner in the mess tent； we played whist。 One night； quite by accident； Fred and I happened to be partners。 The Major and another officer made up the four。 The stakes were rather high。 We two had had an extraordinary run of luck。 The Major's temper had been smouldering for some time。 Presently the deal fell to me； and as bad luck would have it； I dealt myself a handful of trumps； and … all four honours。 As the last of these was played； the now blazing Major dashed his cards on the table； and there and then called me out。 The cooler heads of two or three of the others； with whom Fred had had time to make friends； to say nothing of the usual roar of laughter with which he himself heard the challenge； brought the matter to a peaceful issue。 The following day one of the officers brought me a graceful apology。
As may readily be supposed； we had no hankering for further travels such as we had gone through。 San Francisco was our destination； but though as unknown to us as Charles Lamb's 'Stranger；' we 'damned' the overland route 'at a venture'； and settled； as there was no alternative； to go in a trading ship to the Sandwich Islands thence； by the same means； to California。
On October 20 we procured a canoe large enough for seven or eight persons； and embarking with our light baggage； Fred； Samson； and I； took leave of the Dalles。 For some miles the great river； the Columbia； runs through the Cascade Mountains； and is confined； as heretofore； in a channel of basaltic rock。 Further down it widens； and is ornamented by groups of small wooded islands。 On one of these we landed to rest our Indians and feed。 Towards evening we again put ashore； at an Indian village； where we camped for the night。 The scenery here is magnificent。 It reminded me a little of the Danube below Linz； or of the finest parts of the Elbe in Saxon Switzerland。 But this is to compare the full…length portrait with the miniature。 It is the grandeur of the scale of the best of the American scenery that so strikes the European。 Variety； however； has its charms； and before one has