As we gained the other bank, a rough group of men surrounded us.  They were not robust, nor large of frame, yet they had an aspect of hardy endurance.  Finding at home no scope for their fiery energies, they had betaken themselves to the prairie; and in them seemed to be revived, with redoubled force, that fierce spirit which impelled their ancestors, scarce more lawless than themselves, from the German forests, to inundate Europe and break to pieces the Roman empire.  A fortnight afterward this unfortunate party passed Fort Laramie, while we were there.  Not one of their missing oxen had been recovered, though they had remained encamped a week in search of them; and they had been compelled to abandon a great part of their baggage and provisions, and yoke cows and heifers to their wagons to carry them forward upon their journey, the most toilsome and hazardous part of which lay still before them.

It is worth noticing that on the Platte one may sometimes see the shattered wrecks of ancient claw-footed tables, well waxed and rubbed, or massive bureaus of carved oak.  These, many of them no doubt the relics of ancestral prosperity in the colonial time, must have encountered strange vicissitudes.  Imported, perhaps, originally from England; then, with the declining fortunes of their owners, borne across the Alleghenies to the remote wilderness of Ohio or Kentucky; then to Illinois or Missouri; and now at last fondly stowed away in the family wagon for the interminable journey to Oregon.  But the stern privations of the way are little anticipated.  The cherished relic is soon flung out to scorch and crack upon the hot prairie.

We resumed our journey; but we had gone scarcely a mile, when R. called out from the rear: 

“We’ll camp here.”

“Why do you want to camp?  Look at the sun.  It is not three o’clock yet.”

“We’ll camp here!”

This was the only reply vouchsafed.  Delorier was in advance with his cart.  Seeing the mule-wagon wheeling from the track, he began to turn his own team in the same direction.

“Go on, Delorier,” and the little cart advanced again.  As we rode on, we soon heard the wagon of our confederates creaking and jolting on behind us, and the driver, Wright, discharging a furious volley of oaths against his mules; no doubt venting upon them the wrath which he dared not direct against a more appropriate object.

Something of this sort had frequently occurred.  Our English friend was by no means partial to us, and we thought we discovered in his conduct a deliberate intention to thwart and annoy us, especially by retarding the movements of the party, which he knew that we, being Yankees, were anxious to quicken.  Therefore, he would insist on encamping at all unseasonable hours, saying that fifteen miles was a sufficient day’s journey.  Finding our wishes systematically disregarded, we took the direction of affairs into our own hands.  Keeping always in advance, to the inexpressible indignation of R., we encamped at what time and place we thought proper, not much caring whether the rest chose to follow or not.  They always did so, however, pitching their tents near ours, with sullen and wrathful countenances.