When we returned to camp the excitement was all over, and everyone was as cheerful as if nothing had happened to disturb them.  Jim and I were talking together a short time after I got back when two young girls came to us and said their mother wanted us to eat dinner with them, for they were going to have pie for dinner.  Jim said, “Is it calf pie?  I do love calf pie above all things.”

The girls laughed and said, “No, it is apple pie.”  Jim said, “All right, I like apple pie too.”

When we sat down to dinner, which the reader will understand was not spread on a table, but was spread on the ground, I was surprised to see what was before us to eat.  I have paid a dollar many times since then for a meal that would not compare in any way with this dinner that was cooked out in the wilds with no conveniences that women are supposed to require.

There was a stew made of the Buffalo calf, a roast of the same kind of meat, corn bread, fried wild onions, apple pie and as good a cup of coffee as I ever drank.

After we had finished eating, Jim said to the lady, “Are you going to run a boarding house when you get to California?”

She answered, “I don’t know what I shall do when we get there.  Why do you ask?”

Jim answered, “I wanted to know because if you are, every time I come to California, I am coming to board with you.”

Her husband then said, “It don’t make any difference whether we keep a boarding house or not.  Any time you or Mr. Drannan come near our place we shall expect you to come to us.  You both will be perfectly welcome to a seat at our table at any and all times.  After what I have seen today, I am more fully convinced that everyone in this train owes their lives to you two men.  What would have become of the whole of us this morning if you two men had not been here to guard us?  I will tell you what would have happened.  Our stock and all we possessed would have been in the hands of the Indians, and our scalps would be hanging at their girdles at this time, and I want to say now that the people that compose this train can never pay you for what you have done for us on this dangerous journey.”

Jim answered, “When we undertook to pilot this train across to California, we knew what we would be likely to meet with and that the undertaking was no child’s play.  We both understood the nature of the Indians thoroughly, and if all you people stick together and obey our orders, we will take you through in safety.”

The man answered, “Mr. Bridger, you need not have one uneasy thought about anyone wanting to leave your protection on this trip, for everyone in this company understands that their lives are in the hands of you two men.”

By this time there was quite a crowd around us, and Jim said, “We both appreciate the good opinion you have expressed, but after all we have only done our duty by you as we always do, or at least we try to do to everyone who intrust themselves and their property in our care.  And now, to change the subject, Will says he is going to stop the wolves howling tonight so you people can get some sleep.”