Kate Mulhall A romance of the Oregon Trail
had time to get beyond reach of the howitzers on its deck. It was
late when Pelton and Kate fairly tore themselves away from the jovial
captain and left the ship, and long past midnight before the council
of Kate, Isaac and Squire Mulhall broke up, after agreeing upon a
plan of action.
Pelton had several times spoken about his former slaves, Andrew and
Jennie, whom he had left in Iowa; and could not banish from his mind
thoughts of the danger that "night riders" from Missouri might carry
them off into captivity. Besides, Jennie had cared for him with a
mother's solicitude after the death of his own mother while he was
still quite young; and Andrew had always been kind to him in his
boyhood days, as well as faithful to his interest in later life. And
that unsophisticated little girl, Margie! Somehow he could not feel
easy in his mind to leave them where they were; now they were
separated, he realized that he remembered, and appreciated more than
ever before, their kind and considerate acts toward him.
How to bring them on from Iowa to Oregon was a problem with almost
insurmountable obstacles, which Isaac had thoroughly discussed with
Kate, taking advantage of that favorable opportunity to let her know
that he had abundant means in Missouri to provide for their trip--and
to her surprise a fairly large sum besides. While Kate had not
married for money, she was nevertheless gratified to know that Pelton
possessed a goodly fortune, and sympathized {146} with his laudable
desire to expend a part of it to better the condition of his former
slaves.
Kate resolved to share Ben's secret with both her father and husband,
and to suggest that the Squire should go to see or send for Ben. She
would also have her father and Isaac supply him with enough money to
bring Linda to Oregon with Andrew, Jennie and the little girl Margie.
All instantly agreed to the plan, and became so enthusiastic that
they forgot all about their recent escape from death, and the cares
of pioneer life still confronting them.
"I will not go until school is out," the Squire said, "and then will
take the girls with me." He had noticed that they continued to
harbor jealous thoughts toward Pelton. Kate reminded her father that
any considerable delay would make it too late for Ben to cross the
plains the next season. Isaac advised by all means to avoid the
Isthmus route as being too uncertain, dangerous and withal very
expensive.
Pelton announced that he would start at once, and search for a claim
until he found one that suited him; then he would immediately proceed
to prepare a home, and be away most of the time until school closed.
In acceding to this suggestion, the Squire said he would take the
girls over to Ben's claim in the spring, as he intended to care for
it himself while the young man was making the trip; and was
anticipating the opportunity to repay Ben for his faithful and honest
service on the long trail.
{147}
So intent had been the council, that all forgot the lateness of the
hour; the thought of sleep was banished by the excitement incident to
the plans made, but all felt supremely happy. Father Mulhall
suggested that they celebrate a little by an oyster supper, even at
the unseasonable hour; and Kate, who the very evening before had
secured some Puget Sound oysters from an Indian, instantly seconded
the suggestion. Oysters, unlike other shell fish of the Sound, were
rare and confined to small areas of beds.
Kate had learned that though very small--not larger than one's finger
nail--these were very delicious; and had provided them to celebrate
their wedding a month ago to-morrow. And here it was, the date
already ushered in, though the sun had not risen! Her celebration
was intended as a secret to be disclosed as a surprise to her husband
and father to demonstrate how supremely happy she was, not only in
the escape from captivity among the hordes of northern savages, but
as the wife of Isaac Pelton. There was no toastmaster or speeches at
the little banquet that followed; but a spirit of unalloyed
cheerfulness prevailed, and all were very hopeful of what the near
future would bring forth.
Mulhall's search for Ben proved a short one, as the crude records of
the self-surveyed Donation claims quickly revealed the identity of
the nearby participants, and the Squire was delayed only a day in
reaching the location chosen by his young friend. {148} Ben was a
short distance from his cabin splitting rails from a worm fence to
protect the crops of the following season, when the Squire arrived;
and, following the sound of the maul soon came upon Ben intently
engaged at his task, not dreaming of the presence of anyone behind
him.
Mulhall stopped a moment in mute surprise at the change that had come
over the young man. He was looking at a stalwart frame instead of
the slim lad who had helped to train the team in the Missouri
barn-yard; and stood as if fascinated until Ben by a change in
position became aware that a figure was standing near him.
"Why, father!" "Why, Ben!" sufficed for the greeting, but not so the
hand-shakes that followed, for the Squire clasped Ben in his arms,
while tears of joy fell upon his own cheeks. We may well believe
that a pleasant visit followed, but it was soon interrupted by the
important information to be shared between them.
Ben listened, as if in a dazed condition of mind, to words that
seemed to be too good to be true; but when he grasped the full
meaning of the Squire's message, it was Ben's turn to display
so-called weakness; he threw his arms around Mulhall's neck and
planted a kiss upon the furrowed cheek of his friend and benefactor.
But the Squire considered that all he had done, or proposed to do,
was only a recompense in part for a debt that could never be paid in
full.
{149}
"But, father, what am I to do about my claim?" Ben asked after taking
a little time to think over the proposed trip. "Well, I'm going to
stay here until you come back with that young wife; and you may be
sure there will be some crops growing when you return," the Squire
responded. So preparations were made almost at once for the proposed
trip; and time began to pass.
No one could tell how long it would take to reach the old home,
though Ben knew that he must go out to sea over a dangerous bar where
recently there had been a wreck, with the loss of many lives. Thence
on to and across the Isthmus and to New York, where he would reverse
the direction of travel and turn his face westward toward their
former home in Missouri.[1] Parts of the journey would be by
railroad, stage-coach, horseback and steamboat.
We cannot record the incidents of the trip, thrilling though some of
them were; it will suffice here to say that on a frosty noonday in
February, 185-, Ben clasped his surprised mother to his breast with
the utterance of one word, "Mother." The story of another overland
journey from Missouri to the Oregon country will be told after we
have followed the fortunes or misfortunes of David Mulhall, Isaac
Pelton and his bride, and the two little twin sisters.
{150}
It will be remembered that when the Squire left home to find Ben
Hardy, Pelton was preparing to look for a claim where he could
establish the home so long pictured in his mind. In the course of
his wanderings, Isaac had some thrilling experiences which came near
ending in tragedy. The Oregon Country of almost limitless extent--as
one might say, a thousand miles each way--presented many and varied
conditions to confuse and impel one to continued search, with
something new almost every day.
In the small corner of the great region which Pelton examined there
were no roads or provision for crossing rivers, and only a few sparse
settlements. When a cabin was found, he was always assured of a
cordial welcome and the best it afforded; but at length, after a two
days' tramp he was virtually lost, without blankets or food. That
somewhat cooled his ardor; and as he had already overstayed the set
time, Isaac suddenly abandoned the search and turned his face
homeward. He arrived there safely, to the great relief of Kate, who
had become very uneasy at his prolonged absence and non-return at the
appointed time.
Pelton's story of what he had seen and experienced--wading a river
nearly waist deep, slipping off a log into the water and swimming
with his boots on, losing the trail and camping in the deep forest
overnight without fire, blankets or food--cast a shadow over the
bright pictures of a home in the minds of {151} both; but he had
found a magnificent country, and intended to go back and try again.
At first Pelton resolved not to tell Kate of the mishaps of the trip,
of the real hardships endured or how he had come so near to death's
door.
He argued to himself that it would only sadden her and do no good.
Then the question as to whether or not he was justified in having a
secret from his trustful wife would come uppermost in his mind. If
he now began with one, others would surely follow, and the resolve--a
compact with himself--was made that he would have none; so the full
story was told to her.
A month passed and though several trips were made, no location was
yet found to suit him. Finally, he received information from a
neighbor about some excellent land not yet taken; and immediately
starting out to examine the tract, found it even better than
represented. After staking his claim, he returned and informed Kate
of his good fortune in finding a location satisfactory in every
essential respect.
Father Mulhall wrote that Ben had started on his long trip, and was
now well on the way; and that as soon as school closed, he would come
after the girls. He added that he would plant on Ben's claim and
stay with the crops until he returned; and as a postscript, Wouldn't
Kate like to come over with the girls, and see Ben's claim and Craig?
In reality the Squire was lonesome and wanted his daughter with {152}
him for awhile; he also knew that she and the girls would enjoy the
trip--besides he had a surprise in store for them.
Pelton said, "By all means, go; it will be a nice jaunt for the
girls, though a little rough. I'll give each of them a pony to make
the trip horseback, and all can have a jolly good time on the way, as
well as while there." He was enthusiastic in urging Kate to go,
while she didn't feel sure of wanting to do so.
The fact was, she was more inclined to move out on the claim which
she had not seen, while Isaac planned to wait until he could have a
surprise for her in the new house he was contemplating. Kate
suggested building a cabin, where she could be as happy as in a more
commodious residence, to which Pelton assented with a mental
reservation that he would build one for Andrew and Jennie. And if
Kate persisted, they could live in the cabin while the house was
being built, though that would defeat the surprise party he had in
mind.
"Isaac, I believe you want to get rid of me," Kate jestingly said one
day after making up her mind to go with the girls; but lovingly
added, "you'll feel sorry after I have gone." However, they
understood each other and were drawn closer together by the thought
of temporary separation.
Pelton's attention was called to two ponies so nearly alike in build,
size and marks that it required close observation to distinguish
"Tom" from "Jerry"--both beauties, with keen bright eyes, lively yet
{153} docile, and safe for the girls to ride. He did not let the
extra price asked stand in the way of his becoming the owner of them;
and purchased two new saddles and bridles to set them off handsomely.
A small riding whip, though not needed in riding, was attached to
each saddle.
On the afternoon of the last day of school, the ponies were brought