Free Rendezvous by Richard S. Wheeler Page B

to his astonishment he found himself twisted the wrong way, his hand only six inches from defeat.
    He felt the tremors as he twisted his arm upward an inch, then two. Now it was Ogden’s turn to sweat. The dance in Ogden’s eyes told Skye the bourgeois was enjoying himself. Two more sallies yielded nothing to either man. Then Ogden laughed, gathered his resolve, slammed Skye’s hand onto the log, and kept it there long enough for the trappers to hoot. Then he let go.
    Ogden danced to his feet, saying nothing, his face alive with delight. Men hoorahed and slapped his back. He shrugged them off and helped Skye to his feet.
    â€œI let you go,” he said.
    â€œNo,” said Skye, “you let me live.”
    Ogden slapped Skye on the back, found a stick, and led Skye to some sandy soil, where he drew a map. “You’ll follow the Columbia another forty or fifty miles pretty much east. Then the Columbia swings north, like this. Near there you’ll reach the Walla Walla River and Fort Nez Perces at the confluence. Visit it or not, as you choose. You can follow the Walla Walla into the Blue Mountains and over to the drainage of the Snake, like this. But most of the country south of the Snake’s unexplored. Or you can go up the Columbia until you reach the Snake, and follow it east, like this. It loops north and then dips south in a big arc. It’s rough country and the trail will take you miles south of the river where it cuts through a long canyon. I don’t recommend that route.
    â€œYou’ll likely run into two tribes—Nez Perces and then the Snakes, or Shoshones. I can’t say what they’ll do to a lone man. They’re friendly enough to a fur brigade with things to trade, but they’re likely to steal anything they can get from you, so be on your guard. Watch out for Blackfeet—plains Indians, well dressed in gaudy clothes, good horses. They’ll butcher any lone white man they can find.”
    â€œIs there a way to befriend the Snakes and Nez Perces?”
    â€œA white man never knows. They live by their own rules. But they’re likely to be friendly, especially if you give ’em a gift or two and smoke the pipe with the elders. If they ask you to smoke, do it. Just follow their routine exactly. It’s a peace ceremony.”
    â€œWhere’ll the Snake River take me?”
    â€œTo the Americans. They’re all scoundrels and blackguards, and I shouldn’t send you to them, but they’ll get you to Boston and maybe outfit you. They rendezvous in July down in Cache Valley—that’s Snake country, and the Snakes’ll take you there. They go to trade.”
    â€œRendezvous?”
    â€œA mountain fair. They—Ashley and his partners—send a pack-mule supply outfit from St. Louis and trade with the trappers for beaver pelts, which they take back. Long journey, over a thousand miles. It’s your ticket to Boston. Your only ticket. You’ve got six weeks to get to Cache Valley.”
    â€œHow do I tell the Snakes I want to go there? I can’t speak their tongue.”
    â€œYou won’t have to. If you reach ’em before they leave, you’ll be taken right along. They’ll think that’s where you’re going anyway.” He stood up. “Write me from Harvard, Mister Skye.”
    â€œI will, Mr. Ogden.”
    â€œAnd don’t linger in British territory. HBC is an arm of the Crown. John McLoughlin’s a bulldog. If he wants you, he’ll get you sooner or later. Maybe next year, maybe in three or five years. Mark my words. Stay out of any place claimed by Great Britain. And if you stay in the mountains with the Yanks, watch out anyway. HBC has its ways, and if they want you they’ll take you—dead or alive, right in front of a crowd.”
    â€œI won’t forget.”
    Odgen clapped him on the back. “Good. Don’t forget.”
    The brigade left immediately,