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"I believe that Miss. Scott was rather partial to the military."

"And I know she was," interposed the stepmother, who had been a listener to our conversation, and who manifested little disturbance at her daughter's flight.

I was sincere in this belief, and circumstances, as I conceived, warranted the full expression of them, not only that the ends of justice might be met, but to prevent a collision between the Mormons and the exasperated travellers, which must result fatally to the latter.

"What shall I do, sir, what can I do?" he inquired. "The camp will be moving in a day or two-and to leave my daughter, sir, I cannot think of such thing."

Not knowing what better to say, I simply remarked, "I presume not."

"If she prefers a rascally soldier to yourself, I should say, let her go," observed the step-mother.

Her husband silenced her with a look.

Others of the emigrant party came in, and expressed great exasperation. Some persisted that the Mormons had kidnapped or abducted the girl, and proposed all sorts of violent measures to effect her rescue. Others contended, with much more show of reason, that she had voluntarily sought the protection of a lover.

"I've studied woman nature in my life," said one old "and I saw that in her eye which told me what she was up to. Lord! how they danced and sparkled at the

man,

sight of a pair of epaulettes! It's the epaulettes that did the business."

"Shouldn't wonder."

"She'll repent it," said a woman, who stood at the door of the tent, looking in. "Well, it's just what I expected. These beauties; I never could bear 'em, not one in ten is what she should be."

More than one of the men looked at the speaker, who was excessively homely, with a broad smile.

In a few days the encampment broke up, and the travellers moved on, leaving the young lady behind them. Mr. Scott requested me to look for his daughter, and if I obtained. intelligence of her to write and let him know. This I promised to do.

I am told that it is no uncommon thing for beautiful young girls to be abducted from emigrant trains, or persuaded to abandon their parents for the sake of a Mormon husband.

I was particularly interested in one class of men, who occasionally visit the Mormon city, and who, generally speaking, are honest, brave, and liberal; I allude to the free trappers. During my sojourn in this country I was often thrown in contact with them, and can safely endorse all that has ever been said in their favor, though I have strong doubts of the correctness of many fabulous reports of the crime and violence attributed to them. True, they want polish and grace; many of them are uneducated ; all are more or less deficient in the usual forms of civilized life,

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FREE TRAPPERS.

47

but for generous feelings and the combination of noble qualities, which make a high-minded man, they are rarely to be equalled and never excelled.

Generosity with them is almost a fault. Their purses, their pleasures, and their hearts are ever open to the weak, the stranger, or the needy. They have little of the sordid. love of gold; still less appreciation of caste or condition. Confide in them, and no friend can be more true.

CHAPTER III.

RURAL SCENERY-RURAL LIFE-JUDGE WHITE-HIS OPINION OF POLYGAMY-THE BRIGHT SIDE OF THAT INSTITUTION.

(OME of the Mormons are wealthy, and not a few have

SOME of the at some distance from the city, besides town

houses of considerable pretensions to architectural elegance. Of course they would suffer in comparison with the buildings of New York, or other eastern cities, though in this place they really look well. Usually these men have several wives with families. The first wife, with two or three others, resides on the farm probably, while the others are supported in the city, or it may be the reverse. The husband revolves between these two establishments; blessing one place with his presence for perhaps a month, and then staying an equal length of time at the other. I understand that these husbands are greatly petted; each wife vieing with the other to best entertain her lord. As the dispositions of women are various, in certain instances this may be the case ; in others it is not.

It was a fine, warm, bright morning when I started on a

stroll with my fishing-rod up City Creek.

This stream is

rapid and beautiful. It runs from a wild gorge on the north side of the city, along the banks of the principal canal, conducting the water for distribution into one part of the town. The stream was full of trout, which, however, declined to bite, and I resolved to visit the farm of Judge White, which I knew could not be far off. Certain business connections had led me to form an acquaintance with this man, who was considered a pattern saint, and who, at sundry times, had pressed me to share his hospitality. Striking into a narrow path I walked rapidly along the edge of the plateau at the base of the mountain, for about two miles, when I came suddenly on a little mud shanty of indescribable appearance. It seemed to swarm with children. A parcel were playing at the door when I approached. Seeing me, there was a hurried ejaculation, and they ran in quickly to communicate the news. Three men immediately came out, and double that quantity of women showed their faces at the door, while the lesser ones behind were pushing and crowding to obtain a glimpse. My approach had produced a sensation more than I considered safe or agreeable. Two of the men were half breeds; the other the most villainous looking white fellow it was ever my misfortune to behold. Snaky glittering eyes, shaggy brows, and sensual mouth, with an expression of countenance at once malicious, cunning, and devilish. The women were suitable matches for such men, nearly naked and undescribably filthy. I approached them frankly. The white man held out his hand. Not wishing

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