?—?You remember what she said. She’s got the world to see.
It was then that he mentioned something about already having a wife, which came as a surprise to me.
The woman lives in San Francisco. During the course of 10 years, they have only seen each other a half dozen times. They have not been reunited in nearly two years most recently. They are married by law, yet live as if not.
?—?Gertie’s got herself a young dandy to keep her satisfied. Saves me from the opera houses & city life. I love that woman, but I don’t much like being shackled down. We came to terms. I tramp about to my heart’s desire, take up with a squaw now & then when it suits me. When I hit my luck, I send money Gertie’s way. Once in a blue moon, we renew our vows, so to speak.
Samuelson must have read my expression.
?—?Now then, Colonel. We can’t all be as upstanding as yourself.
I declared that if I were to find my wife with another man, I feared what I might do to the both of them.
?—?It’s true that many a man has turned murderous under such circumstances, but seems to me that would put a halt to any good times for those involved, he said.
I cannot comprehend his tolerance.
May 30
A competitive nature has risen between Tillman & Nat’aaggi. They began the morning attempting to see which of them could skip stones farther across the river. Now they are at some kind of Midnoosky game. Nat’aaggi bends & ties a thin willow branch into a circle, throws it upstream. The two then throw as many rocks as they can into the hoop as it bobs & swirls past. I thought it only idle diversion, but they both sprint after the hoop, picking & tossing rocks with vigor. I take it that Nat’aaggi won the first effort, for Tillman kicked his foot in the sand. He must be in the lead now, for he often whoops. All the commotion has roused Boyo. The dog barks & runs alongside them.
Pruitt mostly reads & sleeps in a patch of sand beside the river. I went with hopes of drawing him into conversation. It was a small book of poetry that he held. I asked him if he enjoyed it, to which he only nodded.
He has been so markedly subdued on this expedition that I worry for his health. I asked if he is well enough, all considered. He said he did not know?—?an answer plain & candid. Had he sustained injuries over these past years? Long after wounds & fractures have healed they can yet trouble a man.
?—?Nothing you can put eyes to, he said.
When it seemed he had nothing more to say on the matter, I began to walk back to camp.
?—?I was at Elk Creek, sir, he called after me.
His words stopped me. He asked if I had heard the stories then.
I was not aware that he served with the regiment at that time, but I admitted I had heard events went poorly there with the Indians.
?—?That does not even begin to describe it, he said.
Never once did he look me in the eye, but he spoke more than I have heard on this journey. He gave some details of the events. I needed none. I have witnessed depravities in the field. It is a sad fact, but given too much rein, men will often degenerate into animals. It does not require tremendous skill to halt such behavior?—?a bit of intelligence, a clear sense of morality, a strong hand. Unfortunately, many leaders possess not even one of those traits.
I said I understood Major Townsend was in command. He nodded. I saw then that Pruitt was trembling.
One cannot bear the responsibility of other men’s actions, I advised. The blame rests with the commander.
Pruitt was silent for a long while, then he returned to his book. Our conversation was at end.
May 31
A shout just rang up from the river. —?Slukayk-ay! Slukayk-ay!
We joined several of the children as they ran down to the shore. One of the young Indian men had netted an enormous salmon that bowed his pole with its weight. It took all the man’s strength to pull it ashore as it flapped against the rocks. A most remarkable fish! It was nearly three feet long & weighed as much as a small child.
Boyd explained that it was a chinook, the largest of all the salmon.
?—?Not a better fish I’ve found, for looks or for eating, Samuelson said.
It was indeed an impressive specimen. As one of the first fish of the season, it aroused a great deal of gleeful singing among the Indians.
A delicious meal. The Indian women cut slabs of firm, crimson meat from the fish, then cooked it on sticks over the flames of a campfire. They added green alder to the fire & the smoke flavored the salmon. We all of us ate until we could eat no more.