Soon after his departure, the Osages turned their attention to Besha, sternly questioning him as to the part he had taken in their late chief’s dispute with Wingenund; and in spite of all his protestations of impartiality and innocence, they stripped him of every article of clothing save his mocassins, and gave him a most severe flogging with a laryette of bull’s–hide, after which they decamped, leaving him still pinioned, and writhing with pain, while they carried with them his attendant, whom they compelled to load and arrange the packs upon the horses, and to lead the latter for the first dozen miles of their route; after which they permitted him to return to release his master, who crawled back with difficulty, before daylight, to the Crow camp, having reaped the reward of his intrigues, cunning, and avarice, in the loss of all his presents, two of his best horses, and a flogging, from the effects of which he suffered for a long time.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE SCENE IS SHIFTED TO THE BANKS OF THE MUSKINGUM, AND PRAIRIE–BIRD RETURNS TO THE HOME OF HER CHILDHOOD.
About two months after the events related in the preceding chapters, there was an unusual stir and bustle in the town of Marietta, and half a score of its principal inhabitants were assembled in front of David Muir’s house, to witness the landing of the crew and passengers belonging to a large boat that had just arrived at the wooden pier which projected into the river.
Foremost of a busy group at the water’s edge was the sturdy form of Gregson the mate, whose orders respecting the bringing–to, and making fast, were implicitly obeyed; and when at length she was securely moored alongside the pier, numerous and hearty were the greetings between those who stepped ashore from her, and the friends from whom they had been so long severed.
“Bearskin, how are you? my old fresh–water porpoise!” said the mate, squeezing the hard hand of the Mississippi boatman. “How fares it, messmate?”