CHAPTER II.
MY OUTFIT—DISSIPATION—START TO CALIFORNIA—UPBRAIDINGS FROM MY UNCLE—UNCLE AND AUNT DISAGREE—A STARTLING REVELATION, I LEARN THAT I AM BEING TAKEN TO UTAH—LEAVE MY UNCLE AND JOIN SPICER, TO AVOID GOING TO UTAH.
We arrived safely at Sydney, where I took leave of my brother and started alone for Hamburg, with all my earthly possessions in my hand, which consisted of a small bundle containing a suit of old-fashioned clothes and a fiddle.
On arriving at my uncle's residence he seemed quite elated to think he had a servant and companion, for this was the first step towards accomplishing a design at this time known only to himself.
Previous to starting out he extended a great many privileges to me, such as a drink of whisky, hunting cattle, attending dances and riding mules, the last-named sport occasionally causing me to turn unexpected somersaults.
During this time I effected a sale of my fiddle for a gallon of whisky and a dollar in money. From the effects of drinking the whisky I felt that I could easily reach California, and, after obtaining a pipe and a pound of tobacco, I felt fully equipped for my trip.
When feed became plentiful we started out, in company with a man by the name of Gerard who had a lot of fine horses which he was taking to California.
Our complete outfit consisted of one wagon, one yoke of oxen, one yoke of cows, a tent and a common camp-stove. My uncle adopted the plan of staking the tent every night, also tying ropes to the wagon wheels and staking the same. He also fixed the stove daily, or rather made me do it, and this work of course became very monotonous.
Uncle assisted me a week or two in performing camp duties and also in driving team. I was grateful for all his previous kindness to me and in order to prove this I willingly performed all the duties required of me. But in a very short time he left all this work to me, and driving team all day and performing these duties afterwards kept me entirely out of mischief.
All went well until after we passed Julesburg, on the Platte River, when the following important incidents occurred: