Just Yarnin' Chapter 8: Bridger's Arrowhead
“Speakin’ of Old Gabe,” Parfleche drawled, “you remember the rendezvous whar he had that old arrowhead butchered out of him?” By now the old man was reclined comfortably against his tattered Spanish saddle and epishmores.
“I was at rondy, but cain’t say I seen it,” Solitaire replied. “Ifn’ I remember right, I was racin’ hosses with some Snake braves.”
“I was thar an’ seen it fer myself.” Parfleche asserted. “I seen that doctor, what was his name…uh…Whitler…no,..uh..Whitman. Yup, Dr. Whitman. I seen Dr. Whitman butcher it out right thar at rondyvous.
“Seems like it was the rendyvous of ’35. Yep, that’s when them doctors and the missionaries come west. Beginning of the end if ya ask me. Anyhow, I remember Old Gabe learnt that Dr. Whitman was a surgeon of some sort. See, Old Gabe been carrying that point around fer’ 3 or so years. Got it through a misunderstandin’ of sorts with a Blackfoot warrior. Took two arrows that day ifn’ I remember the tale. They was able to take other one out the same day, but this other ‘un wouldn’t budge. Then he tells his companero just to take off the shaft and leave that point in. Fore long they gets it off, and Old Gabe just packs up and hits the trail. That old point just stayed thar in his shoulder. I remember him sayin’ it throbbed something terrible during winter camp.
“Anyhow, it’d been a few years and then Bridger hears of this surgeon Dr. Whitman at rondyvous. He wanders over to him and asks him ifn’ he can butcher it out. Doctor figures he can, but tells Old Gabe it’ll be a little ticklish in doins. Gabe figures he can stand it and strips off his shirt right thar in the middle of the party. That’s when the doctor goed and grabbed his doctorin’ bag. Soon as he gets back he asks Old Gabe ifn’ he’s shore he wants it cut out. Gabe says he would just assume get it butchered out than have to stand another day packin’ it around.
“As the doctors steps up and starts the butchern’ it was as quiet as I ever heard a rondy’. Injuns and whites alike was packed round tighter than a good diamond hitch on a mule in rough country. Everyone just standin’ thar a gawkin’ with thar’ mouths plumb open. I remember lookin’ around and just lookin’ at thar faces. It was something alright.
“It took that doctor a few minutes once he had started. I remember seeing the blood running down Old Gabe’s back. That coon never did flinch though. He just sat thar’ with the hair of the bear. Wagh!
“After a while doctor tells him he can see the point. The problem was it had bent round the bone and hooked it. Had it been an obsidian point, wouldn’t never had been a problem. This was one of them cheap trade points them Injuns like to use. That iron had bent once it hit Gabe’s shoulder and was clinging like a tick to an Injun dog. Whitman tells Gabe to bear down, and Old Gabe does just that. After a little tuggin’ and twistin’ soon that cheap old trade point finally come out. When Whitman holds it up, it must have been a full three inches long.
“Now everyone is just hoopin’ and hollerin’ and carryin’ on. An Old Gabe, well he’s mighty thankful of the doctor. He offers to give him what he’s got fer payment. Doctor tells him not to worry, and he was glad to help. They shakes hands and Old Gabe heads back to the party.
“Once them Injuns seen that doctor pull that arrowhead out they figures he has some strong medicine, strong as any of thar’ men. Them Injuns come by the dozens lookin’ fer him to fix ‘em. Some had broked arms and legs, other been crippled fer’ years, and still others been blind. All of ‘em figures this white man has the strongest medicine they ever heard of. Old Whitman tried to help ‘em ifn’ he could, but he knowed thar weren’t no helpin’ some of ‘em. Them Injuns just wouldn’t leave him alone after that. Ha!”
“I suppose,” Solitaire chuckled.
For a moment the two sat there, Parfleche reliving the scene in his mind. It wasn’t long before Solitaire spoke up.
“Warn’t that the rendezvous when Old Gabe finally trapped him a squaw?”
“You know, I believe it was. Ha! Yep, once Old Gabe got that point dug out of him he must have been feelin’ pretty spry. Wasn’t long and he had that young Flathead girl fer a wife. Haha!”
Just Yarnin’ Chapter 9 - Diah’s Ear -COMING SOON
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