Joe Meek - Mountain Man and Trapper

A young Indian girl, whose name translated into English meant "Mountain Lamb" saddled two horses, released Sublette and my father and stampeded the herd of Indian ponies. In the confusion Mr. Sublette and my father escaped and went to Pierre's hole. Captain Sublette went back later and secured this Indian girl for his wife. Not long after that, in a fight, Sublette was stabbed so seriously he was left to die. Father stayed with him and in six weeks he was able to travel.

Later, in a battle with the Blackfeet, Sublette was again badly wounded. They took him to St. Louis. He gave father his Indian wife, the girl who had saved their lives. My father said she was the bravest woman he ever saw. She had no fear.

Father bought her a horse, a famous race horse -- its name was "All Fours." He had to pay $300 for it. Father bought a saddle and he had a bridle made for All Fours, with Mexican silver dollars and other ornaments that cost him $50. Mountain Lamb fixed hawk's bells, beads and porcupine quills on the saddle and bridle and wherever she went, it attracted great attention.

When father and Mountain Lamb were out on a trip, they were attacked by the Crows, who captured her.

My father killed the Crow warror who had her, regained his wife and escaped with her. Not long after that, a party of Crows came in to sell beaver skins. Father was with Jim Bridger. One of the Crow warriors, seeing Mountain Lamb in front of father's teepee, struck her in the face with his quirt. Father instantly killed the Crow warrior and a moment later the Indians and the white men were fighting.

One of the the trappers was killed. The Indians finally retired, leaving a number of their warriors dead. When father was fighting with Indians, Mountain Lamb fought like a warrior.

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Excerpted from Oregon Folks by Fred Lockley (1927) Knickerbocker Press, New York

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