human
There's a man come to see you, Grandpa.
gpt
Yes, the old man's voice had within it the blending of gentle winds, and stormy ones, and rippling streams, and strange bird songs.
human
Who is it?
gpt
My name's Tower, Joe spoke for himself while he reached across the table to grasp the old man's hand,
human
Joe Tower. I rode from Tenney's Crossing to ask you about the west.
gpt
Glad to know you, Joe.
human
I'd best get back to my work,
gpt
What do you want to know about?
human
I-- Joe fumbled. He had come to ask about the west, and only now did it occur to him that he hadn't the slightest notion of what to ask.
gpt
I'm thinking of going there,
human
You don't aim just to point your nose west and follow it?
gpt
No. That's why I came to see you. I want to find out how to do it.
human
The west is a big place. What are your wishes?
gpt
A fellow named Townley told me he staked out land by riding three days in each direction and finally coming back to his starting point.
human
Townley's a liar, Grandpa assured him.
gpt
Though some of the ranches and land grants in the southwest are most as big as the state of Missouri. They need a lot of land; takes maybe eighty acres to feed one cow in some of that country. You going in for cattle?
human
No. I'm a farmer.
gpt
Oregon, Grandpa said.
human
Oregon's the place you want. Get yourself a quarter section there. That's all the land any farmer needs in that country.
gpt
How do I get to Oregon?
human
Go out to Independence and get on the trail. Even if anybody in Independence can't put you on it, which they can, you won't miss it. Last time I was through, it was a few miles wide in some places and I expect it's wider now. With all the wagons that have gone through, people would have to branch out to find grass for their stock. Follow the Trail after you get on it and you'll be all right. But May's the time to start for Oregon. Unless you want to travel alone, you should wait until next spring.
gpt
Can a lone wagon get through?
human
Sure, but it can be almighty lonesome. The prairies are a right sizable place to be in all by yourself. But you can do it alone. Some of the Mormon companies pushed hand carts all the way from the Missouri, and there were plenty of women pushing right along with the men. But, starting this late, you won't get through to Oregon this summer.
gpt
How far can I get?
human
How are you traveling?
gpt
What's the best way?
human
Mules, Grandpa said decisively.
gpt
Next to them, oxen. Oxen will get along on skimpier grass, but they're slow. Horses are all right for riding but they don't stand up under a long haul.
human
Is one team of mules enough?
gpt
That's taking a chance. You should have two, or anyhow one spare animal. Then, if you lose one, you can always get some place where they'll sell you another.
human
How far can I get this season?
gpt
To Laramie, anyhow. With luck, and if storms hold off, you might get to Fort Bridger. But you can count on Laramie with time to spare.
human
Can a man figure on finding something to do through the winter?
gpt
Any man who wants to work can find it. Tell you what, a little short of one day west of Laramie there's a friend of mine with a trading post. Name's Jim Snedeker. Tell him I sent you, and he'll give you and your mules a job. That is, always supposing you want to work for him.
human
How about Indian trouble?
gpt
That's up to you. Ninety-eight out of a hundred Indian scrapes are not brought about by Indians, but by some mullethead of an emigrant who started a ruckus with them. If you don't bother the Indians, and don't let them bother you, you should have no trouble.
human
What else will I need?
gpt
How many are going with you?
human
My wife and six young ones.
gpt
Load your wagon heavy with eatables, Grandpa advised.
human
Carry plenty of flour. Take eggs; pack them in a barrel of corn meal and use up the meal as you use up the eggs. You should have coffee and whatever else you fancy in the way of eating. Take tools, the ones you'll need are the ones you need here. Go light on dishes and furniture. There's enough household goods been pitched out of wagons between Independence and the Wil'mette Valley to stock a city the size of St. Louis ten times over. You got a milk cow?
gpt
Two.
human
Take both. You'll get some milk all the time. Hang the morning's milking in a pail behind the wagon. By night it'll be butter. Drink the evening's milking. Can you shoot?
gpt
Tolerable good.
human
There's still buffalo and I think there always will be, though they'll never be again like they were in '30 when we went into Santa Fe. But you can count on enough for meat. You got any money?
gpt
Very little,
human
Keep what you have. Take all of it with you and get as much more as you can. You'll need it.
gpt
On the Oregon Trail?
human
On the Oregon Trail, Grandpa assured him.
gpt
Suppose a mule dies and you have to buy another? What if you have to stock up on flour? For a moment Grandpa lost himself in the dreamy introspectiveness of the very old.
human
It's not like it was in the old days. A man didn't need anything but his horse and rifle then, and if he didn't have the horse he could always get one if he had a rifle. The west has grown up. She's shed her three-cornered pants and put on her long britches. Don't try it unless you have some money.
gpt
Is there anything else?
human
Watch the company you'll find. You'll run into soldiers, but no constables or marshals, and you will find cutthroats. Take it easy. Don't go too fast or too slow. Use the sense God gave you, and you'll do all right.
gpt
That's it, huh?
human
I've told you everything that's to be told, Grandpa assured him.
gpt
If you can think of anything else, I'll try to answer your questions.
human
Can't figure another question, Joe admitted.
gpt
I should outfit right, go to Independence, get on the Oregon Trail, and use common sense.
human
That's the way.
gpt
Thank you for your time. Thank you kindly.
human
That's all my time's good for now.
gpt
What did you say?
human
Nothing important, the old man told him. He said, more to himself than to Joe,
gpt
I'd like to do it over again, the way I did it the first time.