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diff --git a/21462.txt b/21462.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d98606b --- /dev/null +++ b/21462.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4036 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Frontier Fort, by W. H. G. Kingston + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Frontier Fort + Stirring Times in the N-West Territory of British America + +Author: W. H. G. Kingston + +Illustrator: D. H. Friston + +Release Date: May 15, 2007 [EBook #21462] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FRONTIER FORT *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +The Frontier Fort; Stirring Times in the North-West Territory of British +America, by W H G Kingston. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +Another well-written yarn by Kingston, with a background of Indian +territory in the Red River area of North America. Plenty of action, +ambushes, shootings, fast rides on horseback, and other incidents +apparently typical of the life of those days and in such a place. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +THE FRONTIER FORT; STIRRING TIMES IN THE NORTH-WEST TERRITORY OF BRITISH +AMERICA, BY W H G KINGSTON. + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +A party of travellers were wending their way across a wide-spreading +prairie in the north-west territory of America. As far as the eye could +reach, the ground was covered with waving tufts of dark-green grass, +interspersed with flowers of varied hue, among which could be +distinguished the yellow marigold and lilac bergamot, with bluebells, +harebells, and asters, innumerable; while here and there rose-bushes, +covered with gorgeous bloom, appeared above the particoloured carpet +spread over the country. On the north side the prairie was bounded by +softly rounded knolls, between which tiny lakelets were visible, shining +in the bright rays of the glowing sun. To the northward a silvery +stream could be seen meandering, bordered by willows, aspens, osiers, +and other trees of considerable height, breaking the line of the +horizon. + +"I am delighted with your country, Burnett; I had no idea such lovely +scenery and so much rich soil existed on this side of the Rocky +Mountains," said one of the travellers, addressing another, who rode +alongside him. + +"I hope, before many years are over, to see this fair region covered +with populous towns and villages, and flourishing farms." + +"That time is far distant, I suspect," answered Mr Burnett, a head +clerk of the Hudson's Bay Company, in charge of the party; "and I can +only say that I hope so, for when it comes, our vocation will be +well-nigh gone, as the Company will have to shut up shop--" + +"And retire on well-won fortunes," laughingly added the first speaker, +Reginald Loraine. He was a young Englishman of good fortune and family, +who had lately come out to make a tour in Canada; but having heard +conflicting reports of the north-west territory, he had been induced to +continue his journey westward, intending to proceed as far as the foot +of the Rocky Mountains, and to return, before the termination of the +summer, from Fort Edmonton, down the Saskatchewan, and through Lake +Winnipeg to the Red River. + +His intelligence, high spirits, and good humour made him an agreeable +companion. He was never put out by any mishaps or inconveniences. His +personal appearance was also much in his favour; while he was a good +rider, and possessed of activity and endurance, equal, if not superior, +to any of the rest of the party, long accustomed though they were to the +mode of life they were leading. + +From the sentiments he uttered, and the expression of his handsome +countenance, it might have been surmised that he possessed many other +qualities of a higher character. Young Hector Mackintosh, who had come +with him from Toronto, declared, indeed, that he never wished to have a +stauncher fellow at his back in a skirmish with Redskins, or in a fight +with a grizzly, and that he was as high-minded and generous as he was +brave. + +Hector, who was now curvetting over the prairie on a tough little +mustang, had been at school at Toronto, whence he was returning to +rejoin his father, Captain Mackintosh, now a chief officer, or factor, +in charge of Fort Duncan, a Company's post to the south-west, situated +on the borders of the Blackfeet territory. It was a somewhat dangerous +position, which only a man of courage and resolution would willingly +have occupied. + +Following at some little distance those who have been mentioned, came +three other horsemen, whose shouts of laughter, interspersed +occasionally with snatches of songs, could be heard far across the +prairie. The centre of the three was a short, portly gentleman, with a +somewhat rubicund countenance--Doctor McCrab, just appointed surgeon to +one of the forts in the west. On either side of him rode two young +clerks. One of them was Dan Maloney, a light-hearted Irishman, with +whom the jolly Doctor amused himself by exchanging jokes, capping +verses, and singing duets which set all the laws of harmony at defiance. + +The other was Allan Keith, who, from similarity of taste and mental +qualities, had won the regard of Reginald Loraine; indeed, except in +point of wealth, the two young men greatly resembled each other. + +Some way behind the gentlemen came a long team of Red River wooden +carts, escorted by several persons on horseback, under charge of Jacques +Leblanc, a French half-breed, who, from his reputed knowledge of the +country in all directions, had been selected to act as guide to the +whole party. + +The carts, which had only two wheels, were built entirely of wood, and +each was dragged by a single horse. Some carried the travellers' tents, +cooking utensils, a tool-chest, and additional axletrees, their arms and +ammunition, together with their clothes, spare blankets, and +waterproofs. The other carts were laden with stores of all sorts for +the forts to the westward. + +Accompanying the carts was a drove of loose horses--the animals now +rearing and kicking and biting at each other--now moving along steadily, +under the management of a single driver, Francois Chabot, also a French +half-breed. He had seldom to use his long whip to keep them in order; +and even the most restless showed no inclination to leave their +companions. They were intended to supply the travellers with a change +of steeds once or twice in the day; for in making long journeys, when +day after day forty or fifty miles have to be got over between sunrise +and sunset, one horse seldom possesses sufficient strength and endurance +to carry his rider the whole distance. + +When a horse shows signs of fatigue, his saddle is removed to the back +of another, and he contentedly runs on with the herd. The horses were +mostly small, and many of them sorry-looking steeds; but they had, +notwithstanding, carried their riders without showing signs of fatigue, +or growing thinner. Their only food was the grass they could pick up +while the party were encamped at night, or during their noon-day halt, +neither beans nor corn being given them. + +Reginald Loraine and the Doctor had provided themselves with English +saddles; the rest of the party bestrode those of native manufacture, +which were merely large pads of dressed leather, stuffed with hair or +grass, and having a broad and fringed crupper. Several of them were +trimmed and handsomely adorned with quills, the talent of the +manufacturer being especially exerted in ornamenting the saddle-cloths. +The stirrups were formed of curved pieces of wood, hanging by leather +thongs to the primitive saddle. The bridles might more properly be +called halters. They consisted of a thong of raw hide, thirty feet in +length, called an _atscacha_. One end was tied round the animal's lower +jaw, and the other, after being brought over the neck to the rider's +hand, was allowed to drag on the ground some fifteen feet behind. It +requires care, particularly by those in the rear, not to tread on the +thongs trailing behind. By so doing, the mouth of the horse receives a +jerk which seldom fails to make it rear and curvet from side to side. + +The object of this long thong is to enable the rider, when he dismounts, +to hold his horse while he fires at a foe; or, should he be thrown by +the animal stumbling in a rabbit-burrow, to prevent it running off. The +long thong serves also as a halter, ever ready to tie it up, or to catch +it when at liberty. Even the gentlemen who used English bridles found +it convenient to have these halters secured to their horses' heads. + +Day after day the travellers had been making their way along the Fertile +Belt, the name given to a broad tract of country extending between the +Red River and the base of the Rocky Mountains, bordered on the north by +forests, lakes, and rivers, and on the south by that sandy and desert +region which extends along the whole frontier of the United States. + +The party rode steadily on, every man carrying his rifle at his back; +for although the natives were generally friendly, it was considered wise +to be prepared, lest so rich a booty as the carts would afford might +tempt them. At night, too, a constant watch was kept on the horses, as +the Crees roaming over that part of the country are notorious +horse-stealers, and would have considered it a creditable feat to have +carried off as many of the travellers' steeds as they could catch. + +They had proceeded some distance, when, shading his eyes with his hand, +Mr Burnett looked out eagerly ahead. + +"What is it you see?" asked Loraine, imitating his example. + +"A party of horsemen, whom I at first thought might be Blackfeet on the +war-path, but I am satisfied they are Red River men, on a buffalo hunt," +answered Burnett. "We shall soon know. See, Leblanc has gone forward +to ascertain who they are." + +The guide in a short time returned, saying that the strangers were Red +River hunters; that they had just sighted buffalo, and would be glad if +any of the gentlemen of the party would join them. + +Loraine and Hector were delighted to accept the invitation, and Allan +Keith and Maloney were anxious to try their skill as hunters. While +they galloped on to join the half-breeds, Burnett and his men moved +towards the spot which had been fixed on for camping at night. + +The buffalo hunt need not be described, except to say that the young +Englishmen won the admiration of their new friends by their courage and +dexterity, each having brought a couple of the shaggy monsters to the +ground. + +The travellers spent the evening with their new friends, the hunters, +who, as soon as the buffalo they had last killed had been turned into +pemmican, intended to return to the Red River. Next morning they +continued their journey westward, pushing on at greater speed than +usual, to make up for lost time, Burnett being very anxious to reach the +fort by the day he was expected. + +The country was generally lovely, being well wooded, with numerous +lakelets, now rising into softly rounded knolls, and occasionally +opening out into a wide, fair landscape. The soil was of rich loam, and +the vegetation luxuriant, sprinkled with flowers of many tints. + +They had been moving on for a couple of hours or more, when Loraine, +looking to the southward, observed a remarkable appearance in the +horizon, which wore an unearthly ashen hue. Pointing it out to Burnett, +he asked-- + +"Can that be produced by a prairie fire?" + +"No; but if I mistake not, we shall have, before long, a flight of +locusts passing over our heads. That peculiar look of the sky is +produced by the light reflected from their transparent wings." + +As he spoke, the whole sky appeared to be changing from blue to silvery +white, then to ashy grey and lead colour; while, opposite to the sun, +the prevailing hue was a silver white--perceptibly flashing, the air +seeming as if rilled with flakes of snow. + +"The insects are flying from five hundred to a thousand feet above our +heads; and I hope we may get clear of them before we camp, or they will +play mischief with everything made of leather, which is left exposed," +observed Burnett. + +He was, however, disappointed; for, in a short time, the locusts +descended--the whole air became filled with them, until they reached the +ground, where they clung to the blades of grass in countless multitudes. + +During the remainder of the day the creatures continued coming on; and +when the party at length stopped at night, they had to clear away the +ground to form their camp. + +The voracity of the insects was proved by the way they attacked and +destroyed several articles of clothing, which had carelessly been left +on the grass. The travellers found, indeed, that the only way to +protect their property was to pile it up in the carts out of reach. Dan +Maloney appeared with a melancholy countenance, exhibiting a leather bag +and a pair of woollen trousers, which he had thrown down outside the +tent, eaten through and through in all directions. At night the +insects, fortunately, did not move. Early in the morning they were +found busily feeding; but as soon as the sun had evaporated the dew, +they began taking short flights, and then cloud after cloud rose, and +pursued their way to the northward. + +Burnett assured his companions that he had never seen so large a flight +before; and, as far as he could ascertain, many years had passed without +the country receiving a similar visitation. + +Scarcely had the locusts disappeared, than what looked like a thick, +black fog-bank was seen rising from the direction whence they had come. +It approached nearer and nearer. Leblanc, riding forward, pointed it +out to Burnett. + +"The prairie is on fire," he remarked. + +"I know it is; I saw it from the first. But I don't think it will come +near us." + +"I am not quite so sure of that. It comes on fast, and the grass here +is very long," said the guide. + +"Then we'll make our way to yonder knoll, where it is shorter," said +Burnett, who was not to be put out by Indians, locusts, or prairie +fires. + +The word was given to drag the carts towards the spot Burnett had +indicated. + +"A fire on the prairie is a serious matter, is it not?" observed +Loraine, in a tone of inquiry. + +"I do not much fear it, notwithstanding," answered Burnett. "We shall +have a storm before long, I suspect, and that will fight the flames." + +"I should have thought that a storm would be more likely to fan them +into greater fury," remarked Loraine, who considered that Burnett was +not sufficiently alive to the dangers they might have to encounter from +the fire. + +"Not if it rains as I expect it will," observed Burnett. "Look at that +cloud ahead. It contains a torrent sufficient to extinguish the +fiercest flames." + +Loraine had hitherto been admiring the beautiful appearance of the sky. +To the south it was of that bright blue such as is seldom seen in the +British Isles. To the west it was bordered with vast, billowy clouds of +the softest, snowy white. Beneath the black cloud, which was every +instant extending, were grey masses whirling on at a terrific rate; +while, suddenly, to the north and east the expanse of heaven assumed a +dun-coloured hue, vivid with lightning, where rain appeared to be +descending in torrents. The whole atmosphere was charged with +electricity. The lightning rushed towards the earth, in straight and +zig-zag currents, the thunder varying from the sharp rattle of musketry +to the roar of artillery. Still no rain had fallen from overhead, while +scarcely a breath of air was blowing. + +Meantime, however, the fire came rushing on across the prairie, the +flames, as they caught the tall grass, growing brighter and brighter, +every now and then rising and expanding, as they seized on shrubs and +trees in their onward course. + +Burnett at last seemed to think that matters were growing serious, and +made a signal to the drivers of the carts to push forward. There was no +necessity, as they were doing their utmost to urge on their steeds by +uttering strange oaths and by the liberal use of their whips. + +"We must try and get to the other side of the knoll, and camp; for we as +yet have only seen the beginning of the storm," remarked Burnett. + +Scarcely had he said this, than, with the suddenness of a tornado, the +wind came rushing down upon them; at first, without a drop of rain, but +so fiercely that the horses were forced from the track. Again and again +it seemed hopeless to drive against it. The lightning flashed more +vividly than before; the thunder roared; while the fire advanced across +the prairie like a fiery host bent on their destruction. + +"I say, I don't see why we should lose our lives, even though Burnett +thinks it is his duty to stick by the carts," said Hector, riding up to +Loraine. "We can gallop ahead, in spite of the wind; it will be better +than being turned into Guy Fawkeses." + +Loraine was much inclined to follow his young friend's advice; indeed, +he suspected the rest of the party would soon leave the carts to their +fates, and try to save themselves by flight from the fiery sea, which +was tossing and heaving not a quarter of a mile away from them. He +would not go, however, without first urging Burnett, the other clerks, +and the Doctor to try and save themselves. + +He had turned his horse for the purpose, when the rain came down thick +and furious, with even greater suddenness than the wind had arisen. +They saw that it almost immediately produced an effect on the fire. It +was a struggle between the two elements. At first it seemed doubtful, +however, which would prove victorious; but water, they trusted, had +gained the day; for, mingled with the rain came hail, not only ordinary +hail, but mixed with lumps half an inch to an inch across. + +"Och! I'd as soon have a whack from an honest shillaly as be pelted by +thim threacherous lumps," cried Dan Maloney. + +The travellers in vain raised their hands to protect their heads from +the hail. The long line of horses and carts was broken. Some of the +poor creatures clung to the road, struggling desperately. Others were +driven on to the prairie, and turning their backs to the storm, stood +still or moved sideways, with cowering heads, their manes and tails +floating wildly, like those of Highland shelties. + +Hector declared that he could hear the hissing of the rain as it fell on +the hitherto victorious fire, effectually, however, quenching it. A few +minutes after the storm had broken, the whole ground to the left was a +blackened expanse. The danger was passed, and they hastened on to the +foot of the knoll, where a lakelet, fringed by aspens and poplars, +afforded them good camping ground. With astonishing speed the +arrangements for the night were made; every man exerted himself. The +horses were unharnessed, the erratic ones hobbled, the tents pitched, +and the travellers assembled round the blazing fires which were quickly +lighted to dry their saturated clothing. + +Almost before these arrangements were made, the storm passed away. The +setting sun burst forth again until not a blot was left in the sky, save +fragments of mist to the south and south-east. It was too late to think +of moving on again, and Leblanc was glad of the opportunity of halting +to repair some of the carts with the ever serviceable "Shaganappi," a +large supply of which was carried for the purpose, as also to mend the +harness and other gear which had been broken by the restive movements of +the horses during the storm. + +In the mean time, while Francois, another Canadian, who acted as cook, +was preparing the evening meal, Loraine and Hector took their guns to +shoot some ducks which were seen on the other side of the lakelet. +Having knocked over several birds, before returning they took a +refreshing plunge in the water, which was sufficiently deep for the +purpose. + +The twilight had faded away into darkness before the whole party were +seated round the camp-fires, discussing their suppers with such +appetites as few fail to obtain while travelling in that region. Supper +was over; and "early to bed, and early to rise" being a standing order, +those of the party who enjoyed the luxury of tents retired within, while +the rest lay down, wrapped in their blankets, beneath the carts +arranged, as usual, in a circle to serve as a defence against any +attacks of hostile Indians. Although Burnett did not expect any +annoyance of the sort, he considered it his duty to take the precautions +which no traveller at that period omitted to make. Two or three men +were also stationed as sentries to keep watch, especially on the horses. + +Loraine had seen Hector, who shared his tent, fall fast asleep; but not +being inclined to close his own eyes, he stepped out of his tent to take +a look at the stars which shone from the heavens, undimmed by a single +cloud. Happening to turn his eyes towards the summit of the knoll, he +was somewhat surprised to see what he felt sure was a human figure, the +outline being distinctly marked against the sky. The man was evidently +taking a survey of the camp. Loraine, thinking it possible that he +might be a scout sent out by a party of Blackfeet, made his way to the +nearest sentry to tell him to be on the watch, and to ask his opinion on +the subject. By the time he had reached the sentry, however, the figure +had disappeared. The sentry thought he might have been mistaken; but +when Loraine made him understand what he had seen, he went round to the +other men on watch, and urged them to be on the alert and to keep the +horses well together. Loraine was just going back to his tent, when he +heard a shout. It was answered by the sentry on the south side of the +camp; and a conversation in a language he could not understand took +place. On going up to them, he could dimly distinguish an Indian of +somewhat diminutive size and of deformed figure. + +"What does he want?" inquired Loraine. + +"He says, as far as I can make out, that his chief, who will be here +directly, sent him to find out who we are; for he thought at first, when +he saw our camp-fire, that we might be Crees, or a party of Blackfeet, +for such he knows are at present out on the war-path," answered the +sentry. + +"Tell him that we shall be glad to see his chief, whoever he is, if he +comes as a friend," said Loraine. "Until I know his business, I will +not arouse Mr Burnett, who requires a good rest; and I dare say it will +keep until to-morrow morning." + +The sentry spoke to the hump-backed Indian, who quickly disappeared in +the gloom; and Loraine walked up and down, waiting for his return. + +"You must not be thrown off your guard, Pierre, lest some trick should +be intended," he remarked, recollecting the numberless tales of Indian +treachery he had heard. + +"I know the coquins (rogues) too well for that," answered Pierre. + +In a short time, Loraine saw through the gloom two persons on horseback, +with a couple of led horses, approaching. They rode fearlessly up to +the camp. The first, from the white hair hanging down under his fur +cap, and his snowy beard, and wrinkled, weather-beaten features, though +he sat upright and firmly in his saddle, was apparently an old man. His +costume, consisting of a leathern coat and leggings, fringed in the +usual fashion, and the rifle slung at his back, showed that he was one +of the free white hunters, or trappers, who have been wont for many a +year to roam amid the prairies and forests in the north-west in search +of peltries. The other person, leading the two pack horses, Loraine +recognised as the hump-backed Indian who had just before come to the +camp. + +"I am glad to have fallen in with you, friends," said the old man, +dismounting. "You keep early hours and a careful watch. I expected to +have seen you carousing, and quaffing the accursed fire-water, as so +many of you travellers from the Far East are wont to do. To say the +truth, when I first caught sight of your camp-fires, I was uncertain +whether they were those of Crees or Blackfeet; and as I had no fancy to +fall in with the one or the other, I sent on my lad Greensnake to learn +the state of the case." + +"Then he was the person I saw at the top of the hillock out there," +observed Loraine. + +"Not he; he would not have exposed himself in that fashion," said the +old man. + +"Then my eyes must have deceived me, after all," said Loraine. "I'm +sure Mr Burnett, the leader of our party, will welcome you to the camp; +but he is asleep at present, and I should be sorry to disturb him +unnecessarily. I will, however, call up one of the men to get ready +some supper for you and your attendant." + +"I shall be glad of some food, for I have not fired a shot for the last +three days, and my stock of provisions has run short," replied the old +man. + +He now called up Greensnake, took off the saddles from the led horses, +and unloaded the baggage animals, placing the packs inside the circle of +carts. + +Meantime, Loraine found out where Francois was sleeping, and, arousing +him, told him to get some food ready for their unexpected guests. + +Francois at first eyed the strangers askance. Satisfied, however, at +length, that he was a white man, and perhaps a person of more importance +than his costume might betoken, he set diligently to work to boil the +kettle and fry some buffalo meat; the old hunter, who had taken a seat +on a pile of wood near the fire, looking complacently on. + +Loraine having assisted Francois in preparing the supper, prompted by +good feeling, and perhaps slightly by curiosity, took a seat by the side +of the stranger, that he might attend to his wants. Immediately +afterwards, the lad who has been introduced as Greensnake glided +noiselessly up in a fashion appropriate to his name, and squatted down +close to his master, waiting patiently until Loraine handed him a share +of the food. Having no cause to conceal the object of their journey, +Loraine explained that he and his companions were bound for Fort +Edmonton, and were pushing on as fast as they could travel, without the +risk of knocking up their horses. + +"I wish that you were directing your course rather to Fort Duncan, for I +suspect that Captain Mackintosh and his small garrison are greatly in +want of assistance. From some information brought me by Greensnake, I +suspect that the Blackfeet have formed a plot to take it. Hearing that +the Captain holds the Indians cheaply, and is not likely to be warned by +what I might tell him, I am on my way to Fort Edmonton to advise that he +should be put on his guard, and that assistance may be sent him without +delay." + +Loraine was struck by the old man's mode of expressing himself--so +different to the slang language used in general by the rough trappers +and traders of the Far West. + +"This is important information, indeed!" he said, feeling anxious about +the safety of his young friend's family, and especially of that young +friend's two sisters; for although he had never seen them, Hector had +shown him their portraits, one of which, called Sybil, possessed a face +of rare loveliness. Effie, the younger, was very attractive; but Hector +declared that there never was, or never could be, anybody like Sybil. +Hector had told him that the portrait, not being his own, he could not +give it to him, but that he was welcome to look at it as often as he +liked--a privilege of which, it must be confessed, Reginald frequently +took advantage; and he had resolved, if possible, to pay a visit to the +residence of the fair original. Even had this not been the case, his +chivalry would have made him eager to set off to the assistance of +Hector's relatives. He felt that the matter was of so much importance +that he should be justified in calling up Mr Burnett to discuss what +measures should be taken. He, of course, knew that Hector would be as +anxious to go as he was; he, therefore, let him sleep on. Burnett, who +did not appear very well satisfied at being aroused from his slumbers, +came and sat down to hear the old man's account. He questioned him +narrowly, apparently not altogether crediting his statements. + +"You may think what you will, Mr Burnett; but people are not apt in +general to doubt the word of Isaac Sass," said the old man at length, in +an offended tone. + +"Are you Isaac Sass?" exclaimed Burnett. "I have often heard of you. +Then, I say, I don't doubt your word. But why are you so sure that the +fort will be attacked?" + +"For a strong reason, which, as I don't wish to keep you longer from +your rest, I will give in the morning." + +"A word for yourself, friend Sass, I ken?" observed Burnett. + +"No, no; I can do without sleep," answered Isaac Sass; "but before I lie +down, I wish to know--yes or no--whether you will direct your course +towards Fort Duncan, instead of going on to Edmonton." + +"I wish that I could do as you suggest," answered Burnett. "If Captain +Mackintosh wants help, I should like to give it him; but I must carry +out my instructions, at all costs. It would not do to run the risk of +getting our train plundered, as both stores and ammunition are much +wanted at Edmonton." + +"But will you allow one of your factors to be exposed to the danger our +friend here has spoken of?" exclaimed Loraine. "I should be unwilling +under any other circumstances to part company; but I feel bound, whether +or not I can get anybody to go with me, to set off with my friend, young +Mackintosh, to warn his family, and give them such assistance as we +can." + +"You, of course, are at liberty to go, Mr Loraine; and, as young +Mackintosh was committed to your care, to take him with you," answered +Burnett, somewhat stiffly. "But duty is duty. I must obey my orders, +and those are, to conduct this train to Edmonton with as little delay as +possible. I have no discretionary power to go out of the way, under any +excuse whatever." + +"But, surely, you would not object to one of the clerks, and some few of +the men who could be spared, accompanying me!" exclaimed Loraine. "Even +a small addition to the number would be of consequence in the defence of +the fort, should it be attacked; and that it will be so, our friend here +seems to think there is every probability." + +"I have explained how I am situated in the matter, Mr Loraine," said +Mr Burnett, in the same tone as before; "and I think it right to say, +that, without a guide and a body of men well-armed, you and young +Mackintosh will be unable to accomplish the journey. You will either +lose yourselves and be starved, or be attacked and cut off by the +Blackfeet. The Crees are not to be trusted either; for though they are +civil enough to us, knowing that we have the power to punish them, yet +they would steal our horses if they could; and, looking upon you as +strangers, they would not only take your horses, but your scalps into +the bargain." + +"I shall not be afraid of meeting either them or the Blackfeet," +answered Loraine. "What do you say, friend?" he added, turning to Isaac +Sass. "Can I, or can I not, get to Fort Duncan, and warn the garrison +of the danger which threatens them?" + +The old hunter looked up at the countenance of the young Englishman, +without speaking for a few seconds. He then said, "If pluck and courage +would enable a man to do it, you would; but I cannot say how much you +know about the country and the ways of the Redskins. It would not be an +easy matter for any man, as there are several war parties out--of that I +have certain knowledge; and I had no small difficulty in keeping clear +of them. I wish that I could go with you, but I cannot get along as +fast as I used to do, and my beasts are pretty well knocked up. But +this is what I'll do: I'll send my lad Greensnake with you; whatever I +tell him to do, he'll do, and prove as true as steel. People call him +an idiot; but he's no more an idiot than I am, if a person knows how to +get the sense out of him, and that's what I do." + +Greensnake, on hearing his name mentioned, glanced up with a pleased +look, and nodded at his master, as a dog often does when spoken about. + +"I gladly accept your offer, and will give him any reward you think +right for his services," said Loraine. "I should like to set off +to-night." + +"That would be impossible, as the lad and your horses want rest," +answered the old trapper. "To-morrow morning he shall be at your +service, and perhaps by that time Mr Burnett will have thought the +matter over, and will send two or three of his men to accompany you. I +will take the duties of those who go, and he knows I am worth +something." + +"Well, well, I'll think it over, and to-morrow morning let you know my +decision," said Burnett. "Now, Mr Loraine, I'd advise you to lie down +and get some rest, or you won't be fit for the work you propose to +undertake." + +Loraine, hoping that Burnett would consent to spare him a few men, +followed his advice, and turned into his camp bed, while the old hunter, +wrapping himself in his buffalo robe, lay down with his feet to the +fire, as did Greensnake in a horse-cloth, which he took from the baggage +he had deposited inside the camp. + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +Burnett was duly impressed with a sense of his responsibilities. He +really wished to send assistance to Fort Duncan, but felt the importance +of conveying his charge safely to Fort Edmonton, and he was too prudent +to run any risk, by weakening his escort. He, therefore, determined to +commence the journey at an earlier hour than usual, and to push forward +as fast as possible. He recollected the half-breeds from whom they had +parted only three days before, and whom they had left encamped. If they +could be overtaken, some of them might be induced to go to Fort Duncan +by the prospect of a brush with their sworn enemies, the Blackfeet. +"Perhaps this young Englishman will agree to go back and obtain their +assistance, and he will render far greater service to the captain than +if he were to go alone," thought Burnett. "I will propose the plan to +him to-morrow morning, and allow Allan Keith to accompany him. The two +seem to pull well together; and as soon as we get to Edmonton we will +send off as many men as can be spared." + +Satisfied with his plan, Burnett pulled his blanket round him, and was +just dropping off to sleep, when he heard the distant neigh of a horse. + +"That was not one of our animals!" he exclaimed, starting to his feet. +As he did so, he saw the old man and his Indian boy sitting up. + +"What sound was that, Sass?" he asked. + +"Blackfeet are not far off, I guess," was the answer. + +Loraine, who had been unable to sleep, hearing what was said, came out +of his tent. + +"Is there a chance of the camp being attacked?" he asked. + +"They'll not attack the camp, but they'll steal our horses if they can," +answered Burnett. + +"Depend on that; if we don't keep a look-out they'll have half of them +away before morning," observed Sass; and turning to Loraine, he added, +"You said just now that you caught sight of a figure on the top of the +hill, and as that was not Greensnake or me, I have a notion that it was +one of the Blackfeet." + +"Why didn't you tell me of that before?" inquired Burnett. + +"Because I thought I was mistaken, and that it was not of sufficient +consequence to arouse you," answered Loraine. + +"It may be of the greatest importance; even now the rascals may have +enticed off some of our horses," exclaimed Burnett, taking his gun, and +going up to where the men lay asleep. + +A light touch on the shoulder, and a whisper in the ear, were sufficient +to arouse them. He having also called up the Doctor and the two clerks, +hurried on to where the men were on watch outside. They also had heard +the sounds, and were on the alert. They were certain that as yet all +the horses were safe. They were joined by most of the other men; two or +three only, by Burnett's orders, having remained behind to extinguish +the fires. + +Just at this juncture several horses, feeding on the rich pasture not a +hundred yards off, came galloping up, and would have passed the camp had +not the men rushed out and stopped them. This proved without doubt that +enemies were in the neighbourhood. Accordingly, several men, +well-armed, went out and brought up the remainder of the horses, which +they at once tethered either to the carts or to stakes firmly fixed in +the ground; then each with his gun loaded with buck-shot, crawled out +through the long grass, so that they could not be seen, even by the +sharp eyes of the Blackfeet, and arranged themselves in a circle at the +distance of about eighty yards from the camp. The night was dark, and +perfect silence was maintained, so that even the most watchful enemy +could not have discovered what the travellers were about. + +Burnett having thus made all necessary arrangements for the security of +the camp, directed Allan Keith and Maloney each to take his turn in +watching, and again lay down, his example being followed by the rest of +the party who were not required on duty. The most sharp-eyed Redskins +would have found it difficult to discover what the travellers were +about. Allan Keith was the only person who remained on foot. Having +visited the horses, and ascertained that the men in charge of them were +awake, he went on, intending to make the circuit of the camp, to assure +himself that the men were on the alert. Thinking it unnecessary to +crawl along the ground, from supposing that in the darkness he could not +be seen at any distance, he walked upright, and had just got close to +the outer circle where he expected to find one of the men on watch, when +an arrow whistled close to his head. The scout, who must have been +close in front of him, immediately began to crawl along, like a snake +through the grass, in the direction whence the arrow had come. + +Allan was as courageous as most persons; but it would have been folly to +have exposed himself to the risk of another shot. He, therefore, wisely +crouched down in the spot which had been occupied by the man who had +gone forward in pursuit of the intruder. He listened with open ears, +but not a sound could he hear, nor could his eyes pierce the darkness +beyond a few yards from where he lay. He waited and waited, until he +began to fear that the scout must have been caught by the savages, and +killed before he had had time to cry out. That the other scouts were on +the watch, he had no doubt, and would take care that no Indians +approached without being discovered. He had remained in his recumbent +position for some time, when he at length heard a rustling in the grass, +and the scout rejoined him. + +"The coquin has escaped us, monsieur," whispered the Canadian. "I wish +that I had shot him, but by firing I should have discovered our +position, and we should have had a score of arrows or bullets flying +about our ears." + +After the warning he had received, Allan, imitating the example of the +scout, crawled along the ground to the different posts, and finding all +the men on the alert, returned in the same fashion to the camp. + +Night went by, and no other alarm was raised. At early dawn Burnett, +having aroused the whole camp, gave them the information Isaac Sass had +brought. + +There was no lack of volunteers, among whom was Allan Keith, eager to +accompany Loraine to Fort Duncan. He was somewhat less disappointed +than would otherwise have been the case at being refused permission to +go, when Burnett explained his plan of sending him in search of the +half-breed hunters, to collect among them as many recruits as he could +obtain to increase the garrison at Fort Duncan. + +"I, at all events, will go with you!" exclaimed Hector, turning to +Loraine. "We have a compass, and as I know the direction in which the +fort lies, I shall not be afraid of missing my way." + +"You forget the Redskins, and that you must be on your guard at night, +or you'll have your horses stolen," observed old Sass. "You will also +have to look out for game to support yourselves. However, if you take +Greensnake with you, he'll help you to kill game, and will give due +notice if enemies are near you." + +"Yes, although I should have been glad to have had more companions, I am +ready to set out at once," said Loraine. + +"I am sorry I cannot spare any of my men," observed Burnett. "Two or +three, indeed, would make but little difference, and the smaller your +party the better for safety's sake. However, you must let your horses +breakfast, for they got but little feeding last night, thanks to the +Blackfeet." + +While these and other arrangements were being made, the scouts came in. +It was evident, they reported, from the tracks round the camp, that they +had been surrounded by a large band, who would probably have stolen all +their horses had they not been on their guard. The scouts, they added, +had followed to a considerable distance the tracks which led away to the +westward, and it was their opinion that the Indians would keep ahead, +and not make another attempt to steal the horses till they fancied that +the party were off their guard. It was so far satisfactory to have +discovered the direction the Indians had taken, as Loraine might thus +proceed southward and Allan Keith make his way eastward on the trail of +the buffalo hunters, without the risk of encountering them. + +"I will spare no exertion to get as soon as possible to the fort with as +many men as I can induce to accompany me," said Allan, as he warmly +shook hands with Loraine. "I heartily wish that I could have gone with +you; but I must obey the orders of my chief. I am well acquainted with +the family of Captain Mackintosh; pray give them my respects, and say +how deeply I regret not being able to proceed at once to the fort." + +Allan looked somewhat conscious as he said this. Loraine promised to +deliver his messages; and the horses having now had time to feed, the +three parties separated. Allan, accompanied by Pierre, rode off to the +eastward; Mr Burnett and the train continued their journey to the west; +while Loraine and his two companions took a southerly course. + +"Good-bye, good-bye, my young friends," cried Dr McCrab, after riding a +short distance with Loraine and Hector. "Whatever you do; don't let the +Redskins take your scalps, my boys. Keep your powder dry, and your +larder well stored, and you'll get through. I heartily wish that I +could go with you; but I ride too heavy a weight, and should certainly +delay you if we had to run for it with a pack of howling savages at our +tails: the chances are, I should come off second best," said the +good-natured medico, when, shaking hands, he turned his horse's head and +galloped off to overtake the train brought up by Isaac Sass and his pack +animals. The country being level, the train could be seen for a long +distance, creeping on like a huge snake through the grass. + +As Loraine looked round, a uniform and well-defined horizon met his eye. +So destitute was the country in general of all landmarks, that he was +thankful to have a good compass to guide his course, in addition to the +assistance of the young hump-backed Indian, who depended on his instinct +alone. Loraine and Hector had each a spare horse, which carried their +changes of clothes, a store of powder and shot, and such provisions and +cooking utensils as they were likely to require. + +The young Indian frequently raised himself in his stirrups, and +sometimes even stood upon the back of his horse, to take a look round, +but dropped quickly down again into his saddle, satisfied that no foes +were in the neighbourhood. + +"It was fortunate that the Blackfeet came about the camp last night, and +then took themselves off to the westward, as we are the less likely to +have them on our trail," observed Hector, who was highly delighted to be +able to go home at once, instead of having to make a long circuit, as he +had expected, through Edmonton. Though he had heard the report of old +Sass, he had not realised the danger in which his family might be +placed. + +He rattled on as was his wont, never failing to find subjects of +conversation. "I did not suppose that there would be much risk, or I +should not have proposed your coming with me," observed Loraine. "I +was, besides, unwilling to make my appearance at the fort without you, +lest Captain Mackintosh should look upon me as an impostor." + +"I am very sure my father would not do that, or my mother or sister +either, or Sybil. They'll make a good deal of you, I can tell you; for +it is not often they see a gentleman at the fort, except Allan Keith, +who comes whenever he can. He is, I suspect, a great admirer of my +sister; and I am not surprised, for she is a dear, good girl, and worthy +of the best fellow in the country." + +"Which sister?" very naturally asked Loraine. "You showed me the +portraits of two." + +"I have only one. Sybil is not really my sister, though I called her +so, and she is like a sister to us all. My father and mother adopted +her before Effie or any of us were born; and as they were as fond of her +as they could have been had she been their own child, she has lived on +with us ever since. She's as pretty as she looks in her portrait, and +as good and bright as she is pretty, and we boys love her as much as we +do Effie." + +This account naturally increased Loraine's desire to see the original of +the beautiful picture; but a sense of delicacy prevented him further +questioning his young companion about her, being well assured that he +would before long tell him all he knew. Hector, indeed, talked away for +the whole party, for Greensnake never uttered a word except from +absolute necessity, and then it was in Cree. Hector, however, +remembered enough to make out the meaning, having known the language +before he went to school, and he translated what was said to Loraine. +They had got to some distance from the camp, when Hector, turning round, +observed two animals following. + +"Holloa! What are these?" he exclaimed. "Can they be wolves?" + +"If they are," said Loraine, "and they come near enough, we must shoot +them, or they may interfere with our horses at night, especially as they +are likely to pick up companions on the way." + +"Very well; then we will stop at once, and do you fire at one of the +brutes, and I will try to kill the other," said Hector. "What do you +say, Greensnake?" he asked in Cree. + +The hump-backed Indian grunted out an unintelligible reply, and pointed +ahead. + +"He doesn't think it worth while to stop," remarked Hector. + +"Nor do I," said Loraine; and they accordingly pushed on at the pace +they had before been going. + +After a while, Hector, looking back, exclaimed, "Why, they are not +wolves at all, but a couple of dogs--Old Buster, who belongs to the +Doctor, and Dan Maloney's Muskey! They took a great fancy to me, for I +used to play with them; but I had no idea of enticing them away from +their masters." + +"They must have found out that we are not with the train, and bolting, +followed up our trail," remarked Loraine. "We cannot drive them back +now." + +The dogs were quickly up to the riders, and seemed highly delighted to +find Hector, jumping up on either side of him. + +The prairie which Loraine and his companions were traversing was almost +treeless; but not many years before it had been covered with a pine +forest, destroyed by one of the ruthless prairie fires which so often +sweep over the north-west territory. Here and there, however, by the +sides of streams, or pools, numerous aspens--the fastest growing trees +in that region--had again sprung up, their stems being of considerable +thickness, while their light foliage gave a cheerful aspect to the +otherwise dreary scenery. When the ground allowed it, they occasionally +put their horses into a gallop--a pace well suited to their tempers. At +the same time, they knew that they must not run the risk of knocking up +their animals, or they would fail in their object of making a quick +journey. + +They had gone on for some time, when Hector's tough little horse +suddenly came down, and threw him over its head. + +"Don't care for me," he cried; "but I'm afraid my horse has broken its +leg." + +The animal had put its foot into a badger-hole. After making some +violent struggles, however, it recovered itself, and Hector, getting +hold of its bridle, remounted. + +"We must keep a better look-out for the badger-holes. It wouldn't be +pleasant to have to continue our journey on foot," he said, laughing. + +Having stopped by the side of a pool to take a mid-day meal, give their +horses water, and allow them to crop as much grass as they could during +the time, the travellers pushed on until nightfall, when they encamped +under shelter of a grove of aspens, close to a stream, which flowed into +the South Saskatchewan. By Greensnake's advice, only a small fire was +lighted, which was to be put out when they had cooked their supper. + +As soon as he had finished his meal, the Indian, taking his blanket, +went and lay down close to where the horses which had been hobbled were +feeding; while Loraine and Hector rolled themselves in their buffalo +robes, leaving the two dogs to keep watch by their sides. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +Fort Duncan, to which it is time the reader should be introduced, lay +bathed in the ruddy glow of the setting sun, whose rays tinged the +branches of the groves of aspen, birch, poplar, and spruce, which could +be seen at some distance away, both to the east and west. It stood on +the top of some high ground, rising abruptly from the margin of a stream +flowing by on the north side. + +The fort consisted of a square palisade, thirty feet or so in height, +with rough wooden towers at each angle, connected by a narrow platform, +which ran round inside the walls, a few feet below their summit. The +only entrance was by a gate, flanked by two additional towers. This +could be secured by strong bars, but was destitute of ditch, +draw-bridge, or portcullis. The interior of the quadrangle was occupied +by the residence of the chief factor and clerks, a hall used as an +audience room, and a store-house, besides the dwellings of the hunters +and their wives and children, and other persons forming the garrison. +The land immediately round the fort had been cleared of trees; but there +was a forest on one side, and scattered groups of timber on the other, +affording abundance of wood for building purposes and fuel. + +There was much beauty in the surrounding scenery, especially when the +roses were in full bloom, and other flowers of varied hue enamelled the +prairie. In a room of the fort, furnished with far more elegance than +is generally seen in the north-west territory, sat two young ladies. +Though both attractive, they differed greatly from each other. The +youngest, of small figure, was fair, with light hair and blue, laughing +eyes, her rosy mouth constantly wreathed in smiles. The elder was +somewhat taller, of a richer colour, with dark brown hair, and was even +more attractive in appearance than her companion. They were busily +employed with their needles, talking in the mean time on some +interesting subject, when their conversation was interrupted by the +entrance of a fine lad, who, although a couple of years older, might +have been known by his strong resemblance to be the brother of Hector +Mackintosh. + +"Come along, Sybil--come along, Effie--if you want to see a war-chief, +thoroughly got up in his finest toggery," exclaimed Norman. "He is +Mysticoose, or the Roaring Bull, not a very romantic name--a great +leader among the Blackfeet. He has come to sell several packages of +peltries and a whole lot of buffalo robes. He'll probably take his +departure before long; so if you want to inspect him, you must come at +once." + +"Do you, Sybil, wish to see this savage chief?" asked Effie. + +"By all means," answered Sybil. "I should like to make a sketch of him +while he is bartering his peltries." And she took up a sketchbook and +pencil from the table. + +"Let me bring your paint-box," said Effie, "for you will make a much +more interesting drawing if you colour it." + +"I will try, if Norman will get a mug of water and hold it for me. We +must not let the chief discover what we are about, or the poor savage +may fancy we are bewitching him," said Sybil, laughing. + +On going out of the house, they proceeded to the spot in front of the +store where the trading business was transacted. Captain Mackintosh, a +fine-looking man of middle age, and two of his clerks, stood on one +side, a quantity of goods piled up near them; while on the other was +seen an Indian chief, standing near several bales of peltries, and +attended by a band of nearly twenty followers. His appearance was +picturesque in the extreme. His head was adorned with a circlet of tall +plumes. His dress consisted of a coat of dressed deer-skin, tastefully +ornamented with beads and quill-work, as were his leggings, with long +tassels, while a white wolf-skin cloak hung over one shoulder, and +necklaces, composed of the teeth of bears and other animals, hung about +his neck. He had been keenly bargaining with his host; but no sooner +did the young ladies appear than he glanced towards them, his eyes +wandering from one to the other, until they settled on Sybil with a look +of evident admiration. She, however having begun her sketch, continued +drawing, regarding the Indian much as if he had been a lay figure +dressed up to copy. + +Captain Mackintosh had at length to recall his attention to the matter +they were engaged on. The assistants on each side continued to weigh +the peltries, and hand over the articles given in exchange; but the +young chief seemed to have lost all the interest he had previously +shown, and instead of haggling as before over the price, made no +objection to any of the goods offered him, which his attendants packed +up as they received them, and carried out of the fort. + +The trading being over, instead of following his people, the young chief +advanced to Captain Mackintosh, and addressed him in a long speech, the +meaning of which neither Sybil nor Effie could understand. Had they +done so, they would have been very much surprised to find that +Mysticoose was offering to make Sybil his wife, and to give in exchange +for her, peltries and robes sufficient to fill the store-house of the +fort. Captain Mackintosh answered, with due caution, that it was not +the custom of English ladies to marry unless they could give their +hearts to the persons who desired to possess them, nor that of fathers +to receive payment; but that he would tell his daughter of the honour +the chief intended her, although he would hold out no prospect that she +would consent to quit her home, and become the bride of one whose people +differed so much in their habits and customs, as well as in their +religion, from his. + +On this, Mysticoose declared that he would be ready to learn the +religion of the pale-faces and adopt their customs, and entreated that +he might be allowed the opportunity of declaring his sentiments to the +maiden. + +Captain Mackintosh, though very much annoyed, kept his countenance as +well as his temper, and endeavoured to persuade the chief that he could +find a far more suitable wife among his own people, with whose beauty he +would be satisfied, and who would labour for him like her sisters in +general. All he could say, however, did not appear to have any effect +in turning the young chief from his purpose; but, on the contrary, he +grew more and more eager, as if determined to succeed. + +All the time Sybil, unconscious that she was the subject of +conversation, went on with her sketch; and as she drew rapidly, she +succeeded in producing a very exact portrait of the savage warrior. + +Norman, who had been attending to his duties in the store, now returned, +and looking over Sybil's shoulder exclaimed-- + +"Capital! It's Mysticoose himself." Snatching it from her hand, he +held it up to the chief, saying, "What do you think of that, my friend? +It's wonderfully like you, isn't it?" + +Mysticoose started as he saw it, without making any reply; and rapidly +advancing towards the young lady, endeavoured to take her hand. She +instinctively drew back, and stepped behind Effie. + +On meeting with this rebuff, the chief stopped short, and addressed +Sybil, expressing in glowing language his admiration of her charms. +Though she could not understand his words, she could not fail to suspect +their meaning. Norman, however, who was sufficiently acquainted with +the language of the Blackfeet to make out the meaning of the speech-- +though the expressions were too elaborate for him to follow--not +possessing the discretion of his father, burst out laughing. + +"What's all that you're saying?" he exclaimed. "Just face-about, and +march out of this fort in double-quick time, or we may be obliged to +send you off in a way you may not be pleased with." + +Scarcely had Norman uttered these words, than the chief, placing his +hand on the hilt of his scalping-knife, cast a glance full of anger at +the speaker, but had so far command of himself as not to draw it. + +Captain Mackintosh now saw that it was time to interfere, and, speaking +in Indian, rebuked Norman for uncourteously treating their guest: and +then, placing his hand in a friendly way on the shoulder of the chief, +told him that he would consider the matter, advising him to retire, as +it would be soon time for closing the gates of the fort, and expressing +his regret that he could not, under the circumstances, afford him the +hospitality he would have desired. + +The chief appeared to be pacified, his countenance assuming its usual +calm expression; and after he had cast another look of admiration at +Sybil, he walked with a dignified step towards the gate. + +Captain Mackintosh, who accompanied him, shook hands in a cordial way, +and expressed a hope that nothing which had been said would cause a +feeling of irritation to remain on his mind, and that he would continue +to trade at the fort on the same friendly terms as hitherto. The chief +made no reply, but stalked on towards his tents, which were pitched at +some little distance from the fort. As soon as he had reached them, the +gate was shut, and the usual guard placed to watch the proceedings of +the Indians outside. The young ladies, who had agreed to take a ride +with Norman, were somewhat disappointed on finding that Captain +Mackintosh considered it would be imprudent for them to go outside the +fort while Sybil's admirer remained in the neighbourhood. + +"He is really a handsome fellow," said Norman, laughing, as he looked on +the portrait. "You've done him justice too. Perhaps some day you may +change your mind; though I cannot say that I should approve of his +carrying you off to become Queen of the Roaring Bulls." + +"Don't talk such nonsense, Norman," said Sybil. "I am vexed with myself +for having gone out to take his portrait. I had no idea that the savage +would even have looked at me. I have a great mind to tear up the +picture." + +"Pray don't do that," said Effie; "it is too well drawn to be destroyed, +and I want to show it to mamma, who will, I am sure, admire it." + +Mrs Mackintosh, who had been somewhat unwell, had not left her chamber; +but in the evening she came into the sitting-room, when the portrait was +shown her; and Norman related in his own way what had happened. + +"I am sorry for it," she remarked. "I do not trust the Indians, and I +am afraid that this savage chief may cause us some annoyance. I wish +that you had not vexed him, Norman. You must in future be more +cautious, and pray do not, on any account, go to a distance from the +fort for some time to come. Sybil and Effie must give up their rides +for the present, unless they go out with a strong party." + +"My father doesn't think the fellow will trouble us, as we parted on +good terms with him," answered Norman. "The chances are that he takes +himself off to-morrow, and will speedily forget all about Sybil." + +When Captain Mackintosh afterwards came in, though he tried to make +light of the matter, his wife fancied that he looked much more anxious +than usual. + +Still Norman insisted that Mysticoose and his people would take their +departure the next morning, and that they should then no longer be +troubled by them. + +Strict watch was kept at night, and all remained quiet in the Indian +camp. Next morning the tents were still there, and no sign was +perceived that the occupants had any intention of moving. + +The day went by; but though the tents remained, the young chief did not +make his appearance. + +Norman was considerably put out. "I have no notion that the girls +should be kept prisoners on account of an impudent Redskin," he +exclaimed. "I will go out to the tents, and advise the chief and his +party, now that they have transacted their business, to take themselves +off." + +"No, no, Norman, stay quiet, my lad," answered his father; "they'll not +go faster for being ordered off; and it is just possible that the young +chief may take it into his head to do you some harm. It will be a poor +satisfaction to punish him afterwards." + +"I am not afraid of him, or of any other savage like him," said Norman. + +"Well, well, stay within the fort until I give you leave to go out," +said his father. "Young blood quickly gets up, and a quarrel may ensue, +which it is better to avoid." + +Norman promised to obey; and, to vent his feelings by himself, went up +to the platform, which was dignified by being called the ramparts, that +he might take a look cut, and ascertain if there were any signs of +moving in the camp of the Blackfeet. He watched in vain, though he made +out in the far distance two figures on the prairie going in a +south-westerly direction. The sun was nearly setting when he returned +to the house. He found his mother and Sybil engaged in their usual +work. + +"It is too provoking to have that fellow stopping out there, as if he +were laying siege to the fort. My father won't allow me to go out, but +I must get some one to inquire the chief's intentions. It is absurd in +him to suppose that Sybil would ever be induced to marry him. He can +have no object in remaining, as his admiration cannot be very deep, for +he has only seen her once for a few minutes." + +"I am not quite certain about that," remarked Sybil; "I think that he +has seen me more than once. Don't you remember, when we were out +riding, meeting with an Indian, whom you said was one of the Blackfeet, +and who made Effie and me a long speech, though as we did not understand +a word he said, we could not reply, but you talked to him, and laughed +in his face. I thought that I recognised his features, though he was +dressed and painted in so different a way that I may have been +mistaken." + +"I remember perfectly, but it never struck me that he was Mysticoose, +though I cannot positively say that he was not," answered Norman. "I +don't exactly remember what he said, but I fancy that he was praising +the pale-faces generally, and expressing his desire to be their friend." + +"Well, we cannot account for the wayward fancies of the Red men," +observed Mrs Mackintosh; "but your father is anxious to retain their +friendship, and would be unwilling to do anything to offend them. You +must have patience; and I dare say in a day or two we shall be rid of +our visitors." + +"I am very sorry to have been the cause of the annoyance; and had I +dreamed of the result, I would have kept out of the way of the chief," +said Sybil, half laughing. + +"Well, if the Blackfeet don't go to-morrow, something must be done to +make them move off," exclaimed Hector. + +Captain Mackintosh, though he did not say so, was really as much annoyed +as his son. + +No buffalo were to be seen in the neighbourhood, and it was evident, +therefore, that the Indians did not remain for the sake of hunting. +Among the men in the fort was an experienced _voyageur_ and trapper, Le +Brun by name, well versed in all Indian ways. + +The captain having consulted him, he volunteered to go out at night, and +try to ascertain what the Indians were about. + +"We must never trust those Redskins," he observed; "they don't remain +here without an object." + +His offer was accepted. Soon after dark he lowered himself down at the +rear of the fort, and crept round, making a wide circuit, so that, +should any of the Blackfeet be on the watch, he might escape +observation. Captain Mackintosh directed a man to wait with a rope, to +help him in again on the same side. + +A careful look-out was kept during his absence round the fort. Some +time having passed, and Le Brun not making his appearance, Captain +Mackintosh began to fear that he had been discovered by the Indians, and +captured. They would scarcely, however, he thought, venture to put him +to death. Two hours or more went by; still he did not return. The +Captain, therefore, began to consider whether it would be expedient to +send out another man to try and ascertain what had happened. He was +turning over in his mind who he should employ in this somewhat dangerous +service, when Norman came up to him. + +"Let me go," he said; "I am sure that I can get up to the camp without +being discovered, and I will be exceedingly cautious. It is not, +indeed, likely that the Indians will be on the watch; for, should they +have caught Le Brun, they will not suppose that we shall send another +person to look for him. I will only get near enough to hear what they +are saying, and creep away again as noiselessly as a lynx." + +"No, no, Norman; I am convinced of your courage and discretion, but I +cannot allow you to risk your life for such an object," said his father. + +"But I run no risk of losing my life," answered Norman; "they would not +venture to kill me." + +"They would not if they knew who you were; but finding a spy in their +neighbourhood, they might shoot you down without inquiry," observed +Captain Mackintosh. + +"I don't want to be shot," said Norman; "depend upon it, I'll take good +care to avoid that." + +At length, Captain Mackintosh, reflecting that he could not send any one +else on an expedition to the dangers of which he was unwilling to expose +his own son, gave permission, charging Norman to approach the camp with +the greatest possible caution, and only to do so provided he could hear +the voices of the Indians, and had reason to believe that they were +sitting in council. + +Norman, well pleased at the confidence placed in him, hurried off to +prepare for his expedition, by putting on a dark suit, which would +assist in concealing him from view. Taking his gun, and sticking a +brace of pistols in his belt, he descended, as Le Brun had done; but, to +reach the camp, he took a route on the side opposite that which the +scout had chosen. At first he walked upright, that he might the better +ascertain the course to take. There were lights in each of the towers +of the fort, which assisted him. No other objects were visible, even at +the distance of a hundred yards. As he got nearer the tents, he hoped +to be able to make them out against the sky. After he had gone some +distance, he stooped down and began to creep along in the Indian +fashion, trailing his gun. Every now and then he stopped to listen for +sounds. He was, he calculated, approaching the camp, when he fancied he +heard a rustling near him. It approached. He lay perfectly quiet. It +might be a snake or some animal. His eyes were of but little +assistance. "Should it be an Indian, I must try to take the fellow +prisoner; but it may be a hard matter to do that, unless he is unarmed, +and then I must hold a pistol to his head, and threaten to shoot him if +he cries out." + +He had scarcely thought this, when he saw the head of a man lifted up as +if going to gaze around. Strong and active, with good nerves, he was +about to spring on the person, and seize him by the throat, when the +other must have made him out, and he heard a voice whisper-- + +"C'est moi, Le Brun!" + +Norman, greatly relieved, made himself known. + +"Venez avec moi, vite!" and the Canadian led the way, crawling along the +ground towards the lights glimmering from the fort. It was not until +they had been hauled up, and were safe inside, that Le Brun spoke. He +had, he told Captain Mackintosh, got close up to the camp, where he +heard the sounds of many voices, and the tramp of feet, as if a large +number of persons were collected, although only one fire burned in the +midst of the tents. He was afraid of approaching nearer, lest he should +be discovered. He waited in the expectation that the leaders would +gather round the fire, as is their wont, to discuss their plans. He was +rewarded for his patience, although they were too far off to enable him +to see them distinctly. He, however, counted at least six warriors, who +took their places at the fire, and one after the other got up and +addressed their companions. A few words only reached him; but he heard +enough to be convinced that they were discussing a plan to take +possession of the fort, but its details he was unable to make out. He +had gone round the camp, and while returning on the side opposite to +that from which he had set off, had fallen in with Norman. + +"We must take care to be doubly vigilant, then," said Captain +Mackintosh. + +He at once cautioned the men to be on the watch; but before the ladies +he made light of the matter, not wishing to cause them unnecessary +anxiety. He felt pretty certain, indeed, that the Blackfeet would not +openly attempt to take the fort, even though their numbers had, as Le +Brun supposed, been much increased. + +Night passed away without the slightest alarm. The next day matters +remained to all appearance as on the preceding one. The tents were +there, and a few Indians only--some on horseback, others on foot--were +seen moving about in the neighbourhood, but none came near the fort. Le +Brun suggested that if they had any treacherous design in view, they +were probably waiting until the hunters, who made excursions to bring in +game two or three times a week, had been seen to leave the fort, and +that they would then, when fewer people were within, try and carry out +their plan, whatever that might be. He suggested that a party should +leave the fort after mid-day with several pack horses, as if they +intended to make a long excursion. That they should go away to the +south-east, and, as soon as they were out of sight, cross the river and +come back again after dark, on the north side. If the Indians really +intended treachery, they would certainly take the opportunity of +attempting to carry it out. + +Captain Mackintosh approved of the plan, and Norman thought it an +excellent one. "I should so like to disappoint those rascals, and catch +them in their own trap," he said. + +The horses (or the guard, as the stud belonging to a fort is called) +were kept in a meadow on the opposite side of the river, where they were +tolerably safe from any attempts which the marauding bands on the south +might make to carry them off. Some time passed before those required +could be brought across. As soon as they arrived, Le Brun, with eight +well-armed men, with as many spare horses, set off on their pretended +hunting expedition. They took care to pass sufficiently near the Indian +camp to be easily seen. + +"Le Brun was right in his suspicions!" exclaimed Norman from the +ramparts, addressing his father, who was walking below. "Here comes +Mysticoose with a dozen followers, dressed in their gayest attire, for I +can see their ornaments glistening in the rays of the sun. Perhaps he +has come to ask for Sybil's answer to his offer; if so, we can give him +a very short one." + +"We will say nothing to offend him," answered Captain Mackintosh, who +had joined his son; "but it will be prudent, knowing what we do, not to +admit these gentlemen inside the gate. I will go out and meet them, and +you and the other men cover me with your rifles. Let the Indians have a +glimpse of your arms, and I am sure that they will attempt no violence." +The arrangements were quickly made. As soon as the chief and his party +drew near, Captain Mackintosh went out of the fort, directing the men at +the gate to close it should the Indians show any intention of making a +rush to get in. + +Advancing a short distance, he called to Mysticoose to dismount, and +explain the object of his visit. The chief looked up at the ramparts, +and, seeing the gleaming rifle-barrels, did as he was directed. Giving +the bridle of his horse to one of his followers, he then advanced, and, +putting out his hand in a cordial manner, said-- + +"Why does my white brother look upon me as an enemy? I have traded +fairly, and wish to trade again. I have now brought some more peltries, +not to trade, but to present to him as an earnest of my goodwill. Let +him, then, admit me and my followers within the gates, that I may offer +my present as presents should be offered, and have the happiness of +gazing once more on the fair lily of the prairie, after whom my heart +pants, as does the weary stag for the refreshing stream." Mysticoose +uttered much more in the same strain before he stopped. + +Captain Mackintosh replied that he was always glad to see his friend, +but as it was late in the day he regretted that he could not admit the +chief and his followers, but that the next morning, if they wished to +come, he should be happy to receive them; and although he would not +refuse the present they had brought, he must insist on returning one of +equal value in goods, as he could not promise that the fair lily, as he +described his daughter, would be willing to show herself, and begged the +chief to understand clearly that she had sufficiently considered the +matter, and could not become his bride. + +Whatever were the Indian's feelings, he concealed them, and made an +equally courteous reply, intimating that, notwithstanding what his white +brother had said, he should come as proposed with a larger present, and +a greater number of followers to convey it. He then, shaking hands as +before, returned to his horse, and remounting, rode off with his +companions. + +"I hope, after all, that the Indian intends no treachery," observed +Captain Mackintosh, as he re-entered the fort; and the gates were closed +for the night. "Still we must be on our guard." + +"I should think so, sir," said Norman; "and we shall soon hear what Le +Brun has to say on the subject." + +About a couple of hours after dark, Le Brun and his party arrived, and, +having left their horses on the other side of the stream, noiselessly +entered the fort. + +At an early hour the next day the young chief, with nearly twenty +followers, was seen approaching. Captain Mackintosh at once placed his +men in positions commanding the entrance, so that, should the Indians +show any treacherous intentions, the gate might forthwith be shut. His +great object was to prevent bloodshed; at the same time, while showing +that he was not unprepared for treachery, he did not wish to offend his +guest. + +As a precautionary measure, he resolved not to admit more than half +their number, and he placed men ready to close the gates directly the +party had entered. Mysticoose rode up with the air of a gallant in days +of yore, and throwing the rein to one of his attendants, he, with the +larger number of his followers, dismounted and advanced towards Captain +Mackintosh, who stood ready to receive him. + +"I can only allow ten to enter," said the captain; "the rest must remain +outside with the horses." + +The chief, appearing not to think this unreasonable, directed the rest +of his followers to keep back. His countenance fell, however, when, +having entered the gate, he looked round and saw the hunters whom he +supposed to be at a distance, standing on either side with arms in their +hands. He hesitated and stopped short. + +"Does my white brother think I come intending treachery?" he asked. "He +has been deceived by some one. My object is to present these peltries +to him, hoping that he will give me, not the goods he spoke of, but the +fair lily, his daughter, and I will promise to bring him ten times the +amount before another summer has begun." + +Captain Mackintosh replied that he had already said all that he could +say on that subject. + +But the chief was not satisfied with his refusal, and began another long +speech, which, as Norman remarked, "Though it might have a head, there +seemed but little chance of seeing its tail." He advised his father to +try and cut it short. + +Meantime, Le Brun, having slipped away, unseen by the Indians, had gone +up on the ramparts, crept round to a part whence he could observe their +tents. He had not been long there when he saw a large body of men +issuing forth, and rapidly approaching the fort. Hurrying down, he gave +the information to Captain Mackintosh. + +"There is no time to lose, monsieur," he said. "If we don't turn these +fellows out, they'll try to obtain possession of the fort, as I suspect +they all along intended to do." + +On hearing this, Captain Mackintosh ordered his men, who had been drawn +up on either side, to close round their visitors, and some, who had been +concealed, to show themselves. + +The chief, on seeing this, stopped short in his speech, knowing that his +treacherous design, it such he had intended, must have been discovered. + +"What does this mean?" he asked, in a tone which showed that his +self-confident air was more assumed than real. + +"It means, my friend, that you must quit the fort if you do not wish to +be shut up within it, and come another day to finish your address," +answered Captain Mackintosh. "I wish to be your friend, but I must be +obeyed." + +The appearance of the garrison showed the chief that the captain was in +earnest; and though he and his followers looked as if they were about to +make a rush, thinking better of it, they beat a hasty retreat, when the +gate was closed behind them. This was not done too soon, for they had +got but a short distance off when a number of warriors from the camp, +uttering loud shouts, galloped up, evidently expecting to indulge in the +plunder of the fort. The young chief, no longer able to constrain the +rage he felt at his disappointment, turning round, made gestures +significant of his intended vengeance; then, putting spurs to his horse, +he galloped off beyond range of any rifle-shot which he might well have +expected would be sent after him. He was seen at a distance haranguing +his people; but if he was urging them at once to attack the fort, they +did not appear willing to risk their lives in an attempt which was +likely to prove a failure. + +The following day, having struck camp, they moved away to the southward, +and Le Brun, who followed them to a considerable distance, reported that +they appeared to have no intention of stopping in the neighbourhood, but +were probably returning to the lodges of their tribe. + +Greatly relieved by this information, the inmates of Fort Duncan pursued +their usual avocations without any apprehension of further annoyance +from Mysticoose and his people. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +We must now return to the two travellers and their strange guide. +Although Loraine had slept but little the previous night, he could not +close his eyes. He enjoyed the excitement of the life he was leading, +but he did not hide from himself its dangers, and he felt the +responsibility of having induced young Hector to accompany him. He was +also anxious to arrive at the fort, for he had become much interested in +its inmates. Although it was supposed that the Blackfeet had gone to +the westward, he thought it possible that some of them might have +remained behind, and followed up the trail of his party. He had, +however, great confidence in the watchfulness of Greensnake, and he +hoped also that the dogs would give due notice should any enemies +approach. + +"If we pass over this night in safety, I think that we shall get through +the rest of our journey without difficulty," he said to himself. "We +have accomplished well-nigh fifty miles to-day, and, as our horses will +have a good feed to-night, we may ride another fifty to-morrow, and by +keeping that up, we shall, as far as I can calculate, reach Fort Duncan +in four or five days." + +He was about to drop off to sleep, when he was again aroused by a +continuous howl in the distance. After listening for some time, he was +convinced that it was produced by wolves. He fancied from the sound +that there must have been hundreds of them. It grew nearer and nearer. +The animals were coming that way. They might attack him and Hector, or, +at all events, the horses, and either kill them or put them to flight. + +He looked at the fire. By their guide's advice he had allowed it to +burn low, so that no flames casting their light around should betray the +position of the camp to prowling Indians. Still it was better, he +thought, to run even that risk than to allow the savage brutes to get +into the camp. He, therefore, having thrown some more sticks on the +fire, which quickly blazed up, awoke Hector, who naturally inquired what +was the matter. + +"Do you not hear the howling of wolves?" asked Loraine. "Get your rifle +ready." + +"But Greensnake advised us not to fire, lest we should discover our camp +to the Indians," said Hector; "and I don't fancy that at this time of +the year wolves would be daring enough to attack us." + +"They may, however, attack the horses," answered Loraine. "I will go +and warn him, so that he may collect them." + +"He is on the alert, depend upon that," said Hector; "and well knows +what to do." + +"It is wise to be on the safe side," answered Loraine, getting up. +"Stay by our saddles and provisions, and I will try to find him." He +set off towards where he supposed the horses were feeding. + +As soon as he had got beyond the range of the light thrown from the +fire, the darkness became so great that he could with difficulty avoid +running against the trunks of the trees. He stretched out his gun +before him to try and feel the way. Two or three times he saved himself +by this precaution. At last he thought that he must have reached the +spot where Greensnake ought to be found; but though he called out to +him, no answer came. He shouted louder and louder, still there was no +reply, nor could he distinguish the forms of any of the horses against +the sky. He could hear, however, the sound of the yelping and barking +of the wolves, apparently much nearer than before. Still he went on, +forgetting that he ran the risk of losing sight of the fire. At length, +turning round to look for it, intending to go back to the camp, what was +his dismay on being unable to discover the slightest glimmering of light +in any direction! He had proceeded further than he had supposed, and +regretted his folly, for he was well aware how easily he might lose +himself. The sky overhead was obscured, so that the stars afforded him +no guide. He thought that he had turned completely round, but of this +he could not be quite certain, and he feared that by going on he might +only get further and further from the fire. He shouted out-- + +"Hector, Hector, don't move; but only shout in return, that I may know +where to find you." + +Instead of Hector's voice, the barking and yelping of the wolves alone +reached his ear. Probably his shouts had been drowned by the fearful +din they had been making. They served, however, partly to guide him; +but they seemed so near that he expected every moment to be assailed by +them; and in the darkness it would be a difficult matter to defend +himself. Still, being a man of courage and determination, he resolved +to face the danger; and keeping as direct a course as the impediments in +his way would allow, he directed his steps towards the spot whence it +appeared to him the sounds proceeded. He, of course, could move but +slowly. He had gone, as he supposed, far enough to reach the camp, or, +at all events, to be in sight of the fire, when he heard a shot, which +came, it seemed to him, from a point rather more to the left than that +towards which he was making his way. He had no doubt that it had been +fired by Hector, and he immediately turned, hoping soon to catch sight +of the fire. He was unwilling to discharge his own gun, not knowing at +what moment he might require it to defend himself from the wolves. He, +therefore, only shouted as before. He listened, and fancied that above +the yelping chorus he could distinguish Hector's voice. Presently, to +his infinite relief, he caught sight of the gleam of the fire, more +distant, however, than he had supposed it could possibly be. He made +towards it as fast as he could venture to move; notwithstanding his +caution, he first ran against a tree, and soon afterwards stumbled at a +fallen log. + +He could now clearly distinguish the spot where the fire was burning, by +the lurid light which it cast on the neighbouring trees; and, with more +confidence than before, he was hurrying on, when he saw to his right a +number of glowing eyeballs, and the yelping of the wolves sounded closer +than ever. + +Waiting until a pair of the glowing balls were only a few feet off, he +fired. They disappeared. A fearful yell from the whole pack followed. +He could see a number of dark forms surrounding him. There was no time +to reload, so, clubbing his rifle, he swept it round and round on every +side. He felt it striking every now and then on the heads of the +creatures which were thus providentially kept at bay. The fire became +more distinct; but the wolves continued to leap and snarl and yelp as +savagely as at first; and, notwithstanding the blows he was dealing +about, one of the brutes seized him by the coat, and another, still more +daring, flew at his throat, and though it failed to bite him, caught him +by the collar, and it was with the greatest difficulty that he saved +himself from being dragged down. He was afraid that Hector, hearing the +sound of the wolves, and not seeing him, might fire; he, therefore, +shouted at the top of his voice, to show his whereabouts. Presently, he +saw his young friend holding a couple of flaming brands in his hands, +come rushing towards him, accompanied by the two dogs, who, springing +forward with furious barks, attacked his savage assailants. The +assistance came only just in time, for the wolves had nearly succeeded +in pulling him to the ground. The dogs at once sprang upon the brute +hanging to his collar, which let go its hold to defend itself, when a +blow on its head from Loraine's rifle prevented it from offering further +resistance. The dogs then flew at the other wolf, which also let go; +while Hector, dashing the burning brands in the faces of the rest of the +pack, put them to flight, enabling him and Loraine to get back almost +breathless to the camp. The brave dogs were following the wolves, and +would probably soon have been torn to pieces had they not promptly been +called back. + +"What can have become of Greensnake?" exclaimed Hector, as soon as they +had time and breath to speak. "I hope that he has not played us false, +and gone off with the horses." + +"I have no fear of that," answered Loraine. "The old hunter would not +have sent him with us unless he had perfect confidence in his honesty. +Perhaps he heard the wolves coming long before we did, and took them to +some place of security." + +"He was more likely to have driven them into the camp, where we could +have assisted in protecting them," observed Hector. "I am afraid that +he has been surprised by a band of Blackfeet, or Sircees, who are +notorious horse-stealers, and that they have carried off him as well as +the animals. If so, we shall be left in a pretty plight." + +"We have our guns and dogs, and a fair stock of ammunition, to obtain +food, and our compass to guide us; and if we find that we have lost our +horses, we must push forward on foot," answered Loraine. "But I am +grievously annoyed at the prospect of being unable to reach the fort as +soon as we expected; however, we must try to make our way on foot, and +although we may be longer about it than we had hoped, we may still +arrive in time to be of service. It is useless, however, talking over +the matter at present. The best thing you can do is to lie down, and +get some sleep while I keep watch." + +"No, no," said Hector. "I have had my share already; but pray do you +lie down, and I will watch." + +At length Loraine consented to do this, expecting to be able to arouse +himself in a short time; while Hector, taking his rifle in hand, began +to walk up and down, anxiously looking out for Greensnake. The wolves, +however, still snarling and yelping a short distance off, would, it at +length occurred to him, prevent the guide from making his appearance +till the morning. Having now time for thought, he recollected the +warning Greensnake had given; and he reflected that possibly at any +moment, should a party of Blackfeet have been in the neighbourhood, and +heard the reports of their rifles, guided by the light of their fire, +they might come suddenly upon them. He kept, therefore, a vigilant +watch with his ears rather than his eyes, listening for any sound which +might indicate their approach, and trusting also to the dogs, which were +on the alert, and accompanied him whenever he moved a few feet from the +camp. When he returned they went back again, and lay down near the +fire, with their noses on their paws, and ears erect, showing that they +were wide awake. + +At length Loraine awoke, and insisted on Hector's lying down, who, +before he did so, mentioned the ideas which had occurred to him. + +"Never mind now what you think, but go to sleep," said Loraine. "I'll +keep a bright look-out; depend upon that." + +Soon after this the wolves, attracted possibly by a passing stag or some +other game, greatly to his relief, scampered off, their cries becoming +less and less distinct as they got to a distance. + +The night seemed interminably long, but the morning came at length. +Loraine aroused Hector, and having made up the fire, intending to come +back for breakfast, he charged the dogs to watch over the baggage, and +then set out in search of Greensnake and the horses. Loraine +endeavoured to trace the course he had taken during the night, but the +trail was so indistinct that he could not be certain in what direction +he had gone. As he and Hector advanced, they looked round for the +horses, but they were not near the spot to which Greensnake had taken +them on the previous evening, nor were they anywhere to be seen. They +came, however, upon what Hector believed were their tracks; but as they +were scattered about over a wide space of ground, he could not be +positive as to what course they had taken. Loraine still argued that +the guide would return, and that it would be prudent to go back to camp +and wait for his appearance. This they accordingly did, shooting on +their way a couple of ducks, which served them for breakfast, the +remains being given to the dogs. After some time Loraine went to the +top of the highest point near at hand--a small knoll or hillock--that he +might take a look-out for the missing horses, but he soon came back +without having seen them. + +"I think we should wait a little longer," he observed. "The young +Indian may have thought it prudent to go to a considerable distance on +account of the wolves. He may have slept until the morning, or may have +stopped to catch and cook some food." + +"I will have another look round," said Hector. "A few ducks won't come +amiss, if I can kill them on the way, either to us or our dogs, before +we finally make a start;" and, calling the two dogs, he set off, they +willingly accompanying him. + +While Hector was away from the camp Loraine thoughtfully employed +himself in examining their baggage, and in selecting such articles of +food and clothing as they could carry on their backs, and in doing them +up in two packs, making the heaviest for himself. He was thus engaged +when he heard a couple of shots, but concluding that Hector had fired at +some ducks, as he proposed, went on with his occupation. As he looked +at their saddle-bags and valises, he regretted having to leave them, but +without horses he saw no possibility of carrying them. Noon was +approaching, Hector had not returned, and he became seriously anxious; +so, taking his gun, he set out to look for him. "If he returns while I +am away, he will, I hope, guess why I have gone, and will remain quietly +here for my return," he said to himself. As he walked along he searched +on every side, but Hector was nowhere to be seen. The dreadful thought +occurred that his young friend might have met with some accident, or +that, should Indians have carried off Greensnake, they might have +entrapped him also. His own position was trying in the extreme; but +being a man of courage, he nerved himself up to encounter whatever might +happen. As he was casting his eyes around, he caught sight of a small, +dark object on the ground. He hastened on. It was a powder-flask. It, +however, was certainly not Hector's. He had no doubt that it belonged +to Greensnake. A short distance beyond he came on a ramrod. The ground +was covered with a rich grass, and there were signs of horses having fed +on it, so that no doubt remained on his mind that it was here Greensnake +had been during the night, and on further examination he discovered +traces of the animals' feet moving to the eastward, but he was unable to +ascertain whether Hector had passed that way. Had he done so, he would +probably have followed up the trail of the horses. Loraine, therefore, +hurried on in the same direction. He marked as carefully as he could +the course he was taking, examining his compass to guide himself. +Several times he thought that it would be better to retrace his steps, +lest Hector should have returned during his absence to the camp. He was +at length on the point of doing so when he saw before him a wood. At +the same instant, he fancied that he heard the bark of a dog. He +hurried forward, feeling sure that it was that either of Muskey or +Buster, and he hoped that, if so, Hector was not far off, and had +escaped being captured by Indians. In a short time he again heard the +dogs bark, and as he approached the wood a voice, which he knew was +Hector's, shouted out-- + +"Take care, there's a big she-grizzly, with a couple of cubs, in that +thicket. I wounded her, and she's very savage." + +"Where are you?" asked Loraine. + +"Here, up a tree," cried Hector. "Whenever I attempt to descend, she +rushes out, and I have dropped my gun, so that I have no chance of +killing her." + +"Come down then, and find your gun, and I will stand by to shoot the +bear if she appears." + +"She got hold of my gun and broke it to pieces, so that you must not +depend upon my help," cried Hector. "You'll do better to get up here, +and kill her when she shows herself." + +"I'll take post behind the tree, and when she sees you descending, +perhaps she will come out from the cover," answered Loraine. The dogs +meantime were barking furiously outside the thicket. + +No sooner did Hector begin to descend than the bear, which had +apparently had her eyes fixed on him, came waddling out from her place +of concealment, growling savagely. The two dogs wisely scampered off +out of her reach, and Hector sprang up again. Loraine then stepped out +from behind the trunk, when the bear rose on her hind quarters, growling +and showing her fangs. The opportunity was as favourable as he could +desire. He took a steady aim, and over she rolled. At this, Hector +gave a shout of satisfaction, while the dogs came back, though afraid to +approach, as she was still struggling violently. Loraine then reloaded, +and advancing, sent another shot crashing through her brain. The two +cubs had come out, and looked as if inclined to give battle, but the +dogs kept them at bay, giving time to Loraine to load again, when he +fired and killed one of them, and the next was settled in the same way. + +Hector, who had come down from his perch, expressed his regret at having +caused his friend so much anxiety. He had been following up the track +of the horses, when he caught sight of the bear, which he unwisely fired +at and wounded. She at first had gone off with her cubs, but just as he +had reached the wood, she had turned and rushed at him. He had again +fired, but having no time to reload, in attempting to escape up the tree +had dropped his gun, when the bear, seizing it, had gnawed and twisted +it in such a manner as to render it perfectly useless. Had not the dogs +held her in check, he acknowledged that he should have been caught. + +"Had we our horses, we might supply ourselves with bears' flesh +sufficient to last for the whole of our journey; as it is, we can only +take as much as we can conveniently carry," observed Loraine. They +speedily, if not very scientifically, cut off a portion of the meat, +which they did up with strips of the cubs' hides into two packages, the +dogs meantime enjoying a magnificent feast off the remains. They then +retired to the camp, still as much in the dark as ever as to what had +become of Greensnake and the horses. + +"I don't know what I shall do without my gun," said Hector, as they +walked along. "If we meet with enemies, I shall be unable to help you +to fight; nor can I kill any game." + +Loraine did his best to comfort him. "We must keep out of the way of +enemies, and my gun will enable me to obtain as much food as we shall +require, while you can assist me with your advice, as you know more +about the country than I do," he observed. + +When Loraine pointed to the articles they must abandon, Hector suggested +that they should be placed _en cache_ by hanging them up to the bough of +a tree, deep in the wood, so as to be concealed from passers-by. + +They might thus some day have an opportunity of sending for them. + +"There, you see how at once you can help me," remarked Loraine. "I have +been sadly puzzled to know what to do with them." + +Having taken a substantial meal of bears' flesh, they carefully put out +their fire, and obliterated as far as they could the traces of their +encampment. They then strapped on their packs, and Hector supplying +himself with a pointed stick, in the place of his damaged rifle, they +set off, followed by the dogs, in the direction, as they supposed, of +Fort Duncan. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +For many a mile the weary travellers tramped on. In vain they looked +out for Greensnake, and had too much reason to fear that he had been +entrapped by the Blackfeet, and probably murdered. The country, though +often fertile and beautiful, was in some places sandy and barren, and +utterly destitute of water. The whole day, their flasks having been +emptied, they had not a drop to quench their burning thirst, and when +they did at length reach a pool, the liquid in it was so bitter and +stagnant that they dared scarcely to taste a drop, even after straining +it through a handkerchief. The food they had brought with them was also +running short, and they had been unable to shoot any game to supply its +place. Two or three buffalo had been seen in the distance, but had made +off before they could get within shot; and several deer had passed, but +being to leeward, scented them, and scampered away as they approached. + +"Though we cannot find large game, we must look out for small," observed +Hector. "Perhaps we shall meet with some beavers, musk-rats, or +badgers; we must not be particular." + +"Not if we are starving," answered Loraine; "but I should prefer a hare +or duck, or a prairie-hen." + +At length a broad stream appeared before them. They hurried forward to +quench their thirst, and then sat down to consider how it was to be +crossed. They could both swim, but their packs and Loraine's gun, as +well as their clothes, had to be floated across. + +There are, fortunately, neither alligators nor voracious fish in the +rivers of those latitudes, and so Hector proposed that they should build +a raft of rushes and dried branches on which to place their clothes, +their packs, and the gun, and tow it over. + +It was soon formed, though Loraine feared it was a somewhat frail +structure, even for the duty it was intended to perform. + +The passage was accomplished with difficulty, and with the loss of +Loraine's gun, which slipped off into the deepest water. + +They lamented this serious loss, but Loraine having supplied himself +with a pointed stick, they set off, endeavouring to keep up each other's +spirits as they marched on. They had still their compass to steer by, +but their direct progress was on some days very slow, as they had to +turn aside to avoid extensive marshes and lakelets. Their food at +length came to an end, and, in spite of all Hector's efforts, he was +unable to trap any animals. They several times saw beavers, which got +away from them, and the ducks and other water-fowls only appeared to fly +off with derisive quacks at their impotent attempts to knock them down, +so Hector declared. + +The dogs were growing thinner and thinner, and at length Buster, who had +dropped behind, did not come up to them. In vain they called him, but, +unwilling to lose time by returning, they went on, hoping that the dog +would overtake them at their camp. He did not appear, however. + +"Perhaps he took it into his head that we might eat him," said Hector, +looking at poor Muskey, who wagged his tail as he spoke, wondering if he +was to have anything for supper. + +"Should you mind eating Muskey?" asked Hector. + +"I should be very unwilling to kill the poor dog; but if we can find no +food to-morrow, it must be done, I fear, to save our lives," answered +Loraine. + +Although they lighted a fire, they lay down that night supperless. At +daybreak they set off, hoping to reach a lakelet in which Hector thought +that he might catch some white fish. They were becoming faint, and no +water was to be seen. At length they entered a wood, close to which +they found an abundance of choke-berries, as well as gooseberries and +currants, which served to appease the gnawings of hunger, although the +poor dog looked as if he wished that he could have something more +substantial; and about mid-day, they each managed, almost at the same +moment, to knock over a small bird. + +So great was their hunger that they immediately halted, and, lighting a +fire, cooked and ate them. + +Darkness coming on, all hope of obtaining food that night was given up. +Loraine offered to kill Muskey. + +"No, no; let him live to-night, and perhaps to-morrow morning he may +assist in catching something," answered Hector. + +They lay down close to the fire, but neither could for some time sleep. +Hector was very feverish, and Loraine himself began to feel ill. He saw +that his young companion was very unlikely to be able to proceed, and he +determined to set off next morning in search of water. At last he +closed his eyes, and, to his surprise, when he awoke he found that the +sun had arisen. Hector was still sleeping. The fire had gone out, and +Muskey lay with his nose on his paws, watching his masters. + +"I must manage to get the dog to remain behind and guard him," he +thought; "I will try to find water by myself." + +Hector awoke just as he was about to set off, and tried to get up; but +his strength failed, and he sank down again on the ground. + +"Hold out for a few hours longer, and I trust I shall obtain relief for +you," said Loraine. "Get Muskey to stay, and he will assist in +defending you should any enemies appear." + +To prevent the dog from following him, Loraine fastened a strap round +its neck, and put the end into Hector's hand. The dog, making no +resistance, lay down by his side. Loraine set off towards a knoll which +he saw at a little distance, hoping from thence to be able to ascertain +in what direction water was to be found. He walked as fast as his +strength would allow. On reaching the knoll he looked anxiously round +on every side. Before long he saw what appeared to be the gleam of +water, near a wood of willow and aspen, and tottered forward, every +instant expecting to find the water, but it seemed to be further off +than he had supposed. At last he saw the grove of willows, and he was +sure that the water would be found near it. The grove was reached, but +no water could he see. "It must be close at hand," he said aloud; "it +would be useless to attempt returning until I have found it." By a +strenuous effort he aroused himself, and pushed forward. His strength +was failing: he felt as if he were in a dream. In vain he tried to move +his feet. At length he sank fainting to the ground, beneath the shade +of a tree. + +How long he had thus remained, he could not tell, when he heard a human +voice. At first he thought it was Hector calling to him for help. He +tried to rise, but before he could regain his feet he sank back to his +former position. + +"This is dreadful," he thought. "I must help that poor lad. His +friends at the fort, if we do not reach it, will be surprised by savages +and cut off. Those two young girls--what a dreadful fate will be +theirs! I must try and recover myself." And once more he endeavoured +to get up. Again he heard a voice; it was much nearer; and opening his +eyes, he saw a figure standing over him. It was that of Isaac Sass. + +"Right glad I am to find you!" exclaimed the old man, stooping down; +"but you seem in a sad plight. What has become of your young companion? +I trust no harm has befallen him." + +"Water, water!" answered Loraine, faintly. "Take water to him; he wants +it more than I do." + +"You want it bad enough, I guess," said the trapper; and, unslinging his +flask, he poured some of the refreshing liquid down Loraine's throat. +It quickly revived him. + +"Take him water," he said; "he is out there." And he pointed in the +direction where he had left Hector. + +The old man shouted; and, presently, who should appear but Greensnake, +mounted on a horse, accompanied by three others, which he at once +secured to some neighbouring trees. Isaac then handed a flask of water +to the young Indian, who, receiving some directions which Loraine could +not understand, set off at full gallop towards the spot where Hector had +been left. + +"Will he find him?" asked Loraine, anxiously. + +"No fear of that," said Sass. "When you have recovered we will follow. +Here, take some food, if you can swallow it." + +Loraine was better able to eat than he expected. + +"I brought a couple of horses for you and your companion, besides yonder +pack animal; for I guessed whereabouts I should find you, though I +thought you would have made better progress than you have done, and I +did not expect to come upon your trail for another day or two." + +Loraine having briefly explained what had happened, inquired how the old +trapper had fallen in with Greensnake. + +"The lad was carried off by a party of Sircees, who stole your horses; +but, believing him to be an idiot, they failed to keep a watch over him, +and he easily managed to escape on one of the fleetest of their animals, +and made his way towards Fort Edmonton. I, knowing the difficulties you +would be in without horses, at once set off to find you, though I little +expected that you would have been reduced to this sad plight. And now +do you think you could mount, and see how it fares with your friend?" + +"I will try, at all events," said Loraine, feeling very anxious about +Hector. + +With the aid of the old trapper he got into the saddle. When once there +he felt capable of going as fast as the horse could gallop. + +They set off, the trapper leading the other horse. As they neared the +spot, Loraine's mind misgave him. Had Hector survived the hardships he +had endured? He himself felt how nearly he had succumbed, and he wished +that he had begged the old trapper to go on at once, and left the Indian +with him. + +"Cheer up, cheer up, friend," said Sass, surmising the thoughts passing +through his mind. "Youth is tough, and hunger and thirst don't kill a +man for a long time." + +At last the spot was reached. Loraine threw himself from his horse, and +nearly fell to the ground in doing so, forgetting how weak he was. +Greensnake was bending over Hector, supporting his head with one hand, +while he was feeding him with the other; Musky, who was looking on, +evidently having recognised the Indian as a friend. + +Loraine hurried forward. + +"All right," exclaimed Sass; "speak to your friend, my boy." + +"Yes, yes, thanks to this Indian," answered Hector, faintly. + +"I knew it would be so," observed old Sass, addressing Loraine. "We'll +camp here, as neither of you are fit for travelling, and while you +attend to the lad, Greensnake and I will light a fire and put up a hut +for you, and then I'll see about getting some game." + +These arrangements were soon made, and old Sass set off with his gun to +shoot any creature he might come across fit for the pot. + +Hector had so far recovered as to be able to sit up, and to show that he +was likely to do justice to the fare the old trapper expected to provide +for the party. + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +The inhabitants of Fort Duncan were spending their time much as usual, +and had almost ceased to trouble themselves about the threats of +Mysticoose, who had, they believed, returned to his lodges, having seen +the hopelessness of inducing the English chief to give him his daughter +in marriage. The hunters were out every day in search of buffalo, +sometimes several days together, while the young ladies, accompanied by +their father and brother, and two or three attendants, took their rides +as they had been accustomed to do, without fear of encountering enemies. + +They were about, one afternoon, to take a ride, when a small party of +mounted Indians--who, as they had several pack horses, were evidently +coming to trade--were seen approaching the fort. + +"We must wait to receive these fellows," said Captain Mackintosh, "and I +am afraid, my girls, there will be little chance for you afterwards to +get your gallop." + +"Oh, papa, Norman can come with us, if you can spare him; it would be a +pity to lose this lovely day," said Effie. + +Sybil said nothing, and Captain Mackintosh, perhaps against his better +judgment, consented to let the girls go, supposing that the new comers +would be too fully engaged in trading to notice them. They accordingly +mounted, and accompanied by Norman and two of the men who usually acted +as their body guard, set out a short time before the Indians arrived at +the camp. + +No one in the fort observed that one of the savages turned round his +horse and galloped off in the direction from whence they had come. + +As there were not more than a dozen men, and as they, according to +custom, had deposited their arms outside the fort, they were admitted +without hesitation. + +Captain Mackintosh, well acquainted with the various Indian nations, was +struck by the appearance of their features, which were those of the +Blackfeet, although they wore none of the distinctive ornaments of that +tribe, and introduced themselves as Peagons, whose territory lies to the +southward. Their chief, a plausibly mannered man, stated that they had +been induced to come to Fort Duncan by hearing that better value was +given for peltries there than was to be obtained from the Long Knives. +They seemed, however, in no hurry to begin business, and begged that +food might be provided for the party, as they had gone several days +without shooting a buffalo, hinting that some fire-water would be a +welcome addition, though they did not appear surprised when Captain +Mackintosh refused to supply the pernicious beverage. + +The visitors did ample justice to the feast placed before them, and +would apparently have continued eating as long as any meat remained, had +not Captain Mackintosh suggested that darkness would come on before they +had time to commence trading. + +At length, therefore, one of the packs was undone, and business +proceeded in the usual way. + +They were thus engaged, when a little hump-backed Indian, whom nobody +had observed, crept in at the gate of the fort, and making his way up to +where Captain Mackintosh was superintending affairs, drew a piece of +paper from a leathern pouch and put it into his hand. + +Captain Mackintosh having read it attentively, directing his head clerk +to go on with the trading, beckoned to the hump-backed Indian to +accompany him out of ear-shot of the trading party, and having +questioned him and received his answers, he summoned Le Brun. + +Though the Captain had betrayed no emotion in presence of the strange +looking little Indian, his chief hunter remarked his agitation. "What +has happened, Monsieur Capitaine?" he asked. + +"This is a matter of life and death, and I know that I can trust you, Le +Brun," said Captain Mackintosh, not directly answering him. "Take the +fleetest of our horses and ride after Monsieur Norman and the young +ladies. Spare neither spur nor whip. Desire them to return immediately +to the fort, as hard as they can gallop. Here, take this with you," and +he wrote a few words on a slip of paper to be delivered to Norman. + +"Monsieur Capitaine can depend on me. I will make La Froule fly like +the whirlwind," said Le Brun, and doubling up the paper, he hurried away +to obey the order he had received. + +"I would that I could go myself," murmured Captain Mackintosh, "but my +duty compels me to be here, and even for my dear children's sake, I must +not desert my post when danger threatens." + +It was some time before Le Brun could catch the horse he had selected. + +Captain Mackintosh endeavoured to conceal his anxiety, especially from +his visitors, whose keen eyes had been watching him narrowly though in +no other way did they show that they suspected the little hump-backed +Indian had come with any information relating to them. Captain +Mackintosh, who had gone up to the platform, gave a sigh of relief, as +he at length saw Le Brun gallop off at full speed in the direction the +riding party had taken. + +Having seen Le Brun off, Captain Mackintosh returned to superintend the +trading, which the Indians seemed inclined to prolong more than usual. +They haggled over every article, and insisted on their peltries being +weighed more than once, on the pretence that there was some mistake, or +that the scales were out of order. They examined the goods offered to +them over and over again, handing them round to each other, and +criticising their quality. They then requested that tobacco might be +supplied to them, as they were inclined to have a smoke before +proceeding further. + +One of them then got up and spoke. The meaning of his speech was +difficult to understand, though uttered with that flow of language of +which most Indians have the command. + +Captain Mackintosh bore all this with the necessary patience. He did +not wish to come to a rupture with his visitors, though from the warning +he had received, he strongly suspected that treachery was intended. + +As time went on, he became more and more anxious at not seeing the girls +and Hector return. + +At length he went to the platform, but not a glimpse of the riding party +could he discover. On his return he found the Indians still smoking +their pipes. He inquired whether they intended to sell the remainder of +their peltries, when one of them getting up stated that they wished to +hold a council on the subject, and asked permission to sleep in the +fort, that they might be prepared the next morning to continue their +trading. + +Captain Mackintosh replied that he had made it a rule to allow no +strangers to sleep within the fort, that they might leave their peltries +if they chose, that they would be perfectly safe, and that they could +sleep in the hut built expressly for the purpose outside the gate. + +This answer appeared somewhat to disconcert the traders, and one of them +rising, offered to go on again with the business after they had been +supplied with some more food, for which, as he expressed it, their souls +yearned. + +Captain Mackintosh answered that a feast should be prepared for them, +but that as the gates were closed at a certain hour, they must not take +it amiss at being requested to leave the fort before that time. + +While their spokesman was making his address, the dark eyes of the other +Indians were wandering around in every direction. Perhaps they began to +have an idea that their intentions were suspected, when they perceived +that all the men in the fort had pistols in their belts, and swords by +their sides, and their rifles in their hands. + +While the traders were waiting for the promised feast, Captain +Mackintosh again went to the platform. Just as he reached it, he saw a +single horseman galloping at headlong speed towards the fort, and in the +distance, as if pursuing him, he observed an extended line of mounted +savages. His heart misgave him on discovering that the fugitive was Le +Brun, who, not even casting a glance over his shoulder, made straight +for the gate. + +Captain Mackintosh hurried down to meet him. "What has happened?" he +inquired, with difficulty commanding his voice. "Where are the young +ladies and my son?" + +"Monsieur, I cannot tell, though I fear the worst," answered Le Brun, +throwing himself from his panting horse, which stood covered with foam +at the gate. "I was on the track of the young ladies, and Monsieur +Norman, when I saw far away a large troop of Indians. I endeavoured to +avoid them, but was discovered, and they came thundering across the +prairie in pursuit of me. I fled for my life, feeling sure that they +would take my scalp, should I be overtaken, and that is all I know. I +would have died to save the young ladies, but it was beyond my power to +help them." + +While he was speaking a shout was heard from one of the Indians, who had +remained with the horses outside the gate. In an instant the visitors +sprang to their feet, and drawing their tomahawks from beneath their +cloaks, uttering similar cries, rushed towards the white men standing +round. An athletic savage was about to strike Captain Mackintosh, when +a shot, fired by the hump-backed Indian, pierced his heart. Another +savage shared the same fate. The remainder fought desperately, their +aim evidently being to keep the gate open until the arrival of the +approaching horsemen. + +The instant the alarm was given several of the garrison, who had +remained concealed, appeared from various quarters, and furiously +attacking the treacherous Indians, shot several of them down, the +remainder being allowed to make their escape through the gate, which was +immediately closed and strongly barred behind them. + +So rapidly had everything been done that up to this time scarcely a +minute had elapsed since Le Brun had entered the fort. + +Before it was perceived what he was about to do, the hump-backed Indian +had struck his knife into the breasts of those who had fallen, several +of whom were still struggling on the ground. + +We must now return to the riding party. They cantered gaily on, +enjoying the pure fresh air, the exhilarating exercise, and the scenery, +notwithstanding that its general features were well known to them. To +the south and west extended the level prairies, covered in many places +with rich grass, though in others sandy and barren, while to the east +rose a ridge of tree-covered hills, through which the river forced its +way, bordered by maples, willows, and elms. On the other side of the +river the hills swept round, rising almost abruptly from its margin, +with here and there small fertile valleys dividing the heights. To the +south-east was a lake of some size, also fringed by graceful trees, +beyond which appeared another blue distant range, adding much to the +picturesque beauty of the landscape. On approaching the northern end of +the lake, they saw a splendid flock of pelicans floating on its calm +surface, sailing round and round, but as they got nearer, the birds +spreading their wings, flew majestically off until they disappeared in +the distance. Magpies, grackles, cat birds, and many other of the +winged tribe, appeared in considerable numbers among the trees, or +disporting themselves on the lake or river. + +"It is so long since we have had a gallop, that I vote we take a good +long one," exclaimed Norman; and Sybil and Effie, whose spirits had also +risen, expressed their readiness to do as he proposed. + +"Then let us take the circuit of the lake," said Norman. "I have gone +round it several times; and there is plenty of hard ground, though there +are some swampy places which it won't do to ride into." + +They had, however, not gone far, when Norman, whose horse was higher +than those of his sisters, observed in the distance to the south-west a +large body of mounted men, whom he knew from their numbers, and the +prevailing colour of their ranks, must be Indians. + +He pointed them out to his companions, "They are probably bound either +for the fort, or are on a hunting expedition to the eastward, but I +cannot yet make out in what direction they are going," he observed. +"However, I conclude that they are friends, and should they come near +us, I will go forward and meet them. It is always better to show that +one wishes to be on good terms with the Redskins, and have no fear of +them. You girls, however, keep back. Since the lesson Sybil received, +it is as well you should not let them see you pale-faces, if you can +help it." + +The young ladies laughed, and Norman soon afterwards observing that the +horsemen were approaching, dashed forward to meet them as he proposed. + +He had got some little way when he saw that the strangers had put their +horses to their topmost speed, and he remarked at their head a tall +chief who was galloping on, urging his steed by whip and spur. + +"I don't like their looks," he thought. "That fellow is very much like +Mysticoose. It will be wiser for the girls to keep clear of them." + +Turning round, therefore, he rode back as hard as he could go, and as he +rejoined Sybil, and Effie, he advised them to give their horses the whip +so that they might not risk an encounter with the strangers. On looking +round he saw that the latter were coming directly after them. + +"On, girls, on!" he cried out. "I wish that we had turned sooner; but +our horses are in good wind and we can keep ahead of these fellows, even +should they try to overtake us." + +Norman's horse was a powerful one: the young ladies being light weights, +and accustomed to riding, giving the rein to their steeds they flew over +the ground. + +Their attendants, who did not like the appearance of the strangers, +making good use of whip and spur, managed to keep up with them. + +"There's a ford right ahead, across the river; we will make for it," +shouted Norman. "We can then keep along the northern bank. It will be +much safer than attempting to reach the fort by the direct track, which +would bring us close to those fellows." + +Towards the ford, therefore, they directed their course. Trusting to +the fleetness of their steeds, they had reason to hope that they should +keep ahead of their pursuers; for the Indians' horses, though strong and +possessed of great endurance, were incapable, they knew, of going at any +great speed. + +Norman, looking back, however, saw with vexation that the Indian chief, +spurring on his animal, was fast distancing most of his followers, +somewhat scattered, though not far off. There were several other +savages endeavouring to keep up with him. Again and again, Norman urged +Sybil and his sister to give the rein to their steeds. + +"Never fear. Stick on; the animals won't come down," he shouted. + +They both kept up their courage, though fully alive to their dangerous +position. Sybil, indeed, suspected that Mysticoose was at the head of +the party, and that his object was to capture her. She nerved herself +up, however, for whatever might occur. + +Though Norman had assured them that there was no risk of their horses +falling, she saw, as she approached the river, that the ground was +becoming more uneven. Rocks and the stumps of trees, burnt in a recent +fire, cropped up here and there, and fallen logs, some so close together +that the horses in leaping might stumble over others further off. + +Beyond, the ground appeared marshy, and though it might not be too soft +for them to get over, they would be delayed until their pursuers had +overtaken them. + +Still, the girls holding their reins ready to lift their horses should +they stumble, continued urging them on with their whips, and Norman, as +he looked at them, wondered at their nerve and apparently calm +demeanour. + +He carried a brace of pistols in his belt, and the two men had their +buffalo guns, short weapons, useful for a close encounter, and he +resolved to fight to the last rather than let his sister and Sybil be +captured. He knew at the same time, how hopeless it would be to contend +with their numerous, well-armed enemies. + +The rough ground was crossed, the marshy spot was reached, and the +horses dashed on, floundering through it, their feet at times sinking so +deep that it appeared impossible to draw them out again, while even +Norman had to stick tight to keep his seat. He scarcely dared look +round, but he fancied that he could hear the clattering of horses hoofs +on the hard ground they had just before passed over. + +"Hold on!" he shouted, "we shall soon get through the marsh and the +savages will find it no easy matter to follow us!" + +Though he said this, he knew there was the ford to be crossed, and that +could only be done at a walking pace, so that before they could get to +the other side, the savages would already have reached the margin of the +stream. Once more he turned round. + +The chief and half a dozen of his followers were already on the borders +of the marsh, some going on one side, some on the other, to find a +harder part for crossing. + +Happily, however, just then, the young ladies' steeds reached firmer +ground, and sprang forward. They were now making directly for the ford, +and Norman hoped once more, though almost against hope, that they might +get across in time to obtain another good start of their pursuers. + +The savages, however, knowing the nature of the ground better than they +did, had succeeded in passing it much more rapidly, and Norman saw that +in a few minutes they would be up to them. He had almost lost all hope +of escape when two horsemen, evidently white men, appeared on the brow +of the ridge on the opposite side. + +A glance must have shown them the state of affairs, and at the risk of +breaking their necks, they came rattling down the steep descent, the +horses sometimes sliding almost on their haunches, sometimes leaping +forward. + +"That is Hector!" cried Norman, recognising his brother; and then the +thought occurred to him that he and his companion would share the fate +to which it appeared likely they were doomed. Hector and his companion, +who, as may be supposed, was Loraine, regardless of the danger into +which they were running, dashed forward, and without stopping, plunged +into the ford to meet the fugitives, who had all by this time began the +passage. + +The appearance of only two white men did not deter the Redskins from +continuing the pursuit, and having, their guns in their hands, got +within thirty yards or so of the two attendants, they fired. Both shots +took effect. + +One poor fellow fell from his horse; the other, though wounded, clung on +still, endeavouring to escape. The Indians came pressing on. One of +them, who had got abreast of his chief, attempted to grapple with +Hector, and Mysticoose himself was about to seize Sybil, when Loraine, +dashing forward and levelling a pistol, shot him in the arm. The limb +hung powerless at his side. But notwithstanding, taking the reins in +his teeth, the savage chief again attempted with his other hand to take +hold of her, while, fearing that she would escape him, he shouted to his +followers, who, with fearful shrieks, were pressing on. Her horse, +terrified by the sound, bounding forward, she escaped him. Enraged at +his failure, he lifted his tomahawk to hurl it at her head, when Loraine +with the butt of a pistol struck down his arm; and at that instant a +horseman was seen on the top of the ridge. The stranger was old Sass. +At a glance he took in the state of affairs. Instead of descending, +however, he turned round and shouted loudly in Cree-- + +"Come on, come on! Here are your enemies, here are your enemies! We've +a fine band of them in our power. Quick, quick, or they will escape +us!" + +Then, as if his followers were close behind, he began to descend almost +as rapidly as had the younger men. The Blackfeet, evidently believing +that in another minute a large body of their foes would be upon them, +turned their horses' heads, and without looking again at the top of the +ridge, began a rapid retreat, carrying Mysticoose along with them, their +flight hastened by the loud shout which, Hector and Norman setting the +example, was raised by the white men. + +Norman had not forgotten the poor fellow who had fallen in his defence, +and succeeded in catching him as he came to the surface, and dragging +him to the shore. + +"We must get to the top of the hill and show ourselves, or the Blackfeet +may suspect the trick we played them," said old Sass. "That done, we'll +ride as fast as our horses' legs can carry us to Fort Duncan. I'll help +you with that poor fellow," he added, addressing Norman. "Here, friend, +mount your horse; many a man has ridden a score of miles with a worse +wound." + +The half-breed, knowing that his life depended upon his following the +advice, succeeded in getting into his saddle, when the whole party, +winding their way up the height, which was of no great elevation, showed +themselves on the summit, appearing as if they were the front rank of a +body of horsemen about to descend to the river. Such was the idea, in +all probability, that the Blackfeet entertained as they were seen in the +distance galloping off to the south-west. + +The party had to make a considerable circuit, and notwithstanding their +wish to hurry forward were compelled frequently to proceed at a foot +pace, although they pushed on whenever the ground would allow. + +On reaching the top of the hill overlooking the prairie on the southern +side of the river, they caught sight of the Blackfeet band in the +distance, galloping, it appeared, towards the fort. Whether they +themselves were perceived, they could not tell; but Norman fancied that +he saw a band separate from the rest, and direct their course towards +the river. It would have answered no purpose to stop and ascertain +this, though, should such be the case, it was more necessary than ever +to gain the fort without delay. + +Descending the hill, they pushed forward as before; but Norman cast many +an uneasy glance to the left, fearing that the savages might, having +swam their horses across the river, pounce suddenly out upon them. + +They had got about half-way, when the sound of distant firing reached +their ears. + +"Where can that come from?" asked Hector, who was riding with his +brother. + +"From the fort, I am afraid," answered Norman. "The Blackfeet must have +attacked it, hoping to get in while some of the garrison are away; but +my father will, I trust, have been prepared for them, though I am afraid +that some traders, who arrived just before we set off, must have come +with treacherous designs, and will try to help their friends outside." + +"I thought before this that a fine fellow who came with us--Allan Keith, +one of your clerks--would have arrived with a party of half-breeds, whom +he expected to enlist," said Hector. "We calculated that he would have +been here, as we were greatly delayed on our journey," and he briefly +related the adventures Loraine and he had met with. + +"Hurrah! Here's a level place. We can push on," cried Norman; and the +party, putting their horses into a gallop, dashed forward. As they did +so, rapid firing, echoing among the hills, was again and again heard, +evidently coming from the direction of the fort. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +The glowing sun was touching the line where the blue sky and prairie +met, his rays casting a ruddy hue over the calm surface of the river, +when the party, conducted by Norman, reached the northern bank opposite +the fort, they having been delayed by attending to the wounded man, who +could with difficulty be brought along. As they descended the slope to +the river they caught sight of a body of horsemen galloping away across +the prairie. Norman, as he watched them, was certain that they were the +savages who had pursued his party. + +"Thank Heaven, the Redskins have been defeated!" exclaimed Hector; "but +had it not been for the warning you sent my father, friend Sass, the +case might have been very different." + +Norman now hailed at the top of his voice for a boat. + +In a short time two men were seen launching one from a shed close to the +water. They quickly brought her across. As she would not carry the +whole of the party, the two young ladies, and, at their request, the +wounded men, were first ferried over. + +Captain Mackintosh stood on the bank to receive them, and, as Sybil and +Effie threw themselves into his arms, their feelings at length giving +way, they burst into tears. + +"There is nothing more to fear; we have driven off the Blackfeet, and +they have received a lesson which they will not soon forget, I trust," +he said. + +He then inquired how they had been preserved. They were both eloquent +in describing the way Hector and Loraine, with their old companion, had +rescued them; but there was no time to say much just then. While some +of the garrison, who had come down for the purpose, carried the wounded +men into the fort, the rest of the party were ferried across the river. +Captain Mackintosh gave a fatherly greeting to Hector, who then +introduced Loraine. + +"I have to thank you, sir, for the brave way in which you saved this +young lady from the clutches of the savage chief. Had it not been for +your gallantry, she might have been carried off. As the fellow has, +however escaped, we must still keep careful watch for her protection." + +Loraine expressed himself appropriately, saying how rejoiced he was to +have been of service, and that it made ample amends to him for his +disappointment in not having arrived in time to warn Captain Mackintosh +of the Indians' plot to surprise the fort. + +Old Sass, who had modestly kept out of the way, now came in for his +share of thanks; and the whole garrison, when they heard of the clever +way in which he had frightened off the Blackfeet, were enthusiastic in +their expressions of admiration at his conduct. The hump-backed Indian, +who, as may be supposed, was no other than Greensnake, was also made +much of, all acknowledging that it was through the warning he had +brought that they were put on their guard against the intended treachery +of their cunning enemies. + +The bodies of the Indians, and other signs of the strife, had been +removed before the party had entered the fort. The young ladies at once +disappeared into the house, under charge of Mrs Mackintosh, whose +maternal feelings had been fearfully tried during their absence. They +did not appear again until the evening, when Hector declared that they +looked as blooming as ever. + +Loraine soon won the regard of Captain Mackintosh and Norman. Every +hour the young Englishman remained in the society of the original of the +beautiful picture he so much admired, endeared her more and more to him; +and it is not surprising that a girl who had seen so few gentlemen, +except her brothers and some of the Hudson's Bay clerks, should have +given him her heart in return. Loraine was not a man to trifle with a +girl's affections, and sooner than he might otherwise have done, he +expressed his wishes to Captain Mackintosh. + +"I conclude Hector has told you that Sybil is not my daughter, though +she is as dear to me as if she were," answered Captain Mackintosh. "I +am, in truth, utterly ignorant of her parentage. Soon after my +marriage, while quartered in Upper Canada, my wife and I made an +excursion through Lake Ontario and the Sault Sainte Marie to the shores +of Lake Superior. We intended proceeding across the lake to the then +wild region of the west. + +"While staying at a small cottage on the north side of the falls of +Sainte Marie, the very day before we were to sail, a heavy gale came on. +As we were unable to embark, not to disappoint my wife, I proposed to +make an excursion, partly on foot and partly on horseback, as far as we +could proceed along the north shore of the lake to Groscap, a conical +hill which we could see rising to a considerable elevation in the +distance. We found the path far more difficult than we had expected, +and at length, our object unaccomplished, we turned our steps homeward. +We had not got far when the rain began to come down in torrents, and we +were glad to take shelter in a log hut of the roughest description, +built on some rising ground a short way from the shore of the lake. It +was unoccupied, but as there was a hearth and chimney, we directed our +attendants to obtain some fuel and lighted a fire to dry our drenched +garments. In vain we waited for the weather to clear. Darkness coming +on, we found that we must spend the night in the hut, not a pleasant +prospect, but it was preferable to making our way through the forest +with the rain pouring down on our heads. + +"The wind howled and whistled, the waves dashed furiously against the +shore, the trees bent and writhed beneath the blast, and my fear was +that some of those surrounding the hut might be uprooted and crush in +the roof. I went frequently to the door, in the hopes of discovering a +rent in the clouds which might enable me to hold out some prospect to my +wife of the cessation of the storm. While looking up at the sky I +fancied that I heard the plaintive cry of a child. The next moment I +thought that it must be that of some wild animal, and was about to +re-enter the hut when it was repeated. Telling my wife what I was about +to do, I desired the two men to accompany me, and groped my way through +the darkness in the direction whence the sound had come. Again I heard +the cry, and, guided by it, I almost stumbled over a woman lying on the +ground, with a child in her arms. The woman was speechless, but was +uttering low moans. I took the child in my arms and hurried back to the +hut, while the men followed me, conveying the almost inanimate form of +the woman. + +"`Heaven has sent us here to rescue the little creature,' exclaimed my +wife, as I put the infant in her arms. + +"She lost no time in taking off its wet clothes and wrapping it up in a +shawl. + +"`It is a little girl,' she said, `and I trust has received no injury. +We must attend to the poor mother,' she added, as the men brought in the +body of the woman and laid her before the blazing fire. `Why, she +cannot be the mother of this child; she is an Indian, and the child is +beautifully fair,' exclaimed my wife, as, giving me the baby, she knelt +down by the side of the woman to try and restore her to animation. All +her efforts, however, were in vain. Before many minutes had past she +had breathed her last. We took off some of the few ornaments she wore +about her dress, to assist us in identifying her, and the men then +placed the body at the further end of the hut. + +"We had, as you may suppose, no sleep that night; my wife, indeed, was +fully occupied in nursing the baby. Providentially I had brought, +instead of wine, a bottle of milk for my wife, very little of which she +had drank, and with this she was happily able to feed the child. + +"How the woman and child had come to be in the position in which we had +found them, I could not tell; but our guides asserted that they must +have escaped from a wrecked canoe, and possibly others of the party +might have got safe on shore and would be able to tell us to whom the +child belonged. + +"When morning came the storm cleared off, and though my wife was anxious +to get back to our lodgings, I set off to explore the beach with one of +our guides. We went a considerable distance in both directions, but no +one could we discover, nor a trace of a canoe or boat of any sort. If +the woman had escaped therefore, as we supposed, from a canoe, it must +have foundered or been knocked to pieces on the rocks, and the fragments +and bodies of those on board have been driven far out again on the lake. + +"After our vain search, we commenced our journey, my wife carrying the +little girl in her arms. On our way we called at the Hudson's Bay +Company's post, situated above the falls, where the hospitable +superintendent begged us to remain, and offered to take care of the +child until its friends could be discovered. My wife, however, refused +to part with her treasure-trove, as she called the little foundling, and +so strongly expressed her wish to adopt her, that, having none of our +own, I consented, provided no relative appeared to claim her. On seeing +the ornaments which we had taken from the Indian woman, the +superintendent pronounced them to be those worn by Crees, and thought by +their means he might discover the child's relatives. + +"He at once sent to the hut to bury the poor woman, and we remained at +our cottage until we could receive the information our friend promised +to obtain. He had not expected any canoe from the west, and could not +account for the one which was supposed to be lost. + +"We waited on, but as the superintendent of the post could obtain no +information in the neighbourhood, and told us that it might be many +months before he could get any from the Far West, whence there could be +little doubt the canoe had come, we returned to Toronto with the child. +She became our adopted daughter, and from that day to this, +notwithstanding all our inquiries, we have been unable to learn her +parentage. Though we soon afterwards had a child of our own, she ever +retained the same hold on our affections which she had at first +enjoyed." + +"I cannot but suppose that so lovely a creature must be of gentle +birth," exclaimed Loraine; "but whether she is or not, with your leave, +if she consents to be mine, I will marry her as soon as a clergyman can +be found to unite us." + +"Although we shall all be sorry to part from her, I will throw no +obstacle in the way of what may tend to her happiness as well as yours," +answered Captain Mackintosh, shaking Loraine by the hand. + +As it may be supposed, the young lover felt pretty sure of the answer +Sybil would give him, nor was he mistaken. + +Norman and Hector looked somewhat grave. + +"And so you intend to carry off Sybil," exclaimed the latter. "I almost +wish that I hadn't brought you to the fort, old fellow. But one good +thing is that you cannot take her away until you are married, and you +may have to wait a long time for that." + +Effie felt the expected parting with Sybil more than any one else. She +was also anxious, and as much out of spirits as it seemed possible for +so happy a creature to be, for Hector had naturally told her that Allan +Keith had gone to obtain reinforcements for the garrison of the fort, +and had expressed his surprise that they had not long before this +arrived. + +On his first arrival a room had been assigned to Isaac Sass, and he had +been invited to the captain's table, when, notwithstanding his rough +appearance, he showed that he was a man of good education, though +ignorant of the events which had of late taken place in the world. He +generally sat opposite to Sybil, and it was remarked that his eyes were +often fixed intently on her, but that he withdrew them whenever he saw +that he was observed. He would follow her about the fort, or when she +went out to walk in its immediate neighbourhood, as if wishing to watch +over her safety, and when he occasionally addressed her his voice +assumed a softness contrasting greatly with the somewhat harsh tone in +which he ordinarily spoke. + +"If ever angels come on earth, that sweet sister of yours is one of +them," he remarked to Hector one day, while he stood watching Sybil at a +distance. + +"I will tell her what you say," answered Hector, laughing. "And I'll +ask her if she is really one. Perhaps she may be, for, do you know that +she is not my sister?" and Hector told him the story of her discovery. + +Isaac Sass made no reply, but seemed to be pondering deeply on what he +had heard. + +He continued to watch Sybil with even greater interest than before, and +managed to obtain from Captain Mackintosh a confirmation of the account +Hector had given him. He said nothing, however, in reply; but his +manner showed that he was laying some restraint on himself, during the +remainder of the time he remained at Fort Duncan. + +Although Captain Mackintosh paid him every attention, grateful to him +for the service he had rendered, the old man, however, appeared at +length to grow weary of inactivity, and began to speak of taking his +departure with Greensnake for the north. + +"It is seldom nowadays that I come near the country of the Blackfeet," +he said, addressing Captain Mackintosh. "It may be a long time before +you see me here again. It may be I shall never return; but I shall +often think of the time I spent with you and your English friends." + +Before, however, old Isaac took his departure two horsemen were seen +approaching the fort from the westward. Their steeds, as they came to +the gate, showed that they had ridden hard. One was a white man and the +other an Indian. The first dismounted and entered the gate. + +"My name is Harvey," he said, shaking hands with Captain Mackintosh, who +advanced to meet him. "I am in charge of the missionary station at +White Fish Lake, and have come to ask your assistance for my people, +whom the Blackfeet have threatened to destroy. I have felt it my duty +to obtain, if possible, the means of protecting them." + +"I am well acquainted with your name," answered Captain Mackintosh, who +knew Mr Harvey to be a devoted Christian man, one of those brave +pioneers of Christianity who, in obedience to the commands of our +blessed Lord, have, with their lives in their hands, ventured into the +wilds among the savage races of the Far West to win precious souls for +Him. + +"I would gladly help you," he answered, "but this fort has only lately +been attacked, and I should not be justified in weakening the garrison +by sending away any of my people. I will, however, thankfully receive +you and your family, and those of your flock whom you may wish to bring +with you, while the others move northward beyond the reach of their +enemies. Even were I to spare you half a dozen men, they would be of +little use in repelling an attack of the daring Blackfeet." + +"I feel that you are right, and that I must remove my family, and leave +our house and garden to be destroyed," answered Mr Harvey. "Pray do +not misunderstand me, and suppose that I mistrust God's protecting care; +but I know that He would have us take all reasonable measures for our +safety, and fly from earthly, as he directs us to escape from spiritual, +foes." + +"We will discuss the matter after you have rested, and I have had time +to think it over," answered Captain Mackintosh. "It is my private wish +as well as my public duty to afford every assistance in my power to +missionaries labouring among the Indians, and you may depend on my doing +all I justly can to afford you the aid you wish. However, I now advise +you to lie down and rest while some food is preparing." + +Mr Harvey acknowledged that he was very tired, and gratefully accepted +the offer, before paying his respects to the ladies of the family. + +Sybil looked somewhat confused when she heard that a clergyman had +arrived at the fort. + +"You need not be alarmed," said Effie, somewhat slily. "From what papa +says, he can only remain a few hours. He has to hurry back to his +station, and declines remaining even one night." + +What might have been Loraine's wish need not be said, but Mr Harvey +promised, should his life be spared, to return shortly to perform the +ceremony which was to make Sybil his. + +Captain Mackintosh, after reflecting, agreed to send five of his men, +under the orders of Le Brun, to protect Mr Harvey's station, for he +guessed that, without the prospect of booty, notwithstanding their +threats, the Blackfeet would not venture to attack it, even though +opposed by so small a number; for, if successful, they would gain but +little, and would be certain to lose several men. + +Le Brun, a brave fellow, laughed at the notion. + +Just as Mr Harvey was about to set out, old Sass and Greensnake +appeared mounted at the gate. + +"I'll go with you, friend," he said, addressing the clergyman. "Though +I've not had much to do with parsons in my day, I want to have a talk +with you, and maybe if those villains, the Blackfeet, try to give you +any trouble, I may be of as much use as those six men you are taking +with muskets and pistols." + +Before finally starting, the old man bade adieu to Captain Mackintosh +and his family, as also to Loraine. + +He gazed in Sybil's face as he took her hand. "I have not prayed for +many a day, but if God will hear the prayers of such an outcast as I am, +I will ask Him to bless you and make you happy with the noble young +Englishman to whom you have given your heart. It is my belief that he +will prove true and faithful." + +He spoke in a similar strain to Loraine; and turning, with an evident +effort, to where Greensnake was holding his horse, mounted, and joined +Mr Harvey, who had already left the fort. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +Life in a fort in the Far West is not as monotonous as may be supposed. +There is a variety of work to be done. The hunters are employed in +procuring buffalo, deer, and other game for provisions during the many +winter months. The meat has to be preserved in summer by being +converted into pemmican, and in winter by being placed in deep pits, +with floors of ice between each intervening layer of meat, and then +covered up with snow. When the fort is in the neighbourhood of a lake +or river, fish have to be caught and preserved. This is done by salting +them in summer, and freezing them as soon as the cold becomes intense +enough. Numerous horses have to be attended to, and dogs trained for +dragging the sleighs when the snow covers the ground, the only mode then +possible of travelling. Sleighs, carts, snow-shoes, and harness of all +sorts, have to be manufactured, and moccasins and winter clothing +prepared. In the neighbourhood of some forts gardens containing +vegetables, and fields of maize, wheat, and oats have to be attended to. +In others boats and canoes are built, while at all the gunsmith has +constant work in repairing damaged fire-arms. + +Trappers are constantly coming and going, bringing peltries, buffalo, +deer, and wolf-skins, as well as other produce of the chase. Some are +half-breeds, others white men, but the greater number pure Indians. +Some arrive with several bales, others only bring a few skins to +exchange for powder and shot, and a new trap or two. Then the skins +obtained have to be sorted, repacked, and despatched either to York +factory in the north, or to Fort Garry in the south; while stores and +provisions at certain periods arrive, and the men transporting them have +to be entertained until they are ready to return to head-quarters. + +Such was the existence which the inmates of Fort Duncan were leading. +Under other circumstances Loraine might soon have grown tired of so +limited a sphere of action, but every day he became more and more +attached--if that were possible--to Sybil; and although he had intended +to perform the journey across the Rocky Mountains to Vancouver's Island, +he could not bring himself to leave her exposed to dangers such as those +from which she had lately been preserved. + +Sybil had no wish to let him go, for though short as was the time since +they had first met, he had become all in all to her; and no wonder when +Hector, who had opportunities of knowing him well, declared that he was +one of the finest, noblest, best fellows he had ever fell in with, +right-minded, true and brave; and Sybil was convinced that this account +was not exaggerated. + +Next to Loraine, Hector's chief friend was Allan Keith, whom he +considered almost the equal of the first. He had become very anxious at +the non-appearance of Allan and the half-breed hunters he had hoped to +enlist. Either he must have failed in inducing them to accompany him, +or he had encountered some hostile Indians on the way, which was not +very likely, or had been compelled to make a wide circuit to avoid them. +At last Hector asked his father's permission to take two or three men +with him, and to travel northward in the direction Keith would most +likely come, in the hopes of falling in with him, and giving assistance +should it be required. "He may have met with some such misadventure as +Loraine and I did; or he may have expended his ammunition and be +starving," he observed. + +Effie was very grateful to Hector when she heard of his proposal. + +"I won't ask you to accompany me, Loraine," he said to his friend, "for +I suspect that Sybil would greatly object to your going away; and as you +are less accustomed to the style of life than our men, you would knock +up sooner than they would. I wish that old Sass had been here with his +boy Greensnake; they would, by some means or other, have discovered him, +wherever he is." + +Loraine made no reply. He certainly had no wish to go, and he agreed +with Hector that the hunters were more accustomed to the style of life +they would have to lead than he was; still, in his anxiety to assist +Keith, he was ready to sacrifice much, but if a sufficient number of men +from the fort could be spared, his aid would not be required. + +To Hector's disappointment, however, Captain Mackintosh objected to his +taking any men from the fort. + +"The best hunters are required to go out in search of game, and the +garrison is already weakened by those who have accompanied Mr Harvey," +he remarked. "Although I am as anxious as you are about Keith, yet duty +compels me to refuse your request, and I cannot let you go alone, or +even with one man. Had Le Brun been here I might have sent him, as he +is worth two or three others; but unless Mr Harvey abandons his station +and takes refuge in the fort, it may be some time before he returns, and +I hope before then we shall either see or hear of Keith." + +Still Hector did not abandon his plan. Norman was ready to go; and +Loraine, when he found that no one else could be spared, without +consulting Sybil, volunteered to accompany him. + +Captain Mackintosh finding that his sons were so bent on the expedition, +and that their guest was ready to sacrifice his own inclination, on +further considering the matter, gave his consent, and agreed to send one +of the best hunters and guides with them, provided they promised not to +be absent more than ten days, and to leave behind them marks by which +their trail could be followed up. + +Effie thanked Loraine warmly; and even Sybil acknowledged that as he was +going from a generous motive, she could not venture to ask him to stay +behind. + +The undertaking being determined on, the party rapidly made their +preparations. Having crossed the river where the horses were waiting +for them, they set out. Besides those they rode, each person had a +spare horse on which were carried a few light articles required for +camping. + +Sybil and Effie stood on the ramparts facing the river, and bade them +adieu, as they wound their way up the hill on the opposite bank. + +Effie felt happier than she had been for some time; and it was now her +part to console Sybil for Loraine's absence, assuring her that the party +would not return without bringing tidings of Allan. + +Several of the hunters had been out for three days in search of buffalo. +They were expected back that night; but as they did not make their +appearance, the gates were closed as usual, and sentries posted to keep +watch at night. + +Towards morning the man on duty in one of the towers, saw through the +gloom a horseman coming at full speed towards the fort. + +"Vite, vite, open the gate; I am well-nigh done for," he shouted. "The +rest have been killed, and I have had a hard matter to escape from the +savages." + +The sentry gave the alarm, the gates were opened, and Jacques Robe, one +of the hunters, rode in. He almost fell from his horse into the arms of +two of the men who had hastened out to meet him. An arrow was in his +side, and he was bleeding from other wounds. + +The gates being closed, Captain Mackintosh directed the wounded man to +be carried to his house, and as soon as he had sent the garrison to the +ramparts to be ready should the enemy appear, he hastened to attend to +him. + +The poor fellow's wounds though severe were not likely to prove mortal. +The arrow was extracted by sawing off the head, the other hurts being +bound up, the bullets having happily not lodged in his body. Captain +Mackintosh then left his patient to the care of his wife and went out to +make further arrangements for the defence. He now regretted having +allowed his sons and Loraine to go away, contrary to his better +judgment. They could not, however, as yet have got to any distance; and +as their assistance would be of the greatest value he resolved at once +to recall them. He hoped that they would be able to return in time to +assist in the defence of the fort, as probably the Blackfeet, knowing +that notice would be given of their approach by the escape of Jacques +Robe, would not venture to attack it, if such was their intention, until +the following night. He therefore ordered Jules Buffet, an active and +intelligent scout, to cross the river and hasten as fast as his horse +would carry him after the party. + +"They will not hesitate about returning when they hear what is likely to +occur," he observed. + +Jules, stuffing some pemmican and bread into his pouch, without loss of +a moment set off. + +It was still too dark to observe his movements; but the man who had gone +to assist him in catching and saddling his horse, reported that he had +started in safety, and that knowing the country, in spite of the +obscurity, he would have no difficulty in carrying out his instructions. + +Captain Mackintosh laid strict injunctions on Sybil and his wife and +daughter, on no account to leave the shelter of the house, observing, +"It will become still darker than it is at present before day breaks, +and it is possible that during the time the savages may take the +opportunity of sending a shower of arrows into the fort. With our +reduced numbers, I must not venture to send out scouts to ascertain +their position; they may be still at a distance, or they may be creeping +up towards the fort hoping to take us by surprise." + +The ladies exhibited the courage that might have been expected of them +when they, without fear, came to live in that remote fort, situated, as +they well knew, in the neighbourhood of hostile tribes. + +Mrs Mackintosh got lint and bandages and cordials ready, in case any of +the garrison should be wounded. + +Captain Mackintosh then went round the fort to encourage the scanty +garrison, and to see that they were on the watch. He endeavoured to +pierce the gloom, but could distinguish no objects moving on the +prairie. Still, he knew well the various tricks to which the Redskins +were likely to resort. They might be close by, creeping up on hands and +knees among the grass, or along the bank of the river so as to attack +the fort at the real as well as in front. He prepared for both +contingencies, posting careful men at every assailable point. + +The minutes went slowly by. He greatly missed his sons, and Loraine, +who would have been of essential service in watching the more dangerous +points. Le Brun, a most trustworthy man, was away, and two of his best +hunters and scouts had been killed, while another lay wounded and +useless. Still he endeavoured to make up for the limited number of his +men by his own energy and watchfulness. + +As he hurried round and round, he praised those who were most on the +alert, and warned the others of the dangers of negligence. He more than +once went down to examine his watch, and ascertain how the time was +passing, for of course no lights were shown on the ramparts, and then +again he hurried up to look over the prairie. + +At length a bright streak appeared across the eastern sky. The light +increased, and it was with a sigh of heart-felt relief, when at last, +being able to see across the prairie, he discovered that not a single +object was moving over its broad expanse. + +"It is as I thought, then," he said to himself; "the Blackfeet have +deemed it prudent not to show themselves until they can catch us off our +guard. We shall have, I trust, a day's rest, and by the evening my boys +and their brave friends will have returned; and even should poor Keith +have met with disaster, Burnett may send us reinforcements from +Edmonton. I pray that the savages have not paid a visit to Harvey's +station, or it may have gone hard with him. Now I may go down and +console Mrs Mackintosh and the girls, and get some breakfast;" and the +gallant Captain, having again charged the sentries to keep on the alert, +returned to his house. + +The day wore on, and had it not been for Jacques Robe's positive +assertion that he had escaped from an unusually large body of Blackfeet, +it might have been supposed that there was no cause for alarm. + +Not even a buffalo or deer appeared. That, however, was not unusual; +indeed, the only cause to create suspicion was that no traders, either +Indians or others, arrived at the fort. + +Noon had passed, and had Jules Buffet ridden as fast as he proposed, +Loraine and his companions might soon return. Still they did not +appear. + +Sybil and Effie frequently went to the southern platform to look out, +but returned each time disappointed. + +Captain Mackintosh, who had gone to the top of the look-out tower, swept +with his telescope the horizon to the south and west, towards which the +glowing sun was once more sinking. + +As he looked, he fancied that he could detect objects moving above the +tall grass, embrowned with the tints of autumn. If they were Indians +they probably did not suppose that they could be discovered at so great +a distance. They might, indeed, have been only a herd of deer +scampering across the plain. Still, as he looked again and again +through his glass, he fancied that he could distinguish the plumed heads +and shoulders of Indian warriors. + +"They shall not catch us napping, at all events," he said to himself; +"and I trust to Heaven to enable us to make good use of the means at our +disposal." + +He was unwilling to leave his post, while there was sufficient daylight +to give him a chance of ascertaining whether the objects he saw were +mounted Indians or not: he knew that at such a distance men on foot +could not possibly be seen. He had much less to fear from men on +horseback than from the stealthy approach of savages on foot, who might +creep up almost unperceived close to the walls. + +At length the increasing shadows of evening shrouded the view, and he +made another round to warn the sentries, as before, to be on the alert, +telling them that they might expect to be attacked before morning. + +Just as he reached the river side of the platform, he heard a shout. It +was Norman's voice, asking for a boat to be sent over. + +He immediately, therefore, ordered two of the men usually employed in +the service to pull across, and in a short time his sons and Loraine +entered the fort. It need not be said that they were welcomed by those +who had been so long looking for them. Jules Buffet had fulfilled his +promise by pushing forward at full speed, and had overtaken them just as +his horse fell utterly exhausted, while they were making their noon-day +halt. They had galloped back on fresh horses, which at the end of the +ride seemed scarcely able to stand. + +"But we have managed it," cried Hector, "and now I hope the Redskins +won't disappoint us. I wish, however, that we could have brought Allan +Keith; but we met with no signs of him or his party, and he may be still +a hundred miles away or more." + +The addition of five persons in whom he could trust, made Captain +Mackintosh hope more than ever that he should be able successfully to +resist the expected attack of the Blackfeet. That they would come that +night he felt almost certain, as also that the great object of their +young chief Mysticoose was to carry off Sybil. He had, however, +probably induced his people to undertake the expedition by promising +them the pillage of the fort. They had a few years before this +surprised Bow Fort, which afforded them a rich booty, and they might +naturally expect to succeed in capturing Fort Duncan, which was not +better provided with the means of defence. Never, however, before the +recent attempt of Mysticoose to take it by treachery, had it been +attacked. + +The fresh arrivals, after taking some food, lay down to get the rest +they so much required, Captain Mackintosh promising to call them should +any signs of the approaching enemy be discovered. Each man on the +ramparts was provided with a lantern, kept shaded until required, to +throw a light on the ground round the fort, which, as was rightly +expected, would tend greatly to disconcert the assailants, should they +creep up with the expectation of effecting a surprise. + +Hour after hour went by. + +"They intend, I suspect, as I thought they would yesterday morning, to +make their attack a short time before daylight, when they fancy we shall +be weary with watching, and off our guard," observed Captain Mackintosh +to Loraine, who had joined him on the platform. + +"Then we may expect them before long," said Loraine, looking at his +watch by the light of a lantern. + +Scarcely had he spoken, than an arrow flew between him and Captain +Mackintosh. He had just time to shout to his people to get under cover, +when a whole flight came whistling over their heads, followed by a +terrific war whoop, the most fearful sound of which the human voice is +capable. + +The men in the garrison shouted in return, several of them well +accustomed to the noise giving vent to derisive laughter. + +"The painted savages fancy that we are to be frightened by yells like +yon," cried Sandy Macpherson, an old Scotchman, who had been since his +youth in the service of the company. "They may shoot their arrows and +shout as loud as they like, but it won't help them to get inside the +fort, lads, I ken. Wait till we can see their heads, and then send a +shower of bullets among them, but dinna fire till the captain gives the +word, an' then blaze away as fast as ye can load." + +"Bravo, Sandy! That's just what we must do," cried Hector, who was +passing at the moment, having been sent round by his father to see that +the men were at their proper stations. + +A shout from Sandy, of "There they are!" and the word to fire, produced +a blaze of light round the fort. + +The Blackfeet, many of whom had muskets, fired in return, and then +countless dark forms were seen dashing forward, some to attempt to scale +the walls, others to force open the gate. + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +So resolutely carried on was the attack of the Indians, that Captain +Mackintosh could not help fearing that it must succeed. Two of his men +had been killed, and both his sons were wounded, although they refused +to retire, and continued firing through the loop-holed walls. The +fiercest attack was made on the gate, which Mysticoose evidently hoped +to break open, and to force his way in. Loraine undertook to defend it +to the last. Captain Mackintosh, knowing that he would do so, was able +to turn his attention to other points. + +Notwithstanding the desperate manner in which they came on to the +attack, the assailants were kept at bay; but so much powder had at +length been expended, that Captain Mackintosh found to his dismay that +the stock was running short. + +"We must manage to hold out until daylight, and then, through Heaven's +mercy, the savages may be induced to give up the attempt," he observed +to Sandy, who brought him the alarming information. + +"Ay, sir, that we will; and when the powder is done, we will take to our +pikes and bayonets. The Redskins will have no mind to face them." + +The savage chief seemed resolved, however, to succeed. Again and again +he and his followers rushed up to the gate, which they assailed with +their axes, hewing at the stout wood in the expectation of cutting it +through. Many fell in the attempt by the hot fire kept up on them from +either side. + +At last they were driven back, and the garrison gave vent to a loud +cheer, confident that the enemy were about to take to flight. + +For a short interval the fighting ceased; but the savages, urged by +Mysticoose, again came on, this time to make another effort to scale the +palisades. Some stood on the backs of their companions, trying to reach +the summit; others tugged away at the stout timbers, endeavouring to +pull them down; but they resisted all their efforts. + +The defenders of the fort rushed here and there, striking fierce blows +with their axes wherever an Indian showed himself, thrusting with their +pikes, and hurling back their assailants. Still, it was too likely that +numbers would prevail. On either side the Indians were swarming up, and +one man had often to contend with a dozen before others of the defenders +could come to his assistance. Several more of the garrison had been +wounded; but no one, while he had strength to wield a weapon, retired +from his post. At last the Indians, finding that so many of their party +had fallen, and that, in spite of all their efforts, they were unable to +climb over the palisades, desisted from the attempt, and again retired +out of gunshot. Though they could not be seen, their voices were heard +on three sides of the fort, showing that they had not altogether +abandoned the attempt. + +"I wonder what they will do next?" said Hector to his brother. "Do you +think they have had enough of it?" + +"If that fellow Mysticoose has escaped, I'm afraid he'll urge them to +come on again," answered Norman. "It still wants an hour to daylight, +and they are up to some trick or other, you may depend upon that. +Perhaps they are creeping round to try and get in at the rear of the +fort by climbing up on that side, thinking that we should not guard it +so carefully as the front. Come along, let us try and find out what +they are about." + +They accordingly hurried up to the ramparts overlooking the river; but +when they peered down through the gloom, they could see nothing moving. +They urged the men on guard to keep a watchful look-out. + +"No fear about our doing that," was the answer. "The Redskins have had +enough of climbing over for the present. They are more likely again to +try and beat down the gate." + +Still the shouts and shrieks in the distance continued. + +Hector and Norman returned to their posts in front. They had scarcely +got there when Hector's sharp eyes perceived some dark objects moving +along the ground. He would have taken them, under other circumstances, +for a herd of buffalo, so shapeless did they seem. + +He immediately warned the rest of the garrison. The objects came nearer +and nearer. It was evident that they were men carrying loads on their +backs, who, bounding on before a fire could be opened on them, got close +up to the gates at the foot of the palisades. The next instant a number +of Indians were observed making off at full speed. They were fired at; +but so rapid were their movements, that most of them effected their +escape without being hit. + +Scarcely had the firing ceased, than small flames were seen rising out +of the loads left close to the fort, which it was now discovered were +faggots, brought by the savages for the purpose of burning down the +palisades. + +Loraine, on seeing this, volunteered to head a party to drag away the +faggots before the flames should have time to blaze up; but just as he +was about to set out, and the gates were being opened, some more +Indians, protected by a band of horsemen, were seen approaching, laden +with an additional supply of faggots, with which, using them as shields, +they endeavoured to protect themselves from the fire of the garrison. +But by this time many of the men, having only a round or two of +ammunition remaining, were unwilling to expend it, and the savages as +before escaped with slight loss. + +"The faggots may blaze up, my boys," cried Captain Mackintosh; "but it +will take some time to burn down our palisades." His heart, however, +began to sink, as he thought that too probably the enemy would succeed +in their design. + +Loraine, seeing the fearful danger to which the fort was exposed, again +offered to rush out at the head of a party of men, and endeavour to drag +away the burning branches. There was a risk, however, that while they +were so engaged, the enemy might make a rush for the gate. Already the +flames were ascending. As they burned brightly, their glare would +expose him and his followers to view. Still, the position of affairs +required that the risk, great as it was, should be run. Dense volumes +of smoke were coming through the interstices of the palisades, and the +circle of flame which rose up round the fort showed that no time must be +lost. + +Captain Mackintosh sent those who had most ammunition to fire away at +the enemy, should they approach. The gates were opened, and Loraine, +with his followers, issued forth armed with pikes, to drag away the +burning mass. Those at the gate were soon hurled to a distance. They +then began to labour away at those spots where the greatest danger was +threatened to the palisades. + +So rapid were their movements that it was some time before their object +was discovered by the Indians, who, however, at length perceived what +they were about, and, uttering a war whoop, came rushing towards them. + +In vain the party from above endeavoured to keep the savages in check. +Loraine ran a fearful risk of being cut off. + +Captain Mackintosh, seeing the danger to which he was exposed, shouted +to him to retire, while the men within stood ready to close the gates +the moment he and his companions had entered. Although warned that the +enemy were drawing near, he laboured on to the last, when, turning +round, he saw, by the light of the flames, the savages, with tomahawks +uplifted, scarcely a dozen paces from him. + +His first impulse was to stop and encounter Mysticoose; but by so doing +he would delay, he knew, the closing of the gate, and the savages might +succeed in entering. + +A tomahawk whirled by his head. In another moment he would have a dozen +enemies upon him. He sprang back after his companion, and the gate was +closed against their assailants, who at once, to wreak their vengeance, +began to throw back the blazing faggots against it. + +A few shots were fired at the enemy, and then not a single report was +heard. Every grain of powder in the fort had been expended. + +The Blackfeet had in the mean time been collecting a fresh supply of +faggots, and now, finding themselves unmolested, brought them up to the +stockades. At length the stout gate, having caught fire, showed signs +of giving way, while the forked flames appeared in all directions +between the palisades. In vain the bold hunters sprang here and there +with buckets of water--for the fort was well supplied--and dashed it +against the burning timbers. It was too evident that ere long the whole +front of the fort would be one mass of fire. + +"Never fear, lads," cried old Sandy Macpherson, as he saw to a certainty +what would happen. "Even when the walls come down, the Redskins won't +be in a hurry to make their way over them. We may still keep the +`varmints' at bay for a good time longer, and then just take shelter in +the big house, and they'll no get into that in a hurry, while we make +good play with our pikes and bayonets." + +If Sandy did not forget that the savages, as soon as they got into the +inner part of the fort, would set fire to the buildings, he thought it +prudent not to say so. + +In the mean time, Loraine began to fear that notwithstanding the heroic +efforts he and his companions were making, the helpless ones, whom they +were ready to sacrifice their lives to protect, would fall into the +power of the savages. Language, indeed, cannot describe his feelings. +Rather would he have seen his beautiful Sybil dead than carried off by +the Indian. "Would it not be possible to get through the back of the +fort, and to place the ladies in the boat, then either to carry them +down the river, or enable them to make their escape to the northward?" +he asked of Captain Mackintosh. "Surely it would be safer than +defending them in the house." + +"I much fear that the savages, though we do not see them, are watching +the banks, and that the attempt would be unsuccessful; yet, as a last +resource, we must try it," answered Captain Mackintosh. "I will commit +them to your charge." + +Loraine's feelings prompted him eagerly to accept the office, and yet, +influenced by a high motive, he replied-- + +"I would propose that your sons should escort them. They are well +acquainted with the navigation of the river, and would be more likely to +find their way across the country than I should." + +"My boys and I must remain at our posts and defend the fort to the +last," said Captain Mackintosh. "You must go, my friend. We have but a +short time to prepare. Old Sandy shall accompany you. The boat will +hold no more. Go on, and let my wife and poor girls know what we have +decided, and I will make the required arrangements." + +"I will do as you desire," answered Loraine. + +In building the fort, the timbers had been so placed that an opening +could easily be formed on such an emergency as now occurred. Captain +Mackintosh, summoning Sandy, they together removed part of the +wood-work. Sandy was about to step through the opening, when he +hurriedly drew back, and replacing the timbers exclaimed-- + +"The Redskins have found us out. I saw half a score of them creeping +along the bank. Quick, quick, captain, and stop up the gap!" + +All hope of enabling the ladies to escape as he proposed had to be +abandoned, and Captain Mackintosh, with a sad heart, leaving Sandy to +watch the spot, went back to tell them of the impossibility of carrying +out their projected plan. + +Scarcely had he reached the building than the towers on either side of +the gate, which were blazing furiously, and a large portion of the +front, fell down outwards with a loud crash. + +A fearful yell of exultation was uttered by the savages, but the +encircling flames and the burning timbers still kept them at bay. In a +short time, however, the flames would burn out, and they might spring +over the smouldering logs. + +Disheartened by the desperate way in which their attacks had been met, +and not aware that the garrison were destitute of ammunition, they kept +at a distance, feeling confident that their prey could not escape them. + +As the flames decreased, Captain Mackintosh ordered the men to retreat +into the two chief buildings, urging them to hold out bravely to the +last. He feared, however, with too much reason, that although they +might prolong their resistance, their ultimate destruction was +inevitable. Every moment the flames in front were decreasing, although +on either side they were creeping along the stockades, threatening +everything with speedy destruction. + +The savages, hovering round, had been waiting for the moment when they +might force their way over the burning ruins. It came at last. Again +uttering their fearful war whoops, they came rushing on, confident of +success, when a cheer was heard from the left, followed by a rattling +fire of musketry. The fierce warriors turned and fled. Their chief +himself, who was distinguished by his tall figure and waving plume, was +seen to fall. Some of his followers endeavoured to lift him from the +ground, but fled with the rest, and in another minute a large body of +horsemen galloped up, who were seen, as the glare of the burning +stockades fell on them, to be mostly half-breed hunters, led by a white +man. + +"Hurrah! Hurrah! It's Allan Keith," cried Hector, who had been on the +look-out through one of the barricaded windows. + +In an instant the door was thrown open. The men of the garrison rushed +to the burning walls, some with axes to cut them down, others with +buckets of water to extinguish the flames. + +While the half-breeds were pursuing the flying foe, another party +appeared on the right, and in a short time Dr McCrab and Dan Maloney, +who had led them, were heartily greeting Captain Mackintosh and his +companions, and congratulating them on their narrow escape. + +"Faith, my boy, I'm mighty glad that we've come just in the nick of +time, and that we shouldn't have done, I'm after thinking, if it hadn't +been for falling in with old Isaac Sass, and his impish follower, Master +Greensnake," exclaimed Maloney, as he shook Hector's hand. "He told us +if we wanted to save you, to put our best feet foremost while he showed +us the course to take. It's my belief, too, that he afterwards managed +to fall in with Allan Keith and his party, or it's possible they might +have arrived as we should have done, just in time to be too late." + +The men belonging to the fort had been successful in extinguishing the +flames, though the whole front was either in ruins or presented a +fearfully shattered and blackened appearance. + +Dr McCrab, with coat off and sleeves tucked up, was busily employed in +attending to the wounded men, while Loraine was assisting Sybil and Mrs +Mackintosh in calming the fears of poor Effie, who, not seeing Allan +Keith among those who had just arrived, had feared that some accident +had happened to him. He soon, however, with his active horsemen, having +driven the enemy to a distance, arrived unhurt, and his appearance +quickly tranquillised her mind. + +"We must not, however, forget our friend Mr Harvey," exclaimed Captain +Mackintosh. "The Blackfeet may possibly direct their course towards his +station and revenge themselves for their failure here by attempting its +destruction." + +On hearing this remark, Allan Keith and Loraine offered to lead a party +of men to the assistance of the missionary, and about thirty of the +hunters having volunteered to accompany them, fresh horses were brought +across the river, and they immediately set out. + +Norman and Hector, notwithstanding their wounds, wished to go, but the +Doctor refused to allow them, and insisted on their turning in and +getting the rest they greatly needed. Not an hour was lost in +commencing the repairs of the fort, that it might be in a condition to +resist any further attack which the Indians might venture to make on it. +A few men were also sent to bury the Blackfeet, who had fallen either +in the attack or flight. Among the bodies that of Mysticoose himself +was found, his followers being unable to carry him away. He was buried +in the common grave at a distance from the fort. + +Of course a watch was kept at night, though it was not thought probable +that the Indians, even should they discover the absence of Loraine and +Keith, would renew the attack. + +A week passed by. The sawyers and carpenters had worked so +energetically, that already the fort had assumed its former appearance, +with some improvements to add to its strength. There was no time to be +lost, as winter was approaching, and most of the men who had arrived +under Dan Maloney and Dr McCrab, had to return to Fort Edmonton. + +Sybil and Effie had at first kept up their spirits, but they were +growing anxious at the non-appearance of Loraine and Keith. + +Evening was approaching, when a shout was raised by the sentry on the +western watch-tower, that a large train was coming across the prairie, +on which Norman and Hector, with several other inmates of the fort, +hastened up the platform to take a look at it. + +"I am much mistaken, if they are not Loraine and Keith and their party," +exclaimed Hector. + +"They have carts with them, so there can be no doubt about their being +white men," said Norman. + +Hector getting a telescope soon discovered that he was right in his +conjectures. As the train drew nearer, the gates were opened, and a +large party hurried out to meet the newcomers, who proved to be not only +those who were expected, but Mr Harvey and his family, with several +Indians who had accompanied them. + +"He came," he said, "to ask for protection for himself and his wife and +children, as well as for the converts, until it could be ascertained +that the Blackfeet had finally left the district." + +It need not be said that Loraine and Keith had warmly urged him to take +this step. + +Captain Mackintosh, giving him a hearty welcome, assured him of the use +he would be to the inmates of the fort. + +"In truth, my dear friend," he observed, "I believe you can do more real +good among my half heathen people, than you could to any of the few +Indians who would visit you during the winter." + +Mr Harvey, besides his wife, had two daughters, nearly grown up, and a +son, who, there could be no doubt, would prove a great addition to the +society at the fort, the inmates of which had little chance of enjoying +much communication with the outer world for many months to come. + +Soon after his arrival, Mr Harvey inquired for Isaac Sass. "I half +expected to have found him here," he observed to Captain Mackintosh, +"though he left without saying in what direction he was going. I am +thankful to believe that his visit to me was of spiritual benefit to +him; for, opening his heart, he confessed that he had been a careless +liver, having endeavoured, though in vain, to put God out of his +thoughts. I was the instrument of bringing his mind into a better +state, and I trust that in a contrite spirit he sought forgiveness from +God through the gracious means He has offered to sinners. Before +leaving me, he put into my hands a packet to be delivered to you; and +from what he said, I suspect that he is deeply interested in the young +lady whom I believed to be your daughter, until he assured me that such +was not the case. He had recognised her by her likeness to one whom he +truly loved, but who had been lost to him for ever, though, I conclude, +you will learn his history from the contents of the packet which I now +give you." + +Captain Mackintosh, on opening the packet, found it contained a long +manuscript written in a large but somewhat shaky hand. It would occupy +too much space were it to be copied. His life, like that of many +others, had been an adventurous one. His true name was Hugh Lindsay, +and his family was an old and good one. Having left home at an early +age, he entered the service of the Hudson's Bay Company, and had every +reason to expect to become one of its leading members, when his family +so strongly expressed their annoyance at hearing of his marriage with a +beautiful half-Cree girl, that he ceased to hold any communication with +them. He had not long after this quarrelled with his employers, when he +left their service, and commenced the life of a free trader and trapper. +For some time he had considerable success, and as his wife had +presented him with a daughter, whom he devotedly loved, he was doubly +anxious to gain the means of supporting and educating her in the rank of +a lady. Neither he nor her mother, however, could bear to part with +her. + +At an early age she was seen and admired by Donald Grey, a young clerk +in the service of the Hudson's Bay Company, who sought for and obtained +her hand. He, however, had managed, as his father-in-law had done, to +quarrel with the chief officer of the fort where he was stationed, and +having some means of his own, had taken up his residence at the Red +River Settlement. + +After living there a year, and becoming the father of a little girl, he +received intelligence from England that he had inherited a good +property. He had embarked with his young wife and child and a Cree +nurse, intending to proceed through the Lake of the Woods, across Lake +Superior to Canada. From that day, weeks, months, and years went by, +and the old trapper, still supposing that they had arrived safely in +England, waited in vain to receive intelligence of them. + +It is necessary here to remark that when the superintendent at the +company's post on the Sault Saint Marie made inquiries of the chief +factors and other officers throughout the north-west territory, they +replied that no person connected with them was missing, or had crossed +Lake Superior at the time he mentioned. From the American traders also +he could obtain no information. Not until Isaac Sass, or more properly, +Hugh Lindsay, heard Captain Mackintosh describe the way Sybil had been +discovered, did he suspect the fate of his daughter and son-in-law. He +had accounted for never having received a letter from them, by supposing +that on reaching the old country, and occupying a new sphere of life, +they had forgotten him, or had not taken the trouble to write. His +wife, dying soon after their daughter's marriage, he had taken to the +wild life he had from that time forward led, believing that he himself +was forgotten by his kindred, and endeavouring in a misanthropical +spirit to banish from his mind all thoughts of the past. + +On seeing Sybil, a chord had been struck in his heart, and on hearing +her history, he was at once convinced, from her extraordinary likeness +to his own child, that she was her daughter though fairer, and of a more +refined beauty, such as mental culture gives; but for her sake he was +unwilling to make himself known, believing that neither she nor Loraine +would be gratified at finding that she was the grand-daughter of a rough +old trapper. He especially fancied that the gentlemanly young +Englishman would object to him, and having himself a bad opinion of +human nature, he supposed that it might even cause him to give up Sybil. +Still, after he had been brought to a better state of mind by Mr +Harvey, he could not resist the temptation of writing a sketch of his +history, and by informing his grand-daughter of her birth and parentage, +enable her, as he hoped, to gain the property which would have been her +father's. He added all the information he possessed for the discovery +of Ronald Grey's family, and whether or not he had ever arrived in +England. + +While listening to this narrative which Captain Mackintosh read to him, +Loraine exclaimed, "Grey was my mother's name, and I remember hearing +that a cousin of hers had gone out to the north-west territory, in the +service of the Hudson's Bay Company, and that although property had been +left him he had not returned to claim it, and has never since been heard +of. Ultimately it came to my mother, through whom it forms a portion of +the fortune I possess, and I will willingly resign it to the rightful +heiress." + +"I don't suppose that she, with equal willingness, will deprive you of +it," said Captain Mackintosh, laughing. + +Mr Harvey again expressed his regret that the old man had not remained +behind with him, though he added, "I felt confident he has embraced the +truth as it is in Christ Jesus, and I fully expect to see him again +before long." + +The wounded men having recovered under the care of Dr McCrab, he and +Dan Maloney returned, with a portion of their followers, to Fort +Edmonton, while the half-breeds set off eastward for their homes at the +Red River. Allan Keith, much to his own satisfaction, having had +permission to remain at Fort Duncan with the rest, to reinforce its +garrison. + +It was fully expected that the old trapper would some day make his +appearance, but time went by, and no tidings could be gained of him. + +Before Mr Harvey returned in the spring to his mission station, he +united Sybil and Effie to the two gentlemen to whom they had given their +hearts. + +Loraine and his bride immediately set off for the Red River, intending +to proceed from thence to Canada, on their way to England, while Allan +Keith took his to a fort, to the charge of which he had been appointed. + +Loraine, by means of the information Captain Mackintosh had given him, +and such as he was able to obtain at the Red River, was able to prove +that his wife was the daughter of Ronald Grey, but was saved a vast +amount of legal expenses by her refusal to claim the property of which +he was already in possession. + +Some time afterwards, Allan Keith and Effie came over to pay them a +visit. They brought some deeply interesting information. Search had +for a long time been fruitlessly made for the old hunter, until at +length, Norman and Hector Mackintosh, when on an exploring expedition, +had discovered on a tree-covered hill, overlooking a calm lake, a +solitary grave. Over it had been placed, in regular order, a pile of +huge logs, cut by an Indian axe. Searching further, they found in a hut +hard by, a hump-backed Indian, life apparently ebbing fast away. + +He pointed above. "I am going," he whispered, "to that heaven of which +my friend and protector, he who lies yonder, has told me, through the +merits of One who died for sinful men. I have fulfilled his last wish, +which was to be buried, and but yesterday finished my task. It has been +a long one, for the trees were hard to cut down, and now I go with joy +to meet him, in the happy land from which there is no return. I am +thankful that you have come to know where he is laid." + +In the hopes of resuscitating the poor lad, Norman and Hector +endeavoured to make him take some nourishment, but he was in too +exhausted a condition to swallow the food, and he breathed his last just +as the setting sun cast a bright glow across the calm waters on the old +trapper's grave. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Frontier Fort, by W. H. G. 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