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diff --git a/21466.txt b/21466.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0a5ca5f --- /dev/null +++ b/21466.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6937 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of In the Rocky Mountains, 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: In the Rocky Mountains + +Author: W. H. G. Kingston + +Illustrator: J.F. + +Release Date: May 15, 2007 [EBook #21466] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +In the Rocky Mountains, by W H G Kingston. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +This is a very nicely written little book. It is easy to read or listen +to, yet is full of real-sounding dangerous situations from which the +young heroes escape with difficulty. + +The hero and his sister, Ralph and Clarice, are from a farming family in +the middle states of America. The father, unwillingly followed by the +mother, decide to move to the west, but unfortunately first the mother, +and then the father, dies, and the two young people are left without an +adult to guide and lead them. Luckily, at that moment, a wagon train +comes by, and the children hail it. The man in charge of the wagon +train realises he is actually the uncle of these children, and agrees to +take them with him, becoming their greatly beloved Uncle Jeff. + +Much of the rest of the book is taken up with various confrontations +with Indians, with wolves and a bear or two thrown in for good measure. + +You will enjoy reading this book, and it certainly converts well to an +audiobook so that you can listen to it. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, BY W H G KINGSTON. + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +HOW UNCLE JEFF CAME TO "ROARING WATER"--THE SITUATION OF THE FARM--THE +INMATES OF THE HOUSE--MY SISTER CLARICE AND BLACK RACHEL--UNCLE JEFF-- +BARTLE WON AND GIDEON TUTTLE--ARRIVAL OF LIEUTENANT BROADSTREET AND HIS +MEN--THE TROOPERS QUARTERED IN THE HUT--OUR FARM-LABOURERS--SUDDEN +APPEARANCE OF THE REDSKIN WINNEMAK--HIS FORMER VISIT TO THE FARM-- +CLARICE ENCOUNTERS HIM AT THE SPRING--BADLY WOUNDED--KINDLY TREATED BY +CLARICE AND RACHEL--HIS GRATITUDE. + +We were most of us seated round a blazing fire of pine logs, which +crackled away merrily, sending the sparks about in all directions, at +the no small risk of setting fire to garments of a lighter texture than +ours. Although the flowers were blooming on the hill-sides, in the +woods and valleys, and by the margins of the streams; humming-birds were +flitting about gathering their dainty food; and the bears, having +finished the operation of licking their paws, had come out in search of +more substantial fare; and the buffalo had been seen migrating to the +north,--the wind at night blew keenly from off the snow-capped +mountain-tops which, at no great distance, rose above us, and rendered a +fire acceptable even to us hardy backwoodsmen. + +Our location was far in advance of any settlement in that latitude of +North America, for Uncle Jeff Crockett "could never abide," he averred, +"being in the rear of his fellow-creatures." Whenever he had before +found people gathering around him at the spot where he had pitched his +tent, or rather, put up his log-hut, he had sold his property (always to +advantage, however), and yoking his team, had pushed on westward, with a +few sturdy followers. + +On and on he had come, until he had reached the base of the Rocky +Mountains. He would have gone over them, but, having an eye to +business, and knowing that it was necessary to secure a market for his +produce, he calculated that he had come far enough for the present. He +therefore climbed the sides of the mountain for a short distance, until +he entered a sort of canon, which, penetrating westward, greatly +narrowed, until it had the appearance of a cleft with lofty crags on +either side,--while it opened out eastward, overlooking the broad valley +and the plain beyond. + +He chose the spot as one capable of being defended against the Redskins, +never in those parts very friendly to white men,--especially towards +those whom they found settling themselves on lands which they looked +upon as their own hunting-grounds, although they could use them for no +other purpose. + +Another reason which had induced Uncle Jeff to select this spot was, +that not far off was one of the only practicable passes through the +mountains either to the north or south, and that the trail to it led +close below us at the foot of the hills, so that every emigrant train or +party of travellers going to or from the Great Salt Lake or California +must pass in sight of the house. + +A stream, issuing from the heights above, fell over the cliffs, forming +a roaring cataract; and then, rushing through the canon, made its way +down into the valley, irrigating and fertilising the ground, until it +finally reached a large river, the Platte, flowing into the Missouri. +From this cataract our location obtained its name of "Roaring Water;" +but it was equally well-known as "Uncle Jeff's Farm." + +Our neighbours, if such they could be called in this wild region, were +"birds of passage." Now and then a few Indian families might fix their +tents in the valley below; or a party of hunters or trappers might +bivouac a night or two under the shelter of the woods, scattered here +and there; or travellers bound east or west might encamp by the margin +of the river for the sake of recruiting their cattle, or might +occasionally seek for shelter at the log-house which they saw perched +above them, where, in addition to comfortable quarters, abundant fare +and a hospitable welcome--which Uncle Jeff never refused to any one, +whoever he might be, who came to his door--were sure to be obtained. + +But it is time that I should say something about the inmates of the +house at the period I am describing. + +First, there was Uncle Jeff Crockett, a man of about forty-five, with a +tall, stalwart figure, and a handsome countenance (though scarred by a +slash from a tomahawk, and the claws of a bear with which he had had a +desperate encounter). A bright blue eye betokened a keen sight, as also +that his rifle was never likely to miss its aim; while his well-knit +frame gave assurance of great activity and endurance. + +I was then about seventeen, and Uncle Jeff had more than once +complimented me by remarking that "I was a true chip of the old block," +as like what he was when at my age as two peas, and that he had no fear +but that I should do him credit; so that I need not say any more about +myself. + +I must say something, however, about my sister Clarice, who was my +junior by rather more than a year. Fair as a lily she was, in spite of +summer suns, from which she took but little pains to shelter herself; +but they had failed even to freckle her clear skin, or darken her light +hair--except, it might be, that from them it obtained the golden hue +which tinged it. Delicate as she looked, she took an active part in all +household duties, and was now busy about some of them at the further end +of the big hall, which served as our common sitting-room, workshop, +kitchen, and often as a sleeping-room, when guests were numerous. She +was assisted by Rachel Prentiss, a middle-aged negress, the only other +woman in the establishment; who took upon herself the out-door work and +rougher duties, with the exception of tending the poultry and milking +the cows, in which Clarice also engaged. + +I have not yet described the rest of the party round the fire. There +was Bartle Won, a faithful follower, for many years, of Uncle Jeff; but +as unlike him as it was possible that any two human beings could be. +Bartle was a wiry little fellow, with bow legs, broad shoulders (one +rather higher than the other), and a big head, out of which shone a pair +of grey eyes, keen as those of a hawk--the only point in which he +resembled Uncle Jeff. He was wonderfully active and strong, +notwithstanding his figure; and as for fatigue, he did not know what it +meant. He could go days without eating or drinking; although, when he +did get food, he certainly made ample amends for his abstinence. He was +no great runner; but when once on the back of a horse, no animal, +however vicious and up to tricks, had been able to dislodge him. + +Gideon Tuttle was another faithful follower of Uncle Jeff: he was a +hardy backwoodsman, whose gleaming axe had laid many monarchs of the +forest low. Though only of moderate height, few men could equal him in +strength. He could fell an ox with his fist, and hold down by the horns +a young bull, however furious. He had had several encounters with +bears; and although on two occasions only armed with a knife, he had +come off victorious. His nerve and activity equalled his strength. He +was no great talker, and he was frequently morose and ill-tempered; but +he had one qualification which compensated for all his other +deficiencies--he was devotedly attached to Uncle Jeff. + +There were engaged on the farm, besides these, four other hands: an +Irishman, a Spaniard, a negro, and a half-breed, who lived by themselves +in a rough hut near the house. Although Uncle Jeff was a great advocate +for liberty and equality, he had no fancy to have these fellows +in-doors; their habits and language not being such as to make close +intimacy pleasant. + +The two old followers of Uncle Jeff--although they would have laughed at +the notion of being called gentlemen--were clean in their persons, and +careful in their conversation, especially in the presence of Clarice. + +Just before sunset that evening, our party had been increased by the +arrival of an officer of the United States army and four men, who were +on their way from Fort Laramie to Fort Harwood, on the other side of the +mountains; but they had been deserted by their Indian guide, and having +been unable to find the entrance to the pass, were well-nigh worn out +with fatigue and vexation when they caught sight of Roaring Water Farm. + +The officer and his men were received with a hearty welcome. + +"There is food enough in the store, and we will make a shake-down for +you in this room," said Uncle Jeff, wringing the hand of the officer in +his usual style. + +The latter introduced himself as Lieutenant Manley Broadstreet. He was +a fine-looking young fellow, scarcely older than I was; but he had +already seen a great deal of service in border warfare with the Indians, +as well as in Florida and Texas. + +"You are welcome here, friends," said Uncle Jeff, who, as I have said, +was no respecter of persons, and made little distinction between the +lieutenant and his men. + +At this Lieutenant Broadstreet demurred, and, as he glanced at Clarice, +inquired whether there was any building near in which the men could be +lodged. + +"They are not very fit company for a young lady," he remarked aside. + +He did not, however, object to the sergeant joining him; and the other +three men were accordingly ordered to take up their quarters at the hut, +with its motley inhabitants. + +Their appearance, I confess, somewhat reminded me of Falstaff's "ragged +regiment." The three varied wonderfully in height. The tallest was not +only tall, but thin in the extreme, his ankles protruding below his +trousers, and his wrists beyond the sleeves of his jacket; he had lost +his military hat, and had substituted for it a high beaver, which he had +obtained from some Irish emigrant on the road. He was a German; and his +name, he told me, was Karl Klitz. The shortest of the party, Barnaby +Gillooly, was also by far the fattest; indeed, it seemed surprising +that, with his obese figure, he could undergo the fatigue he must +constantly have been called upon to endure. He seemed to be a jolly, +merry fellow notwithstanding, as he showed by breaking into a hearty +laugh as Klitz, stumbling over a log, fell with his long neck and +shoulders on the one side, and his heels kicking up in the air on the +other. The last man was evidently a son of Erin, from the few words he +uttered in a rich brogue, which had not deteriorated by long absence +from home and country. He certainly presented a more soldierly +appearance than did his two comrades, but the ruddy blue hue of his nose +and lips showed that when liquor was to be obtained he was not likely to +let it pass his lips untasted. + +The three soldiers were welcomed by the inhabitants of the hut, who were +glad to have strangers with whom they could chat, and who could bring +them news from the Eastern States. + +On coming back to the house, after conducting the three men to the hut, +I found the lieutenant and his sergeant, Silas Custis, seated before the +fire; the young lieutenant every now and then, as was not surprising, +casting a glance at Clarice. But she was too busily occupied in getting +the supper-table ready to notice the admiration she was inspiring. + +Rachel, with frying-pan in hand, now made her way towards the fire, and +begging those who impeded her movements to draw on one side, she +commenced her culinary operations. She soon had a huge dish of rashers +of bacon ready; while a couple of pots were carried off to be emptied of +their contents; and some cakes, which had been cooking under the ashes, +were withdrawn, and placed hot and smoking on the platter. + +"All ready, genl'em," exclaimed Rachel; "you can fall to when you like." + +The party got up, and we took our seats at the table. Clarice, who +until a short time before had been assisting Rachel, now returned-- +having been away to arrange her toilet. She took her usual seat at the +head of the table; and the lieutenant, to his evident satisfaction, +found himself placed near her. He spoke in a pleasant, gentlemanly +tone, and treated Clarice in every respect as a young lady,--as, indeed, +she was. He now and then addressed me; and the more he said, the more I +felt inclined to like him. + +Uncle Jeff had a good deal of conversation with Sergeant Custis, who +appeared to be a superior sort of person, and had, I suspect, seen +better days. + +We were still seated at supper when the door opened and an Indian +stalked into the room, decked with war-paint and feathers, and rifle in +hand. + +"Ugh!" he exclaimed, stopping and regarding us, as if unwilling to +advance without permission. + +"Come in, friend," said Uncle Jeff, rising and going towards him; "sit +down, and make yourself at home. You would like some food, I guess?" + +The Indian again uttered a significant "Ugh!" as, taking advantage of +Uncle Jeff's offer, he seated himself by the fire. + +"Why, uncle," exclaimed Clarice, "it is Winnemak!" + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +But I must explain how Clarice came to know the Indian, whom, at the +first moment, no one else had recognised. + +Not far off, in a grove of cottonwood trees up the valley, there came +forth from the side of the hill a spring of singularly bright and cool +water, of which Uncle Jeff was particularly fond; as were, indeed, the +rest of us. Clarice made it a practice every evening, just before we +returned home from our day's work, to fetch a large pitcher of water +from this spring, that we might have it as cool and fresh as possible. + +It happened that one afternoon, in the spring of the previous year, she +had set off with this object in view, telling Rachel where she was +going; but she had just got out of the enclosure when she caught sight +of one of the cows straying up the valley. + +"I go after her, Missie Clarice; you no trouble you-self," cried Rachel. + +So Clarice continued her way, carrying her pitcher on her head. It was +somewhat earlier than usual; and having no especial work to attend to at +home, she did not hurry. It was as warm a day as any in summer, and +finding the heat somewhat oppressive, she sat down by the side of the +pool to enjoy the refreshing coolness of the air which came down the +canon. "I ought to be going home," she said to herself; and taking her +pitcher, she filled it with water. + +She was just about to replace it on her head, when she was startled by +the well-known Indian "Ugh!" uttered by some one who was as yet +invisible. She at first felt a little alarmed, but recollecting that if +the stranger had been an enemy he would not have given her warning, she +stood still, with her pitcher in her hand, looking around her. +Presently an Indian appeared from among the bushes, his dress torn and +travel-stained, and his haggard looks showing that he must have +undergone great fatigue. He made signs, as he approached, to show that +he had come over the mountains; he then pointed to his lips, to let her +understand that he was parched with thirst. + +"Poor man! you shall have some water, then," said Clarice, immediately +holding up the pitcher, that the stranger might drink without +difficulty. His looks brightened as she did so; and after he had drunk +his fill he gave her back the pitcher, drawing a long breath, and +placing his hand on his heart to express his gratitude. + +While the Indian was drinking, Clarice observed Rachel approaching, with +a look of alarm on her countenance. It vanished, however, when she saw +how Clarice and the Indian were employed. + +"Me dare say de stranger would like food as well as drink," she observed +as she joined them, and making signs to the Indian to inquire if he was +hungry. + +He nodded his head, and uttered some words. But although neither +Clarice nor Rachel could understand his language, they saw very clearly +that he greatly required food. + +"Come along, den," said Rachel; "you shall hab some in de twinkle ob an +eye, as soon as we get home.--Missie Clarice, me carry de pitcher, or +Indian fancy you white slavey;" and Rachel laughed at her own wit. + +She then told Clarice how she had caught sight of the Indian coming over +the mountain, as she was driving home the cow; and that, as he was +making his way towards the spring, she had been dreadfully alarmed at +the idea that he might surprise her young mistress. She thought it +possible, too, that he might be accompanied by other Redskins, and that +they should perhaps carry her off; or, at all events, finding the house +undefended, they might pillage it, and get away with their booty before +the return of the men. + +"But he seems friendly and well-disposed," said Clarice, looking at the +Indian; "and even if he had not been suffering from hunger and thirst, I +do not think he would have been inclined to do us any harm. The +Redskins are not all bad; and many, I fear, have been driven, by the ill +treatment they have received from white men, to retaliate, and have +obtained a worse character than they deserve." + +"Dere are bad red men, and bad white men, and bad black men; but, me +tink, not so many ob de last," said Rachel, who always stuck up for her +own race. + +The red man seemed to fancy that they were talking about him; and he +tried to smile, but failed in the attempt. It was with difficulty, too, +he could drag on his weary limbs. + +As soon as they reached the house Rachel made him sit down; and within a +minute or two a basin of broth was placed before him, at which she blew +away until her cheeks almost cracked, in an endeavour to cool it, that +he might the more speedily set to. He assisted her, as far as his +strength would allow, in the operation; and then placing the basin to +his lips, he eagerly drained off its contents, without making use of the +wooden spoon with which she had supplied him. + +"Dat just to keep body and soul togedder, till somet'ing more 'stantial +ready for you," she said. + +Clarice had in the meantime been preparing some venison steaks, which, +with some cakes from the oven, were devoured by the Indian with the same +avidity with which he had swallowed the broth. But although the food +considerably revived him, he still showed evident signs of exhaustion; +so Rachel, placing a buffalo robe in the corner of the room, invited him +to lie down and rest. He staggered towards it, and in a few minutes his +heavy breathing showed that he was asleep. + +Uncle Jeff was somewhat astonished, when he came in, on seeing the +Indian; but he approved perfectly of what Clarice and Rachel had done. + +"To my mind," he observed, "when these Redskins choose to be enemies, we +must treat them as enemies, and shoot them down, or they will be having +our scalps; but if they wish to be friends, we should treat them as +friends, and do them all the good we can." + +Uncle Jeff forgot just then that we ought to do good to our enemies as +well as to our friends; but that would be a difficult matter for a man +to accomplish when a horde of savages are in arms, resolved to take his +life; so I suppose it means that we must do them good when we can get +them to be at peace--or to bury the war-hatchet, as they would express +themselves. + +The Indian slept on, although he groaned occasionally as if in pain,-- +nature then asserting its sway, though, had he been awake, he probably +would have given no sign of what he was suffering. + +"I suspect the man must be wounded," observed Uncle Jeff. "It will be +better not to disturb him." + +We had had supper, and the things were being cleared away, when, on +going to look at the Indian, I saw that his eyes were open, and that he +was gazing round him, astonished at seeing so many people. + +"He is awake," I observed; and Clarice, coming up, made signs to inquire +whether he would have some more food. + +He shook his head, and lay back again, evidently unable to sit up. + +Just then Uncle Jeff, who had been out, returned. + +"I suspect that he is one of the Kaskayas, whose hunting-grounds are +between this and the Platte," observed Uncle Jeff; and approaching the +Indian, he stooped over him and spoke a few words in the dialect of the +tribe he had mentioned. + +The Indian answered him, although with difficulty. + +"I thought so," said Uncle Jeff. "He has been badly wounded by an arrow +in the side, and although he managed to cut it out and bind up the hurt, +he confesses that he still suffers greatly. Here, Bartle, you are the +best doctor among us," he added, turning to Won, who was at work mending +some harness on the opposite side of the room; "see what you can do for +the poor fellow." + +Bartle put down the straps upon which he was engaged, and joined us, +while Clarice retired. Uncle Jeff and Bartle then examined the Indian's +side. + +"I will get some leaves to bind over the wound to-morrow morning, which +will quickly heal it; and, in the meantime, we will see if Rachel has +not got some of the ointment which helped to cure Gideon when he cut +himself so badly with his axe last spring." + +Rachel, who prided herself on her ointment, quickly produced a jar of +it, and assisted Bartle in dressing the Indian's wound. She then gave +him a cooling mixture which she had concocted. + +The Indian expressed his gratitude in a few words, and again covering +himself up with a buffalo robe, was soon asleep. + +The next morning he was better, but still unable to move. + +He remained with us ten days, during which Clarice and Rachel watched +over him with the greatest care, making him all sorts of dainty dishes +which they thought he would like; and in that time he and Uncle Jeff +managed to understand each other pretty well. + +The Indian, according to the reticent habits of his people, was not +inclined to be very communicative at first as to how he had received his +wound; but as his confidence increased he owned that he had, with a +party of his braves, made an excursion to the southward to attack their +old enemies the Arrapahas, but that he and his followers had been +overwhelmed by greatly superior numbers. His people had been cut off to +a man, and himself badly wounded. He had managed, however, to make his +escape to the mountains without being observed by his foes. As he knew +that they were on the watch for him, he was afraid of returning to the +plains, and had kept on the higher ground, where he had suffered greatly +from hunger and thirst, until he had at length fallen in with Clarice at +the spring. + +At last he was able to move about; and his wound having completely +healed, he expressed his wish to return to his people. + +"Winnemak will ever be grateful for the kindness shown him by the +Palefaces," he said, as he was wishing us good-bye. "A time may come +when he may be able to show what he feels; he is one who never forgets +his friends, although he may be far away from them." + +"We shall be happy to see you whenever you come this way," said Uncle +Jeff; "but as for doing us any good, why, we do not exactly expect that. +We took care of you, as we should take care of any one who happened to +be in distress and wanted assistance, whether a Paleface or a Redskin." + +Winnemak now went round among us, shaking each person by the hand. When +he came to Clarice he stopped, and spoke to her for some time,-- +although, of course, she could not understand a word he said. + +Uncle Jeff, who was near, made out that he was telling her he had a +daughter of her age, and that he should very much like to make them +known to each other. "My child is called Maysotta, the `White Lily;' +though, when she sees you, she will say that that name ought to be +yours," he added. + +Clarice asked Uncle Jeff to tell Winnemak that she should be very glad +to become acquainted with Maysotta whenever he could bring her to the +farm. + +Uncle Jeff was so pleased with the Indian, that he made him a present of +a rifle and a stock of ammunition; telling him that he was sure he would +ever be ready to use it in the service of his friends. + +Winnemak's gratitude knew no bounds, and he expressed himself far more +warmly than Indians are accustomed to do. Then bidding us farewell, he +took his way to the north-east. + +"I know these Indians pretty well," observed Bartle, as Winnemak +disappeared in the distance. "We may see his face again when he wants +powder and shot, but he will not trouble himself to come back until +then." + +We had begun to fancy that Bartle was right, for many months went by and +we saw nothing of our Indian friend. Our surprise, therefore, was +great, when he made his appearance in the manner I have described in an +earlier portion of the chapter. + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +WINNEMAK WARNS US OF THE APPROACH OF INDIANS--BARTLE GOES OUT TO SCOUT-- +NO SIGNS OF A FOE--I TAKE THE LIEUTENANT TO VISIT "ROARING WATER"-- +BARTLE REPORTS THAT THE ENEMY HAVE TURNED BACK--THE LIEUTENANT DELAYED +BY THE SERGEANT'S ILLNESS--THE VISIT TO THE HUT--A TIPSY TROOPER--KLITZ +AND GILLOOLY MISSING--THE LIEUTENANT BECOMES WORSE--SEARCH FOR THE +MISSING MEN--I OFFER TO ACT AS GUIDE TO THE LIEUTENANT--BARTLE +UNDERTAKES TO FIND OUT WHAT HAS BECOME OF KLITZ AND BARNEY. + +"Glad to see you, friend!" said Uncle Jeff, getting up and taking the +Indian by the hand. "What brings you here?" + +"To prove that Winnemak has not forgotten the kindness shown him by the +Palefaces," was the answer. "He has come to warn his friends, who sleep +in security, that their enemies are on the war-path, and will ere long +attempt to take their scalps." + +"They had better not try that game," said Uncle Jeff; "if they do, they +will find that they have made a mistake." + +"The Redskins fight not as do the Palefaces; they try to take their +enemies by surprise," answered Winnemak. "They will wait until they can +find the white men scattered about over the farm, when they will swoop +down upon them like the eagle on its prey; or when all are slumbering +within, they will creep up to the house, and attack it before there is +time for defence." + +"Much obliged for your warning, friend," said Uncle Jeff; "but I should +like to know more about these enemies, and where they are to be found. +We might manage to turn the tables, and be down upon them when they +fancy that we are all slumbering in security, and thus put them to the +right-about." + +"They are approaching as stealthily as the snake in the grass," answered +Winnemak. "Unless you can get on their trail, it will be no easy matter +to find them." + +"Who are these enemies you speak of; and how do you happen to know that +they are coming to attack us?" asked Uncle Jeff, who generally suspected +all Indian reports, and fancied that Winnemak was merely repeating what +he had heard, or, for some reason of his own--perhaps to gain credit to +himself--had come to warn us of a danger which had no real existence. + +"I was leading forth my braves to revenge the loss we suffered last +year, when our scouts brought word that they had fallen in with a large +war-party of Arrapahas and Apaches, far too numerous for our small band +to encounter with any chance of success. We accordingly retreated, +watching for an opportunity to attack any parties of the enemy who might +become separated from the larger body. They also sent out their scouts, +and one of these we captured. My braves were about to put him to death, +but I promised him his liberty if he would tell me the object of the +expedition. Being a man who was afraid to die, he told us that the +party consisted of his own tribe and the Apaches, who had been joined by +some Spanish Palefaces; and that their object was not to make war on +either the Kaskayas or the Pawnees, but to rob a wealthy settler living +on the side of the mountains, as well as any other white men they might +find located in the neighbourhood. Feeling sure that their evil designs +were against my friends, I directed my people to follow me, while I +hastened forward to give you due warning of what is likely to happen. +As they are very numerous, and have among them firearms and ammunition, +it may be a hard task, should they attack the house, to beat them off." + +Such in substance was the information Winnemak brought us. + +"To my mind, the fellows will never dare to come so far north as this; +or, if they do, they will think twice about it before they venture to +attack our farm," answered Uncle Jeff. + +"A wise man is prepared for anything which can possibly happen," said +the Indian. "What is there to stop them? They are too numerous to be +successfully opposed by any force of white men in these parts; and my +braves are not willing to throw away their lives to no purpose." + +Uncle Jeff thought the matter over. "I will send out a trusty scout to +ascertain who these people are, and what they are about," he said at +length. "If they are coming this way, we shall get ready to receive +them; and if not, we need not further trouble ourselves." + +Lieutenant Broadstreet, who held the Indians cheap, was very much +inclined to doubt the truth of the account brought by Winnemak, but he +agreed that Uncle Jeff's plan was a prudent one. + +Bartle Won immediately volunteered to start off to try and find the +whereabouts of the supposed marauding party. His offer was at once +accepted; and before many minutes were over he had left the farm, armed +with his trusty rifle, and his axe and hunting-knife in his belt. + +"Take care they do not catch you," observed the lieutenant. + +"If you knew Bartle, you would not give him such advice," said Uncle +Jeff. "He is not the boy to be caught napping by Redskins; he is more +likely to lay a dozen of them low than lose his own scalp." + +The Indian seeing Bartle go, took his leave, saying that he would join +his own people, who were to encamp, according to his orders, near a wood +in the valley below. He too intended to keep a watch on the enemy; and +should he ascertain that they were approaching, he would, he said, give +us warning. + +"We can trust to your assistance, should we be attacked," said Uncle +Jeff; "or, if you will come with your people inside the house, you may +help us in defending it." + +Winnemak shook his head at the latter proposal. + +"We will aid you as far as we can with our small party," he answered; +"but my people would never consent to shut themselves up within walls. +They do not understand that sort of fighting. Trust to Winnemak; he +will do all he can to serve you." + +"We are very certain of that, friend," said Uncle Jeff. + +The Indian, after once more shaking hands with us, set off to join his +tribe. + +Lieutenant Broadstreet expressed his satisfaction at having come to the +farm. "If you are attacked, my four men and I may be of some use to +you; for I feel sure that we shall quickly drive away the Redskins, +however numerous they may be," he observed. + +He advised that all the doors and lower windows should be barricaded, in +case a surprise might be attempted; and that guards should be posted, +and another scout sent out to keep watch near the house, in case Bartle +might have missed the enemy, or any accident have happened to him. The +latter Uncle Jeff deemed very unnecessary, so great was his confidence +in Bartle's judgment and activity. + +Notice was sent to the hut directing the men to come in should they be +required, but it was not considered necessary for them to sleep inside +the house. + +These arrangements having been made, those not on watch retired to rest. +But although Uncle Jeff took things so coolly, I suspect that he was +rather more anxious than he wished it to appear. I know that I myself +kept awake the greater part of the night, listening for any sounds which +might indicate the approach of a foe, and ready to set out at a moment's +notice with my rifle in hand,--which I had carefully loaded and placed +by my bedside before I lay down. Several times I started up, fancying +that I heard a distant murmur; but it was simply the roaring of the +cataract coming down the canon. + +At daybreak I jumped up, and quickly dressing, went downstairs. Soon +afterwards Gideon Tuttle, who had been scouting near the house, came in, +stating that he had seen no light to the southward which would indicate +the camp-fires of an enemy, and that, according to his belief, none was +likely to appear. In this Uncle Jeff was inclined to agree with him. + +Lieutenant Broadstreet now expressed a wish to proceed on his way; at +the same time, he said that he did not like to leave us until it was +certain that we were not likely to be exposed to danger. + +"Much obliged to you, friend," said Uncle Jeff, "you are welcome to stay +here as long as you please; and Bartle Won will soon be in, when we +shall know all about the state of affairs." + +It was our custom to breakfast at an early hour in the morning, as we +had to be away looking after the cattle, and attending to the other +duties of the farm. + +The lieutenant happened to ask me why we called the location "Roaring +Water." + +"I see only a quiet, decent stream flowing by into the valley below," he +observed. + +"Wait until we have a breeze coming down the canon, and then you will +understand why we gave the name of `Roaring Water' to this place," I +answered. "As I can be spared this morning, and there is not much +chance of the enemy coming, if you like to accompany me I will take you +to the cataract which gives its name to this `quiet, decent stream,' as +you call it; then you will believe that we have not misnamed the +locality." + +We set off together. The lieutenant looked as if he would have liked to +ask Clarice to accompany us; but she was busy about her household +duties, and gave no response to his unspoken invitation. + +Boy-like, I took a great fancy to the young officer. He was quiet and +gentlemanly, and free from all conceit. + +I took him to Cold-Water Spring, at which Clarice had met the Indian; +and after swallowing a draught from it, we made our way onward over the +rough rocks and fallen logs until we came in sight of what we called our +cataract. It appeared directly before us, rushing, as it were, out of +the side of the hill (though in reality there was a considerable stream +above us, which was concealed by the summits of the intervening rocks); +then downward it came in two leaps, striking a ledge about half-way, +where masses of spray were sent off; and then taking a second leap, it +fell into a pool; now rushing forth again foaming and roaring down a +steep incline, until it reached the more level portion of the canon. + +"That is indeed a fine cataract, and you have well named your location +from it," observed the lieutenant. "I wish I had had my sketch-book +with me; I might have made a drawing of it, to carry away in remembrance +of my visit here." + +"I will send you one with great pleasure," I answered. + +"Do you draw?" he asked, with a look of surprise, probably thinking that +such an art was not likely to be possessed by a young backwoodsman. + +"I learned when I was a boy, and I have a taste that way, although I +have but little time to exercise it," I answered. + +He replied that he should be very much obliged. "Does your sister +draw?--I conclude that young lady is your sister?" he said in a tone of +inquiry. + +"Oh yes! Clarice draws better than I do," I said. "But she has even +less time than I have, for she is busy from morning till night; there is +no time to spare for amusement of any sort. Uncle Jeff would not +approve of our `idling our time,' as he would call it, in that sort of +way." + +The lieutenant seemed inclined to linger at the waterfall, so that I had +to hurry him away, as I wanted to be back to attend to my duties. I was +anxious, also, to hear what account Bartle Won would bring in. + +But the day passed away, and Bartle did not appear. Uncle Jeff's +confidence that he could have come to no harm was not, however, shaken. + +"It may be that he has discovered the enemy, and is watching their +movements; or perhaps he has been tempted to go on and on until he has +found out that there is no enemy to be met with, or that they have taken +the alarm and beat a retreat," he observed. + +Still the lieutenant was unwilling to leave us, although Uncle Jeff did +not press him to stay. + +"It will never do for me to hurry off with my men, and leave a party of +whites in a solitary farm to be slaughtered by those Redskin savages," +he said. + +At all events, he stayed on until the day was so far spent that it would +not have been worth while to have started. + +Clarice found a little leisure to sit down at the table with her +needle-work, very much to the satisfaction of the lieutenant, who did +his best to make himself agreeable. + +I was away down the valley driving the cattle into their pen, when I +caught sight of Bartle coming along at his usual swinging pace towards +the farm. + +"Well, what news?" I asked, as I came up to him. + +"Our friend Winnemak was not romancing," he answered. "There were fully +as many warriors on the war-path as he stated; but, for some reason or +other, they turned about and are going south. I came upon their trail +after they had broken up their last camp, and I had no difficulty in +getting close enough to them to make out their numbers, and the tribes +they belong to. The appearance of their camp, however, told me clearly +that they are a very large body. We have to thank the chief for his +warning; at the same time, we need not trouble ourselves any more on the +subject." + +"Have they done any harm on their march?" I asked. + +"As to that, I am afraid that some settlers to the south have suffered; +for I saw, at night, the glare of several fires, with which the rascals +must have had something to do. I only hope that the poor white men had +time to escape with their lives. If I had not been in a hurry to get +back, I would have followed the varmints, and picked off any stragglers +I might have come across." + +"As you, my friends, are safe for the present, I must be off to-morrow +morning with my men," said the lieutenant when I got back; "but I will +report the position you are in at Fort Harwood, and should you have +reason to expect an attack you can dispatch a messenger, and relief +will, I am sure, be immediately sent you." + +I do not know that Uncle Jeff cared much about this promise, so +confident did he feel in his power to protect his own property,-- +believing that his men, though few, would prove staunch. But he thanked +the lieutenant, and hoped he should have the pleasure of seeing him +again before long. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +During the night the sergeant was taken ill; and as he was no better in +the morning, Lieutenant Broadstreet, who did not wish to go without him, +was further delayed. The lieutenant hoped, however, that by noon the +poor fellow might have sufficiently recovered to enable them to start. + +After breakfast I accompanied him to the hut to visit the other men. +Although he summoned them by name,--shouting out "Karl Klitz," "Barney +Gillooly," "Pat Sperry,"--no one answered; so, shoving open the door, we +entered. At first the hut appeared to be empty, but as we looked into +one of the bunks we beheld the last-named individual, so sound asleep +that, though his officer shouted to him to know what had become of his +comrades, he only replied by grunts. + +"The fellow must be drunk," exclaimed the lieutenant, shaking the man. + +This was very evident; and as the lieutenant intended not to set off +immediately, he resolved to leave him in bed to sleep off his debauch. + +But what had become of the German and the fat Irishman? was the +question. The men belonging to the hut were all away, so we had to go +in search of one of them, to learn if he could give any account of the +truants. The negro, who went by no other name than Sam or Black Sam, +was the first we met. Sam averred, on his honour as a gentleman, that +when he left the hut in the morning they were all sleeping as quietly as +lambs; and he concluded that they had gone out to take a bath in the +stream, or a draught of cool water at the spring. The latter the +lieutenant thought most probable, if they had been indulging in +potations of whisky on the previous evening; as to bathing, none of them +were likely to go and indulge in such a luxury. + +To Cold-Water Spring we went; but they were not to be seen, nor could +the other men give any account of them. + +The lieutenant burst into a fit of laughter, not unmixed with vexation. + +"A pretty set of troops I have to command--my sergeant sick, one drunk, +and two missing." + +"Probably Klitz and Gillooly have only taken a ramble, and will soon be +back," I observed; "and by that time the other fellow will have +recovered from his tipsy fit; so it is of no use to be vexed. You +should be more anxious about Sergeant Custis, for I fear he will not be +able to accompany you for several days to come." + +On going back to the house, we found the sergeant no better. Rachel, +indeed, said that he was in a raging fever, and that he must have +suffered from a sunstroke, or something of that sort. + +The lieutenant was now almost in despair; and though the dispatches he +carried were not of vital importance, yet they ought, he said, to be +delivered as soon as possible, and he had already delayed two days. As +there was no help for it, however, and he could not at all events set +out until his men came back, I invited him to take a fishing-rod and +accompany me to a part of the stream where, although he might not catch +many fish, he would at all events enjoy the scenery. + +It was a wild place; the rocks rose to a sheer height of two or three +hundred feet above our heads, broken into a variety of fantastic forms. +In one place there was a cleft in the rock, out of which the water +flowed into the main stream. The lieutenant, who was fond of fishing, +was soon absorbed in the sport, and, as I expected, forgot his troubles +about his men. + +He had caught several trout and a couple of catfish, when I saw Rachel +hurrying towards us. + +"Massa Sergeant much worse," she exclaimed; "him fear him die; want bery +much to see him officer, so I come away while Missie Clarice watch ober +him. Him bery quiet now,--no fear ob him crying out for present." + +On hearing this, we gathered up our fishing-rods and hastened back to +the house, considerably outwalking Rachel, who came puffing after us. + +We found Clarice standing by the bedside of the sick man, moistening his +parched lips, and driving away the flies from his face. + +"I am afraid I am going, sir," he said as the lieutenant bent over him. +"Before I die, I wish to tell you that I do not trust those two men of +ours, Karl Klitz and Gillooly. I learned from Pat Sperry that they have +been constantly putting their heads together of late, and he suspects +that they intend either to desert, or to do some mischief or other." + +"Thank you," said the lieutenant; "but do not trouble yourself about +such matters now. I will look after the men. You must try to keep your +mind quiet. I hope that you are not going to die, as you suppose. I +have seen many men look much worse than you do, and yet recover." + +The sergeant, after he had relieved his mind, appeared to be more quiet. +Rachel insisted on his taking some of her remedies; and as evening drew +on he was apparently better,--at all events, no worse. Clarice and the +negress were unremitting in their attentions, utterly regardless of the +fever being infectious; I do not think, indeed, that the idea that it +was so ever entered their heads. + +The lieutenant had been so occupied with his poor sergeant, that he +seemed to have forgotten all about his missing men. At last, however, +he recollected them, and I went back with him to the hut. + +On the way we looked into the stables, where we found the five horses +and baggage-mules all right; so that the men, if they had deserted, must +have done so on foot. + +We opened the door of the hut, hoping that possibly by this time the +missing men might have returned; but neither of them was there. The +drunken fellow was, however, still sleeping on, and probably would have +slept on until his hut companions came back, had we not roused him up. + +"You must take care that your people do not give him any more liquor, or +he will be in the same state to-morrow morning," observed the +lieutenant. + +We had some difficulty in bringing the man to his senses; but the +lieutenant finding a pitcher of water, poured the contents over him, +which effectually roused him up. + +"Hullo! murther! are we all going to be drowned entirely at the bottom? +Sure the river's burst over us!" he exclaimed, springing out of his +bunk. He looked very much astonished at seeing the lieutenant and me; +but quickly bringing himself into position, and giving a military +salute, "All right, your honour," said he. + +"Yes, I see that you are so now," said the lieutenant; "but little help +you could have afforded us, had we been attacked by the enemy. I must +call you to account by-and-by. What has become of your comrades?" + +"Sure, your honour, are they not all sleeping sweetly as infants in +their bunks?" He peered as he spoke into the bunks which had been +occupied by the other men. "The drunken bastes, it was there I left +them barely two hours ago, while I jist turned in to get a quiet snooze. +They are not there now, your honour," he observed, with a twinkle in +his eye; "they must have gone out unbeknown to me. It is mighty +surprising!" + +"Why, you impudent rascal, you have been asleep for the last twelve +hours," said the lieutenant, scarcely able to restrain his gravity. +"Take care that this does not happen again; keep sober while you remain +here." + +"Sure, your honour, I would not touch a dhrop of the cratur, even if +they were to try and pour it down me throat," he answered. "But I found +a countryman of mine living here. It is a hard matter, when one meets a +boy from Old Ireland, to refuse jist a sip of the potheen for the sake +of gintility!" + +"Follow me to the house as soon as you have put yourself into decent +order," said the lieutenant, not wishing to exchange further words with +the trooper. + +Pat touched his hat, to signify that he would obey the order, and the +lieutenant and I walked on. + +"I cannot put that fellow under arrest, seeing that I have no one to +whom I can give him in charge," said the lieutenant, laughing. "But +what can have become of the others? I do not think, notwithstanding +what Sergeant Custis said, that they can have deserted. They would +scarcely make an attempt to get over this wild country alone, and on +foot." + +As soon as Pat made his appearance, the lieutenant ordered him to stand +on guard at the door, where he kept him until nightfall. + +When our men came in, I inquired whether they knew anything of the +troopers. They one and all averred that they had left them sleeping in +the hut, and that they had no notion where they could have gone. + +"Could the fellows, when probably as drunk as Pat, have fallen into the +torrent and been drowned!" exclaimed the lieutenant anxiously. + +"Sure, they were as sober as judges," observed Dan, one of our men. +Then an idea seemed to strike him. "To be sure, your honour, they might +have gone fishing up the stream. That broth of a boy Barney might jist +have rolled in, and the long Dutchman have tried to haul him out, and +both have been carried away together. Ill luck to Roaring Water, if it +has swallowed up my countryman Barney." + +I suspected, from the way in which Dan spoke, that he had no great +belief that such a catastrophe had occurred; in fact, knowing the fellow +pretty well, I thought it very probable that, notwithstanding what he +said, he was cognisant of the whereabouts of the truants. + +Uncle Jeff and the lieutenant examined and cross-examined all the men; +but no satisfactory information could be got out of them. + +"Whether they come back or not, I must be on my way to-morrow morning +with Sperry; while I leave my sergeant under your care, if you will take +charge of him," said the lieutenant. + +Uncle Jeff willingly undertook to do this. + +"As you are unacquainted with the way, and Pat is not likely to be of +much assistance, if Uncle Jeff will allow me I will act as your guide to +the mouth of the pass, after which you will have no great difficulty in +finding your way to Fort Harwood," I said to the lieutenant. + +He gladly accepted my offer. + +"But what about the possibility of the farm being attacked by the +Indians? You would not like in that case to be absent, and I should be +unwilling to deprive your friends of your aid," he observed. "If you +accompany me, I must leave Sperry to attend on Sergeant Custis, and to +come on with him when he is well enough. Although I do not compare the +Irishman to you, yet, should the farm be attacked, I can answer for his +firing away as long as he has a bullet left in his pouch." + +Uncle Jeff, much to my satisfaction, allowed me to accompany the +lieutenant. I had a good horse, too, and had no fears about making my +way back safely, even should the country be swarming with Indians. + +When the lieutenant spoke of the possibility of the farm being attacked +by the Redskins, Uncle Jeff laughed. "They will not venture thus far," +he observed. "But even if they do come, we will give a good account of +them. Not to speak of my rifle, Bartle's and Gideon's are each worth +fifty muskets in the hands of the Indians; our other four fellows, with +your trooper, will keep the rest at bay, however many there may be of +them. The sergeant, too, will be able to handle a rifle before long, I +hope; while Clarice and Rachel will load the arms, and look after any of +us who may be hurt. But we need not talk about that; the varmints will +not trouble us, you may depend upon it." + +When Bartle Won heard of the disappearance of the troopers, and that we +had examined our men, but had been unable to elicit any information from +them as to what had become of the truants, he observed,--"Leave that to +me. If they know anything about the matter, I will get it out of them +before long. As to the fellows having tumbled into the torrent, I do +not believe it. They are not likely to have gone off without our people +knowing something about it. They are either in hiding somewhere near +Roaring Water,--and if so, I shall soon ferret them out,--or else they +have gone away to take squaws from among the Indians, and set up for +themselves." + +The lieutenant did not think that the latter proceeding was very +probable; but their absence was mysterious, and we had to confess that +we were no wiser as to their whereabouts than we were at first. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +MY FAMILY HISTORY--MY FATHER, ONCE A CAPTAIN IN THE BRITISH ARMY, COMES +TO AMERICA AND MARRIES UNCLE JEFF'S SISTER--HE SETTLES ON A FARM IN +OHIO--CLARICE AND I ARE BORN--MY GRANDFATHER'S FARM DESTROYED BY A +FLOOD--THE NEXT YEAR OUR FARM IS BURNT--MY FATHER RESOLVES TO MIGRATE TO +THE WEST--WE SET OFF IN WAGGONS WITH AN EMIGRANT TRAIN--PROSPEROUS +COMMENCEMENT OF JOURNEY--PROVISIONS RUN SHORT--I WITNESS A BUFFALO +HUNT--THE EMIGRANTS SUFFER FROM CHOLERA--MY MOTHER DIES--MANY OF THE +EMIGRANTS TURN BACK--MY FATHER PERSEVERES--FIERCELY ATTACKED BY +INDIANS--WE KEEP THEM AT BAY--AGAIN ATTACKED, WHEN A STRANGER COMES TO +OUR ASSISTANCE--CLARICE GIVES HIM A BOOK--HE PROMISES TO READ IT--WE +CONTINUE OUR JOURNEY, AND REACH FORT KEARNEY--REMAIN THERE FOR SOME +MONTHS--MY FATHER, THOUGH STILL SUFFERING, INSISTS ON SETTING OUT +AGAIN--HE SOON BECOMES WORSE, AND DIES--I AM DIGGING HIS GRAVE, WHEN AN +EMIGRANT TRAIN COMES BY--UNCLE JEFF IS THE LEADER, AND WE ACCOMPANY HIM +TO ROARING WATER. + +But the readers of my Journal, if so I may venture to call it, would +like to know how Clarice and I came to be at Uncle Jeff's farm. To do +so, I must give a little bit of my family history, which probably would +not otherwise interest them. + +My father, Captain Middlemore, had been an officer in the English army, +but sold out and came to America. Being, I suspect, of a roving +disposition, he had travelled through most of the Eastern States without +finding any spot where he could make up his mind to settle. At length +he bent his steps to Ohio; in the western part of which he had one night +to seek shelter from a storm at the farm of a substantial settler, a Mr +Ralph Crockett (the father of Uncle Jeff). Mr Crockett treated the +English stranger with a hospitality which the farmers of Ohio never +failed to show to their guests. He had several sons, but he spoke of +one who seemed to have a warm place in his heart, and who had gone away +some years before, and was leading a wild hunter's life on the prairies. + +"I should like to fall in with him," said my father. "It is the sort of +life I have a fancy for leading,--hunting the buffalo and fighting the +Red Indian." + +"Better stay and settle down among us, stranger," said Mr Crockett. +"In a few years, if you turn to with a will, and have some little money +to begin with, you will be a wealthy man, with broad acres of your own, +and able to supply the Eastern States with thousands of bushels of +wheat. It is a proud thing to feel that we feed, not only the people of +our own land, but many who would be starving, if it were not for us, in +that tax-burdened country of yours." + +My father laughed at the way in which the Ohio farmer spoke of Old +England; but notwithstanding that, he thought the matter over seriously. +He was influenced not a little, too, I have an idea, by the admiration +he felt for the farmer's only daughter, Mary Crockett. + +My father had the price of his commission still almost intact; and it +was looked upon as almost a princely fortune to begin with in that part +of the world. So, as he received no hint to go,--indeed, he was warmly +pressed to stay whenever he spoke of moving,--he stayed, and stayed on. +At last he asked Mary Crockett to become his wife, and promised to +settle down on the nearest farm her father could obtain for him. + +Mr Crockett applauded his resolution; and he purchased a farm which +happened to be for sale only a few miles off, and gave him his daughter +for a wife. She had gone to school in Philadelphia, where she had +gained sufficient accomplishments to satisfy my father's fastidious +taste; and she was, besides being very pretty, a Christian young woman. + +She often spoke of her brother Jeff with warm affection, for he, when at +home, had ever showed himself to be a loving, kind brother; indeed, Mary +was his pet, and if anybody could have induced him to lead a settled +life, she might have done it. He had had, somehow or other, a quarrel +with her one day,--little more than a tiff,--so off he went into the +woods and across the prairies; and, as it turned out, he never came +back. She was not the cause of his going, for he had been thinking +about it for a long time before, but this tiff just set the ball +rolling. + +My parents were perfectly happy in their married life, and might have +remained so had it not been for my poor father's unsettled disposition. +I was born, then Clarice; and both my father and mother devoted all the +time they could spare from the duties of the farm to our education. +Clarice was always a bright, intelligent little creature, and rapidly +took in all the instruction she received. My mother's only unhappiness +arose from the thought of sending her to Philadelphia,--where she might +have to complete her education, as she wished her to become as perfect a +lady as our father was a thorough gentleman. He, being well informed, +was able to instruct me, and I made as much progress as my sister. +Rough in some respects as were our lives, we found the advantage of +this, as we could enjoy many amusements from which we should otherwise +have been debarred. Clarice learned to play and sing from our mother; +and I was especially fond of drawing, an art in which my father was well +able to instruct me. + +But our family, hitherto prosperous, were now to suffer severe reverses. +My grandfather's property lay in a rich bottom, and one early spring +the floods came and swept away his corn-fields, destroyed his meadows, +and carried off his cattle. One of my uncles was drowned at that time, +another died of fever caught from exposure, and a third was killed by +the fall of a tree. The old man did not complain at God's dealing with +him, for he was a true Christian, but he bowed his head; and he died +shortly afterwards, at our house. My father's property had escaped the +floods, but the following summer, which was an unusually dry one, a fire +swept over the country. It reached our farm, and although my father had +timely notice, so that he was able to put my mother and us into one of +the waggons, with the most valuable part of his household property, the +rest was enveloped in flames shortly after we had left the house. The +next day not a building, not a fence, remained standing. The whole farm +was a scene of black desolation. + +"We have had a pretty strong hint to move westward, which I have long +been thinking of doing," said my father. "Many who have gone to the +Pacific coast have become possessed of wealth in half the time we have +taken to get this farm in order. What do you say, Mary?" + +Our mother was always ready to do whatever he wished, although she would +rather have remained in the part of the country where she was born and +still had many friends. + +"I should say, let us go eastward, and purchase a small farm in some +more civilised district; we can then send our children to school, and be +able to see them during the holidays," she observed. + +"We ourselves can give them such schooling as they require," replied my +father. "You will make Clarice as accomplished as yourself, and I will +take good care of Ralph. It is not book learning a lad requires to get +on in this country. He is a good hand at shooting and fishing, +understands all sorts of farm work, and is as good a rider as any boy of +his age. He will forget all these accomplishments if we go eastward; +whereas if we move westward, he will improve still more. And as he is +as sharp as a Yankee, he will do well enough in whatever line he +follows." + +The truth was, my father had made up his mind to go in the direction he +proposed, and was not to be turned aside by any arguments, however +sensible, which my mother might offer. So it was settled that we should +make a long journey across the prairie. As for the difficulties and +dangers to be encountered, or the hardships to which my mother and +Clarice would be exposed, he did not take these into consideration. +There are people with minds so constituted that they only see one side +of a question; and my father was unhappily one of these. + +He proposed to unite himself with some respectable party of emigrants, +who would travel together for mutual protection. He considered that +they might thus set at defiance any band of Indians, however numerous, +which they might encounter. + +The two farms were no doubt much inferior in value to what they would +have been with buildings, outhouses and fencings, standing crops and +stock; yet, even as they stood, they were worth a good sum, for they +were already cleared--the chief work of the settler being thus done. +However, they realised as much as my father expected, and with a +well-equipped train and several hired attendants we set out. + +The first part of our journey was tolerably easy; the emigrants were +good-humoured, we had abundance of provisions, the country was well +watered, and the cattle could obtain plenty of rich grass to keep up +their strength. But as soon as we got out of the more civilised +districts our difficulties began. Some of the rivers were very +difficult to cross, and often there was no small danger of the waggons +sticking fast in some spots, or being carried down by the current in +others; then we had hills to surmount and rocky ground to pass over, +where there was no herbage or water for our beasts. + +My father kept aloof as much as possible from the other emigrants, so +that we did not hear of the complaints they were making. At last a +rumour reached us that the owners of several of the waggons were talking +of turning back. We had met at different times two or three trains of +people who had given up the journey, and these had declared that the +hardships were greater than any human beings could bear; but my father +had made up his mind, and go on he would, even if he carried his own +waggons alone over the prairie. A few Indians hovered round us at +times, but our rifle-shots warned them to keep off; and at night we +encamped, under my father's direction, in military fashion, with the +waggons placed so as to form a fortification round the camp. + +Our fresh provisions had come to an end, too, and it now became very +important that we should procure game. + +We had encamped one evening, when several Indians approached, making +signs that they were friends. They proved to belong to a tribe which +had been at peace with the white people. Our guide knew one of them, +and we had no doubt that they could be trusted. They have long since +been driven from their old hunting-grounds, and I forget even the name +of the tribe. When they heard that we were in want of fresh food, they +said that if any of our hunters would accompany them they would show us +where buffalo could be found; and that we might either shoot them +ourselves, or that they would try to kill some for us. + +Few of our people, although hardy backwoodsmen, were accustomed to +hunting; and few, indeed, had ever seen any buffalo. But my father, +feeling the importance of obtaining some fresh meat, volunteered to +go,--directing a light cart to follow, in order to bring back our +game,--and I obtained leave to accompany him. + +One of the Indians could speak English sufficiently well to make himself +understood by us. Talking to my father, and finding that even he had +never shot any buffalo, the Indian advised that we should allow him and +his people to attack the herd in their own manner, as the animals might +take alarm before we could get up to them, and escape us altogether. My +father agreed to this, saying that, should they fail, he would be ready +with his rifle to ride after the herd and try to bring down one or more +of them. This plan was agreed to, and we rode forward. + +I observed our Indian friend dismount and put his ear to the ground +several times as we rode forward. My father asked him why he did this. +He replied that it was to ascertain how far off the buffalo were: he +could judge of the distance by the sound of their feet, and their +occasional roars as the bulls engaged in combat. Not an animal, +however, was yet visible. + +At last we caught sight of a number of dark objects moving on the +prairie in the far distance. + +"There is the herd!" exclaimed the Indian; "we must now be wary how we +approach." + +Still we went on, the animals being too busily engaged in grazing, or in +attacking each other, to observe us. At last the Indian advised that we +should halt behind a knoll which rose out of the plain, with a few +bushes on the summit. Here we could remain concealed from the herd. +So, having gained the foot of the knoll, we dismounted; and leaving our +horses in charge of the men with the cart, my father and I climbed up to +the top, where by crouching down we were unseen by the herd, although we +could observe all that was going forward. + +The Indian hunters now took some wolf-skins which had been hanging to +their saddles, and completely covering themselves up, so as to represent +wolves, they began to creep towards the herd, trailing their rifles at +their sides; thus they got nearer and nearer the herd. Whenever any of +the animals stopped to look at them, they stopped also; when the buffalo +went on feeding, they advanced. At length each hunter, having selected +a cow, suddenly sprang to his knees and fired, and three fine animals +rolled over; though, had the buffalo bulls known their power, they +might, with the greatest ease, have crushed their human foes. On +hearing the shots, the whole herd took to flight. + +"Well done!" cried my father. "I should like to have another, though;" +and hurrying down the hill, he mounted his horse and galloped off in +chase of the retreating herd. + +Heavy and clumsy as the animals looked, so rapidly did they rush over +the ground that he could only got within range of two or three of the +rearmost. Pulling up, he fired; but the buffalo dashed on; and, +unwilling to fatigue his horse, my father came back, somewhat annoyed at +his failure. + +The three animals which had been killed were quickly cut up, and we +loaded our cart with the meat; after which the Indians accompanied us +back to the camp to receive the reward we had promised. The supply of +fresh meat was very welcome, and helped to keep sickness at a distance +for some time longer. + +After this we made several days' journey, the supply of fresh provisions +putting all hands into better spirits than they had shown for some time. +There was but little chance, however, of our replenishing our stock +when that was exhausted, for we saw Indians frequently hovering round +our camp who were not likely to prove as friendly as those we had before +met with, and it would be dangerous to go to any distance in search of +game, as there was a probability of our being cut off by them. + +We had soon another enemy to contend with, more subtile than even the +Redskins. Cholera broke out among the emigrants, and one after another +succumbed. This determined those who had before talked of going back to +carry out their intentions; and notwithstanding the expostulations of my +father and others, they turned round the heads of their cattle, and back +they went over the road we had come. + +I had by this time observed that my mother was not looking so well as +usual. One night she became very ill, and in spite of all my father and +two kind women of our party could do for her, before morning she was +dead. My father appeared inconsolable; and, naturally, Clarice and I +were very unhappy. We would willingly have died with her. + +"But we must not complain at what God ordains," said Clarice; "we must +wish to live, to be of use to poor papa. She is happy, we know; she +trusted in Christ, and has gone to dwell with him." + +Clarice succeeded better than I did in soothing our poor father's grief. +I thought that he himself would now wish to go back, but he was too +proud to think of doing that. He had become the acknowledged leader of +the party, and the sturdy men who remained with us were now all for +going forward; so, after we had buried our dear mother in a grove of +trees which grew near the camp, and had built a monument of rough stones +over her grave, to mark the spot, we once more moved forward. + +We had just formed our camp the next day, in a more exposed situation +than usual, when we saw a party of mounted Indians hovering in the +distance. My father, who had not lifted his head until now, gave orders +for the disposal of the waggons as could best be done. There were not +sufficient to form a large circle, however, so that our fortifications +were less strong than they had before been. We made the cattle graze as +close to the camp as possible, so that they might be driven inside at a +moment's notice; and of course we kept strict watch, one half of the men +only lying down at a time. + +The night had almost passed away without our being assailed, when just +before dawn those on watch shouted out-- + +"Here they are! Up, up, boys! got in the cattle--quick!" + +Just as the last animal was driven inside our fortifications the enemy +were upon us. We received them with a hot fire, which emptied three +saddles; when, according to their fashion, they lifted up their dead or +wounded companions and carried them off out of the range of our rifles. + +Our men shouted, thinking that they had gained the victory; but the +Indians were only preparing for another assault. Seeing the smallness +of our numbers, they were persuaded that they could overwhelm us; and +soon we caught sight of them moving round so as to encircle our camp, +and thus attack us on all sides at once. + +"Remember the women and children," cried my father, whose spirit was now +aroused. "If we give in, we and they will be massacred; so we can do +nothing but fight to the last." + +The men shouted, and vowed to stand by each other. + +Before the Indians, however, got within range of our rifles, they +wheeled round and galloped off again, but we could still see them +hovering round us. It was pretty evident that they had not given up the +intention of attacking us; their object being to weary us out, and make +our hearts, as they would call it, turn pale. + +Just before the sun rose above the horizon they once more came on, +decreasing the circumference of the circle, and gradually closing in +upon us; not at a rapid rate, however, but slowly--sometimes so slowly +that they scarcely appeared to move. + +"Do not fire, friends, until you can take good aim," cried my father, as +the enemy got within distant rifle range. "It is just what they wish us +to do; then they will come charging down upon us, in the hope of finding +our rifles unloaded. Better let them come sufficiently near to see +their eyes; alternate men of you only fire." + +The savages were armed only with bows and spears; still they could shoot +their arrows, we knew, when galloping at full speed. + +At a sign from one of their leaders they suddenly put their horses to +full speed, at the same time giving vent to what I can only describe as +a mingling of shrieks and shouts and howls, forming the terrific Indian +war-whoop. They were mistaken, however, if they expected to frighten +our sturdy backwoodsmen. The first of our men fired when they were +about twenty yards off. Several of the red warriors were knocked over, +but the rest came on, shooting their arrows, and fancying that they had +to attack men with empty firearms. The second shots were full in their +faces, telling therefore with great effect; while our people raised a +shout, which, if not as shrill, was almost as telling as that of the +Indian war-whoop. The first men who had fired were ramming away with +all their might to reload, and were able to deliver a second fire; while +those who had pistols discharged them directly afterwards. + +The Indians, supposing that our party, although we had but few waggons, +must be far more numerous than they had expected, wheeled round without +attempting to break through the barricade, and galloped off at full +speed,--not even attempting to pick up those who had fallen. + +The women and children, with Clarice, I should have said, had been +protected by a barricade of bales and chests; so that, although a number +of arrows had flown into our enclosure, not one of them was hurt. + +On looking at my father, I saw that he was paler than usual; and what +was my dismay to find that an arrow had entered his side! It was +quickly cut out, although the operation caused him much suffering. He +declared, however, that it was only a flesh wound, and not worth taking +into consideration. + +The Indians being still near us, we thought it only too probable that we +should again be attacked. And, indeed, our anticipations were soon +fully realised. In less than half an hour, after having apparently been +reinforced, they once more came on, but this time with; the intention of +attacking only one side. + +We were looking about us, however, in every direction, to ascertain what +manoeuvres they might adopt, when we saw to the westward another body of +horsemen coming across the prairie. + +"We are to have a fresh band of them upon us," cried some of our party. + +"No, no," I shouted out; "they are white men! I see their rifle-barrels +glancing in the sun; and there are no plumes above their heads!" + +I was right; and before many minutes were over the Indians had seen them +too, and, not liking their looks, had galloped off to the southward. + +We received the strangers with cheers as they drew near; and they proved +to be a large body of traders. + +"We heard your shots, and guessed that those Pawnee rascals were upon +you," said their leader, as he dismounted. + +He came up to where my father was lying by the side of the waggon. + +"I am sorry to see that you are hurt, friend," he said. "Any of the +rest of your people wounded? If there are, and your party will come on +to our camp, we will render you all the assistance in our power." + +"Only two of our men have been hit, and that but slightly; and my wound +is nothing," answered my father. "We are much obliged to you, however." + +"Well, at all events I would advise you to harness your beasts and move +on, or these fellows will be coming back again," said the stranger. "We +too must not stay here long, for if they think that our camp is left +unguarded they may pay it a visit." His eye, as he was speaking, fell +on Clarice. "Why! my little maiden, were you not frightened at seeing +those fierce horsemen galloping up to your camp?" he asked. + +"No," she answered simply; "I trusted in God, for I knew that he would +take care of us." + +The stranger gazed at her with surprise, and said something which made +her look up. + +"Why! don't you always trust in God?" she asked. + +"I don't think much about him; and I don't suppose he thinks much about +such a wild fellow as I am," he said in a careless tone. + +"I wish you would, then," she said; "nobody can be happy if they do not +trust in God and accept his offer of salvation, because they cannot feel +secure for a moment without his love and protection; and they will not +know where they are to go to when they die." + +"I have not thought about that," said the stranger, in the same tone as +before; "and I do not suppose I am likely to find it out." + +"Then let me give you a book," said Clarice, "which will tell you all +about it." + +She went to the waggon, and brought out a small Bible. + +"There! If you will read that, and do what it tells, you will become +wise and happy." + +"Well, my dear, I will accept your book, and do as you advise me. I +once knew something about the Bible, before I left home, years and years +ago; but I have not looked into one since." + +Without opening the book, the stranger placed it in his breast-pocket; +then, after exchanging a few words with my father, who promised to +follow his advice, he left the camp and rejoined his companions. + +My father, being unable to ride without difficulty, had himself placed +in the waggon by the side of Clarice; and the animals being put to, we +once more moved on to the westward, while we saw our late visitors take +an easterly course. + +My father, however, made but slow progress towards recovery; his wound +was more serious than he had supposed, and it was too clear that he was +in a very unfit state to undergo the fatigue of a journey. + +We at length reached Fort Kearney, on the Platte River, where we met +with a kind reception from the officers of the garrison, while my father +received that attention from the surgeon he so much required. The rest +of our party were unwilling to delay longer than was necessary; but the +surgeon assured my father that he would risk his life should he +continue, in the state in which he then was, to prosecute his journey. +Very unwillingly, therefore, he consented to remain,--for our sakes more +than his own,--while our late companions proceeded towards their +destination. We here remained several months, of course at great +expense, as both our men and animals had to be fed, although we +ourselves were entertained without cost by our hospitable hosts. + +At last another emigrant train halted at the post, and my father, +unwilling longer to trespass on the kindness of his entertainers, +insisted on continuing his journey with them. The surgeon warned him +that he would do so at great risk; observing that should the wound, +which was scarcely healed, break out again, it would prove a serious +matter. Still, his desire to be actively engaged in forming the new +settlement prevailed over all other considerations, and on a fatal day +he started, in company with about a dozen other waggons. The owners, +who were rough farmers, took very little interest either in my poor +father or in us. + +We had been travelling for about ten days or a fortnight when my father +again fell ill. He tried to proceed in the waggon, but was unable to +bear the jolting; and we were at length obliged to remain in camp by +ourselves, while the rest of the train continued on the road. Our camp +was pitched in an angle formed by a broad stream on the side of a wood, +so that we were pretty well protected should enemies on horseback attack +us. My father proposed to remain here to await another emigrant train, +hoping in a short time to be sufficiently recovered to move on. But, to +our great grief, Clarice and I saw that he was rapidly sinking. He +himself did not appear to be aware of his condition; and fearing that it +would aggravate his sufferings were he to think he was about to leave +us, young as we were, in the midst of the wild prairie among strangers, +we were unwilling to tell him what we thought. + +The men with us began to grumble at the long delay, and declared their +intention of moving forward with the next emigrant train which should +come by. But what was our dismay, one morning, to find that both the +villains had gone, carrying off the cart, and a considerable amount of +our property! We were not aware at this time, however, that they had +managed to get hold of the chest which contained our money. Our father +was so ill, too, that we did not tell him what had occurred; and that +very evening, as Clarice and I were sitting by his side holding his +hands, he ceased to breathe. + +At first we could not persuade ourselves that he was dead. That was +indeed a terrible night. I felt, however, that something must be done, +and that the first thing was to bury our poor father. We had spades and +pick-axes in the waggon, so, taking one of each, I commenced my +melancholy task near the banks of a stream. + +I was thus engaged when I heard Clarice cry out; and on looking up I saw +a small emigrant train passing, which must have been encamped at no +great distance from us down the river. Fearing that they might pass +without observing us, I ran forward shouting out, entreating the leader +to stop. The train immediately came to a standstill, and a man advanced +towards me, in whom I soon recognised the person to whom Clarice had +given the book many months before. + +"Why, my man," he said, "I thought I knew you! How are your sister and +your father? He had got an ugly hurt, I recollect, when I saw him." + +"He is just dead," I answered. + +"Dead!" he exclaimed; "and are you two young ones left on the prairie +alone?" + +"Yes," I replied; "our men have made off, and I was going to beg you to +take us along with you." + +"That I will do right gladly," said the stranger. + +When I told him how I was engaged, he immediately sent some of his men, +and they at once set to work and dug a deep grave. Our poor father +having then been placed in it, they raised over it a pile of heavy logs. + +"I wish we could have done better for him," said the stranger; "but many +a fine fellow sleeps under such a monument as that." + +I need not dwell upon our grief as we watched these proceedings. I was +sure that the sooner Clarice was away from the spot the better it would +be for her; so, as the leader of the emigrant train did not wish to +delay longer than was necessary, I assisted in harnessing the animals to +our waggon, and we at once moved on. + +I was walking beside our new friend, when he asked me my name. + +"Ralph Middlemore," I replied; "and my sister is called Clarice." + +"Ralph!" repeated the stranger; "that was my father's name." + +"I was called after my grandfather," I observed,--"Ralph Crockett." + +I do not know how I came to say that. My companion started, and gazing +at me attentively, asked,--"What was your mother's name?" + +"Mary." + +"Where is she now?" he inquired eagerly. + +"She died after we began this sad journey," I said. + +The stranger was silent, stifling some deep emotion. + +"Your sister is like her,--very like what she was at the same age. You +have heard of Jeff Crockett, boy? I am your Uncle Jeff; and though I +have much to mourn for, I thank Heaven I was sent to rescue Mary's +children in their distress. And Clarice! she has been to me as an angel +of light. You remember that she gave me a book. I took it to please +her, not intending to read it; but I did read it, and it showed me what +I was--a wretched, lost sinner. I learned that I was like the prodigal +son; and as I heard that my earthly father was no more, I determined to +go to my Heavenly Father, knowing that he would receive me. He has done +so, and I can now say honestly that I am a Christian, and fit to take +charge of Mary's children." + +I need say very little more than that from this time Uncle Jeff +constituted himself our guardian, and that we thankfully accompanied him +to the new location he was forming at Roaring Water. + +And now I shall resume my narrative at the point at which I interrupted +it to give the reader a bit of my family history. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +AS THE LIEUTENANT AND I ARE STARTING, WE HEAR THAT KLITZ AND BARNEY HAVE +GONE OFF WITH A WHEEL-BARROW FOR CALIFORNIA--A PLEASANT BIVOUAC--AT LAST +WE CATCH SIGHT OF THE DESERTERS--THE LIEUTENANT IS ABOUT TO RIDE AFTER +THEM, WHEN A PARTY OF INDIANS APPEAR--THE INDIANS TAKE TO FLIGHT, AND WE +LOSE SIGHT OF THE RUNAWAYS--FORM OUR CAMP--DISCOVER THAT WE ARE +WATCHED--FOLLOW THE SPY, WHO PROVES TO BE MAYSOTTA--FIND THE DESERTERS +TAKING THEIR EASE--WE CAPTURE THEM, AND, GUIDED BY MAYSOTTA, TAKE THEM +TO THE INDIAN CAMP--RESOLVE TO RETURN TO THE FARM. + +The lieutenant and I had arranged to start at daybreak, on horseback, +with a couple of baggage-mules carrying provisions and camp utensils. +Clarice was up to give us our breakfast, and I heard the lieutenant tell +her how much he hoped to meet her again. + +"Not very likely, in this wild region," she answered with perfect +composure, although a slight blush came to her cheek as she spoke. + +The lieutenant having given directions to Pat to remain and do his +duty,--charging him not to get drunk again, and to come on with the +sergeant as soon as he was able to travel,--we were on the point of +mounting our horses, when Bartle came up. + +"I thought that I should get something out of our fellows," he said. +"Of all the strange things I have ever heard of people doing, the +strangest is what your two troopers are attempting. It seems that the +Dutchman and the Irish chap have taken possession of one of our +wheelbarrows and a couple of pick-axes and spades, with such other +things as they had a fancy for, and have gone off, expecting to make +their way to California, where, it is said, gold can be had to any +amount by digging for it." + +"The rascals!" exclaimed the lieutenant; "they will not get there in a +hurry, and we shall probably come up with them before long." + +"They have had a good many days' start of you," observed Bartle, "and if +they have kept on going, they must be some distance on their road by +this time." + +"Then we must push on all the faster," said the lieutenant. "I should +like to catch the fellows before the Indians take their scalps; +although, when we have got them, it will be difficult to know what to do +with them, as they will delay me while they move slowly along on foot." + +"Send them back to us; we will soon show them how to use their picks and +spades," said Bartle. + +After the usual hand-shaking at parting, and the lieutenant had once +more lifted his cap to Clarice, who stood at the door watching us, we +set off down the hill, each of us leading a baggage-mule by the bridle. + +Every inch of the way, for some miles, was known to me, so that we could +move on without troubling ourselves about the road. We had occasionally +hills to go over, spurs of the big mountains on our left; but we kept as +much we could on the level ground,--sometimes having to make a detour +for the sake of avoiding the rocky heights, which were inaccessible to +our animals. + +As the day advanced we began to look out for the runaways, although the +lieutenant was of opinion that they must be still some way ahead of us. +We also kept our eyes open on the chance of any Indians coming down upon +us,--although I did not think that there was much risk of that; for +every one at the farm had been convinced that the Arrapahas had long +since gone away to the southward, and that we should hear no more of +them. + +That night we encamped at a snug spot near a stream, with a wood to the +southward almost surrounding us, so that the light of our fire could not +be seen by any one on that side. There was rich grass for our animals, +and they were therefore not likely to stray. We were both young, in +good health and spirits, and with no cares to oppress us, so we greatly +enjoyed our bivouac. We sat by the fire chatting away for some time; +then we lay down, wrapped in our buffalo robes, to sleep, resolving to +awake at intervals, in order to put on fresh fuel, as it was important +not to let our fire get low. Fortunately, we awoke as often as was +needful, and by maintaining a good blaze we kept at a distance any bears +or wolves which might have been prowling about. The next morning, at +daybreak, we once more moved on. As yet, we had discovered no signs of +the runaways; indeed, when we came to think over the matter, we +considered that they would probably have kept out of the beaten track, +in order to avoid discovery should they be pursued. From the nature of +the ground, they would not have gone to the left; and I therefore +suggested that we should keep to the right, where, if they really were +making for the pass, we should be pretty certain of coming upon them. +We accordingly struck off at an angle in the direction I proposed, and +then once more continued our former course northward, keeping a bright +look-out ahead and on either side. + +"If the fellows are still before us, they deserve credit for the speed +at which they must have been travelling," observed the lieutenant. + +"But, notwithstanding, we shall be up with them before dark," I +exclaimed. "See there!" and I pointed to a mark on the grass, which my +quick eye had detected as that made by a single wheel. + +The lieutenant, however, could not see it, and thought that my fancy was +deceiving me. + +Had we not been detained by the baggage-mules, we should, I was sure, +have quickly overtaken the runaways. I must own, however, that I felt +very little interest in their capture, for I considered them not worth +their salt as soldiers,--a couple of "Uncle Sam's" hard bargains,--but +the lieutenant had no wish to be blamed for losing his men, should he +arrive at the fort without his escort. + +We had to call a halt twice in the day, to allow our animals to feed and +drink, and to take some refreshment ourselves. Two or three times, as I +looked round, I fancied that I saw some objects in the distance; it +might have been Indians or deer, or perhaps even buffalo, although the +latter seldom came so close to the mountains. + +We, of course, kept our arms ready for any emergency; and as but few of +the natives in those regions had at that time firearms, I knew that +Indians would be very wary how they approached within range of our +rifles. + +The day was drawing to a close, and I was looking out for a convenient +spot for camping, when I saw in the far distance ahead of us, and just +on the summit of some rising ground, a couple of figures. + +"Who can these be?" exclaimed the lieutenant, who saw them at the same +time. + +"Unless I am greatly mistaken, they are your two deserters, Klitz and +Gillooly." + +We dragged on the unwilling mules, in the endeavour to overtake them; +but I think the fellows must have seen us, for they moved forward at a +rapid rate. The fat little Irishman was ahead trundling the +wheel-barrow, while the tall German followed close at his heels carrying +a couple of muskets, one over each shoulder. + +"Stay by the mules, Ralph; pray do!" exclaimed the lieutenant. "I will +gallop after the rascals, and bring them to a halt." + +"There is a deep stream between us and them," I observed, "and you may +have some difficulty in crossing it alone; we will follow at our +leisure, for we are sure to catch them up before dark." + +Just as I spoke, the ominous cry of an Indian war-whoop came from behind +us; and looking round, we saw nearly a dozen mounted warriors coming on +at full gallop. To throw ourselves from our horses, and to get our +rifles ready for firing, was the work of a moment. + +The Indians had expected to see us take to flight, so on observing our +determined attitude they pulled rein. They stopped and watched us for +some time; and then, apparently considering that the risk they would run +of certainly losing two of their number, if not more, was not worth the +object to be attained, they wheeled round and galloped off in the +direction from whence they had come. + +We continued watching them until they had disappeared in the distance; +and when we turned about and again looked for the runaways, they were +nowhere to be seen. + +"Never fear," I observed; "we shall soon catch them up. But I would +rather that those Redskin fellows, if they are enemies, had not been in +the neighbourhood; for they may take it into their heads to pay us a +visit while we are encamped at night. Knowing, however, that we are +well armed, and likely to be prepared for them, they will not attack us +openly; yet they will, if they can, steal up to our camp, and try to +take us by surprise." + +Our great object now was to find a secure camping-ground; so we pushed +on, and I led my companion across the stream by a ford somewhat further +up. But still we saw nothing of Klitz or Gillooly, while the waning +light prevented me from discovering their trail, had they crossed where +we did. Some way ahead was a large wood, which extended to the very +foot of the mountains, and within its recesses we should be able to +shelter ourselves from any onset of horsemen, although the trees would +favour the approach of enemies who might attempt to take us by surprise. + +We rode on, skirting the forest as long as we had sufficient light to +distinguish objects at any distance, still with the hope that we might +find the runaways encamped, in case they should not have seen us. That +they had not perceived us, near as we were to them, was quite possible, +as their backs had been turned towards us the whole time they were in +sight; and their moving on so quickly might be accounted for by their +wish to reach a good spot for camping on before dark. + +We ourselves, after searching about for some time, and being unable to +find any traces of them, resolved to encamp in a small recess in the +wood which presented itself. There was water near, from a rivulet which +came winding through the forest, and plenty of grass. We accordingly +hobbled and staked our horses close at hand; and we then collected wood +for our fire, and made down our beds with our saddles and horse-cloths. + +While we were seated at supper, I proposed to my companion to go a short +distance from the wood, that we might command a more extensive range of +view than we could where we were seated; so that should the runaways be +anywhere in the neighbourhood, we might find them out by the light of +their fire. No glare appeared, however, along the whole length of the +forest; but still that was no proof that they were not somewhere in one +of its recesses, as, even should they have kindled a fire, the trees +might conceal its light from us. + +Neither of us feeling inclined for sleep, we sat up talking. + +"I much regret being obliged to leave the farm, for I confess that I am +not quite satisfied about the movements of the Indians who have been +seen by the chief Winnemak," observed Lieutenant Broadstreet. "Should +they return to the farm, your friends will be exposed to great danger. +I purpose, on reaching Fort Harwood, to lay the state of the case before +the commandant, and to try and induce him to send me back with a body of +men, either to relieve the garrison of the farm should it be attacked, +or to go in search of the marauders." + +I thanked the lieutenant kindly for this offer, although I did not +suppose that Uncle Jeff and his companions would have any difficulty in +beating off their assailants. + +"As we must be off by daylight, it is now time to turn in," said the +lieutenant. "Suppose you keep one eye open, and I another! We must +not, if we can help it, be surprised by wolves or bears--nor Indians +either. It is just possible that the fellows whom we saw in the +afternoon may follow us." + +"Then I will sit up and keep watch while you sleep," I said. "If they +come at all, they will try and steal upon us when they think that we may +be asleep." + +"I agree to your proposal," answered my companion. "If you will call me +in a couple of hours, I will then take my turn, and thus let you have +the morning watch. I am accustomed to have my sleep broken." + +Nothing occurred during the first watch, and at the end of it I roused +up the lieutenant and lay down. I suspect that he had intended to keep +on watch for the rest of the night; but I happened to awake, and +insisted--finding he had had a long spell--on his lying down. The young +officer, therefore, rolling himself in his buffalo robe, was again +quickly asleep. + +I sometimes walked up and down, my rifle in my hand; sometimes leaned +against a tree, peering in every direction. It could not then have +wanted more than a couple of hours to dawn. The only sounds which +reached my ear were those from our animals as they cropped the rich +grass, or the occasional scream of some night-bird in the forest. The +moon, too, was nearly at its full, and I was thus enabled to see objects +at a distance distinctly. I could judge pretty well of the hour by the +appearance of the fire, on which, from time to time, I threw a few +sticks to keep up the blaze. + +I was leaning against a tree, beginning to feel somewhat sleepy, and +thinking that it would soon be time to call the lieutenant, when a sound +as of something moving in the forest behind me struck on my ear. I +remained perfectly motionless, and again I heard the sound. "It may be +a bear," was my first thought; "but then, a bear moving among the bushes +would make more noise than that. It must be some human being; perhaps +an Indian, who is watching an opportunity to shoot us down." + +I kept completely in the shade, while I turned my eyes in the direction +from whence the sound came. I thus hoped, should there be an enemy +near, to get sight of him before he could discover me. + +On arousing the lieutenant, I told him of the sounds I had heard. + +"If there are Indians near, we had better at once go in search of them," +he answered. "I have no fancy to be shot down, as you suppose it likely +we may be; and as it will not do to leave our horses, I propose that we +mount them, and try and push through the forest. The moonlight will +enable us to make our way without difficulty." + +I should have preferred going on foot, but, of course, there was a risk, +as the lieutenant had observed, of our horses being carried off. I +therefore thought it wisest to agree to his proposal. + +Our animals were quickly saddled, and we at once pushed into the forest. +After we had passed through the outer belt, the trees grew wide apart, +and as we soon came to several broad glades, we had no difficulty in +making our way. + +We had gone some distance, when suddenly my horse gave a start, and I +caught sight of a figure, partly concealed by a tree, right ahead of me; +but as I saw neither bow nor rifle-barrel, I had no fear of encountering +an enemy. + +"Who is there?" I asked. "Come forth and show yourself. We wish to be +friends, and will not harm you." + +I rode on, and just then the moonbeams, shining amid the boughs, shed +their light on the figure of a young girl, whose countenance and costume +plainly showed that she was an Indian. After surveying my companion and +myself--apparently to ascertain who we were--she stepped forth from her +place of concealment, and advanced fearlessly towards us. + +"How comes it that you are wandering in this forest by yourself?" I +asked. + +"My friends are not far off," she answered; "and they are your friends +also. I am Maysotta, the daughter of Winnemak. Seeing the light of +your fire, I approached your camp, in order to ascertain who you were; +but as you concealed yourself, I was unable to do so. As I had promised +not to be long absent, I was returning to the camp of my people when you +overtook me. My father has directed us to come on here; while he has +gone back to the farm to warn your friends that the Arrapahas have once +more turned their faces northward, and are very likely to carry out +their hostile intentions." + +"This is important information you give, Maysotta," I observed, "and we +thank you for it. Are you certain if is correct?" + +"My father is never deceived," she answered. "He believes that the farm +will certainly be attacked, and that if those living there are not +prepared, they will run a great risk of being cut off." + +The lieutenant and I had dismounted, and were holding our horses by the +bridle, while we talked to the Indian girl. + +"If I could get hold of these deserters, I should feel warranted in +returning to assist your friends," observed the lieutenant to me. "But +do you think that we can depend upon the information this girl gives +us?" + +"I feel sure that we may," I answered. "And as I should not like to be +absent while Clarice and Uncle Jeff are exposed to danger, I would +certainly urge you to return. Perhaps our friend here may be able to +assist us in discovering the runaways!" + +I turned to Maysotta and asked her whether she or any of her people had +seen the two truants, or had observed the light of a camp-fire anywhere +in the forest. + +"Are you seeking for any one?" she asked. + +I told her that two of the lieutenant's men, forgetful of their duty, +had gone off by themselves, and that they might now be of use, could +they be discovered, in defending the farm. + +"Will they be punished for what they have done?" she inquired. + +I told the lieutenant what she said. + +"Not if they return to their duty," he answered. + +"Then I think I can lead you to where they are," said Maysotta. "I +observed the light of a small fire reflected in the sky some little way +from this, and I feel sure that it must have been kindled by the men you +speak of." + +"At all events, we will approach cautiously," said the lieutenant. "If +my men are there, we shall have no difficulty in recovering them; or +should the fire prove to be at the camp of hostile Indians, we shall be +able to retreat unobserved." + +Maysotta had no fear on the latter point, and advising us to picket our +horses where we then were, she led the way towards the point she had +described. In many places the thick foliage prevented the moonbeams +from penetrating through the forest, and we could with difficulty +distinguish the figure of our conductress, at so rapid a rate did she +glide on through the forest. + +"I hope that the girl is not deceiving us," observed the lieutenant. +"Is it not possible that she may have been sent merely to beguile us +into an ambush?" + +"I do not think that at all likely," I answered. "There can be no doubt +that she is the daughter of whom Winnemak told my sister Clarice, and +that she has heard all about us from her father. She is thus anxious to +render us any service in her power." + +Maysotta, hearing us talking, stopped, and putting her finger to her +lips, made us understand that we must be silent. She then moved forward +again, at a slower pace, keeping close in front of us. After going a +little farther, I observed the faint glare of a fire reflected on the +loftier boughs of the trees. As we advanced it grew brighter and +brighter, some of the rays penetrating even through the bushes which +concealed the fire itself. + +Maysotta now touched my arm, and pointing to the fallen trunk of a tree, +observed, "Creep up there, and you will ascertain whether those are the +people you are in search of." + +We cautiously made our way towards the point indicated; but even before +we could lift our heads to look over the fallen trunk, the sound of +Barney Gillooly's jovial voice reached our ears, accompanied by Klitz's +guttural notes. + +The lieutenant was about to spring over the trunk and seize hold of the +deserters at once, but I held him back. + +"Let us see what the fellows are about," I whispered; and we crept +closer, keeping ourselves concealed by the bushes. + +Gillooly and Klitz were seated on the ground opposite each other, with +the fire between them. The Irishman was holding up a piece of venison, +which he had just cooked, at the end of a stick, while Klitz held +another piece to the fire. + +"Arrah! now, this illigint piece of meat will be enough to last us until +we stop again for the night!" exclaimed Gillooly. "I'll race you now, +and see who can get his whack down the fastest. If I win, you must hand +over to me what remains of yours; and if you win, you shall have the +remainder of my whack." + +"Dat would not be fair," answered Klitz. "You got big mout and short +body, and can stow away much faster dan I. You eat your breakfast as +fast as you like, but let me take mine at my ease." + +"Arrah! thin, here goes," cried Gillooly; and he began gnawing away with +right good will at the _lump_ of venison. + +It was pretty evident that either he or Klitz must have managed to kill +a deer, judging from the ample supply of meat they appeared to possess. +Their rifles lay at a little distance, and close to their wheel-barrow, +which seemed to be well loaded. There was no danger, therefore, of +their firing at us before they discovered who we were; and, besides, +they were not likely men to offer any determined resistance. + +We amused ourselves for some little time in watching them; and certainly +no two individuals could have afforded a greater contrast. Gillooly +went on eating, laughing, and drinking, diverting himself by quizzing +his saturnine companion, who replied only occasionally, and in +monosyllables. + +"We have had enough of this," at length whispered the officer to me. +"If you will seize the Irishman, I will manage the Dutchman. Hold your +pistol to Gillooly's head, and he will be as quiet as a lamb. I will +treat Klitz in the same way." + +To bound over the trunk was the work of a moment, and the two deserters, +greatly to their astonishment and dismay, found themselves in our power, +without any hope of escape. + +"Where were you going, you rascals?" exclaimed the lieutenant. + +"Sure, your honour, a military life disagreed intirely wid me health, +and I thought it best to take French leave, to save me comrades the +trouble of burying me," answered Barney. "Sure, I niver dreamed of +deserting." + +"And you, Mr Klitz, what have you to say?" asked the lieutenant. + +"Dat I could not let dis fellow, like one big baby, go alone," answered +the German; "so I went to take care of him." + +There was no use in bandying words just then, so the lieutenant ordering +Klitz to take up the muskets, and Gillooly, as before, to trundle the +wheel-barrow, we set off, guided by Maysotta, for the Indian camp. + +We found but few persons in the camp, and these chiefly women and +children,--the men having accompanied their chief. From the assurances +Maysotta again gave us, we were convinced of the danger to which our +friends were exposed. The lieutenant accordingly at once decided to +leave the baggage-mules behind, and, as the Indians could supply us with +a couple of horses, to mount our two men, and return at full speed to +the farm. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +WE LEAVE THE INDIAN CAMP--MAYSOTTA'S KIND OFFER--OUR RIDE TO ROARING +WATER--INDIANS IN THE DISTANCE--IN SIGHT OF THE FARM--A STRANGER +INDIAN--OUR RECEPTION BY UNCLE JEFF--THE INDIAN'S STORY--HE GETS FOOD +AND SHELTER--MATTERS NOW LOOK SERIOUS--A COUNCIL OF WAR--MY DOUBTS OF +THE INDIAN--CLARICE AND RACHEL ACCOMPANY THE LIEUTENANT TO THE INDIAN +CAMP--WE BARRICADE THE HOUSE--DISAPPEARANCE OF THE INDIAN--BARTLE GOES +OUT TO RECONNOITRE--APPROACH OF THE ENEMY--A DETERMINED ATTACK--SEVERE +LOSSES--THE OUT-BUILDINGS SET ON FIRE--OUR AMMUNITION RUNS SHORT--THE +ROOF TAKES FIRE--HOW ARE WE TO ESCAPE?--UNCLE JEFF'S RUSE, AND HOW IT +SUCCEEDED. + +The Indian girl readily undertook the charge of our baggage-mules and +property, as well as of the deserters' wheel-barrow, which she promised +should be sent back to the farm. Having secured the muskets of the two +men to our own saddles, we made them mount and ride on before us, so +that they might have no opportunity of running away. Gillooly pulled as +long a face as his jovial countenance was capable of, while that of +Klitz elongated even more than was its wont. + +"We shall probably have some sharp fighting, my lads; and if you behave +well I intend to overlook your conduct; but if not, you must take the +consequences," said the lieutenant. + +"Sure, if we get sight of an inemy, I will do nothing to disgrace the +name of Gillooly," answered Barney. + +Klitz muttered something in German, but what it was I could not make +out. They were neither of them likely to fight for honour and glory; at +the same time, I had little doubt but they would blaze away at an enemy, +when they knew that by failing to do so they would lose their scalps. + +"Tell the `Fair Lily' that I have heard of the danger by which she is +threatened, and that if she will come here Maysotta will take care of +her, and cherish her as a sister," said the Indian girl, as I was about +to vault into my saddle. + +I thanked her, and told her that I was sure Clarice would be glad to +meet with her. I was much struck by the artless manners of the young +Indian girl, who, although endowed with the features of her race, +possessed a beauty rarely seen among them. + +"Move on, lads; we must be at Roaring Water before nightfall," cried the +lieutenant. "Keep together, and do not pull rein until I give the +order. Remember that I will stand no nonsense; and the first of you who +plays any trick, I will shoot him through the head." + +"Arrah! sure, we will be afther obeying your honour, thin," cried +Barney, as he and Klitz galloped on ahead--the lieutenant giving them +the order to turn to the right or to the left as was necessary. + +We kept on at a good pace. The Indian mustangs, although somewhat +small, were strong and wiry; and our horses, having had a good feed, +were perfectly fresh. The distance, therefore, which on the previous +days--having our mules to drag after us--was slowly traversed, was now +quickly got over. But we had to call a halt at noon, by the side of a +stream, in order to water our animals and let them feed; while we +ourselves took some of the provender which we had brought in our +wallets. + +Klitz and Barney sat down opposite to us, by the orders of the +lieutenant, and ate their meal in silence. They bore their +disappointment very well. Perhaps, after their three or four days' +experience, they may have begun to suspect that they would not reach +their El Dorado without some considerable difficulty, should they ever +get there at all; and they possibly consoled themselves with the idea +that, since they had been retaken, they were getting off very cheaply. + +Our meal over, we moved on as before. I kept a sharp look-out by the +way, and twice I caught sight of figures which I knew must be Indians, +moving in the distance, but whether friends or foes it was impossible to +say. Perhaps they belonged to Winnemak's tribe; or, should Maysotta's +account be correct, they might be Arrapahas. They did not approach us, +however, and we were allowed to proceed unmolested. + +Although we were moving along the line used by emigrant trains, we did +not meet a single one; but it was possible that any coming from the +eastward might have been attacked by the Arrapahas, or, hearing that an +enemy was in the neighbourhood, might have halted for the purpose of +defending themselves. When Indians can manage to attack a train on the +move, they, in most instances, prove successful; whereas even a small +party of white men, when encamped and under the protection of their +waggons, can generally keep a large band of warriors at bay. + +The fact of our not meeting with any emigrant trains made Maysotta's +report more probable. Of course I felt somewhat anxious about +ourselves, for, even although we had a couple of rifles and two muskets, +besides our pistols, we might find it a hard matter to drive off any +large number of mounted assailants; but I felt far more anxious about +the inmates of the farm. + +We kept the two men moving ahead of us at such a rate that Barney more +than once cried out, "Sure, lieutenant, our bastes will have no wind +left in thim at all, at all, if we don't pull up!" + +"Go on, go on," cried the lieutenant; "do not mind your beasts, as long +as they can keep their legs." + +"Thin it's meself I'd be plading for," cried Barney, turning round. + +"Do not mind yourself either," answered the lieutenant. "The lives of +our friends are at stake, and if we are to help them we must get to the +farm without delay." + +Whack, whack, whack went Barney's stick. The German also urged forward +his mustang in the same manner--his feet, from the length of his legs, +nearly touching the ground. Indeed, when passing through long grass, +his feet were so completely hidden, that, as he kept moving his legs +about all the time, it appeared as if he were running along with his +horse under him. + +At length the mountains which rose above Roaring Water appeared in +sight. As we neared them I looked out eagerly from the summit of a +ridge we had reached, to ascertain if any Indians were in the +neighbourhood; but as none were to be seen, I hoped that we might reach +the farm before any attack had been commenced. + +As we passed the confines of the property I saw none of our people +about; but, as the evening was drawing on, I thought it probable that +they had gone home from their work. Still, I felt somewhat anxious; my +anxiety being also shared by the lieutenant, who was making his tired +beast breast the hill faster than he, as a humane man, would otherwise +have done. + +As we got close to the house, an Indian started up from behind a copse +which grew on the side of the hill. He had neither war-paint nor +ornaments on, and looked weary and travel-stained. He was a young, +active man; but, at the first glance, I did not like his countenance. A +person unaccustomed to Indians cannot easily distinguish one from +another, although in reality they vary in appearance as much as white +men do; as does also the expression of their countenances. + +"Are you going to the farm?" he asked, addressing me. He knew at once +by my dress that I was a settler. + +"Yes," I replied. "Why do you put the question?" + +"I wish to go there too," he answered. "I want to tell the Palefaces +living there that they are likely to be attacked by enemies who have +sworn to take their scalps, and that unless they run away they will all +lose their lives." + +"You do not bring us news," I replied; "but you can accompany us to the +farm and speak to the white chief, telling him what you know--although I +do not think it likely that he will follow your advice." + +"Come on, come on, Ralph," cried the lieutenant; "do not lose time by +talking to that fellow." + +I quickly overtook my companion; while the Indian followed, +notwithstanding his tired appearance, at a speed which soon brought him +up with us. + +As we rode up to the house, Uncle Jeff appeared at the door. + +"What has brought you back?" he exclaimed, with a look of surprise. +"Glad to see you, at all events; for we have had our friend Winnemak +here with news sufficient to make our hair stand on end, if it were +addicted to anything of that sort. He declares that the Arrapahas are +coming on in overwhelming force, and that, unless we are well prepared +for them, we shall one and all of us lose our scalps. He has gone off +again, though, promising to make a diversion in our favour, as he has +been unable to get his people to come and assist in defending the farm, +which would have been more to the purpose. However, as you have +returned,--and brought your two deserters, I see,--we shall be able to +beat the varmints off. No fear of it, though they may be as thick as a +swarm of bees." + +A few words explained how we had fallen in with the runaways. + +The Indian who accompanied us then stepped forward. He told Uncle Jeff +that he was a Pawnee, that his name was Piomingo, and that, having a +warm affection for the Palefaces, he had come to warn us of the danger +in which we were placed, and to advise us forthwith to desert the farm +and take to the mountains, for that we had not a chance of defending it +against the numerous bands of Arrapahas who were advancing to attack us. +They had, he said, put to death all the white men, as well as women and +children, they had met with in their progress, as their manner was to +spare no one; and they would certainly treat us in the same way. + +"We have already heard something of this," said Uncle Jeff, looking as +unconcerned as he could; "but how did you happen to know about it?" he +asked. + +"I was taken prisoner by the Arrapahas while on my way to visit a young +squaw, who is to become my wife. But on the night before I was to be +tortured and put to death I managed to make my escape, and came on here +at once to tell the Palefaces of their danger, of which I had heard when +in the camp of the enemy." + +I suspected that Uncle Jeff did not altogether believe the account given +by the Indian. At any rate, he received it with perfect composure. + +"We thank you, friend Piomingo, for your good intentions. You are now +at liberty to pursue your journey on your intended visit to the young +squaw of whom you speak," he answered. + +"I would follow the advice of the Paleface chief, but I am weary and +hungry, and require sleep and rest. He would not turn me away like a +dog from his door!" + +"No, I will not do that," said Uncle Jeff. "You shall have as much food +as you require, and you can lie down and sleep until you are rested; +after that, you shall be welcome to depart." + +The Indian expressed his gratitude in a much longer speech than the +occasion required; but when Rachel brought some food he ate it +voraciously, as if he really were as hungry as he had asserted. + +Clarice blushed and smiled, when the lieutenant told her how anxious he +had been made by the report he had received from Maysotta, and how glad +he was for the opportunity of returning. + +The sergeant was by this time much better, and able to move about. Pat, +too, had behaved very well. The four farm hands had been brought into +the house, and Sergeant Custis and Pat had been regularly drilling them, +and teaching them how to handle their muskets properly. + +I found that Uncle Jeff considered matters far more serious than he had +at first been willing to do. Winnemak had been urging him to allow +Clarice, attended by Rachel, to quit the farm--promising to conduct them +to his daughter, and to afford them protection. Should the farm be +attacked, it was quite possible that the defenders might have, as a last +resource, to cut their way out; and, encumbered with the two women, the +risk they would have to run would be far greater than if they had only +themselves to think of. + +"I cannot help acknowledging that our Indian friend's advice is sound," +observed Uncle Jeff. "If we knew that Clarice and Rachel were safe, we +should fight with far more freedom than we could do with them in the +house. And if matters came to the worst, we should, as he says, be able +to escape with far less difficulty than if we had them to look after." + +"I am very unwilling to desert you," said the lieutenant; "but, under +the circumstances, if you will confide your niece to my care, with her +attendant, I will undertake to escort them to the Indian camp, where the +chief's daughter is ready to receive her. Indeed, the Indian girl +proposed this herself, and seemed to be aware of what her father had +advised you to do." + +While we were talking, I observed that the stranger was listening, and +apparently doing his best to take in what we said. Though he was a +handsome young fellow, yet, as I before remarked, I did not like the +expression of his countenance; it now struck me that it had a cunning, +sinister look. Whenever he saw my eyes directed towards him, he turned +away, and appeared to be thinking only of the food he was eating. + +I have elsewhere alluded to my talent as an artist. While Winnemak was +with us, I had made a tolerably fair portrait of him; indeed, it was +considered a good likeness, and was hung up against the wall. As +Piomingo was passing it, I saw him start in a way an Indian seldom does; +and he then stood gazing earnestly at it for a minute or more. + +"Who is that man?" he asked, pointing to the portrait. + +I told him. + +"Ah, bad man!" he muttered; "take care what he do." + +"We think him a good man; he is a friend of ours." + +He shook his head, but said nothing more. After this, instead of lying +down, he stole near to where Uncle Jeff, the lieutenant, and I were +talking; although, unless he knew English much better than he seemed to +do, he could not have been any the wiser. + +Uncle Jeff considered seriously the proposal made by Winnemak, and now +repeated by the lieutenant. + +"Yes," he said at length, "I am sure it is the best plan. I will +entrust my niece and Rachel to your charge. I conclude you will take +your men with you! Indeed, although we can ill spare any hands, I wish +Ralph to accompany you, if you will allow him." + +"You may trust me, Mr Crockett, that I will defend your niece and her +attendant with my life; but I shall be very glad to have the aid of your +nephew," answered Lieutenant Broadstreet. "With regard to my own men, I +propose taking only the most trustworthy, Sergeant Custis and Sperry; +the other two I will leave with you, for they will, at all events, fight +as well as better men within walls, and I can more readily spare them +than the others." + +On hearing this arrangement, I was placed in a dilemma. I did not at +all like the idea of being compelled to quit the post of danger; while +at the same time I felt it was my duty to assist in protecting Clarice. +I told the lieutenant how I felt on the subject. + +"I will speak to your uncle," he answered; "and if you wish to remain, I +will assure him that your coming is not absolutely necessary. We may +hope to reach the Indian camp early to-morrow, and your sister will then +be placed under the charge of the Indian chief and his daughter." + +When I put the question to Clarice, she replied,--"I would infinitely +rather have you with me; but if you believe that it is your duty to +remain with Uncle Jeff, I could not bear the thought of your leaving +him. Besides, he seems to be confident that he will be able to beat off +the enemy, should the farm be attacked." + +I confess that I was in two minds on the subject until the last moment. + +The plans being arranged, no time was lost in making the necessary +preparations. The horses which had been selected for the journey having +been well fed and watered, were brought to the door. Clarice was soon +ready. She was a good horse-woman, and even Rachel had been accustomed +to the saddle in former years. + +I wrung my friend's hand. + +"You will take care of my sister, I know you will," I said as I parted +from him. + +"Indeed, Ralph, I will," he answered solemnly; and I felt that she was +as safe as she would have been had I accompanied her. + +The moon was now shining brightly, and enabled the lieutenant and his +companions to pursue their way at a rapid rate. They took no baggage +except such as could be strapped to the saddles of their horses; they +were, therefore, not impeded as we had been by slow-moving mules. It +was nearly midnight when they set off; and as little noise as possible +was made when they left the house, in case any of the enemy's scouts +watching in the neighbourhood might hear them. + +The stranger Indian had, some time before the party set off, thrown +himself on a buffalo robe in a corner of the room, and was apparently +asleep; but I suspected that he knew pretty well all that was going +forward. He remained, however, without moving, as if in a sound +slumber. + +As soon as Uncle Jeff and I returned (we had accompanied our friends a +little way down the hill), Uncle Jeff addressed his small garrison. + +"Putting all things together, lads," said he, "I believe these Redskin +varmints whom we have been hearing of for some days past will really at +last make an attempt to rob the farm; but I know that you will fight to +the last, and we shall manage to drive them off. There is no reason why +we should not feel confident of success. We have a good store of powder +and bullets, with trustworthy rifles and muskets; and what more, pray, +can men wish for?" + +The men, one and all, promised to stand by him. + +"That is all I want," he answered. "The first thing we have to do is to +barricade the lower windows and the doors, so that while we are +defending one side the Indians may not walk in at the other." + +There were ten of us altogether, and having abundance of tools and +materials, we soon put the building in a state of defence, with +loopholes on all sides. Before the doors were finally closed, Uncle +Jeff told Bartle to bring in his favourite horse "Jack;" the remainder +of the animals had been turned loose to seek their own safety. + +The day dawned, but as nothing had yet been seen of our expected +enemies, Bartle agreed to go out and ascertain their whereabouts as soon +as the sun rose above the horizon. Bartle was too old a scout to care +whether he had to approach an enemy in daylight or darkness; his only +object at present was to find out if the Indians were really marching +towards the farm. + +While we were busily engaged in barricading the house, no one had +thought of our Redskin visitor. When last seen he was apparently +wrapped in slumber. + +"I suppose we may count on Piomingo as one of the defenders of the +house; he probably knows how to use a rifle," observed Uncle Jeff, near +whom I was working. "Go and speak to him. Say that we expect him to do +his duty; and ask him if he knows how to load a rifle." + +As soon as I had finished the work I was about, I went to where Piomingo +had been lying down. He was not there; I looked everywhere about for +him, but he had disappeared. No one had seen him leave the house, so +that, if he was not still within, he must have watched his opportunity +when our eyes were off him, and slipped out. + +What his object was in coming, and then going away secretly, it was +difficult to say. His departure was suspicious, too; he might have +visited us with treacherous intentions. But perhaps he was merely a +coward, and finding that we would not take his advice and desert the +farm, he had escaped, to avoid the danger to which he would be exposed. +However, if he intended treachery, it was better to have him out of the +way. + +"Maybe, afther all, the spalpeen is hiding somewhere," observed +Gillooly, when he found that we were inquiring for the Indian; "if he is +anywhere inside, sure I'll ferret him out;" and the Irishman immediately +began poking his nose into every hole and cranny in the building. + +"Bedad! he's convarted himself into a rat, for nowhere can I find him in +any hole that a mortal man could stow himself into!" exclaimed Barney, +after a long search. + +I have not yet described the building which, if we were attacked, was to +serve as our fortress. It was of considerable size; the lower part of +the walls consisting of stout logs, the upper portion being of +framework, and boarded. Round three sides was a stout palisade, forming +an enclosure, while the remaining side was occupied by stables and other +out-buildings. Barns, cow-sheds, and piggeries were placed at some +little distance off. Then there was the hut occupied by the farm hands; +while overhanging the stream, which flowed by on one side, was a small +mill, the wheel of which was turned by its waters. + +The hills rose on either side, but too far off to allow an enemy to +command the house from them; while the intervening space was rough and +rocky,--forming shelter, however, to an approaching foe. Had we felt +sure that we would be attacked, we should have been wise to have +destroyed many of these out-buildings, as they were calculated to +protect the enemy. But to the last Uncle Jeff was not fully persuaded +that the Indians would venture to approach the place, as they must have +known that we were prepared for their reception. + +The day drew on, but still Bartle did not return; and we began to hope +that after all no enemy would appear. But about noon, and just as we +were making ready to sit down to dinner, he was seen approaching the +house with rapid strides. + +"There is no doubt about what these varmints intend!" he exclaimed as he +rushed into the house. "They are coming on as fast as their legs can +carry them, and will be here before the day is much older. Look to your +firearms, lads; we must be ready for them, and give them such a dose of +bullets that they will wish they hadn't come to Roaring Water." + +In accordance with Bartle's advice, all the doors and windows were fast +closed, and we were shut up in our fortress. + +"It is ill to fight on empty stomachs, so turn to and eat your dinner, +lads; I'll give you notice when you are wanted." + +Uncle Jeff having thus spoken, mounted to a window commanding the road +by which the enemy were likely to approach; and there, after snatching a +hasty meal, I quickly joined him. I first, however, took a glance out +of another window, opening to the southward, as it was possible that +some of the Indians might make their way over the hills so as to take us +on the flank. + +To each man was given his particular post, at which he was to remain +until summoned elsewhere. + +The time now seemed to go by very slowly. + +"I do not think they will come, after all," I observed to Uncle Jeff; +"more than an hour has passed since Bartle returned." + +He looked at his watch. "It is not one o'clock yet," he observed; "and +Bartle does not often make a mistake." + +Just as he spoke, I saw the plumes of a chief's head-dress rising over a +point of rocky ground round which the road passed, and shortly +afterwards a band of painted warriors came into view. They approached +very cautiously, and gazed about them, as if expecting at any moment to +encounter an enemy. Finding, however, that none of us were visible, +they began to advance at a more rapid rate. Immediately afterwards I +saw another and a much larger party coming over the hill, who, as they +drew near, scattered themselves in every direction, so as to be able to +get under shelter behind the intervening rocks and shrubs. + +"Tell the men to be ready," cried Uncle Jeff; "and charge them not to +fire until I give the word,--they must not throw a shot away." + +I ran hastily round the building, and ascertained that every man was at +his post, prepared for whatever might happen. I then returned to Uncle +Jeff for further orders. + +Presently an Indian belonging to the party which had descended the hill +advanced towards the house with a white handkerchief on a pole. + +"The fellows have some pretensions to civilisation," said Uncle Jeff +when he saw it; "perhaps their white friends have put them up to that." + +The Indian, having got within speaking distance, now halted; but seeing +no one whom he could address, he proceeded around the building, +apparently examining our preparations for defence. At length he again +stopped, having satisfied himself that the building was fortified, and +contained a garrison. + +"Friends," he shouted, "do you want to lose your scalps? If not, march +out and leave this house to us. We mean to come in." + +Uncle Jeff now appeared at the window opposite to where the Indian was +standing. + +"Clear out of this, you rascal!" he exclaimed. "We do not intend that +you shall have our scalps, or get inside these walls. If you make the +attempt, you will pay dearly for it; that is what I've got to say." + +The Indian seemed to recognise Uncle Jeff. "You, Jeff Crockett," he +shouted out, "you good man! If you like to go out you may go, and we +take scalps of rest." + +Uncle Jeff burst into a loud laugh. + +"That's a likely thing," he thundered out. "If it was not for your +white flag, I would treat you as you deserve." + +The tone of voice in which this was said convinced the Indian that Uncle +Jeff was in earnest; and in no very dignified fashion he scampered off +to rejoin his companions. + +The whole of the band now united in giving utterance to a terrific +war-whoop, and came rushing up to the house. There was no longer any +doubt as to their intentions; they halted for a moment to fire, and then +came right on at a rapid pace, up to the palisade. + +"Now, lads, give it them!" shouted Uncle Jeff; and every bullet fired by +our little garrison brought down one of our foes. + +The death of their companions served but to inflame the rage of the +rest; and climbing up over the palisade of which I have spoken, they +attempted to get into the enclosure. Several were shot down in the act; +but others succeeded in reaching the enclosure, though they soon paid +dearly for their activity, as they were shot down as soon as we could +reload our rifles. The loss of so many men in their first attack seemed +to discourage the rest, and they drew off to a distance, under such +shelter as they could find. + +"We have soon settled the fellows; they have had enough of it," cried +some of our men. + +"Wait a bit, lads," said Bartle; "that is not the Indian fashion. They +will be upon us again before long." + +He was right; in a few minutes a considerable number of the enemy were +seen moving round, in order to get to the rear of the out-buildings-- +Bartle and Gideon meanwhile picking off two or three who incautiously +exposed themselves. Having gained the position they desired, they made +a rush towards the buildings, which sheltered them almost entirely from +our fire. Breaking through the enclosure on that side, they next +advanced boldly into the open space in front of the stables, where they +were once more exposed to view. Scarcely had they reached it when +Bartle's unerring rifle brought down their leader. His followers, on +seeing this, rushed into the stables, while others made their appearance +in the same direction. + +Either because they fancied that their chief was still alive, or that it +was a disgrace to allow his body to remain on the ground, a couple of +warriors dashed out for the purpose of carrying it off; but before they +had time to stoop down and lift it from the ground, Gideon and Bartle's +rifles had laid them both by its side. Two others followed, and were +picked off by Gillooly and Klitz, both of whom showed themselves no +despicable shots. In the meantime Bartle and Gideon had reloaded, and +two more warriors shared the fate of the first. + +As yet, all the success had been on our side; and there appeared every +probability of our being able to defeat any attempt of the enemy to +enter the building. Those who had got into the stables were so many +withdrawn from the attack; and although under shelter, they could effect +nothing against us. Had the Indians been alone, we might have kept them +at bay, cunning as they were; but there were white men among them, who, +although not eager to expose their own lives, were well able to assist +our enemies by their advice. + +Presently our assailants, with the exception of those in the stables and +other out-buildings, retreated. It was but for a short time, however; +soon they appeared on the opposite side of the house, many of them +carrying burning brands, which they threw under the fencing. This being +of combustible materials, soon blazed up; and, sheltered by the +intervening flames and smoke, the enemy opened a hot fire on us. Every +now and then, however, a dark form was seen, and as surely a bullet +searched it out. But the whole of our little garrison was now required +to keep the enemy at bay on this side; and those who had been hidden in +the out-buildings took the opportunity of making their escape. Some of +them, we found, had thrown themselves into the mill, which afforded them +sufficient shelter to fire steadily at our loopholes with less risk of +being hit in return. None of us had hitherto been struck, but no sooner +had the mill been taken possession of than two of the farm hands, who +were less cautious than the experienced hunters, were badly wounded--one +of them mortally, while the other was unable to handle his rifle. + +The palisade being now burned to the ground, we were deprived of its +protection, and our assailants could consequently get close up to the +walls. But though our numbers were diminished, we endeavoured, by the +rapidity of our fire, not to let the enemy discover our loss. + +The fight had now continued for some hours, but still our foes seemed as +determined as ever to capture the place. They, or perhaps the white +men, had heard a report that Uncle Jeff was the owner of fabulous +wealth, of which they had resolved to make themselves the possessors. +This would account for their obstinate perseverance. + +Fresh bands continued to arrive, too; and after a cessation of firing, a +shower of arrows, from enemies concealed behind the rocks, came flying +over the house. Had they been simply arrows, they would not have done +much harm; but, to our dismay, we saw that each one carried a piece of +burning tow; and if these fell on the shingles of the roof, they would +too probably set them on fire. To extinguish the flames, too, we should +have to expose ourselves to a great risk of being shot. Happily, as yet +the arrows either flew over the building, or the tow fell out, and as +far as we could discover no damage had been done. Some, however, struck +the out-buildings; and the roofs of these being thatched, they were soon +in flames. The barns, too, were set on fire, and blazed furiously. + +Night at length came on, but it brought us no respite; for our savage +foes could be seen, by the light from the burning out-buildings, still +hovering in vast numbers round us. Suddenly, too, the granary burst +into flames, making the night almost as bright as the day. It enabled +us, however, to see our foes more clearly, and of this we did not fail +to take advantage. We prudently retained only light enough in the house +to enable us to see our way about; and we were thus comparatively +concealed, while they were exposed to view. + +We might have still kept the enemy at bay, had not the other two field +hands both been struck down, in the same manner as their companions. We +were now only six, opposed, as it appeared to us, to several hundred +foes. Still no one dreamed of giving in. + +Klitz and Gillooly behaved admirably, and did much to retrieve their +character. They always kept together--Klitz kneeling down to fire, +while Gillooly sprang now on one side, then on the other, of his +loophole, as he fired his rifle through it. + +Our position had become very critical; the wind might at any moment +bring the flames of the out-buildings against the house itself, in which +case our fate would be sealed, for it would be almost impossible for us +to extinguish them. + +At length, to our relief, the enemy again drew off. From their previous +daring conduct, we could not hope, however, that they intended to raise +the siege; perhaps they only waited to see whether the flames from the +out-buildings would set the house on fire, and thus save them all +further trouble and danger. But the wind, fortunately, continued to +blow up the valley, keeping the flames away from the house. + +Uncle Jeff now directed me to go round and give some food to each man. +When I came to him, "Ralph," said he, "go and look into the +ammunition-chest. I have my fears that we are running short of +cartridges!" + +I did as directed, and what was my dismay to find that no more than +three rounds remained for each one of us! One of the poor fellows who +had been last hit had been employed in supplying us with cartridges, and +he had omitted to tell Uncle Jeff how short we had run. + +"I wish I had let you go, Ralph," he said; "but it cannot be helped now. +We must cut our way out; it is possible that all of us who are alive +may succeed. If the enemy come on again, we must begin blazing away at +them as before; then, when our last shot is expended, we must burst open +the door and dart out. Call Bartle and Gideon, and I will tell them +what I propose doing. You and they are active, and know the country, +and if you can reach the mountains you may get off free; although it +will go hard, I fear, with the two troopers." + +His two old followers, on hearing that the ammunition was almost +expended, agreed that it was the only course to pursue with any chance +of saving our lives. + +Fortunately there were several swords, and we each of us provided +ourselves with one, and besides this we had a pistol apiece. + +"Now, then," said Uncle Jeff, "I propose doing what will look like +deserting you, but in reality it is the best plan for saving your lives. +I am thinking of dressing up a figure, and placing it on Jack's back, +so as to partly cover me when I am mounted; and I will conceal myself by +hanging over along his neck. I will then dash out ahead of you, when +the enemy are certain to direct their fire at me, though I hope that +they will hit the figure instead. You, in the meantime, can make up the +valley; and as you know every inch of the ground, you will soon distance +them. What say you to my proposal, Bartle?" + +"It is as good as any I can think of," answered Bartle. "I wish you +would let me ride the horse, though, for I think you run a greater risk +than any of us." + +"No, no," answered Uncle Jeff; "although that may be true, it is my duty +to you all. And Jack knows me better than any one else; it won't be his +fault if he doesn't carry me clear." + +I at once began to consider how I could make such a figure as would +answer Uncle Jeff's purpose, and as I was of an ingenious turn, I was +not long, with the aid of some pliable laths and some strips of +cow-hide, in making the framework; the arms I formed in the attitude of +holding the reins. The framework once formed, it was quickly clothed in +the costume generally worn by Uncle Jeff; and as I placed it with the +legs over a chair, it was allowed that, on a dark night, it might +deceive those not prepared for the trick to be played upon them. + +Jack, who had been busy munching his hay in a corner of the room, was +now saddled, and the figure placed in position, and secured with straps +round the body; while Uncle Jeff himself, stripped to his trousers, hung +over in the attitude he proposed. Looking across the dimly-lighted +room, we could scarcely perceive him. + +"That will do," cried Bartle enthusiastically; "it will give you a +better chance of escape, at all events." + +We had reason to be thankful that the Indians gave us so long a time for +preparation. The night was now advancing, and any doubts that we might +have entertained as to their having taken their departure were soon +dissipated, for once more showers of fiery arrows came flying over and +against the house--shot, however, from a distance. Several whistled +through the loopholes, but none of us were hit, and these were of course +immediately extinguished. + +I was in the upper story, when, looking up, to my dismay I saw a bright +light overhead; the roof had been set on fire. Under other +circumstances we might have attempted to extinguish it; as it was, I ran +to tell Uncle Jeff what had occurred. + +"Then the time has come, my lads, when we must cut our way out. God +protect one and all of us. Would that I could help you further." + +We shook hands round, and Bartle and Gideon stood by with their axes to +knock away the barricade. Uncle Jeff mounted Jack, and secured the +figure behind him. Some time passed, however, before he gave the word. +The enemy were close at hand, but they were concentrated, as far as we +could judge by the sounds which reached us, on one side of the house, +and Uncle Jeff would be able to pass by them, and thus leave the road +open for us. + +A few strokes cleared away the barricade. Uncle Jeff was to dash out +first, Bartle and Gideon were to follow, they understanding that I +should keep between them, while Klitz and Gillooly were to bring up the +rear. + +"Now open the door!" cried Uncle Jeff. + +Just as he spoke I looked around, and discovered that neither Klitz nor +Gillooly was behind me. What had become of them I could not tell; and +there was no time to consider, for the door was thrown open, and out +dashed Uncle Jeff, directing his course by the path down the valley. + +For some seconds he was not observed by the enemy, until he went +clattering away down the steep path at a pace which would have brought +many a steed on his knees. But Jack knew what he was about. Not until +Uncle Jeff found that the enemy had seen him did he utter a sound. He +then gave vent to a loud shout, which rang through the air, echoing from +rock to rock. It had the effect he intended, and drew the attention of +our foes to him. A shower of bullets went whistling through the figure +and on either side of it; still the horse kept on his way uninjured. + +The Indians, who had their horses tethered below, mounted in haste, and +pushed on in hot chase. But Uncle Jeff was on ahead of them, so, +casting off the straps which bound the figure, he let it fall to the +ground, whilst he, recovering his proper position, turned round, and +shaking his fist at his astonished foes, continued his course at +increased speed. + +We of course could not see what occurred, but we heard of it afterwards. + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +WE ARE SURPRISED BY THE INDIANS WHILE LEAVING THE HOUSE--BARTLE'S +ADVICE--I AM PERSUADED TO ESCAPE ALONE--AN EXCITING PURSUIT--FOOD AND +REST--MY JOURNEY RESUMED--AMONG THE MOUNTAINS--MY ANXIETY ABOUT MY +FRIENDS--A WEARY DAY--AN INDIAN IN SIGHT--FRIEND OR ENEMY?--A +RECOGNITION--WINNEMAK AND HIS BRAVES--I AM KINDLY TREATED--NO NEWS OF +UNCLE JEFF--A SPY--WE START IN PURSUIT OF HIM--THE SPY OVERTAKEN--A +DEADLY COMBAT--WINNEMAK OVERCOMES PIOMINGO--IS HE DEAD?--MY +INTERCESSION--ON THE WAY FOR WINNEMAK'S CAMP. + +The furious rush made by Uncle Jeff had, as he expected, so distracted +the attention of our numerous enemies surrounding the house, that they +did not at first notice Bartle, Gideon, and me. We were thus able to +get to some distance from the house, and had hopes of escaping +altogether unobserved, when the party who had been concealed in the mill +caught sight of us, and uttering a loud war-whoop, rushed out expecting +to take our scalps. Bartle and Gideon shot down with their pistols two +of our assailants; and I cut down a third, who had sprung before us to +stop our progress. Others soon came on, but we managed to keep them at +bay, although it was too probable that ere long we should be +overwhelmed, as others were coming up from all directions to join the +fight. But so well did my companions wield their swords, that they for +some time kept the enemy back. + +"Now, lad," cried Bartle to me, "now is your time; run for it, and you +will get off free! Gideon and I will manage these fellows; never fear, +we will look after ourselves." + +I hesitated to desert my faithful friends. + +"Go, I say--go, Ralph!" again cried Bartle. "It will make it more +difficult for us to escape if you remain." + +It was probable, I saw, that Bartle and Gideon, with their great +strength and activity, might by themselves be able to cut their way +through a host of foes, although with me to protect they might find the +task too great even for them. + +"Good-bye, then; I hope we shall meet all right before long," I +exclaimed. + +"Never fear, lad," cried Bartle, as I bounded off up the canon, my rifle +at my back, with three spare cartridges, and my pistol in my belt. + +For some seconds the Indians did not observe what I was about, and I +soon had a good start of them. When at length they did catch sight of +my figure, dimly seen in the gloom of early morning, for it was scarcely +yet daylight, several started off in chase. I saw that they were +coming, but I did not stop to count their number. I was well acquainted +with every inch of the ground, which it was not likely that they were, +and I knew I should have abundance of hiding-places between the rocks +and crags, among which I might baffle pursuit. My purpose then was to +cross the torrent at a narrow part where a tree hung over it, and to +make to the northward, where I hoped to join Uncle Jeff and Clarice at +Winnemak's camp. + +The Indians, however, had no intention of allowing me to escape. On +they came, uttering loud shrieks and shouts, expecting to strike terror +into my heart, and make me yield. Two or three were in advance of the +rest, and one especially seemed to be gaining on me. I would not +willingly have taken his life, but too probably, should I not stop his +progress, he would take mine. Having reached a rock, I sprang behind +it; then unslinging my rifle, I stepped out and took steady aim at the +advancing foe, who fell back shot through the body. His fall had the +effect of stopping the others, who lifted him up to ascertain if he were +dead, thus affording me time to reload my rifle, and gain several more +yards in advance. I could thus bring down another enemy, if necessary, +at a distance, and still have my pistol and sword to defend myself in a +closer encounter. + +I had not forgotten my two brave friends. I only wished that they had +accompanied me, for we might, on the ground I had now reached, have set +a whole host of our enemies at defiance. + +I sprang on among the rocks, almost entirely concealed from the view of +my pursuers. Few of them, fortunately, had firearms, although an +occasional ill-aimed bullet whistled over my head, but I had very little +fear of being struck while among the rocks. My great object was to +reach the tree over the torrent before the Indians came up, because I +should be exposed to view when climbing along the trunk. + +I dashed on, and mounting the rock still unobserved, reached the root of +the tree. It would be necessary to use great caution as I approached +the further end, as only the more delicate branches hung over the +stream, and should I venture on one incapable of bearing my weight I +should fall into the torrent, which there went roaring by at a fearful +rate. This very circumstance, however, should I succeed, would secure +my safety, as, even should the Indians discover by what means I had +crossed, they would not venture to follow; or if they did, would most +probably fall into the current and be swept away. + +I did not stop to ascertain how far off my pursuers were, but, climbing +up on the trunk, I made my way along it--trusting to the uncertainty of +their aim, should any with muskets see me and fire. My great object was +now to discover a bough on which I could depend. I cast my eye along +one, as far as the light would allow, and selected it; then, like a wild +cat about to spring on its prey, I crawled quickly on. There were +several branches below me, which, should the one I was on give way, +would still afford me support, and there were many on either side. The +bough bent with my weight, and as I reached the further end I every +moment expected that it would break. I felt it giving way, cracking +horribly. It broke! I endeavoured to seize another bough--in vain. +With a crash, down I came, but it was to find myself on the opposite +bank, and by making a few springs I reached the upper ground. + +On looking back to ascertain if the Indians had found out the way by +which I had crossed, I could see no one, but I caught sight in the +distance of a bright glare, which I was too certain was caused by our +burning house, every part of which by this time must have been in +flames. I did not stop, however, to contemplate the sad scene, but +pushed on as fast as I was able. I could not trust to the Indians not +pursuing me, for I knew, when intent on an object, that they will run +every danger rather than abandon it, and the death of their companion +would make them still more eager to kill me than might otherwise have +been the case. On, therefore, I sprang. I could still hear them, +although I believed they had not seen me cross by the tree, or perhaps +even had not discovered the tree itself, as it was concealed by an +intervening rock. I hoped that they would fancy I had taken the way +further up the canon, and would pursue in that direction. I might +therefore proceed at a less furious pace than I had hitherto been going. +Still, I resolved to leave nothing to chance, but to follow my course +until the Indians had given up the pursuit. + +Stopping to listen a moment, I could hear their voices. Again I went on +as fast as before. Now I had a mountain to scale; now to make my way +along its steep side; now to descend into a valley; now to wade across a +stream which threatened to carry me off my legs; now to climb another +height: and so on I went, until I was conscious that my strength was +failing me. At length, completely exhausted, I sank down beneath an +overhanging rock. It afforded me some shelter from the fiery rays of +the sun, which had now risen high in the sky. + +I had drunk at a spring on my way, but I again felt painfully thirsty. +Could I obtain some water, I should be greatly relieved; but I was not +likely to find it without further exertion, and of that I was incapable. +I had brought a little food in my wallet, according to Uncle Jeff's +advice before we left the house, and this I believe was the means of +saving my life. Although it was dry, it gave me some strength. + +I remained in a sort of stupor, scarcely conscious of what had occurred; +and some hours, I suspect, went by, before I attempted to resume my +journey. I had no desire to spend the night in this exposed part of the +mountains. The scenery around Roaring Water was wild enough, but this +appeared to me wilder still. Lofty broken cliffs rose on either side of +me. So broken and irregular were their fantastic forms, that I could +fancy myself amid the ruins of some Egyptian temple. It seemed to be a +gateway, as it were, to some still wilder or more wonderful region, as +yet unexplored by the foot of man. I had never been thus far before, +and had very just fears, should darkness come on, of losing my way. I +therefore pushed forward as fast as my strength would allow, in the hope +of coming upon water, and kept a sharp look-out in every direction to +find indication of it. + +The sun had crossed the mountains, and was sinking towards the west; in +a short time the shadows of their peaks would be thrown over the ground +upon which I was travelling. Stopping for a moment, I heard the sound +of water rushing over a rocky bed, and hurrying forward I found myself +beside a foaming stream. I had, however, to seek for a path by which I +could descend, before I could slake my thirst. At last I got to a place +where, lying at full length, and holding on with one hand by the branch +of a bush, I could lift the water with the other to my mouth. It seemed +impossible to get enough; but at last I felt that I ought to take no +more. + +The ground being tolerably practicable along the bank of the stream, I +proceeded in that direction, desirous of reaching a lower region before +nightfall; and as I went along I resolved to seek for some bushes or an +overhanging rock, under which to take shelter for the night. + +I had now very little fear of being overtaken; indeed, the Indians would +probably have lost my trail in the streams I had crossed, while the +rocky nature of the ground would scarcely bear marks sufficient for even +their acute eyes to discover. I knew that as yet I could not be abreast +of Winnemak's camp, and, indeed, that across the mountains it would +probably take me two or three days to reach it. Still I felt that it +would be prudent, in case the Indians should be scouring the country in +the plains, to keep to the mountains for another whole day or so. + +Just at dusk I saw a spot at which, from the appearance of the water, I +judged that I could cross the torrent. "I will put that, at all events, +between myself and my enemies, should they be pursuing me," I thought, +and without further hesitation I waded towards the opposite shore. The +water rose higher and higher. I had, I feared, been deceived by the +light, and might have to swim for it. The danger of this was, that I +might lose my rifle, and wet my pistol and ammunition. Very thankful, +therefore, was I when the water again shallowed; and, keeping my feet in +spite of the rush against my legs, I at last got to the bank to which I +was directing my course. + +I now continued down the stream until I reached a rock which almost +overhung it, with bushes on either side. This, I saw, would afford me +as secure a resting-place as I could expect to find. I accordingly +resolved to stop; and having examined the locality on the further side, +in case I should have to beat a retreat, I sat down and took some food, +of which I still had a small portion left. The air was tolerably warm, +and, fatigued as I was, I should under ordinary circumstances have +slumbered soundly; but as it was I felt very little inclination to +sleep. I was too anxious about Uncle Jeff, and Bartle, and Gideon. Had +Uncle Jeff escaped the bullets of the enemy; and had the others managed +to cut their way through the horde of savages? The white men in company +with the Redskins, I looked upon as no better than they were. What, +too, had become of the German and the Irishman? Had they, afraid of +fighting in the open, remained in the house, and fallen victims to the +flames? Such, indeed, must have been the fate of the poor wounded +fellows left in the house. My only satisfaction was, that we had done +all that men could do, and that we could not have saved their lives, +although we should, to a certainty, have sacrificed our own had we made +the attempt. Still I had an idea that Barney and Klitz had some plan of +their own for escaping, and that they might turn up some day or other. +I half expected to find that Bartle and Gideon had followed me, and I +looked out eagerly, hoping to see them. How far I had come I could not +exactly calculate, but I knew that, at the rate I had been moving, it +must be a considerable distance. + +At length, overcome by fatigue, I fell asleep, trusting that He by whom +I had been mercifully preserved would watch over me. When I at last +awoke, daylight was glancing across the foaming waters, the only sound I +heard being that of their roar as they rushed over their rocky bed +towards the valley below. I knelt down and prayed, as I had been +accustomed to do from my childhood; and then, before resuming my +journey, I took some of the scanty remains of the food I had brought +with me, which I washed down with a draught from the stream. + +Finding a practicable path to the left over the mountains, I followed +it, still resolved not to trust myself in the neighbourhood of our foes. +They could not have travelled over the mountains by night, but they +might take it into their heads to follow me by day, and it would be +unwise to linger. I did not slacken my speed, either, for if they did +come they would move as fast as I could, and I might be overtaken. I +stopped only occasionally, to eat a little food and to take a draught of +water, of which I now found abundance by the way. + +I cannot fully describe the events of that day. On and on I went, like +a deer chased by the hunters. Sometimes I would fancy that I heard the +war-whoops of the Indians behind me; at others the sounds which I +conjured up appeared to be uttered by Bartle or Gideon. I would stop to +listen, but only the roar of some distant waterfall or the murmur of a +nearer rapid struck my ear. Or now and again I heard the cry of some +bird of prey, as it swooped down from its lofty eyrie towards the +carcass which it had espied far off on the plain below. + +Again I was becoming faint with my exertions, and my food was exhausted. +Whenever I stopped to rest, too, my mind dwelt upon the fearful scenes +I had witnessed, and the fate of my friends. I was not altogether free +from anxiety about Clarice, either. Brave and trustworthy as was my +friend Manley, his party might have been pursued and overpowered by the +savages, and my fair young sister might have been carried away into +captivity, to suffer worse than death. To succumb, however, would have +been unmanly. Although fatigued in body and anxious in mind, I had +still sufficient physical strength to pursue my way. + +The day was advancing, and I determined to strike down into the plains, +where, at all events, I could make more rapid progress than over the +rough ground I had been traversing. I accordingly directed my course, +as I believed, to the eastward; but still hill beyond hill appeared, and +it seemed as if I should never reach the more level ground. Still up +and on I went, until at length I gained a height from whence, looking +down, I saw that the prairie stretched out in the far distance before +me. + +I was descending at as rapid a rate as the ground would allow, when I +caught sight, in the approaching gloom of evening, of the figure of a +man. The person, whoever he was, had seen me as I appeared on the top +of a rock exposed against the sky, and was coming towards me. To avoid +him was impossible, so I got my weapons ready for an encounter, should +he prove to be an enemy. Although he must have seen I held my rifle in +my hand, he advanced without hesitation. + +"What! do you not know me?" he exclaimed, when he got nearer. "I am +Winnemak, the friend of the Palefaces; although, alas! with but little +power to assist them. You, however, I can aid, for I see you are weary +and hungry. Come with me to where a few of my braves are encamped--but +few, alas! the rest are killed or dispersed. We were on our way to the +northward, where our squaws, children, and old men are encamped, when I +caught sight of you as you came down the mountain, and I knew at once +that you were flying from the Arrapahas." + +This information explained Winnemak's unexpected appearance. Aided by +him, I continued the descent of the mountain, although I believe without +his support I could have gone no farther. He then told me all that had +occurred. + +Having visited Roaring Water and warned Uncle Jeff of the attack he knew +would be made on the farm, he returned to where he had left his +warriors, resolved to make a diversion in our favour, as he had +promised. He had attacked the Arrapahas with much determination, but, +overwhelmed by numbers, he had been driven back, with the loss of many +of his followers. Having in vain attempted to reach the farm, he had +stationed a band of his best warriors to afford us support should we +have deserted the house, or attempted afterwards to cut our way out of +it. + +I was much disappointed to find that he could give me no information +about Uncle Jeff, or about any of our friends; he was not even aware +that Clarice had gone to join his daughter at the camp. He expressed +his satisfaction at hearing that she had escaped the fate which had, he +supposed, befallen all the inmates of the farm. + +He now conducted me to his temporary camp, where we found a few of his +warriors reclining on the ground. Several of them were wounded, and all +looked weary and disheartened. They had, however, succeeded in killing +a deer, and food was abundant. I was thankful to get a substantial +meal, after which I lay down with the rest by the side of the stream, to +obtain the sleep I so much needed. + +A few skins had been stretched over some poles to afford shelter to the +wounded, who required it more than the rest of us. + +I had been asleep for several hours, when, suddenly awaking, I happened +to turn my eyes across the stream, and saw, partly concealed by the +brushwood, the figure of an Indian stooping down and apparently watching +us. My first impulse was to jump up and present my rifle at him. I +had, indeed, made some slight movement, when I felt a hand placed upon +my arm. It was that of Winnemak. + +"Hush!" he whispered. "I see the spy, and can kill him if I wish; but +it is important to take him alive, to learn what he is about." + +I observed, as he spoke, that he was freeing himself of such parts of +his dress as might impede his progress, and that he was gradually +creeping nearer and nearer to the edge of the stream. Being in the +shade, he could not be seen by the stranger. Presently Winnemak rose to +his feet, and making a spring, almost cleared the stream. With a few +bounds he was on the opposite bank. + +The spy saw him coming, and finding that he was discovered, rose from +his recumbent position. He, too, was fleet of foot, and lightly clad. +Away he rushed towards the level prairie; perhaps he expected to find +friends there, or had his horse staked in that direction, near some wood +or copse. + +As soon as I perceived what Winnemak was about, I too sprang up, as did +several Indians, but as they were all worn out with fatigue they were +soon left behind. Being a good runner, I kept pace with the chief, +although still at a considerable distance behind him, as he had had the +start of me. + +Day was just breaking, and there being no objects to impede the rays of +the sun as it approached the horizon, the light rapidly increased. +Although I had, at first, lost sight of Winnemak, I soon again saw him, +with the man he was pursuing at no great distance in front. + +On the two went. Neither of them being armed, the fight was not likely +to be a bloody one; still it was evident that Winnemak attached great +importance to the capture of the spy. Perhaps he suspected who he was; +and he evidently entertained a bitter animosity against him. I could +not have supposed that he would have exhibited so much activity, judging +from his appearance when clothed in his usual robes. Although he +appeared to be a strong, muscular man, the other Indian, from his +movements, was evidently young and active. How he had ventured to +approach the camp without being armed, was a mystery. He could not, at +all events, have intended to injure any one, or he would have come with +his bow and arrows. As the light rapidly increased, and I saw him more +clearly than at first, it struck me that he was the young brave, +Piomingo, who had lately paid us a visit at the farm; but of this, +seeing him at the distance he was from me, I could not be certain. + +The chase promised to be a far longer one than I had expected. The +stranger seemed as resolved to escape as Winnemak was to overtake him. +Few people, Indians or whites, except after long training, could have +continued running so fast and for so long a period as did the spy and +Winnemak. + +I had the greatest difficulty in keeping near them; and, indeed, I had +begun to fall behind, when I saw in front of me a broad piece of water. +The fugitive saw it too, but had he turned either to the right or to the +left it would have given an advantage to his pursuer; he therefore kept +straight on. + +His efforts to escape were vain. As he approached the bank the ground +became so soft that his feet sunk deep into it at every step. He +discovered, too late, his mistake. Springing back, he attempted to make +his way to the right; but in doing so he fell. Recovering himself, +however, he sprang back on to the firm ground; but seeing that escape by +flight was no longer possible, he turned round and boldly faced his +pursuer. At the same instant a wild swan, rising from the water, flew +off with a loud cry. It might have been taken for the death-wail of one +of the combatants. Like a couple of wild beasts, the two Indians rushed +at each other, and the next instant they were clasped in a deadly +embrace. A desperate struggle ensued. It was youth and activity +opposed to well-knit muscles and firm nerves. + +Fierce was the contest. The young man attempted to free himself from +the grasp of his opponent; now they strove to seize each other by the +throat; now his antagonist bore back the chief by making a desperate +spring as his feet for a moment touched the ground; but if the older man +allowed himself to retreat, it was only for the purpose of wearing out +the strength of the younger, which he knew would soon be exhausted. + +Winnemak now seized one of his antagonist's arms, and with a movement as +quick as thought threw him on his back across his own knee; then +pressing him down, it appeared to me that he intended to break his +spine. A fearful shriek, wrung from him by the agony he was suffering, +escaped the lips of the young brave; his eyes closed--the struggle was +over. Still Winnemak did not let go his victim, but gazing fiercely +down on his countenance until all appearance of life had ceased, he +hurled the body to the ground. As he did so he exclaimed, "Stay there! +You have betrayed me once; you would have stolen my daughter; you will +no longer have the power to follow your evil practices." + +The combat was over as I reached the place. + +"Is he dead?" I asked, as I gazed down on the face of the vanquished +brave. + +"He will die," answered Winnemak; "but he still breathes." + +"But I thought you wished to gain information from him?" I observed, +feeling anxious to preserve the life of the poor wretch. + +"I did; but now I would rather enjoy the pleasure of seeing him die." + +"That is not the way we Palefaces treat a fallen enemy," I remarked. +"You must not be displeased at what I say,--I would ask you to allow me +to have him brought into the camp. At all events, for the present he +can do no further harm, and he may wish to show his gratitude to those +who have preserved his life." + +"Do as you please," said the chief, after a moment's consideration. + +I got some water from the lake,--finding a hard place by which I could +approach it,--and threw it over the face of the fallen man, who had, I +perceived, merely fainted from the excruciating pain he was suffering. +He at length opened his eyes, and seemed to recognise me. It _was_ +Piomingo. The chief, I noticed, stood by, watching every movement of +his late antagonist. I raised Piomingo's head, and was thankful to find +that he now began to breathe more freely. + +"Take care," said the chief. "He intends acting the part of the cunning +fox, and will yet make an effort to escape." + +Piomingo turned his eyes towards the speaker, apparently understanding +him. + +I was still making every effort to restore him, when several of +Winnemak's followers came up. + +"Then you grant my request?" I said, turning to the chief. + +"I will not refuse you!" he answered; "but he will not thank you for the +mercy you wish to show him." + +I begged the Indians to assist me in carrying the injured man back to +the camp, and the chief bade them do as I desired. Obtaining some poles +from a copse which grew near, they quickly formed a litter, upon which +they bore him back to the spot from which we had started. Not a groan +escaped him, although I suspected, from the expression of his +countenance, that he was suffering greatly. On arriving at the camp, in +spite of my representations the chief ordered that his legs should be +bound together, and that one of his hands should be fastened to a tree, +so that he would be unable to escape. + +Those who had remained in camp had prepared breakfast, to which even the +wounded did ample justice. I took some food to the prisoner, who in a +short time was able to swallow a little. + +After some persuasion from me, and the promise of a reward, four of the +Indians undertook to carry their captive to the camp of Winnemak, to +which we were bound; it was very evident that otherwise he must have +been left to die miserably, as he was quite unable to walk. Three of +the wounded men had also to be carried, so that we formed a +mournful-looking party, as, shortly after our meal was finished, we +commenced our march. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +ON THE MARCH--WINNEMAK UNABLE TO GIVE ME NEWS OF MY FRIENDS--MY +ARGUMENTS IN FAVOUR OF PIOMINGO--ENCAMPED FOR THE NIGHT--WE REACH +WINNEMAK'S CAMP--BRAVES AND SQUAWS--WHERE ARE MY FRIENDS?--WINNEMAK AND +HIS IDOLS--A PARTY OF BRAVES ARRIVE, WITH PRISONERS--MAYSOTTA AND HER +DOG--A STRANGE MEETING--THE LIEUTENANT'S STORY--WE START IN QUEST OF +CLARICE AND RACHEL--A FRUITLESS SEARCH--I LOSE MY FRIEND IN THE FOREST-- +TRYING TO REGAIN THE RIGHT PATH, I MEET WITH CLARICE AND MAYSOTTA--MY +SISTER'S STORY--I TELL HER OF THE BURNING OF THE FARM--WE SET OUT FOR +THE CAMP, AND MEET WITH THE LIEUTENANT--NIGHT COMING ON, WE ENCAMP IN +THE FOREST--RESUMING OUR JOURNEY IN THE MORNING, WE REACH THE CAMP IN +SAFETY. + +As we proceeded on our journey, I walked alongside the chief, +endeavouring to gain from him all the information I could. I was +surprised that he had not fallen in with Uncle Jeff, and that he had +seen nothing of Lieutenant Broadstreet and Clarice. I supposed that he +or his people would certainly have met them on their way to his camp-- +Winnemak could only account for it by supposing that they had made a +detour to avoid some party of the enemy. + +"But might they not, then, have been surprised and overcome?" I asked, +with much agitation. + +"Not if they faced them with a bold front, or kept a proper watch at +night," he answered. "Those Arrapahas are cowardly; they will only +attack their enemies when they feel secure in their numbers, or can take +them by surprise." + +"They fought bravely enough when they assaulted Uncle Jeff's farm," I +observed. "I should not have called them cowards." + +"They had white men with them--and only the bravest of their warriors +took part in the fight," he replied. + +I could only trust that Winnemak was right in his conjecture, and that +we should find Clarice and her escort at the camp. With regard to Uncle +Jeff, I was still more anxious, and I began to fear that, +notwithstanding his clever trick, he might not have escaped the bullets +and arrows of his pursuers; or his horse might have fallen, and he have +been taken prisoner. Altogether, my state of mind may be better +imagined than described; still, always hopeful, I continued to hope, in +spite of the appearance of things, that they would all turn up right at +last. + +I spoke to the chief on another subject. I was not altogether satisfied +as to the way in which he intended to treat his prisoner, and he did not +seem at all disposed to enlighten me. I told him how white men always +fed their prisoners, and took good care of the wounded; and when war was +over, set them free to return to their homes. + +"The ways of the Palefaces are not those of the Redskins," he answered +evasively. "Piomingo must be treated according to our customs; and my +braves would complain were I to set him free to commit more mischief." + +I pleaded for the poor wretch that he had not done us any injury as yet; +that though he had been watching the camp, we could not tell that he had +any sinister object in doing so; and that, as his life had been +preserved, it would be barbarous to take it afterwards. + +The chief heard me very patiently, but he was evidently unmoved by all +my arguments. + +I now and then went up and spoke to the poor prisoner, who, I suspected, +was still suffering great pain, although Indian fortitude forbade him to +give expression to his feelings. I urged his bearers, in the few words +I could speak of their language, and by signs, to carry him carefully, +for they were inclined to treat him as they would a deer or any other +animal they might have shot. I saw the prisoner's eyes turned towards +me, but he in no way expressed any gratitude for the service I desired +to render him. + +Winnemak was all this time keeping a look-out on every side; while +several of his men were acting as scouts, so as to give us timely notice +of danger. + +At night we encamped as before, keeping a strict watch; while the +prisoner was bound in a way which would have rendered it difficult for +him to escape even had he possessed strength enough to run off. Our +camp being pitched in a sheltered position, we lighted a fire, which +even at that time of the year was pleasant, if not absolutely necessary; +and there was but slight risk of its position betraying our presence to +any passing foe. + +The next morning we proceeded as before; and I was thankful when at +length, just as evening was approaching, the chief told me that we were +not far from the camp. I looked out eagerly ahead for the first sight +of it, for I hoped to meet Clarice and Uncle Jeff there, and to have my +anxiety at last set at rest. + +The sun was just tinging the southern side of the snowy mountains on our +left, ere it sank below them, when I caught sight of the wigwams of the +Kaskaskias, on the slopes of a pine-covered hill. The camp as we drew +near did not present a very attractive appearance. The wigwams were +such as are only used in summer--a few poles, covered with buffalo +hides, or deer skins, more to afford shelter from the heat of the sun, +or from a downfall of rain, than protection from the cold. A number of +squaws were seated about, some inside the tents nursing papooses, others +tending large pots of broth boiling over fires. A few braves were +standing about, and others looking after the horses of the tribe, which +they had apparently just driven in from pasture; while a pack of dogs, +the most ill-favoured of mongrels ever seen, were squatted about, +watching for the offal which might be thrown to them, or ready to rush +in and seize any of the meat which might for a moment be left unguarded. + +The women continued at their various employments, but the braves, as we +approached, advanced to meet us. The chief halted and addressed them, +but I could not follow him. I judged, however, by the intonations of +his voice, that he was telling them of his defeat, and the loss of so +many of their people. Meantime, I was looking about eagerly for signs +of Clarice, Uncle Jeff, and Manley, but nowhere could I see any. Still, +I knew it would be contrary to Indian etiquette to interrupt the chief +by inquiring for them. + +On hearing of the various disasters which had occurred, the men showed +but little emotion. The chief, I observed, now pointed to his prisoner, +by which I feared the worst for poor Piomingo. + +As soon as I could venture to address the braves, I inquired for Clarice +and the officer; and great was my dismay to find that they had not +arrived at the camp, nor had Uncle Jeff appeared. + +The chief now asked for his daughter. + +Maysotta had gone out hunting with her favourite dog Keokuk. There was +no danger of any harm befalling her while she had so good an attendant, +as Keokuk knew when a foe was within a mile or so, and would give her +ample warning; as he would were deer, buffalo, bears, or wolves within +the same distance. + +The chief, seeing my disappointment, endeavoured to console me by saying +that perhaps my friends had missed the camp altogether, and had gone on, +and that probably we should soon hear of them; a party of his braves +were still out on an expedition, and they perhaps had fallen in with +Clarice or Uncle Jeff. + +No news was received during the night, but, in spite of my anxiety, I +was glad to lie down in a corner of the chiefs tent and obtain some +rest, of which I stood greatly in need. During our journey, when we +might at any moment have been attacked by an enemy, I had only slept at +intervals. + +I had been for some hours, I fancy, fast asleep, when I was awakened by +a movement made by the chief, who had been lying near by me, wrapped in +his buffalo robe. By the light of the moon, which streamed in through +the unclosed entrance, I saw him get up and leave the tent. + +Influenced by a motive for which I cannot now account, I rose and +followed him. My belief is that I was scarcely awake; indeed, I walked +along like a person in a dream. He at once left the camp, and took the +way down to the lower and open ground. I was at some distance behind +him, so he did not hear my footsteps. + +After walking for a quarter of an hour or more, I found myself in the +midst of an Indian burial-ground, which I recognised by the number of +small platforms, raised on posts and thatched over, rising in all +directions. Besides the platforms, I observed several strange-looking +figures fixed to the top of tall poles, and composed, as far as I could +judge, of bits of coloured rags and skins, which fluttered in a weird +fashion in the night breeze. + +The chief stopped before a couple of these fantastic-looking objects, +and, with folded arms, gazed up at them, uttering some words which I was +too far off to hear distinctly, though the sound of his voice reached my +ears. He was praying,--of that I could have no doubt,--and these +trumpery scarecrows were his idols. I could not have supposed that a +man of good sense, as he appeared to be, could be the victim of a +superstition so gross and contemptible. + +He continued standing for some time, making various signs, and uttering +words as before. + +Unwilling to be discovered, now that I was fully awake, I was on the +point of retreating, when the sound of my footfall reached his ears, and +turning round he saw me. I did not wish that he should fancy I was +afraid of encountering him, so I at once advanced, and told him frankly +how I came to follow him. I assured him, also, that I had had no +intention of acting as a spy on his movements. As he appeared to be in +no way displeased, I asked him, while we were walking back to the camp, +whether he had really been worshipping the figures I had seen. + +"Why not?" he inquired in a serious tone. "The times are full of danger +and difficulty, and I wished to obtain the protection and support of the +guardian spirits of our people. If I did not ask them, how could I +expect them to grant me what I want? While I was staying at Roaring +Water, I heard your uncle pray to your gods; and I suppose that you +expected them to give you what you asked for." + +I tried to explain to him that there is but one God, the Great Spirit of +whom his people knew, though they were sadly ignorant of his character; +and that we never prayed to inferior beings, as our God would not allow +us to do so. Much more I said, though at the time with little effect; +indeed, the chief was as deeply sunk in the grossest superstition as are +the Indian tribes among whom the gospel light has not yet shone. + +On reaching his tent, he bade me lie down again, observing that he would +talk over the matter another day. + +The next morning I was surprised to find that Maysotta had not returned. +Still, her father appeared to feel no anxiety about her. + +The sun had been up a couple of hours or so when I heard shouts in the +camp, and the chief with all his braves hurried out. They went to +welcome the return of a party of their warriors, who marched in singing +and shouting,--the leading men having three or four scalps at the end of +their spears, while among them were dragged three or four unfortunate +Arrapahas, whom they had captured, and who were, according to the Indian +custom, to be put to death. Among them, to my surprise and horror, was +a young squaw, who, if not beautiful according to my taste, was +certainly interesting-looking. She bore herself with as much fortitude, +apparently, as the men, although she knew that her fate would be the +same as theirs. + +The chief had said nothing to me about Piomingo, and I now felt +satisfied that it was the intention of his people to sacrifice him with +the rest of the prisoners. I resolved, however, to plead for him, as +well as for them, and make special endeavours to save the life of the +young squaw. According to the savage Indian custom, she would be +barbarously tortured before being put to death. It seems strange that +human beings can take a pleasure in thus treating their +fellow-creatures; it shows how debased, how diabolically cruel, men can +become when they have once gone away from God. At present, however, the +braves were too much occupied in recounting their deeds of valour to +think of their prisoners, who were left bound, and guarded with +lynx-eyed watchfulness by some of the old squaws. + +I found that this was only one of the parties of braves, and that +another was expected shortly with more prisoners. As far as I could +understand, these prisoners were said to be white men; but I concluded +that they were some of the Mexican outlaws who had accompanied the +Arrapahas on their marauding expedition. + +While looking out for them, I saw a solitary figure, rifle in hand, +approaching the camp, whom I recognised as Maysotta, accompanied by her +dog Keokuk. I hastened to meet her, and told her of my anxiety at the +non-appearance of Clarice. + +"If they do not come, I will go in search of them," she said. + +She had killed a deer, so she sent off some of her people, under the +guidance of Keokuk, to bring it in. Her dog would, she said, lead them +to the spot. + +Shortly afterwards, the second band, who were expected, made their +appearance in the distance, and, as before, the warriors hurried out to +meet them. + +I was still talking to Maysotta, when I saw her look towards the +approaching party, and an expression of astonishment take possession of +her countenance. + +"What have our braves been doing?" she said. "They have made a prisoner +of our friend the young white chief." + +As she spoke, I looked in the same direction, and I too was greatly +astonished, and also much alarmed, at seeing Lieutenant Broadstreet, +with his arms tied behind him, in the midst of the warriors--his two +troopers following, closely guarded. + +"What can have happened?" I exclaimed. "What can have become of +Clarice and Rachel? My dear sister! some accident must have befallen +her." + +"I will learn what has happened," said Maysotta. + +I hurried to Winnemak, and explained that his people had made prisoners +of those who were on their way to visit his camp. + +He thought I was mistaken; but I assured him that I was not, and that +his daughter would corroborate my statement. On hearing this he ordered +the prisoners to be brought forward, when, at once recognising the +lieutenant and the two troopers, he ordered them to be set at liberty. + +Hurrying up to my friend, I eagerly inquired for Clarice and her +attendant. + +His emotion would scarcely allow him to reply. He seemed dreadfully +cast down, as well as weak and faint from want of food. + +"We had encamped two nights ago," he said, "in a secure spot, as I +supposed, and were in hopes the next day of reaching our destination, +when just at dusk I saw a band of Indians approaching. To prevent them +coming near, I ordered my men to mount and ride forward, while your +sister and Rachel remained, as I hoped, concealed from view. The +Indians retreated to some distance, and I was induced to follow. They +then halted and made signs of friendship, which tempted me to go still +nearer. Suddenly, however, as I was about to inquire who they were, and +where they were going, they set upon me and my men, without the +slightest warning, and before we could even draw our swords or pistols +we were dragged from our horses, and our arms bound behind us. At first +I thought that our captors must be Arrapahas; but looking again at their +costume, I was sure that they were Kaskaskias, belonging to a friendly +tribe. In vain I expostulated, and tried to explain who we were; but +they did not understand me, mistaking us, I believe, for some of the +Mexicans who had accompanied the Arrapahas; at all events, we were +dragged ignominiously along, neither food nor water being given us." + +I at once told the chief what the lieutenant had said. He was very +indignant with his people, but explained that the whole had happened by +mistake. + +Our first thought, of course, was to discover Clarice and Rachel. The +lieutenant himself was eager to start immediately, but he was evidently +too weak for the undertaking, and was at once led to the chief's tent, +where Maysotta hurried to attend on him, while some of the older squaws +took care of his two troopers. + +Maysotta immediately brought him food and water. "Eat," she said; "the +`Fair Lily' is my friend as well as yours; I am as anxious as you are to +find her. As soon as you are rested we will set out. Were you to go +now, you would faint by the way." + +I was standing outside the entrance to the tent while Maysotta was +speaking to the lieutenant, and it struck me, from her looks and tone of +voice, that she felt a warm interest in the young lieutenant, which +might, I feared, prove inconvenient, if it had not worse consequences. + +I was watching the Indians, who, having lost their white prisoners, had +now brought forward their Redskin captives, and were dancing a horrible +war-dance round them. Their appearance on ordinary occasions was +somewhat savage, but they looked ten times more savage now, as they +shrieked, and leaped, and tossed their arms and legs about, and went +round and round, flourishing their tomahawks, and jeering at the +unfortunate people in their midst. The latter, knowing that they would +not yet be sacrificed, sat in perfect silence, without exhibiting any +emotion, and bearing patiently the insults heaped upon them. + +I had not abandoned my idea of pleading for the unhappy prisoners, but +at this time I was thinking more of Clarice, and the means of recovering +her; still, should I go away, I feared that the prisoners might be put +to death during my absence. Having seen that the horses of my white +friends were turned out on a pasture close at hand, where they could get +abundance of grass, I went to the chief and asked him whether he wished +to be on friendly terms with the Palefaces? + +He said that he certainly did--it was his greatest ambition. + +"Then," I replied, "you must live as they do, and imitate their customs. +I have told you before, that we do not torture or otherwise injure our +prisoners, and that it is our duty to forgive our enemies, and to do +them good. Now I want you to promise me that no one shall suffer while +I am away." + +The chief could not make up his mind to yield, but I urged him again and +again, and at last I hoped, from what he said, that he would do as I +wished. + +The lieutenant was now sufficiently recovered to mount his horse, and, +followed by his two troopers, he and I set off in search of Clarice. +None of the Indians, however, offered to accompany us, nor did Maysotta, +as I thought she would have done; but I found that she had left the camp +with her dog and rifle before we started. It was her custom, I +discovered, to act in a very independent manner on all occasions, her +father never interfering with her. + +We pushed forward at as rapid a rate as we could make our horses move; +but the ground was at first too rough to allow us to proceed as fast as +we wished. When we got to the plain we gave our steeds the rein. + +Judging from the report of Winnemak's people who last came in, we had +not much risk of encountering any of our foes; indeed, our whole +thoughts were entirely occupied by Clarice and Rachel. Had they waited +quietly the return of their escort; or had any hostile Indians +discovered them, and carried them off as captives? The idea of such an +occurrence as that was too horrible to be contemplated. Perhaps they +might have caught and mounted their horses, and set off to try and find +their way to the camp. In that case we might possibly meet them, and as +we rode along we kept a strict look-out on every side. + +"Can they possibly have passed us?" I inquired of my companions. + +"I do not see how that can be, unless they should have gone very much +out of their way; and I remember having pointed out to your sister the +position of the Indian camp, so that she would know how to direct her +course," answered Manley. "The peculiar form of the mountains above it +would be sufficient to guide her." + +After all, we felt that there was but little use in talking about the +matter, or in surmising what might have happened--though, of course, we +did talk on without ceasing. + +We at last approached the spot where Manley had left Clarice and her +companion. Should we not find them there, we must endeavour to follow +their trail; and when I thought of the possibility of having to do this, +I regretted not having endeavoured to induce an Indian to accompany us. + +"There is the place," said Manley, at length; "but I see no smoke, and +had they remained they would certainly have kept up a fire." + +We rode forward eagerly; but our fears were realised. The ashes of the +fire at the camp were there, but the fire itself had long been +extinguished. + +Clarice and Rachel must have left the spot some time before! + +We searched about in every direction, but could find no traces of their +having been there lately, and our eyes were not sufficiently sharp to +distinguish the signs which would have enabled an Indian to say in what +direction they had gone. We next looked out for their horses, but they +were nowhere within sight. + +Some time was thus spent, and the day was drawing to a close. Should we +not find them before nightfall, we must wait until the next morning. To +have to do this was trying in the extreme, but we had to submit, as it +was so dark that we could with difficulty see our way as we returned to +the deserted camp. My poor friend Manley was dreadfully out of spirits, +but I assured him that he had no reason to blame himself. He had acted +for the best, and no man could do more. + +The next morning we resumed our search; but without success. We were +both of us in despair. + +"They must have taken their horses and ridden off towards the mountains; +it is useless searching for them here any longer," I said. + +Manley agreed with me, and, believing that they must have gone on to the +camp by a different route from the one we had taken, he was eager to +return. + +He and his men had pushed ahead through the forest while I stopped to +tighten the girths of my saddle; and when I rode forward, expecting +immediately to overtake them, I found that I had followed a different +direction from that which they had taken. + +It is no easy matter, in a thick forest, to regain the right path, or to +get up with those who have once been lost sight of. I found it to be so +in the present instance. I was sure that I could not be going very far +wrong, and expected as soon as I reached the edge of the forest to see +my friends, although they might have got some little way ahead on the +open ground. + +As I was riding on, I fancied that I heard the bark of a dog. I +listened, and again heard the same sound. I was now certain that the +animal was not far off. To whom could it belong? The dog was not +likely to be wandering by itself in the forest. I rode in the direction +from whence the sound proceeded, and in a short time reached a somewhat +more open part of the forest. Great was my surprise and joy to see my +dear little sister Clarice, leaning on the arm of Maysotta, who carried +her rifle in her hand, while Keokuk ran beside her. + +Leaping from my horse, I sprang towards Clarice, who threw her arms +round my neck, exclaiming, "O Ralph, I am so thankful to see you! I +have been in a dreadful state of alarm and anxiety, thinking that +Manley--I mean Lieutenant Broadstreet--and his men had been killed. +Maysotta has somewhat relieved my mind. But where is he? Has he been +unable to come and look for me?" + +The assurance I gave that Manley was well, and not far off, soon +restored Clarice to her usual composure. + +Having no longer any fears about Manley's safety, she was able to answer +the questions I put to her. After telling me how the lieutenant and his +men had ridden off to meet the Indians, she continued:-- + +"We were sitting before the fire awaiting their return, when what was +our dismay to see two huge wolves approaching the camp, followed by a +number of cubs! Our first impulse was to fly; and while the wolves +stopped to eat up our provisions, we were able to escape to a distance. +We took refuge in the hollow of a tree, which afforded us sufficient +shelter, and the aperture being some way up, we felt sure the wolves +could not make their way in. But Maysotta has been telling me that +something dreadful has happened, though I cannot make out what she +means." + +"I will tell you all about that by-and-by," I answered; "but I am eager +to know how Maysotta managed to find you." + +"As soon as we thought that the wolves had gone from our camp, Rachel +went to see if anything had been left; but the savage creatures had +carried off everything, and at the same time frightened away our horses +and mules, and they were nowhere to be seen. We remained in the tree +for some time, and I do not think anybody would have found us. Then +Rachel went away to try and get some berries and roots. She had not +been long absent when I heard a dog barking, and looking out through a +small hole in the hollow trunk, I saw Maysotta approaching. I therefore +stepped out of my place of concealment; and Maysotta, who was delighted +to find me, said that she had come out expressly to search for us, and +would take us immediately to the camp. Of course, I could not go +without Rachel, and we are now on our way to look for her, as she cannot +be far off." + +"Keokuk will find her," said Maysotta, patting her dog on the head, and +saying a few words to him. + +Away he started, and in a short time we heard him barking loudly. +Maysotta, leaving Clarice with me, hurried on, and in a few minutes we +saw her approach, guiding Rachel towards us. + +Rachel's joy on seeing me was so demonstrative, that I scarcely liked to +tell her or my sister of the destruction of the farm. However, it had +to be done, and I related all that had taken place. As I proceeded, +Rachel gave full vent to her grief, whilst my sister betrayed the sorrow +she felt by her tearful and troubled countenance. Rachel wrung her +hands and burst into tears, which her own previous perilous position had +not been able to draw from her. + +"De farm burned!" she exclaimed; "oh dear! oh dear! And what become of +Jenny, Nancy, Polly, and all de oder cows, and de pigs and de poultry? +And Uncle Jeff, what he do; and Bartle and Gideon?" + +I consoled her somewhat by saying that I thought it possible all three +had escaped, and that even the cows and pigs might have got away, either +into the woods or among the hills. + +On hearing this she became somewhat more tranquil, and was able to chat +away in her usual style. + +We now prepared to set out for the camp. I thought it probable, on +account of the delay, that we might not overtake Manley, although I +specially wished to do so, in order to put an end to his anxiety. It +was, of course, important to recover the horses and baggage-mules, and +Maysotta proposed that she should conduct us to the edge of the forest, +where we could remain while she, with Keokuk, searched for the +animals,--expressing, at the same time, her confidence of success. + +Having placed Clarice on my horse, I led the animal by the rein till we +reached the spot proposed. We looked out to the westward for Manley and +his troopers, and were greatly disappointed at not seeing them. So, I +suspect, was Clarice. We had not, however, waited long until I caught +sight of three horsemen. They came rapidly on, and to my great +satisfaction I distinguished our friends. On observing us they put +spurs to their horses, and the lieutenant galloped forward. + +Clarice met him with a sweet smile. + +"I felt very sure that you had not willingly deserted us," she answered, +when, in an agitated voice, Manley told her of the anguish of his mind +at finding himself a prisoner in the hands of the Indians, leaving her +unprotected in the forest. + +As we could not tell how long Maysotta might be absent, we lighted a +fire and cooked some provisions, of which both Clarice and Rachel stood +greatly in need. The Indian damsel, however, had been so confident +about finding the horses, that I was not surprised to see Keokuk driving +them towards us, a short time before sunset. + +Maysotta expressed her satisfaction at finding the young white chief, as +she called Manley, and his men with us. "As it is now too late to set +off to-night," she said, "we must remain here. There are water and +grass near at hand; and if your men will do as I direct them, we will +quickly put up a wigwam for Clarice, the black woman, and me." + +Manley and I offered to act under her directions; but, except that we +cut some rough sticks, and transported some bark, she really gave us +very little to do,--performing nearly the whole of the architectural +operations with her own hands. + +I was thankful that Clarice would thus have shelter, and be able to +obtain the rest which she so much required. + +Maysotta had shot several small animals, and these, with the provisions +we had brought, afforded us an abundant supper. + +The night was passed without any interruption, and early the next +morning we set off for Winnemak's camp. I offered to take Maysotta on +my horse, but she declined, saying that she would proceed on foot, as +she hoped to shoot some deer by the way. + +We rode as fast as we could; indeed, I was most anxious to get back, +both on account of the unhappy captives, and because I hoped to hear +news of Uncle Jeff. + +As we got into the neighbourhood of the camp, we caught sight, on the +summit of a slight elevation, of a single horseman, who sat his steed +without moving, apparently unable to make out who we were, as, lifting +his hand to his brow, he peered at us from under it. We had got within +speaking distance before I recognised our host Winnemak. His whole +appearance and bearing were totally changed. With a magnificent crown +of feathers on his head, a jacket of rich fur handsomely trimmed, +glittering bracelets and earrings, a spear in his hand and a shield at +his back, as he firmly sat his strongly-built mustang, he looked every +inch a warrior chief. + +"I did not know you at first, but I do now," he said, smiling; "and the +White Lily is truly welcome to my tents." + +Clarice thanked him, and we rode to the camp together. He told us that +he purposed visiting the chiefs of all the neighbouring tribes and +forming a confederation, in order to resist effectually any future +invasion of our common enemies the Arrapahas. "For such a purpose a +chief must be habited as becomes a chief," he added, to account to us +for the change in his costume. + +I scarcely listened to him, however, as I was eagerly waiting to inquire +if Uncle Jeff had arrived at the camp; and I was much disappointed to +find that nothing had been seen or heard of him. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +I SEEK OUT PIOMINGO--A STRONG DESIRE TO SAVE HIS LIFE--I PLEAD WITH THE +CHIEF, AND GAIN MY POINT--I OFFER THE YOUNG BRAVE MY HORSE AND ARMS-- +KINDNESS REQUITED--THE INDIAN'S ESCAPE--A DARING ACT, AND A KIND DEED-- +WE SEEK PROTECTION FROM THE INDIANS--RETURN OF UNCLE JEFF AND MAYSOTTA-- +AN ADDRESS TO THE BRAVES--HOW IT SUCCEEDED--UNCLE JEFF'S STORY--THE +LIEUTENANT ABOUT TO LEAVE US--HIS PLANS--WE SEND OUT SCOUTS--ALARMING +INTELLIGENCE--THE CAMP STRUCK--WE MOVE TO THE NORTHWARD--WE CHANGE OUR +PLANS--A WONDERFUL REGION--WE SEPARATE FROM OUR INDIAN FRIENDS--THROUGH +A PINE FOREST--THE CATARACT OF THE PASS--WE SEND BACK OUR HORSES--OUR +JOURNEY CONTINUED--A "CANADA STAG" KILLED--ENCAMPED FOR THE NIGHT. + +The chief, who seemed inclined to treat us with every kindness, +immediately ordered a wigwam to be put up for Clarice and Rachel, and +another for Manley and me. + +In the meantime, feeling interested in the fate of Piomingo, I went to +seek him out. I found him lying on the ground, under the shade of some +trees, to one of which he was secured by ropes. I asked him if he +desired to escape. + +"Yes," he replied; "life is sweet. But I am prepared to die as becomes +a brave, if my enemies are resolved to take my life." + +"If you were free, what would you do?" I asked. + +"I would endeavour to rescue the young squaw who was brought in a +prisoner two days ago; she is the maiden I was about to make my wife. +Life without her would be of little value to me; were she to be put to +death, I should be ready to die with her." + +"But are you able to move?" I asked. + +"The pain has left my back, and I am as strong as ever," he answered. +"Give me the opportunity, and you will see how I shall act." + +Feeling a strong desire to save the lives of these two young people at +every risk, I immediately went back to the chief, and used every +argument in my power to induce him to set Piomingo at liberty. I +pointed out to him how it was far more noble to forgive an injury than +to avenge it, and that if he allowed Piomingo to go free he would make +him his friend for life. + +"If you choose to set him at liberty, you are welcome to do so," he said +at last; "but he is unable to move, and if he remains in this camp he +will be killed." + +"I will see to that, and assist him to get away," I answered. + +I hurried back to where Piomingo lay, and at once undid the cords which +bound him. + +"I feel that my strength has returned, and that I shall be able to +perform whatever I undertake," he said. + +"I do not wish to do things by halves," I remarked. "You shall have my +horse; I will place the animal in yonder wood. If you have an +opportunity, you can return him; but if not, I will give him to you." + +"Young Paleface," he said, struck by my kindness, "Piomingo would wish +to serve you for the remainder of his days; perhaps he will have an +opportunity of showing his gratitude; but he would ask you to show him +your generosity still further. Supply him with arms; without them, he +may fall a victim to the first foe he meets." + +"I will give you my knife and sword, but you must promise me not to use +them against any of the people of this tribe except in self-defence, +should they attempt to recapture you." + +Piomingo swore by the Great Spirit that he would act as I desired. + +"I will leave the sword and knife close to the tree to which I will +secure my horse," I said on leaving him. + +I thought it better not to question him as to his intentions in regard +to the young squaw, although I had my suspicions on the subject. + +I forthwith went for my horse, which I led to the wood, as I had +promised. All the Indians were so much engaged that they took no notice +of my proceedings; and when every arrangement had been made, I returned +to Piomingo. + +Grasping my hand, he exclaimed,--"You are more generous than I deserve; +for when I went to your farm it was with the intention of working you +evil. But after I saw the `Fair Lily,' your sister, I had not the heart +to do her an injury; and instead of remaining and opening the gate to +your enemies, as I had intended, I made my escape. When I was watching +your camp, it was with no treacherous design. I wished to warn you that +the Arrapahas were still advancing, and that their purpose was to occupy +the passes through the mountains, so that they could intercept you and +any other Palefaces who might travel in that direction. They must, by +this time, have carried out that part of their plan, so that I would +advise you and your friends to pass on more to the north, by which means +you may escape them. I have also to tell you that one of your people is +in their hands. They have been carrying him about with them from place +to place; but whether they intend to kill him, as they have done the +other prisoners, I could not learn." + +I thanked Piomingo for his information, which, I felt sure, gratitude +had prompted him to give. And, of course, I resolved to urge the chief +to act upon it. + +On questioning Piomingo, I was convinced, from the description he gave +of the white man who had been made prisoner, that it must be either +Gideon or Bartle. I had great hopes, at all events, that Uncle Jeff had +escaped from his pursuers; but what had since become of him I could not +conjecture, nor could Piomingo give me any information. + +It was now sufficiently dark to allow of the captive making his escape +without being observed. I again cast off the ropes, therefore, and +stole quietly away from the spot. The moment I had gone, he must have +crept away--crouching down, Indian fashion, until he had got to a safe +distance from the camp, when, having first secured the weapons I had +left for him, he must have mounted my horse and galloped off. + +The next day had been fixed for the death of the prisoners, so I boldly +told the chief that, taking advantage of his permission, I had set +Piomingo at liberty, and urged him to be equally generous towards the +young squaw. + +"My people will complain if they are disappointed," he answered, turning +aside. + +I was sorry that I could not see Maysotta, as she might have effectually +pleaded for one of her own sex. + +Stakes had now been driven into the ground, and every preparation made +for the horrible sacrifice. But, looking at the captives, I should not +have supposed that they were to be the victims. Even the young squaw +retained her composure. + +I spoke to Manley on the subject. "We must not allow these savages to +carry out their cruel intention," I said. "If you and your men will +assist, we might set them free." + +"I would gladly do as you propose," he answered, "but it would be at the +sacrifice, probably, of our own lives and that of your sister. These +Redskins now treat us with every respect; but were we to interfere with +their customs, they would naturally turn upon us." + +I felt that he was right in that respect; but still I could not bear the +thought of allowing the horrible deed to be perpetrated, without again +interceding for the victims. + +The hour now approached for the death of the prisoners, and finding that +Piomingo had escaped, the Redskins were the more eager to put to death +those who remained in their power. They were therefore led out and +bound to the stakes, and the savages commenced their horrible war-dance +round them. + +Manley and I again pleaded with the chief. + +"It is useless," answered Winnemak; "I have said it, and it must be +done." + +Just then, from behind the shelter of a wood on one side of the +mountains, a mounted warrior dashed out. I saw at once that it was +Piomingo. His eyes were fixed on one point; it was the spot where the +young squaw was bound. Quick as lightning he cut the cords which bound +her, and placing her before him on the saddle, galloped off, and was out +of reach before those at hand could hinder him. Fortunately, none of +Winnemak's people had firearms, and their bows and arrows having been +laid aside, they hurried to their wigwams to obtain them. But ere bow +could be drawn the rescued squaw and her deliverer were far beyond their +reach. In vain were showers of arrows sent after them; the fugitives +heeded them not. Many of the braves ran for their horses; but I well +knew that my gallant steed, even with two people on his back, could keep +ahead of them. + +The whole camp was soon in confusion and astonishment at the audacity of +the act. Some of the braves may have suspected that I had had a hand in +the business, for I observed that they cast angry glances at me as they +passed. So great was their excitement, too, that for the moment they +had forgotten the other prisoners. + +Just then I met Sergeant Custis and Pat Sperry. + +"Now is our time to do a kind deed," I said; "it may be at some risk, +but let us set the other prisoners free." + +"Sure, won't I, thin!" cried Pat. + +"I will venture on it," said the sergeant. + +We hurried to the spot, and, in spite of the expostulations of a few old +squaws who had remained to watch them, we cut the ropes which bound the +unhappy captives to the stakes. + +"Now run for your lives!" I exclaimed. + +The released prisoners did not require a second bidding, although the +old squaws tried to stop them. They were all young and active men, too, +and before any of the braves had returned from their futile chase after +Piomingo, the fugitives had got to a considerable distance from the +camp. + +As I knew that our part in the affair must at once become known, I +immediately hastened to the chief. + +"I have saved you from committing a great crime, which would have made +you despised and hated by all white men," I exclaimed, with a boldness +at which I myself was surprised. "If my uncle were here he would speak +as I do, and approve of my conduct." + +The chief appeared to be dumbfounded at my audacity; but, although he +himself would not have interfered, I do not think he was really sorry +that the prisoners had escaped. + +"I must get you to protect us from your people when they return," I +said. "We have no wish to take the places of the prisoners, or to have +bloodshed in the matter. At the same time, we are resolved to fight for +our lives, should your people attempt to molest us." + +"You indeed speak boldly," said the chief. "But I will endeavour to +prevent further mischief, and will tell my people all you have said." + +Almost immediately afterwards the braves came hurrying back to the camp, +when the old squaws commenced in screeching tones to tell them what had +occurred. The warriors on this advanced towards us with threatening +looks. The chief stepped forward, and holding up his hands, they at +once stopped and prepared to listen to him. He possibly may have made a +very eloquent speech in our favour, but his braves were evidently not +satisfied. We saw them making violent gestures, and, from the words +which reached us, I made out that they insisted on our being delivered +up to suffer in the place of the prisoners we had liberated. + +Lieutenant Broadstreet, who had now joined us, rifle in hand, told me to +say to the chief that if his people were injured an army of white men +would be sent by his Government against them, and not one would be +allowed to escape. + +Although, I believe, the chief spoke as I begged him, the angry braves +were not to be appeased, still crying out that we must be handed over to +them. + +"Not while we have got a cartridge left in our pouches," cried Sergeant +Custis, lifting his rifle as he spoke, as if he intended to make use of +it, while Manley, Pat, and I followed his example. + +Just at this juncture two persons were seen approaching the camp,--the +one was Maysotta, accompanied by Keokuk, the other was a tall person +dressed in skins. At first I did not recognise him; but on looking +again, what was my joy to see Uncle Jeff! Both he and Maysotta must +have observed that something unusual was taking place in the camp, for +they hurried forward at a quick pace, and in another moment had +approached the chief. + +Uncle Jeff at once put out his hand. "What does all this mean?" he +asked. + +Winnemak was silent. + +"I will tell you all about it, Uncle Jeff," I said; and I briefly +related what had occurred. + +"You acted rightly, Ralph," he answered. "It would never do for white +men to stand by and see murder committed, which proper boldness could +prevent. Hand me a few cartridges, for I have expended my ammunition; +and although we are five to fifty, I feel very sure these fellows will +not interfere with us. However, we will try fair means first; and the +young squaw will, I am sure, be on our side." + +He at once turned to Maysotta, and telling her what had occurred, begged +her to plead with her father and his people. She did not seem to think +it necessary to say anything to Winnemak, but at once addressed herself +to the braves, over whom it was evident she had great influence. + +I saw the angry expression gradually disappear from their countenances; +their gestures became less menacing, and at length their fury completely +subsided. Maysotta saw the advantage she had gained, and went on to +tell them that we were their guests, and that, even had we been guilty +of a greater provocation, they were bound to protect our lives with +their own; that we had always been friendly with the red men; and, above +all, that we had preserved the life of their chief, who, had it not been +for us, would have died. She by this means completely won over the +braves, but she had a harder task with the old squaws. Finally, +however, she succeeded with them, and what appeared at one time to +threaten a serious termination was at length settled to the satisfaction +of all parties. + +We promised, as soon as we could obtain them, presents of tobacco, +blankets, and beads for the squaws, and some arms and ammunition for the +braves, on condition that they would always use them in our service. + +We were, of course, very eager to hear how Uncle Jeff had escaped. I +noticed, besides, that he looked fatigued and careworn, and had +evidently suffered much. + +"I had a narrow escape from my pursuers, on leaving the farm," he said, +"for more than one bullet whistled close to my ears, while two entered +the sides of my brave Jack--who bore me, notwithstanding, for many a +mile, until I had left my enemies far behind. Then my gallant steed +sank down and died. As I was making my way northward on foot, I caught +sight of several parties of Arrapahas. This made me feel very anxious +on account of Clarice and her escort, who, I feared, might have fallen +into their hands. I myself had some difficulty in avoiding them, and at +length I found it necessary to take to the mountains, where, at the same +time, I should have a better chance of killing game. Unfortunately, for +the first time in my life I became very ill, and had to remain for +several days in a cave, hardly able to crawl out and get a draught of +water from a spring hard by. Recovering, I moved on again; but having +exhausted the few cartridges I possessed, I was reduced to hard straits +for food. + +"I was making my way on when I heard a shot fired; and as I approached +the spot, I saw a young Indian girl who had just killed a small deer. +Her quick eye caught sight of me at the same moment. I made signs to +her that I was desperately hungry, and she in turn pointed to the deer; +so, as she appeared in no way alarmed at seeing me, I at once went up to +her. After exchanging a few words, it occurred to me that she must be +the daughter of our friend Winnemak; and on my asking her, she said that +such was the case. I then informed her who I was; upon which she +immediately cut up the deer, lighted a fire, and prepared such a meal as +I had not enjoyed for many a day. I soon felt my strength wonderfully +restored, and my spirits rose when she told me that Clarice and you were +safe. We accordingly at once set off for the camp, and I am thankful +that we arrived in time to settle matters amicably with our friends +here." + +The arrival of Uncle Jeff produced a great improvement in the state of +affairs. The Indians had all heard of him, and Winnemak treated him +with the greatest respect. Uncle Jeff was indeed likely to exercise a +beneficial influence over the tribe. He told them that although men had +a right to defend themselves against their enemies, the Great Spirit +disliked their making war one upon another; that he wished them all to +live at peace with their fellow-creatures; to provide proper food, +clothing, and shelter for their squaws and papooses; and that the Great +Spirit intended that they should cultivate the ground, and not depend +upon the precarious supply which the chase afforded. Uncle Jeff told +them also that the Great Spirit loved them all, and wished them to be +his children; that they were very wicked, but that he was ready to +forgive them, and had sent One on earth, his own dear Son, who had +consented to be punished instead of them, that he might become their +Elder Brother, and that they might enjoy the affection and privileges +bestowed by the Father upon his children. + +Uncle Jeff was not much of a preacher, but, as he said, he might manage +to break ground, so that any missionary coming after him would be more +likely to be well received. + +Clarice did not fail to talk to Maysotta on the same subject; and the +Indian girl appeared to take in the truths of the gospel much more +readily than did the men of her tribe. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Although the camp was pitched in a tolerably secure position, both Uncle +Jeff and Winnemak considered it necessary to send out scouts in order to +ascertain what the enemy were about. + +Lieutenant Broadstreet, who had no longer any excuse for remaining with +us, felt that it was his duty to proceed, with the two troopers, on his +journey. But he was evidently very unwilling to leave Clarice; and I +suspect that she also had no wish to let him go. + +"I cannot tell to what dangers you may be exposed, and I shall be in a +miserable state of anxiety until I once more have the happiness of +seeing you," he said to her. "My intention is to point out the state of +affairs to the commandant at Fort Harwood, and induce him to obtain such +a body of troops as will effectually overawe the savages and drive them +back to the southward, so that your uncle and other settlers may be able +to resume possession of their property, and for the future live in +peace. The sooner, therefore, I set out, the more quickly will this +desirable object be attained." + +"I highly applaud your intention, lieutenant," said Uncle Jeff; "and I +speak honestly when I say that, if you wish at any time to turn your +sword into a ploughshare, as the saying is, I shall be happy to have you +for a neighbour; and come when you may, you shall always be welcome at +Roaring Water. I hope that it will not be long before I am back there +again. I only wish I knew what has become of Bartle and Gideon; if they +are alive, we shall very soon get the farm built up again, and +everything put to rights." + +The first of the scouts who had been sent out soon came back, with the +information that the enemy were still in considerable numbers in the +neighbourhood. Winnemak and Uncle Jeff agreed, therefore, that it would +be prudent to move further to the north, in consequence of what Piomingo +had told me. Camp was accordingly struck, and the baggage animals-- +which, I am sorry to say, for the sake of my Redskin friends, included a +number of the squaws--were loaded. A small party of warriors going +ahead acted as an advance-guard, while the remainder of the tribe +brought up the rear, or went as scouts on either hand. + +As the lieutenant had to follow the same road for some distance, we +continued together,--he, as may be supposed, riding alongside of +Clarice. I do not know what Uncle Jeff thought about the matter, but it +was evident to me that Clarice and Manley were very fond of one another. +However, as I thought highly of him, I did not feel myself called upon +to interfere in the matter. + +We had proceeded some distance, when another of the scouts came in with +the alarming intelligence that the enemy, in considerable numbers, were +ahead of us, and that it was too probable they intended to attack us on +our march. We had therefore to proceed with greater caution than +before; and the advance-guard was considerably strengthened, so that +they might be able to keep an enemy in check until the remainder of the +tribe could come up. + +It was too evident that the Arrapahas had overrun the country, and that +it would be some time before they could be expelled; and, such being the +case, Uncle Jeff said he would fix upon another location, perhaps to the +west of the Rocky Mountains, where the Indians were friendly, and where +he would still be near enough to the high-road to obtain a market for +his produce. + +He had, consequently, just settled to accompany the lieutenant through +the pass, when another scout came in with the information that the +Arrapahas had taken possession of the pass itself, and that they had so +fortified themselves that they could not be driven out except by a +strong party, and at considerable loss of life. + +This made it necessary for Uncle Jeff and Manley to change their plans. +They settled that we should proceed northwards with the Indians, while +they reconnoitred the pass; promising, should they find the account they +had received to be correct, to rejoin us, and perhaps attempt to cross +the mountains so as to reach the western plains. The mountains to the +northwards, however, were but little known, and even Winnemak confessed +that he had never wandered among them. He had heard, he said, that +there was a wonderful region in that direction, where the earth trembled +frequently; the fountains, instead of being cold, were hot, and that the +water was seen rushing upwards in huge jets; and that there were lakes +amid the mountains, and torrents, and waterfalls such as were nowhere +else to be seen. + +"If the chiefs account is correct, it must be an interesting region to +visit," said Sergeant Custis. "For my own part, I hope we shall have +the chance of getting there." + +While travelling on we kept in compact order, looking out, as usual, for +the approach of foes; but happily none appeared. Crossing the road +which led to the pass, we continued onwards until nightfall. We then +encamped in as strong a position as we could find. We knew it was of no +use to attempt concealing the route we had followed; for even had we +taken the greatest pains to do so, we should not have succeeded in +eluding the sharp eyes of our foes, had they wished to pursue us. + +Soon after it grew dark, the sounds of horses' feet were heard. The +braves flew to arms. We stood ready with our rifles. Before we could +see any one, Uncle Jeff's voice was heard, and he and Manley rode into +camp. They had found that the report of the scouts was correct, and +that we could not hope to be able to get through in that direction. +Accordingly, the next morning we again started, and pushed on until we +reached a spot strongly guarded by rocks and trees, with a stream +flowing on one side. Here Winnemak, believing himself secure from his +foes, resolved to remain. + +We now made preparations to separate from our Indian friends. None of +them were willing to encounter the fatigue and dangers necessary to be +undergone in crossing the mountains; they also evidently believed the +region to be enchanted, and, if inhabited at all, to be the abode of +spirits, or beings differing greatly from the human race. When Maysotta +heard we were going, she begged Clarice and Rachel to remain with her; +but Clarice had made up her mind to accompany us, and was fully prepared +for all the difficulties we might have to encounter. Fortunately, +Lieutenant Broadstreet had sufficient supplies of provisions for all our +wants. We were thus not altogether destitute of the necessaries of +life, for we had, I remember, even tea and coffee, sugar and salt. The +lieutenant had also a very small bell-tent, the canvas of which formed +scarcely half a load for a man. He himself seldom used it, but he +insisted that it should be brought, to afford shelter to Clarice. Three +or four Indians, moreover, agreed to accompany us as far as our +baggage-mules could go, that they might convey our provisions and +stores; after which we should have to carry them ourselves in knapsacks +on our backs. + +On parting with Winnemak, he told us that we should come back sooner +than we expected, as he was sure we should never get over the mountains. + +"`Where there's a will there's a way.' There is nothing like having the +will to do a thing, to help one to succeed," answered Uncle Jeff. + +Our guides were under the belief that the only practicable way in which +they could get to the region they had heard of, was by following up a +torrent which, they said, came down from the far-off snowy summits of +the mountains in a succession of cataracts. For some distance we +travelled through a dense pine forest, following the course of a stream +into which we concluded the torrent fell. We frequently had to turn +aside to avoid the numberless fallen trunks, or to dismount and lead our +animals over them. We thus made but slow progress, and were compelled +to encamp in the midst of the forest at a much earlier hour than would +have been necessary in the open country. We kept up a blazing fire, +however, and happily escaped a visit from bears, or any of the savage +animals whose voices we heard round us on every side. + +The next morning we moved forward, and looked out eagerly for a torrent. +At length we heard the roar of tumbling waters, and making our way +through the forest we came in sight of a cataract which altogether +surpassed that of our own location. It appeared to be formed of several +streams, which, rushing forth from the snowy heights, joined the main +body, and then came leaping downwards in one vast mass of water, with a +strength sufficient, it would seem, to force its way through the hardest +rock. There could be no doubt that this was the very cataract we were +in search of. + +To carry our animals farther, would be impossible; indeed, had they been +able to make their way, they would not have found sufficient grass for +their sustenance in the rocky region we were approaching. We +accordingly encamped on a level spot not far from the cataract. When I +surveyed the wild and difficult region which we had to pass, I regretted +that Clarice had accompanied us, and wished that she had remained with +the Indians. Besides the fatigue which we must undergo, I feared that +we might run short of provisions, and that my sister might be exposed to +other hardships, which she was little able to endure. + +She laughed at my fears. + +"You do not know how strong I am; I shall be able to go through as much +as any of you," she said. "Although I like Maysotta, I should not have +been happy among her savage tribe." + +The next morning we sent the animals back, and loaded ourselves with +packs of provisions. Rachel carried as much as any one of us, and +Clarice insisted on having a load likewise--although Manley, who made it +up, took good care that it should be a very light one. + +The first day's journey was not so fatiguing as we expected to find it, +for we managed to wend our way upward on the slopes of the hills, +avoiding the more broken and steep places. We were soon satisfied, too, +that there was no risk of running short of food, for several times we +came upon herds of deer; although, as we approached them without care, +they scampered off before we were near enough to get a shot. + +We had made our way through another pine forest, and had just turned an +angle in the mountains, when suddenly before us we saw several wapiti, +commonly known as the "Canada stag," one of the largest of the deer +tribe. This animal is fully as large as the biggest ox I ever saw; his +horns, branching in serpentine curves, being upwards of six feet from +tip to tip. In colour he is reddish-brown; on the upper part of the +neck the hairs are mixed with red and black, while from the shoulders +and along the sides the hide is a kind of grey. + +The stags stopped and gazed at us stupidly, without taking to flight, +then began to utter cries which sounded wonderfully like the braying of +an ass; upon which Uncle Jeff lifted his unerring rifle and brought one +of them down, when the rest, taking fright, scampered off. + +He and the two soldiers immediately began cutting up the animal. + +"I wish we could take the hide with us, for it makes the best leather +anywhere to be found," Uncle Jeff observed; "but we must not add to our +loads." + +As the day was now drawing to a close, we had not far to carry the meat +we had just obtained; and coming to a spot near one of the numerous +streams which fed the "big cataract," we encamped. As before, the small +bell-tent, which Pat Sperry had carried, was erected for Clarice and +Rachel; while we made our beds of fir-tops, round our camp-fire, with +such shelter as our blankets and a few boughs afforded. We were too +well accustomed to this sort of life, however, to consider it any +hardship. + +We had no longer any fear of being attacked by Indians, but it was still +necessary to keep a watch by night, for it was very possible that a +grizzly might take it into his head to pay us a visit, or a pack of +wolves find us out; or a prowling panther might pounce down upon us, +should the fire go out, and no one be on the alert to drive him off. + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +WE CONTINUE OUR JOURNEY OVER THE MOUNTAINS, AND ENCAMP IN A FERTILE +VALLEY--HUNT ELK IN COMPANY WITH A PANTHER--I SPOIL THE SPORT OF THE +LATTER--UNCLE JEFF WOUNDS AN ELK, WHICH IS LOST DOWN A PRECIPICE--MORE +FORTUNATE AFTERWARDS--UNCLE JEFF RESOLVES TO REMAIN WITH CLARICE, +RACHEL, AND PAT, WHILE MANLEY, THE SERGEANT, AND I PUSH ON--DIFFICULTIES +IN CROSSING THE MOUNTAINS--MANLEY IN FEARFUL DANGER--HE ESCAPES--DESCEND +TOWARDS A BROAD VALLEY--ITS WONDERFUL APPEARANCE--WE ENCAMP--THE +SERGEANT NEARLY SCALDS HIS FINGERS IN A TEMPTING SPRING--CURIOUS +PHENOMENON--DREADFUL NOISES OF WILD BEASTS DISTURB OUR SLUMBERS. + +The next day, at an early hour, we were again on the move, Clarice and +Rachel trudging on bravely with the help of long thin poles, the points +hardened in the fire. Onwards and upwards we went, sometimes passing +through dense forests, and climbing over the trunks of fallen trees; at +others making our way through glades, where, sheltered from the sun, the +walking was comparatively easy. On emerging into the more open ground, +we searched for some canon or cleft in the mountains through which we +might find a passage. As for going over the summits of the mountains, +that was evidently impossible. They consisted of jagged pinnacles, or +precipitous rocks covered with snow; and even the most experienced +mountaineers, supplied with ropes and all other appliances, could not +hope to surmount them. + +At length, after traversing for some distance the mountain-side, we saw +before us a deep gorge, at the bottom of which rushed a torrent towards +the east. + +"If we can find holding ground for our feet, we may get through there," +said Manley. + +Uncle Jeff agreed with him, so we made towards it. For ourselves we had +no fears, but we naturally felt very anxious for Clarice, who must +suffer from fatigue with such rough and dangerous climbing as lay before +us; although, in reality, with her correct eye and active feet, she was +as secure on the giddy heights and snowy ledges over which we passed as +any one of us. + +Poor Rachel felt the cold greatly, and was less able to get along than +her young mistress. Still she persevered. "If you go I go, Missee +Clarice; never mind where," said the faithful creature; although very +often she crept along on her hands and knees rather than trust herself +to an upright position. + +Thus, climbing along the side of the precipice, with a gorge so deep on +one side that the bottom was invisible, and the mountain rising on the +other apparently lost in the skies, we worked our way on until, after +descending again for some distance, we reached more level ground. It +was a large valley or plateau surrounded by mountains; those we had +crossed being on the one side, while a still more elevated range +occupied the other. Wild as was the scenery through which we had +passed, this was wilder still. It was traversed, however, by the stream +whose course we had followed, and although we were unable to see its +source, there could be no doubt that it descended from the lofty range +before us. A portion of the plateau was covered by a forest, nourished +by numerous rivulets, most of which flowed into larger streams, although +some found an outlet towards the southward. No signs of inhabitants +were visible; but game of every kind was most abundant, herds of deer, +mountain sheep, and birds of all descriptions. + +"I am not the man to propose going back," said Uncle Jeff; "but unless +we can find an opening in these rocks, it is very clear that our present +party cannot go forward. I propose, therefore, that we should camp here +until we have explored the country ahead, after which we shall be able +to form our plans." + +He looked towards Clarice as he spoke. He had resolved not to expose +her to the fatigue and peril which his experience told him must +inevitably be endured by those attempting to make their way through so +wild a region as that before us. He therefore selected a suitable spot +for camping. Clarice's tent was put up, and we cut down poles and +boughs with which to form a couple of small huts for ourselves. Uncle +Jeff, Manley, and I had one, and the two men the other. + +While the sergeant and Pat were employed in erecting the huts, the rest +of us took our rifles and started in search of game, and before long we +caught sight, towards the northern end of the valley, of several elk or +moose feeding near a wood. It was necessary to approach them +cautiously, however, for should they take the alarm they would be off at +a rate which would give us little chance of overtaking them. But the +wind came from them to us, and this was to our advantage. + +The elk is one of the most wary of the deer tribe, and, notwithstanding +his enormous horns, he can pass through a thick forest, as he throws +them back on his shoulders so as in no way to impede his progress. +Large as was the wapiti which we had before met with, the elk is still +larger, and one of the animals we saw before us was fully seven feet in +height--as tall, indeed, as many an elephant. As the flesh is very +palatable food, we were eager to kill one or more of the herd. Uncle +Jeff, too, said that he wanted the skins to assist in making a tent, in +case we should have to remain some time at our present location. + +Creeping along, then, as much under cover as possible, we endeavoured to +get within shot of the animals. We succeeded at last in reaching the +wood, and hoped, by making our way through it concealed by the trees, to +get up to them before we were discovered. Uncle Jeff led the way, while +Manley and I followed in Indian file. It was important not only to keep +ourselves concealed, but to avoid making any noise, as the elk has a +remarkably acute sense of hearing, and the slightest sound might startle +the herd. + +We had succeeded in gaining a spot a thousand yards or so from them, +when I heard a noise in the bushes on our left, and rather ahead, the +herd being on the right. On looking narrowly in the direction from +whence the sound came, I caught sight of a panther, or "American lion," +as the beast is commonly called, stealing along, very probably on the +same errand as we were,--hoping to pounce upon one of the females of the +herd, could he catch his prey unprepared. He is bound to be cautious, +however, how he attacks a buck, for the elk can do battle with his horns +and hoofs, and might disable even the savage panther. + +Uncle Jeff saw the brute as soon as I did, and turning round, he made a +sign to me to aim at the panther the moment he should fire at the elk. +In the meantime, the panther was so intent on reaching his expected prey +that he was not likely to observe us. As may be supposed, I kept a +watchful eye on the wild beast, for he might possibly become aware of +our presence; and if so, might content himself with a human being for +his supper instead of venison, and I had no fancy to give him an +opportunity of selection. + +It was very exciting having both the panther and deer before us. +Frequently Uncle Jeff stopped, fearful of being discovered by the elk; +while the panther, for the same reason, did likewise. Thus the savage +beast would creep on and on, crouching down and concealing himself from +view. He so far interfered with our sport, that we could have the +chance of killing only two deer instead of three; for I was to reserve +my fire for his benefit, and I ardently hoped I should not miss. I +tried to make Manley understand that it would be prudent in him not to +fire until he saw whether my bullet took effect, but I could not be +certain what he would do. + +Our progress was now slower than ever. Several times the deer had +looked up, apparently suspecting that danger was near; but still Uncle +Jeff advanced, in a stooping posture, unwilling to stir even the +smallest twig for fear of alarming the wary herd. I moved on more +rapidly; the panther was now not more than twenty yards from us, and +would in a few seconds make his deadly spring. + +Suddenly Uncle Jeff stopped, raised his rifle to his shoulder, and +fired. The panther at that moment was rising, about to dash forward +from the brushwood. I pulled the trigger; at the same instant Manley +fired--he had aimed at the deer--and as the smoke cleared away I saw the +panther fall back on the ground. + +The deer were now in full flight, so I followed Uncle Jeff and Manley in +the direction the herd were taking towards the north end of the valley. +What means they had of escape we could not tell; we hoped that, shut in +by the mountain, we might again get near enough to have another shot. + +The wounded elk was evidently severely hurt, for his pace now began to +slacken, so Uncle Jeff cheered us on. We saw, however, that unless we +could soon come up with the chase he might escape us altogether. The +appearance of the country had changed, too; while rocks arose at some +distance, there was evidently a vast intervening chasm between us and +them. + +Once more Uncle Jeff fired, but, although the bullet took effect, the +deer continued his course. Almost immediately afterwards, what was our +disappointment to see the wounded animal, regardless of the fate he was +about to suffer, spring over the edge of a precipice, while the rest of +the herd scampered away towards some almost inaccessible rocks on the +left! + +The elk was irretrievably lost. In vain we searched for a way by which +we might reach the bottom of the gorge; we were soon convinced that the +cliff was utterly impracticable. + +"It can't be helped," cried Uncle Jeff; "but we must not give up the +hope of obtaining some venison this evening. The elk will not long +remain out on these barren rocks, and if we can hide ourselves near +where they have to pass, we may each of us kill one." + +We were not long in finding some thick bushes behind which we could +kneel and take good aim at the passing deer. + +"Do not let us be greedy," said Uncle Jeff; "you and Manley, Ralph, +select one animal, and I will take another." + +In half an hour or less the deer came trotting back towards their former +feeding-ground, and we all three fired; Uncle Jeff knocked over a buck, +and we killed a doe. + +It took us some time to cut them up, and it was nearly dark before we +reached the spot where I had shot the panther. Anxious to know whether +it was still alive, I made my way through the wood to the place, but +could nowhere find the animal. Had it escaped, notwithstanding its +wound? It was too dark, however, to search for it; so we hurried on as +fast as we could with our load of venison to the camp, where Clarice was +eagerly looking out for us. The huts were erected by this time, and a +blazing fire lighted; and I noticed that Clarice's tent had been +carefully staked round by the sergeant, so that no wild beast could +break suddenly into it. + +"I am afraid, Miss Middlemore, that you will grow very weary of the +rough life we are compelled to lead," observed Manley. + +"Oh no! I enjoy it very much indeed," she answered, looking up in his +face, "and shall be really sorry when it comes to an end." + +"I doubt that very much, young lady," said Uncle Jeff. "We have only +just commenced the passage of the mountains, and I have made up my mind +not to let you go on unless some tolerably easy path can be found over +them. I am very much afraid, however, that we shall not discover one +fit for you to travel on." + +"Then what are we to do, Uncle Jeff?" asked Clarice. + +"I will tell you," he answered. "I propose remaining here with one of +the men, while Lieutenant Broadstreet, the other man, and Ralph, try to +make their way across the mountains. They may manage to do it; but if +they had you with them, they would probably fail--no disrespect to your +prowess, so don't pout your lips." + +"What do you say to my plan, lieutenant?" + +"Although I would rather have Miss Middlemore's company, yet I confess +that I should be often very anxious about her and her servant venturing +into places through which I should not hesitate to penetrate alone. I +consider your plan, therefore, under the circumstances, the best that +could be adopted; and as you promise me the assistance of Ralph, I will +leave Pat Sperry to attend on you--and Pat is a trustworthy fellow, when +the liquor bottle is kept out of his way." + +I do not think Clarice liked this plan, but she had no valid objection +to urge against it; indeed, when she looked up at the snowy mountains +before us, and the vast chasms which yawned on each side, she must have +owned to herself that she was unfitted to travel through such a region. + +Next morning we sent the two men for the deer skins, and a further +supply of venison; but when they came back they brought the skin of the +panther as well. They had found the animal close to the body of the +deer, by the scent of which he must have been attracted; but he must +have died of his wounds before he had begun to eat the flesh. + +We spent the rest of the day in making pemmican, and in doing up our +packages in a more compact form. The larger part of our stores we left +for the party in camp--only taking powder and shot, a small quantity of +coffee, and a few simple cooking utensils, so that we might travel as +lightly as possible. We had little doubt about being able to obtain a +sufficient supply of game; and Sergeant Custis, who was a bit of a +botanist, said that he hoped to find roots which would serve as +vegetables. + +Early in the morning, having said good-bye to our friends, we set out. +The valley was soon crossed, and we then proceeded along the base of the +mountains to the southward, in the hope of finding some opening in the +cliffs, or a practicable path up which we might climb. Our rifles were +slung at our backs, and we each carried a long pole, on the strength of +which we could thoroughly depend. + +At length we came to an opening. It did not look very promising, but it +was the only one which offered us any means of penetrating into the +mountains, and ultimately, as we hoped, of getting over them. For some +distance we kept along a ledge which gradually ascended, with a steep +precipice on one side and an almost perpendicular cliff on the other. +Gradually, however, the ledge became broader, and we forced our way +among the trees which grew on it. + +Manley proved himself an excellent mountaineer; and as I had for many +years been accustomed to climbing, I ventured along paths which many +would have hesitated to follow. + +I cannot describe the whole of that day's journey--the dreadful +precipices along which we scrambled, the profound gorges into which it +almost made the head giddy to look down, the rugged heights we climbed, +the thick forests of pine through which we penetrated. Still, we did +not complain, hoping that success would crown our efforts. + +At length we reached a place near trees and water, which would supply us +with the only necessaries we required; so we built a rough shelter with +boughs, for the wind was piercingly cold. We were able to defy it, +however, with the help of a large fire, which we kept blazing in front +of our hut. + +We were making better progress than I had expected, but still range upon +range of snowy mountains lay between us and the western slopes which it +was our object to descend. Perhaps our trials and fatigues had only +just commenced. However, none of us were inclined to give in; and as we +got some sound sleep by turns, we were prepared after breakfast to set +out again. + +Up, up we went, the cold increasing rapidly. Every hollow below us was +filled with snow; still, we could find no canon or gorge of any +description through which to make our way. Over the range we must go-- +or, at all events, some lofty shoulder of it. We had now to encounter a +new description of danger, too. The snow lay on the only practicable +path, and it might conceal deep crevasses; or an avalanche might descend +from above, and overwhelm us; or the mass, slipping from beneath our +feet, might carry us down into one of the fathomless chasms below. +Notwithstanding this, we went on and on, until it would have been as +dangerous to turn back as to go forward. + +I was taking the lead, when, on turning an angle of a rock, I saw spread +out before me a valley so broad that my eye could scarcely reach the +opposite side. Flowing through it were numerous streams; a large lake, +many miles in extent, occupied its centre; while hills and forests +dotted it in all directions. But, as I looked below, I saw a precipice +of fearful depth, which it would be impossible to descend. + +I had observed, as I came by, a steep slope leading upwards on our +right, thickly covered with snow. I thought, however, that it might +afford us a way by which, having ascended it, we could reach a part of +the mountain from whence to descend with less risk than from that on +which we now stood, so I shouted to my companions to take it. Sergeant +Custis heard me, and we mounted together, expecting that Manley would +follow. + +I looked round to speak to him, when what was my horror to see him +gliding rapidly down, surrounded by a vast mass of crumbling snow, +towards the edge of the precipice which I have just mentioned! My heart +sank within me. To render him any assistance was impossible; in a few +minutes he would be dashed to pieces. I should have been horrified to +see any human being in so fearful a predicament; but he was my friend, +the first I had ever possessed. I thought, also, of the grief the news +of his death would cause my sweet sister Clarice. How should I be able +to tell her of it? These thoughts flashed across my mind. + +Close to the very edge of the precipice, a mass of jagged rock stood +out. Already Manley had disappeared, and the snow went thundering down. +For a moment I felt inclined to let myself glide down also. Just then +I heard a voice; it was Manley shouting out to us not to attempt to come +to his rescue. When about to be hurled over the edge of the precipice, +he had clutched the jutting rock, and held on for his life, while the +snow went rushing by under his feet. He waited until it had ceased to +fall, and then, clutching the sides of the rock, by a powerful effort +slowly worked himself upward until at last he gained the firmer part of +the snow. Still, he several times cried out to us not to attempt to +join him, lest our united weight might again set the mass in motion. + +"I have indeed been mercifully preserved," he said, when, having +rejoined us, we congratulated him on his escape. "I pray that we may +succeed in getting down into the valley, although at present I see no +path open to us." + +After climbing some way, we found a gap in the rocks, which, although +full of snow, afforded a sufficiently firm footing to enable us to get +on without much difficulty. From thence, although the descent was not +without danger, we succeeded in reaching a broad ledge free from snow. +Here some bushes grew, of sufficient size to afford us fuel; and +sheltered in the hollow of a rock, we passed the night in tolerable +comfort. + +On the return of day we recommenced our search for a practicable way +down the mountain; and happily finding it, we at length reached one of +the lower heights of the wide valley I have mentioned. I call it a +valley, but it was rather a large basin, surrounded, as far as the eye +could reach, by lofty mountains. + +"Now we are here, how are we ever to get out again?" I asked Manley. + +"Where those rivers find an outlet, so probably shall we," he answered. +"There can be no doubt that two or perhaps more canons lead into this +basin,--some to the north and east, so far as I can judge, and others to +the west,--and by them, without having any ascent to climb, we shall +probably be able to make our way in the direction we wish to go." + +Having the day before us, we proceeded westward across the basin. We +soon found, however, that it was anything but level. Large hills, many +of which might have been dignified by the title of mountains, rose up in +various directions. One object, however, engaged our attention in the +far distance: it was a beautiful sheet of water, blue as the sky +overhead--like a jewel in a setting of green. + +Nowhere could we see any Indian wigwams, but here and there we observed +what appeared like smoke rising above the trees. + +"I very much doubt if what we see is smoke," observed Manley; "it looks +more like vapour; and, from the appearance of this region, I suspect +that some volcanic action is going forward. However, we shall discover +that as we proceed." + +Although we at first fancied we had reached the valley's level, we found +we had still a considerable descent to make, and that we could not hope +to arrive that day on the banks of the lake. We therefore encamped on +the borders of a forest overlooking a stream which evidently ran into +the lake, and which would serve to guide us the next day. The stream +was bordered by rocks of a curious form, but we had not time to examine +them before it was dark, as we had to make our usual preparations for +passing the night. + +Sergeant Custis at once took the can to get some water from a spring +which, not for off, issued from a rock and fell into a basin. From the +regular appearance of this basin, we might have supposed it to have been +artificial. The sergeant dipped in his can, but he drew it back in a +great hurry, exclaiming, "Why, it's at boiling heat!" + +We hurried up, and found that such was indeed the case. As the water +had a peculiar taste, we agreed not to use it for cooking, lest it might +have some pernicious effect; so the sergeant had a considerable distance +to go before he could get down to fill his can. + +It had now become quite dark, and we were seated round our camp-fire, +when we heard low rumbling sounds; and great was our astonishment to +see, by the light of the moon, which just then appeared from behind a +cloud, a lofty jet of silvery water, rising, as it seemed to us, a +hundred feet or more into the air! Although our curiosity was excited, +we had no wish to venture towards the spot in the darkness, as we hoped +to be able to examine it the next morning. + +Scarcely had we placed our heads on the fir-tops which formed our +couches, when hideous sounds burst forth from the forest. The +screeching of night-birds, the barking of coyotes, the dismal howling of +the llovas, the cry of the panther, and other sounds, well-nigh drove +sleep from our eyelids, and showed us that this region must be thickly +inhabited by the wild beasts of the forest, although no human beings +might be found within it. Having plenty of powder and shot, however, we +were not alarmed on that account. Still, it was necessary to keep up a +blazing fire, and to watch vigilantly, lest any unwelcome visitor might +intrude upon us, and still more unpleasantly disturb our night's rest. + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +ADVANCE TOWARDS A BEAUTIFUL LAKE--HOT SULPHUR SPRINGS MET WITH--BOILING +MUD POTS--CURIOUS BASINS FORMED BY WATER IN THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN-- +LOVELY FRETWORK ROUND THEIR RIMS--NEARLY SINK INTO A BOILING MUD POOL-- +THE LAKE REACHED--ABUNDANCE OF GAME AND FISH--BUILD A RAFT--BEGIN VOYAGE +ACROSS LAKE--VIOLENT STORM--IN GREAT DANGER--DRIVEN ACROSS THE LAKE--WE +CLING TO TREES WHILE THE RAFT IS DASHED TO PIECES--MAKE OUR WAY THROUGH +THE FOREST--I MISS MY COMPANIONS, AND LOSE MY GUN AND KNAPSACK OVER A +PRECIPICE--REACH FOOT OF MOUNTAIN--I CAMP WITHOUT SUPPER OR FIRE. + +In spite of the fearful noises produced by the savage inhabitants of +that region, and certain slow, ominous rumbling sounds which came up +from the direction of the waterspout, when we did go to sleep we slept +soundly enough. At length the sergeant, who had taken the last watch, +roused up Manley and me, and we started to our feet--my first impulse +being to look out for the jet of water which I supposed I had seen on +the previous evening, but which was now nowhere visible. + +"If we have got into an enchanted land, as the Indians suppose it is, +the fairies or spirits have not thought fit, during the night, to +trouble us," said Manley, laughing. "Our business now is to try and +make our way across this valley--so, forward!" + +After breakfast, we strapped on our packs and recommenced our march, our +object being to reach the shore of the lake as soon as possible. If +there were any native inhabitants in this region, they would probably be +found there; and we would either get them to put us across the lake in +their canoes, or else we would skirt along it until we could again take +a westerly course. + +We soon found that we had got into a region subject to violent volcanic +action, and were compelled to turn aside to avoid a wide space full of +ponds, the intervals between which were covered with a crust of +brimstone. I attempted to reach one of the ponds, but had not gone far +when the point of my pole went through the crust, and up bubbled a +quantity of black slime. On touching it, and finding it scalding hot, I +shouted to my companions, who were behind, not to venture on the +treacherous ground. A horror seized me, and every instant I feared that +I should break through the surface. Should that take place, what a +dreadful fate would be mine! I hastened back, stepping cautiously, as +if moving over ice too thin to bear my weight; and very thankful I was +when I once more got on hard ground. + +Still further on, as we proceeded down the valley, we saw vapour rising +from numerous fissures in the hill-sides. Around these vents quantities +of sulphur had been deposited. But the most curious objects were basins +of all sizes, nearly circular, of which there were great numbers-- +formed, apparently, by the lime contained in the hot springs. Some of +these springs were exhausted; others, as they gushed forth from the +mountain-side, were hot enough to boil potatoes. Beautiful as was the +appearance of the basins, we were too eager to push forward, to examine +them minutely. One was from twelve to twenty feet in diameter, and had +a beautifully scalloped border. So perfect was the shading of the +scallops, that it looked like a most delicate work of art rather than +the production of nature. From the centre spouted up water to the +height of seven or eight feet. Farther on was another boiling spring, +of far greater dimensions,--a horrible-looking caldron, the water dark +and muddy, and in ceaseless agitation. + +"Here is a pot suitable for the witches' caldron in Macbeth," cried out +Manley. + +He was rather ahead of me, and on overtaking him I found him standing by +the side of a circular basin whose diameter we calculated to be fully +twenty feet. The contents consisted of what greatly resembled hasty +pudding, or, as Manley said, "a huge caldron of thick mash." The whole +surface was bubbling up every instant, and giving off a thud like the +noise produced by the escape of the gas below. + +Curious as these sights were, we were still more astonished by the +appearance of the side of the mountain, the base of which we passed. +All up the slope was seen, as it were, one above another, a succession +of large basins or reservoirs. The margins were beautifully scalloped +and adorned with natural bead-work of exquisite beauty. In spite of our +hurry, we could not resist the temptation of making our way up to them. +One of the largest springs we calculated to be fully thirty feet in +diameter; and so perfectly transparent was the water, that, as we looked +down into it, we could see to the very bottom. Its sides were +ornamented with coral-like forms of various shades, from pure white to +bright cream-yellow, while the blue sky overhead gave an azure tint to +the whole surface which no art could imitate. Over several parts of the +rim the water was flowing down into other basins. I climbed up and +looked over into one of the pools, which was literally hanging on to the +one above it like a bird's nest to a wall; while beautiful stalactites +were suspended below it, caused by the water which flowed over the +sides. The temperature of the water when it came out of the side of the +mountain was high, but in the course of its passage from pool to pool it +became gradually cooler. + +"I cannot resist the temptation of taking a bath in one of these +beautiful basins," exclaimed Manley. + +Selecting one, I followed his example; and the sergeant was soon sitting +in a third, with his head just above the water. Nothing could be more +refreshing and invigorating, and when we got out we all agreed that we +felt better able to continue our journey. + +We found that the clear atmosphere of this region greatly deceived us as +to distances, and it was not until the following day that we arrived on +the shores of the lake. It was nearly evening when, after having +penetrated a thick pine forest, we at length stood on its borders. Few +lake-scenes could be more beautiful than that now spread out before us. +The southern shore was indented with long narrow inlets, while +pine-crowned promontories stretched from the base of the hills on every +side. Islands of emerald hue dotted its surface, and round the margin +was a sparkling belt of yellow sand. The surface, unruffled by a breath +of air, was of a bright green near the shore, shading into a dark +ultramarine towards the centre. Whether there were fish, we had yet to +discover; but we had no fear of starving, for the whole surface of the +lake swarmed with birds--swans, gulls, pelicans, geese, herons, brants, +sand-hill cranes, and many varieties of ducks. An island in view was +literally white with the numbers of pelicans which had taken up their +abode upon it. We had also seen many other birds during the day-- +eagles, hawks, ravens, ospreys, prairie-chickens, grouse, mocking-birds, +and woodpeckers; while we caught sight of several kinds of deer, elk, +and mountain sheep. Even buffalo had made their way into the valley. +Grizzly bears and panthers, too, we had good reason to fear, abounded, +and were likely to be troublesome to us. + +We formed our camp on the shore of the lake, where there was fuel in +abundance; and taking my gun, in the course of a quarter of an hour I +shot geese and ducks enough to give us an ample supper, and breakfast +next morning. Manley, who was a good angler, had, in the meantime, been +fitting up a rod and line--for he had brought hooks with him; and I +found, when I got back, that he and the sergeant had caught a dozen +salmon-trout, between a pound and a pound and a half in weight. Their +colour was of a light grey above, and a pale yellow below. The dorsal +and caudal fins were dark grey, and the others mostly of a brilliant +orange or bright yellow. + +We calculated that the lake was fully twenty miles long, and not less +than fifteen broad in its widest part; and had we not been in a hurry to +proceed on our journey, we agreed that we would have willingly spent +some days in this enchanting spot. However, this was not to be thought +of. + +We kept up a blazing fire all night, and consequently escaped a visit +from either grizzly or panther. The question now was, "How were we to +cross the lake?" We were none of us much accustomed to boating, +although Sergeant Custis knew more about it than either Manley or I. At +first we talked of building a canoe, but the sergeant suggested that, as +it would take some time to construct one, it would be better to form a +raft, which could be put together in a few hours. + +"If the water remains as quiet as it does at present, we can soon paddle +to the other side; and we can also rig a mast and yard, on which we can +make a very good sail with our blankets," he observed. + +At daylight we commenced to build a raft. There were logs enough of +every size and length in the forest, and we selected those only which we +could drag with ease to the water's edge. Lithe vines, of which there +were plenty hanging to the trees, served instead of ropes, and with +these we bound our logs together. As the pine-wood was heavy, we formed +a platform on the top of the logs with smaller poles and lighter +branches, interwoven, and bound together as tightly as we considered +necessary for the easy voyage we proposed to undertake. + +We were, it must be understood, at the north-east end of the lake. On +the west side was the promontory which we hoped to reach, and beyond it +a deep gulf ran up the shore, the farther end of which we could not +distinguish. + +Some hours were passed in constructing the raft. We had then to cut out +the paddles, a long oar to steer by, and also the mast and yard. These, +although they were very roughly formed, occupied us some time longer, so +that it was late in the day before we were ready to commence our voyage. +We calculated, however, that we should have no difficulty in getting +across before sundown; and as the evening promised to be calm and +beautiful, we expected to have a pleasant passage. The wind, too, was +favourable, blowing from the eastward, and would help us along,-- +although, as it was very light, we must be prepared to use our paddles. + +The raft had been built in the water, so that all we had to do was to +step on board, set our sail, and shove off. "Away we go!" cried Manley, +giving a shove with the steering oar, and we glided off from the shore. + +Sergeant Custis quickly set the sail, which, as we got a little way on, +blew out with the breeze. He and I then plied the paddles. We appeared +to be making fair progress, too, although the raft moved but slowly. +But the wind soon dying away, we had our paddles alone to depend on. +Manley tried to scull with the oar, but he was not an adept at the art, +and it did not help us much. When we watched the shore we had left, we +saw that we had made some progress; but when we looked ahead towards the +side of the lake we wished to reach, it appeared no nearer than when we +stood on the shore we had left, while the mountains rose towering up +above our heads as gigantic as ever. The sun had already disappeared +beyond the pine-clad heights to the west, leaving the valley in rapidly +increasing shade. + +"I doubt, Ralph, whether we shall set foot on shore much before +midnight, unless we move at a faster rate than we are now doing," said +Manley. + +I agreed with him; observing, however, that a moonlight voyage on that +calm lake would be pleasant in the extreme, and a thing to be +remembered. + +Not expecting to be so long on the raft, and intending to have supper on +our arrival, we grew very hungry. Fortunately we had plenty of cooked +provisions, and fresh water alongside, so that we had no difficulty in +satisfying our appetites. + +While the sergeant was engaged in again doing up the pack, a sudden +squall struck our sail, carrying away the mast, and had I not sprung up +and seized hold of it, the blanket would have been lost. Fortunately I +caught it before it was wet. This squall was quickly followed by +another, and we could see the white-topped waves curling up around us on +all sides. Our raft was but ill calculated to buffet with a tempest +such as seemed but too likely to come on. The wind being as yet +favourable, however, the sergeant attempted to repair the mast and +re-hoist the sail; but scarcely had he done so when it was again carried +away. + +"We must trust to our paddles, and the wind will still drive us along," +said Manley. + +We could hear the wind roaring among the trees on the shore, and every +instant it increased, raising up big waves which threatened to sweep +over us. The raft was tossed and tumbled about, and sometimes it was +with difficulty we could hold on sufficiently to prevent ourselves from +being shaken off into the seething water. We had, fortunately, at the +suggestion of the sergeant, secured our rifles and knapsacks to the top +of the platform in the centre of the raft, where they were tolerably +secure. + +We were now driving on much faster than we had hitherto been doing, but +the darkness prevented us from knowing whether it was in the right +direction, for we could see only the foaming waters dancing up around +us. All we could do, therefore, was to hold on, and try with the +steering oar to keep the raft before the wind, hoping that we might be +driven into some sheltered bay, where we could land in safety. + +I thought of what Clarice would have said, if she had been with +us--"Trust in God"--and I felt sure that she would not have been more +alarmed than we were. We saw our danger,--we could not be blind to +that,--but none of us gave way to cowardly fears. Manley sat with +perfect calmness, steering, while Sergeant Custis and I paddled away, +endeavouring to keep the raft before the following seas. At last I +caught sight of some dark object rising out of the water, but instead of +being ahead, it was on the right hand, or, as we judged, to the +northward of us. It was evidently land, but whether the end of the +island we had seen in that part of the lake, or the mainland, we could +not determine. In vain we attempted to paddle up to it; the gale drove +us on, and showed us that we were perfectly unable to go in any +direction excepting that towards which the wind should impel us. + +Again we lost sight of the land, and this led us to think that we must +have passed an island. The waves hissed and foamed, and danced up +around us as much as ever; still our raft held together, and we were +enabled to cling on to it. Even if we were only moving at the rate of +two miles an hour, it could not take us more than seven or eight hours +to get across from one side of the lake to the other, and we calculated +that we must already have been that time on the raft. What if we had +got into a channel of some river, which might rush rapidly along, +pouring over some terrific cataract? Should we by any means be able to +reach the shore, so as to escape being carried along with the raft? Had +it been daylight, the danger would not have been so great, for we might +have seen in what direction to direct our efforts. As it was, we might, +should we paddle to one side or the other, be placing ourselves in +greater danger than by allowing the raft to drive on before the gale. +Our ears were assailed by the continued roar of the waves dashing on the +shore, of the wind rushing through the trees, and of the foaming waters +as they clashed against each other; we sometimes, indeed, could scarcely +hear each other's voices. There being now no sail, we were able to keep +our eyes turning in every direction. + +"When we do reach the shore, we must take care not to lose our things," +said Manley, with due thought. "Let each man seize his rifle and +knapsack; for if we fail to get into a harbour, we shall probably be +dashed against a rocky shore, or among overhanging trees, where our raft +will, no doubt, quickly be knocked to pieces." + +Dangerous as was our present position, we had to confess that the +operation of landing might prove even more perilous; still we were eager +to go through it, trusting that, notwithstanding the danger, we should +escape. + +At length Sergeant Custis cried out, "Land ahead! We shall be close to +it in a few minutes. It seems to me to be covered with wood, with +mountains rising beyond. Yes! no doubt about it! We must each try to +get hold of a stout branch or trunk of a tree, and cling on to it until +daylight returns and we can see our way." + +The sergeant was right, although the time we took to reach the shore was +longer than he expected it would be. In daylight we could have made our +escape without difficulty, but now we ran the most fearful risk of being +crushed against the raft, as it surged up and down; or against the +trees, which hung, some with their branches in the water, others but +slightly raised above it, while the seething waters whirled and leapt +around their trunks with a force which must soon reduce our raft to +fragments. + +"Now is our time!" cried the sergeant. "Quick, quick, gentlemen!" and +seizing a branch, he swung himself up into a tree, hauling his rifle and +knapsack after him. The next instant he extended his hand to me, by +which assistance I was enabled to follow his example. On looking round, +I lost sight of Manley. Had he been washed off, or struck by a bough? + +"Manley, Manley!" I shouted; "where are you?" + +"All right!" he answered, greatly to my relief. + +The sound came from a distance, for even after I had left the raft it +had been driven some way on before he could manage to grasp a bough. We +had at all events succeeded in our object of crossing the lake, although +we had not landed exactly in the manner we desired, nor could we tell +our whereabouts. We might be at the very southern end of the lake, +should the wind have shifted to the northward, or we might be at its +western extremity. Wherever we were, there we must remain until +daylight; for were we to attempt moving, in the pitchy darkness which +hung around, we might fall off into the water, or lose ourselves in the +forest. + +"It cannot be far off daylight, sergeant," I observed. + +"I think not," he answered; "but I would advise you to take care not to +drop off to sleep. If you do, you may chance to fall into the water. +It will be as well to caution the lieutenant, or he, being alone, may +forget himself." + +Considering the noise of the waves dashing under our feet, the waving of +the trees, and the howling of the wind amid them, I did not think the +caution very necessary; but, notwithstanding, I shouted out to Manley. + +"No fear of that," he answered. "It would require a more comfortable +spot for a bivouac, to induce me to take a snooze." + +That night appeared to me the longest I can remember. Days appeared to +have passed since we had left the eastern shore, with the bright +sunlight and the calm blue water. Still, day must return. What a +comfort that thought often is! The roar of the waters gradually +decreased, the wind having fallen, and thus, in spite of the sergeant's +warning, my head was beginning to nod, when he cried out-- + +"Here is daylight at last; I see a tint of red over the snowy tops of +the mountains. We shall have the sun himself sending his warm rays down +upon us before long." + +His voice aroused me in a moment Manley answered his hail; and as the +light increased we saw that we were at the farther end of what might be +the main body of the lake, or a branch running off it. It was in +reality the great western arm of the lake, and we had been carried many +miles on our journey, in the exact direction we wished to go. + +We had soon light enough to enable us to crawl off the branches to which +we had clung, and make our way down to the ground--if ground it could be +called, for, in reality, in every direction it was covered thickly with +logs in all stages of decay, some only lately fallen, others which could +be knocked to pieces with a kick, while the feet sank at almost every +step in decomposed vegetable matter. Still this was the region through +which, somehow or other, we must make our way. + +After an hour's toil we reached a small open space, where the ground was +sufficiently hard to enable us to light a fire and dry our drenched +clothes and blankets. We had also to look to the priming of our rifles, +as they were likely to have got damp, and might fail us at a pinch. +Being unwilling to encamp in the forest altogether, though we all +greatly required rest, we resolved to push on until we could reach more +open ground where water was to be obtained. + +To save my companions labour, as I was a more practised backwoodsman +than either of them, I offered to go ahead and try to find the shortest +way out of the forest. How far it might be, I could not tell; but I had +hopes that the forest in which we were might prove to be only a belt of +trees on the shore of the lake. + +It did not occur to me as possible that my companions could miss my +trail. I shouted now and then, however, but did not hear their voices +in reply, the forest being so dense that sounds could not penetrate far +through it I went on and on, feeling sure that I was directing my course +to the westward. The ground rose more and more, too, in some places +rather abruptly, but still covered with a dense growth of trees, and +soon I found that I was mounting a hill. The path was more easy than at +first, however, there being but few fallen trunks, so I made much better +progress. + +"I must get out of this," at last I said to myself; and so I continued +moving on, occasionally notching a tree with my axe, if I thought my +trail was not sufficiently distinct. "Of course they will follow," I +thought more than once. I did not, indeed, entertain a doubt about it. + +I had reached the top of the hill, but the trees were too high to enable +me to see any of the country around. I could judge by the direction of +the sun's rays, however,--which had now drawn round, and were striking +in my face,--that I was steering westward, as before. I occasionally +stopped and looked back, expecting that my friends would overtake me; +and although I did not see them, I felt so sure that they must be close +behind that I continued my course. + +On and on I went, when again I found myself descending, and thus knew +that I had crossed over a hill of some height; still the trees prevented +me from getting a view of the country beyond. At last I came to some +marshy ground of a similar character to that which I had met on the +other side of the lake, with sulphur springs in the centre. I had +therefore to make a detour to avoid it, but as the tall trees which grew +on the surrounding hills would not allow me to get a view of the +country, I could not determine in what direction to steer my course. I +did not perceive an important circumstance. Owing to the spongy nature +of the ground, into which my feet sank at every step, the marks were +soon obliterated, while I still supposed that my trail was sufficiently +defined to enable Manley and the sergeant to follow me. + +I now mounted another hill, of a far more rugged character than the +former ones which I had passed over. + +"Surely," I thought, "on the other side of this there must be open +ground, where I shall be able to see my way ahead, and select a spot for +our camp." The hill, however, proved to be even more rugged than I had +expected. Still I did not like to go back, though the farther I went +the wilder and more jagged it became. + +At last I found myself scrambling along the summit of a precipice, until +I saw before me a foaming cascade falling down the precipitous rocks, +with lofty pinnacles rising above it. This formed a cataract which, +after a short course, ran into a lakelet at the foot of the cliffs; +while beyond was the open ground I had been hoping to find. + +Although a good cragsman, my climb had been a rough one, and I now sat +down to rest on the top of the cliff before I commenced mounting higher, +which it was necessary to do in order to get above the falls, and from +thence make my way down the further side of the mountain on to the open +ground. To rest my shoulders, I had taken off my pack, and placed it +with my rifle by my side. I failed to notice, as I did so, the slippery +nature of the rock, which was covered with a velvet-like surface of +moss, produced by the constant spray from the waterfall. Feeling +thirsty, I thought that I could reach a small jet of water which, +flowing amid the rocks, fell into the main cascade. I therefore got up +to make my way to it, and while doing so must have touched my rifle with +my foot I obtained the water, although not without difficulty, and more +danger than it was wise to run for the purpose. But, on returning, what +was my dismay to see neither rifle nor knapsack! They had both, it was +very evident, slipped over the cliff, and fallen into the lakelet. Had +I been alone, my loss would have been indeed a serious one, but as I +hoped that my friends would soon overtake me, I did not allow it to +depress my spirits. + +I approached as near to the edge of the cliff as I dared, thinking it +possible that my rifle and knapsack might have fallen on some ledge, or +perhaps been stopped in their downward progress by bushes; but, as far +as I could judge, the precipice was perpendicular, and they must have +fallen into the lakelet. I saw at once, therefore, that there was very +little chance of my being able to recover them; still that point could +not be decided until I got down to the level of the lake, when I might +ascertain its depth. If not very deep, I might perhaps be able to dive +to the bottom; but though naturally eager to make the attempt, I felt it +would be safest to do nothing in the matter until I was joined by my +friends. + +I waited a short time for their coming up, but as they did not appear, I +thought it desirable to retrace my steps, in case they should have +missed their way, or lost sight of my trail. I accordingly went back, +shouting out to them; but it was not until I came to the spongy ground I +had passed, that I saw the probability of their having lost my trail and +gone in some other direction. In vain I searched for signs of them. +Should I return to where I parted from them, a long time might elapse +before we might meet; and my anxiety to try and recover my rifle and +knapsack forbade me doing this. + +The day was advancing, and darkness would come on before I could get to +the shore of the lake, so I again turned and made my way over the +mountain till I got above the fall; from thence, with infinite labour +and at no little risk, I ultimately succeeded in reaching the level +ground. I had now to go round the base of the mountain in order to +reach the lake; but the distance was considerable, and I could scarcely +hope to reach it before nightfall. I felt, therefore, that it would be +prudent to look out for a spot for camping. A grove of trees of no +great extent was before me, and their trunks would afford shelter; but +what about a fire? My flint and steel I had incautiously left in my +knapsack, but I had a small burning-glass which one of our visitors at +the farm had given me. I had seldom made use of it, but I had put it in +my pocket, with the few valuables I possessed, on the night we left +Roaring Water. As the sun had disappeared, that, however, would be of +no use for the present; so I arrived at the unsatisfactory conclusion +that I must pass the night without food or fire. + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +ALONE IN THE FOREST--AWAKENED BY THE CRY OF A PANTHER--THE BRUTE +DISCOVERS ME--I TAKE REFUGE IN A TREE--THE PANTHER DISAPPEARS--A VISIT +TO THE LAKE--VAIN EFFORTS TO RECOVER MY RIFLE AND KNAPSACK--I CONTINUE +TOWARDS THE WEST, HOPING TO MEET MY FRIENDS--MORE SULPHUR SPRINGS-- +NEARLY OVERWHELMED BY A MUD VOLCANO--A POISONOUS VALLEY--CAUGHT IN A +SNOW-STORM--BUILD A HUT--MY FARE, THISTLE ROOTS--MAKE TRAPS AND A +FISHING-LINE--SALLY FORTH--CATCH THREE BEAVERS--FIND ANOTHER LAKE-- +SALMON-TROUT CAUGHT--CONTINUE DOWN A RIVER, AND COME UPON A NUMBER OF +MAGNIFICENT GEYSERS--AM ABOUT TO TAKE UP MY ABODE IN A GROTTO, WHEN A +HOT SPRING RISES FROM IT--I SHIFT MY QUARTERS--PREPARE FOR ANOTHER +SOLITARY NIGHT--I HEAR A SHOT, AND A WOUNDED DEER BOUNDS NEAR ME. + +My exertions had made me hungry. Recollecting the amount of animal life +which abounded in that region, however, I had no great fear of starving +altogether, for if I could not shoot I might trap animals. I hoped, +however, to be able to rejoin my companions the following day, when my +wants would be supplied, so that I was not much out of spirits. Should +I fail to trap game at any time, or should I fail to meet my companions +even for some days, there were, I remembered, roots of various sorts +which might serve for food, though it was now too late to obtain them. +Indeed, barely light enough remained to enable me to cut down some +branches with which to form a slight hut. I managed to collect a few to +answer my purpose, the thick trunk of a tree serving as a back. In +spite of this shelter, it was very cold; but of course I made up my mind +to endure it as best I could, and, in spite of hunger and anxiety, it +was not long before I fell asleep. + +What time had elapsed I know not, when I was awakened by a shrill cry, +almost like that of a human being. I shouted out for help before I was +quite awake, thinking it must come from my companions, who were in +danger; but when completely aroused, I knew too well that it was the +shriek of the panther which so often makes night hideous in the forests +of the south. What the brute was about, I could not tell; but as I knew +he must be close to me, I again shouted out, hoping to frighten him +away. At the same time clutching hold of a low branch of the tree which +hung directly overhead, I swung myself into it. + +Presently I saw the panther come out of a thicket close at hand, and +smell round the hut. He had only just discovered me, and seemed to have +a strong inclination to make his supper off my body. I did not feel +altogether comfortable, even where I was, as I had a belief that +panthers can climb, like most of the cat tribe, and that he might take +it into his head to mount the tree. I had no weapon besides my knife, +but with that I managed to cut off a pretty thick branch, with which I +hoped to be able to defend myself. + +As I found it very cold where I sat, my first object was to try and +drive the brute away. I therefore kept pelting him with pieces of +withered branches, which I broke off; but to no purpose. Still snarling +occasionally, he kept smelling round and round the tree, frequently +casting a look up at me with his glittering eyes. Now and then he went +to a little distance, and seemed about to spring into the tree. At last +he got into a position which enabled me to take good aim at him, and I +threw a heavy piece of a branch, which hit him directly on the nose. At +the same time I sprung round the tree, so as to be concealed from his +view. He gave an upward glance; but not seeing me, he appeared to be +seized with sudden fright, and, greatly to my satisfaction, went +muttering away into the depths of the wood. + +Trusting that the panther would not come back, I descended the tree, and +once more sought the shelter from which he had driven me. The +interruption to the night's repose had been somewhat unpleasant, but +that did not prevent me sleeping on until daylight; after which I +proceeded in the direction where I expected to find the lakelet into +which my rifle and knapsack had dropped. + +I was considering what I should do for food, when I observed a green +plant of a bright hue, with a small head, which I recognised as a +thistle, the roots of which I had seen the Indians use for food. +Pulling it up, I found it not unlike a radish in taste and consistency. +Searching about, I soon found several more: and although not likely to +be very nutritious, the roots served to stop the gnawings of hunger, and +enabled me to make my way with a more elastic step. + +My thoughts were occupied as to the probability of finding Manley and +the sergeant. I hoped that, once clear of the forest, they might encamp +and make a large fire, the smoke of which would serve to guide me to +them. Should they, on the contrary, continue searching about, we might +miss each other. + +The shore of the lakelet was at last reached, but my first glance at it +convinced me that there was every probability of its being of great +depth. The cliffs over which my rifle and knapsack had fallen went +sheer down into it; while farther on the torrent brought a large supply +of water, which found an exit on the opposite side. The water was clear +as crystal, and from the shore upon which I stood I could see the +bottom. When I put in my stick, however, I could not fathom it--and +this at the shallowest part. Still, my existence might depend upon +recovering my rifle, so, throwing off my clothes, I plunged in and swam +to the foot of the cliff. I felt sure that I was under the very spot +from whence the things had fallen, but when I looked down, +notwithstanding the clearness of the water, I could not see them, nor +the bottom, and this at once convinced me of the immense depth. I had +therefore to abandon all hope of recovering my rifle and knapsack, and +swim back, not altogether without some fear of being seized with cramp +from the coldness of the water. + +Quickly dressing, I ran on to warm myself, keeping as before to the +west, as I felt sure that Manley and the sergeant would proceed in the +same direction. Coming to a high mound or hill, I climbed to the top, +whence I could obtain a pretty extensive view; but nowhere could I see +any objects moving which could be my friends. A herd of elk were +browsing in the far distance, and a number of mountain sheep were +scampering about on the side of the neighbouring height. My eyes were +attracted, however, by some wreaths of vapour far down the valley, in +the direction which it was probable Manley and the sergeant had taken. +The vapour might arise from a fire they had kindled; but when I looked +again, I saw not only one, but several wreaths, or rather jets, which +made me fear that my first conjecture was wrong. However, as these jets +appeared in the right direction, I determined to go towards them. + +I descended from the height, and continued my course, feeling unusually +weak and weary, when, some way along the valley, I observed several +circular holes, full of mud of different colours bubbling up, while +vapour issued from various fissures in the sides of the hills, and a +sulphureous odour pervaded the air. + +Becoming more and more fatigued, at last I threw myself on the ground, +and ate a few of the thistle roots which I had fortunately brought with +me. I remember noticing a large hole not far off, but it appeared to be +empty. I felt very drowsy, and dropped off to sleep before long, my +head resting on my knees; when suddenly I became conscious of a loud +rumbling sound, while the earth beneath me seemed to shake and upheave. + +Springing to my feet, what was my horror to see, close to me, a mass of +dark water and mud rising up in the shape of a column! Higher and +higher it rose, surrounded by volumes of vapour; while from its summit +was scattered far and wide thick lumps of mud. Becoming aware that I +had been sleeping close to an active mud geyser, I sprang away from the +dangerous neighbourhood, narrowly escaping being overwhelmed with the +hot and horrible mixture. The spout, or column, I should think, must +have risen to a height of nearly fifty feet; while every few seconds +loud reports were heard, and with each report a dense volume of steam +shot forth--the ground meanwhile shaking violently. + +I stood watching it till, gradually decreasing, the centre part of the +column sank down into the orifice from which it had been expelled; and +within a short time all was again quiet. The mass of mud which covered +the ground, and coated even the boughs of the neighbouring trees, alone +showed the violent outbreak that had just taken place. + +As I advanced the valley began to narrow. Miasmatic vapours, escaping +from holes and crevices on either side, filled the air, making it +difficult to breathe with freedom, so I hastened on, anxious to get out +of so horrible a region. To escape from it I climbed a hill, along the +side of which I made my way as fast as the uneven nature of the ground +and fallen logs and rocks would allow. + +I again got into a more open country, where I became conscious of a +considerable change in the atmosphere. Hitherto the air had been +tolerably warm, though bracing; it now grew sensibly cooler. Thick +clouds were gathering in the sky. The wind, before a gentle breeze, now +rose rapidly, and blew with violence. It soon became icy cold, and +flakes of snow began to fall. Without a fire, I felt I should well-nigh +perish. At all events, before I could make a fire I must search for +some cavern in which to light it; or, failing to find a cavern, I must +build a hut. As the appearance of the ground did not indicate that +caverns were likely to exist on the side of the hill, I set to work +without delay to collect materials for building a hut; and having cut +down a number of pine branches, I stuck them in the ground, weaving +their tops together with vines, and piling as many rough pieces of bark +against the side as I could find. + +In vain I watched for a gleam of sunshine, which would enable me, by +means of my burning-glass, to kindle a fire. The clouds gathered +thicker and thicker; and no hope remained of my being able to obtain the +desired spark. Taking advantage, therefore, of the remaining light, I +searched about and pulled up all the thistle roots I could find. With +this hermit-like fare, the only provender I was likely to obtain while +the storm lasted, I retired into my hut. + +Scarcely had I got under shelter when down came the snow, and the whole +face of the country was speedily covered with a sheet of white. How +long the storm might last, I could not tell; it might blow over in one +or two hours, or days might elapse before it ceased. It was too early +in the year, however, to fear the setting in of winter weather, even in +that elevated region, or my condition would indeed have been deplorable. + +I had kept an opening through which I could look over the valley, in +case my friends might pass that way. But night came on, and they did +not appear; so, closing up my window, I coiled myself away to sleep, as +the size of my hut would not allow me to stretch myself at full length. + +I had little fear that a panther would break into my bower; but I was +not so confident that, should a grizzly scent me out, he might not poke +in his nose. Still I could trust to Him who had hitherto protected me. +I had my knife and my long stick, and, at all events, I might give +Master Bruin an unpleasant scratch on the snout, should he come within +my reach. + +Notwithstanding my uncomfortable position, I was soon asleep, and did +not awake until daybreak. Had I possessed any means of cooking my +roots, I might have made a tolerably satisfactory breakfast. Indeed, +although they assisted to sustain life, they were far from wholesome +raw; still, to quell the cravings of hunger, I ate them. + +The storm continued to blow with as much violence as on the previous +evening, and, lightly clad as I was, I felt that it would be rash to +continue my course till it was over. I sincerely hoped that Manley and +the sergeant had found suitable shelter. However, as they could light a +fire, and had abundance of food, I was pleased to think that they were +better off than I was. + +To employ the time, I tried to manufacture some traps of such materials +as I possessed. I then bethought me that I had a fish-hook in my +pocket; but when I came to search for a line I could find none. I had, +however, a silk neckerchief; and having unravelled this, I twisted it +with the greatest care into a strong thread. It occupied a good deal of +time, but I succeeded in three or four hours in forming a line of +sufficient length for my purpose. I had plenty of loose shot, too, +which I split for weights. I then carefully rolled up the line round a +piece of wood, ready for use as soon as I should reach a lake or stream +likely to contain trout. + +The storm lasted upwards of two days. Although my journey was thus +delayed, I felt sure my friends would likewise have been prevented from +travelling, and thus I was none the less likely to meet them. At length +the wind subsided, the clouds dispersed, and the sun shone forth with +dazzling brightness on the snow, which began quickly to disappear +beneath his rays. + +Carrying the traps I had manufactured, and my fishing-line, I now +sallied out. I had exhausted all my roots, but as the snow cleared away +I obtained a further supply, though, hungry as I was, I still had very +little inclination to eat them raw. + +I had not gone far when I came to some boiling springs; one of which, +although the water was of intense heat, was little larger than a +good-sized caldron. I threw in my roots, and sat down beside it to warm +my feet, which were benumbed with the melting snow. While my frugal +dinner was cooking, I looked about in search of my friends; but again I +was disappointed. When I thought that the roots were sufficiently +boiled, I raked them out with my stick. They were certainly more +palatable, and I hoped they would prove more nutritious. + +Every hour was now of importance, for Manley and the sergeant would, I +calculated, be pushing on, under the belief that I was before them. I +had quenched my thirst with snow, for in that volcanic region I could +find no water fit to drink; it was either intensely hot, or so +impregnated with sulphur and other minerals that I was afraid to swallow +it. I saw that it would soon be necessary again to camp, so, that I +might not have to pass the night without a fire, I endeavoured to obtain +a light by means of my burning-glass, before the sun should descend too +low. The wood around was so wet that I feared, after all, I should not +succeed; but having made my way to a forest on one side of the valley, I +discovered some moss growing under the branches of a tree which had +sheltered it from the wet. Here also was abundance of dead wood. With +as much as I could carry I hurried back into the open, and sitting down, +brought the glass to bear on the now fast sinking rays of the sun. I +watched the effect with almost trembling eagerness, till, greatly to my +joy, from the small bright spot caused by the concentrated rays a thin +thread of smoke began to ascend and spread over the moss. This I blew +gently, placing over it a few twigs at a time, until I soon had a brisk +fire burning. + +The place where I had lighted my fire was not one at which I wished to +camp, but once having a fire, I could carry a burning brand and ignite +another in some more convenient situation. I was not long in selecting +a spot close under a rock, where I soon had a fire blazing up. I thus +had warmth, although I was still destitute of wholesome food; and, +indeed, I found myself weaker than I had ever before been. + +I was not of a disposition to give way to despondency, but sombre +thoughts would intrude. I began to fear that I might not be able to +rejoin my friends; that they, unable to find me, would suppose that I +had met with some accident, and would at length make their way to the +fort by themselves. Had I possessed my rifle and knapsack, I should +have had no fear on the subject, but the only means I had of obtaining +food were precarious; and I could not cast off the thought that, should +I continue to grow weaker, I might ultimately perish. + +I was soon shown, however, that I ought not to have desponded. I was +more successful with my beaver traps than I had expected; and, +imperfectly formed as they were, I caught no less than three animals in +them, which afforded me ample food, and greatly restored my strength. + +Pushing on over a wooded height, I saw below me a beautiful lake two or +three miles long, and almost as many broad. I hastened down to its +shore, and having caught some grasshoppers on the way, I quickly had my +line in the water. Having chosen a favourable spot, scarcely a moment +had passed before I hauled out a salmon-trout a pound or more in weight. +In half an hour I had caught a dozen--as many as I could carry. I +therefore camped and cooked some of the fish, which afforded me a more +satisfactory supper than I had eaten for many days. + +Seeing a stream running out of the lake, I next morning followed its +course. I cannot describe the beautiful waterfalls which I passed on my +way, or the scenery, which was altogether very fine. I hastened along, +believing that the stream, from the direction it took, would lead to an +outlet among the mountains. + +I had thus gone on for some miles, when the canon down which I was +travelling widened, and suddenly I saw before me a scene far more +wonderful than any I had yet witnessed. In every direction over the +broad valley, on both sides of the stream, rose a number of jets of +sparkling water far surpassing in beauty the artificial fountains in the +most celebrated gardens of royal mansions. + +I hurried on, to get a more perfect sight of this wonderful region. +Suddenly, from a high mound some thirty feet or more above the level of +the plain, I saw a jet burst forth, which rose to the height of one +hundred and twenty or one hundred and thirty feet--a perfect geyser, the +first real one I had yet seen. It continued playing for fifteen minutes +or more, the mass of water falling back into the basin, and then running +over the edges and down the sides of the mound. Others were playing all +the time. As I hastened on, from another cone a column shot upwards to +a far greater height--considerably above two hundred feet, I should +say--and lasted very much longer than the first. The intervening spaces +between these geysers were covered with grass; and in many places trees +rich with foliage grew luxuriantly, showing that there was no danger in +venturing among them. + +Another beautiful geyser, which burst up when I was not more than a +hundred yards from it, had the exact appearance of a fan. On examining +it, I found that it possessed a double orifice, which discharged five +radiating jets to the height of sixty feet; the drops of spray as they +fell perfectly representing the feathers of a fan. Nothing could be +more beautiful than the effect. The eruption lasted nearly thirty +minutes, the water preserving its elegant form during the whole time. +About forty feet from it dense masses of vapour ascended from a hole, +emitting at the same time loud sharp reports. As I looked along the +river I saw small craters of every conceivable form; some were +quiescent, while others poured out cascades forming small rivulets which +ran into the river. + +So beautiful and curious was the scene, that for a time I forgot my +perilous position. + +I had no fear of starving, as long as I had my fishing-line and traps, +and was able to light a fire; but I knew that I had a wild and rugged +road to pursue, and probably snow-capped mountains to climb, before I +could reach the western plains. It was important, therefore, to obtain +substantial fare, that I might regain my full strength for the +undertaking. I had not, of course, given up all hope of falling in with +my friends, but still I was forced to contemplate the possibility of +missing them. I wondered that we had not yet met, as I certainly +thought they would have taken the same direction that I had followed. + +I must, at all events, spend another night in the valley; and I was +looking about for some place which would afford me shelter, when I saw, +a short distance off, what appeared to be a beautiful grotto--consisting +of fantastic arches, pillars, and turrets, with hollows beneath them, in +one of which I might find a comfortable sleeping-place. I determined to +explore it, and, after collecting wood for a fire, to take my rod and +line and endeavour to catch some fish in the river. I should, at all +events, have no difficulty in cooking them in one of the numerous +boiling caldrons in the neighbourhood. Directly behind the grotto was a +forest of firs, from which I could collect an ample supply of wood for +my fire, as also small branches to form my couch, should the ground +prove damp. + +I was making my way towards the grotto, when I heard a rumbling sound, +and directly afterwards two jets of water spouted from its midst--one of +them rising rapidly to the height of nearly a hundred feet, when, +spreading out, down it came, the scalding water falling in a dense +shower on every side, while wreaths of steam were ejected from the +various holes which had been within their influence, the which would +speedily have parboiled me, had I not at once run off to a safe +distance. I then turned back to look at the beautiful phenomenon. +Although the jet was not so lofty as many of the other geysers, its form +was not less beautiful, assuming, as it curled over, the appearance of a +gigantic ostrich feather. + +I had received a lesson not to trust to appearances, and was now very +unwilling to take up my lodgings in any one of the curious grottoes +which lay scattered about in the valley. They might be perfectly quiet, +and afford me comfortable shelter; or, proving treacherous, a stream of +hot water might burst forth from some unperceived vent and blow me fifty +feet into the air, or scald me to death. I accordingly resolved to +build myself a bower in which, although it would not afford me so much +shelter as a cavern, I might pass the night in safety. + +It was necessary, however, before the sun should disappear, to light my +fire; and having fixed upon a spot, I repaired to the woods nearest at +hand to collect the fuel I had not gone far when I saw rising before me +a curious white mound, twenty-five or thirty feet in height, and about a +hundred at the base. From the summit rose a small puff of steam, like +that escaping from the lid of a kettle; but I saw, from the appearance +of the trees around it, that it could not for many years have sent forth +any dangerous stream of hot water. Not far off was a small basin with +an elegantly scalloped rim; it was full of hot water, which scarcely +bubbled over. "This will make me a capital fish-kettle," I said to +myself, "so I will build my hut near here. I do not think there can be +any risk." + +Having selected a clear spot, I set to work and piled up the wood for my +fire. This was the first operation. I could build my hut in the dusk, +or even by the light of the fire, should it be necessary, after I had +caught my fish. Then taking a handful of moss into the open, with a few +dry sticks, I quickly lighted it with my burning-glass, and carrying it +back, soon had my fire in a blaze. I next made it up carefully, that it +might burn until I came back, and hurried down to the river. I was +doubtful whether trout were to be found in water into which hot streams +were constantly pouring; however, as most of them became cold before +they reached the main current, I thought it possible that I might be +successful. In the expectation of catching fish, I had omitted to set +my traps; or rather, occupied by the wonderful scenes around me, I had +forgotten all about the matter. In vain I threw in my line, baited with +an active grasshopper; not a fish would bite. I went higher up the +river, where fewer hot springs ran into it, but I was equally +unsuccessful. + +The shadows beginning to spread over the valley warned me that I must +return to my camping-ground and content myself with a few thistle roots +for supper; and I had just wound up my line, when my ear caught the +sound of what appeared to be a shot fired at some distance up the +valley. It was so faint, however, that I thought it might possibly be a +sound emitted by some geyser or fire-hole. Just then a deer came +bounding along, a short distance off. On seeing me it swerved slightly +out of its course, and as it did so I perceived a stream of blood +flowing from its side. + +"That _was_ a shot, then!" I exclaimed; "and my friends must have fired +it." + +My first impulse was to run in the direction from whence the shot came, +but on looking at the deer I perceived that it was slackening its pace; +and after a few more bounds, down it sank to the ground, not one hundred +yards from me. + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +I KILL THE DEER--MORE WONDERS--MEET MANLEY AND SERGEANT CUSTIS AT LAST-- +A PLEASANT EVENING--PARCHED WITH THIRST AMIDST SPARKLING STREAMS--OUR +HAZARDOUS JOURNEY OVER THE MOUNTAINS--SAFE ARRIVAL AT FORT HARWOOD-- +WELCOMED BY THE COMMANDANT--AN EXPEDITION ORGANISED TO DRIVE THE INDIANS +FROM THE COUNTRY--MANLEY COMMANDS IT--I ACCOMPANY HIM--MEET BARNEY AND +KLITZ, STILL BOUND FOR CALIFORNIA--BARNEY GIVES AN ACCOUNT OF THEIR +ESCAPE--THEIR JOURNEY STOPPED--THEY RETURN WITH US--WE MEET PIOMINGO AND +HIS SQUAW--TELLS US THAT HE HAS BURIED THE WAR-HATCHET--HEAR AN ALARMING +ACCOUNT OF BARTLE--ASCEND THE MOUNTAIN TO WHERE WE LEFT UNCLE JEFF--FIND +HIM AND CLARICE WELL--HE HAS OBTAINED A LARGE SUPPLY OF PELTRIES--OUR +RETURN TO WINNEMAK'S CAMP--MAYSOTTA ACCOMPANIES CLARICE TO ROARING +WATER. + +Although I had not forgotten the friends I hoped soon to see, my +instinct as a hunter made me anxious to secure the deer, as it might +possibly get up again, and be lost to us by springing into the river. +Acting on this impulse, therefore, I ran up to the wounded animal. The +poor brute was endeavouring to rise on its knees, so, ham-stringing it +with my knife, I effectually prevented it from escaping. I had, +however, to approach it cautiously, for a blow from its antlers, even in +its present state, might prove dangerous. I managed at length to reach +its throat, when its struggles speedily ceased. + +I now looked round for my friends, in the expectation of seeing them at +any moment, for I was sure they would follow the deer; but they did not +come. Still I could not have been mistaken. The animal had been shot +by a rifle bullet; it was a rifle I had heard fired. Had Indian hunters +shot the deer, they would certainly have followed more closely at its +heels; and besides, they were not likely to have rifles. + +After having secured the deer, I hastened in the direction from whence +it had come, expecting that every moment would solve the mystery. Yet, +eager as I was, my eyes could not avoid remarking the wonderful objects +around me. On one side was a basin, its projecting rim carved with +marvellously intricate tracery, while the waters within were tinted with +all the colours of the rainbow. On the other side appeared a mass +greatly resembling an ancient castle. It rose more than forty feet +above the plain, while in its midst was a turret of still greater +dimensions. A succession of steps, formed by the substances in the +water which had become hardened, led up to it, ornamented with bead and +shell work; while large masses, shaped like cauliflowers or +spongy-formed corals, projected from the walls. Out of this curious +structure, as I was passing it, shot a column of water sixty feet or +more in height, vast volumes of steam escaping at the same time. + +It seems curious that I should have been able to remark these objects at +a time when my mind was occupied by a matter of so much importance. +Still I could not avoid seeing the objects; and although I did not at +the time think much about them, they stamped their impression on my mind +as I went along. Suddenly two figures appeared, which put every other +object out of my sight. My eyes were fixed upon them; I had no doubt +that they were Manley and Sergeant Custis. I shouted. They saw and +heard me, and came hurrying forward, and we were soon warmly shaking +hands. + +"Ralph, my dear fellow! we feared that you were lost," exclaimed Manley, +"and we have been hunting for you day after day. How haggard you look! +How did you manage to lose us? and what has become of your rifle?" + +These and numerous other questions I had briefly to answer. How they +had missed me, they could not very clearly tell. Instead, however, of +coming westward, they had for some time hunted about in the very +neighbourhood where they had at first lost sight of me. At length they +reached one of my camps, and from thence they had followed me up, +although they had been compelled, as I had, to take shelter during the +storm. + +Of course, they were as much delighted as I was with the extraordinary +region in which we found ourselves; and I could now enjoy an examination +of its wonders far more than I did at first. + +We were very anxious to push on, in order to carry relief to our +friends, and to punish the Arrapahas for their audacious raid on our +territory, but that evening we could proceed no farther. We therefore +cut up the deer, and carried as much of its flesh as we required to +camp, where we built a hut, and employed the evening in preparing the +venison for the remainder of our journey--for we had snowy heights to +surmount, where we might be unable to meet with game. An abundant meal +and a night's rest completely set me up; and my friends insisting on +alternately keeping watch, I was allowed to sleep on without +interruption. + +I must pass rapidly over the next few days of our journey. We worked +our way along the rugged gorges through which the river forced a +passage, and we had torrents to cross, precipitous mountains to climb, +amid glaciers and masses of snow, where by a false step we should have +been hurled to destruction. But we were mercifully preserved. + +Game in these wild regions is scarce, and we were frequently hard +pressed for food. In one of the valleys, at the beginning of this part +of our journey, nowhere was a drop of drinkable water to be found. For +hours we walked on, with bright fountains bubbling up on every side; but +they were scalding hot, or so impregnated with minerals that we dared +not touch them. Our fate promised to be like that of Tantalus: with +water on every side, we were dying of thirst. At length I espied, high +up on the mountain slope, a little green oasis, scarcely larger than a +small dinner-plate. I scrambled up to it, and, putting down my hand, +found a fountain of cool bright water issuing forth. I shouted to my +companions, who quickly joined me. Never was nectar drank with more +delight; and, revived and strengthened, we again pushed on. + +Sometimes we slept in caverns, sometimes in huts built of clods and +boughs. Frequently we had to camp on the bare ground, without shelter, +our feet as close to the fire as we could venture to place them without +running the risk of their being scorched. + +At last, to our great joy, we saw the western plains stretching out +before us. I call them the plains, although hills of all heights rose +in their midst. Far away to the south-west was the great Salt Lake; +while in front of us were the mountainous regions bordering the +Pacific,--California and its newly-discovered gold-mines. Now +descending steep slopes, now traversing gorges, now climbing down +precipices, now following the course of a rapid stream, we ultimately +reached level ground, and at last arrived at Fort Harwood. + +"Why, Broadstreet, my dear fellow!" exclaimed the commandant, who, with +a number of other officers, came out on seeing us approach, "we had +given you up as lost! Some emigrants who escaped from a train which was +attacked reported that every white man on the other side of the pass, +for miles to the southward, had been murdered. They had heard, also, +that an officer and his men had been cut off, so we naturally concluded +you were the unhappy individual." + +"Such would have been our fate, if we had attempted to get through the +pass; but, guided by my friend here, we crossed the mountain, for the +purpose of asking you to send a force of sufficient strength to drive +back the Indians, with their rascally white allies," answered the +lieutenant. + +"The very thing I purposed doing, if I could obtain a trustworthy +guide," said the commandant. + +"You could not have a more trustworthy one than my friend, Ralph +Middlemore," answered Manley. "He knows the mountains better than any +white man we are likely to find; and as for Indians, I would not put +confidence in one of them." + +Of course, I at once expressed my willingness to undertake the duty +proposed; and the expedition was speedily arranged. Our troops may not +have had a very military appearance, but the men knew how to handle +their rifles, and had had experience in border warfare. We numbered +fifty in all, besides the drivers of the baggage horses and mules +conveying our provisions and ammunition. All not absolutely necessary +encumbrances were dispensed with, our camp equipage consisting of a few +iron pots, tin cups, and plates. Lieutenant Broadstreet had command of +the party, and he was directed to select a fit site for a new fort in +the neighbourhood of Roaring Water, to assist in holding the Arrapahas +in check for the future. + +Not an hour was lost; and by sunrise, two days after our arrival, we +commenced our march. I had advised Manley to let me go ahead with a few +of the most experienced men, to act as scouts, that we might ascertain +whether the enemy still held the pass; but two days had gone by without +any signs of the Indians. The remains of their fires, however, showed +that they had been there not long before. At the end of the second day, +just as we were about to encamp, I caught sight of two figures coming +over the brow of a slight elevation. I rubbed my eyes; was it fancy, or +did I really see Klitz and Barney before me, precisely as I had seen +them on a previous occasion, when attempting to make their escape from +the farm? No doubt about it. There was Barney wheeling a barrow, and +Klitz, with a couple of muskets on his shoulder, marching behind him. +Had I been inclined to superstition, I might have supposed that I beheld +a couple of ghosts, or rather beings of another world; but I was +convinced, unless I was the victim of some optical delusion, that the +two worthies were there in flesh and blood. + +I did what every one should do when there exists any doubt about a +matter,--I hastened forward to solve the mystery. No sooner did they +see me than Klitz dropped his muskets, and Barney, letting go the +handles of his wheel-barrow, stood gazing at me with open eyes and +outstretched hands. + +"Arrah, now, it's the young masther himself!" exclaimed Barney; whilst +the German uttered an exclamation which I did not comprehend. "Sure, +now, we were afther thinking your honour was kilt intirely," continued +Barney. "Might I be so bold as to axe where your honour comes from +now?" + +"Let me inquire where you come from, and how you escaped from the +burning house," I said. "Although I am glad to see you, I would rather +you had rejoined your regiment." + +"Sure, Mister Ralph dear, we were returned as dead, and it would have +been sore against our consciences to take sarvice under the +circumstances. But your honour was axin' how we escaped. Sure, when I +was hunting for the Redskin spy, didn't I find out the root-house. And +so, afther matters came to the worst, we got in there, with food enough +to last until those thieves who wanted our scalps had taken themselves +off. As to cutting our way through the enemy, I knew well enough that +would not suit me; for I could not run, and Klitz would have been a mark +a mile off. So, when you rushed out, he and I dropped down through the +trap and stowed ourselves away. The Indians, marcifully, niver came to +look for us. In truth, while they were hunting about down came the +building on their heads, and we could hear their shrieks and cries as +they tried to scramble out from among the flames. If it had not been +for a small vent-hole far away up in a corner, we should have been +suffocated, maybe. All day long we could hear them screeching and +hallooing outside the house; but before night the thieves of the world +took themselves off, we suppose, for all was silent. + +"At the end of a couple of days we thought we might safely venture to +take a few mouthfuls of fresh air, and begin to work our way out from +among the ruins. It was no easy job, but we got free at last. Neither +Redskin nor white man was to be seen; and of all the buildings, the hut +and the mill only were standing. The villains had carried off all our +blankets and most of the cooking-pots, but enough was left for our +wants, seeing that we had nothing to put in them. However, Klitz was +not the boy to starve. He soon caught some fish, and I got hold of a +sheep which came up to the door; and if there had only been a dhrop of +the cratur', we should have lived like princes. One thing there was +which the Indians had not carried off, and that was a wheel-barrow. +When Klitz saw it, `We will go to California!' says he. Says I, `I'm +the boy for it!' So, as we had our muskets and a few rounds of +ammunition, afther drying the mutton and making some other necessary +preparations we set off. The Indians had left the country, and no one +stopped us, so surely your honour won't be so hard as to stop us now!" + +"That must depend on what Lieutenant Broadstreet has to say in the +matter," I observed. "I am under his orders, and will conduct you to +him." + +Klitz elongated his visage on hearing this, but Barney took the matter +with his usual good-humour. + +In consideration of the dangers the men had gone through, and their +conduct in the defence of the farm, the lieutenant treated them kindly. +He could not allow them to continue on their way to California, of +course, which they most certainly would never have reached, but he +inflicted no greater punishment than ordering them to mount the +baggage-mules and return with us. + +We did not entirely rely on Barney's report that the Indians had left +the neighbourhood, though it perhaps made us less cautious than we would +otherwise have been. As I was well-mounted, I frequently went on a +considerable distance ahead, eager to fall in with some one from whom I +might gain intelligence of Uncle Jeff, Clarice, or our friends. I did +not suppose that Uncle Jeff would remain in the mountains where we had +left him, but that he would certainly have come down to meet us; or +perhaps, should Bartle and Gideon have escaped, he might have rejoined +them and returned to Roaring Water. + +We had got through the pass, and were about to march to the southward, +in the hope of overtaking the enemy, should they be still lingering in +that part of the country, when I saw smoke ascending from the level +ground close to the foot of the mountain, and some way ahead. On +watching it, I was satisfied that it rose from an encampment of white or +red men. As there was little doubt that information could be obtained +from the inhabitants, whoever they were, the sergeant and I, with two +well-mounted troopers, rode forward, keeping on the alert to guard +against coming suddenly on an enemy. + +As we got nearer, I saw, by means of a telescope which I had obtained at +the fort, an Indian camp of a more permanent character than I had yet +fallen in with in that neighbourhood. This was a proof that the +inhabitants were friendly. + +In a short time several persons appeared; and on seeing us one of them +came forward, habited in the costume of a chief, a quiver at his back +and a bow in his hand. A squaw followed him. He stopped and gazed at +me. Then, as I rode on, he advanced, and, putting out his hand, +exclaimed-- + +"You know me!--Piomingo. This my squaw, you save my life and her life, +and I am ever your friend." + +I told him that I was very glad to see him, and that he could give me +information I very much desired. In the course of conversation he +informed me that he had talked with Winnemak, and had buried, as he +said, the war-hatchet; and he had therefore come and settled in that +district. He had also preserved my horse with the greatest care; and, +he added, he was ready to restore him to me in good condition. With +regard to Uncle Jeff, he could tell me nothing. As my uncle, however, +had not rejoined Winnemak, I concluded that the latter was still in the +mountains, well contented with his new locality, and engaged in shooting +and trapping. + +"Can you give me any information about my other friends?" I asked. + +One white man, he said, had gone to Winnemak's camp; and from his +description I had little doubt that the person he spoke of was either +Bartle or Gideon. I was very sure, however, that either of them would +without delay have rejoined Uncle Jeff. What Piomingo told me about the +other caused me much anxiety. He had been captured by the Arrapahas, he +said, who had carried him about with them; probably, according to their +cruel custom, with the intention of ultimately putting him to death in +some barbarous manner. + +As Piomingo volunteered to lead a party of us in search of the +marauders, who still had, according to his report, a white man with +them, I at once accepted his offer, and would gladly have set off +immediately; but it was important first to carry assistance to Uncle +Jeff and Clarice, who could not fail--so Manley thought--to require it. +He and I, with twenty troopers and some of our baggage animals, +accordingly turned to the northward, leaving Sergeant Custis and the +remainder of our force to watch the pass, in order to prevent the return +of the Arrapahas. + +We pushed on as fast as our horses would go, the lieutenant being fully +as eager as I was, but it took as two days to reach the foot of the +mountains. Manley declared that he could not have found the spot had it +not been for my assistance. We here formed camp, while he and I, with +six of our strongest baggage animals, and men to look after them, took +our way up the mountain. + +I need scarcely describe the route. Sometimes we made tolerable +progress, at other times we had to use the greatest caution to escape +falling over the precipices which we had now on one side, now on the +other. But the most arduous part of the undertaking was forcing our way +through the primeval forests, over trunks of trees, and through pools of +water, into which the horses sank up to their knees. The poor brutes +had an uncomfortable time of it. The men, armed with thick sticks, went +behind whacking them unmercifully, while others dragged away at their +heads. I was thankful to have the task of acting as guide, although it +was not an easy one--having every now and then to climb over fallen logs +or leap across pools. I was, however, saved the pain of witnessing the +sufferings of the animals; and I determined, if possible, to find an +easier path down again. + +At length a height which separated us from the first valley was passed; +and looking down, to our infinite satisfaction we caught sight of a +well-constructed hut, with a wreath of smoke ascending from its chimney. +All, then, was likely to be well. Manley and I, leaving our men to +follow with the animals, hurried down, and in less than a quarter of an +hour we were shaking hands with Uncle Jeff and Clarice. I need scarcely +describe how Manley and my fair young sister met, but it was very +evident that they were not sorry to see each other. Rachel came out, +beaming with smiles; and in a short time Pat Sperry appeared, followed +by another person whom I was truly glad to see--Gideon Tuttle. The +latter had joined Uncle Jeff some days before. Although desperately +wounded, he had managed to make his escape, and had lain in hiding in +the mountains for several days, till he had recovered sufficient +strength to travel. The report he gave us of Bartle, however, was truly +alarming. There could be no doubt that he had been captured by the +Indians, and, Gideon feared, must have been put to death by them; but +when I told him what Piomingo said, he became more hopeful as to the +fate of his old friend. + +"If he is alive, we will find him out, wherever he may be!" he +exclaimed. "Even if the varmints have him in the middle of their camp, +we will manage to set him free." + +Uncle Jeff, as I expected, had not been idle. Ever since the day we had +left him, he had been hunting and trapping, and had collected a large +store of skins of all sorts of animals, with dried meat enough to supply +an army. The baggage animals we had brought could carry but a small +amount of the stores collected by Uncle Jeff. It was arranged, +therefore, that a larger number should be sent up as soon as possible, +to bring away the remainder. Who was to take charge of them? was the +question. Uncle Jeff, Gideon, and I, were naturally anxious to return +to Roaring Water, that we might get up huts and re-establish ourselves +before the commencement of winter. + +While we were in this dilemma, Winnemak and several of his braves +appeared. On hearing of our difficulty, he said, "Commit them to my +care. I will protect them with my life--although I believe no one will +venture up here to carry them off. I have, as yet, had few +opportunities of showing my gratitude. I failed to assist you, when I +wished to do so, against the Arrapahas; but in this matter I can, at all +events, render you a service." + +"Where will Maysotta remain while you are up in the mountains?" asked +Uncle Jeff, after he had accepted Winnemak's offer. + +"Oh, let her come with us!" exclaimed Clarice. "I wish to show her that +I am grateful for the service which she rendered me; and she may perhaps +be pleased with the life we lead. She has several times expressed a +wish to know how white people spend their time." + +The chief, who seldom interfered with the movements of his daughter, +replied that she was at liberty to do as she wished, and that we should +find her in the camp at the foot of the mountains. + +Lieutenant Broadstreet had to rejoin his men as soon as possible, and no +time, therefore, was lost in commencing our journey down the mountain. +Winnemak and several of his people were left in charge of Uncle Jeff's +hut and stores. + +We had not a few difficulties to encounter on our return, but Clarice, +by whose side Manley rode whenever the path would permit, endured them +bravely; and we ultimately, without accident, reached the foot of the +mountains, where we found Maysotta encamped with the remainder of her +people. She was well pleased with the proposal Clarice made to her; and +her baggage being put into little bulk, she mounted her horse and +accompanied us forthwith. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +ON OUR WAY WE VISIT PIOMINGO--HE TELLS US OF BARTLE'S CAPTIVITY, AND +OFFERS TO ASSIST US IN HIS RECOVERY--GIDEON, PIOMINGO, AND I SET OUT, +FOLLOWED BY A STRONG PARTY UNDER SERGEANT CUSTIS--WE DISCOVER THE TRAIL, +AND FOLLOW IT UP--HORRIBLE CRUELTIES PRACTISED BY INDIANS ON THEIR +PRISONERS--THE TRAIL LEADS ALONG THE MOUNTAIN--WE SEE A FIGURE ABOVE +US--IT IS BARTLE--IS HE ALIVE?--JUST IN TIME--GIDEON AND I STAY BY HIM-- +I AFTERWARDS SET OFF TO OBTAIN HELP--PIOMINGO HAS SENT A LETTER--WE +ARRIVE SAFE AT ROARING WATER--HARD AT WORK REBUILDING THE HOUSE--A FORT +ESTABLISHED--BARNEY AND KLITZ JOIN US--A VISIT FROM MANLEY--A PROPOSAL, +AND CONFESSION--UNCLE JEFF APPROVES OF THE ENGAGEMENT OF MANLEY AND +CLARICE--WINNEMAK AND PIOMINGO BECOME CHRISTIANS, AND INSTRUCT THEIR +PEOPLE--THE HOUSE REBUILT--SETTLERS GATHER ROUND US, AND UNCLE JEFF'S +FARM BECOMES THE MOST FLOURISHING IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD. + +As we approached Piomingo's camp, or rather village, we saw him hurrying +out to meet us. + +"I have gained information for you," he said, "about one of your white +friends who has long been held in captivity by the Arrapahas. The party +who have him remained for some time in the neighbourhood of Roaring +Water, if they are not there still. If you hasten on, you may overtake +them; but it would be dangerous to approach with a large band, in case +they should immediately kill their prisoner--they have already killed +several who had fallen into their power--rather than run the risk of +allowing him to escape. My advice is, that a small number of +experienced men should pursue them, followed by a larger party at a +short distance; and I willingly offer to serve as a scout to accompany +the first party. If we can find the Arrapahas in camp, we may be able +to liberate the prisoner; or if we can form an ambush and pounce +suddenly out on them, we may manage to cut the thongs with which he is +bound, mount him on one of our horses, and carry him off." + +As we were convinced that the white man of whom Piomingo spoke was +Bartle Won, Uncle Jeff and Gideon accepted the brave's offer without +hesitation. It was finally settled that Piomingo, Gideon, and I should +push on until we came upon the trail of the Arrapahas, and that a party +of twenty men, under Sergeant Custis, should follow us. We were then +cautiously to approach the camp of the enemy, and endeavour by some +means or other to liberate Bartle. We had confidence in the success of +our plan, for Piomingo had ever been celebrated for his cunning and +audacity, which he had in times past exercised in less reputable ways +than that in which he now proposed to employ them. Some of Winnemak and +Piomingo's people, who were now on good terms, scoured the country as +scouts; and from the reports they brought us we were satisfied that the +chief body of the enemy had completely deserted the neighbourhood. +Still, the party of whom Piomingo had heard might have remained behind, +and we therefore at once commenced our search for their trail. + +But I must be brief in my account. For two days we searched in every +direction, scarcely resting, till at length we discovered a trail which +Piomingo was confident was that of our foes; and, moreover, he said they +had a white man with them. They had, however, he thought, passed some +days before. Piomingo sent back one of his men to urge Sergeant Custis +to come on rapidly; and we pushed forward as fast as we could travel, +hoping soon to overtake the Arrapahas. + +After following the trail, we found that it took the way along the +mountains. This was rather an advantage in some respects, as, being +accustomed to mountain travelling, we might move on faster than those of +whom we were in pursuit. As, however, we were made of flesh and blood, +we were obliged to encamp at night, although the dawn of day found us +again in pursuit. + +Piomingo thrilled my heart with horror by an account which he gave of +the cruelties practised by the savages on some of their captives, and I +had great fear that our friend Bartle might have been subjected to the +same horrible tortures. Piomingo told us that he himself had been +present at some of the scenes he described. It showed me how debased +men, formed in the image of God, can become, when they have departed +from Him, and how cruel by nature is the human heart, which can devise +and take satisfaction in the infliction of such barbarities. The white +men who were thus treated had done nothing to injure the Indians, except +in attempting to defend their lives and property when attacked. The +captives having been brought out into an open space, bound hand and +foot, the Indians threw off their usual garments, and dressed themselves +in the most fantastic manner. One of their victims was first led +forward and stretched on the ground, to which he was bound by cords and +pegs, so that he could move none of his limbs. The savages then +commenced a wild dance round him, jeering and mocking him, while they +described the various tortures for which he must be prepared. One of +the unfortunate victim's companions was, in the meantime, held, with his +hands bound behind him, and made a witness to his sufferings. The +savages, as they danced round and round him, stooped down and pricked +him with daggers and knives, taking good care not to wound him mortally. +Next one of the wretches, seizing his knife, cut his scalp from off his +head; while others brought some burning embers of wood and placed them +on his breast. + +But I see no advantage in further mentioning the diabolical cruelties +practised by these savages of which Piomingo told us. Far removed from +the benign influences of Christianity, these red men only acted +according to the impulses of their barbarous nature. The thought came +upon me with great force, Is it not the duty of white men who are +Christians to send the blessed light of the gospel, by every means in +their power, to their benighted fellow-creatures? They have souls as we +have, and they are as capable of receiving the truths of the gospel as +we are. Bold, energetic men, imbued with the love of souls, are +required, who, ready to sacrifice all the enjoyments of civilisation, +will cast themselves fearlessly among the native tribes, and by patience +and perseverance endeavour to induce them to listen to the message of +reconciliation, and to imitate the example of Him who died for them. + +I spoke earnestly and faithfully to Piomingo of this, and I was thankful +to find that he listened not only willingly but eagerly to what I said. + +"Yes," he exclaimed at length, "I see that you are right. Although some +white men have set us a bad example, it is no reason that all should do +so. The truths about which you speak are independent of man. There +must be bad white men as well as bad red men; but I am sure that those +who follow the example of Him of whom you tell me, the Son of the Great +Spirit, must be good men. I will try to follow him, and when we get +back, you must tell me more about him." + +I gladly promised to do so, and was thankful for this opportunity of +speaking to Piomingo. + +Before starting next morning we sent a message to the sergeant, begging +him to keep as close to the foot of the mountain as possible, as we were +sure the enemy could not have gone far up; indeed, their trail led along +the lower part of the side. They had taken this direction, probably, in +order that they might obtain a view over the plain, and thus the more +easily escape from those who by this time, they must have known through +their scouts, were in pursuit of them, although they could not be aware +that our small party was so close at their heels. In a few hours more, +we believed, we should probably be up with them; and we hoped that while +they were in camp we might find some means or other of releasing Bartle. + +Though generally keeping our eyes ahead, or down on the plain, I +happened on one occasion to look up the mountain. On the height above +me was the figure of a human being. I pointed it out to my companions. + +"There is no doubt about it," exclaimed Gideon; "what you see is a +cross, with a man, well-nigh stripped, bound to it." + +The spot was one difficult of access, but it had been reached shortly +before, and, Piomingo declared, by Indians, whose trail he discovered on +the hard rock, where Gideon and I could not perceive the slightest +marks. + +"That is Bartle," cried Gideon as we were climbing on. "Little chance, +however, of the poor fellow being alive. The cruel varmints! I'll +punish them one of these days for what they have done." + +The expressions which his indignation drew forth were very natural, but +they were not in accordance with the precepts I had been endeavouring to +inculcate on Piomingo. + +As we hastened on Gideon cried, "I think I saw his head move; if so, he +must be alive. We are coming! cheer up, cheer up, Bartle; we are coming +to your help!" he shouted. + +The faint sound of a human voice was heard in return. + +"He is alive," I exclaimed; "he is alive!" and I waved my cap as we +rushed to our friend's assistance. + +Another minute, and we were by Bartle's side. We could perceive no +wound, but his eyes were starting from his head, and his tongue +protruded. Not a moment was lost in cutting the lashings with which he +was bound to the stump of a small tree, with another rough piece of wood +fastened across it. A few minutes later, and I believe he would have +breathed his last. We had fortunately brought with us a bottle of water +and some spirits, some of which we poured down his throat, and in a +wonderfully short time he revived, and was able to tell us what had +happened to him. He had rendered one of his captors a service on some +occasion, and this man had sufficient influence with the others to +preserve his life. When, however, they found themselves closely pursued +by our troops, they were about to kill him; but, at the instigation of +the brave who had hitherto saved him from being put to death, they +resolved to bind him to the tree and leave him. In all likelihood, his +friend had proposed this with the intention of afterwards returning and +setting him free. + +As Bartle would certainly be unable to move for some time, Gideon and I +remained by him, while Piomingo returned to inform Sergeant Custis of +our success, and also to warn him that the enemy were not far ahead. +The sergeant, we afterwards heard, pushed rapidly on, and in a short +time came up with the party, and, by the careful way in which he +approached, took them completely by surprise. They attempted to defend +themselves, but the greater number were cut to pieces--a few only +escaping to the southward. + +Gideon and I, I have said, had been left on the mountain-side to look +after Bartle. The first thing Gideon did was to take off his own coat +and wrap it round our friend, whose limbs were swollen by the pressure +of the cords, while he was chilled by long exposure to the cold air; +indeed, most men would have sunk under the sufferings he had endured. +How were we to get him down the mountain? was the next question. He +could not walk, and Gideon and I together were unable to carry him. The +spot was exposed to a hot sun by day, and to cold winds by night, and +there were no materials at hand to build a hut; indeed, but little wood +even to form a fire. At last I proposed setting off to try and obtain +help,--though, should the troops or the Indians who accompanied us have +gone south, it might be a long time before I could fall in with any one. +There was nothing else to be done, however, as far as we could see, +although I greatly feared that before I could return Bartle would have +succumbed. + +"Quick, Ralph," said Gideon, as I rose to set off. "Do not forget some +food; and bring a litter, or something of that kind, to carry Bartle +on." + +I had scarcely got a hundred feet down the mountain when I saw two +Indians in the distance, coming towards me, each carrying something on +his back, and a long pole in his hand. I waved to them, and they made +signals in reply. They were soon close to me, and on coming up they +said that they had been sent by Piomingo, and that they carried +materials for forming a litter. He had thought of the very thing we +required. It was rapidly put together; and placing Bartle on it, we +each of us took the end of a pole, and began cautiously to descend the +mountain. Of necessity our progress was very slow. Sometimes we had to +place the litter on the ground, not for the sake of resting ourselves, +but that we might lower it with more caution. Thus proceeding, we at +last reached the plain, where, as the day had closed, we encamped. + +Next morning, Bartle, although better, was still unable to walk; we +therefore carried him the whole way to Roaring Water. We found Uncle +Jeff standing in the midst of the ruins of the old house,--in no +desponding mood, however,--and he welcomed Bartle as he would have done +a beloved brother. + +"You will soon come round, Bartle," he said, as he took his hand; "and +we will get a house up as big and as strong as the old one." + +"Ay! that we will," answered Bartle; "and if the Redskins pay us another +visit, we will take good care that they shall never get inside it." + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +The hut had been thoroughly cleaned out, and Clarice, Maysotta, and +Rachel had taken possession of it, while the rest of the party occupied +the mill. + +Lieutenant Broadstreet had, in the meantime, fixed on a good site for a +fort on the summit of a precipice by the river-side, and his men were +busily engaged in cutting and filing up the palisades which were to +surround it. So much was he occupied in the duty he had to perform, +that he could rarely come over to Roaring Water; while I was so fully +employed that I had no time to visit him. + +We were greatly in want of labourers to supply the places of the poor +fellows who had been killed when the Indians attacked the house, and at +last Uncle Jeff told me to go over to the fort and ascertain if any men +were likely to obtain their discharge, and if so, to offer them good +wages. + +"You can tell the lieutenant that we shall be glad to see him over here +whenever he can come," said Uncle Jeff, "although we have not the best +accommodation in the world to offer him." + +I had little doubt that Manley would not be influenced by the latter +consideration; so, mounting my horse, I rode off to the fort, and gave +him Uncle Jeff's message. + +"I can afford you two hands, at all events," he answered, and I saw a +twinkle in his eyes. "They know the place, and perhaps you may get more +work out of them than I can; only take care they do not run away." + +I guessed to whom he alluded; nor was I mistaken. We went out together, +and he summoned Klitz and Barney, who were slowly working away with +pick, axe, and spade. + +"Men," he said, "you have claimed your discharge; you shall have it, if +you are willing to go and take service at Roaring Water." + +"Sure, with the greatest pleasure in me life; there's not a finer +gintleman on this side of the Atlantic than Mr Crockett," said Barney. + +Klitz simply gave a grunt of acquiescence. + +The whole matter was arranged; and they were to return with me the next +day. I was also glad to obtain two more men, who, though they belonged +to that class of individuals known, as "Uncle Sam's bad bargains," and +might be lazy rascals when labouring for a Government for which they did +not care a cent, turned out to be very ready to serve a master who +treated them kindly and paid them well. As we travelled along they +showed no inclination to decamp, but chatted and laughed, each in his +own style--Barney being undoubtedly the leading wit of the party. They +were heartily welcome at Roaring Water, and both Klitz and Barney showed +that they were willing and able to work. The only thing which seemed to +put the German out was when any allusion was made to a wheel-barrow. + +We had just begun active operations when Winnemak came to see his +daughter. Maysotta, however, had no inclination to return with him, and +begged that she might remain to assist her new friend, from whom she was +hearing more wonderful things daily, as well as gaining more knowledge. +Winnemak offered us the services of some of his men, who were willing to +work for wages; and although they were not equal to the worst of the +white men, yet, by Uncle Jeff's good management, they were made very +useful. + +From some passing emigrant trains we obtained a good supply of tools,-- +axes and saws,--and we were busily at work from sunrise to sunset. +Clarice and Rachel had succeeded in recovering some of the cattle, pigs, +and poultry which had strayed, and in a short time the farm began to +assume something of its former appearance. + +I had, one afternoon, come back from the forest in which we obtained our +timber, in order to get a fresh axe in place of one which I had broken, +when I found Maysotta alone in the hut. On asking for Clarice, I was +told she had gone to the cool fountain for a pitcher of water. It +struck me that something was amiss with the Indian girl, but what it was +I could not tell I was going on to the mill, where I expected to find an +axe, when Maysotta added-- + +"The young white chief, from the fort out there, came here just now +inquiring for you. When he heard that Clarice was at the spring, he +hastened off in that direction, without seeming to regard me." + +Having obtained the axe, I set off after Manley, whom I was anxious to +see, and as I got near the spring I heard him in conversation with my +sister. + +"Oh no, no! I must not leave my uncle and Ralph; I should be neglecting +my duty, should I do so," said Clarice. + +"But I have told you how devotedly, how fondly I love you," said Manley. +"Do you not love me in return?" + +"Yes, I do; I have loved no one else," she replied. + +On hearing this confession I should have withdrawn, for I had perfect +confidence in Manley, and what I had heard gave me unbounded +satisfaction. Clarice, however, had heard me moving among the bushes, +and turned her eyes towards me with a startled look. I was sure she had +perceived me, so I at once came forward. Manley put out his hand. + +"You heard what I said to your sister?" + +"Yes; and what she said in reply," I answered. "It gives me the +greatest possible pleasure. There is no man I ever met whom I should so +much like as a brother-in-law. I would advise Clarice to tell Uncle +Jeff at once, and hear what he says about the matter. My belief is, +that he will not say anything which either of you would dislike." + +Dear little Clarice looked very happy when I said this. I was not +surprised that Manley had fallen desperately in love with her, although +her beauty certainly did not depend on the elegance of her costume, for +she had come out without shoes or stockings, with her hair hanging down +over her shoulders, and in her rough working-dress. I must confess I +forgot all about my axe, and where I had been going; and having been +taken into the confidence of Manley and my sister, I remained talking +with them, and settling plans for the future. Suddenly, however, I +recollected that I had work to do; and I had an idea that the young +couple would not object just then to my attending to my duties. At all +events, they said nothing to detain me. Manley agreed to remain with us +that night, and I advised him to lose no time in speaking to Uncle Jeff. + +To make a long story short, when Uncle Jeff came back after his day's +work, Manley, following my advice, spoke to him. His reply was what I +had expected:-- + +"You shall have her with all my heart, for I am very sure you will make +her a good husband." + +Manley had received his appointment as commandant of the fort; but as +the buildings were not as yet fully completed, nor would be fit for a +lady's reception during the winter, it was settled that the young couple +should wait until next spring to be married, when it was hoped that the +chaplain at Fort Harwood would be able to come over and perform the +ceremony. + +Before the winter set in we had got up a sufficient portion of the house +for our accommodation, while the new field hands occupied the hut. Our +friend Winnemak paid us frequent visits, too, always bringing a supply +of game, which was very welcome, as we had but little time for hunting, +and were unwilling to kill any of our farm-stock. + +Maysotta had always much to say to her father, and he willingly allowed +her to remain with us. His mind was already beginning to awaken to +spiritual truth, as he had had the gospel explained to him, and he now +compared it with the dark heathen superstitions in which he had hitherto +believed. Maysotta entreated Clarice to tell her father all she had +told her. She gladly did so, and the hitherto proud chief "became as a +little child." He at last fixed his camp in our neighbourhood, and used +to visit us nearly every day, in order that he might receive +instruction. He even expressed a wish to learn to read; so Uncle Jeff +and I became his masters, aided occasionally by Clarice and Maysotta, +who had already made considerable progress. The chief's memory was +wonderfully good, too, and he thus rapidly learned whole chapters of the +Bible, from a translation which we had obtained in the dialect of his +people. His great desire was now not only to learn himself, but to +induce his own people to accept the blessings of the gospel; and as his +wish was to imitate us in everything, he had put up a log-house of +considerable size in his village. + +I had often promised to pay him a visit. One Sunday I had ridden over +to the fort, after Clarice's marriage, to see her and join the service +there, when on my way back I bethought me of my promise to Winnemak. I +accordingly rode to his village. None of his men were about; so, +fastening up my horse, I went towards his house. As I looked in at the +door, I saw him standing up at one end, while his chief men and braves +were seated around him, attentively listening to the words which fell +from his lips. Once he would have addressed them only on some warlike +or political matter, but now he was preaching the blessed gospel, while +those fierce warriors sat listening with the most profound attention to +his words. + +What were those words? He was telling them that they must become as +children; that they must be born again, that their old evil nature might +be overcome; that they must do good to their enemies, and forgive those +who should injure them; that they must lead pure and holy lives, not +giving way to their angry feelings, or even indulging in angry thoughts. +He told them, too, of the Saviour's love, and the Saviour's death; how +God would forgive their sins, which, though red as scarlet, would become +white as wool, if they trusted that by that death he had taken their +sins upon himself, and had become their Saviour, their Advocate, their +great High Priest. + +Winnemak having thus become a Christian, did not rest content until he +had used every effort to convert the whole of his tribe. Nor did he +stop here: he went to other tribes; and when he found his own influence +was not sufficient, he procured the assistance of white missionaries, +whom he supported and protected. + +His example was followed by his former enemy Piomingo, whose young wife +and himself became industrious settlers--the greater number of their +tribe completely abandoning their old barbarous customs. The only +regret of Winnemak was that he and his people had not received these +glorious tidings in earlier days, before they had almost ceased to exist +as a people in the land where once their warriors were counted by +thousands. + +But I have been anticipating events. From several of the emigrant +trains which came by next season, we obtained not only such stores as we +required, but several useful hands; while many of the families, seeing +the fertility of the country, and the progress we had made, to say +nothing of the protection of the military post, resolved, instead of +incurring the dangers of a longer journey, to settle in our +neighbourhood. + +The new house, as Uncle Jeff and Bartle intended, was far superior to +the old one, and although we hoped that we should never again be +attacked, yet it was built with an eye to defence, and was considered +almost as strong as the fort itself. Happily, however, we have never +had occasion to try its capabilities of withstanding a siege. + +Fields were added to fields; the stock increased; and God prospering us +notwithstanding the heavy losses we had incurred, Uncle Jeff's farm +eventually became the most nourishing in the neighbourhood. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's In the Rocky Mountains, by W. H. G. 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